Today I stood in the longest line I have seen in years to see Bernie Sanders speak

[Bjorn Against]

Today I stood in the longest line that I have seen since Barack Obama was in town to declare his victory in the primaries seven years ago.

When I arrived at the Bernie Sanders event in Minneapolis this morning the line was already stretched for several hundred feet all the way up the block and that line only continued to rapidly grow after I stepped into it. I could not even see the end of the line once they started letting people in but it went back a long ways, it was easily two to three city blocks long.

I just barely made it inside, they had to close the doors shortly after I entered because they could not fit any more people. They had to set up speakers outside so that the people who could not get in were able to hear the speech.

The event was originally going to be held at a union office that can hold no more than a couple of hundred people, once they realized that was not going to be big enough they moved it to a gymnasium at the Native American Center, but this was not even close to being big enough either. When Bernie took the stage he had to apologize to the crowd for running out of food, he was not expecting a crowd of this size and he promised to be more prepared the next time. I don't think anyone who was there was bothered by this however, if the biggest problem an event is facing is that they get too many people to show up the organizers of that event should be very happy.

Bernie delivered an excellent speech that drew several standing ovations, it is rare to see this kind of excitement at political rallies these days but I think Bernie is really speaking a message that people have been wanting to hear for a long time. People are excited to see a candidate who is able to speak out against the corporate interests because he has not taken money from them.

When I saw the massive turnout for a rally that was originally intended to be a small event I had to wonder what the Koch Brothers are thinking right now. They can spend their billions but they can't get this many people to show up for their candidates, instead people are showing up to rally around the candidate who is doing more than any other to challenge the corporate interests that are trying to buy our elections.

Some have been trying to dismiss Sanders as a fringe candidate, but if he keeps attracting the number of people to his events that he attracted today anyone who tries to claim he is fringe will get laughed at.

Bernie Sanders has a voice that appeals to mainstream Americans. Bernie is not the fringe, the 1% is the fringe. The Koch brothers are the fringe. The bankers are the fringe. The average American has far more in common with the people who want higher wages for workers than they do with the people whose primary goal is to increase the Koch family fortune.

When Bernie comes to your town make sure to show up because if we can get turnouts like this at all of his events we will prove to the world that we are the mainstream Americans that are going to take on the Koch brothers fringe.

[Carewfan]

1. Thank you for your excellent report!

I look forward to Bernie coming to visit my city.....

[BrotherIvan]

6. +1

Very well written At least people are coming out to hear what he has to say and to give him a chance. That's a good thing.

[AtomicKitten]

2. Thank you for reporting back.

We West Coasters have to rely on such reporting because we are so far from the action and feeling like our faces are pressed up against the window looking in. Thank you so much for the details in your vignette; I really appreciate the effort.

[daleanime]

51. I hear you, over here in NY we rarely get to vote....

on primaries that are still up in the air. But that's a small problem compared with the others that face us.

[JDPriestly]

58. Actually. It is a big problem. The largest states with the largest urban populations

are practically ignored during the primaries. That needs to change.

We get less per capita representation in the Senate and in the electoral college and are nearly left out of the presidential primary campaigns, that is the part of the presidential primary campaigns that really matters.

[BrotherIvan]

76. AMEN!

[calimary]

90. NO KIDDING!!! By the time California gets to vote, everything's already been decided.

But they sure want our money, don't they? They only come out here to turn us upside down, hang us by the ankles, and shake us til our pockets empty onto the floor.

That's why I think California should have the FIRST primary. We're the biggest, most populous state. More Californians are affected by ANYTHING that goes on in Washington than the population of ANY other state in the union. Just by the numbers. Our mushrooming population includes the fastest-growing Latino population in the country, and you know that is a trend that won't start shrinking anytime soon. We have the largest Congressional delegation and the largest haul of Electoral College votes. WE should go first.

And why should the sparcely-populated mostly-rural states get to speak first and with the loudest voices? Why are the urban areas, with HUGE populations by comparison, shoved to the back of the line? Cities are where the need is, and where the numbers are. Cities are the cutting edge of evolution, progress, new ideas, and change. And seems to me THAT'S what should go first.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

68. True, true Atomic Kitten

So we here in L.A. better be thinking Hollywood Bowl or Staples Center.

Thanks for the great report from Minneapolis. I have a dear friend there who's a huge Bernie fan, but I know she wasn't at the rally. So I'm going to copy and paste your report if it's OK and send it to her.

[Bjorn Against]

69. Of course it is OK to share it

[AtomicKitten]

75. cheers

[arcane1]

3. I'm watching it now and I'm jealous of everyone in attendance :)

[Jefferson23]

4. Thanks for that..I wish I could have been there. Hope he comes to my neck of the

woods soon.

[cui bono]

5. The only thing fringy about Bernie is his hair!

[jwirr]

13. Every time I see the bald spot I think of being tonsured - a symbol of humility. Love it.

[merrily]

32. He's one of few people who actually looks better balding. JMO.

[jwirr]

36. Agreed. It looks right on him.

[merrily]

39. And his hair was doing him no favors. (I feel his pain on that one.)

[Omaha Steve]

7. K&R!

[Kalidurga]

8. Hey I was there and I was waaaaaaaaaaaaaay in back of one of the lines.

There were actually two lines, I was in the line going from West to East it was 3 or 4 blocks long. By the time I got to where I could hear Bernie he had already started his speech. No problem I talked to some nice people I was in line with. I circled the fence and found a nice comfy spot on the steps to sit and I watched the crowd. They were very rowdy, but polite. Most waited for the applause-pause. I wish I was good at crowd estimates. But, the area inside the fence was crowded to capacity and the area around the fence was lined with a couple hundred people as well I think. I wish I had taken pictures. I am sure some will show up soon though.

[Bjorn Against]

10. I did not even realize there was a second line

I think I was in the same line as you but further ahead, I would like to see some pictures from outside after the speech started so I can get an idea of how many were still out there when they closed the doors. I know it was a lot because I could not even see the end of the line.

[Kalidurga]

21. Yeah I didn't either I only found it because I was circling the fence trying to get a better view...

of the crowd. I knew I wasn't going to get in that ship sailed I dunno probably at 9:15 if the line I saw was any indication. When I saw it around 10 o'clock it was still a couple blocks long. I was at the tail end or so of the line there were only about a hundred people behind me. I didn't get a bagel btw, but I really didn't care I had a granola bar before I left just in case of that happening. Jimmy Johns was worth it anyway. How loud was it inside?

[Bjorn Against]

23. It was pretty loud inside, the crowd was really motivated

It would have been even louder, but Bernie was giving clear hints to the crowd that he did not want chanting. He feels this campaign is about the people rather than himself and he discouraged people from chanting his name. The crowd was really fired up by his speech though, he received several standing ovations.

[merrily]

31. He's going to have to get used to it.

[peacebird]

9. Cannot wait to see him in person!

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

63. Get your arse to Madison, Bernie! How about a 50,000-100,000 crowd?

[SoapBox]

11. And great, GREAT point!

He (we) are not the fringe...the 1%/KochKreeps ARE the fringe.

Get a clue America!

[erronis]

14. +++ Yup. The 0.1% are way in the minority but love to control through $$$s

[pa28]

12. K&R

[Mnpaul]

15. I think some in both parties

underestimate our dissatisfaction with "business as usual" in DC and it may be their downfall.

Anyone remember " It's the economy, stupid"

[earthside]

28. I think you are absolutely correct!

Indeed, I think a lot of 'interest' in the Tea Party on the other side is misplaced dissatisfaction with "business as usual."

On the Democratic Party side, I think the 'conservative', establishment, traditional Hillary Clinton is going to find out the same thing -- We Want Change!

[merrily]

30. I think they are getting it, but expecting us to buy newly-minted campaign rhetoric.

[Mnpaul]

43. If they think that will work again

they aren't "getting it". 2010 and 2014 tells me that they aren't "getting it". Blaming the voters tells me that they aren't "getting it".

[daleanime]

52. +1

[appalachiablue]

77. The truth! Yes the economy, but of late 'It's My Stock Options!' for too many.

[MrMickeysMom]

16. I'd like enough warning to take off work, should he come to Pittsburgh on my day off...

The Koch family sewer and Fox sewer and all the electronic voting machines that are black boxed can go to hell.

The only thing they could do besides control who counts the votes is to try to assassinate Bernie Sanders.

I'm going to remind people of that one, too.

[merrily]

29. I vote on a paper ballot. This is something people need to work on locally.

[Stevepol]

83. Voting on a paper ballot is absolutely necessary but . . .

unless there's some way of auditing the vote, that is, actually hand-counting about 10% of the vote to be sure the machines that are used to count the paper ballots (the opti-scans) aren't compromised because they can be maliciously programmed just as easily as the touch screens. Having paper is essential, but if there are laws (as there are in several states) that if there's an audit or recount, the paper must just be put back thru the opti-scans again, what good is the paper. It has to be at some point HAND-COUNTED.

[Paka]

72. That one scares me too,

once they perceive the threat is real. Right now they are insular enough to dismiss him. Wait until they actually feel the impact he is having.

[jwirr]

17. So happy to see MN respond.

[zeemike]

18. I don't think the 1% fring is worried about him but they should be.

They are used to using big money to steam roll over people and I think they trust in the money.

I did watch the video, and to say the crowd was enthusiastic is not an overstatement.

[merrily]

27. They do trust in money. Maybe the motto on US money confused them.

[zeemike]

33. God and money are the same thing to them.

[merrily]

37. Not exactly.

For many politicians, I think the love of money is much more authentic than their "God bless Americas" and other protestations of religious belief. Some of them could not possibly behave they way they do if they actually believed in a God who is omniscient, omnipotent and just.

[zeemike]

45. Good point.

[merrily]

47. Thank you. I try. I've noticed you do as well; and I appreciate your posts.

[Enthusiast]

38. Yeah, the motto confused them.....

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[ReallyIAmAnOptimist]

19. Democrats (and Americans) voted for change 8 years ago...

...and are still waiting for most of it. Hillary is a step back from BO (which is why she lost to him then), and it's the same now. The country is in crisis. We can't afford another Republican-lite Dem! Bernie is the real deal, a real leader. He can (and I think will) surprise the "experts" and win the nomination, just like BO did.

[MisterP]

40. people thought Obama would take action because he spoke to packed audiences

people pack Sanders's speeches because they think he'll take action

[Paka]

74. And he won't betray us.

This time we can have the change we vote for, but we have to back it up in Congress and have good progressives running. Not to mention the local levels that the repukes have owned for years. There's a lot of work to be done.

[appalachiablue]

79. +1

[Cosmocat]

84. If bernie waw the potus the last 8 years

We would be in the same position.

Just saying.

[DiverDave]

93. Nope.

Nice try tho
GO BERNIE GO

[Cosmocat]

94. Lol

"Try" has nothing to do with it.

Understanding potus is potus, not dotus.

Bernie would have dealt with the same republican jackassery in congress.

[sabrina 1]

20. Thank you for this first hand account. I watched it on livestream as it was happening and it looked

like a huge crowd.

Bernie tweeted a thank you to the 'thousands that came' and apologized to those who had to remain outside.

And yes, you are correct, Bernie is mainstream, the Corporate Media and the 1% are out of touch with reality as are those who think that Bernie cannot win.

[cantbeserious]

22. Good News

eom

[panader0]

24. Thanks for going and thanks for the report. This is getting exciting.

Rec'd.

[MissDeeds]

25. Bernie is a man of the people

His message resonates big time. Thanks for sharing this! I can't wait until he comes to my area.



K&R

[MineralMan]

26. I was unable to attend, so I'm glad turnout was so large.

Thanks for the report.

[BeanMusical]

44. You're a Bernie suporter, MineralMan?

Honest question, no snark or whatever.

[MineralMan]

82. I'll be caucusing for him on March 1.

So, yes.

[L0oniX]

105. Bullshit.

[L0oniX]

104. No he isn't.

[merrily]

34. Thanks. Great to hear.

[Enthusiast]

35. K&R! This post should have hundreds of recommendations!

"Bernie Sanders has a voice that appeals to mainstream Americans. Bernie is not the fringe, the 1% is the fringe. The Koch brothers are the fringe. The bankers are the fringe. The average American has far more in common with the people who want higher wages for workers than they do with the people whose primary goal is to increase the Koch family fortune."

Beautiful!

[cali]

41. holy only. you and thousands of others, according to this report

http://bringmethenews.com/2015/05/31/thousands-come-out-to-hear-presidential-hopeful-bernie-sanders-speak-in-mn/

Thanks for the personal account!

Great pics at link

[peecoolyour]

42. Win or lose, THEY can't stop what Bernie has started.

[BeanMusical]

46. Kick and R.

[Kalidurga]

48. This video is on another thread...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128010219

I am glad for a couple things. I didn't miss any of the speech when I thought I must have. And wow so that is what it looked like on the inside.

[MNBrewer]

49. I went to see Mr. Obama at the Xcel Center the night he clinched the nomination

I'd love to go there to see Mr. Sanders the night HE clinches the nomination.

[mother earth]

50. K & R nt

[azmom]

53. Go Bernie Go.

There is no stopping the people's revolution.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

54. Great! I had planned to go

except I overslept. Fortunately I was able to catch at least the end of his talk because somebody streamed it. It's good to see such an excellent turnout. I hope he comes back and rents an even bigger space.

[JDPriestly]

55. Excellent!

[Warpy]

56. Reports like yours are important because the media are ignoring the crowds

Pictures are also important to get an idea of just how many people are turning out to hear issues that are important to them addressed by someone in office/running for office.

I have no idea if it will be enough.

[Divernan]

57. So free food and no "donation" required to attend?

That's a refreshing change! Don't know what/where HRC is up to this weekend, but Friday, she was in a Florida mansion charging a minimum of $2,700 per head for the pleasure of her company. So no pesky reporters taking notes on whatever she promised her donors in exchange for their support. But pity the fools who thought they'd get personal consideration for a measly $2,700.
As documented below, the Clinton campaign's goal is to get 20 new donors of $5 to $10 million each. Now THAT is how you get some input on selection of Supreme Court Justice nominations.

May 29/day-before-yesterday:
http://www.clickorlando.com/news/hillary-clinton-to-attend-central-florida-fundraiser/33281818

Presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be in Central Florida on Friday.

Clinton is attending a fundraising event at the home of prominent Orlando attorney John Morgan. The event takes place at Morgan's Heathrow mansion.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the minimum donation for attendance is $2,700 to Clinton's campaign fund, which is the maximum allowable under federal law per election.

And HRC is not doing well with raising the record amount she believes is the path to the presidency. This same report was carried in the New York Times today as well. http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/democrats-need-richer-donor-list-to-keep-up-with-

"Ickes, who is a Priorities USA board member, and other Clinton supporters are discussing how to raise up to $300?million for Democratic outside groups. That is almost twice as much as Democratic super PACs and other outside groups spent to help re-elect President Obama in 2012, when conservative super PACs far outspent liberal ones.

This ambitious goal will require the emergence of a new class of at least 20 Democratic donors who can give $5?million or even $10?million each. Ickes said recruiting them would not be easy. “Our side isn’t used to being asked for that kind of money,” Ickes said. “If you asked them to put up $100?million for a hospital wing, they’d be the first in line.”

The hurdles begin with the candidate. While Clinton has committed to meeting with potential super PAC donors, people close to her say she has not dealt with the kind of big-donor courting that has framed the early months of the Republican race.

Clinton also faces a perception that neither she nor her husband, former President Bill Clinton, is lacking cash. Together, they earned at least $30?million in the past 16 months. And Bill Clinton’s aggressive courting of donors, in the White House and now as head of the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, has been an enduring source of controversy.

The article points out that the Conservative PACs far outspent Obama, but still lost to him. Golly, gee whiz, boys and girls, is it just possible that HRC learned nothing from that fact? She & Bill are so fixated on socking away vast amounts of money and the life styles such cash affords them, that they do not understand that $$$$ are not necessarily the winning path to the Oval Office.

Returning to the mundane world of us non One Percenters, Saturdays and Sundays are the days when most average voters can find time to come see and hear candidates. So who were either or both of the Clintons talking to this weekend?

[BrotherIvan]

80. This should be an OP

We must not lose sight of the incredible amounts of money that are being raised for the race. That seems to be the strategy: dodge issues and raise mountains of cash to run lots of feel good ads like her campaign announcement. We have heard nothing but criticism for Bernie's optics for his kickoff speech, but not a peep about the fact that Clinton DIDN'T EVEN GIVE ONE. And her public speeches since then have been tightly controlled and no press appearances. I hope she keeps dodging the press for a long time because it means nothing but more exposure for Sanders to fill the giant hole she has created for the media.

[neverforget]

59. Thanks for the report! If he ever makes it to Portland, OR, I'm going.

Thanks again!

[LWolf]

60. That is fantastic to hear.

Heartening. Energizing. Hope-building.

I will find a way to be there whenever Bernie makes it to my state; I don't expect him in my rural red town, but I'll drive across the mountains to our cities to stand in that line.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

61. I tried to explain this 3 weeks ago and was met mostly with hostility and mockery.

"we the people" set our own path. That's called DEMOCRACY!

[Rex]

62. People have been purposely scared of 'socialists' practically all their lives and want to see what

one looks like and acts like in real life. Without all the filters. I bet some were shocked to find out that they are almost identical to a 'socialist' mommy and daddy scared them with over the years alongside the commies and hippies under the bed.

For a lot of people all across the political spectrum, Sanders will be a breath of fresh air. Just like Dean was until Corporate Media destroyed his chances in 2000. Fully expect the M$M to go into siege mode if Bernie gets really popular. It hasn't worked against HRC yet, so the M$M is probably desperate for a Dem potential to smear.

[Aerows]

64. "Bernie is not the fringe, the 1% is the fringe"

Best comment I've seen in a damn long while!!!

[raven mad]

65. If anyone ever showed up here in Alaska, I'd go.

Sanders rocks.

[Bluenorthwest]

66. The crowds are only going to get bigger.....

nt

[IVoteDFL]

67. It was for me too

We thankfully got there just before 8:30 because that is how it worked out taking the bus from the North St. Paul/Maplewood area. We were all impressed by how many people kept showing up. Everyone was really charged up and enthusiastic too, the energy in the room was amazing. People came from all over to see Bernie speak. I hope the Koch brothers are very afraid. Even if Bernie doesn't win the nomination I do think that more people are going to wake up and stop voting for people who wont do anything to help them. Bernie is letting the people know how much power they have.

[Paka]

70. Thanks for that great report.

Sadly I am in Thailand and won't get to see Bernie in person, so individual reports like this mean a lot to me. I'm with him all the way, skimping a little here and there so I can send money to him now and then and promoting his candidacy every chance I get. With online registration possible, we can sign up new voters and Democrats Abroad can make a real difference in elections these days.

[L0oniX]

71. Mega K & R

[hifiguy]

73. Kickety rec!

[appalachiablue]

78. Excellent report, so glad you made it. I watched the video of the super event & speech.

[appalachiablue]

81. Correct, the 1% is the Fringe, Not Bernie!

[glinda]

85. They need to also vote in the Primaries and the Election. Key to the change.

[Scootaloo]

86. Sadly, it looks like he has nothing scheduled in the Seattle / Tacoma area

But, I suppose the West Coast states aren't exactly known to be big campaigning spots for anyone

[gordianot]

87. Ads on Internet music services are usually annoying today I heard two for Bernie.

I am not annoyed they made me feel good. I want very much to hear him speak and am willing to stand in line. I swore two weeks ago to put my check book up and willing to reverse that for Senator Sanders.

[840high]

89. I ordered 2 shirsts - will wear

them with pride.

[Initech]

88. This is most definitely a good thing!

Reminds me of 2012 when Mitt Romney barely filled Ford Field past the 50 yard line while Obama's appearances at the Meadowlands was standing room only.

[scarletwoman]

91. Thank you for your wonderful first hand report!

Great post!

[Katashi_itto]

92. K&R

[4_TN_TITANS]

95. Very encouraging...

[ChiciB1]

96. Well, As It Seems HILLARY Has Yet To Give

her opinions on some main issues all I can say is PLEASE AMERICA for the good of this country WAKE UP!! Bernie doesn't hide, he tells it like it is! What don't people get??

Go Bernie, not saying more other than I want my country back! Could go on and on, but who's listening????

[WillyT]

97. HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!!

[AzDar]

98. Bernie!!

[DanTex]

99. This is great to hear. Regardless of who anyone supports for nominee, we all celebrate the fact

that Bernie's message is resounding with so many people.

[raouldukelives]

100. K&R nt

[oberliner]

101. Would you say that the crowd was racially diverse?

Just curious.

[Bjorn Against]

102. No, but these sorts of events are rarely diverse in Minnesota

[NCTraveler]

103. I did it with Gore/Lieberman.

Then waited a long time to see Carter. That was after his Presidency. On a similar note, it was so exciting at the Gore event. Anticipation builds all around as everyone waits. Everyone has similar interest and that helps to make it a great time.