Hey DU. Give it up for Iowa. One year ago, tonight.....

[Condem]

..this incredible journey began. Anyone have some film from that historic night? If you do, please post it. Love you!!!

[FrenchieCat]

1. Here,,,,,

The speech that propelled him (no, not the Iowa victory speech)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tydfsfSQiYc&eurl=http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2007/11/obama-at-jeffer.html

[davidpdx]

48. I LOVED the line:

"My name of my cousin Dick Cheney will not be on the ballot. We've been trying to hide that for a longtime. Everybody has a blacksheep in the family."

[Clio the Leo]

51. He really does BETTER without a podium .....

.... needs to ditch it.

And didn't he do it WITHOUT a teleprompter?

[AtomicKitten]

2. The election cycle was endless, but this occasion is toast-worthy.

:toast:

[Condem]

3. Thanks Frenchie & Atomic

I'll tell you. Though much criticized, three of the best nights of my life have been at the Caucuses. Now, I live in a very liberal Iowa City, so we know what we're doing. Nonetheless, nights I'll never forget.

[AtomicKitten]

5. to the Greatest Page .... Oh, what a night!

[Joe the Revelator]

4. Wow, I can't believe that was a year ago already.

[Cha]

6. YES! What a night

to remember! Among many milestones of our illustrious journey:fistbump:

Freaking emotional roller coaster ride.. But, we did it!

[wndycty]

7. I'm getting chills. I was standing there in Hy Vee Hall listening to the speech. . .

. . .after attending my first ever Iowa Caucus as a volunteer and observer.

[LWolf]

8. I may never forgive Iowa.

One year ago tonight was the beginning of the end of hope for authentic change, for an authentic, and for a substantive shift to the left.

Two caucuses and two primaries later, it was all over, with no relevant or worthy choice left on the ballot for the final 44 states.

7 months of shameful race-gender wars followed, and the party and the nation are not better for it.

In my opinion, of course.

Which counts as much as anyone else's.

[quiet.american]

10. Can't help but chuckle a little -- that's one of the best "bah-humbugs" I've ever read!

Well, at least we know where you stand!

[LWolf]

15. I've always been completely transparent, lol. nt

[quiet.american]

18. :) nt

[BeyondGeography]

11. Primary war flame bait

Someone needs to move on.

[LWolf]

14. I wasn't part of the primary wars.

Unless you can count vigorously opposing BOTH candidates, and lobbying for a brokered convention that would have denied the nomination to both.

I have moved on. I'm not stuck on the "Obama as the center-right savior of the free world" theme.

I'm ready to battle the Obama administration for every damned centimeter of leftward movement that can be acheived while he is in office.

[BeyondGeography]

19. How noble

Maybe you can write "My Struggle" when it's all over and done with.

[LWolf]

55. It's never "all over," lol.

The struggle is not mine, but one of human evolution. I'll be nothing more than the dust on Pigpen's feet by the time humanity evolves far enough to leave war, empire, conquest, competition, arrogance, and greed behind. If the species survives that long.

And by then, humanity will be evolving in a new direction.

[Odin2005]

71. If I hear the "Obama is center-right" lie one more time someones gonna get hurt.

Obama's a LIBERAL, dammit. I'm sick of you redefining "Liberal" as "everything to the left of Kucinich".

[LWolf]

76. It's amazing what one person can do to redefine things, isn't it?

:sarcasm:

I don't define "liberal" as "everything to the left of Kucinich." I also don't define "liberal" as "centrist," or as "center-right."

Of course, I'm not the only person in the nation to have recognized Obama's center-right tendencies. I recognized them in '04, myself. All that was necessary was to listen fully to his supposedly inspiring speeches.

http://www.blackagendareport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=929&Itemid=1

[Condem]

13. Hey, LWolf

Ever been to a caucus? Seems like someone with opinions like yours, would love it. Everybody is FREE to speak. That's what I love about them.

[LWolf]

16. I live on the left coast.

No caucuses.

Frankly, the process of someone trying to convince me to change my vote, or to swing my support to a candidate I didn't like, when I'd researched, discussed, and considered before I came to a decision, would just piss me off.

I'd go home without my vote, without my participation counting, every time.

I'd really love to see IRV replace both the caucuses and primaries currently used.

Edited to add:

As a matter of fact, I'd like to see no exit polling, and, regardless of what day a primary was held, no vote counting, until the last primary was done.

One national counting day, with everything counted at the same time. That way, later primaries don't have their choices narrowed by early primaries.

[Condem]

17. Sadly, LWolf, you don't know shit.

No one tries to change your vote. If you've never been to one, how can you speak as if you have?

[snowbear]

46. I love caucuses!

.
.

And THANK YOU to the wonderful state of Iowa! ~~

[LWolf]

57. Just what those who've been have told me.

Just what is that, when people circulate around the room, trying to convince others to switch their support?

And, in the end, when I don't swing my support to another candidate, and my candidate is not "viable," does my vote join with those caucusing elsewhere to make a total, anywhere, for that candidate?

[asdjrocky]

69. I've been to 2 caucauses....

My job was to change peoples minds.

[Critters2]

33. If you're so weakly committed that you'd change your vote in the first round of a caucus,

it'd be just as well if you stayed home.

[LWolf]

56. You need some remedial tutoring on reading comprehension, lol. nt

[grantcart]

66. ideological narcissists are a permanent caucus of one

His caucus is permanently full.

[LWolf]

77. Whose is "his?"

If you are going to engage in name calling, at least try to be coherent, lol.

[LisaM]

86. Untrue. I was not given a chance to speak at my caucus (in Seattle)

and people were also allowed to get up and say ridiculous negative things about Hillary (vs. caucusing FOR their candidate, which is how it's supposed to be). Someone else I know in Washington attended a caucus where a Hillary supporter was shouted down and not allowed to finish.

The caucus goers also refused to follow the rules and vote on the resolutions the party had crafted prior to the primaries.

Of course, we were people who had the two hour window to attend. Plenty of people could not (including my neighbor).

[anonymous171]

60. I thought you were all for holding candidates accountable.

Blame your candidate(s) not the states. They failed you. Iowa did not.

[LWolf]

79. Actually, if you want to dig deeper to hold anyone accountable,

it would be the whole primary system first.

When there are no exit polls, and all primary votes are counted on the same day regardless of when they were cast, then every vote will count equally, which SHOULD be a goal of any the "democratic" party.

When there is a modern version of a fairness doctrine, and 100% public funding for all campaigns, and authentic, democratic debates rather than choreographed circuses manipulated by corporate media, then I'll hold candidates accountable.

Beyond that, though, I hold Democratic voters themselves accountable.

[roody]

64. Substantive change will not come from either major party.

It will come from the people.

[LWolf]

80. I agree with that statement.

I don't agree that substantive change will come from people who expect that their part of creating that change is to elect Obama and then sit back and cheer on his center-right agenda.

Not all change, no matter how substantive, is positive. I want substantive POSITIVE change, which to me means leftward change, to put it simplistically. I've seen people working for this change my entire life, while the nation continues a steady march in the other direction.

[Tutonic]

67. Nation no better for it?? Can we wait until January 20th?

[LWolf]

75. I don't think anything that Obama does in office

is going to change the festering gangrene that was exposed within the party that traditionally champions, or used to be seen to champion anyway, the disenfranchised.

The willingness of Democratic campaigners and voters to play race and gender cards, to take race and gender sides and go to war on that basis, cannot be laid at Obama's door. That's a corruption deep within the party that has been there longer than Obama has been a voter, and has been exposed.

Who's going to be amputated to effect a "cure?" I believe the answer will ultimately be the left wing of the party.

I think that the process will be speeded up under an Obama administration. When you have a Democratic president who embraces homophobic religious figures, republicans, and conservatives while distancing himself from the "excesses" of the left; when you have a Democratic president who moves aggressively to move center-right priorities forward, with the enthusiastic support of the majority of the Democratic party, the problem isn't going to change for the better.

[Odin2005]

70. Green Party Underground is down the street, buddy.

I worked my ass of of Obama in Minnesota and I find youur remarks disgusting. Get your head out of the Naderite sand.

[LWolf]

74. I'm not a Green.

I'm a registered Democrat, and I've been at DU years longer than you.

You aren't the gate keeper.

I've also never voted for Nader.

I'm also not your "buddy," and I'm not male.

You might want to be a little more informed when you gear up your limp little cyber-sword and go forth to do battle. You're tilting at ghosts.

You find dissatisfaction with the direction the party has taken "disgusting."

I find the embracing of the center-right, and the distancing from and disenfranchising of the left, more than disgusting. I find it unconscionable, and I find the willing participation of Democratic voters appalling.

Let me know when you become the DU gatekeeper, lol.

[Odin2005]

81. Constantly repeating that "center-right" lie doesn't make it true.

Gee, isn't the "big lie" thing on of Rove's tactics? :eyes: And just because one claims they are a registered Dem doesn't mean their heart isn't with the anti-Dem memes of the Greens. Someone who read Alinsky and put his words into practice ain't no right-winger.

[LWolf]

82. Er...

Constantly calling Obama a liberal, in the face of his obviously centrist and center-right agenda, doesn't make him a liberal, either.

I like your phrase "putting into practice," though. We'll be watching him putting his agenda into practice all year long. I don't expect much in the way of liberal victories.

If there are any, I'll be happy to acknowledge them. Just as I've publicly declared agreement with Obama every time I've agreed with him on something. All 3 times.

I will be nothing but thrilled if I get to spend more time agreeing with him than not in the coming year. I just don't see him making that big a shift.

[Shakespeare]

78. One year later, and you're still nibbling those sour grapes?

I feel sorry for you.

[LWolf]

83. Step back and look at the big picture.

It's not about primary candidates.

It's about the direction of the party as a whole.

I don't like it, and I'm not going to make nice about it.

[Shakespeare]

84. Oh, I see the big picture.

I just see something much, much different than you apparently do.

[LWolf]

88. Obviously.

Or perhaps we are looking for different things.

[Renew Deal]

87. lol

:rofl:

[Ishoutandscream2]

9. I wasn't for Obama at the time, but I have to admit

that Iowa made me very proud that night. Proud to be an American. Those feelings have been quite rare lately.

[NYC_SKP]

12. RECOMENDED! What a year!

Most highly!

Lordy I thought it would never end.

Thanks!!!

[Condem]

20. Good cheer, tonight

Any video? I can't find shit. I feel like openly weeping.

[wndycty]

21. Here you go

The victory speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB-sNaaaJRU.

[Condem]

23. Thanks, wndycty

Amazingly, nothing on the networks announcing the MOMENT.

[XemaSab]

41. Why doesn't he speak like that any more?

:shrug:

[davidpdx]

49. That one doesn't work, try this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqoFwZUp5vc

[Zynx]

22. That was just a year ago? Damn, that's the longest year of my life.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

24. It's been quite a year.

We had an excellent field and an excellent candidate. Thank God we beat McCain.

[Condem]

25. Feel like Captain John Miller in Saving Private Ryan, jaredh

On D-Day. That's a helluva view, Captain Miller. Yes it is. Yes it is.

[Critters2]

26. That was the night I began to worry about all the "reaching across the aisle" talk.

The Rick Warren decision tells me I was right to worry.

[Condem]

28. mycritters2

Look at the BIG picture. You're here in Iowa. You focus too much. That fight isn't going too hunt in the long run. A bad decision- yes. The problems in this country go way beyond that. Sacrifice.

[Critters2]

29. I'm not in Iowa now, though I was at the Eagle Grove Caucus as an observer.

It's time to stop asking the glbt community to sacrifice. It's time for Dems to step up and REALLY support civil rights for glbt Dems and all glbt Americans. It's time change and hope included everyone. That should be the big picture.

[Condem]

30. Nope, mycritters2

The economy is in the shitter. The fucking world is in the shitter. Incredibly selfish of you. Think beyond yourself, for once.

[Critters2]

31. Civil rights benefit everyone, ultimately. nt

[Condem]

32. Pure tunnlevision.

The man has monster problems to deal with. Lighten up.

[Critters2]

34. Your marriage is probably legally recognized. nt

[Condem]

35. So move back to Iowa, mycritters2

I have a good feeling we're about to recognize it.

[Critters2]

36. I hope to move back in the next year or two. nt

[Condem]

37. We'll welcome you back with open arms.

And so will the Iowa Supreme Court.

[Critters2]

38. But Warren and his ilk are hoping to get a constitutional amendment

outlawing same sex marriages in all 50 states. And his friendship with Obama only encourages that kind of thinking.

[Condem]

39. Come on, mycritters

We're well beyond that. Never happen. That type of thinking is dying a slow, but sure death. The election of 08 proved that. You will overcome. Of that, I'm sure. Despite the nonsense in California.

[ErinBerin84]

27. wow! It's been a long freaking year.

I have some good memories of that night.

[XemaSab]

40. Woot!

:woohoo:

[zulchzulu]

42. If you asked if I would have been in Iowa five years ago...

...after moving to Madison from the Bay area, the Iowa caucus was particularly amazing in 2004 and 2008.

I've never been so cold as this time last year in Iowa with many friends of all kinds canvassing in the western part of Iowa. A good friend and his partner got to be in Des Moines and was on stage when Barack gave his victory speech.

Looking at my tickets to DC for the Inauguration, it indeed is fitting to say what a long strange trip it has been.

Cheers!

:cheers:

[Condem]

43. You were here , zulch?

Hell, that was our warm spell.

[zulchzulu]

44. Yep...

I was mostly in the Dubuque area this time around. I did some phone banking but mostly canvassing in the area. A friend of mine and I started canvassing back in August for Barack's birthday and I went to Dubuque at least a few dozen times... it's about 90 miles from Madison.

In 2003-04, I followed the Kerry campaign all over the state doing some video and ended up in Des Moines for that wild night in 2004.

As for the warm spell, there were a couple days where it was pretty dang cold, especially when walking outside for four hour stints canvassing. Granted, it's been VERY cold here recently...

:hi:

[sandnsea]

47. Looking at your tickets??

You got tickets??? How did I miss that!!

:wow:

[Condem]

52. We'll be looking for you, zulch

LOL!!! In that throng. Taking a couple of days off to soak it all in.

[progressoid]

45. It was damn cold!

He wasn't my first choice, but I celebrated his win. It was amazing.

[davidpdx]

50. It was pretty amazing

Many said it was improbable. It is still amazing that it happened.

[JVS]

53. WOOT!

[Skidmore]

54. YEAH!! I stood with Obama!

And watched many join us in our corner of the room. Over on the R side of the hall, the Huckabites were sitting in neat rows of tables listening to the local preachers trying to drown out the Dem rabble with sermons about morality and prayer. We stood with Obama and for hope and change. We stood and started the work that turned Iowa County blue.

[DevonRex]

58. That was a wonderful night. The speech he gave was phenomenal.

That's when I began to see a brighter future for America and I haven't stopped since. We have a lot of work to do and now we know we can do it.

[camera obscura]

59. Iowa, from a onetime Dean supporter - you made up for 2004 and then some! ;)

[Condem]

61. ONE FINAL NOTE. I'm going to be just a little smug.

To use a sports analogy, Iowa was Obamas make or break moment. He loses, he's a footnote in history. Yeah, maybe he takes another shot 8 years later. Who knows? Maybe, Hillary Clinton does such a horrendous job as 44, that it is impossible for a Democrat to win in 2016. Impossible to predict. I do know this. NEVER underestimate his incredible win here. A seismic shift. We awoke the African-American constituency like never before. Not with a whisper to the ear-psssst, get up. But with a physical rousting. Hey, get the FUCK up! We are 90% white. We gave the thumbs up that this fellow had what it takes. Sure, New Hampshire fucked up five days later but they fell for some tears. The oldest trick in the book. Hindsight is 20/20. It's easy after this momentous year to forget the roots of this historic win. However the deepest root starts in Iowa. Right here. Someday, Iowa will be recognized as the state that changed the world. Of this, I am sure. We took the shot and hit nothing but net!

[DevonRex]

62. I'll be forever grateful to Iowans. As a matter of fact, I met some Iowans

back before the 2004 election. I was at a concert at Red Rocks, wearing a Dean shirt. And a group of Iowans came up and talked to me. They were interested in Dean's positions. I was astonished at how much they cared and how serious they were about politics. It left me with a really, really good impression of Iowa and the folks that live there.

I also drove through the state a few years back. It's really pretty there. So green and neat.

[Condem]

63. We take our first-in-the-nation status very seriously, JenniferZ

The good news is, under Obama I'm confident we'll retain it. As for our beauty, let's keep that a secret. Being from Detroit and Philadelphia, the pace is perfect out here. And yes, Iowans are very friendly for the most part. I despise some of the republicans though. Just like any other state, however.

[JNelson6563]

65. Here's to Iowa!

:toast:

Julie--in Michigan, land of primary debacles

[asdjrocky]

68. Yep.

One year ago tonight I was in Iowa. What a night.

[Odin2005]

72. Damn, it's been a year, already? Hard to beleive. n/t

[firedupdem]

73. Iowa was great! They saw the writing on the wall way before some

others did! Good Job! I still lived in Michigan at the time and I was absolutely amazed!

[Beacool]

85. Oh yeah, Iowa................

I guess half of the party can celebrate, the other half not so much.......

x(