What Does It Mean to be Independent? (Hint: No Machine Politics Here!)

What does it mean to be independent? Check out the dialog over at Donklephant (where yours truly is a guest blogger)... Gallup is saying more independents now identify as conservative and Dems feel the force... The Chicago Reader reveals that Independent Voters of Illinois is part of the Daley machine (no surprise there)... Repubs in R.I. move to close primaries to indies... Glenwood Springs CO Post Independent supports State Representative Kathleen Curry's new unaffiliated status, and Bertie Arnhols of Aurora UT NC (thanks to Richard Winger for this correction!) leaves the party to run for commissioner as unaffiliated.... And speaking of Utah -- It's Anybody's Game!

INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Conservatives Finish 2009 as No. 1 Ideological Group--Uptick owing largely to more independents calling themselves conservative (by Lydia Saad, Gallup) Political independents showed increased attachment to the "conservative" label in 2009, boosting the overall ranks of that group so that it now clearly outnumbers moderates in Gallup's annual averages for the first time since 2004.
• Democrats' retirements point to shifting political landscape (By Janet Hook, LA Times)
• Independent of What? How north-side party regulars engineered a progressive endorsement for their candidate (By Ben Joravsky, Chicago Reader)
• Once riding high, Democrats now see disaster ahead (By STEVEN THOMMA AND DAVID LIGHTMAN, Kansas City Star)

OPEN PRIMARIES - ELECTION REFORM

• R.I. Republican identity crisis: How far right is right? (By Katherine Gregg, Providence Journal State House Bureau)
• GOP executive board moves to close primary, leadership remains obstinate (by Russell J. Moore, Warwick Beacon)
• N.J. Assembly approves measure moving non-partisan elections to November (Newark Star Ledger)
• A vote for democracy (Asbury Park Press)
• Denver Post Criticizes Restrictive Ballot Access Law for Independent Candidates (Ballot Access News)
• Candidate ineligible for sheriff election (By Richard  Gould | Hickory Daily Record - NC)

COLORADO + UTAH = INDEPENDENT REVOLT!

• Former Republican candidate defects--Bertie Arnhols of Aurora is circulating a petition she hopes will allow her to run as an unaffiliated candidate for Beaufort County commissioner. (By JONATHAN CLAYBORNE, Washington Daily News)
• Applauding Curry's decision (Post Independent, Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado)
• Alone without a party, Rep. Curry hopes to remain effective (by Brent Gardner-Smith, Aspen Daily News) And Curry wants to reduce the length of time before an election that unaffiliated candidates have to declare their candidacy.

NEW YORK

• Despite Loss Against Bloomberg, Thompson Announces 2013 Mayoral Bid (Kris Alingod - AHN)
• Reid's plea to Mike: Don't buy this Ford! (By MAGGIE HABERMAN and JENNIFER FERMINO, NY Post)

ON THE BLOGS

• Anybody's Game: Utah's Independent Candidates for Congress 2010 (Damon Eris, Poli-Tea) Quotes Randy Miller of Utah League of Independent Voters (ULIV)
• Lieberman tanks (Public Policy Polling) 80% disapproval rating...