I was going to call this the dumbest headline ever...

'Restless' Independents, Not Parties, May Select U.S. President

But then I realized I was wrong on both counts. (Moi wrong??? Yes it does happen from time to time.)

1. It is not the dumbest because perhaps I take for granted that everyone pays attention to elections and politics.
2. Ever? Not even close, but it was the dumbest I read today.

For example, I take for granted that everyone knows that in any given national election from 37 to 43 percent of voters will vote Democrat, another 37 to 43 percent of the voters will vote Republican, politicians split that up the middle and estimate 80% of all voters are strict partisans. This will and does happen; even in the biggest blowout in the history of the country, 1984, Mondale still got 40% of the vote.

That means 20% of the voters are independents; it is that 20% that chooses the president.

Now of course that is not 20% of the entire population... that is 20% of voters.