Not everybody got the change they were looking for in 2008. In the 32nd congressional district of Texas, it's hard to get anything but the status quo, 'cause the district was gerrymandered that way, as a safe Republican seat specifically designed for "Taliban" Pete Sessions.
But today, at a Fourth of July parade in Dallas, we declared that the status quo has got to go, and rallied behind our congressional candidate, Grier Raggio!
Yeah, I know, the Fourth was yesterday, but Dallas decided to have its big celebrations today, since a lot of businesses are closed today, anyway.
Today's parade was in Highland Park, an upscale community within Dallas, near SMU which is soon to be home of the Bush Library.
Highland Park is something of a Republican stronghold, and has a reputation as one of those places you've heard about where "driving while black" is a crime. But Highland Park has its share of cool people, too, people who protested the Bush Library, people who give generously to the Democratic Party, and people like our candidate for Congress, Grier Raggio.
Grier Raggio lives in Highland Park with his wife Judge Lorraine Raggio, who, in 2004, became the first Democrat in over 20 years elected to a Dallas County Civil District Court.
So if I told you the crowd was friendly today, you'd say, "Well, of course it was! You were in his neighborhood!"
But I've noticed something lately, that every crowd is pretty friendly to Grier Raggio.
On Saturday, I went to another Fourth of July parade (yeah, I know, Saturday was the third, but the Fourth of July is just too much fun for one day. Might as well party all weekend). This one was in Irving, Texas, another decidedly Republican stronghold. I tagged along as Grier strayed from the parade route to work the crowd.
"He's been there too long," said one Republican about Pete Sessions. "He's corrupt. They all get like that."
And there were lots more similar comments where that one came from.
I've learned one thing this weekend, that Grier loves talking to people. And even more than that, he enjoys listening to people and figuring out what he could do in Congress to help them. Imagine that--a congressman who listens to constituents and wants to help them, unlike the current occupant who once told a constituent with health care concerns to tell it to the President.
According to the DCCC, TX-32 is a swing district, and I believe we are. I plan to spend a great deal of time this summer knocking on doors, making phone calls, telling people that if they're tired of the same old status quo, go out and vote for Raggio! If you're in TX-32, I hope you'll join me!