[Stephen Dame]

A cute observation by Paul Wells (Who you might guess, is a little peeved) that the "Deaniacs" didn't make the difference that they claimed they would.

"The majestic Howard Dean coalition — youth, new voters, the "wired," the "disenfranchised" — remains the France of electoral coalition-building: genuinely useful, if only it would freaking show up for the freaking fight. Sorry, but I'm a bit bitter about this. Participation soared across every demographic, including the underestimated People Michael Moore Likes to Make Fun Of. But the young-new-"disenfranchised" set sat around and played Halo 2 on the X-box instead of, you know, freaking voting."

I'm not so much surprised at the result as I am dissapointed in the rightward shift across most of America: both houses (Hey Tom Daschel: I think Haliburton is hiring.) and Gay rights especially took a beating.

That last one makes me think that tolerance, plurality and acceptance don't seem to be included in those "values" we heard so much about.

The G&M put it well today, "Bush put all of his eggs in the church collection plate" and won big.

Congrats Bushies.

At least the Hillary's and Obama's of the Democratic party have four years to regroup and rebuild... they're going to need it.

[scottitude]

Yeah, I heard news-byte this morning that said only 10% of all American 18-24 year-olds actually voted. That's pretty damn sad, especially when they'll be the first ones shipped off to Iraq when the draft is reinstated.

[Kim]

Yeah, I heard news-byte this morning that said only 10% of all American 18-24 year-olds actually voted. That's pretty damn sad, especially when they'll be the first ones shipped off to Iraq when the draft is reinstated.

Holy crap - really? That just blows my mind. hock:

[VioletlightHeron]

When will that asinine draft rumor finally die?? Both Bush and Kerry explicitly said they will not reinstate the draft and it was Charles Rangel's cockamamie idea to begin with. The US military has said they don't need the draft to meet their manpower needs, they are on target for recruiting and retaining what they need. geeez.

[tragicallymike]

they can open up the draft if they want......My ass will hit the peace bridge and become a full blown citizen of the HIP NATION. (even though buffalo already counts as hip-nation)

[Jenna_Bird]

Yeah, I heard news-byte this morning that said only 10% of all American 18-24 year-olds actually voted. That's pretty damn sad, especially when they'll be the first ones shipped off to Iraq when the draft is reinstated.

I am sickened to read this, literally. I do not understand how my peers are so apathetic. There was a media blitz AIMED DIRECTLY AT THEM. It's not like P. Diddy was reaching out to the 45 white soccer mom. I'm not saying that we should be mindless drones and do what Puffy says, but Jesus, you think that there would have been some sort of result. I hate apathy more than I hate ignorance. I have gotten so little done today because I am positively fuming.

-Jenna

[VioletlightHeron]

Yeah, I heard news-byte this morning that said only 10% of all American 18-24 year-olds actually voted. That's pretty damn sad, especially when they'll be the first ones shipped off to Iraq when the draft is reinstated.

I am sickened to read this, literally. I do not understand how my peers are so apathetic. There was a media blitz AIMED DIRECTLY AT THEM. It's not like P. Diddy was reaching out to the 45 white soccer mom. I'm not saying that we should be mindless drones and do what Puffy says, but Jesus, you think that there would have been some sort of result. I hate apathy more than I hate ignorance. I have gotten so little done today because I am positively fuming.

-Jenna

I have to agree, this summer I was working for the New Voter Project which was specifically aimed at increasing the 18-24 year old vote. We signed up something like 40,000 young voters over a 4 month period and it is very disheartening to see that young people either forgot to vote or didnt follow up when they registered.

[grooveless touque]

Ugh, me too...I skipped most of my classes and I can't bring myself to do the work for Friday's tutorials...maybe tomorrow. Or maybe 6:00am Friday morning.

[The Horrible Esthete]

I simply don't get it cratch:

Don't you left-wingers see the irony in your scathing criticism of the right-wing administration as being 'wrong' for this country, when your touted alternative is thwarted because the demographic which could tilt the scales in your favor is too aloof and pathetic to even cast a ballot??

[skippy the wonder dog]

Esthete, are you capable of logical thought?

Just curious.

[grooveless touque]

That's their fault, not ours. We can still mourn the loss...it's devestating to know there's four more years of this. But nobody ever went broke underestimating the American people, and your country has a baffling habit of talking loud and carrying a very small stick when it comes to voting. You can make people aware, but you can't make them care. There are young Americans on this board who did not vote, and I know a couple. I like them as people, but I don't understand why they didn't vote. I have even talked politics with them - they KNOW some of the issues, they know some of the contrasts between the Left and Right, and they still didn't vote. Why???

[skippy the wonder dog]

The probable reason is that they didn't see Kerry as a meaningful alternative.

That doesn't necessarily make them apathetic. Nor does it necessarily invalidate any argument against Bush, except for the logically impaired.

[The Horrible Esthete]

Esthete, are you capable of logical thought?

Just curious.

I'm wondering if you know what 'logic' is, Skippy

Tell me what's illogical here:

Don't you left-wingers see the irony in your scathing criticism of the right-wing administration as being 'wrong' for this country, when your touted alternative is thwarted because the demographic which could tilt the scales in your favor is too aloof and pathetic to even cast a ballot??

[skippy the wonder dog]

Esthete, I've never -- and I say that without exaggeration -- read a logical argument from you. Not once. Thus my question.

The above is a non sequitur. You appear to be attempting to suggest that arguing that Bush is wrong for the country is invalidated by the failure of a demographic to vote for his rival. Those of us who are smarter than a broken pencil recognize that the voting or non-voting habits of the population have no bearing on whether a candidate is actually right for the country.

Keep trying, though.

[grooveless touque]

Esthete, I've never -- and I say that without exaggeration -- read a logical argument from you. Not once. Thus my question.

The above is a non sequitur. You appear to be attempting to suggest that arguing that Bush is wrong for the country is invalidated by the failure of a demographic to vote for his rival. Those of us who are smarter than a broken pencil recognize that the voting or non-voting habits of the population have no bearing on whether a candidate is actually right for the country.

Keep trying, though.

Although I agree that the issue of non-voters does not detract from the issues we're discussing and in no way weakens our arguments against Bush, I think it's going too far to say you've NEVER seen Esthete say anything logical. His ideology is of questionable moral merit, in my opinion, but he isn't just yammering away over there...I find he articulates his positions well, even if they are suspect in and of themselves.