My Coldest Week Ever, with the warmest people on earth. Part 3 [View All]

[asdjrocky]

It finally came. Caucus night. I looked forward to it much like the people in Whoville looked forward to Christmas. I had visions of sugarplum voters in my head, lining up to put John in the lead, so I could finally go to bed. (By caucus night, I was running on fumes, like every volunteer and staff member from the Edwards campaign, and all other campaigns, for that matter.)

But man was I ever happy, and excited. Trust me, I’ve seen a lot of stuff in my life to get excited about, and to feel the way I felt, for the reasons I felt it, well, that was just magical. A political campaign is a carnival we are all invited to, and if you wait in line long enough, you get to go on all the rides. When I found out that I would be helping at a precinct in Council Bluffs, it was the icing on the cake. I would be there, in the thick of it. Right smack dab in the middle of this great American experiment called Democracy. Visions of the War Room filled my head. Decisions, affecting the world, and me there to help guide them, me, a proud warrior for the truth. Wow, pretty heady stuff.

Let me now be the example that serves against building something up too much. I am nothing, if not optimistic, but the great American spectacle I so looked forward to, felt oddly like a poorly run meeting of the Rotary Club. Or maybe even the rules committee meeting for a chili cook-off. But, you get a button...


Leave your house, get a button.

Don’t get me wrong, it was great to be there, and I encourage anyone to become involved. Bring you patients and your sense of humor. Oh, and bring chili. I’ve never seen people love chili more.


Another Edwards baby on Caucus Night. This was the little girl, that Melinda talked to Edwards about at his appearance at Council Bluffs HQ. Her name is Stephanie.


On caucus night.

So you all know what happened on caucus night. In my precinct, it was Hillary, with 6 delegates, and a tie between Edwards and Obama, with 3 each. We all know the results of that night, and that’s not what this is going to be about.


The Results in one Precinct.

This is about the people I met in Iowa, a tribute to them, and their unfailing optimism. This is my thank you to the California Volunteers, the folks from Michigan, and Kansas. From Missouri and New Mexico. It’s my thank you to the staff that put up with us and inspired us. And my thank you to the people of Iowa, true and honest Americans all.

Lot's of the pictures coming up come from Kelsi, one of our California Volunteers, take a look at her page.
http://kelsi.quickwitretort.com/

We got on planes and traveled far from home. We flew coach, like most Edwards supporters. We took time away from work, from loved ones, and some even went into debt. Just to help. Just to do our part. We stood on street corners with the wind whipping. We pushed on from door to door, call to call and we never stopped. We slept on floors, in spare bedrooms, in cheap hotel rooms. We ate what was there, and we ate fast food. And that was only when we stopped long enough to eat.

But don’t get me wrong. This was no great sacrifice; this was the most fun I’ve ever had. And it was all because of these people.


From Left to Right:
Jeremy, Eric, Barb, Me, and Rob.
Jeremy can quote entire passages from speeches by RFK. Eric is a great Irish lad, now becoming an American citizen, and I’m certain he will one day be a Senator, Me, well I'm me, and Rob is a great guy who won't stop arguing with me. Barb is a wonderful woman who was our "house sister" for the time we were there. Can you believe this wonderful woman put us up for the whole time while we were there? Well she did. I’d like to take this opportunity to say sorry for the razor stubble in the sink.


Two of my favorite people in the world Kelsi, and Paula. Paula “The Face” Sorge is another famous actor that endorses John Edwards. I’m certain someday; Kelsi will be in charge of the world.


This is my favorite ride to the airport, Beth. Her mom, Pam, a very nice lady picked me up. They are both volunteers for the Dems in Iowa, and they have both had the opportunity to introduce John Edwards at events. That’s pretty cool if you ask me.


A bunch of staff & volunteers on Caucus night, at Mike's Bar. No sad faces here. These people know two speeds, work hard, party hard. And on that night, we had quite the party.

That's all I got. Now New Hapmsihire is over, and Nevada is coming. It's time for me to get back on the road.

Congratulations to all the winners, and to the losers, work harder.

Peace