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What Independents Want
NY Times ^ | November 5, 2009 | DAVID BROOKS

Posted on 11/06/2009 2:44:34 PM PST by neverdem

Liberals and conservatives each have their own intellectual food chains. They have their own think tanks to provide arguments, politicians and pundits to amplify them, and news media outlets to deliver streams of prejudice-affirming stories.

Independents, who are the largest group in the electorate, don’t have any of this...

--snip--

The most telling races this year were the suburban rebellions across the country. For example, in Westchester and Nassau counties in New York, Republican candidates came from nowhere to defeat entrenched Democratic county officials. In blue Pennsylvania, the G.O.P. won six out of seven statewide offices...

--snip--

The percentage of Americans who want unions to have less influence rose from 32 percent to a record 42 percent.

Americans have moved to the right on abortion, immigration and global warming. Over the past seven months, the number of people who say government is doing too many things better left to business has jumped from 40 percent to 48 percent, according to a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll.

According to that same survey, only 31 percent of Americans believe that the president and Congress “should worry more about boosting the economy even though it may mean larger budget deficits.” Sixty-two percent, twice as many, believe the president and Congress “should worry more about keeping the deficit down, even though it may mean it will take longer for the economy to recover.”

These shifts have not occurred because conservatives and liberals have changed their minds. They haven’t. The shift is among independents.

According to Gallup, the share of independents who describe their views as conservative has moved from 29 percent last year to 35 percent today. The share of independents who believe there is too much government regulation of business has jumped from 38 percent to 50 percent...

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: davidbrooks; independents; independentvote; independentvoters; nj2009; va2009
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1 posted on 11/06/2009 2:44:34 PM PST by neverdem
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To: neverdem; EDINVA; Nervous Tick; HokieMom
Dems took a severe beating in Fairfax Co.
2 posted on 11/06/2009 2:46:04 PM PST by Perdogg (Sarah Palin-Jim DeMint 2012 - Liz Cheney for Sec of State - Duncan Hunter SecDef)
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To: neverdem

“What Independents Want”

Money in their pockets?


3 posted on 11/06/2009 2:47:31 PM PST by Impy (RED=COMMUNIST, NOT REPUBLICAN | NO "INDIVIDUAL MANDATE"!!!!!!!)
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To: neverdem

“According to Gallup, the share of independents who describe their views as conservative has moved from 29 percent last year to 35 percent today.”

Worth noting here on FR which often reads as if it believes 80 percent of independents identify as conservative.

I guess it follows that 65% of independents won’t be much impressed by labels like “true conservative” and “rino.”


4 posted on 11/06/2009 2:50:22 PM PST by truth_seeker
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To: neverdem
Independents are a force no question about that. The more analysis I read about them the less I like them.
A placid group of spoiled, soft creatures. “Does baby feel like applesauce or pudding? No, no, no-no-no, baby wants Mama, and I suspect therein lies the problem, at the end of the day the Dem's will figure out how to buy these people.
5 posted on 11/06/2009 2:51:38 PM PST by Hans
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To: Hans

Sorry Hans, but I’m independent. I left the party over a decade ago and never looked back. I’ll never join the GOP again.

That being said, I’m still conservative and certainly not soft, but I won’t have my name counted as a GOP when they act like Democrats.


6 posted on 11/06/2009 2:59:04 PM PST by SideoutFred (B.O. Stinks...it really does)
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To: Perdogg

Yes, they did! I’m still pinching myself, even if my potential GOP-pick up lost by 1%. Barbara Comstock appears to have won! I’m very excited about next year. Keith Fimian stands a strong chance now of defeating Connolly.

And the Hokies took a severe beating against your UNC team, also. Congratulations!


7 posted on 11/06/2009 3:08:47 PM PST by HokieMom (Pacepa : Can the U.S. afford a president who can't recognize anti-Americanism?)
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To: truth_seeker

I just saw you on another thread posting against conservatism.


8 posted on 11/06/2009 3:10:57 PM PST by ansel12 (Scozzafava/Romney 2012)
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To: Hans
Independents are a force no question about that. The more analysis I read about them the less I like them.

Except that independent is not a party with an agenda, it just means people that will not join a party.

A person telling you that they are independent is not telling you anything, they may be too left for the democrats or too right for the republicans or some form of moderate or anything else. Personally I consider the GOP too liberal for me to actually become a member although I usually vote for their candidates.

9 posted on 11/06/2009 3:15:24 PM PST by ansel12 (Scozzafava/Romney 2012)
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To: SideoutFred; Hans
Fred: I am right there with you. I quit the weak spined republicans years ago. I am a CONSERVATIVE. Not a liberal, not a dimocrat, not a Republican, not an independent. I am certainly not weak. I stand for Christian principles, conservative principles and TRUE American values. I cannot find that totally in any candidate. But, the ones who come closer usually get my votes. Sadly, most of those turn out to be the weak spined republicans. But, I will not vote for a republican simply because he is a republican. I don't vote for one evil over another. Evil is evil.
10 posted on 11/06/2009 3:31:27 PM PST by RetiredArmy (It's simple. The Second Coming is near. READ the Bible and what IT says about these times!)
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To: neverdem

I’m an independent and I’ll tell you what I want.

I want my country back.

I want the destruction of the dem and rep parties, and I want the rise of free Americans forwarding upstanding, stalwart free Americans to represent them at all levels of government.

I want the republic the Founders founded.


11 posted on 11/06/2009 3:36:40 PM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who support our troops pray for their victory!)
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To: neverdem
Smart, principled independents want this.
12 posted on 11/06/2009 3:43:31 PM PST by EternalVigilance (Conservatives didn't send a message to Republicans in NY-23 -The GOP sent a message to conservatives)
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To: ansel12

“I just saw you on another thread posting against conservatism.”

Put the words here.


13 posted on 11/06/2009 4:01:46 PM PST by truth_seeker
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To: truth_seeker

Sure.

“According to Gallup, the share of independents who describe their views as conservative has moved from 29 percent last year to 35 percent today.”

Worth noting here on FR which often reads as if it believes 80 percent of independents identify as conservative.

I guess it follows that 65% of independents won’t be much impressed by labels like “true conservative” and “rino.”


14 posted on 11/06/2009 4:07:19 PM PST by ansel12 (Scozzafava/Romney 2012)
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To: ansel12

Do you feel that what I wrote is not true?

If so take opposition, then. Explain yourself.

Or must I chant a proper mantra?

My credentials are the way I vote, which is consistently very conservative, for a long, long time. This is a political forum. That implies discussion.

Not rote memorization of only certain phrases and words.


15 posted on 11/06/2009 4:15:21 PM PST by truth_seeker
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To: truth_seeker

This is the post you challenged and I answered it. You are striving to move FR to the left, as I looked at your other posts I see that you do that a lot.

“I just saw you on another thread posting against conservatism.”


16 posted on 11/06/2009 4:22:49 PM PST by ansel12 (Scozzafava/Romney 2012)
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To: ansel12

“You are striving to move FR to the left, as I looked at your other posts I see that you do that a lot.”

Keep on looking at my posts. BTW I had not been noticing your posts much, but will keep on the lookout, now.

Other people say they like mine, even find them thoughtful and insightful.

FYI I would like to win a lot of elections, and get back in power. And to be more true to conservative principles, than what took place during Bush’s two terms.

I am an economic and national security conservative; more toward libertarian on social issues.

People need persuading. Intelligent discussion persuades some. Economic hard times and war persuade others.

Peace. We are on the same side.


17 posted on 11/06/2009 6:10:16 PM PST by truth_seeker
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To: truth_seeker
Other people say they like mine, even find them thoughtful and insightful.

I bet some do, fewer though since the Giuliani purging, you aren't even a social conservative, I observed that you work to move FR to the left and I was correct.

18 posted on 11/06/2009 6:30:37 PM PST by ansel12 (Scozzafava/Romney 2012)
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To: Impy
"Money in their pockets?"

What, you mean those worthless Federal Reserve Debt Notes we carry around in our wallets? There is no MONEY anymore, at least in dollars. FDR took away all our *real money* (gold) in 1933 & gave it to Britain to pay our "debts." "The Commerce Game" should be required reading for all Americans so they can learn of the massive FRAUD that's been perpetrated against US.

19 posted on 11/06/2009 7:39:04 PM PST by Beloved Levinite (I have a new name for the occupier of The Oval Office: KING FRAUD! (pronounced King "Faa-raud"))
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To: Beloved Levinite; sickoflibs; BillyBoy

I get what you’re saying.

But they’re hardly worthless (yet?). Just yesterday I exchanged some for groceries. ;)


20 posted on 11/07/2009 2:38:41 PM PST by Impy (RED=COMMUNIST, NOT REPUBLICAN | NO "INDIVIDUAL MANDATE"!!!!!!!)
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