So how many of us are keeping this e-mail so that we can have a good laugh at
it on Jan 1 2021?
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Miriam Vieni
Sent: Wednesday, January 1, 2020 8:38 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] 1,300 Showed Up for Bernie Sanders' New Year's Eve
Bash
1,300 Showed Up for Bernie Sanders' New Year's Eve Bash By Nick Coltrain, Des
Moines Register
01 January 20
Jeenan McCollum sat against a wall on New Year's Eve, catching a breeze from
the downtown Des Moines Skywalk, while a thousand people mingled and partied in
eyeshot.
McCollum, 27, of Beaverdale, wasn't complaining. The energy, and that many
like-minded supporters of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign, was
exactly what drew him to the Des Moines Marriott Downtown. The enthusiasm just
happened to come with a noticeable uptick in the temperature.
"I told myself I was going to make at least one (campaign) event before the end
of the year, and here we are," he said, as his father, an undecided likely
caucusgoer, sat next to him.
At its peak, "Bernie's Big New Year's Bash" had 1,300 people filling a hotel
ballroom, about 300 more than showed for his 2015 New Year's Eve celebration,
according to campaign staff. Attendees sang along to a cover of "Come Together"
as performed by The New Power Generation, Prince's longtime backing band. They
stopped for pictures at a photo booth set up by the campaign. They signed
climate ribbons, meant to
Sanders gave a short speech, but one that pegged the new year as the start of
achieving his policy goals: a Green New Deal to fight climate change and remake
the economy; universal health care; the elimination of student loan debt and
tuition at post-high school public schools, and more.
"In a few hours, we enter a new year," Sanders said. "And it will be one of the
most pivotal and momentous years in the history of our country. 2020 will be a
year in which we end corruption in Washington, in which we end greed in
Washington, and a year in which we begin the process of creating a government
based on the principles of love and compassion."
He noted his campaign slogan and swept his arm over the crowd. "It is us,"
he said. "Not me."
All things that inspired McCollum to show support for the campaign in 2016, and
volunteer at his caucus precinct in 2020.
"(Sanders' policies) are not socialist, they're not anarchy, they're not too
far left," McCollum said. "They're basic human rights."
After Sanders spoke, Linda Torres and Allison Curry, both of Storm Lake, walked
out with Sanders yard signs tucked under their arms. Their families
traditionally ring in the new year together, but showing their support Tuesday
night felt important, they said. They wouldn't just be there in person - their
friends up north would see their social media posts about it, and their
neighbors would pass by the signs. They said they felt like ambassadors of his
message.
"He's just such a person for the people," Curry, 20, said. "It makes me want to
see him in office. He advocates for everybody, not just a select group."
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