Political tsunami: the election of 2006

I'm beginning to look at the analysis of the 2006 election results. This story in the NYT contains a basic breakdown. (You have to click on the link in the left margin "Survey of Voters: Who They Were.")



Much of the data is encouraging, the breakdown on youth, black, hispanic, voters, etc. The Times story emphasizes that evangelicals stuck with the Republicans. No surprise there. But trends for much of the electorate moved in a different direction.

Women were 52% of all voters and voted 56% Democratic. Young voters 18-29, 12% of the total, voted 61% for the Dems. A new youth revolt against the forces of war, imperialism and inequality?

A first glance at these numbers reveals some very, very hopeful signs. I recall the warmth, enthusiasm and explicitly political message of the Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young "Living with War" concert at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center last August, thinking "this is great, but too good to be true." But it was one of many glimmerings of a tsunami on the horizon. Of course, it will take a lot of work to continue and to build upon these gains.

- Langdon