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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJust came home from President Obama's Des Moines rally (sniffle)
I am sorry that I couldn't give live updates. I couldn't get a cell signal because apparently, there were 25,000 other people there--most probably trying to get a cell signal too!
It was a gorgeous, clear, chilly night. It was really incredible, because it was historic. I kept telling my two tween daughter that they were witnessing history. I remember when Obama first campaigned in Iowa during the primary. We saw him then on that same street--in Des Moines East Village!
Iowa is where it all started. Iowans saw something in Barack Obama during the Democratic primary, and the rest is history.
Bruce Springsteen sang a few tunes and spoke about the country and our role in making change. He really is a poet. Then, Michelle spoke and she talked a great deal about what Iowa meant to her family. They often had Malia and Sasha in tow during the primary season, and they spent a lot of time in Iowa. Then the President spoke. He gave his usually campaign rallying cry, but he also talked a lot about what Iowa meant to him.
Just down the street, Obama could see the first campaign office that he opened up for the primary. That's why the campaign chose the downtown Des Moines location.
It is pretty cool. My state of Iowa is 98 percent caucasian. We're a midwestern farming state, so it's surprising to many that we're Progressive. We certainly take our "first in the nation" status serious, with our Iowa caucuses. Most people I know, go out of their way to meet the candidates and to speak directly with them. We consider it an honor to be first and we want to do a terrific job for the nation. So, we aren't happy until we see the whites of the candidates' eyes.
We got to know Obama very, very well--and experience his amazing ground game--which many of us became a part of. He won us over. We delivered a win for him in the Iowa caucuses and...the rest is history!
Obama talked about the campaign being over--his last campaign. He said, "It's out of my hands now. It's in your hands" and a tear rolled down his cheek and he wiped it away. I mean...Wow. That was emotional. It must mean so much to him, to know that he fought the good fight and that these moments in Des Moines would be his last on the campaign trail.
Barack Obama is a good man. A really good man. I think he's experienced incredible challenges as President, sometimes from his own party. I can only imagine the corporate interests, the powerful banks and the pressure he must get from the neocon types who beg constantly for more war. I can only imagine how stressful it must have been--dealing with Republicans who delighted in trying to destroy him and deny him any successes, simply to hobble him during his re-election campaign.
I told my children tonight that Barack Obama was a once in a lifetime President, "I know I'll never see another like him, but maybe your generation will." I told my children that someday, when they are living in Paris or New York City--that they will be able to remember and tell friends that they lived in a swing state during the 2008 and 2012 elections--and that they saw President Obama give his last campaign speech. They were so tired and groggy, but I told them, that they would never forget this and that President Barack Obama's last campaign speech in Iowa--is now a part of their life story.
I'm sorry that I don't have any great pictures. I took some, but you can't really see a lot. We were literally swallowed up by this crowd of 25,000 people. I just couldn't get a shot that really showcased the power and energy of that crowd.
There was so much energy and love in that crowd tonight. It was wonderful. It was also very bittersweet.
The President was right. Tomorrow it is in our hands. He fought like hell for all of us during this campaign, and now it's up to us.
See you tomorrow at the polls!
flamingdem
(39,313 posts)Fantastic, sleep well
bigtree
(85,998 posts)thank you.
BeyondGeography
(39,374 posts)Thank you. Watched it on C-Span and the whole thing was very moving. But I think only an Iowan could do it justice, as you did here.
Overseas
(12,121 posts)Care Acutely
(1,370 posts)And we're practically neighbors (NE)! Thank you for sharing this. I'm so happy for you and your girls - and all of us!
FrenchieCat
(68,867 posts)History will be made again tomorrow in that Barack Obama will win reelection!
Thank you CoffeeCat, and thank you Iowa!
HipChick
(25,485 posts)ailsagirl
(22,897 posts)Thank you for your touching and heartfelt post.
liberal_at_heart
(12,081 posts)He does such a good job of connecting to people.
HuskiesHowls
(711 posts)later on, standing in virtually the same spot, I couldn't get any signal at all. You weren't the only one!! A lot of people around me couldn't get any signal, either.
Cha
(297,286 posts)cry out loud, CoffeeCat. Such a vivid description of what it meant to be there for you and for President Obama. thank you
http://theobamadiary.com/
redStateBlueHeart
(265 posts)Or does Michelle look especially radiant tonight? So classy and gorgeous
Beautiful speech, but it makes me kind of sad that this is his last campaign.
Hekate
(90,714 posts)I'm kind of envious, really, since I'm in California and candidates assume they don't have to court us! I'm glad Iowans and New Hampshire-ites take their part seriously, because you really do preview primary candidates for the rest of us. Thanks.
Hekate
condoleeza
(814 posts)I wish I'd been there, so happy you and your family were able to witness this historic last campaign speech. Freepers are self destructing tonight, the The 2012 elephant in the room: George W. Bush is priceless
Tomorrow it's over, hopefully w/o vote controversies, and we have this wonderful man as President for another 4 years. We are lucky to have him, I think he was born for this.
oldtime dfl_er
(6,931 posts)You surely witnessed - and made - history of the best kind.
SleeplessinSoCal
(9,123 posts)You gave us an opportunity to have a second look. President Obama has earned a second term under circumstances that are truly abhorrent. Tonight while listening to him speak in Des Moines I wished his grandmother had lived at least another 5 years. I believe the birthers and other crazies wouldn't have got away with their hate had she been around still.
He must win. We must make sure people who are trying to vote, have their votes counted. We all deserve that much.
klebean
(284 posts)to have been a crowd member at that rally - rather like a giant Fireside, really - but I am genuinely happy to hear younger generations will carry this moment into the future. What a fine parent you are!
Lucinda
(31,170 posts)?
CoffeeCat
(24,411 posts)...and I'm so glad that others appreciated hearing about the Des Moines rally tonight!
It truly was historic.
I just went back and watched portions of the CSPAN video and the President did cry quite a bit! He had a stream of tears that came out of his eyes. He kept wiping away tears on the left side of his face.
He's just a wonderful, empathetic, compassionate man who really cares about all of us. He just wants to make a difference.
Thank you for all of your kind words. We're all in this together and we're standing on the precipice of election day. It's so exciting and I look forward to the next four years with Barack Obama as our President!
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)Withywindle
(9,988 posts)So vivid, it moved me too. Thanks for all the work you've done too.
Your daughters will remember, I'm pretty sure.
littlemissmartypants
(22,691 posts)ceejdre82
(183 posts)I teared up.....and tomorrow I will cry either way....bawl if we lose, get goose bumps and tears of relief and joy if we win...but as we all know, that battle remains no matter what!
progressivebydesign
(19,458 posts)My family in Osky are democrats, like me!
CADEMOCRAT7
(583 posts)We watched it on CSPAN, and my family cried. We all felt how precious it was...glad your children were there. We will all be at the polls tomorrow. Fired up, ready to go!
Shuhered
(200 posts)I voted for President Obama in Blackhawk County, Iowa. I did so almost 4 weeks ago. How Florida's voting process can be so jacked up is a crime to me. God Bless Obama and his ground game team!!!!!
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)Population (2010)[3]
City 203,433 (US: 106th)
Rank 1st in Iowa
Density 2,515.6/sq mi (971.3/km2)
Metro 569,633
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Des_Moines,_Iowa
Based on the 2010 census, 25,000 people is more than 12% of the population of the city (or its equivalent in souls). About 4.3% if you consider the entire metro area. That is really impressive.
Trajan
(19,089 posts)It has been reduced in later years (thanks to Hate Radio), but it's still there in some significant degree ....
What a wonderful story ... Thanks so much !
Yooperman
(592 posts)I can only imagine...
I was fortunate to see him 2 times during his first campaign. I will never forget it either.
Peace...
YM
Historic NY
(37,449 posts)I just watched the speech...Thanks Iowa
MFM008
(19,814 posts)They dont come to WA much.
ProudProgressiveNow
(6,129 posts)Digital Puppy
(496 posts)kellytore
(182 posts)bigtree
(85,998 posts)otohara
(24,135 posts)no one has inspired me more than President Obama!
cynannmarie
(113 posts)TuxedoKat
(3,818 posts)Thanks for sharing it. I brought my kids to an Obama Rally four years ago. I wanted it to be part of their history too.
Patiod
(11,816 posts)wearing my "fired up, ready to go" shirt today!
amvh
(6 posts)blaze
(6,362 posts)wish my sis could get on line.....
We celebrated Obama's election together online... now she has no power... in Long Beach, NY... but she voted!!!!
nolabear
(41,984 posts)Im nervous as a cat, hopeful but terrified of losing that good man and his good works. I think it'll be okay. Thank you for your post. We are indeed a part of history.