To Jillan and ALL my wonderful friends here at DU, I just got home from caucusing & HERE'S MY REPORT
First of all, I should say that I live on Whidbey Island in Washington (the 2nd largest island in the country -- 50 miles long), about 30 miles north of Seattle. I got up early drove over to the caucus site, a big high school in town. They were trying to direct foot traffic through the building, so all doors were locked except the entryway at the front of the school which was the length of 2 football fields. I got the last parking space near the school (thank GOD), but still, I haven't walked that far in two years. (BUT IT WAS WORTH EVERY STEP!!!!)
Enthusiastic Bernie supporters were arriving in Bernie sweatshirts and blouses. People of ALL ages yelling "FEEL THE BERN!!!!" The emotion caught up with me and I had to turn my head to avoid anyone seeing the tears streaming down my face. As I hobbled closer to the gym, many people offered to assist me. (Washingtonians are so wonderful that way!) A very old lady tapped on the chair next to her and asked me to please have a seat. We started a wonderful conversation. She told me she was "undecided," so, I was determined to switch over at least ONE voter for Bernie. I prepared a packet of information sheets the night before and stuck 'em in a manila envelope tnat I brought with me. This old lady was the most enthusiastic, sweet person I have seen in a very long time. She wanted me to convince her to vote for Bernie. SO, since we had an hour before the caucus officially started, I went to work. At the end of the hour, she hugged me and said, "Thanks. I'm voting for Bernie!"
The guy in charge of the caucus thanked all of us for attending. He proudly announced we had nearly twice as much attendance as previous caucuses on the island. I'd say there were roughly 500 people at this location, though I was told 3 other cities on the island had caucus locations as well (it's a big island). We represented Central Whidbey. There were basically 4 caucus rooms set up for the different communities in Central Whidbey.
(hope I'm not boring you with too many details)
Anyway -- my classroom was separated into 3 groups: 1. Hillary; 2. Bernie; 3. Undecided. We all got know each other and discussed our favorite nominee. Then the person running my area asked if anyone would like to speak to the groups to try and convince the undecided to switch over to their side. We had about 10 people who wished to speak. Of course, BigBearJohn volunteered too (just TRY to shut me up!) We each got 5 minutes to speak, though not everybody took that long. Some were only a minute. I was successful to switch two 'undecided' to Bernie's side! I was happy to see that there so many women there for Bernie. It was about half and half. (I've included my "speech" below, if anyone might be interested.) The good news is, in my particular area, Bernie got 7 delegates, Hillary got 1. They asked me if I wanted to become a delegate and they put my name on the list and then later voted for delegates. I won a spot. I am now officially a delegate. The results for all areas representing Central Whidbey voted the following: (By the way, Bernie's campaign had people there taking pictures of the tally results, just in case!)
7 Bernie 1 Hillary (my group)
6 Bernie 3 Hillary
5 Bernie 3 Hillary
3 Bernie 1 Hillary
It was a VERY emotional day. People poured their hearts out about Bernie and Hillary. In the end, we all left as friends, promising to do our best to make sure NO REPUBLICAN gets into the White House. The whole process took about 3 hours from beginning to end. Here is my speech to the undecided people in attendance:
My name is John. As a young man I worked for Billboard Magazine, the trade paper for the music industry. Part of my job was to go out and listen to various artists and write reviews for the magazine. There were many excellent singers who had fantastic range and pitch perfect tone. These singers went through all mechanics of great singing, yet they somehow left you feeling empty and dry. Then there was the occasional super star who would draw you into their world. They sang from the heart, striking an emotional chord in your soul and put you under their “spell.” There was no doubt that you could “feel” their spirit.
I have a similar emotional experience to this when I listen to Bernie Sanders. He sings to my heart. On the other side, Hillary has perfect pitch. She hits all the notes and is very practiced and polished, showcasing all the earmarks of an experienced politician. But she leaves me feeling dry and empty…UNinspired.
When I was a young lad I watched a movie called “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” That movie left an indelible impression on me. Yet the cynical adults told me the movie was nothing more than a Hollywood fantasy. When John F. Kennedy came on the political scene, I was thrilled out of my mind. Finally, a political leader who actually cared for the American people and was willing to stand up to the establishment and push through policies that actually helped the American people. In the 43 years since then, only one leader has once again made me thrilled, excited and proud to vote. That man is Bernie Sanders.
The argument is sometimes made by Hillary Clinton that Bernie’s plans are too utopian and unachievable, while at the same time, Clinton casts herself as the more pragmatic candidate who would make “incremental” progress by implementing a “realistic” progressive agenda. I can’t help but wonder how many people accused our Founding Fathers of being “too utopian” in their radical plans for a new country based on equal rights. Just like Bernie, they too were in a fight for their lives standing up to the rich and the powerful of England.
Every great change in this country required bold, brave ideas and sweeping changes. This country was not created by being careful and cautious. It took bold leaders with vision and honor, Presidents like FDR and JFK, not some namby pamby politicians.
Furthermore, I certainly will not vote for anyone that Dick Cheney praises. Dick Cheney is quoted as having praised Hillary when he said, “I have a sense that she’s one of the more competent members of the current administration and it would be interesting to speculate about how she might perform were she to be president.”
Let’s face facts: as president, Hillary will have a neoconservative foreign policy. Most notoriously, she voted for the war in Iraq and even endorsed the Bush administration’s false accusation that Saddam had given "aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members." As secretary of state, she supported escalation in Afghanistan, pushed hard for the Libyan intervention, and lobbied for a continued military presence in Iraq. She was also on the hawkish edge of internal Obama administration debates on Syria. Her quotes in an Atlantic interview with Jeffrey Goldberg confirm that President Hillary Clinton could be a liberal Dick Cheney in the White House. So, if you want you want your children to stay out of war, I plead with you, PLEASE don’t vote for Hillary Clinton.
In closing, I would like to say that this might be the last time the average citizen gets the chance to cast a vote that could actually change the country for the better and make a huge difference in the lives of all Americans. How many grass-roots candidates could or would be as brave and bold to go as far as Bernie has? Fraud and underhanded manipulation is fast becoming common place in America. The chasm between the super rich and the average person is widening exponentially every day. Their greed and hunger for profit is never ending and they won’t be happy until the Earth is suffocated and poisoned by global warming and fracking.
Bernie is a candidate that does not mince words. He speaks truth to power and unabashedly lays out his bold and life changing plans for America. He’s spent his ENTIRE life fighting for us. At a time when he “could” be frolicking in his backyard with his lovely grandchildren, he is instead taking on the biggest battle of his life by fighting his damnest to ensure his children have a decent and fair world left to grow up into. The LEAST we can do is offer him a shoulder to lean on and SUPPORT his climb up the hill to the presidency. I implore you – P*L*E*A*S*E VOTE FOR BERNIE!!!
= new reply since forum marked as read
will have to fill us in on your days at Billboard Magazine - woot!!
Thanks so much for your great reporting and for helping bring Bernie a big win. 
Wished you were here!!
Let's get this to the front page people.
Thank you so very much. I felt like we were all there with you, you gave such a vivid account of your caucus experience.
I am grateful that you shared it with us.
Wonderful speech that you gave for Bernie. I am sure others were impacted by it. You laid out a great case for Bernie.
What a day!
Thanks for all of your hard work, in caucusing and writing that terrific speech.
Kudos to you John!
Then again, with today's winning Washington and Alaska, we have something to celebrate.
I LOVED your details about the caucus and that incredible speech.
Thank you so much!!!
What a wonderful report. I gotta admit you were on my mind today at my caucus place. I kept finding myself looking for a gentleman with 2 canes. But, silly me, your on Whidbey. You are neighbors with my mother who lives in Langley. Your speech was absolutely amazing!!! Thank you for sharing. I would be honored if you would read my account: What A Beautiful Day to Caucus in WA. Your post from yesterday inspired me, an unknown person on the internet, to speak when I might otherwise of remained quiet. Not nearly as long as yours but it came from the same place, a candidate who sings to our hearts and brings us together as one people. I am also a delegate! I hope to take my passion for Bernie's message all the way to Philadelphia. Well done good sir.
edited to correct some spelling errors and readability.
Now I'm going to see if I can find "What a beautiful day to caucus in WA" 
Thanks for the enthusiasm, the effort, the determination, the success and the tears!!!
Oh, and the report.
FEEL THE BERN!!!
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Thanks for being there, BigBearJohn!
bigbearjohn! your speech and taking the time to share the caucus with us is straight from the heart. thank you! 
being a part of it! hip hip hooray! 
memories. have a good rest, bigbearjohn 
