We're being primed for an "Independent Party" president in 2012.

I'm pretty much convinced of it. The Democrats don't seem to have a clue, they cave to every GOP whiner, and all the while the teevee talking heads talk about how it's the INDEPENDENT vote that is the only thing that matters. Joe Scab is setting himself up for a run, calling himself an "Independent" every chance he gets, although he is totally, 100% GOP (except for the embarrassment of actually saying he is GOP). Scott Brown wins and his first words are about the "Independent" victory in Massachusetts, even though he's 100% GOP. My GOP friends all profess total ignorance about George Whatshisname...Bush who? Never heard of him, didn't vote for him...they're all "Independents" now. They don't even pretend to be "Libertarian" anymore, as no one was buying that bullshit anyway. Nope, it's all about the Indis now. They're the hot new trend, and we can expect more and more GOPpers (and scaredy-cat Dems) to take up the mantle. The media is priming us for it. Independents are the only hope for the future.

And you know what? The way Reid and Pelosi are running things (with a little no-help from Obama), I don't blame anyone for giving up on the two established parties. Except for that most people don't understand that a GOPper or a Dem running as an Indi is still just a GOPper or a Dem...they just won't wear elephant or donkey lapel pins. The stage is being set for the disintegration of the parties so that people don't know who to officially hate anymore. Now that the corporations (Scarborough's boss, GE, comes to mind) are free to bankroll anyone they want in any way they choose, party affiliations are meaningless. "Independent" candidates are the flavor of the day, although they'll be Indi in name only. Same shit, different logo.

Get ready for it.

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The question is: Is a big league politician willing to go that route and give it a try?

and you might as well admit that vapid, fading beauty queen does have star power among the ignorant.

I'm going to be watching the teabag convention next month pretty closely. If it doesn't turn into a total donnybrook, we're going to see the birth of a new political party there that will draw the disillusioned voters from both parties.

This is what conservative Democrats are doing to us. People are sick to death of watching them waffle and sell the public out.

The GOP, on the other hand, is actually glad to see Palin and Bachmann drawing the crazy people away from their party. They'll regroup and with the horrible USSC ruling last week, fill their coffers to bursting and quite possibly emerge as the more viable party in 2016.

She totally alienated many of the Republican establishment in Alaska long before McCain picked her for VP. If he had done some vetting, he would have known that she was trouble.

I don't think she has what it takes to make it through a primary. If she was, however, just handed the nomination from a third party, I could definitely see her running.

My guess is if the Republican party nominates someone not popular with the base (most like Romney), Palin will run as a third party candidate.

would do whatever they had to do in order to make sure she didn't get very far as a GOP contender during the primaries. I doubt they'd have to dig too deep to find something, either.

I think what they're hoping is to rid their own party of the worst elements while trying to siphon off disillusioned Democrats who are sick of being sold out by party conservatives.

It might work out for them, but there's a very big danger the crazies could take over completely.

yeah boy!

word "Republican" during his campaign.

Why do the Reps always seem to be ahead of the curve? They see how the wind is blowing and are adjusting course. We keep beating a dead donkey.

and horrible at governing.

WE have to become excellent at winning elections. What's it gonna take?

The Republicans know how to market and brand the opposition the party as "ineffective" and make it stick with the average American. The only counter to this is to throw this damned principle of "bipartisanship" out the window and start governing. When we take power, it's like we become too scared to actually do anything because it might upset Republicans. Do our own people buy into the spin the GOP throws around?

A good metaphor for the Democratic Party is your average street protest.

Out in front, you have the folks with the banner that proclaims the protest's message - let's say "Bring our troops home!" behind them is quite a crowd, but after you get through the first ranks, you see clumps and individuals waving "Free Mumia" signs, chanting for marijuana legalization, "FREE GAZA!" a GLBT rights group there in the middle, there's bound to be a few people chanting Ron Paul slogans...

If you see the Democratic party from the front, they have a solid message. But if you're in the crowd, or if you watch from the sidelines... they just look like a confused rabble who aren't terribly sure where they're going, all competing to have their own issues reach the front.

The comparison goes like this:
Interviewer: Candidates, can you tell me three words what you stand for?
Republican: SECURITY! MONEY! FREEDOM!
Democrat: Well, it's complicated...

So the folks at home are like, "well, at least the first guy knows what his platform is..."

The Dems need better political "intelligence" gathering (they should hire some DUers, we seem to know what's going on before they do).

(like during Bushco), they'd stick with it. It's only when they realized they're no longer in total control, that they create the new curve. But create it they do, and we don't.

And I agree -- so many here and on other progressive sites get it.

I don't know why the Dem leadership is just so scared.

As long as party politics = government, then an anti-government message will rule the day. They could have any hidden agenda they want, as long as the run on a reform platform.

Cutting waste and corruption is not a bad thing, but something tells me this "independent" will be a corporate candidate. Which is why I still prefer the four-party idea.

The tendency to roll down hill to the middle will still be there.

Bet on it.

His ego has wanted to be President for years.

One doesn't spend $84 million of your own money just to be mayor for four more years. You want the exposure for a future position.

and watch how close he gets to Obama.. just watch how Obama wins huge in 2012 and Bloomie takes up the scene in 2016

in Minnesota...

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You go for it.

In Alaska, according to the Division of Elections, there are 15% registered Democrats, 25% registered Republicans, 7% third parties or political groups, and a huge 53% nonpartisan or undeclared.

Of course, everyone knows how Alaska leans politically, so I think these "nonpartisan," "undeclared" folks are just playing a game. It allows them to vote in the Democratic primaries so that no progressive is ever a candidate and then turn around and vote for the Republican in the general.

Most voters are "Independent," but we always vote for Dems (except for Governor, a peculiarity here in the Northeast states). I think most people just don't want to admit anything to some schmuck pollster. Shit, I can't even commit to where I want to go for dinner next weekend, so it's no surprise that many people don't want to be pigeonholed into a party affiliation.

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There is going to be so much anti-Dem outrage in "middle America" that a "good ol gal" like Palin will see huge support. She will embody the "white", "anti-Obama- anti-Democrat", "populist", "outsider"...... memes

Plus all of the corporate PAC's will be pushing hard for another puppet they can so easily maneuver (see Reagan, gwb...)

Have a 30-pack and maybe she'll do ya! You betcha!

(Not my own wish, mind you...just what imagine many of her supporters must think. They certainly don't like her for her brains).

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gwb made middle America feel like freakin geniuses

a media talking head is perfect, that is where she will stay

elected officials are so weak and so wishy-washy and so conservative that they may as well be repukes!

There will Democrats and Republicans lining up for the new infusion of Corporate money, calling themselves anything their sponsors want them to be called. The difference in governance will not happen. Only the logos. It's a big fucking sham being played on all of us.

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In fact, I would bet on it. The field is primed for someone like Bloomberg, and a lesser extent Palin, to make some major waves as an "independent". Republicans know that the majority of the population is pretty much fed up with both parties and they'll do what they can to get in on the ground floor of any "independent" movement that springs up.

The past week was a total suckery (Scott Brown and Citizens United v. FEC), but now that Obama's doing a freeze on discretionary domestic spending (but not on defense...waah) I'm willing to break from the DP to vote for true progress.

It looks like we liberals need to start heckling town halls like the Teabaggers did last year.

You win by action, not reaction.

HCR failed AND

H Ross Perot won 18.9% of the vote.

"A detailed analysis of voting demographics revealed that Perot's support drew heavily from across the political spectrum, with 20% of his votes coming from self-described liberals, 27% from self-described conservatives, and 53% coming from self-described moderates. Economically, however, the majority of Perot voters (57%) were middle class, earning between $15,000 and $49,000 annually, with the bulk of the remainder drawing from the upper middle class (29% earning over $50,000 annually).<24> Exit polls also showed that Ross Perot drew 38% of his vote from Bush, and 38% of his vote from Clinton, while the rest of his voters would have stayed home had he not been on the ballot."

I am not saying that kook Ron Paul can duplicate this but 3 years is a long time and there is a tremendous amount of dissatisfaction and anger out here.

I am not sure of the difference between a moderate and an independent but get ready. Throw the rascals out was very popular back then.

I doubt Obama will lose in 2012. But I doubt the left or the teabaggers will be happy with the one corporate party in DC. In 2016 we will be ready for a third party..

We will only get a third party if it is necessary to split the Democratic vote, but that might be so.

BY the Powers that Be, rather than being a party that might offer some true change for the masses of us progressives.

Just a candidate running as an "Independent," heavily backed by a corporate puppet master. Joe Scab, who is obviously planning a run for something, will get the full backing and support of GE-MSNBC. Any other "Indi" candidate will get the backing of some other giant corporation looking for some special treatment. There will be no independent candidate. Not as long as it takes eleventy-bazillion dollars to run for office. Every candidate has to have a sugar daddy. The indi candidate will be no exception.

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And if they cannot, then maybe somehow we will get a truly indie party.

It will take consensus building so that the Kucinich fans are in agreement to su-pport a Ron Paul or whoever. On edit - or vice versa.

The economic interests of the nation demand that we somehow protest their smug and arrogant whoredom.

It might not happen this year or in time for 2012 but it simply has to happen.

being an Independent. Does he see himself as top of the 2012 ticket or number two guy?

Sam

Joe, we've already seen you as a Republican for a couple of years.

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elections

Uh...no, actually.

Idiocracy. It's here, 500 years early.

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:evilgrin:

It seems likely to make elections even MORE personality- and brand-driven than they are now.

Maybe we'll all vote via text message, too.

I thought the same thing. Texting can't be any more insecure as Diebold/ESS tabulators.

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He or she will say all the right things. But they, too, will be a bought and paid for co-opted pawn.

SET UP is right. But by whom.

I hate this grammar stuff.

:)

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Come on...who else would un-rec this post? No ego shit here, just reality...who can honestly deny the current political situation? Why would you un-rec this post? I'd love to hear the explanations, instead of some CU or Freeper mole hiding behind the convenient anonymity of DU's bizarre rec system. I just want to know the reason.

If you un-recc'd the post, tell us. Fess up. Tell us WHY, you chicken shit bastards!

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