On October 2nd 2004, I met an amazing family. They were throwing a fundraiser for my campaign, and their house was filled with dedicated Democrats who were fighting hard for John Kerry and myself. It was the best fundraising appearance of my entire campaign.
Most of this extended family would cross paths with my campaign several times over the final 31 days of the election cycle, from Kerry rallies to Bush protests and everything in-between.
To this day, that family and I are very close. As a matter of fact, they have made me a part of their family, thanks to one of the most dedicated members of the kin, January Talarico.
Following the election, I was invited to another party (Christmastime) by the same family. I wasn't there very long, as I had arrived late, so introductions were rather quick. Everyone whom I hadn't met in October was very warm and greeted me with a huge smile. But Grandma Weaver didn't seem so happy to meet me.
I later found out that she wasn't so happy to meet another damn Democrat, especially one who actually had the audacity to run against a Republican for Congress. She's a hardcore Republican and has spent years in arguments with nearly all of her 9 children and God-only-knows how many grandchildren. Basically, the issue of politics isn't supposed to be discussed much when she comes around...but it always does.
January invited me to a cookout at Grandma Weaver's home in late April, and you could see she was not very happy to see me. She only spoke two words to me (hello and goodbye) the entire time, and some of the family later found out why....that I was the Democrat who ran against Ralph Regula. They immediately understood the entire situation.
Don't get me wrong...she was never mean to me. But she just wasn't interested in wasting energy to be nice to me.
Bush is never to blame for anything, and Republicans are the way to go (as far as Grandma Weaver believes). She was an unsaveable, and the best we could hope for was that her GOP vote would be cancelled out by just one member of her huge Democratic family.
Until yesterday.
Last night, I visited January's house and her mother was sitting on the back patio when I arrived. January's mom told me that she had spoken to Grandma Weaver earlier in the day and was SHOCKED to hear the following words come out of her mouth;
"I hope to God that Hillary Clinton runs for President in 2008. Between her and Bill, maybe we can get this country turned back around again."
Four years ago today, Bush had a 90% approval rating. Those of us who were among the "ten percenters" knew that he was a horrible President who would only make things worse for America as he got further into his Presidency.
The "ten percenters" still know this for a fact, and Bush's approval rating is at 39% today. He's dropped 51% in exactly four years.
The impossible has happened. Grandma Weaver joined us yesterday. Welcome to reality, Mrs. Weaver. We'll do our best to get things turned around in this country.
Jeff Seemann
Good for you, Jeff. I believe "January" was the same individual I met at your get-together next to the Moose Lodge. Hopefully you'll have a revamped website for your "round 2" against Ralphie-boy and looking for volunteers which I still would like to do again (willing to sprain my ankle AGAIN for Jeff!)
Posted by: Ray | September 13, 2005 at 08:48 AM