NYT: Challenging Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders Gains Momentum in Iowa

[n2doc]

DES MOINES — A mere 240 people live in the rural northeast Iowa town of Kensett, so when more than 300 crowded into the community center on Saturday night to hear Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, many driving 50 miles, the cellphones of Democratic leaders statewide began to buzz.

Kurt Meyer, the county party chairman who organized the event, sent a text message to Troy Price, the Iowa political director for Hillary Rodham Clinton. Mr. Price called back immediately.

“Objects in your rearview mirror are closer than they appear,” Mr. Meyer said he had told Mr. Price about Mr. Sanders. “Mrs. Clinton had better get out here.”

The first evidence that Mrs. Clinton could face a credible challenge in the Iowa presidential caucuses appeared late last week in the form of overflow crowds at Mr. Sanders’s first swing through that state since declaring his candidacy for the Democratic nomination. He drew 700 people to an event on Thursday night in Davenport, for instance — the largest rally in the state for any single candidate this campaign season, and far more than the 50 people who attended a rally there on Saturday with former Gov. Martin O’Malley of Maryland.

more

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/01/us/politics/challenging-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-gains-momentum-in-iowa.html?_r=0

[sabrina 1]

1. Lol, more people showed up than actually live there! And that was before today's event

where instead of the expected 200 a week ago, 3,500 showed up!

Gaining momentum indeed and without Wall St money!

[merrily]

3. 300 and 3500 hearing the truth within a few days is way beyond my expectations.

[sabrina 1]

6. And I just heard that the 3,500 was the inside number. That there were about 1,500 people outside

because they could not fit inside. They hooked up mics so they could hear him.

And don't forget Vt.

He had a great week.

[merrily]

46. I figure they already know the truth in Vermont, which is why they keep electing him to whatever he

runs for up there. Mayor, sure. The House, sure. The Senate, sure. President, sure.

I'm going to make a couple of other posts, then get on social media.

[NRaleighLiberal]

67. Hi, Chuck - wonder if you've seen the site mission statement

"Mission Statement

Democratic Underground is an online community where politically liberal people can do their part to effect political and social change by:

Interacting with friendly, like-minded people;
Sharing news and information, free from the corporate media filter;
Participating in lively, thought-provoking discussions;
Helping elect more Democrats to political office at all levels of American government; and
Having fun!"

So are you ready to help with bullet point #4???

[arcane1]

69. " I'm a pro choice republican." -your words.

[merrily]

74. I always miss all the fun.

[marym625]

82. Me too!

[merrily]

84. I guess we'll just have to have our own party.

Do you know how to contact Name Removed?

[marym625]

87. lol!

Nope. Wish I did

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

95. Easy as pizza pie!

[merrily]

96. LOL

[roguevalley]

92. fun isn't it? But its okay. Hillary is having a 'grass roots' event

that will allow the locals to see her at a mere $1000-2700 a piece.







GO, IOWA!

[L0oniX]

2. "Iowa Democrats “truly hate Clinton’s ‘listening tour’ campaign,” No shit!

[merrily]

5. The county party chairman is serving as an operative for the Hillary campaign. Things like this are

Last edited Mon Jun 1, 2015, 05:12 PM - Edit history (1)

why so many traditional Democrats stopped donating to the Party.

[BrotherIvan]

13. ^^This^^

[Jackpine Radical]

21. Just like the Democratic Party of Wisconsin backed Burke

& pretty much shoved her down everyone's throats, all because she was worth a few million & they figured she could self-fund her campaign. Result--Scott Walker.

[merrily]

24. LOL. Are you giving me "Say hello to President Cruz" in a slightly different form than I usually

get it here?

[Scootaloo]

28. He's not

He's noting that the Party leadership's obsession with money leads to losing.

[merrily]

30. He could be doing both.

He's telling me that Party leadership's picking a candidate who was rich made him say hello to Governor Walker.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/jones111498.htm

If I apply that to the Presidential......

[Scootaloo]

33. I understand the wariness, but no, that's not what jackpine is trying to do

[merrily]

35. I'm not wary. I'm poking jackpine because I like him.

[merrily]

72. P.S. Whenever I've seen a post of yours, I've enjoyed it,

[Jackpine Radical]

37. The Dem Party org really looks bad in WI

It's almost as if they decided to throw the elections for the past several years.

Here's an anonymous story published a few days ago on a WI political blog

http://www.bluecheddar.net/?p=42262

[merrily]

73. Ugh. Talk about stinky cheese.

[LovingA2andMI]

26. Yep!^^^

Our State Party in Michigan blows clunks -- which is why Republicans continue to make gains in Michigan and Rick Snyder was re-elected as Governor when he should have EASILY been beaten.

[daleanime]

45. I may sound naive.....

but how is that allowable?

[jeff47]

63. Well, the party leadership makes the rules about who is in the party leadership.

Pretty easy to make it "allowable".

[840high]

43. No shit!!! So do I.

[marym625]

83. Well why doesn't she already know?

For christ's sake, she has been running for 2 years already

[BrotherIvan]

4. I love how the party is looking out for Mrs. Clinton's interests

[sabrina 1]

7. Which is why voters are looking for someone who is looking out for THEIR interests and it looks like

we found him.

[BrotherIvan]

12. What you said

I think it's been so long for a politician to talk about actual policy, for some people apparently, it's not sexy movie kung fu. For those who are happy with one line platitudes, it sounds like "not enough." But what really registers I think is that for every point that he brings up, he has an actual policy to go with it. For those of us who are sick of soaring rhetoric without action, it sounds pretty damn good.

[sabrina 1]

14. The inside DC bubble political operatives think they are very smart. They sit around

deciding what WE want to hear. They are arrogant, ignorant, and very, very well paid. Most wouldn't know what a poor person looked like if you asked them.

But they could not be more our of touch with the electorate if they tried. They THINK because we end up voting for THEIR choices a lot of time, that this is what we want.

So then they pat themselves on the back.

But then when voters have had enough of repeating failed tactis like that, see the Mid Terms and only vote for those who worked for them THEY BLAME THE VOTERS.

But now, Bernie didn't wait for THEM to ask him, or give him permission, he asked US whether or not he should run, and we DO have a choice.

And now they will what happens when the people get a candidate who represents them.. Their scripted Corporate candidates are not going to be so popular by comparison.

They are however, ruthless and will do everything in their power to stop Bernie from upsetting their neat little apple cart.

[BrotherIvan]

16. Well so far, they are saying she plans to spend double what she did against Obama

So they are not taking any of this lightly. I think your assessment is very sound, and I really hope the enthusiasm keeps going.

Check this out:

http://www.reddit.com/r/SandersForPresident/comments/37xzmr/rapper_killer_mike_with_142k_twitter_followers/

That is some powerful stuff that is not even on the radar. Killer Mike is very politically active and his music is speaking straight to the minds of young people of color. DU may miss it, but the world isn't. This one person can turn the tide real fast.

[Jackpine Radical]

27. That, my man, is dynamite.

Totally under the M$M/Establishment radar, like a lot of Bernie's campaign.

That is precisely the sort of thing that can bring about a Bernie uprising.

"The revolution will not be televised" to quote the great Gil Scott-Heron in a slightly different context.

[Scootaloo]

34. Of course people on DU miss it

A majority of the posters here believe history ended in 1967. The number of DU'ers whi listen to ANY rap is probably less than two hundred, and out of htat number the folks who know Killer Mike are probably even smaller. And i have to admit, i'm one who has no damn idea who he is, but i'm going to have a listen ASAP

[sabrina 1]

41. The same people also missed a lot re OWS. How many people like Killer Mike were there

in Oakland, in NYC, in LA because they too were waiting for a movement that would start the necessary revolt against the corrupt system they know we are living in.

In a way it is a good thing though. Because, eg, with OWS it took them off guard giving the movement time to grow before they realized just how many people were NOT taken in by all the propaganda we get and so they sent out the robo cops to brutally crack down on that show of Democracy. But yes, rappers, artists, economists, politicians, authors, folk singers, many of them with huge followings of their own, were on the streets with the protesters.

Bernie was one of the first politicians to recognize the importance of OWS and met with them in VT.

They are now online spreading the word about him.

He has huge advantages, an virtual army of free volunteers who have been working for weeks now to make sure as many people as possible know about him.

[Scootaloo]

42. Something a lot of our "friends" on DU forget is that you can't actually buy enthusiasm

[merrily]

75. No, but money can buy a lot of actors who can fake enthusiasm well.

A few years back, I posted somewhere that all politicians pay people to show up at their events and cheer, applaud, etc. Another poster said that was lie. Bernie Sanders doesn't. I thought to myself, "But he'll never run for President." LOL. Shows how much I know.

[Scootaloo]

76. well, you'd have to pay me to show up and eat Ben & Jerrys...

...but then I'm spoiled, and have lovely local(ish) Tillamook ice cream

[merrily]

77. Ben and Jerry sold out to a company that added chemicals.

So, that was the end of it for me. They can always fill me with added preservatives later.



Meanwhile, I try to buy food with as few additives as reasonably possible.

I've never heard of Tillamook ice cream. I'd love to try some, though.

[Scootaloo]

79. Tillamook is based in Tillamook, Oregon

The factory is a major source of employment for Tillamook and Bay City, probably a few other outlying communities. It's owned by a dairy farmer collective, and doesn't use rBGH or the like.

Best American-made cheeses I've ever had, and the ice cream is really good. Can't speak much on the milk itself, 'cause putting milk in me is like putting mentos in diet coke, but the cream products are good so i assume it's quality

[merrily]

80. Nice.

[F4lconF16]

97. I will also vouch for Tillamook.

I remember tasting all the different cheeses and ice creams at the factory years back

[Alittleliberal]

47. He was on Real Time last week

An articulate, intelligent, talented MC.

[BrotherIvan]

48. I read that in the reddit thread

I'm gonna have to look it up and make an OP about it. This is an artist who is politically engaged and is bringing it to over 100k fans. Bern!!

[arcane1]

78. That was my first exposure to him as well. No surprise he loves Bernie.

The audience on real Time seemed to damn well know who he was.

[Scootaloo]

50. Putting this up for some exposure

Strong lyrics!

[BrotherIvan]

52. DAMN

I was going to find that Maher video and this one and make a group post. This is too good to miss. People need to see this and see that the youth knows some shit.

[marym625]

86. Do it

Remember Mosh? This put me in mind of that. Except this is better.

[BrotherIvan]

91. I did it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128010498

I have to admit to being musically challenged. I like books and movies, but for some reason have never been that into music. But I do like what he has to say and that he says it from the heart. It's no surprise that he has 140K followers. Now I'm following him too. But developments like this are HUGE. No matter how many people you hire to stand on stage with you, people with huge, organic followings is a game changer. I hope he keeps liking what Bernie says. Watch the CNN video in the linked post and it totally explains why.

[marym625]

93. Great post

Thanks!

[SoapBox]

53. whoa...

Speaking badly of Saint Ronnie? Hersey!

[azmom]

61. Cool

[heaven05]

23. +1000

[Divernan]

94. The brilliant dialogue on VEEP really captures the clueless arrogance of

the inside-the-beltway-crowd. A great line on the last episode when egotistical efforts by presidential staff (always competing with each other to grab credit and dodge blame) turned into a giant clusterfuck:

"Everybody grab a dick and join the circle jerk."

[A Simple Game]

17. Party first, to hell with democracy or the Country. See it on DU every day. n/t

[BrotherIvan]

18. I am very shocked by it and did not encounter it until I started reading DU

I thought that once Obama's term came to a close the fervor would quiet down a bit. Nope.

[Scootaloo]

29. That's becuase when you talk to Democrats, you're talking to Democrats

When you talk to DU'ers, you're talking to at least some number of trolls and sockpuppets.

Interestingly their rallying cry is "DU IS NOT THE REAL WORLD!" - they don't seem to get how ironic it is.

[BrotherIvan]

49. Yuuuuup

[marym625]

88. +1000

[Warren DeMontague]

8. Ruh roh!

[TM99]

9. Hell yes!

[pa28]

10. Like the Davenport Iowa mayor said: he's winning hearts and minds and his message is powerful.

With no corporate funding or out of state megadonors financing blanket TV ads he'll need every heart and mind he can get. Looks like he's on his way.

[cui bono]

11. k n r

[yuiyoshida]

15. K&R

[slumcamper]

19. Iowa City was arms wide open.

The IC farmer's market was thriving less than 50 yards away but there was no visible ground game--before he spoke, or after--to alert comrades to the momentous event or invite them to embrace the cause. The crowd of 500-600 that showed would have swelled to twice that, had the appearance been better coordinated on the ground. But these things take time, and the signup sheets were out. He built a local network and the ground game will be much stronger in the next phase.

Northwest Iowa, Kensett, IA--hats off to you! The revolution has begun, and I'd suggest Kensett (population 220, but over 300 turned out) is "ground zero."

Note to HRC: "Objects in your rear-view mirror are closer than they appear."

[Enthusiast]

20. People are fed the fuck up! They are tired of FAKE politicians. That's why Bernie has so much appeal.

Bernie is perceived as authentic. He isn't beholden to some criminal fraudster banks and the people know it.

[azmom]

59. Fuck yeah!

[heaven05]

22. go Bernie!!!

[NYC_SKP]

25. " “Objects in your rearview mirror are closer than they appear,”

[SoapBox]

32. I saw that too.

Ditto to the,

[SoapBox]

31. I agree...Go Bernie!

(and personally I'm chuckling...looks like there is a new site, Correct the Record. Hmmm, sounds good...OH...only correcting the record for HRC. Really? An entire website? Bernie doesn't need one cause when you speak honestly, truthfully and authentically well, no need to clear anything up!)

[catnhatnh]

36. From the article:

"“We’ve said from day one that we take nothing for granted, and two, we’re humble, which is a direction from Hillary herself,” said Matt Paul, Mrs. Clinton’s Iowa director."

So Hillary ORDERED her people to "Be humble"....or was the order to "Act humble."???

[Jackpine Radical]

39. Humility is a lot like sincerity.

Once you learn to fake it, you got it made.

[catnhatnh]

40. I stand humbled by your wisdom...

...sincerely!

[Jackpine Radical]

57. Thank you--sincerely.

For some, humility is a trait. For others, it is a strategy.

[Warren DeMontague]

51. I suspect "it's basically ours" and "she's inevitable" weren't doing well with the focus groups.

[merrily]

85. I don't know what the deal was when Bubba ran for Governor of Arkansas, but

she's had the arrogant rap as long as they've been on the national scene. An exception may have been when she ran for NY Senator. At least, I don't recall hearing it then. After she lost the 2008 primary, though, the Monday morning quarterbacking was that the "inevitable" stuff had made her seem arrogant. No doubt, they are trying to avoid this time everything they thought cost her last time.

[marym625]

89. Then they'll need to dump her

[Springslips]

38. Here's what this undecided thinks...

I haven't chosen a nominee yet. But the thing about Bernie that goes unnoticed by the HRC faction is that he is strong, authentic, and has loads if gravitas. This is going to drawl many in. He is no Howard Dean clone; Dean was smart, and probably had authenticity, but he seemed like a weak whinny facsimile ( I said seemed like. Sad fact: image counts in the world.) Bernie doesn't; this will counteract bad hair, socialist, or whatever the supposed knock on him. In fact, you'll see him even respected by paleoconserves ( a faction in our opposition that is distinct from hard-right, libertarians, or neo-conservs). Paleos are against socialism of course, but they don't have the vile for an authentic socialist who sticks to his guns. Independents and moderates may be even drawn to him.

Hilary has a problem; her professional operatives are too out of touch to know it yet.

[sabrina 1]

44. Good points. One quibble though, Bernie is a smart man and has apparently done a lot of

preliminary work studying the political scene before he decided to run in this race.

Looking at the current situation regarding registered voters, both major parties are losing members with many now registering as Independents. THAT is the vote Bernie is going to go after and I believe he will get it. Those are people who have had it with the status quo of party politics and Bernie is the answer for them. And they are the biggest voting bloc now in the country.

I agree with you he has definite crossover appeal. Not all Conservatives are rabid rightwingers, haters, anti-all-equality and they are disillusioned and some even scared of the direction their party is going.

They are moderates, and no longer fit in the Repub Party with its extremist views on issues that in today's world is ludicrous.

Many of them will either stay home, or start listening to someone who is talking about issues THEY care about also. College tuition, jobs, equality, breaking up the Big Banks etc. On some issues they will not agree with him, but I still think they will like what he is sayiing because it will affect their everyday lives, their families etc.

Then there is that huge non-voting demographic. I know he intends to target them diriectly. And I have no doubt he will bring many of them back to the voting booth, just to vote for him. I signed up one such person this week without really trying, just explaining who he is and what his record is.

[Warren DeMontague]

54. The crap I've seen some people try to throw at him in the past week has been enough to practically

make my mind up for me- but like you, I'm still undecided in the primaries so far.

I agree with you 100% about the professional operatives and HRC's problem with beltway conventional wisdom; advisors telling her to avoid taking anything resembling an actual definable stand on anything more controversial than "empowering communities and familes" (who doesn't support THAT, amirite?) or whether or not the Bible is, like, the most totally awesome book ever!

[azmom]

60. I was undecided until last week. Now, I'm team Bernie all the way.

We can do this. I know we can.

[WillyT]

55. HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!!

[Robbins]

56. He's now at 16% In Iowa according to bloomberg

Hillary supporters will boost on her big lead but what they are ignoring is support for bernie has trippled from earlier in year and
supporters of elizabeth warren aren't going to her.they are going to him.

This primary has just beguin.They should stop dismissing bernie and take the huge lead in polls for granted.This is same script from 2007 by team Clinton who believed polls and never saw obama coming or serious threat.And this time we have the real deal to support in Bernie.

[Damansarajaya]

58. Hillary isn't going to get "pushed to the Left."

She's going to get "left behind."

There's an old fable about a turtle and a hare.

[NorthCarolina]

62. I'm beginning to really think the old guard is far more vulnerable

than they would like you to believe. I am even starting to hear folks around here talking about Bernie. It's all very encouraging, for me anyway. It appears his message is getting out in spite of a media brown-out.

[BrotherIvan]

98. I'd love to hear what they're saying

I don't get out much

[marym625]

81. awesomeness!

Yay!

[mother earth]

90. It is only beginning...grassroots...WE ARE MANY.