"Independent" like a 20-year-old who needs her boyfriend's muscles, and her daddy to pay for every bill she wracks up...
What about a 40+ year old balding man with a wife, two kids, and masters degrees in applied maths and economics. That's my accountant, and he's a registered independent.
She sounds like she is someone riding the fence...not sure which way to teeter...I don't know who Pillboxgirl is so I can't agree with your assesment of her...is she a 20 year old that hides behind others?..I don't know....