"None of the Above" Largest US Political Party?

[WashDad]

<p>From a great opinion column in US News:</p>

<p>

Over the past several decades, our politicians have moved into two ideological camps—one arrogant and rigidly conservative, the other condescending and inflexibly liberal. Neither party has come to represent a broad coalition, in part because extremists threaten the more moderate members with primary fights. Congressional gridlock has become a cliché. The public has a ringside seat for the nonstop squabbling of a two-party system that wastes vast sums of money and serves the needs of special interests rather than ordinary people.
(…)
The majority of Americans are relatively moderate and pragmatic. They are centrist, made up of middle-aged, middle-class, practical people who believe in consensus. Fed up with gridlock and inaction, about 80 percent want compromise and conciliation.</p>

<p>The fastest-growing political party today is no party. Self-defined independents outnumber Republicans with close to 40 percent of adults falling into that category. In most states that have party registrations, independents are increasing at a higher rate than any other segment of voters. Almost 60 percent of voters have said they would consider an independent presidential candidate next year

</p>

<p>Link to whole article at [An</a> Independent to the Rescue - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/articles/opinion/mzuckerman/2007/11/16/an-independent-to-the-rescue.html]An”>http://www.usnews.com/articles/opinion/mzuckerman/2007/11/16/an-independent-to-the-rescue.html)</p>

<p>I was watching Charlie Wilson’s War last night, and found myself thinking how unlikely it would be for a Congresscritter in today’s climate to act this way. What Democrat would do something so dramatic, pretty much in secret, that might reflect so well on a Republican administration? Likewise, I can’t see a Republican doing anything to make Clinton look better in the 90s, especially without claiming public credit.</p>

<p>Is it time to toss them all out and found the Reasonable Person’s Party?</p>

[PrimetimeMom]

<p>“Is it time to toss them all out and found the Reasonable Person’s Party?”</p>

<p>Yes it is and the man to do the job of the reasonable people is Barack Obama! He is a unifier of the parties.</p>

<p>[Welcome</a> to Obama for America](<a href=“http://www.barackobama.com%5DWelcome”>http://www.barackobama.com)</p>

[poetsheart]

<p>“Fed up with gridlock and inaction, about 80 percent want compromise and conciliation.”</p>

<p>Not if the more vocal among us on the Parent’s Cafe forum are any indication. A goodly percentage here just wants revenge—reap the whirlwind and all that…:rolleyes:</p>

[jessiehl]

<p>It’s a common misconception that independents are necessarily moderates. I’m the former and don’t consider myself the latter.</p>