Jefferson Jackson Dinner 2009

The Jefferson Jackson dinner was held last night, and as usual, elected officials and candidates from Bessemer or who want to represent Bessemer were there. State senator Priscilla Dunn and her husband Grover Dunn, tax collector for the Bessemer Cutoff, were there.

Claire Mitchell, aiming to take senator Dunn's place in the house, was there also.


As was Terri Sewell, hoping to take the place of Artur Davis as AL-07 representative.


Of course Davis and his competition, Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks were there, and most other elected democrats.

The big hit of the night was West Virginia governor Joe Manchin (who grew up neighbors with Nick Saban), who reminded us that politics was like driving a car. Park and neutral you don't go anywhere, but R, like republican takes you in reverse and D, like democrat, drives you forward.

He also made a quip about Abraham Lincoln probably being a closet democrat. That's not the only closet Mr. Lincoln may have hidden in if you believe a recent book, which I mentioned here, titled The Intimate World of Abraham Lincoln by C. A. Tripp.

Manchin mentioned 5 key points to success, especially concerning children.

1. Give them unconditional love.
2. Provide a safe place for children. A home, or a grandparent's house, a school, or other place at times.
3. Give them a healthy start and teach a healthy lifestyle.
4. Teach them a livable skill.
5. Have them grow to be a loving adult who is willing to give something back to the world.

Good advice, for both republicans and democrats.