I'm happy for Bernie's win tonight, but its time for him to expand his message a bit

[ram2008]

If you watched his NH speech it was great and all, but one thing you'd notice, as David Axelrod pointed out in his commentary today, is that the crowd was shouting the end of the lines of his speech along with him since they already had it memorized. Of course the content of his speech is great, but it is starting to get a bit repetitive, and I say this a big bernie supporter.

I think Bernie runs the risk of being Rubio-ized if he doesn't tweak his speech a little bit and runs the risk of being labelled a one trick pony. While Bernie is doing a great job pointing out the glaring problems in our country, especially economically, I think he needs to start laying out the moral case for why it is that we should not accept the status quo as is. Like I said, he's doing great pointing it out, but now it's time to delve deeper.

He should explain the moral case for why it is we should not be afraid, but rather embrace having a slight increase in taxes to make sure that our neighbor next door is cared for.

He should explain the moral case for investing in education over incarceration, and how this can lift up communities. I'd like to hear more stories from the campaign trail.

He should explain why we cannot accept the idea that just because someone is wealthy that they are somehow made it there simply by working harder.

He needs to make a moral case for why we must stand up for LGBT rights, women's rights, disabled rights, and so forth in the face of traditionalism.

He did a slight pivot today and hit the Republican party for their insanity, but I would like to see him delve further into social topics and deeper into economic ones. I think he should go to the gut of the basic philosophy of greed versus need and the American psyche and the need for a new social contract: a social contract that embraces the idea that while we respect individuality, it is our duty to start looking out for one another. The idea that wealth, while a good indicator for prosperity, is only a small part of the quality of a country's life and the greatness of their people. In short he needs to put to the final nail in the coffin of "Reaganomics" and call for some soul-searching among the American people and a re-evaluation of what we hold dear.

I'm confident that if Bernie makes some small changes here and there that he will be capable of leading a real "revolution" in the hearts and minds of the American people.

[Bonobo]

1. His message is focused.

In any realm, business, academics, etc., that is key.

Consistency. Consistency. Consistency.

Sorry if it is getting predictable, but this is not a Superbowl Halftime.

[ram2008]

2. I'm not saying for him to go off message, but to go deeper in the meaning behind his message n/t

[Live and Learn]

4. He has limited time during these speeches and debates. Wish he did have more time because he really

does have plenty more to say.

[Bonobo]

5. He does in interviews and such, but stump speeches are a different matter. nt

[Live and Learn]

3. I think all of us that have already heard his message would love to hear more from him but

his speeches now are for those that still don't know him. You can find plenty more from him on Hartmann's programs and elsewhere on the web. And once he wins, we will hear even more.

[mikehiggins]

6. Don't fix what ain't broke.

And keep in mind Axelrod is a great practitioner of the kind of political thinking that got us to where an actual political revolution stopped being an idea and became a necessity. Same with Donna Brazile, well known to many of us New Yorkers.

I like the CNN panel because they sometimes say things that almost make sense but changing the message is really not worth doing until everyone has heard it.

I was chanting along with it just like a lot of people in the room, but I also sing along with Hey Jude so what do I know.

Great night, great night.

[ram2008]

11. True, but I think it will start hitting diminishing returns soon

Especially as his name ID goes up, people become familiar with him and we have more debates. His stump speech and debate lines are starting to mesh a bit too much and it can become a bit predictable. For example, Bernie kept mentioning in the debate how he was the only one to vote against the war in Iraq, but Hillary was ready and said something to the effect of well you keep mentioning this but with all due respect foreign policy is about a lot more than one vote, and then she proceeded to get the best of him in the rest of the exchange. It was a much, much smaller version of what Christie did to Rubio, but I worry as time passes if he doesn't delve a bit deeper, he runs the risk of being Rubio-ized.

Again I'm not saying he should change the message but expand and go a bit deeper. Sort of instead of pointing out "Hey this is bad," and maybe start getting into more of "why this is bad." if that makes sense.

[flamingdem]

7. He must include a more international perspective or we'll be trounced

Americans are still fearful and there are wars in progress. Bernie has to show knowledge and concern about these areas. Otherwise one small terrorist incident could shift huge numbers of scared voters to a repuke like Trump.

Bernie is too narrow focused for the GE right now. Hillary will be taking advantage of this asap.

Also, he has to be very clear about taxes. If middle class people think they'll pay more I am sure they won't vote for him. That includes many aspiring upper middle class people.

[jham123]

15. "When?"

When will that happen?? It's not happened yet and he's running against the former Secretary of State. If SHE can't seem to get an edge him in foreign policy, no one can.....

[Warren DeMontague]

10. Bernie Sanders Ad: Vote Together

[ram2008]

20. Great! Just had time to watch this

Perfect. This is what I meant by expanding the message.

[JudyM]

12. I'm training canvassers this weekend and appreciate the quick turns of phrase.

Education instead of incarceration
Greed vs need

If there are any others, please share... Much easier to encapsulate ideas like that so canvassers will remember the issue differentiators.

[jham123]

14. is this your recruiting site or recruiting thread?

[JudyM]

18. No, that's DU's link for donating/buying Valentine hearts. :) Welcome to DU!!

I'm just volunteering as a canvass director with Bernie's campaign, no website.

[Arazi]

19. Main St not Wall St

Health care for all vs get sick and die

Get out of the Middle East vs more war in the Middle East

Status quo or no

[JudyM]

30. Nice, thanks!

[jham123]

13. Um....

"David Axelrod pointed out in his commentary today, is that the crowd was shouting the end of the lines of his speech along with him since they already had it memorized."

This is akin to Cam Newton suggesting to Peyton on what he should do next....

First: The fact that Bernie's crowd knows the speech, tells me that they are listening and liking what they hear.

Second: There's no way the Clinton crowd could such as they have no clue what's going to come out of her mouth next, not to mention that she is shouting so loud that they'll never be heard over her shrill voice and cackle

Third: After a Yoooooge win, why would ANYONE suggest a change?? The simple answer (in Axlerods case) is they are Clinton supporters and have come to grips with the fact that Bernie is kicking their candidates ass and the only way to beat him at this point is to confuse him somehow into changing.....and changing from a winner only means one thing...changing into a loser

[ram2008]

16. Again I'm not saying to change the message

Only expand it and delve deeper. Yes, it was a big win, but its the state of NH. The states of Nevada and SC will have a more diverse electorate. If Obama delivered his Yes we can speech at every event and during the debates in 08, it would also have gotten stale, but he was able to stay true to that message while also expanding it.

[jham123]

17. From the third row on the 50 yard line

Hey Manning!! You need to throw more out patterns!!

Run more counter running plays to offset the Panthers defense!!

[Eleanors38]

23. Here's one for South Carolina: Expand public lands for hunting/recreational use.

This issue is in deep contrast to the so-called "Sage Brush Revolt" which fueled the idiot takeover of the Oregon refuge hdqtrs, and would complement the fast-rising movement to CONSERVE public lands at the federal level supported by such hot beds of "leftist thought" like Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, American Hunter, and the National Wildlife Federation. These entities see the "revolt" as a corporate scam to divest the federal government of public land, turn it back to the states where the same shysters have gutted the fish & wildlife departments, and then sell it all off to corporate interests, mining, drilling, developers, the whole ball of wax.

[jham123]

26. I'm lost

[ieoeja]

25. I thought Axelrod was fairly anti-Clinton.

I don't think there is much love there after he ran Obama's campaign against her.

A better analogy would be "this is akin to Tom Brady suggesting to Peyton on what he should do next...".

[jham123]

27. That's true

You maybe right, I viewed Axlrod was just another establishment...

[Eleanors38]

21. A good point, IMO, for 2 reasons...

(1) Bernie will be attacked for his "Socialism!©". He can deflect this attack by advancing pro-business legislation. I have in mind a significantly reduced tax schedule for all new small biz (say, 10 or fewer full-time equivalent employees) start-ups during the first yr. of operation, the most critical time for any business in terms of survival.

(2) Bernie can contrast this proposal with the need for increased corporate taxes and fees on stock transactions, and draw some bright lines. This can appeal to some tRump supporters who are Not deaf to economic inequities.

Keeping on message is great when it works, but campaigns are not static. It is best to anticipate the obvious attacks and hit first.

[firebrand80]

22. You can't really look at it from your own perspective

It can seem monotonous to people that listen to him all the time, but everyone isn't a political junkie. The reason politicians use the same sound bites all the time is because they think they hit on something that works. A good percentage of people that are listening to a speech don't have your lines memorized, so if you think they're good lines, there's no reason not to keep using them. The people that have heard them already dozens of times are probably with you anyway.

Rubio's problem had nothing to do with having memorized sound bites. His problem was using the same line over and over and the exact worse time for him to be doing so. He had Christie criticizing him all week for using canned lines and not answering question. Then when the topic comes up during the debate, he proves Christie's point by doing it right there, over and over again. He confirmed the criticism right there, on the spot, in the worse way possible. You don't give a lot of people confidence that you can handle the pressures of being commander-in-chief when you melt down so spectacularly under the bright lights of a debate stage.

[R B Garr]

24. My husband walks away from the TV in disgust because

of his repetitive message. He's just completely done with it.

[RiverLover]

28. Maybe its the media's fault for only showing that bit of Bernie's pitch. Show your

husband something new.

This is an amazing speech & as long as he isn't a rethug, your DH will be delighted & inspired~

And turn off your TV!!! You'll actually learn more with it off than on. Corporate news is skewed. Period.

[R B Garr]

29. Unfortunately you forgot the debates.

Second debate after the Paris attacks, Sanders answer to a foreign policy/terrorism question was to pivot right back to "billionaires". Total turnoff, and it's like that all the time.

BTW, that Liberty speech was on TV. He was pandering.

Nice attack to say my husband must be a "rethug" if he doesn't watch your random videos. We even tried the Russian TV route for Hartmann and got disgusted with the CONSPIRACIES.