stage left
stage left's JournalSo, I chickened out
The last time I was supposed to phone for Bernie. But I went today and... it wasn't too bad. We, all two of us, were calling Democrats who'd voted in '12 and '14. I talked to a woman who moved here from Maryland and was a staunch supporter. So, I'll think I'll do it again. I might even knock some doors come Saturday. Who knows?
I went to the opening of Bernie Sanders Greenville, SC office this evening.
The crowd was out the door. I got a Bernie yard sign, another bumper sticker, and I signed up to phone bank. It's a stretch for me, but I REALLY couldn't see myself knocking on doors. And I'd be dismal at entering data. Any tips from veterans would be greatly appreciated. 
Go Bernie! 
Woke this morning to gunfire.
Even though we're not that familiar with the sound of gunshots, we knew what it was. Boom, Boom, Boom. Then silence for a count of three. Boom, Boom,Boom. It sounded like the shooter was standing on our front porch. My husband looked out our bedroom window, but it was pitch black and he could see nothing. We strained to hear and heard nothing. I wondered why the dogs weren't barking. It was unnaturally silent like the silence that comes with a heavy snowfall. We whispered to each other as we moved to the front bathroom away from the windows. Should we call the police?
Then came the other shots, more coughing than booming. A different gun.Was there one person out there or more? Then we could hear faintly someone shouting across the street. I retrieved my cell phone from my bag in the dining room and dialed 911. I told the dispatcher to let the police know there was an active shooter, that he was still shooting, that we couldn't see him, and had no idea what was going on. I was really afraid they would find someone dead in one of the houses across the street.
I went upstairs to see about our daughter. I scared the living daylights out of her. She thought she had heard the shots in a dream. I told her to come downstairs and we waited in the back of the house for the police.
Four squad cars pulled silently into our neighborhood, lights low and stopped at our drive. One of the sheriff's deputies talked to my husband at the door, then went to investigate, telling us to stay inside.
Later we learned that they found the shooter, sitting on his porch across the street, an assault rifle across his lap. He was so drunk that when they told him to stand up, he fell off the porch. He had been firing various guns into the air, into the ground, and into his own car. They told us they found seven guns in his house and, of course, took all of them. They were looking for shell casings for several hours. I hope he never gets his guns back. I don't have much hope he'll never be able to buy another one, though.
I have some faint inkling of how the people in the recent mass shooting felt; of how people in areas where the sound of gunshots is the norm feel. It's not a good feeling.
Terrible Flooding in SC
[link: http://www.wbtv.com/slideshow…| These are, I believe, mostly from Columbia, SC. They have had 21 inches of rain. I've never seen it like this. Never.
What do my fellow Sanders supporters say to this?
Today I alerted on a thread that advocated that the left ally itself with the religious right in order to form a "winning" team that would tear down the corporate oligarchy at the expense of the civil rights of women, lgbt, and people of color. And maybe a few southern states which would end up as fascist theocracies. But who cares about them, right? It was allowed to stand. Some of the people who recommended it I've seen post as Sanders supporters. I'm a little dismayed that I seem to be grouped with people who would agree with this op and support it. It has caused me to consider if I'm in the right place as a member of this group. I'm a low key poster and likely I wouldn't be missed. Wherever I am, I will support Senator Sanders who I don't believe would advocate throwing anyone under the bus. I believe he wants everyone to have a seat, and, if he didn't, I would never vote for him.
Below are the results of the alert. What say you?
On Sat Sep 26, 2015, 10:31 AM you sent an alert on the following post:
What if the Religious Right allied with the Working Left?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027204545
REASON FOR ALERT
This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.
YOUR COMMENTS
This is the most vile and evil post I've ever seen on Du and i've seen a lot of vile stuff. Throwing fellow Americans under the bus is not a Democratic value. it's not even a human value.
JURY RESULTS
A randomly-selected Jury of DU members completed their review of this alert at Sat Sep 26, 2015, 10:48 AM, and voted 2-5 to LEAVE IT ALONE.
Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: This alert has to be the dumbest I've seen in a month. The post in question is not a violation of community standards.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: The premise of the OP is a bad idea, but I think it sparked a good discussion and those opposed made a great case for why the premise of this post is a bad idea which is why I'm voting to leave it.
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: And people wonder why women and POC feel like they are being under the bus here at DU. And this is from people who actually think they are MORE principled. Screw that- you're not going to use us as a wedge issue and destroy the party. Go join the loser libertarians or greens. You don't belong here.
This is disgusting.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I can not agree with the alerter, in fact it speaks a true possibility.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: The alert message seems to bear no relationship to the post. It seems like the person alerted on the wrong post.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Go argue in the thread. Posting ridiculous ideas is not a hideable offense.
Juror #7 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Funny, this post does not surprise me, as vile as it is. I've been expecting something along these lines since mid August. People have lost their minds. Many have just become brazen.
It was very exciting to be there.
Especially so as it was my first ever political rally. I was kind of nervous, too, because crowds are not really my thing.
I got to the TD Convention center about 9:15 and they were already parking people in the parking lot across the street from the center and there was already a long line waiting to get into the ballroom. The doors were scheduled to open at 10 and the Senator was to begin speaking at 11:00.
Most everyone was lined up patiently with their Bernie signs and Bernie y'all buttons, talking and laughing with each other. Meanwhile I was looking for my sister and Bil who were coming from Piedmont. I'd planned to coordinate with my sister by cell phone, but, in my excitement, I'd managed to leave it at home. I though I could get there early and get a good place, but it was not to be.
While waiting for her and checking the front periodically, I checked out the crowd. There were many people my own age--sixty and over, but also a good many younger people. i have to admit we were mostly white, however there were a few people of color and many women and they all seemed as excited to be there as I was. We met a woman there from Ireland by way of Atlanta who was with her college age son. We also ran into a bouncy group of teenage girls, practicing their cheer leading moves. Not to mention the young guy from Columbia sporting a ball cap with an embroidered marijuana leaf foremost and brandishing a three sided sign lashed to an old flagpole. The sign featured a depiction of Princess Leia and said "Help us, Bernie Sanders, you're our only hope."
We got in a little after ten and we're a long way from the podium, right behind the platform where the press is set up. We have a great view of the cameramen, mostly from behind. My Bil strikes up a conversation with one of the press who asks him to say a few words on camera. My Bil turns shy and so does my sister. The reporter turns to me, "What about you?"
I say to myself what the hell. So I tell him why I'm there. What I like about Bernie. Why I prefer him to Hillary. Turns out the guy is from Al Jazeera. I'm afraid to go to the website in case he actually used the footage. Being bold is no more my thing than crowds.
The crowd is excited, waiting for Bernie. The press look glum. Symone Sanders, a member of the Campaign, speaks from the podium. She introduces a recent graduate of Furman University, a black girl, who, in turn introduces Bernie. There is a roar from the crowd and a flurry of Bernie signs. When the signs come down I can see the Senator. He tells us how much he appreciates us coming. I'm a little disappointed that his hair is so neatly combed.
As he makes each of his points, the crowd literally roars. I won't reiterate the points. I think we all know what they are. When he mentions Citizens United, the Koch brothers, our Republican "Colleagues", or the.1% the crowd groans. I was happy to see him address police violence, the militarization of the police, the privatization of prisons, and our broken criminal justice system. I was sorry there weren't more people of color there to hear him.
When it's over we rush toward the front hoping to get a clear picture of the Senator, or maybe even shake his hand. My sister comes close. If only she was a little taller.
Bernie Sanders is coming to Greenville, SC.
A rally is going to be held at the TD Exposition Center starting at 10:00 Am Friday, August 21. I'm so excited to able to go and hear the Sentaor speak. Go, Bernie!
Bernie Sanders is coming to Greenville, SC.
He'll be at the TD exposition center on August 21 beginning at 10 Am. ! My sister sent me an email forwarded to her by her son about the event. I am so excited about going. Here's the website for the event for anyone else who would like to attend. https://secure.berniesanders.com/page/event/detail/rally/4jljw
The Confederate Flag is down from the Statehouse grounds
but there are still flag decals stuck to windshields, usually flanked by a Gadsden flag and an NRA decal. At least they let the rest of us know who they are, so we can avoid them.
I'm not a descendant of Jefferson Davis.
But my roots in SC go back to at least 1780 and I'm in total agreement with Horne. I'm proud of South Carolina today and all the South Carolinians moving beyond hatred.
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Gender: Do not displayHometown: South Carolina
Member since: Wed Oct 2, 2013, 06:45 AM
Number of posts: 2,967
