In 1987, exactly 20 years ago, I attended the Iowa Democratic Jefferson/Jackson dinner in Des Moines. While walking down the hall literally with a bucket of money that I had collected for the party Jessie Jackson came up to me, shook my hand, and said, "hello darling." It is a moment I will never forget.

Later that year I voted absentee from Lillehammer, Norway where I was an exchange student. I stayed up all night on election night only to see George Bush Sr. win. I became completely bitter about politics at the ripe age of eighteen. I decided that I would not major in political science when I went off to the University of Iowa the next year.

Fast forward 20 years and I found myself in front of Shawn and Lydia's awesome plasma TV tonight looking for something to watch while the kids amused themselves. What was on CSPAN but live coverage of this years Jefferson/ Jackson dinner. Right as I tuned in Iowa's Democratic Governor was winding up his speech and Nancy "the liberal bloggers are our enemy" Pelosi was taking the stage to introduce all of the Presidential candidates who would all have a chance to give a speech. First up was John Edwards, my current favorite. He did not disappoint. He rocked the house. Unlike Clinton and Obama, he has nothing to loose now. He simply must win Iowa. His message was clear, strong and moving. {And Annie I think AT&T let him listen in on our phone conversation this afternoon because he honest to God talked about the sacrifices all Americans made during WWII for the greater good EXACTLY like you said the candidates should.}

SCharb on Daily Kos reports that Obama's speech was also very good. And major thumbs down for Hillary:

Hillary's speech was weak and shameful. Who wrote it? Did she improvise? That's got to be it. Nobody working for a presidential campaign could type up that monstrosity. Right?

Here is Edward's speech:


I tried to find Obama's speech, both on the campaign's website and YouTube. Nothing yet.