Would you vote for this guy?

In arguably the most heated presidential primary season in our country’s history, young voters such as myself have been energized like never before. States who have already held their primary’s -New Hampshire, Iowa and Michigan- have all posted record high numbers of voters, especially those under the age of 25. California expects as high as 70 percent of voters to participate in their Feb 5. primary. But there are two candidates still in the race who I can’t rally behind -and I believe many of my generation would agree with me. Republican Mitt Romney and Dem Hilary Clinton get me about as excited as a student in an economics class taught by Ben Stein.
Romney looks like a stereotypical rich white guy who has risen to fame and power with more than a little help from his lineage (his Dad was a former Gov. of Michigan). I believe his win last night in Michigan proves my point. The guy, who looks like he drinks a lot of Earl Grey tea in a cardigan sweater after a round of golf at the Country Club, did awful in Iowa and New Hampshire with his previous victory coming in I Honestly Forget This is a State 99 % of the time (a.k.a. Wyoming).
So, in this post I will ignore discussing my qualms with Clinton and just say if Romney wins the Republican nomination it will be the first time in my young voting career that I vote for a Democratic president.
My vote for the Republican party is Mike Huckabee. He is a Christian populist, which is where my own politics lie (meaning morally conservative, socially and fiscally liberal). Also, his campaign slogan is “I Like Mike” and his buddy is Chuck Norris. Nuff said.

Michigan | Still wide open | Economist.com

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Tags: politics

Superheroes in Real Life – City Pages (Minneapolis/St. Paul)

Its a bird, its a place, its…my accountant. According to this story from St. Paul, there are actual people living amongst us who dress up and act like superheroes. No they don’t fly, see through walls or have butlers named Alfred, but some do fight crime and help as volunteers.
Superheroes in Real Life – City Pages (Minneapolis/St. Paul)

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Arrival in Monterey, CA

I’ve made it to Monterey, CA to begin my year of service as a VISTA at the non-for-profit Housing Advocacy Coalition of Monterey County. My residence is in a home located in the sleepy fishing village of Marina just outside Monterey, CA. This is easily the most beautiful locale I’ve lived in as the ocean is just a hop, skip and jump from my casa.

To be honest, one of my worries before taking this position was what my housing conditions would be like. As a volunteer for the federal government I was at the mercy of my sponsoring organization on where I would live. Luckily my house is quite nice. I have my own bathroom and my room is the largest I’ve ever slept in.

Although I don’t start my job yet as a marketing and resource developer at HAC until next week, I’ve met some good people who share the idealist values I possess. After the L.A. disaster, it is a relief to see there are still people out there who, as corny as it sounds, want to make the world a better place.

Yes, in this year of taking some time to just study what is proving to be the bane of my entire existence -the LSAT’s- I could have done several things: Worked at a media organization; gone on the campaign trail for a candidate; or stay at home, raise money and substitute teach. But after only a couple of days I think I made the right decision in deciding to give back to the community of Monterey, my country and hopefully make an impact in someone’s life.

To say the least, this year will be full of challenges and rewards, both in what I accomplish and how I grow as an individual. I never thought I would have ended up working at a non-for-profit for less than minimum wage while living 30 feet from the beach, but God has a weird way of intervening. All I know is that 2008 looks like it’s going to be one special year.