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Le Taz Hot

(22,271 posts)
Sat Jun 13, 2015, 06:45 PM Jun 2015

Just got back from a Bernie get-together

Last edited Sat Jun 13, 2015, 10:23 PM - Edit history (1)

in Central California. It was held at the Democratic Headquarters with mostly PDA people there. Not a Blue Dog in sight. They are organizing EARLY and they're talking about caravanning out to one of the early primary states like Nevada and working the Bernie campaign there. The early primary states are EVERYTHING in this rigged farce of a primary election so it's going to be essential for Bernie to do well there. If he can do well the 50-state-strategy is ready to go and he'll be viable to California (June) and beyond.

And, btw, thank you, reddred for the heads up. I hadn't even heard about this until he/she told me about it this morning.

Of course, I signed up to volunteer to do it all and am looking forward to again being able to work for a REAL candidate as I refuse to work/vote for some bobble head up there telling me I should, "Vote for me because I'm not as bad as the other guy."

I have pictures but I'm too tired to upload them at the moment. It's like 104 degrees out there and I'm flippin' hot!

It was fun hooking up with some local Bernie supporters. Bernie bounce!

ETA: There were probably only about 30 to 40 people there but this is the conservative Central Valley, it was 104 flippin' degrees and this was very last minute so all in all it was a very good turn out. I'm more excited about WHO showed up and that was the activists. There's the core of your grass roots right there.

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Just got back from a Bernie get-together (Original Post) Le Taz Hot Jun 2015 OP
Good for you. Cleita Jun 2015 #1
It's been like 11 years since I've worked with the local Democrats Le Taz Hot Jun 2015 #3
I'm in the Bay Area, Cleita, which part of the coast are you? 2banon Jun 2015 #10
South of San Luis Obispo, the Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande area. Cleita Jun 2015 #13
Oh Yes.. well. it will be interesting, but I know the party machine here is unparrelled to the rest 2banon Jun 2015 #14
My vote either and several friends of mine too. Cleita Jun 2015 #25
My mom used to live in Santa Maria and it was pretty Republican there. cui bono Jun 2015 #23
It still is and all our talk radio is still RW, Rush Limbaugh etc. or Cleita Jun 2015 #24
Can hardly wait for your pictures. SoapBox Jun 2015 #2
And I'll be on the lookout Iwillnevergiveup Jun 2015 #8
Rec L0oniX Jun 2015 #4
More good news... Thespian2 Jun 2015 #5
Excellent! daleanime Jun 2015 #6
Great News cantbeserious Jun 2015 #7
Thanks for the Report Back LTH. Awesome and Inspiring! 2banon Jun 2015 #9
Fantastic. Thanks for going and thanks for helping Bernie's campaign. I hope to get together with sabrina 1 Jun 2015 #11
Non voters. Le Taz Hot Jun 2015 #12
AND he was speaking out in support of Gays in 1972! sabrina 1 Jun 2015 #15
PDA people- what's that? nt awoke_in_2003 Jun 2015 #16
Progressive Democrats of America...maybe? SoapBox Jun 2015 #17
Progressive Democrats of America eridani Jun 2015 #18
Thanks. nt awoke_in_2003 Jun 2015 #19
rec & kick MerryBlooms Jun 2015 #20
K&R! marym625 Jun 2015 #21
Sounds like some real grass roots action, nice! (nt) Babel_17 Jun 2015 #22
Just a bit curious. Have any directives come directly from the Sanders campaign yet. Directions on jwirr Jun 2015 #26
I signed up directly with the Sanders campaign Le Taz Hot Jun 2015 #27
re: social media SoapBox Jun 2015 #28
Thank you. jwirr Jun 2015 #29

Cleita

(75,480 posts)
1. Good for you.
Sat Jun 13, 2015, 06:50 PM
Jun 2015

I'm afraid our DHqts are backing Hillary. So we Bernie supporters I guess are going to have to do it on our own here on the coast. I hope I'm wrong, but so far the women who run it are backing Clinton.

Le Taz Hot

(22,271 posts)
3. It's been like 11 years since I've worked with the local Democrats
Sat Jun 13, 2015, 07:16 PM
Jun 2015

and I have to say, there's been MUCH improvement since the bad old days of endless infighting and petty bullshit that I just don't have time for. There's all new people and I saw mostly Bernie posters on the walls and maybe 2 or 3 Hillary posters. I don't know if that was just because it was a Bernie get-together or if those are up there all the time.

Good representation from one of your favorite places -- Bakersfield. LOL! Several people drove the 103 miles in this gawd-awful heat to be a part of it so that's a good sign.

The cool thing, though is it was all the activists -- PDA, several unions, Peace Fresno, the Universalist Unitarian Church, Food not Bombs and some others I can't remember now. I've seen these guys for YEARS here and when it calls for feet on the ground these guys are the real deal. The activists are key. THEY are what will move this campaign forward and keep the momentum going through the entire primary.

 

2banon

(7,321 posts)
10. I'm in the Bay Area, Cleita, which part of the coast are you?
Sat Jun 13, 2015, 09:47 PM
Jun 2015

I'm starting to get inspired with all of the great Bernie support. I can believe many in the city of SF and various wealthy communities, especially Marin Co. would be HRC supporters, but I gotta say over here in Oakland.. not so much.

Cleita

(75,480 posts)
13. South of San Luis Obispo, the Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande area.
Sat Jun 13, 2015, 10:37 PM
Jun 2015

This is an affluent area as well of retired well off, vineyards and ranchy types with horses. Also, many rich own vacation homes here.

 

2banon

(7,321 posts)
14. Oh Yes.. well. it will be interesting, but I know the party machine here is unparrelled to the rest
Sat Jun 13, 2015, 10:41 PM
Jun 2015

of the nation, no doubt it will go for HRC in a big way. Just notwith my vote.

cui bono

(19,926 posts)
23. My mom used to live in Santa Maria and it was pretty Republican there.
Sun Jun 14, 2015, 06:15 PM
Jun 2015

I would go crazy trying to find Thom Hartmann or someone progressive on the radio when I would visit her. All I could find was RW hate radio, and usually Hannity would be on two stations at once!

Cleita

(75,480 posts)
24. It still is and all our talk radio is still RW, Rush Limbaugh etc. or
Sun Jun 14, 2015, 06:34 PM
Jun 2015

religious talk. Fortunately, we do have the beach cities that trend liberal. I have to get Thom on Free Speech TV.

SoapBox

(18,791 posts)
2. Can hardly wait for your pictures.
Sat Jun 13, 2015, 06:58 PM
Jun 2015

As time goes on, I'll have to see what pops up in the South Bay Area of Los Angeles.

Thespian2

(2,741 posts)
5. More good news...
Sat Jun 13, 2015, 08:07 PM
Jun 2015

The more people who hear what Bernie stands for and votes for, the more people who become Bernie supporters...people who will work like you to get a real progressive president...

sabrina 1

(62,325 posts)
11. Fantastic. Thanks for going and thanks for helping Bernie's campaign. I hope to get together with
Sat Jun 13, 2015, 10:09 PM
Jun 2015

groups in NY also so we can start early and get those NON VOTERS and Independents excited again, enough to register as a Dem here in NY and help get Bernie to the WH.

Le Taz Hot

(22,271 posts)
12. Non voters.
Sat Jun 13, 2015, 10:19 PM
Jun 2015

That was one of the things we talked about -- how to get non-voters interested in voting again. I think pretty much everyone agreed that people aren't voting because they feel disaffected. That didn't just happen, it was designed. Bernie has such incredible cross-over appeal that I think he's the one candidate that can unite people just by being Bernie and pointing to his LIFELONG populist work. Christalmighty, he started with CORE in 1962! Stuff like that is going to resonate with voters and motivate them to get out and vote.

sabrina 1

(62,325 posts)
15. AND he was speaking out in support of Gays in 1972!
Sun Jun 14, 2015, 01:34 AM
Jun 2015

Ne never had to 'evolve' on Gay Marriage, he was FOR it and voted against DOMA.

I think we finally got a candidate who is the real deal. I can't remember anyone who has been right on every important issue for so long and with the voting record to prove it.

He has two of the most important qualifications a Leader needs, foresight and good judgement. That is apparent by his vote against the Iraq War and the Patriot and the reasons he gave back then for doing so.

Seems like others who want to be leaders had to catch up him. Must have been frustrating for him to have to wait for them to evolve.

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
26. Just a bit curious. Have any directives come directly from the Sanders campaign yet. Directions on
Sun Jun 14, 2015, 07:44 PM
Jun 2015

what they would like supporters to do besides donate?

A lot of us were sending out the messages regarding his stands by posting his sayings on facebook etc, but I haven't seen many of them lately. IMO those blurbs went a long way in making him known and I am surprised they have stopped.

Would like something one can do straight from home.

Le Taz Hot

(22,271 posts)
27. I signed up directly with the Sanders campaign
Mon Jun 15, 2015, 01:40 AM
Jun 2015

as soon as the website was up. I get missives from them but that's about it. I'm not concerned. They're focusing on early primary states at the moment and since California's isn't until June, we're not even on the radar, other than for fundraising.

The locals, specifically Progressive Democrats of American (NOT the local Party Machine) is just now organizing and trying to figure out how we can get Iowans and New Hampsters and South Carolinians and Nevadans to VOTE BERNIE in their primaries. As I mentioned in the OP, we're talking about caravanning to Nevada and/or phone banking from home but we're also still brainstorming for ways that we can penetrate an otherwise turned-off electorate.

As for social media, I'm not a participant -- just not my thing, so I can't comment.

SoapBox

(18,791 posts)
28. re: social media
Mon Jun 15, 2015, 02:09 AM
Jun 2015

Not me either...no Facebook or Twitter...I can't even keep up with DU and my email accounts are an absolute disaster.

I'll have to go mostly with word-of-mouth here. I'll take a look at the PDA site.

And I eventually might track down the local Dem office, to see if it's only on for HRC...till she loses.

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