Well, this Iowa Independent has switched to the big D for the next 4 months to support my guy Bernie Sanders in his bid for the Dem's nomination for president.
I'll start this off by saying, I think the 2 system party is strangling our democracy. I hate the choke hold that Dem's AND Repub's have on the debate schedule and caucusing, etc. HATE.
UGH.
Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.
Ok, so I'm newly registered as a Dem, and I thought I'd check out the JJ Dinner, Bernie crew gave me a table seat, so off I went.
Bernie Rally
4-5pm Waiting at the Bernie Rally for Bernie to say a few words, then it's a group march into the Hyvee Hall.
Bernie Rally, look at that finger go
Bernie really gave his finger a work out.
5-6 we march!
Marching
Marching
6-OH-MY-GOD why is this taking so long?! Wait to get through the 4 little metal detectors serving the entire giant crowd. Seriously, I stood in a mob for an hour, waiting, just waiting, before I finally got through to take my seat. Actual TSA agents were present. This was Grade A security theater here.
Here's the crowd, waiting to get into the building up ahead.
7pm Oh the nice gal on the loudspeakers says the show will start soon, great.
7:30 OK, she's saying it again, maybe for real this time?
7:45 Ooookay, show will start soon, uh huh.
I heard security backup was causing a lot of the delay. But I heard it on the internet so take it with a grain of sand.
8:15 Oh good, a prayer, this is a great time to find all the other atheists.
8:30 Way to be inclusive Iowa Democrats! Gay men's chorus, a woman in the flag presentation, a Latino sang the national anthem, and Simon Estes for a song, I like him. Whoa, the Dr. Andy in charge of things is a lady. Rock on Dems, solid points for that.
8:45 I figure out that my table in the corner will be the last table served dinner. I'm barely surviving on my roll and salad. Should have gotten food from the food truck at the Bernie rally.
9:30 Dinner finally in my belly, decent enough food, not worth the wait. Oh and now they are passing a donation bucket. I didn't even bring enough cash to buy a 5$ domestic beer. Shit, now I look like a damn fool. Why didn't anyone tell me the JJ Dinner is a fucking fundraiser? I put the 2$ in my purse, in the bucket. shrug I won't be a member of this party for at least another 4 years, no one will remember.
9:35 BERNIE!!! OMG BERNIE!!!! Tell 'em! Wooooooo! Wave my blue glowsticks around, wave my signs around! Woooo!
Go Bernie!
Go Bernie!
9:50 O'Malley is speaking.
yawn Good speech. Liked the solid examples.
polite clap
10:20 Clinton... even her red dress couldn't keep me awake at this point.
Forget Iowa nice, this is Iowa late, and I'm Iowa tired. polite claps
10:45pm there are still people on stage waving at the crowd, but I'm bee-lining for the door. Bye bye Bill, I see you up there.
11:20 Home. Exhausted. Will I ever go again? Iffy. Veeeerrrry iffy.