www.strathambusiness.org

Interesting story:

---

While enthusiastic Democrats of all ages produced a 90% increase in turnout for the first caucuses, the number of young voters was up half again as much: 135%. The kids preferred Obama over the next-closest competitor by more than 4 to 1.

…

Obama is the only candidate in either party who is viewed favorably by a majority of young people, and he has half again as much support as his nearest competitor, Democrat or Republican.

…

In South Carolina, Obama drew more under-30 votes than all Republican candidates combined, according to exit polls.

…

If you want to feel old, just tell a group of teenagers today that you can remember a time when the Clintons were hip. There was this guy on TV, see, called Arsenio Hall, and Bill Clinton went on wearing sunglasses and playing a saxophone, and, well, no, it wasn’t on YouTube — this was before most people had heard of the Internet — oh, never mind. There’s nothing new, for today’s young people, about a Clinton replacing a Bush.

…

His campaign is crawling with cool young people, and the candidate fits right in. We’ve yet to see Obama flustered or harried; instead, he gives off the enigmatic Zen confidence of the guy who is picked first for every game.

…

He tells young people they can make a difference, and they decide to vote, thus making a difference. “Hope is the thing with feathers,” as Emily Dickinson put it, and if Obama can make it fly, it can have deep implications in a society primed to follow the passions of youth.

…

When young people get involved, they tend to stay involved. The graybeards of today’s Democratic Party were once the inspired youth of the New Frontier, or Clean for Gene McCarthy, or bell-bottomed foot soldiers for George McGovern. Scan the crowd at an Obama rally, squint, and you just might see the future.

---

Giant Political Mouse

This is a telling section of this story:

---

When Bush proclaimed, “Ladies and gentlemen, some may deny the surge is working, but among terrorists there is no doubt,” Clinton sprang to her feet in applause but Obama remained firmly seated. The president’s line divided most of the Democratic audience, with nearly half standing to applaud and the other half sitting in stony silence.

---

Bah.

Giant Political Mouse

The economy and the war in Iraq have brought President Bush’s approval numbers to 32% in a new ABC News/Washington Post poll — the lowest rating of his career for this poll.

Where the press release tells us, “Just 32 percent of Americans now approve of the way Bush is handling his job, while 66 percent disapprove,” that’s about all we get about it. But the actual breakdown of those responses is very telling. You can look at the full report (PDF) here. Respondents were asked, “Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president? Do you approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat?” The responses worked out this way:

-Strongly approve: 16%
-Somewhat approve: 16%
-Somewhat disapprove: 15%
-Strongly disapprove: 51%

In other words a majority of Americans strongly disapprove of Bush. Not since Truman has that been the case and these low numbers for Bush have been stuck there for months (since last pril when he tied Truman for low numbers)

Giant Political Mouse

sses and residences slash heating and cooling bills, sometimes by half. Americans are worried about a recent surge in unsafe food, toys and other imported products. This concern has made products made right here in the United States a lot more desirable.
But what does it take for a product to earn a “Made In U.S.A” label? Federal Trade Commission attorney Laura Koss will tell Mike about the process.And “America’s Business” will explore a troubling proposed EPA smog rule that could give our stumbling economy another blow. Environmental consultant and former Indiana state representative Bruce Carter will explain why the proposed rule is scientifically flawed and bad for business.
In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of American Justice Partnership gives us the latest report on tort reform while the NAM’s Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.” For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.

America’s Business Radio Show and Podcasts

For the first time since a disputed election drove the country into turmoil, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga met Thursday for talks mediated by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Analysts discuss the prospects for peace.

America’s Business Radio Show and Podcasts