I am becoming more and more impressed with Edwards and he has updated that speech since that event. I just saw him deliver his updated stump speech to an Iowa gathering this weekend on C-Span and WOW. This guy has got the goods and does an excellent closing argument. If anyone can find the speech he's doing this week, it's well worth sharing. Goodbye Obama, hello Edwards... for me anyway.

here in Iowa, but he just kicked ass. He had his audience up and roaring - with good reason. I've always been suspicious of people who can get audiences going, but not this guy. I like hearing a candidate say about Big Pharma, "I don't sit down at the table with them, I'll yank the chairs out from under them." 'Course, who knows what that means for his survivability?

You say you saw him "here in Iowa" so I assume you're an Iowan and eligible to go to caucus.

GET YOUR ASS THERE THURSDAY NIGHT AND WIN IT FOR HIM!

I've never done a caucus-type actual vote, nor a New England-style town meeting where they actually turn out the whole town to decide things rather than leave it to elected representatives.

But anybody who's ever been to a meeting of any sort knows how one person, regardless of their official rank or stature, can if they know their shit and have a fire in their heart, make the outcome be how they want it to be.

You sound like you've got the fire. And you can be in the room at one caucus. Bring the people there to see Edwards' potential and what he can do for them. For us.

Be the change you want to see, as the saying goes. If you worry about his "survivability" it's your job to run the rescue party. That last ad featuring the guy from the closed-down Maytag plant in Newton ought to pull the crowd. Hell, that ad would pull the heartstrings of Satan, I can't believe it wouldn't work on Iowans.

[disclosure, *I* was born an Iowan, Mercy Hospital Oskaloosa 1953. I'd be there to give you a hand if my dad hadn't dragged us to Illinois when I was 7 and unable to do anything about it. And for the record I had two relatives working at that Maytag plant in Newton when they closed it down. Semi-distant cousins, but still. ]

seriously, lb. i've got four "books" of music from the dayz before mp3s. they are filled with cds in sleeves, and one of them is labeled "guitar stuff." it goes from zepplin to tool to alice in chains to ozzy. i even have a couple of metallica discs, those greedy republican bastards.

i just sort of grew out of listening to the fluffier stuff. which is funny, because even as i like my rock 'deep,' i still groove on the twinkie electronica stations. i blame the cats.

All this proves is what I've known since 2004 -- Edwards is the only candidate who represents all Americans: Americans that work, Americans that go to school, American children, American old people, sick Americans, healthy Americans, black Americans, white Americans, brown Americans, asian Americans, Americans of every religious or philosophical bent.

Hell, I know hedge-funders that support him. (Interestingly only ugly people and defense attorneys have bad things to say, when you boil down the objections. Face it -- the people who cry most about his fancy haircuts mostly are those who wish they still had hair!)

The issue is whether most Americans (democrats in this case) are smart enough or care enough to recognize this -- or whether they'd rather be dragged to inevitable serfdom by refusing to see that Obama is just Bushie redux Rove is likely in Barry O's backroom pulling the strings with Barry's other pals like Novak, Kristol, Noonan, Sullivan and Joe L.

HRC is Edwards lite, a fair second choice, and the rest of the pack may make a decent VP (but ixnay on Kucinich since he endorsed Barry O.)

Not for nothing does Edwards evoke RFK. Thats why msm when not ignoring him always frames him with the "populist" modifier. Not populist, thats somewhat of a pejorative as used by the media. Leader.

RFK, unfortunately was taken from us too soon or we would be living in a far different country now. Lets make sure that Edwards wins in Iowa and wins the nomination (over what will be monumental village opposition) and that he stays safe and carries out that great legacy so that we will still be proud to be Americans.

what a great thread

wonderful to read

Xan, Xan, Xan, you should be writing speeches for our side (and getting paid for it, I mean)...

Aloysius, let me add my pleas to those of Xan, not that I entirely understand the caucus process, but please, if you have the choice, be there.

Also please know that we're happy to publish any post you might want to do about what is going on in Iowa; we're always looking for local reportage

2 cents worth, I've found myself thinking of RFK, but it's been too painful to talk about. The extraordinary thing about "Bobby" was his capacity for change, and I think that is true of Edwards.

And just to get a bit meta and personal, I love the sound of that "Leah directed me...," like I'm some sort of power behind the throne. The truth is I still don't know how to embed those damn video elements, so if anyone would like to enlighten me via a email, I will be eternally grateful...

Randy H, thanks for the headsup; the total lack of coverage except negative coverage of what Edwards is saying is the major problem he faces, see Joe Klein here, which admittedly is a terrible way to start, continue or finish any day.

What any of us can do about that I'm not sure, but, as stated in another thread, when are Democrats not going to be limited in who they are allowed to run for office because the media poobahs are willing to let Republicans, by way of constant unchallenged lies, constant trivializations, and a total refusal to allow themselves to be held accountable for anything, smear our candidates and thereby limit who we can choose?

Find the YouTube.

1. In the greyish box at top right, look for the word Embed in bold.

2. Look for a text box, immediately below the word Embed, that begins with the word <object.

3. Select everything in that box (on the Mac, by doubleclicking the text in the box).

4. Paste what you copied into the comment.

5. Go below the comment and change Filtered HTML to Full HTML.

6. Post.

The YouTube should show up. Maybe I should change the system to eliminate step 5, since it also means that you need to add more markup to the post. Thoughts?

[x] Any (D) in the general. [ ] Any mullah-sucking billionaire-teabagging torture-loving pus-encrusted spawn of Cthulhu, bless his (R) heart.