E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
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:
It's all about ratings and personal goals, the (R)'s and FOX news anticipate victory on Tuesday, but if it's going to gridlock progress to create jobs, well, I told you so, "why did you give back the keys in the first place". We need to work together if not it can get very ugly!!!!!!!!!
The pendulum swings back and forth, sometimes faster than we would like, but the scenario spelled out so well by Golfervet, above, harkens back to the turn of the 20th century when unchecked graft and corruption, lack of adequate government regulation, and so forth, eventually brought about the Progressive movement.
Golfervet reminded us what those days before the Progressives looked like. Hopefully, his words will also remind us why we voted Democratic in [2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 and] 2008 and inspire us to turn out this Tuesday and vote Democratic again.
In Physics a Pendulum has both kinetic energy and potential energy. So in my opinon,
Dems= Kinetic.
Tea bags= potential.
Stewart and Colbert, thank God this happened. Now we are able to differentiate who is serious in bringing HONOR back to America.
Obviously none of this crowd are.
Beck didn't use Entertainers at his rally. They were not invited.Neither were signs. The purpose was not to be entertained,but enlightened. This rally was pure entertainment. And you could draw this many young men to a wet tee shirt contest. And take away from it about what most of these young people will from this rally. That they all hate Fox ? Big woop ! Oh ! And if you love the Progressive Agenda ? Move to Detroit. They have had it for 50 Years. Do you really want it Nation wide ?
What we do not want nationwide (but already have) is hypocritical right-wing whiners who have driven the country into the mire. You people are total losers.
Why would "they" hate FOX when it was a Comedy Channel show broadcast on CNN?
I have come to write off the US as a total lost cause... glad to see there still is a smidgeon of sanity left in the country.
Just got back from the rally. It was great to see so many people having a good time, laughing, not putting anybody down. Lots of signs saying " I don't agree with what you say, but I don't think you are Hitler". It was a live and let live day. Not a diverse crowd by race ( mostly Euro-American) but very diverse by age. That was the difference between this rally and the Beck one, we weren't down on any other side.
My hope is by the next big state/national election the middle ground gets equal attention and voice.
This event brings to the fore the comedic substance that Stewart and Colbert hopes to get across - that the 60K crowd is enough to turn the tide.
SO FUNNY AND LAUGHABLE.
I hope all of you that have jobs will be celebrating when you pay more in taxes in 2011. I also hope all the college kids and other young people that do not know who Joe Biden is or who Hillary Clinton will enjoy their life when looking for the elusive job. IT must be nice to be on the receiving end of government benefits and not know or care how or from whom those benefits come. How many were paid to attend?
I have to be a democrat, not because they are perfect but because they foster hope not hate, and because what they say makes sense to me, unlike the fear and hate based rantings that end up being the final argument of every republican I've ever debated with. There is no way around it, we started with a healthy economy, a fiscal surplus, jobs, and no ongoing wars. We now have a devastated economy, no jobs, and multiple wars. NAFTA is bad, but its the Republican fat cats that pushed it to its least desirable limit, stealing our jobs, and shipping them overseas where they can avoid taxes and fair wages, while still living in the USA and avoiding the toxic squalor they are creating elsewhere. On top of that, mega corporations "republicans again" cheat the system by classifying themselves as "small businesses", while republican politicians denounce democratic plans with one mouth while sucking up the available money with the other. I've read all the comments about the rally and the majority make me feel good. The rest are just "business as usual". Count me with the sane, Hooray for Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert (I never miss a show)! Give Beck something real to cry about for once!
w
If any one thinks that it is wise to vote or not vote for someone simply because of his ethnatisity that person is not for the country, but that person is thinking of how this will give him or her something. So when he or she say that people do not want this presdent because of his hearitage , that person is telling everyone that they have no brains . I would say to that person stop looking for someone to blame for your desions and think why you really voted for him in the first place. And stop trying to divide this country with hated. It dose not matter if the color or none color of his or her skin. Just that He or she puts the country he or she is serving first not other countries,JUST THE UNITED STATES.
The bulk of the comments on this posting so far are giving heart to the Right as once again many of you have proven that you and your ilk believe in the evil of each other and that all business people are evil and will always try to shaft you and their workers. The left or "progressives" appears to have no understanding of the value of competition and how by its very nature it has resulted in the development of the very products that have and wil lcontinue to make this country great. Competition forces good products and service and leaves behind in the dust of history those who would do their customers intentional harm. Similar to what has happened to unions that have grown to serve only its leadership and not its membership.
Differences of opinion exist everywhere. Tolerance on the other hand is a virtue for everyone but your perceived opposition. I have yet to find liberals who have even watched Fox or read conservative commentary, yet nearly every Tea Partier I know watched both Fox and one of the network news shows so they can have an understanding of both sides.
The so called Tea Party people are folks who have had it with Federal government only growing and growing and taking and taking while trying to encroach on liberties and freedom. They don't want no taxes, but they want fairness and they and I want to continue to live in a USA that is a republic, not a democracy, with limits placed on what the Federal Government can do not limits on the average persons freedoms.
Great. Anecdotal falsehoods from the right again, just like REAGAN.
You're on the same side that told the country
Ike's Brother was a Commie & that Ike was a dupe for them.
That water treated for tooth decay in children would turn us into Commie Zombies.
That told us The Russians were stronger than WE were.
That said Jack Kennedy would turn the country into a catholic State.
That called LBJ a Liberal.
That ran a career criminal for POTUS all the while denying the fact.
You are to this country what Frank Burns was to M.A.S.H.
sick comic relief.
Just to test your accuracy in understanding just click right now on Foxnews.com and read their report of the rally today. Or would you rather stay in the dark and cry foul?
The 1st thing one understands is that visitors to FOXNEWS are attracted to the Rally story in greater numbers than any other headline on their front page.
The 2nd one understands is that "The Right" was completely absent from the rally just as they are absent from the audience Steward & Colbert appeals to. FOX didn't even bother to send a reporter or intern, they took the word of the Associated Press as truth & pre-published it verbatim. So it isn't really "what FOX has to say", it what FOX says the AP says. FOX took no position & made no effort to interpret it for their readers
Thirdly this appears near the top "
Some of the signs on display mocked Republicans....
"Righties, don't stomp on my head," said one sign in a reference to a Republican rally in Kentucky at which a liberal activist was pulled to the ground and stepped on.
"I wouldn't care if the president was Muslim," said another.
Other signs were decidedly less political.
"I hate signs," read one sign. "Have you seen my keys?" said another."
No one expected any "RIGHTIES" at this rally, so the 1st sign
was directed at those whose auto-response is violence.
The 2nd sign mentioned is not political in any way..it's RELIGIOUS in basis
& it shows a type of openness to difference & opposing perspectives that is absent from any other previous rally in the past year in DC.
Fourth- FOX, in lock-step with the MSM did not do as they ALL have done for every other rally in DC this year, they did NOT lead or even hedge a guess at the NUMBERS of attendees...the absence of that fact shows the courage of the MSM!
And lastly..
I understand that this rally was to be a focal point for those who watch the 2 commentator/comedians, a time & place for like minded individuals to congregate in peace & like mindedness...to ENJOY themselves and see their favorite compatriots...not leaders.
It was about as non political as any gathering of partisans can possibly behave.
What did you understand?
Golfervet's comment #6.8 Sat Oct 30, 2010 is absolutely spot on.... Definitely a good read.
And - Thanks, Jon and Stephen....fun to watch and so sorry I had to cancel my flight and hotel reservations - I was there in spirit while I watched - even had a tear when Tony Bennett say American The Beautiful...
Oops - meant 'sing' not 'say' America The Beautiful....
Fake news isn't going anywhere its Halloween weekend people have fun Vote Dem on Tues, Rock On, and Scare Red Necks.
I know just mention the word "Liberal" scares Red necks..careful.
IF the elitist Wm. F. Buckley hadn't told them that LIBERAL was a bad word,
they'd still just believe it was the name of a town in Kansas.
They always look for LEADERS because they NEED to be led.
It's what defines them....they always want a Daddy.
It's easier that way, they don't have to think or be responsible
even/especially when Daddy is wrong.
I really enjoyed the Rally on Comedy Central; many many thanks to Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert for putting on a great show and showing this wonderful country that reason and respect (mixed with a healthy dose humor and song) can be truly uniting.
For my fellow Americans of a conservative nature; I see nothing wrong with discussing issues of taxes, the size of government, the role of our Military, our economic issues, immigration, the environment, etc., et al.
This country would not exist without compromise...our collective goal should be to find that middle ground of give and take...it is unrealistic and untenable to get 100% of what we want.
And maybe, as so aptly (and superbly) presented by most of the comments already listed, we can stop the name calling and vilifying of each other, and get to the business of getting Washington (and such as my home state of California) to work better.
We need to demand better from our representatives, and ourselves. It's time to get more involved with our government institutions than to ignore it.
To my fellow Americans that decline to state a party preference, or that belong to parties other than the Democrats or Republicans; my suggestion is pick one or the other that most closely matches a majority of your ideals, and effect change from within that organization (in other words become a Republican or Democrat! at least on a national level).
Our defacto 2 party system, while it has its faults, does give the United States the most stable form of government (of its size and population) on Earth. This was no better evidenced than during the height of the recession when the world was on the brink of final collapse, that the US dollar strengthened verses all other major currencies. A testament to the world's belief and trust in our great Republic (even with our large deficit)!
Best wishes my fellow Americans...if you are of a mind to, please vote.
Regards.
Loved the ralley.... especially the speech in the end...
But what was up with the poka dot pants Colbert wore.... LMAO =}
I was at the rally, and I must say it was an awesome experience. A lot of fun with an important message. For me the message was to simply turn off the t.v. when what is on it is clearly ridiculous. things like "There's something in your home that could kill you," or "(Insert your least favorite political leader/pundit here) is the devil/anti-christ/Hitler." The point was that it is all B.S. Republican/Democrat/Tea Party, whatever you like.
Personally, I'm a young dem (25) and there was def a liberal air to the rally. Also it was amazing for me to see such a large crowd of considerate people. Usually when I go to a large gathering, like a concert or sporting event, you can usually point out or least want to avoid a couple of douchebags. There I couldn't find one, everyone was amiable and nice, it was simply a refreshing atmosphere. I suggest that everyone find a transcript of John's closing speech. It is a message that everyone, rep or dem, should be able to get behind because it was not directed towards any one group.
As far as the upcoming election, I personally feel that it is slightly ridiculous to assume that the dems have failed in the past two years. I am of the sentiment that it takes longer two years to see the true outcome of anything in American politics. Our government was established to intentionally move slightly slower then the public sentiment. Finally, if I had to pick out the single biggest problem it would be the contemporary use of the filibuster. Dem's used it against Bush and rep's use it against Obama and the rep's used it against Clinton. The fact that neither party will do anything about it when they are in power is, for me, horrible. Both parties now bank on their ability to use it when they lose power. I would love to see either side step up to the plate and get rid of it. Force people to use it in the "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" style. That's the way it was intended to be used. Republican or Democrat, it shouldn't take a 60% vote to pass something.
Maybe I'm an idealist and thats why I lean more democrat, who knows. I do know that before I vote I don't take anything I see on t.v. literally. I personally prefer getting a list of the people I'll be voting on and getting on this wonderful tool called the internet (thanks Al Gore...... Joke intended) and reading up as much as I can about them. Trying my best to disseminate away from clearly biased opinions. I'm not afraid to vote republican, its just that their views usually differ from my own. And heck, I could almost argue that there are no true parties. They both are parties of big business. I would love to see (in my fictitious idealistic fantasy) hardcore campaign finance reform, a set dollar amount the smaller the better, that candidates are allowed to use. Less fund-raising, less campaigning, and more governing.
I enjoyed writing this ramble, and will enjoy the dissection it hopefully gets.... And I'll close by saying, I'm correct and anyone who disagrees with me is a terrorist! LOL! Props to John Stewart and Colbert for the rally! Again everyone, read Stewart's closing statement.
Also, it kills me to see blatant miss-spellings on these posts. Don't people see the little red squiggly line underneath the word? Hint: if you right click on the squiggled word "sky-net" will give you the correct spelling. Thanks Sky-net!
Not everyone activates the spellcheck function.
As to the filibuster. The problem is the FAKE filibuster. The media almost never acknowledges the difference between the two. Even when Jon Stewart was interviewing Obama he let him conflate the two. The Senate Majority Leader doesn't have to allow the fake filibuster to be employed! Now how weird is that? He can make them stand and truly filibuster or sit down and vote, but he's only threatened to do that once. Once! WTF?
300 bills passed the house and Senator Reid let the minority FAKE FILIBUSTER them into oblivion!?!?! They are playing us for fools and working some kind of con game on us.
I'm with you. Its not that Stewart let the Pres off, the problem is that it has become the norm in the way business is conducted over the past 15 plus years. Since its the norm its a non-issue to all the pundits. I pray for the day someone, anyone, any party grows a set and stops it.
The real question is: Will they vote for the Dems?
Fox News’ slant on Comedy Central’s Sanity/Fear rally raises questions about what is fair and balanced. But is the joke on us for even asking the question?
Spoiler Alert: Fox News Isn’t “Fair and Balanced”
http://www.medianewsandviews.com/2010/11/foxnews_sanityrally/