Is THAT what Sanders sounds like when he's "on fire" ?

[Control-Z]

*HILLARY CLINTON GROUP*

At the Wing Ding Dinner tonight

"He was on fire n/t"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=519251

I'm not that into listening to him so I don't know what he sounds like when he's "on fire" or not "on fire". But, following Hillary, I almost felt sorry for the lukewarm reception he seemed to receive.

Or did I hear it wrong? Was he blazing and "on fire" after Hillary rocked the room? Did he crush her? She was sensational with standing ovations and loud enthusiastic chanting of her name again and again!!

I honestly don't know if this was a standard Bernie speech or if he was having a less than exciting night. Can anyone fill me in?

[msongs]

1. similar speech to what Ive heard other times, not a bernie rally however so he had to share

the audience in a place where he is not leading at this time

[Control-Z]

2. Thank you

for what seems an honest answer.

[BayouBengal07]

3. I saw Sanders speak in high school.

I was on a class trip to DC January 2003. We got to sit in the House chamber and hear some speeches from our Congress critters. I recall someone utterly forgettable except for his Mitt Romney hair and million dollar smile. He stood at the podium and told all us 17 and 18 year olds that we could be anything we want if we put our minds to it.

Then Bernie Sanders came to the podium. He looked just as he does now; hair rumpled, etc. he said that we would hear a lot about reaching for the stars, but that it would be an uphill battle, because people with more money, power, and influence will try to stop us every step of the way.

He was completely deadpan, but I'll be damned if he wasn't "on fire." He didn't dazzle me with bullshit. He got it; and he became my favorite senator that day.

[840high]

4. Nice. ty

[Live and Learn]

11. +1 nt

[Starry Messenger]

5. The first time I watched a long piece of him speaking was his Richmond, CA speech last year.

They had a very bitter election, with Chevron-funded candidates attempting to take over the city council. This was before the primary season and I was definitely interested that Richmond had made Bernie's radar. I used to work for Richmond Art Center.

Oh my god. So not dynamic. I finally had to read a transcript of the speech to get the info I wanted.

Richmond City Hall, which is in the complex where I used to work, was filled to capacity in the foyer, but it was a very pale crowd, and Richmond is a town with a very oppressed Black community under intense stress.

The election was won for the progressives, but the was voter turnout itself was very low. All of that to say, even before he announced, I had diminished perception of his luster. I like his ideas but you have to connect them to more than "We'll fix this later when we get power."

HRC connects with people and has built relationships. That's part of organizing in democracy. You can see that in the reactions she gets.

[msrizzo]

6. I'm sure rallies are more exciting...

...he probably benefits from the group energy and from the adulation. It's only natural. I don't find him so great in interviews either, but I don't think charisma is his thing.

[ellisonz]

7. It will show in the debates.

I like his ideas but you have to connect them to more than "We'll fix this later when we get power."

^^^^^

Well-stated

[Starry Messenger]

8. Aww, thank you!

I've been thinking about this stuff a lot lately, and putting it together with experiences I've had doing union work. You really have to look at how people engage with you or your organization and recognize where they are and what they need now.

[ellisonz]

9. You're welcome!

At this point, it's about the scale of the voting pool in the primary vs. the general. In union organizing terms, a single manufacturer vs. an entire industry. If you organize the single manufacturer but do it at a cost that inhibits your ability to organize broadly you have hurt your cause. It's not replicable.

[Control-Z]

10. Hillary does connect with people!

Bernie, I don't know. Maybe before he was forced to add some important issues to his speech he was inspiring. What I heard last night was anything but. He's just doom and gloom. For the first time I understood some of the Trump Sanders comparisons. Everyone is wrong about all the same problems they talk about except the two of them. And neither has the solution or is willing to talk about it.

Coming from Trump I know it's all an act. Coming from Sanders who hasn't changed his agenda for 30 years, well, I expected him to have some solid solutions. He's had 30 years to figure it out and should have some serious ideas. That worries me.

Hillary has solutions - well thought out, workable, solutions. They may not garner every last expectation of the left but they are solid and doable.