The youth vote is a coveted vote come election time. You always have your base vote, your party and senior citizens. Because every one knows Seniors have nothing else to do but vote.

This election one candidate has seemingly stirred the youth, Mr. Obama. He is a young man, good looking, smart, and has a great sense of humor. He is like the white Bill Clinton. Obama has an optimism this country could use. He is energetic and seems to have gotten into politics for all the right reasons.

I have friends who have traveled to see his speeches on the campaign trail at different Universities, etc. They all agreed that he was able to whip the crowd into a frenzy and my friends left feeling like they could trust him and were excited to get involved.
He is also very media savy. He was recently on Lettermen and showed a quick sense of humor and the ability to banter. He seems open and relaxed. Whereas the Republicans seem stiff and out of touch. Clinton has been around the game and lacks the youthful vigor of Obama. (Wow, I just used the term “youthful vigor” I think I aged 20 years).

But I digress, Obama’s website is a great design. It is a simple layout that anyone can browse through and find information. But, it has a blog section which makes it more modern. Obama has the same name recogintion as the other candidates, may be even more so. I mean honestly, does anyone even mention Edwards anymore? Poor guy, he seems nice enough. But its bascially a showdown between Clinton and Obama. A woman vs. a black man, I am happy to be alive.

Obama does not have much of a track record to speak of in politics, but he is smart and savy enough not to let that hinder him. He is a smooth talker who can come off as a man of the people (he did do an intro for monday night football) or he can use his intellect. He is a family man who does not seem to have many skeletons in his closet.

Hopefully, the Democrats have learned from their numerous mistakes to handle all the mudslinging, lies, and overall smear campaign the Republicans are going to bring. Whether or not Obama will fling poo back has yet to be seen.

However, I honestly feel that Obama could unite this country in hope and America really needs that right now. Plus, I feel like I could have a drink with the guy and he’d be able to carry a conversation with anyone in the bar.

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John McCain, the Republican G.O.P frontrunner, recently stated that he has unwavering support for President Bush and the war in Iraq. McCain stated this while he was surrounded by security,F-15’s flew overhead, and he donned a bulletproof vest in Iraq. Seems just as safe as Detroit.
The war in Iraq, or as I like to call it, Operation We Fucked Up, is not the most popular of issues at the moment. McCain said that sending more troops was the right idea. Even those National Guard troops who have already served an extended tour of duty. He claimed he felt sorry for their war fatigue and the casualites but we had to stay the course.

My favorite line was that he knew the effects a losing war could have on a nation. Maybe I am just a cynic or watch too might nightly news, but I kind of feel, well, we already lost this war. We pretty much fucked Iraq up and tore it apart. I am not saying we should just up and leave right this minute. But, I feel that our presence isn’t helping all that much.

I mean, we’ve tried Bush’s plan for a while now and things aren’t getting any better. Most of the world hates us as it is. We should try our best to give Iraq the tools and funding it needs and then come home. I mean, New Orleans is still in bad shape but we are paying more attention to a foriegn nation. How can we fix the world’s problems if we can’t even fix what’s going on in our own country?

The Republicans use fear to garner votes. If we pull out of Iraq then the terroirsts will attack and destroy the country. Which I find hilarious because, Osama Bin Laden was no where near Iraq, so how that is possible I just don’t know.
McMcain’s advisors and PR people are going to try and show him as steadfast and always good to his word. No matter how unpopular or arcane his concepts may be. I mean, in a sense, The Republicans seem old and evil. 3 out of 4 Republicans support the war in Iraq. Come election time, this tactic and statement may really bite him in the ass. Right now, Bush is political poison.

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I am a registered voter and damn proud of it. I was too young to vote for Al Gore, so I was so excited to take part in the democratic process when I cast my ballot for John Kerry. But I am not a registered party member of either the Republicans or Democrats. I find myself usually siding with the Democrats on some issues on others I sway Republican; a moderate is the term I believe.

As of late I feel pressured to register with a party. If no other reason then being able to vote in the primary elections and have a say in who the presidential candidate is. And with the upcoming 2008 election it looks like the Democrats might actually win and it’d be fun to be on the winning side for once, but then again Gore won the election and look what happened to him.

To be honest, modern politics and the state of the current U.S. Government has turned me sour for the whole concept of government. It seems so corrupt and so evil, and most importantly, totally out of my control. I mean, sure, I can cast my vote but it’s been seen that elections can be stolen. And the war in Iraq is such a mess and the whole Bush administration has caused me to lose hope in the concept of modern Democracy.

When I was a boy in grade school, when Clinton was president, I had such faith and pride in my government. Sure, they weren’t perfect, but I was into the American dream. Clinton was a master politician, he seem’d so cool, smart, calm, and collected. People may not have liked him personally, but people generally respected him. George W. Bush on the other hand has lied, cheated, and swindled the American public.

I read Al Franken’s book “The Truth” and was appalled at the Bush administration. I’ve read Sarah Vowell’s work and I realized there were kindred souls out there. My friends and I have all decided that this upcoming election we are really going to vote. Even my best friend, who is one of the most apathetic people alive, said he will vote. Because, we realized our generation has been dropping the ball when it comes to voting. And the decisions being made now are going to affect us a couple years down the line. I want my social security to be there, damn it!

So, I was considering registering as a Democrat. Republicans just have too big of a right wing Christian stigma attached to them for me right now. But, I want to vote for who I think will be the best man or woman for the job. Part of me is still that boy sitting in 5th grade awe struck by the potential for greatness America has. And though she may be in a dark corner right now, maybe, just maybe, Lady Liberty will shine again and America will be prosperous once more.

God Bless America!!!

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• Is the two-party system an effective means of governing?

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