News Keep fear alive - Rally to Restore Sanity

[Ivan Seeking]

America, the Greatest Country God ever gave Man, was built on three bedrock principles: Freedom. Liberty. And Fear -- that someone might take our Freedom and Liberty. But now, there are dark, optimistic forces trying to take away our Fear -- forces with salt and pepper hair and way more Emmys than they need. They want to replace our Fear with reason. But never forget -- "Reason" is just one letter away from "Treason." Coincidence? Reasonable people would say it is, but America can't afford to take that chance.

So join The Rev. Sir Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, D.F.A. on October 30th for the "March to Keep Fear Alive"™ in Washington DC. Pack an overnight bag with five extra sets of underwear -- you're going to need them. Because, to Restore Truthiness we must always...

http://www.keepfearalive.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...

http://www.rallytorestoresanity.com/

These guys kill me. But I am curious to see what happens. I don't know if this is just going to be a media event, or if it will grow into a true political "grassroots movement", in the spirit of, and in opposition to the tea party. I know Huffington and Oprah have their fingers in the pie.

The Daily show, while sold as comedy, has actually broken a news story or two. Jon Stewart does some pretty good political interviews. And Colbert just testified before a Congressional committee - the result of a "stunt" on his show - about migrant farm workers.

 

[Jack21222]

If I get fired from work tomorrow for missing a mandatory training meeting, I'm going to take that opportunity to go to this rally. Otherwise, I doubt I can get off work.

It sounds like it will be a blast. The internet has been coming up with some great sign ideas.

 

[nismaratwork]

I doubt it will become a movement, but as Jack says, I would bet that it's going to be a hell of a lot of fun.

I'd add that politics aside, it's great to see someone (Stephen Colbert) treat congress like the ineffectual clowns they are.

 

[Evo]

I know people planning to go to the rally to restore sanity. They want to show the tea partyers that they're outnumbered.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I know people planning to go to the rally to restore sanity. They want to show the tea partyers that they're outnumbered.

That notion crossed my mind as well.

 

[nismaratwork]

I know people planning to go to the rally to restore sanity. They want to show the tea partyers that they're outnumbered.

It's a wonderful idea, but I don't think it's possible to outnumber idiocy and fear.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

It's a wonderful idea, but I don't think it's possible to outnumber idiocy and fear.

We got Obama elected, didn't we? Talk about a stacked deck! Until he won in the Iowa primary, I gave him no real chance.

The first time I saw him on Meet the Press, I think about April of 2006, I thought, "Damn! If only this guy had a chance..." I shudder to think how much I would have bet against him.

 

[Evo]

That notion crossed my mind as well.

I'm buying airfare for a few of them, I can't go myself. They're more than welcome to carry a lifesize cardboard cut out of me!

 

[nismaratwork]

We got Obama elected, didn't we? Talk about a stacked deck! Until he won in Iowa, I gave him no real chance.

OK, you have a point...

 

[lisab]

It's a wonderful idea, but I don't think it's possible to outnumber idiocy and fear.

We could out-party them, I bet.

I wish I could go to this - sounds like it's going to be a blast!

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Will they be streaming the event? They need to provide a means of online participation.

Course it would probably be best not to mention that until everyone is committed to the trip.

 

[Danger]

Unless I misunderstood something, the "Sanity" rally is at the same time as Jon Stewart's own effort. Why, dare I ask? They should be combined, perhaps even on opposite coasts to spread the influence, rather than working at cross-purposes.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Unless I misunderstood something, the "Sanity" rally is at the same time as Jon Stewart's own effort. Why, dare I ask? They should be combined, perhaps even on opposite coasts to spread the influence, rather than working at cross-purposes.

These guys are all working together.

Has Fox news met its match in the Comedy channel? How poetic would that be??

 

[airborne18]

These guys are all working together.

Has Fox news met its match in the Comedy channel? How poetic would that be??

Hey didn't Colbert get enough votes to have Nasa name something after him??

 

[russ_watters]

Wait, I thought fear was good - wasn't that the upside to the gulf oil spill?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Hey didn't Colbert get enough votes to have Nasa name something after him??

Well, he won the contest for the name of a module on the space station, but NASA, while threatening to name a toilet after him, decided instead on a treadmill.

Here is where Colbert and Stewart make their announcement.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-september-16-2010/rally-to-restore-sanity-announcement

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Wait, I thought fear was good - wasn't that the upside to the gulf oil spill?

See, we really did have an uncontrollable spill in the gulf, and it really was 65,000 barrels per day, and not 1000 barrels per day, but Obama is not a secret Muslim plotting against America, and he really was born in Hawaii. See the difference?

...of course the latest from Coulter et al is that he's simply not a Christian. I guess he doesn't pass their divinity test.

 

[nismaratwork]

See, we really did have an uncontrollable spill in the gulf, and it really was 65,000 barrels per day, and not 1000 barrels per day, but Obama is not a secret Muslim plotting against America, and he really was born in Hawaii. See the difference?

...of course the latest from Coulter et al is that he's simply not a Christian. I guess he doesn't pass their divinity test.

Well said, although was 65K bbl the final figure?

 

[Andre]

It's a wonderful idea, but I don't think it's possible to outnumber idiocy and fear.

Agreed for fear, but is it idiocy or just the result of social behavior, known as http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/hrb9701.html. Obviously it is far too optimistic to assume that we can counter that with reason.

 

[nismaratwork]

Agreed for fear, but is it idiocy or just the result of social behavior, known as http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/hrb9701.html. Obviously it is far too optimistic to assume that we can counter that with reason.

I wish I disagreed with you, but I don't... ignorance and fear is a snowball rolling downhill, but reason and sanity is like Sisyphus trying to get in its way and roll it up the mountain.

 

[cronxeh]

I'll be there. I've never been to Washington, D.C., might as well go for a picnic

If any of you show up - set up a PF camp, so I knew who's lunch to take

 

[Topher925]

I'm thinking about going and still might, but I just got spent a week in DC last month and don't really have a strong urge to go back mostly because the hotels there are so dam expensive.

 

[Alfi]

America, the Greatest Country God ever gave Man,

sorry .. I only read this statement .. and stopped.
Why is this in a Politics forum ? .. right at the start it involves some unproven/unsubstantiated claim about potential mythical beings and what they may or may not have done.


Re: Keep fear alive - Rally to Restore Sanity
These ideas are from comedy/entertainment shows, and should not be considered as anything else.

 

[nismaratwork]

sorry .. I only read this statement .. and stopped.
Why is this in a Politics forum ? .. right at the start it involves some unproven/unsubstantiated claim about potential mythical beings and what they may or may not have done.


Re: Keep fear alive - Rally to Restore Sanity
These ideas are from comedy/entertainment shows, and should not be considered as anything else.

Hi, I'm Satire and it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance! Satire has a long tradition in politics, or is that you're simply not familiar with Mr. Colbert's shtick?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Well said, although was 65K bbl the final figure?

More or less.

Crone's calculations show that about 2.4 million gallons of oil gushed into the gulf every day until the riser was cut on June 3, after which the rate swelled to 2.9 million gallons daily. And the total escaped oil: 4.4 million barrels, or 184.8 million gallons.

These latest numbers are slightly higher than the daily estimates provided by the Flow Rate Technical Group, a government panel appointed to measure the spill. But Ira Leifer, a marine scientist at University of California, Santa Barbara's Marine Science Institute and a member of the panel, says the distinction is meaningless...

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2010/09/latest-oil-flow-estimate-tops-government-numbers.html

At 42 gallons per barrel, we land between 60K and 70K barrels per day.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

sorry .. I only read this statement .. and stopped.[/quoite]

Why is this in a Politics forum ? .. right at the start it involves some unproven/unsubstantiated claim about potential mythical beings and what they may or may not have done.


Re: Keep fear alive - Rally to Restore Sanity
These ideas are from comedy/entertainment shows, and should not be considered as anything else.

So your complaint is that you read one sentence, and you can't figure out why this is in the political forum? And you don't you see a problem with your approach??

 

[nismaratwork]

So your complaint is that you read one sentence, and you can't figure out why this is in the political forum? And you don't you see a problem with your approach??

He's probably still traumatized from reading 'A Modest Proposal' as a policy work... ...probably put off by the baby back ribs recipes.

 

[nismaratwork]

More or less.


http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2010/09/latest-oil-flow-estimate-tops-government-numbers.html

At 42 gallons per barrel, we land between 60K and 70K barrels per day.

...And the government believes that bacteria have consumed 75% of THAT?! What a steaming pile of sh- crude.

 

[G037H3]

Some things can be made into satire, but some things should be taken seriously, or at least relatively seriously. Those of you who consider yourselves Americans should be very concerned with the very real decline of the nation you support.

 

[cronxeh]

Movie Idiocracy comes to mind. The US is going down that route right now, with likes of Christine O'Donnel and Sarah Palin.

 

[G037H3]

Movie Idiocracy comes to mind. The US is going down that route right now, with likes of Christine O'Donnel and Sarah Palin.

And Obama, Biden, Maxine Waters, etc.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Some things can be made into satire, but some things should be taken seriously, or at least relatively seriously. Those of you who consider yourselves Americans should be very concerned with the very real decline of the nation you support.

The thing about Stewart and Colbert is that they come as a two-edge sword. It is comedy heavily laced with hard commentary. This is why, imo, they are now emerging as a political force. I don't know how far they can take this, but with Huffington and Oprah involved, I tend to think this is intended as something more than comedy.

 

[G037H3]

The thing about Stewart and Colbert is that they come as a two-edge sword. It is comedy heavily laced with hard commentary. This is why, imo, they are now emerging as a political force. I don't know how far they can take this, but with Huffington and Oprah involved, I tend to think this is intended as something more than comedy.

Viewers of their programs aren't exactly cultured, so any political momentum they garner can be accurately labeled as untermenschen politics, which is the majority of politics, but is certainly not something to celebrate or support.

 

[Evo]

Viewers of their programs aren't exactly cultured, so any political momentum they garner can be accurately labeled as untermenschen politics, which is the majority of politics, but is certainly not something to celebrate or support.

It's meant to counter the comedic rallies of the Tea Party

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Consider, for example the Colbert Roast of Bush. I don't think the Bush admin knew what hit them! They didn't understand Colbert. They thought he was on their side. They invited a heavily-armed enemy to join them for dinner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa-4E8ZDj9s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y97-37xfMo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAvFM4TYQKU

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Viewers of their programs aren't exactly cultured,

Wild speculation on your part?

so any political momentum they garner can be accurately labeled as untermenschen politics, which is the majority of politics, but is certainly not something to celebrate or support.

How do you know? There is a difference between so-called untermenschen politics, and the witty observation of glaring but avoided facts. Beyond that, if you actually listen to what Stewart is saying, he is pleading for unity. He is actually reaching out to the tea partiers. So it sounds to me like you are simply tossing around assumptions.

 

[turbo]

Viewers of their programs aren't exactly cultured, so any political momentum they garner can be accurately labeled as untermenschen politics, which is the majority of politics, but is certainly not something to celebrate or support.

You can't find either show funny unless you have enough appreciation for the political landscape to understand the satire being presented. If you accept the content of either show absent such background, you miss the point entirely. To call people who appreciate their shows "uncultured" is way off the mark. Their fans are probably the most well-informed and thoughtful TV viewers out there. It ain't Days of Our Lives.

 

[G037H3]

Wild speculation on your part?

TV is not for the intelligent.

How do you know? There is a difference between so-called untermenschen politics, and the witty observation of glaring but avoided facts. Beyond that, if you actually listen to what Stewart is saying, he is pleading for unity. He is actually reaching out to the tea partiers. So it sounds to me like you are simply tossing around assumptions.

Satire is for those on the same level as their object of derision, if better ideas cannot be expressed it shows that the one performing satire does not understand the entirety of the situation.

Unity is impossible in the US at this point in time. The last time it was really possible was probably around the time of Eisenhower. By unity, I mean, a strong cultural assertion made by the majority, meaning European-Americans. Due to demographic changes, unity and a strong sense of lasting national identity are impossible now.

You can't find either show funny unless you have enough appreciation for the political landscape to understand the satire being presented. If you accept the content of either show absent such background, you miss the point entirely. To call people who appreciate their shows "uncultured" is way off the mark. Their fans are probably the most well-informed and thoughtful TV viewers out there. It ain't Days of Our Lives.

I appreciate the political history of the US, but I don't find it at all humorous. Sad, really, but the current and future events are an inescapable result of an egalitarian/democratic system of government that has changing demographics and dysgenic policies.

"Well-informed and thoughtful", in my definition, extends far beyond the present that you live in. Real wisdom and intelligence is timeless. The supporters of such ideas that are espoused by said programs have no sense of the history of their own nation, their own cultural and historic identity, or any real understanding of how things work.

Which is how democracy works. It doesn't.

 

[turbo]

"Well-informed and thoughtful", in my definition, extends far beyond the present that you live in. Real wisdom and intelligence is timeless. The supporters of such ideas that are espoused by said programs have no sense of the history of their own nation, their own cultural and historic identity, or any real understanding of how things work.

Which is how democracy works. It doesn't.

Nihilism is not a viable option. Rejecting the flawed in the pursuit of the ideal is a sure path to self-destruction, personally or collectively.

 

[G037H3]

Nihilism is not a viable option. Rejecting the flawed in the pursuit of the ideal is a sure path to self-destruction, personally or collectively.

I'm not a nihilist. I'm simply not very optimistic about the future of the US.

Pursuit of the ideal is how greater things must be accomplished. Worship of money and weakness is a sure path to failure.

 

[nismaratwork]

Some things can be made into satire, but some things should be taken seriously, or at least relatively seriously. Those of you who consider yourselves Americans should be very concerned with the very real decline of the nation you support.

You speak as though satire can't be an effective political tool... history disagrees with you. Beyond that, it's clear that you're a serious ideologue of some kind, "worship money and weakness..." and more... so I'm not sure what the point of your posts are.

In short, just because you can't appreciate how satire uses humor to reach people in the same way you're reached by fear of American decline, doesn't mean it's ineffective. Much as you have no interest in reading about laws, it doesn't mean they don't apply to you, so to with satire.

 

[G037H3]

You speak as though satire can't be an effective political tool... history disagrees with you. Beyond that, it's clear that you're a serious ideologue of some kind, "worship money and weakness..." and more... so I'm not sure what the point of your posts are.

In short, just because you can't appreciate how satire uses humor to reach people in the same way you're reached by fear of American decline, doesn't mean it's ineffective. Much as you have no interest in reading about laws, it doesn't mean they don't apply to you, so to with satire.

Viewing actions as political tools is the problem to begin with, it's slave-morality behavour. I cannot refute you, so I shall mock you, ad nausem.

My ideology is history, which can tell you so much more than any living man.

Also, restate your second to last sentence please, it is unclear to me.

 

[OmCheeto]

TV is not for the intelligent.

Wow. That's the best compliment I've had in ages.

I canceled my cable this last January.

But I can still watch Stewart and Colbert online.

And I'm not sure what you mean by uncultured. Are you implying I was not born of a petri dish? I suppose that's a good thing. But I'm sure you meant http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cultured"
I would hope that people learn things their entire lives, and would therefore become more enlightened and refined as a result. So I'm afraid I have to disagree with you, as the demographics of the viewers of both programs indicates a more mature crowd.

[T]he number of people older than 55 watching 'The Daily Show' rose by 25% [in May 2009, compared with May 2008], 22% for 'The Colbert Report.'" More ominously, "the number of people between the ages of 18 and 34 (the most coveted demographic) watching 'The Daily Show' fell 14%, 15% for 'The Colbert Report.'

The median age of "Daily Show" viewers in May 2009 was 41.4, and the median age of "Colbert Report" viewers was 38.3.

http://talkshownews.interbridge.com/2009/06/late-night-demographics-average-age-of.html"

I'm not a nihilist. I'm simply not very optimistic about the future of the US.

So I should sell all my stocks, quit my job, sell my house, and move. hmm...
Where do you suggest I move?

Pursuit of the ideal is how greater things must be accomplished. Worship of money and weakness is a sure path to failure.

I think I missed something somewhere. Did someone start of Church of Peewee Herman or something?

...

Anyways, I wish I could go to the rallies. I'm sure it will be great fun.

 

[Gokul43201]

Viewers of their programs aren't exactly cultured...

And in related news...

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/28/comedy.politics/index.html

http://people-press.org/report/319/...e-changed-by-news-and-information-revolutions

[PLAIN]http://people-press.org/reports/images/319-2.gif

 

[G037H3]

• If you only know one language (or haven't reached a high level of mastery in your native language) and are not at least studying another, you are uncultured.
• If you have never studied any great literature on your own, you are uncultured.
• If you don't know about the history of your people, you are uncultured.
• If you can't distinguish great art from recent art, you are uncultured.
• If you are a post-modernist or moral relativist, you are uncultured.

Age has little to do with what I am discussing.

That is entirely your decision whether to stay or not, or whether to support policies that contribute to the decline of the US.

It is by no means a falsity or mischaracterization to state that money is the object that Americans (and many others at this point) worship.

@goku

That chart says rather little...and statistics is not a good way to impress upon me your knowledge or positions. Knowledge of politics has very little to do with being cultured. Politics is not culture, it is the dirty manipulations that go on mostly behind the scenes, or right in plain sight for all to witness, wordlessly.

 

[nismaratwork]

Viewing actions as political tools is the problem to begin with, it's slave-morality behavour. I cannot refute you, so I shall mock you, ad nausem.

My ideology is history, which can tell you so much more than any living man.

Also, restate your second to last sentence please, it is unclear to me.

I'm not wasting any more time with your personal warped view of the world, and profound ignorance of the history you claim is your ideology. I suggest, as a parting comment, that you research just how powerful mockery, and satire have been in the history you claim is your ideology.

I will ask for this however:

Here are statements you've made without a shred of evidence:

Viewers of x, y, and z programs aren't "cultured". I don't suppose you have anything beyond your own opinion to support that?

"TV is not for the intelligent"... wow, I'm sure that virtually everyone here, including some extremely bright staff members will be shocked to learn that their intellect can be judged solely by a single activity. Hey Evo, MiH, sorry to say it but apparently watching Ramsey means you must not be bright... I know, I thought you were smart, but you've heard the man. (see... mockery... useful)

"Pursuit of the ideal is how greater things must be accomplished. Worship of money and weakness is a sure path to failure."

Really... well, I didn't realize that we worshiped weakness, whatever that means. I also would love to know which ideal you believe should be pursued, and since "greater" implies lesser accomplishments... wait... are you actually doing anything other than trying to sound like Charlton Heston in a less than lucid moment?

You have an incredible ability to mix sweeping and meaningless statements with a lack of any apparent ability to support them. I don't supposed you care to elaborate in detail as to what you believe is wrong with this country, and how you think it should be improved? I assume there is an ideology behind this, but you're not sharing... how rude *pout*.

 

[Gokul43201]

@goku

That chart says rather little...

It says exactly what the pollsters measured in that part of their study. What's little for you, is presumably a lot for others.

and statistics is not a good way to impress upon me your knowledge or positions.

I can't understand what you mean by this (since my post has nothing to do with my own knowledge or positions), so I'm skipping it.

Knowledge of politics has very little to do with being cultured.

There's more in those links than just a study of the viewers' knowledge of politics. Perhaps you should read them first.

Politics is not culture, it is the dirty manipulations that go on mostly behind the scenes, or right in plain sight for all to witness, wordlessly.

I didn't imply that politics was culture. There is also mention of the education levels of different audiences. I suspect education may correlate more strongly with what you call 'culture'. And if you go back and read real carefully, you'll notice that I described my post as "related news", which should indicate that these are related observations rather than a direct response to the quoted point.

 

[nismaratwork]

• If you only know one language (or haven't reached a high level of mastery in your native language) and are not at least studying another, you are uncultured.
• If you have never studied any great literature on your own, you are uncultured.
• If you don't know about the history of your people, you are uncultured.
• If you can't distinguish great art from recent art, you are uncultured.
• If you are a post-modernist or moral relativist, you are uncultured.

If you don't agree with G037H3's remarkably narrow views... you're uncultured. I'm serious... are you actually an incredibly sophisticated fancier of satire, and this is all part of your method, or are you really thinking that anyone buys this line of... reasoning?

 

[OmCheeto]

• If you only know one language (or haven't reached a high level of mastery in your native language) and are not at least studying another, you are uncultured.

• 
  
  Yay! Another compliment.
  
  I've lost count of the languages I speak. Let me try and remember them all:
  English, German, Russian, Serbian, Armenian, French, Spanish, Dutch, Hindi, Telugu, Geordie, Farsi, Arabic, Finnish, Romanian, Hungarian, Greek, Hebrew, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Ibo(but not very well), and Polish.
  
  Ya znaio schto, you nyiechevo nie znaio.
  
  My Armenian friend says that the fact that I can quote So-Crates* in Russian, is a very good thing.
  
  I'm feeling so cultured today.
  -------------------------
  *Thank you Bill & Ted. If it weren't for you, I'd never have known what Napoleon looked like.

 

[nismaratwork]

Yay! Another compliment.

I've lost count of the languages I speak. Let me try and remember them all:
English, German, Russian, Serbian, Armenian, French, Spanish, Dutch, Hindi, Telugu, Geordie, Farsi, Arabic, Finnish, Romanian, Hungarian, Greek, Hebrew, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Ibo(but not very well), and Polish.

Ya znaio schto, you nyiechevo nie znaio.

My Armenian friend says that the fact that I can quote So-Crates* in Russian, is a very good thing.

I'm feeling so cultured today.
-------------------------
*Thank you Bill & Ted. If it weren't for you, I'd never have known what Napoleon looked like.

A magyar egyedülálló nyelv, egy egyedi kultúra. E barbár (G037H3) nem értette kultúra ha külső ő fartő... Nerozumí smyslu kultury... Dydy 'n anhyblyg a blentyn.



G037H3: I know plenty of people who are multilingual, but would be generally considered uncultured. Megérteni? Shvatiti? Verstehen Sie? Zrozumieć? Lattom gőgös ember...

edit/P.S. OmCheeto: Do you ever run into the problem where you start to blend languages? For the longest time I kept using the Latin word for "cook/chef" whenever I spoke Spanish, or I'll slip into Japanese when I'm trying to speak anything... especially the word, "but". I have no idea why!