You know what? JK's youth vote is back, and with bells on.

[ginnyinWI]

All of us who worked hard on JK's campaign can take pride in this year's election for this reason: JK's efforts in 2004 started galvanizing young people to action. It showed in 2006, and it's really showing now, during the primary season. They're focused and ready to participate, and JK got that ball rolling with the leadership and vison he showed. Our 2008 nominee will be standing on JK's shoulders.

Michael Moore even mentions it on his site:

What an amazing night, not just for Barack Obama, but for America. I know that Senator Obama is so much more than simply the color of his skin, but all of us must acknowledge -- and celebrate -- the fact that one of the whitest states in the U.S. just voted for a black man to be our next president. Thank you, Iowa, for this historic moment. Thank you for at least letting us believe that we are better than what we often seem to be. And to have so many young people come out and vote -- and vote for Obama -- this is a proud moment. It all began with the record youth turnout in 2004 -- the ONLY age group that Kerry won -- and they came back out tonight en force. Good on every single one of you!

I'm sure JK would agree that we all have that to be proud of. Our efforts and contributions have not been wasted. They just took a little time to begin to bear fruit.
:patriot:

[europegirl4jfk]

1. That's what my daughter tells me as well

Julie is still in contact with most of her old American school-friends from when she went to school in Los Angeles in 2004/05. They are all college students now and very interested in the elections, some are even campaigning. A few years ago and even still last year, they were making fun of Julie because she took an interest in politics. That has considerably changed now and most of them will vote for Obama.

[Mass]

2. That's what my son tells me too. They speak about the election in school between kids.

He was only 15 last time, so he could not vote and was at an age where he did not want to hear about politics. For him, politics = Bush.

This time, he is waiting for February 5th with excitement (first time voting).

And a little anecdote: bad news for Romney, in his hometown, none of my son's friends want to vote for him.

[ginnyinWI]

3. Somewhere I read that this new crop of kids

can be likened to the WWII generation because of the way they are more outwardly than inwardly focused. I think they're still called Gen-Y? More interested in civic events, community, organized groups and public service than their older brothers and sisters. I'd say it's true with my three. My first two are both Gen X (I think--1974 and 1979) and the youngest is a Y (1983). She's the politically engaged one and far less cynical than the other two.

Be that as it may be, I still credit JK. An energy source still needs a spark to get it started.

[TayTay]

4. Absolutely it is.

Nice pickup. People were concentrating on what went wrong in 2004. Plenty went right in 2004 as well. 2008 can pick up on those things and advance them.

Sometimes people get so involved that they can't see the forest cuz those pesky trees are in the way. You need to step back and see the overview, see where the flow of events is really going. '08 picks up where '04 and '06 left off.

[fedupinBushcountry]

5. Kids for Kerry

Since 1960, I had not seen kid involvement as there was in '04. My brother was just 6+ back in '60, but he was inspired by a candidate so much that he would fill up his little red wagon with buttons, stickers and candidate info for JFK and go on the street corners and pass it out. 2004 brought that kind of inspiration back with John Kerry running.

I hope Senator Kerry knows what a great inspiration he was on the youth in our country and that was missing for way to many years.

Ilana Wexler at the convention, this is what you call inspiration.

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/convention2004/ilanawexler2004dnc.htm