1. Take advantage of Obama’s anti-gun stance. The incidents at Northern Illinois University and Virginia Tech have spurred college groups across the country to push for the right to concealed carry on campuses. The moment isn’t huge yet, but it is affecting a lot of campuses and I think that if McCain touches on it, it will show college students – whether they agree or not – that he’s in tune with the topics concerning them. Even students at Penn State are rallying behind the cause.
2. Get some pointers from Ron Paul. Everyone knows by now that the only candidate’s whose student following rivaled Obama’s was Paul’s. Somehow Ron Paul, who is older than McCain, managed to stir up colleges and universities with his libertarian rhetoric. Paul is known for his strict, to-the-letter view of the Constitution. To win over more young voters, McCain should play into this idea more by promising to follow the Constitution as it was intended.
3. Yell and scream about Obama’s connections to Tony Rezko. Young people always care about volunteering and helping out the world. They also want a president who will help the poor and automatically assume that the Democratic nominee is the one for the job. Now that the general election is underway, McCain needs to educate young voters about Obama’s biggest fundraiser. A lot of my friends support Obama – little do they know about his connections to a now convicted, corrupt slumlord that did everything but help the poor of Chicago. Do the Peace Corps volunteers want a president who benefited from money extorted from people and forced his poor residents to live in horrific situations? Doubtful.

Like I said, I’m aware that despite these reasons Obama will still probably win the majority of young voters, but McCain can at least try. The youth in this country think that Obama is some kind of savior which is so absurd that it’s actually sad. Hopefully, John McCain can open the eyes of at least some college students by proving to them that just because Obama is “young and hip” (or whatever) just like them does NOT mean he will make a good president. It especially doesn’t mean that he automatically shares their views. I know young people are notorious for not getting out the vote, but I’ve always been very optimistic (perhaps falsely) about my generation and this year, I’m praying they open their minds and come out to vote – for John McCain.

• I've been at Townhall since November, but this is the first official week of my summer internship.  Since my 16th birthday, I have had a job - from a local grocery store to an intern for my county government.  This week on Townhall.com, Carrie Scwab Pomerantz explains why high schoolers should be holding summer jobs.  I totally support all of her points.  If I hadn't been juggling a job, school, and clubs since sophomore year in high school, I don't think I would have survived my internship and five classes, not to mention heading an organization on campus.
• Time outlined the 7 steps McCain needs to take to win the general election in the beginning of this week. I'm not sure they entirely got it right, but it's ultimately a good article.  The sixth bit of advice pertains to winning over some traditional Democrats.  This is the key to winning the election, in my opinion.
• The crazies over at the LA Times are suggesting that electors vote based on candidates' handwriting styles. Next, we will be asked to pick the most powerful leader in the free world based on a diet analysis and Cosmo horoscope. Anyone who would actually vote with these types of nonsensical things in mind doesn't deserve to be having such an influence on the future of the United States.
• My life will be much easier than I thought this weekend.  A mine subsidance has forced those traveling between Freeland, PA and Hazleton, PA to find different routes for the past month.  Thankfully, Route 940 will be reopened today - just in time for my return home. This doesn't mean much to most people, but this happens quite frequently and it's very tragic.  This particular subsidence enveloped a few homes and a road, but no one was killed, thank God. Freeland residents have had a difficult month - my town is only a square mile with one stoplight and one grocery store.  Everything from schools to jobs is in Hazleton and everyone is very happy that the road is finally repaired.
• One last thing - Happy 21st Birthday to one of my best friends in the whole world, Kasey Marsicano!!! Tomorrow will be a mini-high school reunion and I'm so excited!!  We will be touring the city of Wilkes-Barre for Kaser's birthday. This is the first summer in two years that I won't be working in downtown WB.  I look forward to my grand return to the circle and the infamous Susquehanna River.

Have a great weekend TH!