Ilhan is finishing up her remarks, Bernie on shortly.
“Ilhan and I share a common link as the descendants of families who fled violence and poverty, and who came to this country as immigrants. But that is not just my story, or Ilhan's story — that is the story of America." — @BernieSanders with @IlhanMN in Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/bUGVwhHqpl
The Sanders-Ocasio-Cortez events will Iowa will be open to the public. The schedule is:
6 p.m., Friday, Nov. 8: Council Bluffs Rally with Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez at Iowa Western Community College, Reiver Arena, 2700 College Road, Council Bluffs. Noon, Saturday, Nov. 9: Des Moines Climate Crisis Summit with Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez, Drake University, Bell Center, 1421 27th St., Des Moines. Transportation will be provided to Iowa State University and Grinnell College students. 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9: Coralville Rally with Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez, Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 300 E. Ninth St., Coralville. A shuttle will run from the University of Iowa campus to the Coralville Marriott Hotel before and after the rally.
We’ve had two debate rounds with 20 candidates. Like having extra long lunches with the candidates, at a lengthy table with a microphone. They’re tested by the media with questions about past comments, op-eds, and whether or not it’s better to be a centrist or a progressive. Fare is broiled chicken and salads (vegan for Booker)Light conversation but at a West Wing pace. Sometimes there is strong coffee served to keep the energy going.
August is the month whereby the candidates who are currently serving in Congress don’t have to worry about committee votes, hearings, or votes on the floor. They have a month to go to county fairs in Iowa & NH, and other events in SC, NV, and CA to court potential voters. Some candidates may be spending time on Martha’s Vineyard, NAPA, Santa Barbara, or the Hamptons to meet with the wine & cheese crowds in hopes that some cash is coming their way to get ready for the dinners coming this fall.
On Real Time, Bill Maher culled all of the candidates pictures and decided which ones should be eliminated. Take a look:
On all of them, I would agree. They aren’t gaining much traction from the debates. Eric Swalwell did drop out, but I think Bullock, Steyer, and Sestek should rethink why they are in this race. Inslee doesn’t inspire people for his GND because already it has a spokesperson: AOC. Amy Klobuchar is invisible with Biden and Harris in the top tier. Seems to me Bullock would be better off running for Senate, as well as Hickenlooper, and Beto. I would also argue anyone who is polling below 5% consistently should know that the lunch dates are over.
Despite continued teeth gnashing by WaPo’s Jen Rubin, WaPo finally gave Sanders (and Warren) some sherry in their press coverage of the debates. MSNBC, which is notorious for its bias against Sanders, invited him on Morning Joe this morning, and asked him some more centrist questions. But their tone was slighty different: they were polite and more patient.
Good press pays off.
It’s interesting though that stockholder-driven media for the most part didn’t pick up on the nuances in the second debate. How Harris and Castro struck back by telling CNN their framing of the questions was from GOP talking points. Biden was indirectly laced with the GOP label, which he resented. But Joe Scarborough finally acknowledged that Sanders’ ideas have more than just spilled over into 2020 cycle: they are driving the debate. And Steve Rattner was scared s**tless.
I hope the dinners are more sober and not about the best quip. Yes, the candidates should fight for their ideas. Biden and Harris: you are on notice that the progressive wing has lots of little birdies to carry their candidates with the seeds given to them by those who want a more just government. And independent media is finally getting its due by appearing as guest contributors on cable networks and on the Hill’s Rising.
I'm not only going to be Commander in Chief. I am going to be Organizer in Chief. pic.twitter.com/bBWYvN4iyj
Bernie discussed Medicare for All with Iowans in Marshalltown. Dental care was raised as a huge concern because Medicare doesn’t cover it, or current Dental plans limit surgeries, still have large out of pocket costs.
Helping Sanders talk about health care were four panelists from different parts of the state who joined him at Dejardin Hall at Marshalltown Community College.
The high cost of prescription medicines were a key complaint.
“What is to stop a pharmaceutical company from raising the cost of your medicine, two, three or four times what they cost now?,” Sanders asked the crowd. “They do it at will. The pharmaceutical industry recently made $69 billion in profits.”
Sanders said when he is in the White House he will work to cut prescription costs by 50 percent.
He cited Canada’s health care systems as a model the U.S. should exemplify.
“I took several women from Vermont suffering from breast cancer who required a certain medication,” he said. “We drove the 50 miles from St. Albans, Vermont, a working class town, into Canada. We were able to purchase their medications for one-tenth of the cost of what some are paying in the U.S.”
While many in the crowd held Bernie signs and cheered him on during his remarks, others in the audience have not made up their minds with the Feb. 3, 2020 caucus nearly eight months away.
“I have not decided on a candidate,” former Marshall County Supervisor Denny Grabenbauer of Marshalltown said. “I am here with my granddaughter Abby. We wanted to come and see what Sanders’ campaign is all about.”
However Theresa Walton of Marshalltown is a strong Sanders supporter.
“I am for Sanders,” she said quickly. “I was for him in 2016. I supported him on caucus night and volunteered for his campaign. My husband was a Sanders delegate.”
Walton said she likes Sanders positions on health care.
“My sister lives in Vermont, and we have known of his (health care) record for quite some time. He irritates a lot of people because he has some good ideas. But health care … they have done well with that in Vermont and health care is a major issue in this country.”
DMR published results of 2nd IA poll. Graphic is courtesy of DMR.
Bernie finished his day by firing up voters in Waterloo:
The 77-year-old U.S. senator from Vermont fired up a large crowd at the National Cattle Congress Pavilion, earning huge applause for his progressive platform including single-payer health insurance and free college tuition while attacking climate change and income inequality.
“We’re going to have to take them all on,” Sanders said. “We’re talking about Wall Street; we’re talking about the fossil fuel industry and the insurance companies and the drug companies and the military industrial complex and the prison industrial complex and the corporate media — all the the power that is out there trying to preserve the status quo.”
Bernie will be appearing on State of the Union this morning with Jake Tapper. He will be marching with McDonald’s employees on the Fight for $15 to the IA Dem Convention in Cedar Rapids.
More news, tweets, videos, and articles in the comments section. See you there!
