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I think disgusted is different than disgusting. Perhaps fed up is a better phrase, word than disgusted. Tired of is another phrase perhaps I should have used. Disgusting is more resembling repulsive. There's probably a lot of that too come to think of it.
Down through the years independents have become more fed up, disgusted if you will with one party over the other and it shows in how they voted. It's not liking either party although roughly a quarter of independents look on one party or the other favorably or maybe even both. But fed up, tired of are phrases I probably should have used. Here a quick history of how independents voted since 2006. I use 2006 as that was the year when independents made up only 30% of the electorate, which according to Gallup as of 17 Oct 2021, independents now make up 44%.
Then again disgusted may be the right word to explain the 14 point rise in independents as both major parties have shrunk. Regardless, here is the voting history for congress since it takes place every two years since 2006., You can tell which party independents were fed up with by the percentages.The largest margins are against the party in power, 2006 18 points, 2010 19 points, 2014 12 points and 2018 12 points.
2006 independents voted for Democratic congressional candidates by a margin of 57-39 over Republicans with 4% voting third party.
2008 Independents voted 52-45 for Democratic congressional candidates. Democratic.
2010 independents voted 56-37 Republican over Democratic congressional candidates.
2012 Independents voted 50-49 for Republican congressional candidates.
2014 independents voted 54-42 for Republican congressional candidates.
2016 Independents voted Republican 51-47 over Democratic congressional candidates.
2018 Independents voted for the Democratic congressional candidates by a 54-42 margin with 4% voting third party..
2020 Independents voted for Republican congressional candidates 49-48.
Now for a political strategist, 2020 was very unique and rare when it comes to independents. They voted for Biden 54-42, but then voted for Republican congressional candidates 49-48, voted for Republican senate candidates 51-47 and for Republican governor candidates 52-45.
In presidential election years, independent congressional votes usually follow within a point of two their vote for president. 2020 failed that. In 2016 independents voted for Trump by 4 points and for Republican congressional candidates by 4 points. 2012 independents went for Romney by 3 points and for Republican congressional candidates by a single, one point. 2008 Independents went for Obama by 8 points and for Democratic congressional candidates by 9 points. One can take this on further back which shows how unique 2020 was with the amount of ticket splitting going on. Voting for Biden or as I like to say, voting against Trump then voting Republican down ballot.
It's high past time that we start electing Americans to congress and the presidency who put America first instead of their political party. For way too long we have been electing Republicans and Democrats who happen to be Americans instead of Americans who happen to be Republicans and Democrats.
You do have a point. That may be a good way to put it. That's what independents do, they protest against one party one election, then protest against the other party the next election with their votes. I think one might even call them frustrated protesting voters who are sick and tired of the monopoly the two major parties have on our electoral system. I don't think there's any other democracy in the world that is basically limited to two parties.
It's high past time that we start electing Americans to congress and the presidency who put America first instead of their political party. For way too long we have been electing Republicans and Democrats who happen to be Americans instead of Americans who happen to be Republicans and Democrats.
Senate +1-3 equals lean, but within the MOE. These states are very competitive with one party or candidate having a slight advantage. +4-6 outside the MOE, equals likely, the candidate’s or party’s lead is outside the MOE. +7 and above, those states aren’t listed. They’re considered solid or safe for the party that currently holds them.
Arizona Kelly D – Kelly +4 Democratic hold R 50 D 50 Florida Rubio R – Rubio +4 Republican hold R 50 D 50 Georgia Warnock D – Warnock +2 Democratic hold R 50 D 50 Nevada Cortez Masto D – Cortez Masto +5 Democratic hold R 50 D 50 New Hampshire Hassan D – Hassan +5 Democratic hold R 50 D 50 North Carolina Burr R – Burr is retiring, open seat. Republican candidate +1 Republican hold. R 50 D 50 Pennsylvania Toomey R – Toomey is retiring, open seat. Democratic candidate +2 Democratic pick up. Democratic gain R 49 D 51 Wisconsin Johnson R – Democratic candidate +2 Democratic gain R 48 D 52
Ohio, R Portman, Missouri R Blunt, Vermont, D Leahy are retiring, these open seats may make my watch list if they become competitive later. As it stands now, the Democrats have a net gain of 2 seats leaving them in control 52-48.
House of Representatives
Currently the House of Representative consists of 222 Democrats, 213 Republicans. The GOP needs a net gain of 5 seats to take control of the House. Until redistricting is completed it is impossible to determine the total at-risk seats for both parties. As of 22 Nov 2021, 21 states have completed their redistricting. 126 districts have been redrawn, out of those 126, 11 are competitive or switchable. The democrats hold 8 of these seats vs. 3 for the GOP. Probable net gain for the Republican Party, 3 seats. 309 districts have yet to be redrawn.
It's high past time that we start electing Americans to congress and the presidency who put America first instead of their political party. For way too long we have been electing Republicans and Democrats who happen to be Americans instead of Americans who happen to be Republicans and Democrats.
Interesting question Chunk. Winning seems to mean these days stopping the other party’s every move, proposal, idea. Winning elections seems to boil down to folks voting for the candidate or party they least want to lose, not win. It seems to me, except for the party faithful, most end up voting against someone or party, but not for someone or party.
Perhaps winning means not losing. Maybe that’s all it means. Does it really matter which party controls what outside of the ascetics? There’s no doubt in my mind that both major parties owe their hearts and souls to corporations, wall street firms, lobbyist, special interests, mega individual money donors, etc. I used to say, that’s where both parties get their millions and tens of millions of dollars to run their campaigns and organization. But with 14 billion spent on 2020 elections, it more like hundreds of millions and billions.
Perhaps winning gives one party a reason to crow for a while. It’s like the Atlanta Braves winning the world series. Happy days for a while, then worry sets in about the loss of free agents and how the Braves will approach next season. The cycle begins again. So maybe, winning means not losing or you’re a winner because more folks wanted that other guy to lose more than they wanted you to lose.
It's high past time that we start electing Americans to congress and the presidency who put America first instead of their political party. For way too long we have been electing Republicans and Democrats who happen to be Americans instead of Americans who happen to be Republicans and Democrats.
When you don't have a party allegiance there's really no winning or losing. I caucus with Team Democrat because their propaganda aligns more with my ideology. Their rate of success, however, is tightly controlled by Our Corporate Overlordsâ„¢ which makes them no different from the Red Team except in the targeting of their propaganda.
"Winning" is whatever advances my personal agenda. Which is a sort of a global technocratic social democracy based on localism and cultural diversity. Socialism.
The partisan battle is pointless and meaningless. No one ever really wins, nothing ever really changes. Usually, it takes an era of great upheaval to nudge stagnant government into action and more often than not the action does more harm than good...helps the rich more than the poor...
Because I associate with some former Reform Party members, their view of both major parties isn’t kind. Ross Perot once said something akin to while the rhetoric of both major parties is the opposite, how they govern is basically the same. They only tinker around the edges.
Strange how quite a lot of people decide their vote based on the propaganda of both major parties. Maybe it isn’t as that is all one has to go on. For myself, I usually vote for the candidates and party that I think will do less harm. Until all the negative attack ads from both major parties stops, trying to paint the other party and their candidates as the worst, evil scumbags on earth. Running campaign to get the voter to hate the other guy more than they hate you in search for votes, until we get back to substance in our election campaigns, yes, propaganda is all we have to choose from.
Now I always loved this bit of propaganda.
It's high past time that we start electing Americans to congress and the presidency who put America first instead of their political party. For way too long we have been electing Republicans and Democrats who happen to be Americans instead of Americans who happen to be Republicans and Democrats.
As I go about my daily business, the people I meet, do business with, associate with, one would never know if they’re conservative or liberal, a Republican or a Democrat or other, a Trump supporter or a Biden supporter. They’re like me, just going about their business and living their lives the best they can. There’s nothing to particularly to like or dislike about them. So far that I have seen, the hyper partisanship has been shown on political sites and not in actual, real life.
Politics today brings out the worst in people. There was a poll around six months ago which showed about one third of Democrats think Republicans are public enemy number one, that approximately one third of Republicans think Democrats are public enemy number one. That each side thinks the other side is dead set on destroying this country. I think the leaders of both parties are responsible for that, they run all these negative ads and push their propaganda to the hilt that the other side of the aisle are the worst scumbags, evil incarnated, that after awhile both sides believe this propaganda. Neither side will admit it, but both are pushing hate and loathing of the other side. Both think their side is the righteous side, the good guys vs. the bad guys with that different letter behind their name. I take it all in stride. Basically, ignoring it and all the propaganda both sides spout and put out.
I think both sides with their propaganda wars along with all the negativity are doing more to harm this nation than any outside enemy could ever accomplish. That both sides have led us into today’s modern political era of polarization, the great divide and the mega, ultra-high partisanship. So, who does win? It seems to me it’s the moneyed elites who financed most of both major parties propaganda keeping us divided. We voters are just a pawn in this chess board we call the political arena.
It's high past time that we start electing Americans to congress and the presidency who put America first instead of their political party. For way too long we have been electing Republicans and Democrats who happen to be Americans instead of Americans who happen to be Republicans and Democrats.
