I just got back to Keizer from Portland and just got done witnessing the greatest speech I have ever witnessed live. It was rousing, emotional, fact based and powerful. This speech rocked down the house tonight in the Moda Center, and it put the focus back onto why I love Bernie Sanders so damned much. It has been...rough for me the past month or so at dkos, and I have been having doubts about my earlier certainty that Sanders was the absolute best candidate in the Democratic field (thus, in the country)
I snapped back from those doubts quick tonight.
Meet Symone Sanders, the best thing about the Bernie campaign, since...well, Bernie. This woman is a powerhouse. She was energetic and brilliant, and she spoke about blacklivesmatter in a way that just rang true with me. Every single word of it. Her introduction of Bernie Sanders is probably the best introduction speech I have ever heard, and ranks close to one of the best speech I have ever heard in any medium. That distinct honor goes to Barack Obama and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, but this speech. It was just so fucking good.
She addressed the interruptions, the protesters concerns, and the entirety of what is facing black people in America in one fell rhetorical sweep. In just a few sentences she summed up everything, everything I have written here at dkos about the topic. I am just so fucking in awe of the entire thing.
No question in my mind: Bernie Sanders gets it. He gets it. And he is making observable efforts to improve. Believe me, if I had sensed even once in the past couple of weeks Sen. Sanders backing off on BLM issues, I would have dumped him in favor of anyone else (probably MOM) on the quick. But hell no he didn't back down, when challenged he took the criticism and ran with it, and made it a part of who he is as a candidate.
Maybe the man was flustered at NN, sure. His reaction was piss poor. But he has taken those lemons and turned them into lemonade, and served 20,000 thirsty Oregonians.
Not to mention, his speaking wasn't half bad either ;-) (no really, he tore the house down too, but Symone outshined him by just thiiiiiis much imo)
Anyway, no real point to this diary other than to say I had a hell of a time. The best part of the whole experience was talking real life, face to face progressive issues with normal people without having to genuflect to right wing talking points because some rabid asshole might freak out on you. The freedom to say unabashedly progressive things and not get the sideye for it is something that I have rarely experienced in my life. It was a true treasure.
Thank you Symone Sanders. Thank you Sen. Sanders. You have my 100% support.
Peace, rexy
uhh, as an aside...I don't know why I look so doofy and upset in this picture. Trust me I am not!