The Democratic Party's big mistake

[virtualobserver]

The numbers may vary slightly from poll to poll but about 43% of the voting population is independent.

It is the largest group, yet it is not represented by either Democrats or Republicans.

Bernie has awakened a powerful force, and the Democrats are trying to stamp out this fresh direction.

Mark my words....if Bernie steps back....someone else will step forward.

[CrowCityDem]

1. So the Dem's big mistake is that they aren't independents?

You do realize that independents come in all stripes, right? There are liberal indys, and conservative indys. They're actually estimated to be roughly equal size blocks. Maybe the indy's misake is assuming they're one solid swath of voters.

[virtualobserver]

3. I do realize that, and the person who steps up won't be a clone of Bernie.

The point is that both parties are alienating huge swaths of voters.

Someone will take advantage of that.

[CrowCityDem]

5. The problem: if you appeal too much to indys, you lose the base.

[virtualobserver]

8. they won't bother with trying to capture the tiny base of the Democratic Party

[ChairmanAgnostic]

22. it takes hard work to appear so deliberately obtuse.

You must get a lot of practice.

[pdsimdars]

2. And the dems are only about 30%

[virtualobserver]

6. And the harsh campaign that Dems and Repubs wage against each other will shrink both parties numbers

[msongs]

4. nobody prevents the "independents" from registering to vote in dems primaries except themselves

black people have figured out how to register, other democrats of all stripes have figured this out, latinos and gays, even former repubs like Liz Warren have figured it out. only SANDERS independents have not figured this out yet

[virtualobserver]

7. this isn't about the primaries

this is about the weakness of the two major parties and their petty games.

[geek tragedy]

9. there will be no significant third party on the ballot in 2016. nt

[COLGATE4]

10. Yep. Any day now... wait for it... hold on...

(s)he's coming... I know it in my bones... here (s)he comes... oh, no, it's a bird... any time...

[virtualobserver]

12. the uninspired can't see it coming....they always get blindsided.

[COLGATE4]

25. I was reading just the other day about when the

uninspired got blindsided. Never.

[virtualobserver]

26. the British were uninspired in 1775

[COLGATE4]

28. I was referring to something a little more

contemporaneous, you know, like after 1950.

[virtualobserver]

29. I see, so this is the post-blindsided age...that sort of thing only occurred in the olden-timey days

that is exactly what a person thinks just before they are blindsided.

[COLGATE4]

32. That's what I thought. Any day now...

[uponit7771]

11. No, they're not... they lean one way or the other but will switch votes cause they're not stupid

... and hardened brats.

For the most part they're leaning liberal or conservative

[YouDig]

13. Appealing to independents is why candidates "move to the center."

I would have figured that Bernie supporters would be against that.

[virtualobserver]

15. independents aren't in the center...

[YouDig]

17. Most of them are, yes.

[virtualobserver]

20. there is no "center"

[guillaumeb]

18. But "the center" has been moved well to the right in the 35 years since Reagan.

What is now called "the center" was called the far right of the GOP position in 1970.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

23. it is a pendulum. And it is swinging back.

[Vincardog]

31. What makes anyone think independents are in the center?

[guillaumeb]

14. When many politicians from both parties put private gain ahead of public good,

the voters will correctly assume that there is very little difference between the two parties.

What is the difference between a GOP hawk and a Democratic hawk? The dead civilians who die in the name of the Oil Empire are just as dead no matter the party in power.

[RobertEarl]

16. Someone will fill the void

And I would have to give them a good look as it seems my party is being run by self-appointed masters who treat me as if I were their slave.

[JI7]

19. most independents voted Romney. most Indies lean conservative

[virtualobserver]

21. if that were actually true, then President Romney would be running for re-election

[JI7]

24. It is true and the fact he isn't running for re-election shows it's possible to win without needing

To win that vote

[msongs]

27. OP assumes that all "independents" are in the bernie cult. not the case. in fact Id bet most are

not. the concept that 100% of all self-proclaimed independents are anti-hillary/pro bernie is wishful thinking IMO

[Trajan]

30. People are hungry for rescue from this awful, corporate controlled existence they are stuck in

I think people underestimate just how willing they might be to jump ship and support an independent in the GE this time around ....

The Bernie phenomena is real ... The party holds the power now because they control the rules ... Independents don't have to bother with DWS's bullshit games ...

#StillSanders

[madamesilverspurs]

33. DU needs

a Big Furry Hat forum.