The Trouble With Independents

New Republic by Michael Kazin, | Apr. 26, 2011 (Opinion)
What if these voters are just a clueless horde?

No group in American politics gets more respect than independent voters. Pundits and reporters probe what these allegedly moderate citizens think about this issue and that candidate, major party strategists seek the golden mean of messaging that will attract independents to their camp and/or alienate them from the opposing one. Presidential nominees and aides struggle to come up with phrases and settings that will soothe or excite them. But what if ... Full Story »

Posted by Jon Mitchell - via New Republic , Real Clear Politics

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Subjects: U.S., Politics
Topics: Independent
Member Tags: am update
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# Diggs: 7 (as of 2011-04-28)
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Posted by: Posted by Jon Mitchell - Apr 26, 2011 - 6:21 AM PDT
Reviewed by: Jon Mitchell (review), Sara Lindemann (review), Bob Herrschaft (review)
Content Type: Article
Edit Lock: This story can be edited
Edited by: Jon Mitchell - Apr 26, 2011 - 10:54 AM PDT

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Jon Mitchell
4.0
 by Jon Mitchell - Apr. 26, 2011

I like this story for its controversial angle, since it uses some studies to inform its conclusions.

Jon posted this story.
See Full Review » (11 answers)
Bob Herrschaft
3.9
 by Bob Herrschaft - Apr. 27, 2011

...an interesting piece with some tongue in cheek humor targeting the pollsters relentless exasperation with analyzing the "confused and clueless" hordes of independents. The article traces the argument about whether the electorate can be educated to an old philosophical feud between syndicated columnist Walter Lippmann and social scientist John Dewey. Here, the more cynical, elitist view of Lippmann seems to carry more weight.

I can remember Lippmann as a brilliant conservative.Unlike the self-avowed conservatives of today, he was actually capable of thinking in nuance. As he died before the Reagan epoch, I suspect he would be appalled by the reactionary politics of the current GOP. John Dewey, of course, was a giant in philosophical thought and his writing influenced not only his political activism and educational theory, but also extended to the arts where his thesis of "Art as Experience" was regarded ... More »

Presidential nominees and aides struggle to come up with phrases and settings that will soothe or excite them. But what if millions of independents are really just a ... More »

See Full Review » (13 answers)
Sara Lindemann
4.0
 by Sara Lindemann - Apr. 26, 2011

This is good journalism because it is a relevant topic and it gives good information. It is well sourced and seems professional in the writing.

See Full Review » (11 answers)

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