If there's anything I want to be "independent" from, it's partisan tomfoolery. Unfortunately, I think this is more of a systemic problem, and has more to do with in-group mentality and human nature than the nuance of politics, as it were. If that's the case, then I'm completely screwed and I should give up on seeing things turn around. To comment on the part where you probably don't believe me, if you were going to put a gun to my head and make me fill out a ballot sheet, I will vote for the secular/populist/socially liberal candidate every time, regardless of which party they came from. This time, it's the Democrats by a slim margin (I could argue that both candidates are merchant class sellouts, but I digress). So I suppose you could say I'm a de-facto Democrat, but I still identify as Independent, since I vote according to whichever candidate represents me better, and not according to party affiliation. When people say they're independent, I think that's what they mean.
I like to think of it this way: I'm not a Yankee fan or a Red Sox fan; I'm a baseball fan. I like to watch a good game, and I appreciate the game itself more than any individual team. Right now, baseball sucks and I don't like watching it. That's what being independent means to me.
In a flourish of irony and Shyamalanian Twistery, I say we create a political party for people who hate political parties. What will we call it?
I guess that by calling myself an independent, it's my way of saying "this system sucks and I wish I had better (more) options". By declaring myself DEM or GOP, I would be endorsing a system that I find ridiculous. But yeah... I'm pretty liberal at heart.
I don't think Romneys work with Bain is the story though. I think his stances on social issues, healthcare and reproductive rights are. He's flip-flopped quite a bit. That's his Achilles heel IMO. But you're right, most "independents" know exactly who they'll vote for.
The GOP is out to win BIG TIME so don't be surprised when a meth head wearing nothing but lingerie and a Romney pin shows up at your door.