The youth never voted in the past. Look at the result

[mudesi]

Republicans, DLC Democrats, corporatists, war, poverty, environmental destruction.

Obama is the first candidate in decades to mobilize the youth vote, and I for one welcome it. The "older" people had their chance, and nothing has ever changed. Every single election brought about more status quo, status quo, status quo. Corporate power continues to dominate Washington.

To the older folks who say the youth don't know any better because they're inexperienced or lazy or ignorant, I say look at the older folks' track record. Where is the universal health care? Where is the green economy? All those promises, never delivered.

There is a reason the youth never bothered with politics, and it's because no candidate ever bothered to speak to their interests. Let's give the future generation a chance to choose the next president and see the result. Lord knows it can't get any worse than the last 30 years.

[BooScout]

1. here we go again

:banghead:

[NoBorders]

14. Don't worry

Tomorrow I'll post a thread about the youth being ignored, just to keep things going.

[Arkansas Granny]

2. As an "older" person I hope the youth do come out and vote. It is

their future that's at stake. Whether you believe it or not many of us "older" people have tried over the years with our votes to insure a better future for the young and the rest of Americans also. However, many of us "older" people are going to be around for a number of years to come and we deserve to have our interests represented also.

[griffi94]

3. i hate to be the one to have to tell ya

this election will bring the same status quo...the reason youth doesn't vote is that as soon as the youthful enthusiasm meets the political reality...youth gets disenchanted and goes back to their play station. if obama wins he'll be about the same president hillary would be...he won't be able to magically end the war...he'll need congressional support for his agenda and that means compromise.....obama can't deliver a green economy any more than anybody else....do ya think exxon is going to put an out of business sign on their door if obama wins....they'll either buy him or buy enough congressional seats to get what they want.
obama is speaking to yer interests....unfortunately he'll be as unable to deliver as anybody else.

[Moh96]

4. Let us never give up HOPE

[griffi94]

9. right

never give up hope....but hope alone doesn't get anybodies agenda advanced.....my statements in my last post are true
believe it or don't...but that's the reality...we voted in a democratic majority in 06....did the war end....did it get de-funded...did any sweeping reforms happen....the answer is no....and not because the democrats don't want to change things for the better...but because that's not how it works....if they start trying to bring in radical seeming changes....they'll be out on their ass the next time they're up for re-election....obama will be the same way....he's not going to turn into the great progressive hope if he wins....likely he'll run to the middle

[emilyg]

5. Good post.

[GCP]

6. If they actually get off their butts and get to the polling stations, that is

The youth vote is notoriously unreliable. It's only older folks who actually bother on a regular basis, mainly because they have more time on their hands, but also because they're a powerful block when it comes to getting their congressmen to look after their interests.
I'll believe this big youth vote push when I see it.

[cd3dem]

7. actually Jesse Ventura did it in '98

"For some younger people, the Jesse vote was an impulse vote," Disch says. "It was a bandwagon effect, meaning people were voting for Ventura because their friends were excited about doing it, too."

http://www2.cla.umn.edu/clatoday/AR2000/vote.html

Governor Jesse Ventura, Minnesota, in 1998, 46% of 18-29 year olds voted for Ventura.

Afterwards, young voters were surprised and angry when Ventura stated, if you are smart enough to figure out how to go to college, you should be smart enough to figure out how to pay for it.

[griffi94]

11. hahaha

not being from mn i didn't know that. lol
the same will happen to obama....hell take a look at shrub....we here think he's been a disaster and a far rightwing nutbar
the rightwing hates him because he's too liberal....it makes no sense but they expected more of a fire breather....good lord
can you imagine if he had been able to deliver for the real wingers in the gop...jmho but that's why they're so fragmented now...uncle karl promised things they couldn't deliver

[cd3dem]

15. Ventura was full of promises of unity and getting the republicans and democrats to work together

I never saw more fighting and more dysfunction! A state run by a former wrestler with an ego bigger than Obama... talked non-stop about how he could be president if he wanted to... he just did not know if he wanted it or not...

this is another reason I do not trust Obama!

the BS about let's all work together.... my God even the most liberal people I know think Obama is a miracle worker...

If Obama wins we will be in for a big recession, and increased unemployment and homelessness... and then Obama will be asking them for "change" ... because that is all people will have to contribute to his campaign!

visit the site below to see Obamaland if he is elected...

http://southpark.comedycentral.com/video_by_episode.jhtml?episodeId=103783

[Maddy McCall]

8. Dean campaign redux.

We've heard all this before...in 2004, to be precise.

[cooolandrew]

10. I won't get into a generation thing. Barack is just looking for a new way it can't be a bad thing.

[griffi94]

13. it's not a bad thing

it's just not a realistic thing...what new way do you think hasn't been thought of or tried by now....same type of government since 1776.
did you go clean for gene......

[Redstone]

12. Whatever the reason is, it's damn impressive to see the "youth vote" numbers.

One more reason to feel grateful to be alive to see all the political history being made this year.

Redstone

[Sapphocrat]

16. What century were you born in?

"The youth never voted in the past"? "Obama is the first candidate in decades to mobilize the youth vote"?

Ever heard of Bobby Kennedy? Eugene McCarthy? A guy named Bill Clinton who appealed to the youth vote on no less a "youth" institution as MTV? How about that Kerry fellow and something called "Rock the Vote"?

"There is a reason the youth never bothered with politics"?

Where were you when Tom Hayden was getting his head bashed in by bigoted cops at Southern civil-rights marches?

Those are just the first examples that come to mind. Do you just not remember any of this, or is your specialty revisionist history?

What a steaming pantload.