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From msnbc.com's Carrie Dann and Ryan McCartney:
Washington, D.C. -- It's a crisp, sunny fall day here and thousands are gathering on the National Mall for the Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert "Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear." Since noon, the crowd has been warmed up and entertained by the likes of The Roots, John Legend and the hosts of "Myth Busters."
The crowds stretch for about four blocks at this point with more people streaming in on both sides of the Mall. Unlike the Glenn Beck rally last August (which this one is seen as the counter rally), there are plenty of signs being sported today.
Some examples: A sign in Islamic script with a subtitle reading: "Relax, it just says McDonalds"; another that says "Don't you hate pants?"; another stating "Obama=Keynesian" and plenty of signs targeting Fox News.
Isaac Attias, 23, came from Brooklyn, New York and the recent college graduate wore his cap and gown and carried a sign that says: "Will trade diploma for job." A strict Democrat, Attias says, "I graduated with what I have on. This was the actual cap and gown I wore when I graduated--it served me well for 20 minutes."
Attias and his friend Mike Bradley said they were surprised at the varying ages of the attendees. "A lot of people were saying it was going to be all college-aged kids like us, but there are a lot of older people here."
One of those older attendees was Ramelle MaCoy, 85, who came from Harrisburg Pennsylvania. McCoy carried a sign reading, "Levitate if you think Fox News is fair and balanced."
McCoy said he came to protest the influence of the Tea Party in this election and says he feel confident that this rally will help turn out the vote for Democrats this Tuesday. "I feel confident with no good reason that a large percentage of the massive crowd here will vote and a great percentage will vote for having been here."
Crunched but not confused: From Carrie Dann in the crowd: A block away from the rally, it's tough to see or hear much.
It's packed the point of being difficult to move around, and the acoustics aren't good enough to make out the words coming from the stage. But it's not stopping folks from enjoying the party atmosphere.
People have climbed atop the Porta Potty's and dumpsters in order to get a better view. Folks who have climbed into trees are starting cheers and applause.
"What are we cheering for!?" many ask each other, gleefully cheering along anyway.
Yes, that might be a metaphor: It's more about being a part of the event than the content for the people who have come for the day, it seems.
There's a wide variety of reasons that people are here -- there are plenty of clever signs, a smattering of goofy costumes, and political messages of promoting tolerance and bashing FOX News, Sarah Palin, and the Tea Party -- generally with some tongue-in-cheek humor. ("Don't Tea on My Leg and then tell me it's raining")
But the common thread appears to be annoyance at the shrillness of Tea Party politics, and a general desire to be recognized as reasonable people who care.
"Just chill," is the sentiment of many a sign.
"This is pushback," said Karen, a government employee from southern Maryland who's in her 40s. "Pushback against what the right says about us, about 'business as usual in Washington.'"
This, she says with a grin, is "the political equivalent of Woodstock."
Big names -- from the entertainment world: In case you haven't noticed yet, the theme of this rally is pitting "sanity" (personified by Stewart) against "fear" (in the person of Colbert). Plenty of big name entertainers are on hand to bolster that battle, including a battle of the bands faceoff between Ozzy Osbourne and his hit, "Crazy Train" and Yusuf Islam/Cat Stevens' "Peace Train." In the end, it was settled by the O'Jays and a rendition of "Love Train."
No political figures on stage, at least not yet.
More signage: Some more signs spotted in the crowd:
"I already regret choosing to carry a sign around all day"
"Bipartisanship is sexy"
"Save the dinosaurs"
"In reason we trust"
"I'm not pro-abortion"
"Green Tea Party"
"Vote lawyers out"
"Beck, putting the dumb in freedom"
Bookends: msnbc's Vaughn Ververs weighs in from afar -- There are plenty of differences between this gathering and the Beck rally back in August but also some notable similarities. Neither rally has been overtly political in terms of pushing a specific issue or policy agenda. The first was clearly conservative, this one clearly progressive in nature. Neither has featured elected officials (although Sarah Palin did speak at the Beck rally and she is clearly a political figure).
For a political season centered on anti-establishment sentiment, it's not a surprise we're not seeing a whole bunch of elected officials but both rallies serve to illustrate what can be described as a cultural tug-of-war. Fittingly, Beck held his rally in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Today's rally is at the other end of The Mall, in front of the Capitol. Bookends indeed.
Some final thoughts: From Carrie Dann at The Mall -- This may have been the only rally in American history attended by tens of thousands of irony-loving hipsters, Democratic-leaning middle-aged federal workers, a rap-star-turned-country-singer, libertarian pot legalization activists, a butter-voiced songster, and dozens of people in banana suits.
The "Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear" was attended by tens of thousands of supporters of comedians/satirists Stewart and Colbert -- ranging from families who had traveled cross-country to attend to curious locals. The size of the event appeared fairly comparable to the Beck rally, but the atmosphere of this event was less Fourth of July than it was Halloween, New Years, the Fourth of July, and a rock concert rolled into one.
Signs abounded, as the event's hosts had urged during the run up to the event. The messages ranged from strongly political ("The Left is what's right; The Right is what's left"), to tongue-in-cheek ("Poster board is a terrible medium for complex arguments"), to just plain silly ("Grapes are delicious.")
The carnival atmosphere was enhanced by many attendees who wore Halloween costumes -- there were medieval soldiers, vuvuzelas, cartons of French fries, and Waldos, bananas, and zombies aplenty.
Many of the attendees were able to see very little of the rally. People climbed aboard portable restrooms, dangled from trees, and crowded near the area reserved for media in hopes of catching a glimpse of the stage or an audio feed of Stewart and Colbert's banter and musical performances by the likes of The Roots, Kid Rock, and Tony Bennett.
Their message was mostly one of political moderation, the common humanity of Americans of all different political views, and frustration with the media's portrayal of partisan politics. (A common sign in the crowd: "Think outside the FOX.")
While those with prime seats were rapt listeners to the comedians' sometimes-jokey, sometimes-obliquely-political jokes and observations, those packed onto either side of the mall were a combination of curious people-watchers and those content to feel like the part of a social movement fueled by moderation -- even if the message was hard to hear.
If this and the Beck rally were what the 2010 midterm elections are all about, the 2012 presidential election will be eagerly anticipated.
Leave a Comment:
We are seeing something amazing at the Rally in DC! 20 times as many people as at Beck's, and Beck said there were a half-million people at his, so that means 10 million people! More people than live in all the Rocky Mountain states combined!! And since Daily Show fans are thinner than teabaggers, it could be more like 25 million!
For all of you that made the trip to DC, we owe you a huge debt of gratitude!!! We are there with you in spirit an know what a happy, positive thing this is. Loving all the great signs, what a great rally!!!!!!!!!
This is rally is truly amazing between the crowd size & the diversity!
This is a great snapshot of real Americans!
Got to agree with Jemma with a GIANT thanks for all those who were lucky enough to make the trip to represent progressives!
Take a bow ALL!
Oh, were you at Beck's rally also?
ssmtih - are you a clone of ssmith? Just wondering.
Not the Tea Bagger crowd?
Yep, sounds like they're definitely libbies.
That sign's profound. More relevent than the old Hope and Change signs too!
Whoops. That is profound. Somebody's at the wrong rally.
It's kinda funny that Stewart and Colbert are more important than Rachael and Keith/company. Obama, I mean the President Dude, spends more time on Leno, Letterman, Stewart ......the hens on the View(?),.......
I guess as Gilda would say..... nevermind.
It's all goo...d, guess sometimes Americans just have to laugh to feep from crying.
"This is a great snapshot of real Americans!"
Not true in the slightest.
Take this snapshot, glue it to one side of a poster - now take a snapshot from Beck's rally, glue it to the other side of a poster - and then aaaaallllll the space in between fill with snap shots of average people across the country doing their daily routine who dont care about/couldnt get too/or are just to busy with their life.
THEN and only then, will you a REAL snapshot of America. Just because you dont agree with them doesnt make them any less American than you and vice versa. Its rather sad that people dont see that. And people wonder why there is such a divide in this country....
tee hee...now this is a party!
Nothing like a rally for the liberally retarded.
BoBo the Clown
"This is a great snapshot of real Americans!"
Not true in the slightest.
Take this snapshot, glue it to one side of a poster - now take a snapshot from Beck's rally, glue it to the other side of a poster - and then aaaaallllll the space in between fill with snap shots of average people across the country doing their daily routine who dont care about/couldnt get too/or are just to busy with their life.
THEN and only then, will you a REAL snapshot of America. Just because you dont agree with them doesnt make them any less American than you and vice versa. Its rather sad that people dont see that. And people wonder why there is such a divide in this country....
Beck's snap shot would not reflect the real America because the few Blacks except the Conservative Black Religious leaders on the stage were comparable to a fly in buttermilk. Americans come in all shapes sizes, ages, and color; but were not seen in Beck's rally. Ditto Beck's audience. I think the one or too minorities you see in Beck's studio audience are props.
For the record, I don't agree that people who belong in an insane asylum should be in Washington DC; however, I do think they are not any less American.
Right on Beverly,
But that all you did was highlight my point. These rally's are not sole-representation of America. They are part of America. Thats why i said in aaaalllll the space inbetween those two pictures you would have America - and personally- i think all the people in between, not at the two rallys are a more accurate representation of the majority of American than either of the two rallys. But my point was - neither this rally or Beck's are a snapshot of REAL America. The fact that people sit here and sling mud at each other saying how there was more people at this rally or that rally, and this rally is good, but that rally was bad, and this rally is real america or that rally isnt.... blah blah blah- whatever. THAT in itself just shows the divide of the nation. Both sides are so blinded by their hate of the other side, they simply refuse to see/acknowledge - everyone is in the same boat - they just disagree on which way that boat needs to be rowed.
"Beck's snap shot would not reflect the real America"
i agree, i would just add - not any more or less than this rally to the end of that statement. I personally think that both of these rally's represent the more fringe minorities. Beck's rally was for the conservaties, this rally is for the progressives - they are the fringe. Most of America is neither, but a blend of the two and would lie somwhere in between.
BoBo the Clown
Right on Beverly,
But that all you did was highlight my point. These rally's are not sole-representation of America. They are part of America. Thats why i said in aaaalllll the space inbetween those two pictures you would have America - and personally- i think all the people in between, not at the two rallys are a more accurate representation of the majority of American than either of the two rallys. But my point was - neither this rally or Beck's are a snapshot of REAL America.
Nice spin you posted there to defend your stance. try this next if you want to accurate... It is more correct to say that whole is greater than the lesser of its parts.
Clearly, Beck's crowd representation did equal the sum of all parts.
But they were not lesser Americans; even if they are nut jobs; who are all Beck attracts.
i agree, i would just add - not any more or less than this rally to the end of that statement. I personally think that both of these rally's represent the more fringe minorities. Beck's rally was for the conservaties, this rally is for the progressives - they are the fringe. Most of America is neither, but a blend of the two and would lie somwhere in between.
Those were not fringe minorities. Progressives, independents, republicans, young, old, LBGTS, and conservatives elected the President; so again you're wrong.
Peace Train (Cat---aka---Yusuf)....Crazy Train (Ozzy)....Love train (OJay's)---no matter, as it's all good-----silly and serious, but all light-of-heart. I am from the 60's! Peace ; -)
Stewart/Colbert in 2012!
I wish I could have been there today.
Finally, a bit of sanity for the Nation.
I wish i was in Washington in-person today, but i am there in heart & soul......the only thing different about this country right now is tea-baggers yelling and screaming and they're the problem in the country.... the country is the same it's always been and always will be.....moderates debating policy and coming to a concensus about whats good for the majority of the country.....hell, i can't even watch the news anymore because all everyone does is yell and scream and tea-baggers complaining about everything without any plans to fix anything.....stop screaming, start talking and maybe you can have a seat at the table, otherwise enjoy the fringe of politics that you'll reside in forever....the majority of the country is moderate and we expect or leaders to be the same.......common sense, not nonsense..... GET OUT AND VOTE NOV. 2, 2010
I can see my son from here!
I can also! He is in the marching band; and the only one in step!
Just a joke.
It brings me back to the 60's. Thank you Jon & Stephen.
Jon Stewart all but allowed Obama to carry out a Democrat sponsored town hall meeting on his show last week without even questioning him about the WARS the US is fighting to enrich the global elite. Shame on you Stewart. I hope the Republicans run rough shod over the Democrats and the whole country goes bankrupt over the trillions spent on WAR. America, you get what you deserve. Some BS rally in DC will do nothing. See you in the third world. Fat and lazy, the American way.
Remind me who it was that started those wars? If Obama had immediately pulled all of our troops out, you'd be criticizing him for failing to support the growth of democracy in the Middle East and for not finishing what had been started. Give me a break.
Easy there JBro, clearly you're not getting the message from the rally to restore sanity.
I actually agree with you that these wars are wrong, but I would disagree with you on your characterization of Jon's Interview. I felt he did a good job of asking questions and letting Obama know what a lot of people are feeling while still showing respect for the office of the president. Also it's a comedy show, don't watch it for in-depth grilling of political persons.
Not to mention t's only a half hour show, Jon can't ask all the questions everone has in that amount of time.
Oh yes, you are right it was Obama that got us into the war, how many years ago BEFORE he was even in office. And before you respond I am sure it was Obama that got us into the economic meltdown that instantly occured the day he was sworn into office. Totally agree!
I just wonder where all the anti war protesters have gone? Seems to me they think war is fine if lead by a Democrat. Or could it be they were paid by the Democrat machine?
JBro
Take a deep cleansing breath. Try to realize that we should not all think like you. That we need independent thinking. I used to be a R also but at last I decided with out your help that they were going in the wrong direction, for me. Maybe it works for you but please try to think of others besides just you. We are all in this world together and need not run rough shod on anyone. Deep Breath and think
@Ghost... Were you at the rally? How can you say there weren't any war protesters out there? And besides 99% of the most recent war protesting was over Iraq. Obama put in the plan to get us out of there. And if you remember correctly (which seems to be the problem of the senial right) the Dems were with you on Afghanistan after Sept 11.
senile...................even though 9/11 was an inside job, you wouldn't let anyone prove it, before hostilities were initiated.
I'm a throw-back to the 60s, and a baby boomer. The Tea Bigots never represented me or anyone I know.
Â
So, Republicans/Tea partiers don't like the cost of financial regulation, the cost of clean air, the cost of food monitoring, the cost of public supported health care, or the cost of environmental monitoring? Some Tea Party folks want to eliminate SocSec., Medicare, and unemployment benefits. It's an interesting case they make. Let's dismantle and eliminate the costs of government. We'll fend for ourselves, like the good old days (that never were as good as imagined.) This foolish rhetoric ignores the the heart of their own complaints. Is it really cheaper to clean up an economy in tatters -- I mean under a real depression? An ocean of oil or a sickened population? Once the environment, the plants, the animals are dead . . they're dead. We're living through yet another example of conservative wishful thinking. The future will only be as bad as you make it by trying to avoid the real costs of progress. It's a hopeful sight to see a young public that gets it.
Â
Sorry to see the 'spitters' still alive.
@proamerica-1148973
Yes, because he was a baby boomer, he OBVIOUSLY was spitting on troops in the 60s, and he should be dead. /s
People like you are exactly why we need this rally. Stop the insanity.
Yeah these walking pieces of human debris should have stayed in that field.
Way to go Bill Austin, love the name TEA BIGOTS. Great Post.
The rally is over and I have tears on my face. I love Jon Stewart! If we all stop feeding the beast of the cable network political shows, maybe things will get better...or, at least, some of us will return to sanity. Politics and the MEDIA makes me sick.
6.3 reported inflammatory. The rally was to stop exactly that sort of dialogue. Talk about missing the point! (And yes, I've been the first to hit the ! button on missives from left-wing trolls, also. Just watch your rhetoric!)
That's ok you do not represent me. I think for myself. I research global warming from all view points. To bad I guess the Gulf spell did not live up to your hopes and dreams. Reality is the truth.
Let's say that you're a Teabagger and you want to get rid of taxes. I tell you it's not possible, but you don't listen to me. That's cool.
So you win. Taxes are gone. No taxes in the USA. You win. The federal government and all the evils that go with it are gone forever.
Now let's finish your scenario out, OK? Humor me.
You might think that with no taxes, you'll make more money, right?
Wrong.
Let's say that you make 40,000 dollars a year now. But your take home pay is only 30,000 dollars. Your employer knows that he doesn't have to pay the federal government those nasty taxes anymore, but he also knows that you've been willing to come to work every day for a 30,000 dollar take-home amount. Guess who's getting a pay decrease down to 30k a year? You are. The taxes are gone, did you really think that your employer wouldn't choose to benefit from that first?
So now you make the same amount as before, but there's no money going to social security anymore. The same amount of money you lived on before now has to get you beyond retirement.
Your 401k is gone too. The company that manages it has wiped the accounts dry. Who's going to stop them from doing that now that the federal regulators have all been fired?
Perhaps you'd better start saving 10 percent of your paycheck for future retirement plans? Whoops, can't do that. The FDIC doesn't exist, so the banks have all been cleaned out. So have the accounts you used to have money in. Your consumer protections are gone, and the person nearest to the vault with a key is now racing towards Bermuda with sacks of your money.
We didn't really want all those nasty regulations on the banks anyway, did we?
OK, so you can handle this. You don't need help. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps, right?
You'll be OK, I'm sure of it. But your kids are hungry, so you'd better go to the store to get groceries. Be careful with the meat and the produce departments, though. Sometime last month, the farmer realized that his farm subsidies were gone and he's gotta cut corners to survive, not to mention raising his prices. In the cutting of the corners, he stopped feeding his cattle clean food. Now those cows are all sick and their meat is packaged up nice for you to buy and feed to your kids.
There's no FDA and no USDA to monitor the food your farmer provides to the grocery store, so you're on your own.
Oh and by the way, the ground beef that will be in your digestive system soon just cost you double what it used to, if you're lucky. Price controls have been dissolved altogether.
When your family gets sick from that tainted meat, you'll have to rush them to the hospital. Pray that their illness has already been given a cure, because the Centers For Disease Control no longer can help your local hospital identify any viruses.
Also, don't drink the water in your neighborhood anymore. The Environmental Protection Agency, as it turns out, was actually protecting the environment. You didn't think Monsanto was going to stop chemical dumping in the streams and lakes of America on their own, did you?
On your way home from the hospital, drive slowly. The traffic lights no longer work because they were part of the local government control and there's no more tax money left to operate the lights. This alone caused a lot of accidents, and most of the wreckage is left behind for you to drive around if you can. Ever noticed the people that sweep up the broken glass after even the most minor fender-benders? Guess what paid their salaries?
When you get home, pray it's still there. Without police, what do you think the odds are that people just left it alone? Unless you left your husband/wife behind with a big gun 24/7, somebody's coming in to take your stuff. And if they have a bigger gun, you just lost your husband and his 30k a year too.
Hopefully that house doesn't catch fire too. No fire department. And even if there were friends willing to help put out the fire, where do you think they're going to get the water to douse the flames? Those fire hydrants were not placed there by divine intervention.
Hopefully you prepared for all this by stockpiling on guns and assorted weaponry. Not like it'll matter. There's armies from about 2 dozen countries that either are ready to invade or already have. Who's gonna stop them? Jimbo and his homemade militia? I'm sure the people in your neighborhood can fill in for the boys that used to be in our military, because you know....wolverines! I loved that film too. But let's be honest....the Cubans and Russians were going to kick our ass, no matter how many high school football players Patrick Swayze can recruit.
Even if the world community takes pity on us and defends us from invading armies, it won't take long for the airports to become havens of hysteria. Weapons on airplanes are easy as pie. The TSA that performs security checks at the gate...who do you think paid their salaries? They're part of that massive government waste you're so happy to be rid of. Maybe the federal marshalls on every plane will protect you....oh, wait. Never mind.
Aside from the easy pickings that terrorism will find in the skies, you won't be safe on the ground either. Timothy McVeigh is about to be a happy memory compared to the chemical detonations that are possible now. The regulatory committees that monitored the sale and purchase of toxic materials are gone daddy gone.
So between the tainted meat, your pay cut, your 401k being wiped out, the hospitals being overrun by people who ate the same tainted meat, your house being an easy target, the threat of terrorism at all-time highs, and having to fight for your own survival on a hourly basis....don't you think that maybe it's better that you just shut up and pay your damn taxes?
Or are you willing to risk all that just because you once heard about a guy who was lazy and took 300 bucks a month in unemployment?
-----------------------
Bill Austin - I really appreciate your thoughtful comments. I too like Tea Bigots. Good job!
This post is absolutely amazing! Brilliant writing conjures up a post-apocalyptic picture I hope we can avoid.
Bravo, Golfervet! Well said!
Awesome post Golfervet!
No we just don't like the cost of supporting liberals and their welfare ideas.
I think the biggest thing to worry about if the republicans take over is the gerrymandering that will certainly occur when they are put in charge of re-districting!
Love the "TEA BIGOTS" comments...good to see the right is not the only one doing the name calling huh?
golfervet, we do not want NO TAXES, we want FAIR taxes...and not 50-60% taxes. If a guy spends 8 years in collage and makes $300,000k he should pay the same taxe RATE as me making $55,000. Income redistribution is not fair and will not work, at some point people will loose the incentive to succeed if all they make is taxed. We want and understand the need for taxes...
And "social Security"...I would love to have what I have been FORCED to pay into if I could just have it back....they keep what it's made just let me have what I have paid in...of course since it's spent it's made no money. If I could keep and invest my money into my own retirement I would be MUCH better off than "Social Security".
Ray: Rethink your posting, it is economic gibberish.
Good post Golfervet. Too bad the average teabagger won't read past the first line.
Exellent Post Golfervet! Excellent!
I actually copied it into an e-mail to send to everyone I know!
Thank You!
Al... how about I support liberals and their welfare ideas, and you support neo-cons and their wars?
I agree, Ray your tax rate thing is bullsh*t. I did spend 8 years in college, only to scrape by on jobs paying me between $25 and 40 K.
If someone making $300K is taxed at the same rate as I (18% since I get 1099s), he obviously has an easier time buying basics like food, clothing, shelter.
You should have just said that Republicans let the rich screw the little guy sover more easily with wages (but lighter taxes) but Democratics screw everyone except the socially and exonomically inept.
Ray - are you aware that Obama only wants to raise your tax rate back to 39% as it was at the end of the Clinton admin? He also wants capital gains (on unearned investment income) to be the same as that on earned income (wages). That is not unreasonable. The way the Teabaglicans talk you would think he wants to put it back where it was during Eisenhower (91%) or at the beginning of reagan (70%).
heartlight, why not cut spending? That's not mentioned at all...
More taxes will not fix it if spending is not contained, and what will happen to the markets if capital gains is increased as earned income? What about estate taxes? Why should the Government get more that the family when someone dies. But you know a flat tax would solve this and get rid if the IRS...
Great post golfervet..one thing to add..My hubby was a certified "waste water" control/monitoring agent for his place of business....When Clinton was pres...he had to test the waste water for chemical levels and then submitt them to the EPA...soon after George W was in office..he sent in more samples..he got a response back from the EPA "we no longer have to test the waste water"..in other words...dump away business people..dump away...don't pay for your chemicals to be disposed of properly...just drain them into the water supply....and might I say his business has some very nasty chemicals..you know the cancer causing ones...he no longer works there, so I don't know what they do now...but total deregulation is not always a good thing....in fact..seldom is it a good thing. Just my two cents worth...oh..and Cancer is reaching epidemic proportions..will take over Heart disease as the #1 killer by 2020...(per Medscape not me).
I'm going to tune to FOX News I know I can get some Fair and Unbiased reporting on this rally there. I'll bet there's only about six people with a lot of mirrors at this rally !
Remember the sign:
Levitate if you think Fox News is Fair and Balanced
It was wonderful to see a sea of diverse people, a huge crowd of around 200 thousand plus, there to share "being American" with other Americans of every stripe, every color, creed, and political affiliation. Sorry that gcompc refuses to believe his eyes at the enormity of the gathering. And unlike the Beck rally, Steward started organizing it just a few weeks back, not for a year. Thanks to so many unaffiliated news networks and blogs, we are able to see a genuinely fair and balanced record of this marvelous, very patriotic event that shows clearly that working together and compromise is possible.
gcompc
So Funny. Yes lets see what Fox says about the rally. I am sure they will give it all the fairness they are able to come up with in any given moment. That is after they check to see how pretty they look on the monitor
You talking about the same fairness that MSNBC gave to Glen Beck. Yeah right.
Glenn Beck? I think it's fair and impartial to call an opportunist an opportunist.
It seems that Trinidad1107 may be missing the point. Please try telling us why it's "crap" in a reasonable way. Raise the level of discourse.
It should be called "Rally To Give Losers Something To Do"......
If it was called that, you'd probably be there attending rather than sitting at home typing douche-y messages on a forum.
And here's an example of a left-wing troll, except far worse than the right-wing troll in 6.3. 9.1 reported BLATANT CoH violation - and forwarded to the Vine Staff.
Or.. "Rally to give Larry something to complain about."
Political humorist Will Rogers never got this large a turnout, but when he died there was a week of national mourning.
Sterling Greenwood/AspenFreePress
I bet Glenn Beck is having a full-blown schizophrenic conniption, and Sarah Palin is screaming, "YOU FILTHY JEW! YOU JEEEEEW!" at her TV screen.
DJ..... I have some doubt about whether Glenn Beck can spell all those big words!!!! In Palin, we see the weeping and gnashing of the grizzly momma's fangs!!
Glenn Beck is writing on Sarah Palin's palm right now. She's angry and doesn't know what to say!!!
Hey now ... the point (if you agreed with the rally) was to avoid saying inflammatory things like this. Palin has never proven herself to be anti-semitic. so .... back off that kind of assumption. While, we are on it, dismissing Glenn beck as dumb misses the point as well. They are wrong for reasons having nothing to do with these assumptions and insults, call them out on those.
Casting Beck & Palin in that light is just plain wrong!
They have yet to demonstrate any basic abilities to
experience embarrassment or suffer for their errors.
Wading barefoot thru the sea of their collective knowledge
would barely leave ones soles damp.
See the depth that greed brings?
Yeah sorta like Obama without his teleprompter. You liberals really are sad.
again with the teleprompter, Reagan's favorite tool. STTS
I would have liked to read the article but the AARP article covering the text made that impossible. It does not appear possible to close the ad.
Please keep in mind that this is Comedy Central here. This is not ABC,NBC,FOX. This is not news, it is comedy and commentary. Lighten up folks, enjoy the fun and the sun and wind it down a notch. It will all be over on Wednesday morning and then we can get back to the grid lock that existed before the election and move as slowly as before and accomplish little. Until the People of America are completely fed up with the posturing on both sides and demands civility from both sides, this will continue. None of this is easy, none of this impossible to fix. It just takes a few reasonable people looking for difficult but manageable solutions. If it continues like two kids in the school yard "I won, no I won, no I won, no I won" we will be left with schoolyard answers
Well said. Gridlock is spot on. How can there be progress if people are this caught up in my way is the BEST way and your way is the way of the Devil because that's the kind of language i'm encountering. We do need to lighten on up. Still holding out for the hope that reasonable minds can find a way to reasonably think and work for the greater good of our shared nation and shared world. Cynicism just isn't conducive to pragmatism.
It may have started on Comedy Central, but all those thousands and thousands of people on the National Mall make NEWS!
Remember.....the MOST important thing on the righty adgenda if they win the house and or senate is to make sure President Obama is a one term president. Nothing is going to change it's the good ol JUSY SAY NO crowd...Again...I can't wait. Hope my SS checks keep comming. I will be working in a sweat shop in a year. Thanks party of NO
OK. You think Fox is news? It's too sad to even be comedy.
@JOE LOMASEVICH
It seems highly unlikely that you will be working in a sweat shop any time soon. Besides, I would gladly accept a job there right now if I could. Take a pill and relax, Republicans taking over is not the end of the world, it is just a stalling of progress.
Wish I was there!
Me too!
It rocked.
There is a group in America today that call themselves ultra-conservatives who advocate low taxes and minimum government intervention but interestingly their every position totally benefits only Special Interests and the very few. They seek, cultivate and support candidates, both Tea Party and regular Republican, who can be charismatic, good looking, outspoken, cute and attention getting, while frequently also extreme, bazaar, crude and even violent and even with questionable histories, without the group ever having any concern for the candidates being really qualified. Their goal is obvious to have a message and candidates they can aggressively sell to the public while capitalizing on the current discontent and problems, yet … they neither address the problems nor ever offer any real solutions and instead only play on emotions with criticisms. The Supreme Court has recently ruled that anyone can pour unlimited funds into the effort and they are really sparing no expense in seeking to control public opinion.
This group was strongly behind Bush-Cheney and their real political identity and intent can be seen there. Bush and Cheney were obvious ‘puppets’ for the group who ‘pulled all of the strings’ and it is clear that is what they seek to reestablish. Everything Bush-Cheney did was irresponsibly and arrogantly always focused on benefit for Special Interests and the few, while the majority was given only apathy, the costs and an abundance of subterfuge to rationalize and manipulate; it cost America greatly and today’s problems can be seen as directly connected. George W Bush’s sociopathic personality can even be seen as the model for the pliable and controllable candidates they seek (when with ego, attention and personal financial desires satisfied they will enthusiastically do as directed). The controlling group represents an influential, powerful and extremely wealthy few who are quite capable of achieving their goals and who greatly benefit from the accomplishment. They use their extensive resources to overtly and covertly support and direct the efforts and they strongly work at conning the people with appeals to biases, prejudices and emotions and with gross dishonesty, all aimed to manipulate public opinion.
In 2008 the people voted to change from the neglect and problems strongly affecting their lives and now, … they are again frustrated with slow progress in turning things around and with a real need to adjust and fine tune the changes already implemented. Much of the problem can be attributed to the Republicans refusing to contribute and instead putting their political ambitions above all else and at any cost to the people. To repeal the changes, as the ultra-conservatives want, would put us right back to ‘more of the same’ that caused the problems and then make us dependent for any real resolution on those who have demonstrated they have no interest in effecting any honest change. The rhetoric is strong but obviously deceptive and to do other than be patient while expressing great concern for needed adjustment and progress would be futile when having to trust those who have clearly shown their loyalty is only to the few. The proof of that can be seen in how the total middle-class has lost substantial ground while only the wealthy have continually gained under their control. What is needed is for the voters to avoid being conned and to reject all of the subterfuge aimed to manipulate and cost them. To firmly reject the Republicans now, Tea Party and regular, would send the needed message to convince them they need to once again be the Grand Ole Party with honest and responsible concern and real representation for the people, for the majority.
That was beautiful.....I wish every right winger could read ( and understand ) what you have written
Ya..right! Like that pipe dream has any better chance of success than their pipe dream of no government, no taxes & no "activist" Judges!
We don't have to try and match them in the stupid department.
I wish everyone right of center was a puppy.....
But Joe I ain't dis'ing you at all, I feel your pain and desire, we're in the same boat.
I have watched this country sell or give away it's industries, jobs, natural resources, blood, Sons & treasure at the hands of "Politicians", a job that used to be filled with Stewards & Statesmen.....now the last thing left for them to rid the country of is our HOPE, and they just can't try to destroy it fast enough.....FOR NOTHING!
It has boiled down to a pissing contest between D's & R's and "We the People" have been relegated to the outside & rendered all but useless as an audience to it.
I can sum up what you just said in a few words. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
RGiles: There were a number of Democrats (so called) who voted with Republicans under Bush on the issues you describe. There are still so-called Democrats who actually vote with the Republicans.
The Democratic Party leadership and the Obama Administration failed to stand firm against Republican obstructionism. Obama and his advisors made big mistakes in what to do with the financial stimulus. We won't even talk about what they have done about constitutional issues. All signs point to a big slap in the face for them come Tuesday.
To the American voter the Republicans are cruel and/or crazy, the Democrats are clueless wimps. The voters who vote will be holding their noses.
This is great fun!!!! People take them selves way to serious... Thank you Stewart and Colbert! Its aout time
Hey Trinidad - At least none of the speakers are weeping and claiming to be a New Prophet sent by God to save us, the way Beck did...
I love it! Humor is the best solution to fear and anger! Thank you Jon and Stephen, you rock!
 A huge snap for Bill-Austin! Wonder what all those anti-regulation pundits would say about their filthy water and samonella eggs...if all those regulations that they decry were removed. Wish we could give them a separate state with their dreams realized. As to the wars...both parties should hang their heads. That's what this rally is about...those of us that can't find a political party that represents us. IT ISN'T HUMOR!.
Or just send them to China where weak regulations haven't interfered with people's right to toxic air, water and food...
The fact of the matter is that most of those LEADING the flock of anti-regulatory sheep have the means to make sure they have plenty of bottled water to drink, air-purifying masks and immigrant servants to taste their food to make certain they themselves don't have to eat anything contaminated.
The poorer sheep that follow them and swallow their cr*p will just die, bleating piteously that they'd been misled.
I am an independent that will vote Democrat this year because I believe we ought to give that party at least as long a time to clean up the mess the other party spent 8 years creating. I, for one, remember that Bush was handed a federal budget SURPLUS, created by a Democratic president, and that most of the debt the Tea Party is screaming about was created under Bush without them making a peep.
For real change in our electoral system, go to www.faircampaignreform.us. The webmaster just notified me that he just added three forum links to the site. Now you can download the two petitions, then go to the forums and keep others informed of your progress in promoting the Popular Amendment movement.
How can anyone denounce anything meant to bring levity, humor, and a sense of goodwill to people thirsty for hope and faith? There is no negative to positive feeling.
Lead with love. Hope and faith will follow.
I loved the "benediction" at the beginning instead of the end of the rally, hehe. Hey God, you still haven't sent a sign of which is the "true" religion. I guess there is none, right?
Well, this is obviously a socialist marxist plot to fool real patriots into thinking before we spake...spook...speek...Oh forget it.
If this is what socialism looks like... I like it a lot more than the Tea Party's anti-socialism.
Cry me a river Rick. Dems had their chance and screwed it up.
Republicans = 8 years;
Democrats = 2 years
But we're supposed to fix things 4x faster than you screwed them up. Nice.
LOVE IT. God Bless America and ALL Americans!!!!!!
Rational
Exchange
Always
Stregthens
Our
Nation
Loved the Formidable Opponent.
the rally is trying to bring people together and the comments on this page shows it still isn't reachable. People need to educate themselves by opening their ears to all sources. Whether it be MSNBC,CNN, FOX, etc.. Take what you hear and come up with your own answers. What I am afraid of is everyone is now going into their own corner, watching their own views and not getting others. Every news org has a slant. Thant is why you need to open your eyes, ears and brain. It has also come to the point where news orgs are attacking each other. O'rielly attacks Ober, Ober attacks Beck, Beck attacks Anderson, where does it stop.
It stops when you reinstitute the fairness doctrine. We shouldn't have to watch six different networks to get both sides of the story. It defeats the purpose of the fourth estate.
Alan Dershowitz wrote in one of his books that if we are to truly support free speech, we would attend a rally given by a group whose ideas we are adamantly opposed to and sit and listen quitely without saying a word. Only when we allow others to say what they want will we truly have freedom of speech, regardless if we agree with what's being said or not. I'm always reminded of this when political bickering ensues during an election year.
Thanks, Jon and Stephen, for bringing some fun to our nation.
Thats easy, free vacation to Somalia for the lot of them