The great thing about being an independent — about not belonging to a party — is that when a politician commits a crime, tells a lie, or stumbles around like a buffoon (in short, when a politician behaves like a politician) one need feel no defensiveness, not any sort of embarrassment. One can chortle and carry on.
Or, to appropriate last year’s meme:
Keep calm and chortle on!
It is the privilege of non-partisans. It is achievable by all. It takes only enough independence of mind, of spirit, to slough off party allegiance.
Resist the herd, the pack, the school of flounders. Be a person, not a party hack.