Finally connected with my politics buddy who attended a fundraising dinner with Sanders.

[merrily]

Last edited Thu Nov 12, 2015, 12:28 AM - Edit history (2)

The event was held in a home in Beverly Hills proper on several acres of land. Price was $200 a head.

In 2008, I was invited to an event at $2000 a head in Boston to be in the reception area to see Obama before he went into the dinner, which was $10,000 a head. So, $200 a head is quite reasonable.

Not only that, but Sanders was coming from an event held for young people that was only $25 a head (another reason he has our hearts, as well as our minds). After the event my buddy attended, Sanders was going to another fundraising dinner. And there was a rally somewhere in that 24 hours as well, so it had to have been exhausting.

The band America, from the 1960s played. (That's what my friend said. I googled. They formed in 1970.)

My friend said he sat directly across the pool from Sanders as Sanders spoke. Sanders gave what my friend dubbed "the greatest hits from his stump speech." Then, for me, the disappointing part: After Sanders finished his prepared remarks, those present clustered around him and my buddy did not "feel like elbowing my way in." So, he had no little very personal tidbit to relate.

Some time ago, my friend had sent me the Sanders' buttons he had been given at the event. So, there's that. I had ordered buttons to give away when the Sanders store had its sale at the end of the fundraising quarter, but these buttons will be the ones I keep.

And that's all she wrote. (This was an enormous amount of info for my friend to convey. I told you he was terse.)

P.S. More details in Reply 3 from dirtydickcheney, who also attended the event.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. That's a great report, my dear merrily!

Your friend may be terse, but he described what he saw so well that I felt as though I'd been there.

[merrily]

5. CP, you are the best!

[JonLeibowitz]

2. Thank you!

As a $-significant LA-based supporter of Bernie, I was invited. I am gravely disappointed I didn't attend.

[merrily]

6. Did you just opt against it, or did you have something else to do?

BTW, this buddy is a "pragmatic" liberal. So, of course, he was leaning Clinton. "I love Bernie, but I don't think he can win in the general." yadda yadda.

I leaned on him, ever so gently, but persistently. However, I think Sanders' fast rise in the polls had as much to do with my buddy's change of mind as I did. He had donated substantially to Sanders, as well. (Hey, if you're gonna convert someone to Sanders, may as well be someone with some bank.)

[JonLeibowitz]

13. I had other plans. But..

I also suspected that the $200 minimum (I would have done $500 most likely) was far lower than most were willing to pay so I didn't rush to rearrange my schedule to go and prevent someone from attending and contribute more. My understanding is that it was "sold out".

And after the fact I learned most people contributed the max, $2700.

[merrily]

14. Maybe you will get another shot at it. Sounds as though it was a nice time.

Valet parking, catered food and open bar poolside, live entertainment by a band with great name, and an appearance by a great US Senator and candidate for POTUS.

[MrMickeysMom]

40. Love reading that story...

Thanks!

[dirtydickcheney]

3. It was a great event!

Not the usual fundraiser I've been to.

Valet parking, catered food, open bar and America (the band) played before and after Bernie was on the stage.

Really good crowd..

Bernie only spoke for about 20 minutes and his voice didn't sound like his usual voice, as I'm sure he was completely exhausted.

[merrily]

4. You were at the Beverly Hills event with my best politics buddy?

[merrily]

7. Thank you! I forgot. He did say that a band from the 60s, America, played.

I should edit that into my OP.

BTW, he did say from the 60s, but I just googled and that band formed in 1970.

[marym625]

18. if you had to Google the band America, you're younger than I thought

Clues, Marily, clues. I'm glad we're younger!

[merrily]

22. Marily's wise and young! Fantastic combination.

I had, of course, heard Horse with No Name. I just didn't know if America was from the 60s or not.

[marym625]

24. hmm

Well, Marily is 42. Best age ever! If I could stay one age, that would be it. Many reasons

[merrily]

30. OMG! How the heck did we get to be 42 on the internet?

As I told another female Bernie supporter: on the internet, all women are 22 year old geniuses (and incredibly hot, whatever that means--though we are not superficial about it).

I refuse to be 42 on the internet.

[marym625]

31. ok, ok.

I forget because I'm me everywhere I am. But for Marily, I'll be 22.

Going to bed. Sweet dreams, merrily

[merrily]

32. Whereas, I am not me anywhere I am. Thank you. I'm logging off as well.

Have a beautiful rest.

[Stardust]

27. I wonder if America sang "Sandman." It's the first song I associated with Bernie.

I understand you've been running from the man
That goes by the name of the Sandman
He flies the sky like an eagle in the eye
Of a hurricane that's abandoned

[dreamnightwind]

37. Yes that is their song.

[Stardust]

38. I know it's their song, but I was wondering if that's what they sang. No biggie, just curious. n/t

[dreamnightwind]

39. Oh sorry, misunderstood.

[merrily]

43. Maybe ask dirtydickcheney what songs they played? He's the only one on this thread who was there.

[Live and Learn]

41. I have some good Bernie friends that attended as well.

They really enjoyed it too.

The event was the day after the debate in Vegas, and the same day he taped the Ellen show and attended another event in Hollywood, no wonder he was tired.

In fact, I went to Vegas with the same friends to support Bernie but there is no way I had the energy to attend the Beverly Hills event the next day. My friends actually managed to get in free as campaign volunteers for the event.

[pacalo]

8. I've got the feeling "today's the day", merrily!

Thanks for sharing your friend's experience!

[merrily]

9. Thank you for that! You're the most brightest star!

[pacalo]

11. How perfect a slogan is that?

"Today's the day for Bernie Sanders".

[merrily]

12. Is "very perfect" a thing? Maybe we can get dirtydickcheney to tell us what America sang.

Great name for a band to sing at a Sanders' event! I am guessing they donated their talents because $200 a head doesn't sound as though it would cover the costs of an event with entertainment, catered food, open bar, valet parking, etc. If I had shelled out $400, I would have "elbowed," I'll you that!

[pacalo]

15. I would have stayed until I met him!

[merrily]

16. Sanders had a limited time to spend there. He had another fundraising dinner to attend.

When you don't take the big donations, you have to hustle around big money Democrats territory as fast as you can. I imagine, at some point, his people extricated him from the crowd and that was it.

[marym625]

19. I love that gif!!!

[pacalo]

25. Feel free to copy & use it, mary.

That goes for any other Bernistas who'd like one!

[marym625]

29. Thank you!!

I will!

[Stardust]

21. Awesome gif, pacalo.

[pacalo]

26. Thank you, Stardust!

Feel free to copy it for your own use.

[Stardust]

28. Thank you! Some evening when I have a few working brain cells, I just may do that.

[Live and Learn]

42. I love that too. nt

[marym625]

17. I'm so jealous!

Wish you could have gone. Wish I could have gone!

Thanks for the inside information

#Bernie2016 #FeelTheBern

[merrily]

20. Wish Marily could have gone!

My buddy moved from Massachusetts to what he calls "the best Coast" about ten years ago. I still miss him something fierce. He's much happier there, though. So, I am happy for him. He'd be Marily with us. Almost. We'd have to keep nudging him out of the "pragmatic" zone, but we could do it!

[marym625]

23. Absolutely!

Make him a Marily then we get to go next time!

[SheilaT]

33. When Howard Dean was running

I went to several small fundraisers for him, and I seem to recall paying something like $250 for an event. Again, very small, and I got to speak one-on-one with Dean more than once during each event.

[merrily]

34. How interesting that must have been.

[SheilaT]

35. Very. I'm glad I got to those events.

[merrily]

36. I'm glad you did, too!