This year is a very different political year.
I’m still not going to talk about my own politics here — that’s personal.
The politics of our grandchildren — that’s interesting.
When Obama made his speech in Madison, Wisconsin, on the evening that he won the Potomac primaries, our grandchildren were in the audience.
Emily Mills, the lady who took this photo, observed, from her vantage point in the press area:
When Obama himself finally made his grand entrance, the handful of young college girls standing in front of me (on the other side of the fence) started screaming and jumping up and down like there was a dreamy movie star in the vicinity. That sort of reaction is fascinating to me, and, I think, somewhat unique to the Obama candidacy. I don’t suppose McCain or Clinton elicit similar reactions from their supporters. My blogger friend leaned over to me at one point and asked, “Since when did politics become cool?”
The following week, our grandson was so interested in the process that he asked his dad to take him to the polls when he went to vote — before school.
My earliest memories of politics are from when I was the same age, seven years old. It was during the campaign of another very charismatic president. All I really remember is kids playacting the Kennedy vs. Nixon contest in the playground.
The campaigns this year have been far more interesting than most in the past. I think turnout has been extraordinary for a large percentage of primaries. My wife and I voted in primaries for the first time ever.
Maybe it’s because of the the writer’s strike and — now that it’s over — politics will go back to norrmal.
naaa. — I don’t think so.
(photo by Emily Mills – There is a Creative Commons license attached to this image. Attribution, No Derivative Works)
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From what I've seen he seems like a charismatic guy Mike. I just hope he doesn't wind up the same way Kennedy did.
The college girls reaction is funny. I'm sure it helps build his confidence. Who wouldn't like that kind of Idol treatment? But makes you wonder just what about him elicits that kind of reaction – his looks or his ideas? This year has almost seemed like a reality show.
It has been a very interesting year indeed.
I used to vote in the primaries, but I can't do that any longer. I'm Independent. I'm not impressed with the two major political parties, nor the candidates, so I changed my affiliation last year.
I'm still not impressed with the candidates this time. I did a lot of digging on each of them, but I'll vote for the one that I think is least likely to make things worse. I can only think of one election I missed. I was away in college.
I have no opinion of Obama as a candidate. Like most Americans, even the ones that weirdly have become so adoring of him, I know practically nothing about the man. If he gets the democratic nomination (obviously, he will), though, I hope he runs a good campaign against McCain. McCain is certainly no extreme conservative so he is far from the worst possible outcome for democrats if he were to be elected. However, there is a sense in the country that what is needed is a swift departure from the status quo, a clean-break of sorts. Perhaps Obama represents that. Perhaps his election would be a signal to the world that America still represents an engine for change.
I have to wonder, though, if it is merely irrelevant as to who gets elected, regardless of party. The main point is that we would finally be moving beyond the current administration (which I, as a now-former republican, voted for in the first election and against in the second election)
I voted for the current President's father — the first time. I had followed George H. W. Bush's career since I saw him at a rally in downtown Houston in 1970. I was probably one of the few people who paid attention when he was an ambassador and when he was head of the CIA. However, when it was clear he didn't have a clue about the economy, I voted for the other guy.
I didn't trust the current president from the start. I didn't vote for him the first time or the second time.
I like John McCain. I think he is more honest and caring than most politicians. I don't like his stand on the war in Iraq. We can't stay there forever. I don't like his lack of understanding on the economy.
Tim is right, though. No matter who wins, the current administration will be history.