Last week, while visiting home, I got an e-mail. “Remember, your story on a young delegate is due next week.” I was in Chicago and doubted I could pull it off. I hadn’t even started.

With a pad of paper and pencil, I started calling everyone I could think of in DC who could help: the College Republicans, the Young Democrats of America, friends who could direct me to a full list of DC delegates. Voicemail after voicemail, I wondered if I could actually pull this one off.

A few days later, I was back in DC. And just as I was about to throw in the towel, the phone started ringing. Here are the people, who met with me to tell their individual stories — and how they fit into the magnificent puzzle of the largest anticipated youth vote turnout in 16 years.

I just discovered the most clever video any Street Teamer has made. And because of that - I have no choice to but first drool over it and then post if for everyone to see.

Stephanie kicks ass in this video — and as I posted on the blog, raises the bar for us other citizen journalists on MTV’s Street Team ‘08. She threads her wit with good looks to play off of Paris Hilton’s political ad (see below) with many thoughtful messages. I dig it more than the time we stayed out in Time Square clinking glasses and teasing silly boys. Congratulations, Stephanie.

I came across a few videos from MTV News and Gideon Yago tonight. All of the ones I found were from 2006 and reminded me of the old school news breaks MTV News used to run. Except they weren’t 10 to the Hour — they were in depth and serious. And it seems like Yago got some traction within MTV News with a project called Iraq Uploaded.

The angle of how technology, pop culture and soldier stories merge — is a way I haven’t seen the war covered. With the video I considered how unprecedented and unknown territory it is for soldiers to bring digital cameras for their Iraq tours. Apparently some guys even strapped handheld digitals to their helmets.  Don’t be surprised to see graphic stuff. This wasn’t made for Nightly News.

I heard a few months ago from the Department of Defense that the military evaluates videos recorded and uploaded in real time as a possible threat to OpSec, or, Operational Security. Same goes for blogs. This Lieutenant just had to take down his blog, while others, some active duty and some Veterans, continue to share their stories. It’s an all together an unprecedented issue for the Military. 

MTV News: Iraq Uploaded - Iraq Uploaded

For more videos like this, check out SpikeTV, Military.com and YouTube.

I think around 3:30 of this video I discover in the most fundamental way why I question and care about the implications of the Iraq war on our generation. Here’s a rare look at the unraveling mind of a starving citizen journalist. :) Ok, you can cut the starving part.

4:13 A young deserter becomes a lobbyist
4:40 A civil affairs officer returns with his truth
5:26 What do the people on the ground, our front lines, really want and need?

Last Saturday was great. An afternoon I’ll always remember.

I produced a crumbled credential letter to get past security. I squeezed my pint-sized camera next to Reuter’s monster lens in the press bleachers — and I focused my camera.  Not everyday do you get to cover Hillary Clinton’s concession speech. It was a close, confrontational and critical Primary race — and I would be there to witness the end of it. I remember keeping my cool while thinking, this shit is going to be historic. 

 Originally posted to THINK.MTV.COM

Thanks to everyone who stopped to tell my camera their thoughts.  Definitely post a comment and let me know what you think about Clinton’s campaign, her endorsement of Obama or what her next steps might be.