Betsy Russell offers another S-R reporter's view, who says that "Surveys show a third of Idahoans say they’re independent." The surveys may show this, but this just means that about a third of Idahoans are delusional.
Look at actual voting records, and it's pretty easy to see that about one third vote Dem and two thirds vote Rep. Consistently. The claim "I'm independent" just isn't borne out by the votes. And no, it's not because Dems don't put up good candidates. Case in point; Idaho's new chief financial officer. The ratio there was 41% for Twilegar and 59% for Jones. Idaho elected the candidate with the GED over the one with the MBA in finance. If one third were actually independent and voted based on fitness for office, that result would never have happened.
BTW, Stapilus cites a Gallop poll that puts independants at 11%. Still too high.
6 comments:
My father lives in Montana and he's a proud Independent, who votes the man and not the party. He just hasn't actually voted for a Democrat since the '60s (though he thought about voting for Cater in '80 but didn't end up doing it.)
What makes a person an independent voter? Thinking you are, or actually voting that way. Are words more important or actions?
I'd say your dad is not an independent voter, he just wants to think of himself as one. In 40 years he's never found a D he could vote for? Sounds like a lot of Idaho independents.
Oddly, maybe I'm delusional. I think of myself as a strong D, but I voted for an R last election, and typically for President I don't vote for the D (in Idaho, voting for a D for President is pointless).
I would say you are right, but Alan what you have to understand about being an "Independent" is that you get some huge fringe benefits:
1) You can't intellectually place yourselves above those partisan Republicans or Democrats (even if you vote very much like one more than the other.
2) You're not part of the problem and aren't responsible because you're an independent.
3) No one knows where you stand. If you say, "I'm a Republican" or "I'm a Democrat" many people will have a gutteral reaction, but say, "I'm an Independent" and everyone thinks either that you're enlightened or has no gut feelings about you.
I could go on, but you get the idea. Being an Independent has huge benefits which is why so many people who vote consistently R or D declare themselves as such.
Hmmmm, Adam. I would think that makes you a fence sitter, not an independent. I thought the Bible had some pretty derogatory things to say about people who disguise their convictions.
I think it is an Idaho (western) value to be independent not in the sense of party affiliation (but that can carry over) rather I beleive Idahoans are fiercely libertarian in many of their views, ie less government, regardless of party affiliation. Lately however the Republicans seem to be losing sight of this fact by allowing the social conservatives to take over the party and intrude government more into people's lives. Democrats are picking up on the opportunity and touting the message that it is the party of fiscal responsibility and less government. Western Democrats, like Schweitzer and Tester in your home state of Montana, are leading the way and hopefully may help save the country.
All I can say Alan is that people in Idaho must be satisfied with the way things are. I sense discontent but I don't see it overcoming the sense of impotency and changing apathy to action. In that environment they will vote the status quo. But I don't think that means that Idahoans are as Republican as you think they are. They are just waiting for that "throw the bums out" moment. Which by the typical time lag here from the rest of the nation should be in about two years.
Well, you could be right. That promises some hope for the 2008 election. Id Republicans do seem to be skewing more to the right, and perhaps they'll turn so hard right they'll run off the cliff. If the Dems in the legislature can take some principled stands in favor of individuality, maybe they can hustle along the swinging back of the pendulum.
Leadership tries to make the splash, but sometimes miss the mark. A lot of criticism has been launched at leadership for not doing more but I know they are trying. There are some quality people trying to get there but they lack a sufficient soapbox from which to deliver the message.
So the key is precinct by precinct building of a base. Its hard work. But I know two Idaho Governors from each party who agree that this is where the Ds need to focus their efforts. Its also hard because the Rs with the soapbox are as busy incorrectly defining the Ds as the Ds are in trying to define themselves.
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