Rally to Restore Sanity draws 250,000 to The Mall in Washington

[People Korps]

http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/POLITICS/10/30/stewart.colbert.rally/t1larg.stewart.colbert3.cnn.jpg

The Rally to Restore Sanity has been a great success (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/30/AR2010103001573.html?hpid=topnews), just saw the end of it on CNN (http://edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/10/30/stewart.colbert.rally/index.html?hpt=T2),according to one report the rally permit was for 25,000 but 250,000 attended (http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101029/colbert-stewart-101030/20101030/?hub=CalgaryHome). The Tea Baggers will not get it all their own way in the US of A.



Hundreds of thousands of people gathered at the National Mall in Washington D.C. under sunny skies Saturday for a rally jointly organized by political comedians Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

Colbert's "March to Keep Fear Alive" and Stewart's "Rally to Restore Sanity" duelled it out, or joined forces, depending on how you look at it.

After R&B group The Roots and singer John Legend, and the duo from Mythbusters, warmed up the crowd, Stewart and Colbert came out to push their messages of fear and sanity.

After Colbert emerged from his "Fear Bunker" in a narrow capsule like a rescued Chilean miner (Colbert briefly ran around the stage waving the Chilean flag, chanting "Chi-chi-chi, le-le-le"), the two brought out guests to get their messages across.

One of the biggest early surprises was when Stewart introduced Yusuf, formerly known as Cat Stevens, to sing his hit "Peace Train." Not long into his acoustic performance, Colbert brought Ozzy Osbourne to the stage to sing "Crazy Train." After the two artists battled back and forth, the comedians compromised with the O'Jays, who sang "Love Train."

The TV hosts and former colleagues on The Daily Show -- who have long played up their political enmity -- jointly applied for a permit for a rally for 25,000 people, but the crowd swelled to an estimated 250,000.

http://assets.longislandpress.com/photos/photos/582/preview/rally2.jpg

[Munnkeyman]

Excellent.:D:D
I wouldn't have expected that number to show up.
I wonder if many flounced former Tea Nutbaggers turned up.

[People Korps]

the message is to question. The Tea Baggers dont ask questions they repeat spoon fed sound bites about socialism and Islam.
They are a bit like the crowd from Invasion of the Body Snatchers

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qG2-5JvZBCw/SwxdZMCIfaI/AAAAAAAAAGs/DWFd09aXhwE/s1600/1bodysnatchers.jpg

[Slim Buddha]

Good to see that the pulse of intelligence still beats in the USA. The impression I got recently is that the nation went totally hysterical and normal politics was suspended to allow Fox News promote nutjobs for public office. The nutters are still out there but if quarter of a million rally to restore sanity, sanity might just win.

[Justin Casey]

Stewart and Colbert were on top form. The signs made the rally complete:

“Librarians for informed reasoning”

“Speak Softly And Carry a Bibliography of Statistics”

‘If Obama’s a Muslim, can we have Fridays off?”

“Superlatives are the WORST!”

“Seniors for pot”

“Retired CIA Analyst for a Sensible Drug Policy”

“god hates signs”

“All generalizations are false”

“Live Free or Sigh”

“It could be worse but let’s not make it that way”

“Death to Nobody”

“I Came Here Illegally. I Went 5 mph Over the Speed Limit On I-95”

[People Korps]

No way the Tea Baggers will be led to their goal. Or should I say their financiers' goals.

[Justin Casey]

Jon Stewart: "These are hard times, not End Times." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PJ5hijen4A)

[People Korps]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PJ5hijen4A

Hope that embeds

[People Korps]

"If we amplify everything we hear nothing"Jon Stewart final transcript from Rally to Restore Sanity

Final speech from Jon Stewart from the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or fear. I’m going to sound like Fox when I say: I will report, you will decide. No unfair opinions here.

So. Here we are.

We had some really incredible music performances here today. I hope you enjoyed them. We’ve had what some would classify as comedy as well. But now I thought we might have a moment, however brief, for some sincerity; if that’s ok, I know there are boundaries for a comedian pundit talker guy, and I’m sure I’ll find out tomorrow how I have violated them.

I’m really happy you guys are here. Even if none of us are really quite sure why we are here. Some of you may have seen today as an clarion call for action. Or some of the hipper more ironic cats as a “clarion call for action.” Clearly some of you wanted to see the Air and Space Museum and got royally screwed. And I’m sure a lot of you are just here to have a nice time, and I hope you did.

I know many of you made a great deal of effort to be here today, and I want you to know that everyone involved with this project worked incredibly hard to make sure the we honored the effort that you put in, and gave you the best show that we could possibly do. We know your time’s valuable, and we didn’t want to waste it. And we are all extremely honored to have had a chance to perform on this beautiful space, on the mall in Washington D.C.

So uhhh, what exactly was this?

I can’t control what people think this was. I can only tell you my intentions.

This was not a Rally to ridicule people of faith, or people of activism, or to look down our noses at the heartland, or passionate argument; or to suggest that times are not difficult, and that we have nothing to fear-they are and we do! But we live now in hard times, not end times. And we can have animus and not be enemies. But unfortunately, one our main tools in delineating the two…broke.

The country’s 24-hour politico pundit perpetual panic conflictinator did not cause our problems; but its existence makes solving them that much harder. The press can hold its magnifying glass up to our problems, bringing them into focus, illuminating issues here to for unseen. Or they can use that magnifying glass to light ants on fire, and then, perhaps, host a week of shows on the sudden unexpected dangerous flaming ant epidemic. If we amplify everything, we hear nothing.

There are terrorists, and racists, and Stalinists, and theocrats-but those are titles that must be earned; you must have the resume. Not being able to distinguish between real racists, and tea partiers; or real bigots and Juan Williams or Rick Sanchez is an insult! Not only to those people, but to the racists themselves who have put in the exhausting effort it takes to hate. Just as the inability to distinguish terrorists from Muslims makes us less safe, not more.

The press is our immune system, if it overreacts to everything, we actually get sicker, and perhaps eczema.

And yet with that being said, I feel good; strangely calmly good. Because the image of Americans that is reflected back to us by our political and media process is false. It is us through a fun house mirror. And not the good kind that makes you look slim in the waist and maybe taller. But the kind where you have a giant forehead, and an ass shaped like a month old pumpkin, and one eye ball.

So why would we work together. Why would you reach across the aisle to a pumpkin-assed forehead eyeball monster? If the picture of us were true, of course our inability to solve problems would actually be quite sane and reasonable. Why would you work with Marxists actively subverting our Constitution? Or racists and homophobes who see no one else’s humanity but their own?

We hear every damn day about how fragile our country is, on the brink of catastrophe, torn by polarizing hate, and how its a shame how we can’t work together to get things done.

But the truth is, we do. We work together to get things done every damn day! The only place we don’t is here [the capital building], or on cable TV. But Americans don’t live here [the capital building] or on cable TV. Where we live our values and principles form the foundation that sustains us while we get things done. Not the barriers that prevent us from getting things done. Most Americans don’t live their lives solely as democrats, republicans, liberals, or conservatives. Americans live their lives more as people that are just a little bit late for something they have to do. Often something they do not want to do, but they do it. Impossible things everyday that are only made possible through the little reasonable compromises we all make.

Look on the screen, this is where we are, this is who we are, these cars. That’s a school teacher that probably thinks his taxes are too high, he’s going to work. There’s another car, a woman with two small kids, really can’t think about anything else right now. There’s another car, swinging, I don’t even know if you can see it. The lady’s in the NRA and loves Oprah. There’s another car, an investment banker, gay, also likes Oprah. Another car is a Latino carpenter, another car, a fundamentalist vacuum salesman, atheist obstretician, Mormon JZ fan. But this is us! Every one of the cars that you see is filled with individuals of strong belief and principles they hold dear. Often principles and beliefs in direct opposition to their fellow travelers. And yet these millions of cars somehow find a way to squeeze one-by-one into a mile-long, 30-foot wide tunnel carved underneath a mighty river. Carved by people, by the way, who I’m sure had their differences.

And they do it. Concession by concession; you go, then I’ll go, you go, then I’ll go, you go, then I’ll go. Oh my god! Is that an NRA sticker on your car!? Is that an Obama sticker on your car!? Ah-well, that’s okay, you go, then I’ll go. And sure, at some point there will be a selfish jerk who zips up the shoulder and cuts in at the last minute, but that individual is rare, and he is scorned, and not hired as an analyst. Because we know, instinctively as a people, that if we are to get through the darkness, and back into the light, we have to work together. And the truth is, there will always be darkness, and sometimes the light at the end of a tunnel isn’t the promise land; sometimes its just New Jersey. But we do it anyway-together.

If you want to know why I’m here, and what I want from you, I can only assure you this. You have already given it to me; your presence was what I wanted. Sanity will always be, and has always been, in the eye of the beholder. And to see you here today, and the kind of people that you are, has restored mine.

Thank you!

-Jon Stewart 10/30/2010 at The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear.

[Spectabilis]

A friend of mine attended today - from New Jersey. (I am expecting lots of good photos soon.)
So I love this line from Stewart's speech 'And the truth is, there will always be darkness, and sometimes the light at the end of a tunnel isn’t the promised land; sometimes its just New Jersey.' Great

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

Excellent speech

[Andrew49]

Very heartening news.

[People Korps]

A friend of mine attended today - from New Jersey. (I am expecting lots of good photos soon.)
So I love this line from Stewart's speech 'And the truth is, there will always be darkness, and sometimes the light at the end of a tunnel isn’t the promised land; sometimes its just New Jersey.' Great

Why do comedians albeit politically minded ones have more resonance than political leaders? The artists must move to the fore I feel. Politicians are too scared as every word they say is dissected and oft turned to a three word phase without context. Is media becoming the death of both language and politics. Stewart warned of Fox style news but not by name.

[Assam]

Cheers, PK, for the updates on this today / this eve, much appreciated.

[People Korps]

Thanks Assam, It is important to know that humour and decency are possible as opposed to hate and vitriol.

Whatever the political deficit or the economic collapse, it is important that human society moves towards integration and peace. People in society must engage in civil activities.
Society is built on the work of citizens, government forgets that too often. Elections without civil action are proven meaningless.

[C. Flower]

A friend of mine attended today - from New Jersey. (I am expecting lots of good photos soon.)
So I love this line from Stewart's speech 'And the truth is, there will always be darkness, and sometimes the light at the end of a tunnel isn’t the promised land; sometimes its just New Jersey.' Great

More comedy needed in politics ?

Intentional comedy, I mean...

[Lapsedmethodist]

WTF ????? Why is this " great news " etc ? Great news would be if all the loonies got elected and I could spend the winter months laughing at them.

I want to see one of those Jebus -walked - with- dinosaurs made head of Education! N.I. on a global scale.:D

[People Korps]

Because non political people are waking up to the insanity of doing nothing in the face of corporate funded dangerous movements like The Tae Baggers (http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayer). Though most American politicians receive corporate funding some way, a party funded by private individuals, a la the private politics of the recently demised and ultra far right Libertas in Ireland is not the way most people want to go.
No one trusts corporations, indeed they trust them a lot less than politicians and correctly so.
One example of the newly politicised class is Deana Schupp She is a cable company worker from Florida and as she stared out over the huge crowd on Washington DC's National Mall and she had a sudden but welcome realisation.
"When I see this crowd, I feel I am not alone. We are here for sanity and there are a lot of us," she said. It was her first protest march. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/oct/31/rally-restore-sanity-jon-stewart-washington

If America wants to show the world that xenophobic myopic idiots funded by billionaires who are intent on enslavement and destruction of the planet will not be a single voice then this rally is a good start and may there be more. America needs to become a beacon of light again not one of war, torture hate, destruction and as the catalyst of the worlds economic depression it needs to step up to the plate and show a way out.

[People Korps]

The Guardian puts crowd at easily a quarter of a million people. This is definitely two fingers to Fox News and Beck's Christotaliban rally.


The crowd was enormous – easily a quarter of a million people. As the masses listened to music and comedy routines broadcast from the tiny distant stage over giant screens all the way down the Mall, it was an impressive display of the power of comedy and celebrity. Whether it was a display of the power of American liberalism was much harder to say. Many observers saw the rally as a response to Fox News pundit Glenn Beck's recent "Restoring Honour" rally, which occupied the same space several months ago. That event, which attracted between 250,000 and 500,000 people, was seen as symbolising the rising power of conservatism.

"Hello! And are you ready to restore sanity?" Stewart asked the crowd when he appeared. He and Colbert then kept the crowd laughing and cheering with a double act that played off their themes of mocking and bickering with each other, while simultaneously making their point about a gentler style of politics. "I'd like to have a more traditional beginning to a rally," Stewart said, to which Colbert replied: "Oooh, a book burning!"

Their stage act was in many ways a continuation of their TV routines, heavy on wit and poking fun at sacred cows. One of the funniest moments came with the introduction of singer and Muslim convert Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens. Islam began to sing "Peace Train", only to be interrupted by Colbert, who said ,"I am not getting on that train", before bringing on heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne to sing his 1980s hit, "Crazy Train". The O'Jays later sang "Love Train".

Stewart has played down any political intent behind the Restoring Sanity rally. "I wanted to come here as a sort of plea for a more commonsense politics," said Jake Edmonds, a 23-year-old student who had made a 14-hour car trip from northern Michigan. His driving partner, fellow student Nick Budes, agreed. "The number of people here is a physical representation of what a lot of people think: that everyone needs to take it down a notch," he said, referring to what many see as the overheated nature of American politics and the media outlets that cover them.

That chimed with Schupp and her fellow Floridian, Mike Puma, who works for the same cable company. "Not everyone is crazy. Obama may not be the best president or the worst, but I am pretty sure he was born here. I am pretty sure he is not like Hitler. We are the majority of people who don't actually believe this stuff," Puma said.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/oct/31/rally-restore-sanity-jon-stewart-washington

[youngdan]

Are ye saying the the democrats are going to win massive number of new seats next Tuesday.

Anyone like to have a wager:D:D

http://americansfortruth.com/uploads/2009/09/tea-party-rally_huge_wash-dc.bmp


nice crowd

[People Korps]

An Ithaca College media professor Jeff Cohen, said
"It is a sad commentary that the two most important news shows are on the Comedy Channel," said Cohen. "In their comedic format they are doing what journalists should be doing."

It was the paucity of real journalism tackling Ireland and Europe's attempt at tea bagging by Declan Ganley's Libertas in the last few years that led me to these forums and to blogging in order to expose the things journalists failed or feared to.

Having destroyed that party I am qualified to say that the people do indeed have the power if they wish to exercise it.

[People Korps]

Are ye saying the the democrats are going to win massive number of new seats next Tuesday.

Anyone like to have a wager:D:D
http://americansfortruth.com/uploads/2009/09/tea-party-rally_huge_wash-dc.bmp


nice crowd

that is your hillbilly crowd for the tea baggers
re Tuesday , tea baggers may get a big surprise. It is criminal that so much is being wasted by billionaires to push their agendas when people are starving and the world in economic collapse. It is the super rich who benefit from the economic enslavement of mortgage holders etc.
.

[youngdan]

It is the super rich who benefit from the economic enslavement of mortgage holders, and indeed workers.
.

Correct.

If Obama, signs a law ******** the mortage holders and siding with the banks within 10 days of the election will you become a teabagger

[People Korps]

I dont have a mortgage and realised only this week I owe institutions less the 2K.

I like this blog report sounds like a joyous happy event

Peace Trains, Crazy Trains, Love Trains and automobiles at Stewart rally

It was all about the trains.

The highlight of the Rally To Restore Sanity And/Or Fear, headlined by the comedic duo of Stephen Colbert's bloviating, bombastic pundit and Jon Stewart, America's straight man, was a clash that occurred towards the middle of the afternoon, between two trains. There was a surprise showdown between The Artist Formerly Known as Cat Stevens and The Shambling, Addled-Looking Man Formerly Known as Ozzy Osborne, singing the two songs about trains that made them famous. "Get on the peace train," Yusuf Islam sang, before he was interrupted by Ozzy Osborne, "going off the rails on a crazy train."
Each song epitomized what the two "rallies" were about -- Stewart's peaceable, go-along, get-along, "I-Disagree-With-You-But-I'm-Pretty-Sure-You're-Not-Hitler" ethos versus the high-octane bombast that fuels Colbert's pundit persona. For both of them, the crowd went wild -- swaying back and forth and making peace signs for "Peace Train," and throwing up horns in the air during "Crazy Train." Each song generated wild enthusiasm. But neither was adequate for the whole crowd.

Finally, Colbert and Stewart backed down and compromised -- Love Train. The O-Jays poured onto the stage and the crowd cheered -- wildly, perhaps without the same intensity they'd generated for the Prince of Darkness, but with deep and mutual contentment. Everyone joined in and started a love train.

They could have ended the rally right there.

The rest of it was all right. It ran the gamut -- a pre-taped skit about merchandise, apologies from famous over-reactors like Steven Slater and someone named Theresa Giudice ("I'm proud I don't know who that is," someone near me observed), awards for people who had embodied sanity (robbed perfect-game pitcher Armando Gallaraga) or fear-mongering (Anderson Cooper's tight black t-shirt, mainstream media outlets who had refused to allow staff members to attend). A highlight was when the Koran-snatching skater behind Dude, You Have No Koran received a sanity-promotion medal and flung it into the audience. Colbert and Stewart sang a humorous (and grammatical!) duet extolling their virtues as Americans, Stewart attempting to lampoon the elitist coastal liberals with jokes about his hybrid car and gay marriage ("I'd marry Uncle Sam if I could do it legally") and Colbert singing about the "shores of Kentucky." http://voices.washingtonpost.com/compost/2010/10/peace_trains_crazy_trains_love.html

[People Korps]

images by attendees at the rally from the official Rally to Restore Sanity website

http://www.rallytorestoresanity.com/photos/ (http://www.rallytorestoresanity.com/photos/)

[youngdan]

http://www.rallytorestoresanity.com/photos/

There are way more than 250000 there

[youngdan]

http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/12640/slide_12640_169232_large.jpg?1288489370109

Look at these 2 intellectuals

[youngdan]

http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/12640/slide_12640_169290_large.jpg?1288489592625

I thought he was dead years ago

http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/12640/slide_12640_169289_large.jpg?1288489692484



http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2010/10/30/rally_512_106369061.jpg

This person is not happy that a clown is president

[People Korps]

http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/12640/slide_12640_169232_large.jpg?1288489370109

Look at these 2 intellectuals

Ozzy singing Paranoid with Black Sabbath is quintessential

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZyVZFJGX5g

and Wild World by Cat Stevens aka Yusef Islam .well

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHXpnZi9Hzs

[People Korps]

This person is not happy that a clown is president
dont be bitter that your tea baggers were bested by sanity.

[youngdan]

I see nobody wants to have a friendly wager on the election next Tuesday though

[People Korps]

We will see on Tuesday , I am not a betting man, i predict tea bags will not do as well as they think they will. the Rally Restore Sanity will no doubt help in that

[youngdan]

http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2010/10/30/Rally_512_AP101030119735.jpg



Do you notice anything significant about this political rally

[Spectabilis]

No, I give in. Tell me.

[concernedparent]

I cant see Forrest Gump present.:D

[antiestablishmentarian]

http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/12640/slide_12640_169232_large.jpg?1288489370109

Look at these 2 intellectuals

As opposed to the intellectual heavyweights involved with the Tea Party movement

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Evfz4blB3mY/TI1URweGFII/AAAAAAAAAMQ/Q_bLTrdZ7tk/s1600/sarah-palin-glenn-beck.jpg

[People Korps]

http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2010/10/30/Rally_512_AP101030119735.jpg



Do you notice anything significant about this political rally

No ?

[Justin Casey]

Faux News - retaining insanity (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qGeYyabPvI)

[C. Flower]

No ?

I thought it was the papal visit, Phoenix Park, but it's sunny.

[youngdan]

There are about 125 people at the rally who have any interest inpolitics at all.

Here is a clue.

Hallaween in the city on a Sataurday night.

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

Damn that Obama. He's arranged to have daylight on a Halloween night. Goddamn commie-muslim-hawaiian infiltrator.

Sheeeeiiiitt.

[Sam Lord]

I see nobody wants to have a friendly wager on the election next Tuesday though

I happy to bet that things will be worse off for the ordinary American ... irrespective of which lot wins.

[Sam Lord]

http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2010/10/30/Rally_512_AP101030119735.jpg



Do you notice anything significant about this political rally

Unlike tea party rallies there are black people at it?

[People Korps]

Unlike tea party rallies there are black people at it?

Good point Sam. FYI Dan Fox News says that the rally WAS political do you think they could be wrong about that?

[C. Flower]

Some nice photos here - :)

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/gallery/2010/10/reader-photos-from-the-rally-to-restore-sanity-andor-fear.php?img=5

[youngdan]

http://s-ak.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/terminal01/2010/10/30/16/enhanced-buzz-3121-1288472078-6.jpg



http://s-ak.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/terminal01/2010/10/30/17/enhanced-buzz-3272-1288473742-6.jpg


It is just like the middle of Harlem


http://s-ak.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/terminal01/2010/10/30/16/enhanced-buzz-3121-1288472078-6.jpg


What a crowd of White Trash

[youngdan]

http://s-ak.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/terminal01/2010/10/30/17/enhanced-buzz-3287-1288473435-17.jpg

White Trash

http://s-ak.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/terminal01/2010/10

White Trash


http://s-ak.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/terminal01/2010/10/30/18/enhanced-buzz-3286-1288476182-13.jpg

White Trash

[youngdan]

http://s-ak.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/terminal01/2010/10/30/18/enhanced-buzz-3285-1288476151-14.jpg

White Trash

[Kev Bar]

Youngdan....post the harrows of World War, the zeitgeist had a new kid in town, one that the cliche wld lead you to believe the yanks dont understand: irony.

The cliche is wrong. But you are helping prove it right.

If you really want to see white trash in all its bitter prejudiced ugliness, well the tea-baggers has given tragic trash scum a chance to step in the lime light.


Now for a little bit of 'white trash' wit
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-100-best-signs-at-the-rally-to-restore-sanity


"If your beliefs fit on a sign, think harder!" - what you think youngdan?
White trash with erudite attitude.

[youngdan]

http://s-ak.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/terminal01/2010/10/30/16/enhanced-buzz-3243-1288470744-3.jpg


I was walking through Harvard yesterday. I did not see too many like this guy.

Can't get any dumber "then" that

[Kev Bar]

http://s-ak.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/terminal01/2010/10/30/16/enhanced-buzz-3243-1288470744-3.jpg


I was walking through Harvard yesterday. I did not see too many like this guy.

Can't get any dumber "then" that

As the poster in my above post suggests middleagedan, think it's time you thought harder.

I used to think you were an outre kind of guy, now i think you're odious.

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

Harvard? Goddamn commie HQ. Isn't that where that commie Obama was President of the Harvard Review?

[youngdan]

I did not see too many blacks either now that you mention it. Maybe they take in a few "tokens", as sam calls blacks

[Kev Bar]

I did not see too many blacks either now that you mention it. Maybe they take in a few "tokens", as same calls blacks

You can't argue with the moderate muslims thohttp://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-100-best-signs-at-the-rally-to-restore-sanity

[youngdan]

http://www.willowtown.com/promo/lenin_rally.jpg

[youngdan]

You can't argue with the moderate muslims thohttp://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-100-best-signs-at-the-rally-to-restore-sanity


I hear ya Kev

http://frontpagemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Islamophobia-rally.jpg

[Kev Bar]

I hear ya Kev

http://frontpagemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Islamophobia-rally.jpg

No Dan you did not hear me there. You misheard me.

And surely as you ride your beast of a car through the New England countryside with a gold price hard on you too thing: "Liberalism Go to Hell."

The funny thing is that the Tea-Baggers would be so at home chez Taliban....especially now that Cactus has seen the proof of the bright shining future Kabul had in store before Jimmy....don't blame me it's not my thesis...Carter destroyed it.


Jesus, Allah and Buddha wept hard.

[Slim Buddha]

If any of you saw the Andrew Marr Show on BBC1 this morning, you would have witnessed the unusual sight of Alice Cooper sitting on the sofa reviewing the Sunday papers. Alice gave his take on the upcoming elections (he is a registered Republican) and revealed that he had a friendship with Groucho Marx. Marx, he said, was a confidante of several Presidents, who called him up to talk about people Marx would know who would also have business in the White House. Marx's advice, revealed Cooper, was highly valued because Marx was among the best around at "reading" people.

It was somewhat bemusing to hear that the United States had Marxist-influenced governments for so long.

[youngdan]

This is the home of the Puritans Kev. They made the Taliban look like tourists to Provencetown. They hung poor Mary Dyer

http://www.google.com/images?q=tbn:V_3B-3Ci3CE7hM::people.ucalgary.ca/~mamaes/Mary_Dyer.gif&t=1&h=78&w=67&usg=__Znj9WyI9V5dx9kBqhvsBqUai9i4=

and plenty more.



There are 2 groups of teabaggers. The origonal Paulites and the manufactured Palinites.

The Palinites are the same old same old.

We will see how many of both sides get elected Tuesday.

The presidential race begins Wednesday.

[People Korps]

I did not see too many blacks either now that you mention it. Maybe they take in a few "tokens", as sam calls blacks

It is in South Park that the black kid's name is Token , Dan
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__-Ky4UmDAUE/SWz-KtXDk1I/AAAAAAAABGw/6IKL6AFSNDw/s320/token.jpg

[Kev Bar]

This is the home of the Puritans Kev. They made the Taliban look like tourists to Provencetown. They hung poor Mary Dyer

http://www.google.com/images?q=tbn:V_3B-3Ci3CE7hM::people.ucalgary.ca/~mamaes/Mary_Dyer.gif&t=1&h=78&w=67&usg=__Znj9WyI9V5dx9kBqhvsBqUai9i4=

and plenty more.



There are 2 groups of teabaggers. The origonal Paulites and the manufactured Palinites.

The Palinites are the same old same old.

We will see how many of both sides get elected Tuesday.

Original Paulites???Well since Pa and Son bit the apple...they've become Palinites.

The presidential race begins Wednesday.

If the outcome doesn't please me, I'll hold you responsible.

[youngdan]

It is in South Park that the black kid's name is Token , Dan
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__-Ky4UmDAUE/SWz-KtXDk1I/AAAAAAAABGw/6IKL6AFSNDw/s320/token.jpg

I don't watch that show.

Lord Sam, here on this site calls blacks "tokens"

I had never ever heard of the nast rasist term

(note how Sam does not get banned for racism)


Here is a good letter from a black student to the Harvard Newspaper, The Harvard Crimsom


http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2007/2/23/being-the-token-being-the-token/


The black writer points out how Obama is "A Token"

[C. Flower]

I don't watch that show.

Lord Sam, here on this site calls blacks "tokens"

I had never ever heard of the nast rasist term

(note how Sam does not get banned for racism)


Here is a good letter from a black student to the Harvard Newspaper, The Harvard Crimsom


http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2007/2/23/being-the-token-being-the-token/


The black writer points out how Obama is "A Token"

So you want more black politicians ?

[People Korps]

So you want more black politicians ?

I like these guys with doing the Panther salute at the 1968 Olympics http://dalnews.dal.ca/2008/07/30/tommiesmith.jpg

[youngdan]

I am hoping as many as possible of the ones I linked up to and the rest of the circa 40 get elected next Tuesday.

There will be teabaggers celebrating all the country if these Patriots get elected.

I will have you know that it was a black man called Peter Salem who shot Pitcairn at Breeds(bunker) Hill

[Kev Bar]

I don't watch that show.

Lord Sam, here on this site calls blacks "tokens"

I had never ever heard of the nast rasist term

(note how Sam does not get banned for racism)"


Well Dan, some are born but a few are chosen.

[youngdan]

I am very distressed by some racist postings on this site. Captain Con refered to them as "Uncle Toms"(House Negros)

[Sam Lord]

Lord Sam, here on this site calls blacks "tokens"

I had never ever heard of the nast rasist term

(note how Sam does not get banned for racism)



Either your grip of the English language is tenuous or you are deliberately distorting things to suit your purposes.

I did not refer to black people as "tokens".

I referred to a handful of Black Republican candidates who, it will appears, will do anything to get their nose into the pork barrel ... even appearing at tea party events at this stage in the hope of picking up a few votes. It only goes to show that bourgeois politicians are all the same ... irrespective of skin colour.

To describe them as tokens is not racist and that is indeed what they are to the teabaggers. Many black people would refer to them as "Oreos" and that is more harsh ... but not racist either.

[Sam Lord]

I am very distressed by some racist postings on this site. Captain Con refered to them as "Uncle Toms"(House Negros)

It is a political term used more by black people to describe other black people than by anyone else.

[youngdan]

Oh spot digging, you should ban yourself for using terms that would get you killed if you called them to the face of a black man

Shame on you, you oreo hater

[Sam Lord]

Oh spot digging, you should ban yourself for using terms that would get you killed if you called them to the face of a black man

Shame on you, you oreo hater

I'm sure that a substantial majority of the Black population of the USA would agree that these politicians are uncle toms and oreos .... so I would not be reluctant to use the terms anywhere. Far from being killed I would probably have drinks bought for me ......:)

[youngdan]

Give it a go, see how it works out

[Indiana Jones]

the message is to question. The Tea Baggers dont ask questions they repeat spoon fed sound bites about socialism and Islam.
They are a bit like the crowd from Invasion of the Body Snatchers

[IMAGE OMMITTED]

It is so sad to see that so many in Europe are spoon fed their opinions about people who civilly and peacefully have taken to the streets to show their displeasure with recent government policies and actions durig the past 18 months. On the other hand, the people who showed up in the name of restoring sanity don't seem to have much to offer other than the usual we see from the left in America, ridicule of anything they see as being different from their sanctioned list of non-politically correct ideas; that's almost exclusively the intent of their banners.

There is a difference, but not the difference being opined here, which shows a grave misunderstanding. The Tea Party movement arises from a healthy reservation against and skepticism towards government. It is not coercive, it is peaceful and quiet, it does not use violence to further its aims - although violence has been used against its members while gathered in public, and it has been broadly demonized - and it is a grass-roots movement which epitomizes the best aspects of American liberty.

It is made up of citizens from all three of the largest parties, Republican, Democrat, and Libertarian, and for the most part is leaderless, eschewing leadership because of an innate American fear of being usurped by a charismatic individual who would take it in the wrong direction; as you said "to manipulate people who are disappointed."

Speaking to your misunderstanding, reporting in Europe, and even in America, because most of OUR media is a creature of the government, has been hostile to the movement, seeking out and focusing on aberrations (which will always crop up in any protest groups) with the intent to invoke fear, and to lessen understanding.

Oh, and by they way, there is a serious paucity of (non-paid) black people in in most of the pictures in the pages of this thread. Take a look at this picture in post #46 of this thread - I magnified the image and only saw one black man visible in the foreground. A close look at numerous of these pictures doesn't seem to reflect a fair representation of blacks; does that mean the sanity people are racist? That would be a ridiculous assumption, dontcha think?

http://s-ak.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/terminal01/2010/10/30/17/enhanced-buzz-3272-1288473742-6.jpg

BTW the Tea Party event in Washington had about 1-million attendees.

[Justin Casey]

The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear as the name suggests was played just for laughs. Brought to you by the Viacom Corporation which owns Comedy Central, it was just a brand extension of The Daliy Show and The Colbert Report. A bit like the recent "live" 30 Rock, but with a bigger "studio" audience. Political analysis of the event is a bit like analysing Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal for its social ramifications. Both Stewart and Colbert engage in mockery similar to Swift - for laughs and often to illustrate a more serious point. They are comedians.

The TEA Party has its comedy too:

TAX DAY TEA PARTY 2010

[People Korps]

It is so sad to see........................

Are you talking to me? You got to be joking. I would rather take a bunch of Inbred racists in sheets to diner than the lumpen ignorant idiots who have been mobilised by The Kochs Brothers money and a one size fits all brand of insular racist far right war mongering people hating policy. Dont talk down to People Korps he eats Tea Party types for breakfast and even more so paid hacks on online forums.

[Indiana Jones]

Are you talking to me? You got to be joking. I would rather take a bunch of Inbred racists in sheets to diner than the lumpen ignorant idiots who have been mobilised by The Kochs Brothers money and a one size fits all brand of insular racist far right war mongering people hating policy. Dont talk down to People Korps he eats Tea Party types for breakfast and even more so paid hacks on online forums.

And there you go, you must be a leftist; always made obvious by the instant knee jerk response with a vicious ad hominem attack, with only the commonest of talking points accusing others of exactly what they the are a part of.
Nothing new in the above response.

[C. Flower]

And there you go, you must be a leftist; always made obvious by the instant knee jerk response with a vicious ad hominem attack, with only the commonest of talking points accusing others of exactly what they the are a part of.
Nothing new in the above response.

In amongst the ad hominem, the poster gave a view of the politics of the Tea Party movement.

If you would like to drop the ad hominem yourself, by way of good example, and reply to the content, that would be a credit to you.

[Sam Lord]

It is so sad to see that so many in Europe are spoon fed their opinions about people who civilly .....

Go dry your eyes ...

[Indiana Jones]

In amongst the ad hominem, the poster gave a view of the politics of the Tea Party movement.

If you would like to drop the ad hominem yourself, by way of good example, and reply to the content, that would be a credit to you.

Ok here's the quote:
Are you talking to me? You got to be joking. I would rather take a bunch of Inbred racists in sheets to diner than the lumpen ignorant idiots who have been mobilised by The Kochs Brothers money and a one size fits all brand of insular racist far right war mongering people hating policy. Dont talk down to People Korps he eats Tea Party types for breakfast and even more so paid hacks on online forums.

?where's the substance? Looks like a solid slab of vicious rhetoric to me.
But let me try to disentangle something of substance from that wicked brew:

I am not joking, I'm not concerned about who the poster would take to dinner, but ... with the left in America he would be in just that kind of company, like recently passed away US Senator and past Majority Leader of that body "Sheets" (former KKK Grand Kliegle) Robert Byrd, the man who held the highest party postion below president.

The ordinary folks referred to as "lumpen ignorant idiots" you have seen on video clips are clips selected from and organized in carefully crafted vignettes to arouse just the kind of rude disregard exhibited in that comment. They (the TP attenders) have been mobilized by each other, and all money which they have contributed to candidates is in small increments much less on average than $100-USD (signifying grass roots interest), while the Liberals and Democrats who so virulently opposed the TP candidates enjoyed contributions on the order of a magnitude ten times on average larger because their contributions come from institutional contributors and labor unions - no grass roots there.

Insular racists? One only has to look at photos of the events attended by TP people and the recent Sanity event to clearly see that the TP events are attended much more represented demographically by people of color.

Because people are encouraged and helped to look make their own way productively and encouraged to be individuals and not wards of the state we propose a “people hating policy?” Ours is just the opposite of “one size fits all;” that’s what every policy initiative which came out of the recent 111th congress and 110th before that were all about, and it is notable to any fair observer that our skid began when the 110th began with Democrat control of congress.

War mongering people hating policy? You in Western Europe have benefitted for 65 years from an American defense umbrella which has allowed you to spend as much as you've liked on social programs, giving you Greece, Spain, and France while we've had to outspend you guys ten to one to provide you with that security. As for me, I'd like to pull all our people out, and stand back and see how long it takes you to start falling on each others necks again.

Iraq and Afghanistan, both pretty much failed states left over by another period of European dominance, are closer to bringing some kind of democracy to the region than any time in the last 65 years, If only Obama doesn’t blow it completely with pronouncements like “ - we are going to be out by August of 2011 -" at the exact same time he is increasing an American troop presence, as if that doesn’t set up a scenario in which the Afghan leadership isn’t forced to make deals with those who would cut their throats as quickly as we are gone. (some really smart positioning there by B.O.)

And the final rhetorical thrust “…eats Tea Party types for breakfast and even more so paid hacks on online forums.” It’s always the case that the left doesn’t believe anyone could disagree with their tenets unless they were paid to do that. Actually I’m a contributor to both the TP and the RP, and in small amounts of $25. I give because I, just like millions of others just like me believe this is the last best chance we have here to turn back the radical left from making America something we won’t recognize and our children and grandchildren will be poorer for.

Sometimes when we accuse others [on some subconscious level] we are actually excusing ourselves. The more we need to justify ourselves, the greaer will be our self-righteousness, [and vehemence]

Eric Hoffer in “The Passionate State of Mind”

[Sam Lord]

I give because I, just like millions of others just like me believe this is the last best chance we have here to turn back the radical left from making America something we won’t recognize and our children and grandchildren will be poorer for.



The radical left are a big threat there allright. They have outsourced all the jobs, plundered the Treasury, etc.

Keep drinking the Kool-Aid.

[Indiana Jones]

The radical left are a big threat there allright. They have outsourced all the jobs, plundered the Treasury, etc.
Keep drinking the Kool-Aid.
" - The radical left are a big threat there allright. They have outsourced all the jobs, plundered the Treasury, etc. - "

The budget busting by conservatives has been for defense, a constititionally mandated function of government, and a seperate breed, the RINOs (Republicans in Name Only), who've gone along to get along have been with the liberals every step of the way. The jobs which have been outsourced have occurred because American corporations must compete in a global market, but outsourced jobs increase economic activity back in America, so that's not the problem, just a talking point. The jobs that have been lost happened because of a corporate tax rate which is the highest among the major nations, and to compete the corporations move their operations overseas.

The Repatriation of a trillion and a half dollars would come home (http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/10/01/business-interests-quietly-push-for-tax-change/?KEYWORDS=repatriation) to our shores almost immediately if the president simply issued an executive order that would temporarily lower the tax on overseas earnings brought back to the U.S. . . . " to encourage multinationals to bring home – or repatriate – hundreds of billions of dollars that they now choose to leave parked overseas, often in offshore tax havens. Under an earlier version of the idea, the rate would be lowered temporarily to 5.25% from the current level of up to 35%.- " (this is called a tax-cut for corporations - can't have that - it would seem hypocritical and it would do mountains of good. GO figure)

What would happen with that vast sum of dollars? New investment in facilities would instantly take place growing the economy and creating jobs. Spin-off small business feeder operations would cluster around those corporate operations, just as feeder plants all over Indiana supply parts to Auto plants Michigan, and foreign auto manufacturers through out the US.

Why doesn't the president do that? Because he drinks the Kool-Aid, and do you remember who those people were in Guyana? They preferred dying from drinking poison laced Kool-Aid, that is how profound was their commitment.

[Sam Lord]

... do you remember who those people were in Guyana? They preferred dying from drinking poison laced Kool-Aid, that is how profound was their commitment.

Go for it ...:)

I'm a great admirer of commitment.

[Indiana Jones]

Go for it ...:)

I'm a great admirer of commitment.

You mock! Is that all you have, no substance to opinions?

The people of the T-Party are largely just like me, they pay attention, are critical thinkers, and the last thing they want to do is go out and protest in a public venue. At the core of the movement are retired folks and housewives. We do watch Fox, but we watch C-Span too, and Meet the Press on Sundays, not out of a desire to mock, but to listen, learn, educate, and finally lead. That is why the movement grows. Most of that growth comes from the internet, facebook, forums just like this in America.

Isn't it phenomenal, that Sarah Palin can make a post on Face-book and within a day or two the pesident is responding. Do leaders swat at flies? Hmhh??

[Sam Lord]

Isn't it phenomenal, that Sarah Palin can make a post on Face-book and within a day or two the pesident is responding. Do leaders swat at flies? Hmhh??

I agree. It is phenomenal ...

[Andrew49]

Insular racists? One only has to look at photos of the events attended by TP people and the recent Sanity event to clearly see that the TP events are attended much more represented demographically by people of color.

'Former' Tea Party Express chairman Mark Williams wrote the following blog post mocking NAACP president Benjamin Jealous. The post takes the form of a fake letter to Abraham Lincoln, in which Jealous asks the former president to repeal the 13th and 14th Amendments (and to reinstate slavery) because the "coloreds" don't agree with the Tea Party's version of "freedom."


NAACP Resolution: Colored People change minds about emancipation

Astonishing.

In every one of the dozens of interviews that I have done regarding the anti-Tea Party resolution passed by the NAACP I have brought up the absurdity of a group that calls blacks "Colored People" hurling charges of racism. Whats more, each interviewer has defended that phrase and expressed surprise that I would consider that phrase to be racist!

Apparently Colored People are an entirely new race of people and one to which the title applies. Here NAACP President Precious Ben Jealous explains to President Abraham Lincoln the reasons for the resolution in this newly discovered letter :

Dear Mr. Lincoln

We Colored People have taken a vote and decided that we don't cotton to that whole emancipation thing. Freedom means having to work for real, think for ourselves, and take consequences along with the rewards. That is just far too much to ask of us Colored People and we demand that it stop!

In fact we held a big meeting and took a vote in Kansas City this week. We voted to condemn a political revival of that old abolitionist spirit called the 'tea party movement'.

The tea party position to "end the bailouts" for example is just silly. Bailouts are just big money welfare and isn't that what we want all Coloreds to strive for? What kind of racist would want to end big money welfare? What they need to do is start handing the bail outs directly to us coloreds! Of course, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is the only responsible party that should be granted the right to disperse the funds.

And the ridiculous idea of "reduce[ing] the size and intrusiveness of government." What kind of massa would ever not want to control my life? As Coloreds we must have somebody care for us otherwise we would be on our own, have to think for ourselves and make decisions!

The racist tea parties also demand that the government "stop the out of control spending." Again, they directly target Colored People. That means we Colored People would have to compete for jobs like everybody else and that is just not right.

Perhaps the most racist point of all in the tea parties is their demand that government "stop raising our taxes." That is outrageous! How will we Colored People ever get a wide screen TV in every room if non-coloreds get to keep what they earn? Totally racist! The tea party expects coloreds to be productive members of society?

Mr. Lincoln, you were the greatest racist ever. We had a great gig. Three squares, room and board, all our decisions made by the massa in the house. Please repeal the 13th and 14th Amendments and let us get back to where we belong.

Sincerely

Precious Ben Jealous, Tom's Nephew National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Head Colored Person

[Indiana Jones]

'Former' Tea Party Express chairman Mark Williams wrote the following blog post mocking NAACP president Benjamin Jealous. The post takes the form of a fake letter to Abraham Lincoln, in which Jealous asks the former president to repeal the 13th and 14th Amendments (and to reinstate slavery) because the "coloreds" don't agree with the Tea Party's version of "freedom."

Andrew, nobody falls squarely beneath any overarching Tea Party organization. There are disparate groups of individuals, and they "act" in their own right as individuals. We all think for ourselves, and don't need a person like Williams to speak for us, and he doesn't. I believe he is gone.

Tea Party Express leader Mark Williams tossed out over ... (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/07/18/2010-07-18_tea_party_express_leader_mark_williams_expelled _over_colored_people_letter.html)

I think it is truly remarkable we have had so few problems from nuts. Nutty statements are routinely dismissed or ignored when made by left wingers in this country. Even the violence they perpetrate in so many of their "protests" is seen as the antics of youthful high spirits...

[Justin Casey]

You in Western Europe have benefitted for 65 years from an American defense umbrella...

Hi Indiana Jones (How do you feel about snakes?)
I'm always intrigued by this defense claim. In fact, I don't believe it. You say that as for you, "I'd like to pull all our people out". Do you mean all the US corporations based in Europe - their manufacturing, distribution and sales? Your Coca Cola, McDonald's, Microsoft, Apple? The military presence in Europe has paved the way for access to very profitable markets. It's why armies fight, or in this case hang around and say that they'll fight anybody. The benefits of a US presence far outweigh the admittedly overblown cost of the military/industrial apparatus. You mention the "hundreds of billions of dollars that they [multinationals] now choose to leave parked overseas, often in offshore tax havens". Maybe, the "defense umbrella" is more tilted toward business interests than saving us from ourselves. (We've got the same thing here - our army's only real job is looking after the banks' money.)

I think that you may have been hoodwinked by a succession of administrations of every hue. Because here's the thing about the "defense umbrella" - it's a lie. If we learned anything from September 11 it was that the US is incapable of defending itself, right in its own back yard. Totally incompetent and defenceless. You've been had by the military/industrial apparatus. It could happen to anyone. I'd be fine with it if you want to bring everyone home and try to start again. Properly this time. And I'd pay less attention to these people on TV. They're lying too.