Mythic Turnout

For most of the (short) time I've been politically conscious and active, the youth vote has been sort of like the green flash. The green flash is a light refraction that is supposed to occur just after sunset or before sunrise along the horizon line on the ocean. I've never seen it, but whenever I watch a sunset on the beach on Prince Edward Island, I suspect that this time, I might. Sometimes someone says they say it and everyone else assumes they just blinked.

Similarly, in 2004 and 2006, the youth were supposed to turn out. Much as I believed this, I had to later roll my eyes as youth political organizations claimed youth turnout this time around was special in this or that way in this particular district of this particular state. (I wish I had a saved email to show but I tend to delete things from non-swat mailing lists pronto. And yet I sign up for them.)

Despite being somewhat of an Edwards girl, I have to admit I'm pretty head over heels about Iowa. I find an Obama candidacy very exciting and the overwhelming overall turnout makes me optimistic about the general election. I think the youth vote statistics are the most exciting though. It was so frustrating to hear the way commentators questioned the value of Obama's youth support, as well as the "facebook users, not caucus goers" comment from the Clinton campaign, and the frustration stemmed from the fact that there was no good retort, no evidence to show that they weren't right. Maybe it's the youtube debates or Obama girl or maybe we are actually frustrated we've been at war for our entire adulthoods. At any rate, I hope the turnout trend continues...

(I also hope that bloggers keep making Chuck Norris-style jokes about the press' love for McCain.)

Green flash or no, I'll javascript try to keep down the redundant political commentary, but I'm headed to NH for the weekend, so there may be a brief pre-primary resurgence. I also still have a couple more Japan posts.