Ohhhbama... and other election-day trends

It has become sometimes painful to observe the ignorant, sheep-like following of Sen. Barack Obama by the entire Boulder (and surrounding) community knowing perhaps more than half are doing so because it is trendy (although they will probably claim otherwise).
While Obama must be given credit where it is due for attracting so many 'new' people to the election of arguably the most important position in the country, the manner in which this attraction is occurring is more in tune with a female-male courtship or a jam band groupie than a political election.
Flocking to the nearest hip bar to watch each debate with 100 others holding the exact same 'views,' patrons of Obama memorize enough clever witticisms to quote the following day at Whole Foods, another hip bar, or basically anywhere, as everyone believes the same thing. Ask any at the bar-debate party the next day what Obama's foreign policy plan for the middle east is (perhaps the most important topic, and most talked about?), and see who actually knows the answer. And if they happen to know the answer due to common-sense party-line politics, ask them about another topic. The answers will most likely resemble an episode of "Street Smarts."

Evidence that this is not just a bitter rant can be found in an article of the Golden Transcript following Obama's visit to the Colorado School of Mines: http://www.milehighnews.com/Articles-i-2008-09-18-208033.114125_Obama_supporters_fill_arena.html In the article, a woman named Mary Orem, a Golden, CO resident was captured in this manner:

Tears streamed down her face intermittently during Obama's 45-minute speech. "I'm 54, and this is the first time I've been able to be this involved," Orem said.

Really Mary? Tears? Please keep in mind that, according to the article, Obama was addressing national economic issues, not freeing war-torn countries. Tears hardly seem necessary.
But more distressing is the quote from Orem. At the age of 54 this is the first time she has been able to be this involved? How frightening that Orem has lived to the age of 54 without realizing that as a citizen of the United States, it has been her job since the age of 18 to be 'this involved' in the political process. Furthermore, I have trouble sleeping at night thinking about people of this intelligence and emotional (tears?) level voting for the next leader of the free world.
However, I retain some hope in the fact that Mary, in her emotionally fragile state probably forgot to register to vote, and will instead sit at home and feel involved on election day.