Good play by play on the Dallas rally. Did anyone go?

[crispini]

I must confess, I didn't go because I haven't been feeling great lately and I didn't think I was up to a huge crowd. Apparently reports are from 100,000 - 500,000 people. Wow! anyway the DMN for once has a kind of blog-style report that's pretty good.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/040906dnmetprotest.1b36165d.html

[tammywammy]

1. Didn't go

But I was at the Dallas Convention Center (took my dad to the auto show), and as we were leaving, around 2:30ish we saw the huge protest from the windows. It was amazing how many people were out there, and I know we only saw a small fraction of it.

Oh and I read the DMN blog, it is pretty good.

[TXDem24]

2. I was there.

I was on the left corner of the large flag going down the street. I was amazed at the number of white shirts in downtown Dallas (evidently everybody got the "message"). Once we arrived at the City Council plaza, I found out that people were still lined up at the starting point.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to speak as all the speakers had already been scheduled. So I found the local Dallas Democrats, grabbed up some handouts reminding people to vote in November and went out into the crowd. I stood in the middle of the street yelling "Every vote counts" and "we need your vote in November". People were crowding around me, taking the handout and asking questions. I didn't have to push the handouts on anybody; people in the crowd made detours to find out what I was giving. To quote an old movie, these people are "mad as hell and not going to take it anymore".

Democrats need to make sure that we don't lose this voting bloc through inaction or indecision. All of the Hispanics I spoke with know there is a problem with the border. They just want a voice at the table to help resolve the issue. Democrats should give them their voice and recognize the need for full debate. This is a good time to lead instead of follow.

[CoolOnion]

3. I saw some Dems on the news registering voters

Good for you! I had wanted to go, but decided not to because of the crowds. I wasn't sure the DART system could handle all the riders, but it seems to have worked out fine. No stranded riders, like that fiasco of a 4th of July party Dallas threw a few years back.