The year of the independent.

[spotbird]

I just had lunch with a friend who is a self-described Republican recently turned independent. While discussing politics, we couldn’t find an issue we disagreed about (we did carefully avoid one zinger). The war, deficits, global warming, accountability, all of the issues that really matter, we agreed were desperately off track and in the same way.

What was truly ironic is that we also agreed that all our national leaders are uninterested in our concerns.

If an independent came onto the national stage and spoke frankly about the crazy aunt in the attic, if he or she acknowledged the elephant in the room and offered genuine leadership, neither party would have a prayer for the presidency this cycle. I’m not talking a fringe candidate like Nader. It would take someone like Perot, with charisma, intelligence, oodles of money, and a promise for change. (Disclaimer: Perot was not perfect, but he is the best example that comes to mind)

Blomberg is corporately owned like his major party counterparts, so he fails on the change point. He also loses on the charisma front. There may not be such a person, no one comes to mind, but if there were such a person, this would be their time.

[Virginia Dare]

1. Republican *recently* turned independent..

another rat jumps ship...

[wuushew]

2. Why was this person ever a Republican?

n/t

[spotbird]

4. Fiscal conservatism,

seems like the most compelling reason. Those old fashioned Republicans are having major difficulty with the government spending like drunken sailors. She also only recently (within the past few years) came to realize global warming is not a myth cooked up by crazy liberals. She was raised Republican, so it seemed natural. Change is a process.

Then there is the zinger, choice. But she seems to have even mellowed on that to the point that the lives of the born matter.

On edit. Maybe she hasn't mellowed on choice, but realized that single issue voting can cause wacky leadership.

[hfojvt]

3. Perot, right, populist saviour of working people

In 1992 I saw him as just one of the three moderate Republicans in the race Bush, Clinton, Perot. All about as progressive as Gerald Ford.

[spotbird]

5. Hence my caveat.

I'm not suggesting that Perot is the candidate, or that he would have been a great president. I suggest only that he did have many of the characteristics the phantom independent would need to succeed, specifically the willingness to address the real issues that concern people.