How Bernie Sanders just electrified Iowa

[NorthCarolina]

At an under-the-radar town hall in Des Moines, Sanders had the crowd begging for more. Here's why it matters

DES MOINES — Bernie Sanders has neckties older than most of his audience at last Friday’s Drake University Town Hall in Des Moines. Yet the age differential didn’t matter. His college-age audience loved him. Organized by Drake progressive students, Sanders and his audience seemed to have a near telepathic connection. His issues are their issues, and if anything, they are more pissed off than he is.

Several Drake students set the stage for Sanders in brief topical introductions, laying waste to money in politics, Citizens United specifically, the reality and dangers of climate change, the importance of pay equity for women, immigration reform, and the crushing burden of the cost of college and debt. Then Bernie nailed it, touching on all of these topics and more.

Unlike the speeches at the recent Republican Iowa Freedom Summit, Sanders was long on ideas, and short on chest-thumping, fiery rhetoric. He also didn’t have an audience mostly old enough to vote when Ronald Reagan was running for president.

At first it was unclear who the bigger enemy of the people were to Sanders — the Kardashians or the Koch brothers. The Kardashians, or rather our public fascination with them, represents America’s apathy. Sanders was clear that nothing progressive can happen until people start paying attention. Sanders told his audience that Americans are getting screwed, and that we had better pay attention and get off our asses.

http://www.salon.com/2015/02/24/people_are_really_getting_angry_how_bernie_sanders_just_electrified_iowa_and_what_it_means_for_16/

and for those who keep insisting Sanders has absolutely no chance of winning:

Sanders pushed the question with each of them. Is there support out there for a progressive candidate? One man said, “I think people are ready for a champion…if you are a champion for our issues, people will follow you.” One woman had driven four hours to see Sanders, and assured him the support is there. One by one all agreed that they would support a progressive candidate.

The thing that frightens our bought political parties the most is a populist uprising. I think Bernie can fuel one. He's got my support and my vote. How about you?

[monmouth4]

1. This is great news to hear. Go Bernie!...n/t

[kacekwl]

2. He's my guy

Run or not he is getting people's ears.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. Bernie would beat Hillary like a drum

I believe he'll prevent her from running - she knows he'll doom her candidacy.

[brooklynite]

9. Seriously?

Explain how Bernie Sanders runs a NATIONAL campaign (requiring financial and political support), and how he appeals to voters in States that aren't as liberal as Vermont?

According to FEC, in his 2010 campaign, he collected $788,000. That's hardly enough for a House race in most districts.

[1monster]

18. Last time I checked, DesMoines was in Iowa, not Vermont... But maybe

things have changed?

Bernie has my vote since before he started making noises about maybe thinking about running...

[brooklynite]

25. I'll grant you he MIGHT do well in Iowa (bearing in mind that Dean didn't)

...but he's got to run nationwide, and most States really require TV advertising to reach everyone.

[A Simple Game]

42. He wins Iowa and New Hampshire and starts to get national attention.

The large liberal donors that shunned Hillary start to fund him. People want to back a winner that's why the large donors didn't invite Hillary to their summit. http://crooksandliars.com/2014/11/progressive-donors-dont-invite-hillary Hillary's support like last time is a mile wide and an inch deep.

Hillary looks like, well like she did in the 2008 debates and starts to lose support again.

Sanders wins!!!

I even think he can do it as an independent if he wants. I think the Country is sick of both parties and for what they stand.

[stopwastingmymoney]

44. Yes please...nt

[daleanime]

56. I can't speak for anyone else.....

but I would work my tail off for Bernie.

[rainy]

19. Why can't we run an innovative campaign

And use social media brilliantly so that we beat the money requirement. Flash mob art, dance, leaflets, YouTube, photo bombing other candidates being interviewed live. Banksy like building art.

[Jackpine Radical]

21. That's really the only chance he's got.

Even so, it's a pretty interesting possibility. The new media certainly gives us organizational and communication tools with possibilities that we're just beginning to understand.

[jwirr]

28. Add to that some of the old tactics such as mailing out fliers and we can work on it. Plus one BIG

issue we have not been using enough. They have the money to buy the election - is that really what the American people want? We need to push this until any candidate in the GE that has a lot of money will be automatically seen as bought and sold.

[salib]

46. Yes. We want a candidate who is like us

And not part of the one tenth of one percent.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

23. Guerrilla campaigning is how Dennis Kucinich won 17% in the Minnesota caucuses

The local volunteers were phenomenally creative, leafleting at every community event, door knocking in their neighborhoods, pressuring local media to provide covereage of DK's visits (something the local media would not have done otherwise), even having campaign materials translated into the common immigrant languages.

[brooklynite]

27. 17% means you lost...

You might pick up some delegates, but ultimately, you'll need to win some large Primary States with a widely spread-out population. Candidates don't spend money on TV ads because they want to; they do so because it's the only way to reach most voters.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

40. Yes, but that was DK's best showing ANYWHERE

and he actually won some precincts.

Most places, including such liberal strongholds as Madison, Wisconsin, and Portland, Oregon, he won his usual 2-3%. The places where he scored higher were all those with strong and creative grassroots campaigns. Just think what a well-organized 50-state campaign could do, perhaps not win but make the Establishment scramble.

[brooklynite]

26. The average voter doesn't look for political YouTube videos...

...nor are they likely to be exposed to flashmobs or dance groups. Unless you're limiting for vote gathering to large cities with exclusively millenial populations.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

41. The MN campaign "adopted" an Iowa county, the one around Decorah

Dennis Kucinich WON that county.

[brooklynite]

58. ONE County with a population of 21,000...

...explain how you scale up to a Statewide, much less national campaign.

I'm not being dismissive, I'm being bluntly political. Bernie Sanders has never had to compete for a large electorate on a national platform, requiring huge numbers of financial contributors and volunteers. I've yet to see a compelling explanation of how he does that, and I doubt it involves Flash Mobs.

[svpadgham]

57. I don't go looking for videos of a lot of stuff

Yet they end up in my news feeds. If they are creative enough and can appeal to the average voter, they will make it to them.

[brooklynite]

59. No...because the average voter doesn't HAVE news feeds.

The average voter doesn't care much for politics, and doesn't go out of their way to search for information about candidates.

[svpadgham]

65. The average voter doesn't use Facebook?

Or any other form of social media?

[brooklynite]

66. The average voter MIGHT use Facebook...

...to look at photos of their Grand-kids or share stories of their vacations. I do not believe the average voter searches out political or issue pages).

I do not believe any other social media platform reaches any significant portion of the voting population.

[jwirr]

24. You are correct about the money but I hope he wins the Iowa caucus because that could possibly

wake up Hillary. She has shown no support for the kind of ideas he offers. All of you are going to get your way but I seriously doubt that Hillary is going to be able to fix anything. She is too far right on economic issues and God only knows where she is on using military to answer the problems of the world.

So I will vote but I do not have hope for the real problems of our democracy.

[TeamPooka]

34. False equivalence is when you compare fundraisng for a state race in Vermont

to a national campaign

[brooklynite]

35. But, because he's only HAD to raise money for a state race in Vermont...

...I don't see his ability to raise money at the level needed for a national campaign.

[NorthCarolina]

39. I you "don't see his ability", then you have nothing to worry about.

If Bernie throws his hat into the ring, and Warren stays out (which appears to be the case), I'd bet money that MoveOn and Ready for Warren and the other progressive groups now encouraging her to run will throw their support behind him.

[ms liberty]

48. Bernie hasn't accepted money from corporations...

Only individuals and local (Vt.) companies; he hasn't accepted money from right wing pacs and super pacs, he's registered as an independent which doesn't give him access to Dem party money, and for his state wide campaigns he has only taken money from in-state. Maybe that is why? If he decides to become a candidate and switches his party affiliation to Dem, then that will change, as will his "war chest" totals.

[whathehell]

4. Go on with your bad self, Bernie!!!

[HappyMe]

5. Bernie has my support, and he'll have my vote if he runs.

Go Bernie!

[gwheezie]

6. I hope he runs

I like him. Several of my younger relatives who range from conservative to liberal like him. They're done with both parties.

[Jackpine Radical]

22. Podemos--

The Spanish populist party is a fusion of elements of right & left against the moneyed "center."

[appalachiablue]

64. That's good to hear about the young folks, bravo!

[immoderate]

7. I would love to be able to vote for Bernie!

--imm

[ladjf]

8. Sanders will get my support as long as he is in the race. nt

[PatrickforO]

10. I've always liked Sanders, and if he runs in the primary,

I would in fact support him over the candidate put forward by the corporate Democrats.

[Enthusiast]

11. I'm all in for Bernie.

[newfie11]

12. He's got my vote

I hope he runs.

[L0oniX]

13. K & R ...and this shows where the heart of the Dem party should be.

[NorthCarolina]

15. I think this shows where the heart of the Democratic Party IS.

The exception being the corporate conservative faction embedded within the Democratic Party.

[Omaha Steve]

14. He was 150 miles away

When he gets to Western Iowa I'll be there. K&R!

[DinahMoeHum]

16. I'll be at a "Run Bernie Run" event this weekend. . .

. . .just got the e-mail about it.

courtesy of Progressive Democrats of America

http://www.pdamerica.org/

[zeemike]

17. "The thing that frightens our bought political parties the most is a populist uprising"

That is the truth...because a populist uprising threatens the political party establishment.
And they will pump millions of dollars into marginalizing or discrediting him if they need to.
But ideas can win over big money.

[MissDeeds]

20. Bernie has my full support

As the man in the audience said, "I think people are ready for a champion". I know I am.

Go Bernie!!!

K&R

[Maedhros]

29. Sanders would be the sole Liberal candidate if he chooses to run.

I would think that would at least give him the support of the base.

[Dems to Win]

30. FDR for a new century. Go Bernie!

I'll be supporting Bernie when he announces he's running.

[appalachiablue]

63. That's it, 21st Century New Deal with Bernie!

[Trajan]

31. He would get my Primary vote

His message is my message ... I sincerely appreciate Bernie's worldview and completely agree with his approach.

Duly noted how some of the Democrats on this forum have already begun to lay into the Progressives, as if Progressives are their sworn enemies ...

I say: FUCK the conservative Democrats ... If Bernie doesn't win the Primary Season, then, sure ... I'll vote for Hillary ... But go to hell if you think you can shut us down before it's even started ...

If Bernie gets a head of steam, then the money will come ... so all the hemming and hawing about campaign money is a red herring.

The question is : Will you haters of Progressives be there for Bernie?, or will you jump ship and vote GOP?

[denverbill]

32. I'd DEFINITELY vote for Bernie.

[colsohlibgal]

33. Go Bernie!

People do have to pay more attention so we can reverse the dumbing down of the US - and then eventually take back both parties from Wall Street and then back to Main Street.

Public Funding of elections is a must, to end virtual bribery with the prizes going to the people who have more with which to bribe.

As the late great George Carlin said, the people running things are in a big club and we're not in it.

[paulkienitz]

36. I will definitely vote for him over HRC in the primary.

My only issue with him is on Israel. I can live with that.

[Cosmic Kitten]

37. More spine than most politicians.

He's one of the few in Congress that
has EARNED the word "leader".

Bernie is a true leader.

[ReRe]

38. K&R

Damn right, NorthCarolina. He's got my vote too. A "21st Century New Deal!" for the 99%!

[mahina]

43. One problem, he's not a Democrat.

How would that work?

[hopemountain]

53. if he throws in his hat

he might consider changing parties.. but to do so, he wants to feel a movement and support from the youth, workers, and the 99% for him to run.

he is very wise and clear about the issues.

[mahina]

55. I like him too but for this primary, I 'm for Martin O'Malley.

Last edited Thu Feb 26, 2015, 08:18 AM - Edit history (1)

I love Bernie actually, a lot. But for now anyway, it seems to me that there's no sense in supporting him for the Democratic primary as he's not a Democrat.

[hopemountain]

60. have never heard of him - but will check him out.

how do you know him?

[mahina]

62. Because he's running for the Democratic nomination.

I also used to go to Baltimore once a year for a few years and was around before he ran, during the run at one point, and right after an election. I think he's a good egg. What do we ever really know?

But he's less conservative than Hillary, whom I also like, and unlike Bernie, whom I love, Martin is a Democrat.

[ybbor]

45. Run Bernie Run!

I'll do what ever I can to get him elected!

[november3rd]

47. He needs the Green Party endorsement

Build a left coalition

[Michigan-Arizona]

49. Count me in! n/t

[Thespian2]

50. Sanders?

Of Course! How could any progressive not vote for all the things Bernie stands for?

[Abbraxus]

51. I like Bernie but...

Listen, I like Bernie as much as the next guy. However do you think the Republican and Democratic party is really going to let there be a 3rd party President in the White House? Even if that happens, are we in for 4 more years of gridlock?

[whereisjustice]

52. But here she comes to save the day! Hillary is offering "inclusive capitalism"!

mindless bullshit neo-liberal business-babble that she hopes bowls over the simple minded under-class.

[eridani]

54. If he doesn't get off the fence and declare himself a Democrat--

--there's not going to be time to do the necessary organizing on hie behalf.

[davidpdx]

61. If Sanders is the only progressive I will end up voting for him in the primary

I hope we have someone other than the corporate 1% candidate.