The tale of the tape is in the turnout.
In New Jersey, Republican Chris Christie pulled out a surprisingly comfortable victory over a better-financed incumbent. In Virginia, Republican Bob McDonnell won an impressive victory touting what he could do to create more jobs.
In both cases, the key to victory was in who showed up. Put another way, the young people who fueled Barack Obama’s historic presidential victory last year stayed home.
In New Jersey in 2008, the under-30 vote made up 22% of the electorate. One year later, the tally dropped to 8%.
And in Virginia, the under-30s made up 10% of this year’s election, down from 21% when Obama was at the top of the ticket.
All of which may be another way of saying that Obama had enough charisma to overcome the historic apathy of the youth vote.
The issue for Democrats this morning: how to get the vote folks back before the 2010 elections.
I find it unbelievable that people STILL think that there is a difference in the parties. Any student of political history knows that both are controlled by one group.
Maybe the young are starting to understand this and ask “Why bother?”.
Diebold will decide the winner anyway!
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CHub Reply:
November 4th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Can’t agree more, and this dilemma is world wide.
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The real Question is; Where did all the Blacks go who voted for Obama? Answer: when you have 30% unemployment in the hoods, illegal mexicans overrunning black neighborhoods, murder, Crime, drugs, out of control, and of course the DEMOCRAT PLANTATION MENTALITY of the DNC keeping blacks in bondage through welfare programs, then maybe they have finally used their brains into not supporting THE MASSTA anymore. It is very evident that the yutes of (BLACK AND WHITE) America who don’t have JOBS or money for partying or getting high will turn on Obama. Hope and “POCKET” change don’t work.
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UnReconstructed Reply:
November 4th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
I would add that ACORN and the bussing of blacks from out of State is being watched closely. Proof: Turn off the money, turn off the power. Secede Now!
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It is indeed long-running REALITY that American mainstream politics is controlled duopoly… Often what passes for local alternatives are locally tweaked “alternative” parties (names like “Conservative, Progressive, Liberal, Independent, Working Peoples” and such) which are just offshoots of the duopolies–which in actual effect undermine legitimate criticism of the duopoly reality…
That said, there’s some limited value towards voting for “kneejerk reverse backlash” or “GRIDLOCK” when there are no acceptable candidates on the voting slate, or as write-in choice option… Especially in local elections (imo)…
With “backlash” or “gridlock” there’s at least the hope that voter “no confidence” or “political dissatisfaction” (with incumbents or the status quo) will linger palpably…
As far as the “young” anything is concerned…it’s “young ‘n dumb ‘n totally manipulable”…as far as I’m concerned… HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT WITH EACH PASSING GENERATION…
Every major election cycle (in the U.S.A.) like clockwork. they (”the Young”) will be wound-up and set off like kamikaze toy robot hordes in a given political direction or other by well-financed and mobilized interests (such as Democrats, Republicans, AIPAC/ADL, CIA etc.).
Cold hard cash and well-developed organization trump immature apathy any time…
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The only people who should legally be voting are white males. Let’s return to the Constitution pre 13th amendment et seq.
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