Bunker Mulligan "Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." ~Mark Twain

Clarke’s testimony and the Bipartisan (why not “non-partisan?) 9/11 Commission have driven another nail into the get-out-the-vote coffin. People are becoming less and less interested as the hard-core become moreso.

And that is dangerous.

There is something to be said for always voting, regardless of your opinion of the two choices you will have. Without those “tweener” votes, the major political parties will drift toward their respective ends of the spectrum. The conventional political wisdom is to focus primary runs on the party core–true believers–and run to the middle for the general election. Seems to be popular.

And the tweeners decide the election. Not the party faithful, who will be, well…faithful.

Let’s explore the tweeners a bit. They are not completely enamored of either major party. But they are not the folks who support Nader, or even Dean. Some support the Libertarian Party, but there are plenty in that group that are extremists to the right or left. Most tweeners want simple government policy, and minimum intrusion into their personal lives. That intrusion includes the tax structure and government involved in social/cultural issues.

But many of these people don’t vote. And they withhold that vote for a variety of reasons. Some don’t vote because it’s too much trouble. Some don’t pay attention enough to even know when the election is. They only know it’s over because there aren’t any more campaign ads inturrupting their favorite shows. Some don’t vote because they don’t agree completely with either candidate’s views.

This last group holds the key to changing things. But they have to use their vote to do it.

Politicians pay attention to polling data. What lesson have they learned over the years? Just what I identified earlier–move to center. But there is no true center, just tweeners. Those who vote will see things move their way–eventually. And that delay is the real problem. We focus on this week or this election. As the War on Terrorism will continue for several years, so will the battle for a political party that shares the majority opinion.

I remember Ronald Reagan having the political guts to make huge changes which hurt in the short term, but improved all in the long term. That is what the tweeners need to recognize. Their vote today, though not completely reflecting their beliefs, can drive politicians in the direction they want. It won’t happen in only one election, or even two. It will require commitment. If voter turnout rises, and that increase is reflected more in one party rather than the other, politicians will pay attention. Or they won’t be politicians much longer.

Notice I didn’t address whether you should vote Democrat or Republican. That’s your choice. Which one better represents your views. As I’ve said before, I don’t like groups because you give up something of your very own when you become part of one. I will vote for George Bush. But that doesn’t mean I’ll vote a straight party ticket. I’ve done that only once in my life. Terrorism and Supreme Court nominations are the most important federal issues to me this election, and my vote will reflect that. But local and state races have completely different issues I will decide with my vote. And there, I will opt for the person who best represents my views–Democrat or Republican, or Libertarian, or Independent.

Don’t throw away your vote because you like or dislike the latest hearings. I actually believe that’s what they hope to accomplish. It gives more weight to the respective party faithful votes. And that’s what we tweeners need to overcome.