Remebering past and present elections

Present 20008:
We went to a friend's house for Super Bowl yesterday. There, we met a guy who volunteers for the Obama Campaign. He says he passes out fliers at the mall. According to him, the county that we live in votes strongly for Obama. He said there were so many volunteers for this weekend that he was not needed. Probably true because when we were sitting around at home earlier that day, an Obama campaign volunteer came knocking on our door. On Republican side, the county votes for Ron Paul. Although he would be our Republican candidate of choice, this is a bit hard to believe....

Past 2004:
I made a bet with my colleague about who would win the election. My colleague said he is an independent but usually votes for a Republican. However, for this election, he was voting for Kerry and thought that he would win. I would have voted for Kerry as well but I didn't think he could win. So I won the bet, got a free lunch, and we all got another 4 years of Bush.

Past 1996:
Second year, first semester in college. I took a Intro to Political Science class to fulfill a requirement. I was very new to this country and did not know much about American Politics but this was the perfect time to take this class since it was election time. In my discussion session of 30 or so, 29 were Democrats. The last one grew up believed he was a Republican because his parents were, but now felt stupid and shameful that he actually thought that way and will now vote for a Democrat. Having no other exposure to America's political opinion other than this classroom in Berkeley, I naturally thought this is how America thinks. Although Clinton ended up winning the election, I was blown away to find out that almost half of America voted against him. Later, I learned that how Berkeley thinks may be a bit different from the rest of America. Although my ideas were formed during this time in life, I now find comfort in having Republican friends. With people of various ideas coexisting, I found a more normal environment when we moved out of the Bay Area. Now I think that the differences make for a healthier city.

Past 1988:
I am surprised that I vaguely remember this election. I was only 11 years old and living in Farmington, New Mexico with an American family. I remember that no one wanted to admit to who they are voting for. For some reason, I thought that they would be voting for Bush.

Past also 1988:
I remember Jesse Jackson in the primaries. We were watching TV in Yokohama, probably in the summer time when we went back there for a couple months. My dad was eating dinner late and we watched the news. Photos of the candidates came up on the screen and one was black. My dad commented on how important it was for America that a black candidate was running. I had no understanding of American politics. I did not understand why it was so special that there was a black candidate. I thought they were all the same.