I’m heading to the Iowa Democratic Party’s Jefferson-Jackson Dinner. I won’t be blogging there, but I will update this post with some highlights when I get home.

If you’d like to watch online, the IDP will be livestreaming the proceedings here, beginning at 6:30 pm central.

Senator Tom Harkin has taped a video greeting for the event, because he’s in Washington as the Senate begins to debate the health care reform bill. Democrats have all 60 votes they need to bring the bill to the floor, but several members of the caucus have not ruled out backing a Republican filibuster before the final vote. I won’t be supporting the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee this cycle, because I don’t want a penny going to a dishonest tool like Blanche Lincoln. She’s probably going to lose anyway.

In addition to any comments about health care reform or the JJ Dinner, please consider this an open thread for anything that’s on your mind this weekend.

For comic relief: in the middle of this afternoon’s Senate proceedings, Chuck Grassley tweeted,

Can somebody tell me why Wall st Journal no longer list Des Moines in its weather cities list. Iowa still exists

UPDATE: I hadn’t been to the JJ dinner in a few years and had a great time. Iowa House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal were making fun of each other when the bucket was passed around for extra donations.

McCarthy: What’s the difference between God and a state senator? God doesn’t think he’s a state senator.

Gronstal: What’s the difference between House representatives and boy scouts? Boy scouts have adult supervision.

Speakers: Bruce Braley, Leonard Boswell, Patty Judge, Chet Culver, and Tom Harkin’s recorded video before Biden. (Dave Loebsack is out of the country.)

Huge ovation shortly after 8 pm when IDP chair Michael Kiernan came on stage to announce that the U.S. Senate defeated a filibuster of the motion to bring the health care reform bill to the floor, 60-39. Harkin promised in his video that they will get a health care reform bill bassed before the end of the year, and it will contain a public health insurance option.

Biden gave a great speech, with plenty of jokes, Irish poetry, quiet moments and a few lines that got the crowd on their feet. He apologized for being a little late; he had been on the phone with some unnamed senators whose votes he had helped sway on health care reform.

I had to leave right after Biden’s speech, so I missed the after-party, where U.S. Senate candidates Bob Krause, Roxanne Conlin and Tom Fiegen were set to speak. If you were there, post a comment or a diary to let us know how those speeches were.

SECOND UPDATE: After the jump I’ve posted Kiernan’s remarks and excerpts from Culver’s speech.

FINAL UPDATE: The Iowa Democratic Party posted a slideshow from the event here.  

From the Iowa Democratic Party:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 21, 2009

Remarks by IDP Chairman Michael Kiernan

November 21, 2009

“Good evening and welcome again fellow Democrats from across the State.  We have an exciting evening planned for you.

“Tonight I am honored to represent the  Iowa Democratic Party and a new generation of Democrats.

“All across this state and nation people have put their faith in Democrats, in ways we have not seen in at least 45 years.  

“We are lead by our outstanding President Barack Obama who launched his successful bid for the White House right here in Iowa.  The majority of Iowa’s delegation in Congress is made up of Democrats, led by our Senator Tom Harkin, and our great Representatives Boswell, Braley and Loebsack.

“At the statehouse Governor Culver and Lt. Governor Judge lead the State shoulder to shoulder with Senator Gronstal, Speaker Murphy and our Democratic majorities in both houses

“And lets now forget we have a friend who now serves in the Cabinet – Iowas own Secretary of Agriculture … Tom Vilsack.  Thank you Christie for being here tonight!

“But it doesn’t stop there for us.  In courthouses and city hall chambers throughout Iowa, Democrats such as Mayor Ed Malloy of Fairfield, and Supervisors like Linda Langston in Linn County are also leading the way and getting the job done on behalf of their communities, every single day.  

“As we enjoy our success tonight, many in this room are able to remember the last time our party was the dominant political force in the state.  

“You have taught me and my generation the tremendous excitement that comes with the knowledge that we as a party can renew our strength, and carry the trust and faith of our people into the work of governing, and governing well.

“Perhaps even more exciting, though, is the reality that for many in this room, including me, these last two election years have had such an explosion of support for Democrats up and down the ballot.

“As all of you know these things don’t happen by accident.   And you can look at all the blue and red maps you want, and still not see the whole story.  Behind every election victory is a long march . . . of phone calls made, doors knocked, lit mailed and the hope of a better future acted out in living rooms all over Iowa.

“What they may not see is the grassroots and the backbone of our party.  Those that dedicate their time as state central committee members and county party chairs giving countless hours of work.  One of those is my mother, Joan, whose dedication is still an example to me. To them I say thank you.    

“What they may not see looking at that blue and red map is that person in a green AFSCME t-shirt, a blue Teamsters jacket, or wearing SEIU purple! Those in organized labor who have fought with us side by side and share our Democratic beliefs.  And to that end, each and every one of us here tonight owes you a great debt of gratitude.  Thank you!

“Tonight is an opportunity to celebrate our past victories, and also to begin the work of preparing to win in 2010.

“Remember, everything you need to know about elections you learned in Driver’s Ed:  ‘When you want to go backwards, put it in ‘R,'” and when you want to go forward, put it in ‘D’!!’

“Thanks again for your coming tonight.  We have an exciting evening planned for you. So let’s get right into it.”

Excerpts of Remarks by Gov. Chet Culver

Iowa Democratic Party Jefferson Jackson Dinner

• “When Patty and I were elected three years ago, we promised to do everything we could to move  Iowa forward.  And, despite many obstacles, including some from our opponents across the aisle, we’ve delivered on our promises!  We’ve increased: the minimum wage, teacher pay and access to early childhood education. We’ve expanded health care to 36,000 kids.  We’ve lifted the ban on stem cell research.  We’ve kept our promise to the men and women who wear the uniform. We’ve helped veterans go to college, keep their homes and hold on to their jobs after they’ve been called up for active duty.  And we’ve invested 100 million dollars to renovate the Iowa Veterans Home.”

• “We’ve built one of the best business climates and fastest growing economies in the country.  

And don’t just take my word for it.  Iowa was recently rated as the fourth best place in the country to do business, and the second-best place in the country for overall economic health.

• We did all of this without raising taxes, while balancing the budget three years in a row, protecting our cash reserves and earning a Triple-A bond rating for the first time in our state’s history.

• One thing I can tell you, and one thing I’ve learned, is that Iowans are at our best when our backs are against the wall.

As Iowans, we believe no matter how difficult the challenge, we will succeed as a people.  Iowa will weather this storm, rebuild, renew and come out stronger than ever before!

After all, it was  Nobel laureate Norman Borlaug who taught us to always “Do your best — don’t be afraid — and never give up.”

Those are words every Iowan should take to heart.  

• I want to make one thing CRYSTAL clear about 2010.  I welcome a spirited debate about our record of getting things done.  I welcome a healthy debate about the future direction of our state.

And for all of those who say they want to be Governor:  I say, this is a race we intend not only to finish – but one we intend to win!