I saw Bernie in Rochester New Hampshire this morning...

[catnhatnh]

It was a dismal and rainy 52 degrees and the stop had only been announced last Thursday. That said, the venue was a restaurant called the Governor's Inn and a banquet room was set up with maybe 160 chairs.

The room was filled and had quite a few standees a full half hour before the start time. The event was by RSVP and there were additional chairs in an adjoining outdoor area but It seemed lightly used as it was cold and raw...I'd estimate the crowd at about 250 and almost certainly no more than 300. Bernie was delayed about 15 minutes up the road filming a piece for George Stephanopoulis.

The speech he gave was like most his others hitting on wealth disparity and economic justice. The crowd lit up a bit when he paraphrased FDR's "They are unanimous in their hate for me—and I welcome their hatred." He never told us whose lives mattered but he did talk about blacks suffering higher rates of unemployment and hit against US incarceration rates stating that 1 in 4 black males born today could expect to be jailed in their lifetime unless the system was changed. Not much on international diplomacy-just that he had cast one of his first votes against Desert Storm 1 in 1990 and against Desert Storm 2 in 2003. He noted that Saudi Arabia comes in third in the world in military expenditures and said US boots should not be on the ground while the Saudi refuse to engage.

I'd heard most of this before-it was in fact what I came to hear. But for me the important thing was to be in the room and see the man up close without the camera lens. I liked what I saw. Unlike the caricature the guy is open, smiles easily, and is extremely comfortable-He is the guy I'd like to have a beer with. It was fun to see him explain his positions and great to see a guy who actually get real angry discussing the Koch Bros. and Citizens United-I can tell you that part of his address is where 90% of the scowling photos come from. He walked in without a necktie and as you see, as he gets wound up the jacket goes and the sleeves get rolled up and the voice rises as proceeds to thrash the oligarchs.

It's been a while since I've attended a political event. I read, I discuss, and sometimes I even contribute. The first rally I ever attended was for Hubert Humphrey in '68. This was my second. I found what I was looking for. This man is the real deal.

[LWolf]

1. Thank you for this report.

I look forward to a chance to see him speak him in my state. That's a long way out.

[onecaliberal]

2. I'm so excited. Thanks for sharing.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. Thank you for sharing this!

Let's fight.

Let's win, too!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

4. I took someone who had never gone to a political event before....

They said it was different seeing someone "in living color".

[Luminous Animal]

6. I like that!

[daleanime]

5. K&R.....

[Enthusiast]

7. Thanks for your account of Bernie's appearance.

Bernie is my candidate.

[WillyT]

8. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[m-lekktor]

9. k & R !

[Admiral Loinpresser]

10. KnR! n/t

[bunnies]

11. I cant believe I missed it.

I was literally 5 minutes away.

[snagglepuss]

12. I am also struck by how comfortable and natural he is as a speaker.

I bet every person in that room felt that Bernie was talking directly to him or her.

[swilton]

13. Thanks - from Keene

[cantbeserious]

14. I Will No Longer Settle For The Lesser Of Two Corporate Evils - Go Bernie Go

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