Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders SPEAKS In Keene

[Segami]

He came. He spoke. He energized.

And called for a revolution in the process — political, that is. For one hour Saturday, presidential candidate Bernie Sanders held center stage at Keene State College’s Redfern Arts Center discussing his positions on a myriad of topics that had the audience of about 600 cheering, applauding and giving at least five standing ovations. Occasionally someone would shout out in agreement with the senator from Vermont, who is seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination to run for the Oval Office. “A great nation does not stand up and talk about all the millionaires and billionaires it has. A great nation focuses on the most vulnerable of our population,” Sanders said. He said that a great nation also comes together to solve its problems, but that can’t happen when people are divided and feel disenfranchised, as is the case in today’s American democracy.

~snip~

“Those people don’t own America, you own America. Your job is to take it back,” he said.

Sanders kept his remarks passionate, but to the point, making sure as many of his positions as possible were communicated to the general populous, which included an overflow crowd of about 100 across the way in the arts center’s Putnam Theater. Hundreds more waited outside to catch a glimpse of him. Over 1,000 total came to see Sanders, according campaign officials said. Such crowds have become commonplace for Sanders on the campaign trail. Inside, Sanders covered all thing progressive: From expanding Social Security benefits, to making public colleges and universities free, to reforming the criminal justice system, to making health care a human right and not a privilege, to closing the gap of income inequality, to combating climate change, to making the minimum wage a living wage. On the subject of foreign policy, Sanders said as president of the United States he would defend the country, but do so responsibly.

“We don’t need tough foreign policy. We need smart foreign policy,” he said.

He described the Islamic State as “barbaric,” and said it must be destroyed. But the United States needs to learn from its past mistakes, and not go at it alone, or be “trapped in perpetual warfare in the Middle East,” he said. There needs to be a broad coalition of countries, including strong participation from the Muslim countries in the region, involved in fighting ISIS, he said.

“While the United States and other western nations have the strength of our militaries and our political systems, the fight against ISIS is primarily a struggle for the soul of Islam and countering violent extremism,” he said. “Destroying ISIS must be done primarily by the Muslim nations.”

~snip~

One of the opponents of the Northeast Energy Direct pipeline, Patricia A. Martin of Rindge, arrived early at Sanders’ event to help sell campaign T-shirts. She said it was the least she and other area residents who are against the project could do for Sanders. Sanders first announced his opposition to the high-pressure natural gas transmission pipeline on Nov. 29, and to-date is the only presidential candidate to take a firm stance for or against the project. Jess Gerrior of Antrim said Saturday she has hope after hearing Sanders’ speech Saturday.

“His message rings true. It speaks to my spirit, and it really came across as sincere,” she said.

Will Appleton of Keene said Sanders seemed to be a real progressive coalition candidate. “What the political revolution is about is I need you — this country needs you — not just up to the election, but we need you the day after the election,”

“A lot of the things he said hit me,” he said.

cont'

http://www.sentinelsource.com/news/local/presidential-candidate-bernie-sanders-speaks-in-keene/article_0bced05a-0fbe-53be-88d6-66660429ad9a.html

[swilton]

1. Thanks Segami

I don't buy the polls that say Sanders and Clinton are neck and neck in NH - I have never seen this excitement/turn-out in Keene before - for Hillary or for Obama for that matter. The auditorium - the largest venue of its kind in Keene (pop. 23,439) was full and several hundred people were turned away.

This morning's headlines in the Keene Sentinel which is the thread's source article were "Keene Feels The Bern".

[Segami]

2. Thank you....and I agree...

..polls are not truly reflecting the voter's evolving views, positions and sentiments. The excitement around these Bernie rallies has been expressed by many who have attended them as 'contagious'. So 'Feelin The Bern' after attending one of these rallies would be a good way to describe their experience.