<p>Was pleased over the holidays to catch my son watching the debates. Didn’t know he had started paying attention to politics, but he is well informed and quite opinionated. All his ideas don’t line up with mine but that is probably the way it should be.</p>
<p>My son is very interested in the political scene, which surprises me a little. He watched the debates and asked if his Dad and I did. He can’t wait to vote for his candidate. We are proud of his enthusiasm, just wish his older sister would share in his interest; she hasn’t even registered to vote yet.</p>
<p>My S has been a political junkie since the '00 elections. But, his college is in another country and I’m sorry he’ll be missing the all-politics, all-the-time thing that will be happening here. When he is home, we can’t keep him away from Sunday morning talking heads. He’s doing absentee balloting (sp?) for the primary next month. I thought he’d go for Clinton but now I just don’t know. Wouldn’t go for Edwards (my choice) because of his anti-free trade stand - global guy that my S is. We’ll see…</p>
<p>Son voted in the NH primary by absentee ballot last Friday, before returning to college. He was excited. Wouldn’t say who he voted for, though (he never tells us ANYTHING).</p>
<p>When returning his ballot to the town clerk, she mentioned that McCain would be at the local pharmacy in half an hour, so we hung out there for the event. McCain walked right by us and shook both our hands–very exciting.</p>
<p>Not a first time voter but, my D couldn’t wait to get back to school to vote in the NH primary.</p>
<p>My son has already voted in the MO primary by absentee ballot. He is very knowledgeable, follows politics closely and is extremely opinionated. I’ll keep his vote confidential, but I think we can safely say he has not voted for the winner.</p>
<p>My son WAS excited about voting in his first presidential primary. Then he found out that due to the untimely (& selfish IMO) resignation of our congressman, former Speaker Dennis Hastert, the absentee ballots that were supposed to be available in late December were not available until today (the day AFTER he went back to school 5 hours away). Because of the need for a special election, the Board of Elections’ printing schedule was thrown off kilter. While the absentee ballots are available today, that doesn’t help S because, if you are a first time voter, you have to vote absentee in person. </p>
<p>Son’s response was “Gee, thanks Denny!” I just wonder how many other college students in our area were likewise effected.</p>
<p>Hard to get excited when you live in Washington State. I suspect we have a clean sweep in our household in the local caucus for Kucinich (which I think he is still likely to win), but after that, we live in Obamaland.</p>
<p>First time, older d. voted absentee from Massachusetts. Sent it back. There was a CLEARLY printed note on the ballot that it not be returned to the name on the back. Needless to say, the vote was returned to the name on the back. Another vote bites the dust.</p>
<p>We now have only vote by mail. Makes it a lot easier to steal votes, or record new ones.</p>
<p>As much as I like Kucinich and Richardson (no sarcasm, they’re my favorite candidates), I don’t think they’re going to win any caucuses.</p>
<p>You don’t know my local area. In 2004, K. got 75% of the caucus, and all the local delegates.</p>
<p>I’m not all that excited. At the University of Chicago, I think I’m pretty much in Obamaland.</p>
<p>^^^^Obamaland is hysterical :D</p>
<p>My S and his gf are ao excited, don’t know if they will stay together…s wants McCain and gf wants Obama…we’ll see</p>
<p>DS is in NH going door to door for Obama. Well, right now he’s probably sleeping, but later he’ll be getting out the vote. Biden is his favorite and Kucinich is mine, but we’re realistic. S saw most of the candidates in IA and says Obama is an amazing speaker. Doesn’t guarantee he’d be an amazing president, but I’m sure it helps out on the campaign trail.</p>
<p>My son gets excited about politics the way others do about sports. He has every state’s primary and caucus written down in his planner for the remainder of the school year. He’s really disappointed that his birthday comes just a few weeks too late to allow him to vote in our state’s primary this year, but rates voting in the presidential election for the first time at the same level as getting into college for events to look forward to in 2008.</p>
<p>When you live in NH you can’t help but get caught up in the primary. Every tv commercial is political, 15-20 phone calls/day, supporters like bethie’s s coming to the door, sign wavers at every major intersection and a mailbox full of political ads. You can’t imagine how many signs line the streets. We have all attended different candidates’ events and the 2 kids that are back at school cast absentee ballots before they left. The rest of us will vote later today. </p>
<p>It’s very exciting to be in NH at primary time, but I can’t say I will miss my phone ringing off the hook when it’s over. The saturation point has been surpassed. :)</p>
<p>You should talk to my sister, my-3-sons. She’s at Dartmouth and would normally have a tough time telling you the name of any candidate! I will admit she sat down with my dad to watch the caucus results during break, so maybe she’s getting a little better.</p>
<p>What could be healthier for our country than the young 'uns paying attention to politics and VOTING. This thread encourages me.</p>
<p>The process would be a lot more exciting if there were a single candidate worth sending to the White House, or at least one who’d have a change to survive the nomination process. A trio of junior senators debating about experience on the one side and a combination of Geritol spokesmen and preachers on the other? How wonderful that is! </p>
<p>It’s a telling sign for a political process that is so polarized by partisanship that the votes of people who have a iota of a clue are simply neutralized by the other side leaving a fickle and disengaged 10% decide the presidency on anything but valid issues. </p>
<p>This reminds me of all the wishful blah-blah about the country being energized by the campaign of John Kerry and how the youth would carry him to victory.</p>
<p>My freshman political junkie son voted an absentee ballot last Friday. It was nice for him to be able to go down to the courthouse and vote while still on winter break. And, he voted for Obama.</p>
<p>"leaving a fickle and disengaged 10% decide the presidency on anything but valid issues. "</p>
<p>Why should so-called “valid issues” have anything to do with it? 
There hasn’t been a single election in my lifetime where symbolism has been more important (and should be).</p>