unabashed independent voters check in

[sniffa]

i know this is DU, but i can't beLieve i'm the onLy unenroLLed member here.

who here is an unabashed indie?

since about 1998, i've voted nothing but dem, save for a few unaffiLiated candidates, a few greens, and once voting for jack e. robinson because that guy cracks me the fuck up (and he never gets over 7% or so) and his opponent that eLection was someone i despised.

anyhow, how many DUers are unaffiLiated voters? every once in a whiLe (about once a year) i run a poLL about it, but i changed course; come out in the open...... or just decLare your party affiLiation.

[slackmaster]

1. Forum is for "Democrats of all stripes"

I suppose you could call yourself a "Disaffected Democrat".

:hide:

[sniffa]

5. eh, that's a LittLe overreach

yes, i'm disaffected many a time by some of the dems, but that has no bearing on not enroLLing in a party. i've aLways been independent since i turned 18, and it's something of pride. i can't say i'LL never enroLL, but right now i stiLL have the indie spirit (for Lack of a better word).

[LWolf]

24. I know you know better than this. You've been here long enough, lol.

<snip>

2. Who We Are: Democratic Underground is an online community for Democrats and other progressives. Members are expected to be generally supportive of progressive ideals, and to support Democratic candidates for political office. Democratic Underground is not affiliated with the Democratic Party, and comments posted here are not representative of the Democratic Party or its candidates.

"Other" progressives = indies and 3rd party members. Democrats of all stripes, yes, but not ONLY Democrats.

I ought to have this post cut and pasted somewhere for every time someone "reminds" us that DU is for "Democrats," and "forgets" the "other" progressives.

[tammywammy]

2. Hello, I'm and independant too

I've pretty much always voted dem, like you a few here and there that weren't. Especially since I'm in Texas, there's a lot of races that just Rep vs Lib.

And I do plan on voting in the dem primary next year too.

[sniffa]

7. rock on

i aLways vote in the dem primary, and i'm gLad you wiLL too. :thumbsup:

i've encountered a few peopLe recentLy who vote in the primary, but don't vote for who they wish to be president, but who they think has the best shot at winning the generaL.

i'm just curious... in an anecdotaL manner, it seems that most "indies" vote their conscious and not for other reasons.

is that how you vote?

[tammywammy]

12. Yes

I tend to be pretty moderate on most issues. I have my pet issues, but they're not deal breakers. I think as of now, I'm voting for who I think is the best candidate.

[sniffa]

14. i tend to identify as LiberaL

(granted, as an 18 year oLd i didn't recognize that) who has some pet issues -human rights- but yes, the candidate who you identify with shouLd get your vote. no one eLse shouLd get it for whatever reason given.

[tammywammy]

15. I'm happy with my choice right now

Who knows what's gonna happen in the next few months, but I'm satisfied with who I'm backing as of now. :)

[WidowsSon]

3. Never declared a party

but never voted for anyone other then a Dem (okay maybe an unaffiliated local judge or two). I've never been a joiner, but it would take a lot for me to overcome my revulsion toward the Republican party and vote for one. Maybe if I knew that person personally and trusted them with my life. I tend to have libertarian tendencies and put the diffusion of power above all else in my political priorities - this probably brings me closer to classical liberalism then the modern Democratic party. I love Thomas Jefferson more then I love Hillary Clinton, Diane Feinstein or John Kerry. I like Obama and I like Edwards and iconoclasts like Gravel and Ron Paul, but there is no one I can point to in the current political spectrum who I can call an ideal.

[sniffa]

9. i can't cLaim that

as a teenager, i foLLowed the way i was raised, and (if i remember correctLy) voted repub in most eLections (granted, there was usuaLLy no repub on our baLLots, as i grew up in the peopLe's repubLic of cambridge). i do remember voting for biLL weLd and i can't denounce that vote based on his term - he did a Lot of good things, and was very gay friendLy which was an anomaLy even among some of our state dems. he aLso did some bad things, many being the crueL repubLican sort based in the criminaL justice sector, and the weLfare sector.

anyhow, that being said, i kinda hate him for enabLing the next 3 pig governors to be eLected/assigned. worst fucking guvnuhs evah!

(and one is a prez candidate)

[GeorgeGist]

13. Does your keyboard have something for the letter L

[sniffa]

21. why, yes it does

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Hey there, indie as well

after the credit card debacle

And recent votes have reinforced it

That said, will continue to vote for the lesser of since third parties are impossible to form under the current system

[Selatius]

8. Ain't that the sad truth.

I'm registered as a Dem, but if the two-party system were replaced with something like proportional representation, I'd be favoring Socialists, Greens, and Social Democrats on issues like infrastructure, education, health care, renewable energy, and environmental protections.

The "centrists" in American parlance offer little of what I want, and the rightists offer even less.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. Well I changed my registratiion as a signal to the

national and state organization

The only way parties get it in our system is to loose power

Just that the alternative of voting them out of office gives me the shivers, literally

[sniffa]

11. i hope they give you reason to vote for them

and if you feeL incLined, to return. :hi:

[Klukie]

6. Guilty.....

and unashamed.

:hi:

[sniffa]

10. good

you shouLdn't be.

if you're here, i assume you're on the side of good. as such, you're ok by me. :hi:

[Swamp Rat]

16. I'm for the humans.

:yoiks:

[sniffa]

17. humans are tasty

:9

[Swamp Rat]

18. so THEY say...

:hide:

[MuseRider]

23. Swampy, that has to be

my most favorite! I love it.

I hope you are well. :hi:

[MuseRider]

19. Unaffiliated here.

Dropped the Dems after the Alito fiasco. There is no place of independent here in Kansas, just the two main D&R and Libertarian and Reform.

:hi:

Liberal down to my toes but no longer a hostage to a party.

[GreenPartyVoter]

22. Still registered Green but I've never been a straight ticket voter

[bobthedrummer]

25. howdy y'all.

[LWolf]

26. Yes and no.

I was an unabashed independent voter for 25 years. I registered with the Democratic Party after the 2000 selection, because I could see big trouble coming, and I figured we'd all get together to protect the nation from the neocons, to uphold the constitution, to fight the imposed regime.

After all, I'd been voting for Democrats for years, and considered them allies in moving a liberal/labor/environment/people friendly agenda forward.

I've been a Democrat for 6 years, and this unhappy marriage is on the rocks. I expect it to experience a separation in about a year; divorce may be indicated.

I know that most Democrats don't care about my political evolution; so many have told me quite clearly that I should either get in line or get out. It just seems so sad. You'd think that Democrats would welcome allies, and be glad to get support for common goals. Instead, it's a rage/blame fest at whoever won't get in line and vote obediently, regardless of what the outcome of that vote turns out to be.

So I guess you could call me an independent Democrat, because I'm still a Democrat, and I still vote my independent conscience.