Join me at Jon Stewart's RALLY TO RESTORE SANITY in DC on Sat., Oct. 30th
I checked to make sure that this is real, not some elaborate hoax, and it's really happening: Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are hosting a rally on the mall in Washington DC on Saturday, Oct. 30th. Called the "Rally to Restore Sanity" (Colbert hilariously calls his "The March to Keep Fear Alive"), I actually think this is going to be a VERY important political event, a powerful statement for sanity and moderation, and against the radical right, which is threatening to hijack our country by spreading hatred and divisiveness – plus it will surely be a BLAST, as Stewart and Colbert are the two funniest men alive! I can't wait to hold up the signs they will be providing, including 'I Disagree With You, But I'm Pretty Sure You're Not Hitler,' 'I'm Not Afraid of Muslims/Tea Partiers/Socialists/Immigrants/Gun Owners/Gays…But I Am Scared of Spiders,' 'Got Competence?,' '9/11 was an OUTSIDE job,' and 'Take It Down a Notch, America.'
So, yes, I'm going and bringing my entire family – it's a great opportunity to start getting my three girls politically active, plus show them the sights. Susan and I have taken them around this country and the world, but they've never been to DC so we're looking forward to visiting the White House, the Air and Space Museum, etc.
To see the hilarious segment announcing the rally on The Daily Show this week, see www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-september-16-2010/rally-to-restore-sanity (starts at 0:55). And here's Colbert: www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/359382/september-16-2010/march-to-keep-fear-alive (starts at 2:30). High comedy!
Here's an excerpt about the rally their web site, www.rallytorestoresanity.com:
"I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!"
Who among us has not wanted to open their window and shout that at the top of their lungs?
Seriously, who?
Because we're looking for those people. We're looking for the people who think shouting is annoying, counterproductive, and terrible for your throat; who feel that the loudest voices shouldn't be the only ones that get heard; and who believe that the only time it's appropriate to draw a Hitler mustache on someone is when that person is actually Hitler. Or Charlie Chaplin in certain roles.
Are you one of those people? Excellent. Then we'd like you to join us in Washington, DC on October 30 -- a date of no significance whatsoever -- at the Daily Show's "Rally to Restore Sanity." Ours is a rally for the people who've been too busy to go to rallies, who actually have lives and families and jobs (or are looking for jobs) -- not so much the Silent Majority as the Busy Majority. If we had to sum up the political view of our participants in a single sentence... we couldn't. That's sort of the point.
Think of our event as Woodstock, but with the nudity and drugs replaced by respectful disagreement; the Million Man March, only a lot smaller, and a bit less of a sausage fest; or the Gathering of the Juggalos, but instead of throwing our feces at Tila Tequila, we'll be actively *not* throwing our feces at Tila Tequila. Join us in the shadow of the Washington Monument. And bring your indoor voice. Or don't. If you'd rather stay home, go to work, or drive your kids to soccer practice... Actually, please come anyway. Ask the sitter if she can stay a few extra hours, just this once. We'll make it worth your while.
Below are two articles about the rally. The exact time on the 30th isn't set yet, but you can sign up to get info as it becomes available at: www.rallytorestoresanity.com.
I hope to see you there!
PS—The cheapest way to get to DC from East Coast cities (NYC, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore) is one of the express bus services like MegaBus (www.megabus.com) or BoltBus (www.boltbus.com) – there are busses to/from NYC almost every hour and the prices are ridiculously low, ranging from $8-$23 each way. I took MegaBus a few months ago and it was comfortable and had free wi-fi – what's not to like?!
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Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert D.C.rally has a deadly serious purpose
It may have started out as a game and a joke but the Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert rally in Washington D.C. may be the most important political event this year.
The political stage has been completely dominated this election season by Glenn Beck and other right wing commentators and the various Tea party rallies.
Can Stewart and Colbert prove there is a major alternative American voice out there as the mid term elections approach and the Tea Party is running rampant?
The October 30th "Rally to Restore Sanity" ,coming just a short time before those elections could prove to be a rallying cry and a Woodstock for the millions of liberals and moderates whose voices, with the exception of Stewart and Colbert, have not been heard.
Stewart in particular has shown an ability to articulate the sheer puzzlement and occasional despair at the charges being flung from the right against the Obama administration and others.
He skewers the worst excesses nightly as does Colbert in a more complex fashion.
But who do they speak for, and will the people they speak for turn up on the mall and give voice to the reality that while both are comedians, what they are addressing is deadly serious?
Time will tell but it will be a fascinating exercise in power politics, behind all the grins and one liners.
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Stewart, Colbert Plan Competing DC Rallies
By | September 17, 2010 8:47am
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/opinions/view/opinion/Stewart-Colbert-Plan-Competing-DC-Rallies-5064
Not to be outdone by Glenn Beck, Jon Stewart has announced a DC rally on the National Mall October 30th. Entitled the "Rally To Restore Sanity," it is aimed at people who normally don't attend rallies (people with "shit to do," he explains). Not to be outdone by Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert has also announced a DC rally on the same day, cheekily dubbed "The March To Keep Fear Alive." The moves, evidently calibrated to combat Glenn Beck's huge "Restoring Honor" event last month, also are conveniently timed a few days before election day 2010. Not only do Colbert and Stewart cash in on the political fever before the midterms, they can perhaps even make a political statement or two while lampooning. Critics call it a savvy move.
· Pre-Announcement Buzz Melissa Bell at The Washington Post details the build up to the announcement: there were "a number of 'pre-announcement announcements' on the show and an online campaign started by Reddit.com. The users on Reddit called for Stephen Colbert to match Glenn Beck's 'Restoring America' march with one for 'Restoring Truthiness.' They even raised $239,075 for schools on Colbert's behalf. Stewart said the date of the show has no significance--a reference to Glenn Beck's rally falling on the anniversary of Martin Luther King's speech."
· Stewart's Event Seems Like 'A Direct Response' to Beck observes Michael O'Brien at The Hill, who notes that Stewart described it as a "million moderate march" against ideological extremists in both parties. But both Stewart's and Colbert's rallies, "ostensibly have the purpose of mocking some of the more strident rhetoric members of both parties have employed in political debates over the past decade."
· Is It a Comedy Rally or a Rally Against 'Extremism'? The New York Times Bill Carter hedged, "The rally will clearly have some comedy elements (as well as likely guest stars, Mr. Stewart said), and his partner on the Comedy Central cable channel, Stephen Colbert, appeared on the show in his usual conservative blowhard persona to threaten to infiltrate the rally. Mr. Stewart also promised to supply the crowd with signs if they did not bring their own, including as examples, 'I Disagree With You, But I'm Pretty Sure You're Not Hitler,' and 'Take It Down a Notch, America.'"
· 'It's Unclear If the Rallies Will Actually Take Place' reports Aliyah Shahid at The New York Daily News, "but Stewart will be in D.C. that week to host his show on Oct. 25-28. And he insisted on the show that he had already reserved a spot on the National Mall, declaring 'the forms have been filled out, the checks have been written.'"
- The 'Timing and Message Are Undeniably Political' writes The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder. "I'd imagine that these rallies will draw counter-rallies, and that smart conservative folks will try to incorporate them in a way that helps Republicans as well....Depending on how the media covers the run-up to these rallies, Stewart and Colbert could generate interest and enthusiasm among the type of voters who have so far been turned off by the independent conservative resurgence."
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"I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!"
Who among us has not wanted to open their window and shout that at the top of their lungs?
Seriously, who?
Because we're looking for those people. We're looking for the people who think shouting is annoying, counterproductive, and terrible for your throat; who feel that the loudest voices shouldn't be the only ones that get heard; and who believe that the only time it's appropriate to draw a Hitler mustache on someone is when that person is actually Hitler. Or Charlie Chaplin in certain roles.
Are you one of those people? Excellent. Then we'd like you to join us in Washington, DC on October 30 -- a date of no significance whatsoever -- at the Daily Show's "Rally to Restore Sanity." Ours is a rally for the people who've been too busy to go to rallies, who actually have lives and families and jobs (or are looking for jobs) -- not so much the Silent Majority as the Busy Majority. If we had to sum up the political view of our participants in a single sentence... we couldn't. That's sort of the point.
Think of our event as Woodstock, but with the nudity and drugs replaced by respectful disagreement; the Million Man March, only a lot smaller, and a bit less of a sausage fest; or the Gathering of the Juggalos, but instead of throwing our feces at Tila Tequila, we'll be actively *not* throwing our feces at Tila Tequila. Join us in the shadow of the Washington Monument. And bring your indoor voice. Or don't. If you'd rather stay home, go to work, or drive your kids to soccer practice... Actually, please come anyway. Ask the sitter if she can stay a few extra hours, just this once. We'll make it worth your while.
Watch Jon's call-to-reasonableness on The Daily Show.
Keep checking back for updates and rally information.
posted by Whitney Tilson at 4:03 PM
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