I hate to say this, but this 'One Nation Rally' is a disaster.

[stevedeshazer]

The attendance is way below expectations.

The organization is terrible.

George Clinton and Parliament? Okay.

Every interest group sends up someone to hump their cause. There's no organized effort at all. It appears that we are divided on everything.

Don't shoot the messenger, but we look really, really bad.

It is an embarrassment.

That's the best we can do?

Honestly, I think progressives and liberals look bad because of this.

What exactly is the point of this rally? We're just going to be vilified in the right-wing press for it. It's a loser. The teabaggers and the media are going to have a field day with this.

One Nation?

We sure didn't come off like that today.

I hoped for something much more. It was AWFUL. I'm embarrassed, frankly.

Am I wrong here?

To be sure, I praise those who made the effort to go there. I'm really sad that you wasted your time.

And for the poseurs like a certain fat redhead egotistical radio host who promised much more than he could deliver, thanks a pile.

Wow, what a disappointment. Can't we do better than this?

I sure hope people get out and vote, but nothing that happened today gives me any confidence that enough Dems an independents will turn out.

There, I said it. Flame on. We're really in trouble here.

I expect for telling the truth, this thread will be locked.

[hlthe2b]

1. well, I don't think you're up for Mr. Popularity...

Whew... Flame indeed.

[stevedeshazer]

8. Nope, but I'm a realist.

I expect to be killed on this thread, maybe even banned.

It's tough to be right in the face of withering criticism.

Peace and better days to all.

Seriously, I'm correct about this.

It was a media disaster. It will lose votes.

[SargeUNN]

18. Think this tells enough about where you stand

You are assuming the thread to be locked and you claim the truth that actually is just your opinion and then become a victim. You need to relax and not be so paranoid.

[hlthe2b]

19. Like others here, I'd like to know when you tuned in...

I watched the first two hours and it was nothing like you described. It was energetic, very well attended and had three themes: jobs, education and equality.

[stevedeshazer]

62. It was a bunch of people hollering and trying to replicate MLK's speech.

Kind of like being a Beatles cover band.

You just don't do that.

Yeah, I watched it. Most of the first two hours.

[emilyg]

99. I watched for a bit and

turned it off.

[tabasco]

106. Surprise, surprise!

You still here, Gomer?

[emilyg]

130. Hi Lucy. Yep, still here. I like to annoy you.

[dionysus]

119. i know, it wasn't an anti-obama rally.

[EFerrari]

24. I don't want to kill you, lol, but what on Earth are you basing this on?

The attendance was great, the speakers were great, the coverage was very good. :shrug:

[mopinko]

126. thanks for the pics

would be great to have side-by-side photos.

[hlthe2b]

40. TX4Obama just posted Ed Schultz' speech to the march

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x511014

Watch and tell me you don't think there was any passion or excitation there...

[Tx4obama]

86. And here's links to Al Sharpton and Harry Belafonte

One Nation Rally

Al Sharpton: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x511026

And here's a link to part of Harry Belafonte's speech:
Harry Belafonte Lashes Out at Racism & Sexism & THE TEAPARTY at One Nation Rally
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vty7ESzusdY

[stevedeshazer]

91. Sure. But no one else saw it.

It's already being panned by the media pundits.

I like Ed.

C-Span and MSNBC covered it. Everyone else is watching football.

We need an even bigger stage.

By the way, where were the Democrats? You know, the elected ones?

Speaking out like Ed? Nope. Dialing for dollars.

That's the system.

[The Wielding Truth]

2. What rally do you watch? It was well attended and very meaningful.

If you saw just the ending when George Clinton was on , then you missed it. It was cleared out by then.

[butterfly77]

111. That is the part fox will show..

and the portions before the mall was filled. I think it was GREAT!

[proud patriot]

3. Wow , I got the exact opposite feeling from it

I feel energized and inspired . The unity of the different groups was beautiful IMO.

:shrug: I was dancing in my living room to bringing in the funk .

[stevedeshazer]

52. Loved da funk, but it really wasn't very inspiring.

The speakers, I mean.

All these individual issues, no unity of message.

Just setting up a bunch of speakers with disparate messages missed the point entirely.

Liberals have to unite around a cohesive message. This didn't cut it.

Too much buildup, not enough substance.

I would like to have attended, but I'm broke and I live 3000 miles away.

[The Wielding Truth]

120. Every speaker talked about unity.That is cohesive.

[ProSense]

4. BS! n/t

[SargeUNN]

5. well I have to disagree

I have watched some of it and the crowd looks good, the speeches for the most part were good and it looks organized. I honestly don't see why you think what you do, but certainly you are entitled to your opinion and I doubt it will get this thread locked.

[kentuck]

6. No doubt, if it had been pushed by FOX News and Sean Hannity...

for a couple of months continuously, there probably would have been a larger turnout? But there was nowhere near the same publicity. True, Democrats have many varied interests. Tea Baggers are against government and Barack Hussein Obama.

[KoKo]

68. Yep...Repub owned Koch/Murdoch/Wall St. Media promoted Tea Bag "gathering"...but Dems don't have any

folks pushing this. Labor and others were told to have a "low voice." That there was labor there at all is a good thing...but when you are told to "cool it" you aren't going to get the publicity this should have gotten. MSNBC did cover it...to be fair...I didn't check CNN because I rarely watch them.

Ed Schultz was promoting it on his radio show heavily. But, without funding for a blitz of the media and a split Dem Party...most folks would seem to prefer a comedian's gathering over the "regular folks" like Black Church folks who are trying to send Obama a message and labor which is torn.

The publicity sucked...because we just don't have a Murdoch, Koch Bros., Mellon-Scaife and many Big Guns on Wall St. promoting..

What a mess. I was proud to see all those people out there though! For that number of people to get on buses or drive to be there says there's something going on that could be built upon. Maybe more "staying power" than "Tea Party/Baggers" for the long haul ahead.

At least we should hope.

[KoKo]

96. So...Cricets Chirping? cheep, cheep......gurgle...cheep cheep..gurgle......

LOL's............

the WAY IT IS! :D

[kentuck]

123. true dat..

:-)

[nc4bo]

7. Well to be honest, the teabagger rally wasn't all that imho.

Bunch of crazy crackers whose attendance was constantly being exaggerated by media.

Of course we didn't have any crotch burning, fake eyeglass wearing fools like Palin on parade either.

[Dappleganger]

9. Good Lord...

drink some fiber, please.

[EFerrari]

10. Is this satire?

[pinboy3niner]

Somebody didn't get a pony

:evilgrin:

[stevedeshazer]

28. No. And no disrespect, but this isn't going anywhere.

I respect you as a long-time poster here and someone I usually agree with.

The hype and bluster did not match the result.

It just didn't.

No, I already got a pony.

The pony died.

[EFerrari]

36. Well, it's okay if we disagree on this.

I think, with respect, that you are wrong.

This was an important meeting for the progressive movement and the real big tent.

There is this: the progressive movement in this country is going around the corporate media. That may be the single most important thing we can do right now. And from the looks of the speakers' roster and the media at the event, we have a great deal of continuity with key players.

Today was an impressive display of unity and continuity.

Let's see how we do. :)

[stevedeshazer]

44. Well, damn, I hope you're right.

Backing away from the ledge.

:scared:

[EFerrari]

47. LOL. I hear you.

I think we will be fine.

:hi:

[hlthe2b]

46. It wasn't hyped as some rebirth of MLK's I Had a Dream Speech

or the second coming of Christ... Was your expectation along the lines of the Beck Teabagger's moment? There were more people there today, from what I have heard reported, but no, it was not hyped the same way and as usual, the press has not covered it at any degree close to that which they do for the Teabaggers.

[Duer 157099]

11. Waiting for the Stewart/Colbert one, perhaps?

That's what I'd do if I could only make one trip.

[EFerrari]

15. Oh, man, not me.

Did you SEE the speakers today?

And Free Speech TV has been covering all day.

I have no idea what the beef is.

[Duer 157099]

32. No; I just caught a few miinutes of Ed

My first impression was that he was modeling the righties, but maybe that's what has to happen, "preach" to the crowds. I personally don't like that technqiue. I prefer Jon Stewart by a long mile! But it's all good. :thumbsup:

[EFerrari]

37. Harry Belafonte, Ben Jealous, Jesse, Marian, so many.

It is all good -- that we have both events to compare. :toast:

[Duer 157099]

45. I just saw some of the crowd photos in the other thread!

Now *THAT* was exciting to see! Normal, rational signage! Like a breath of fresh clean Spring air, non-violent rhetoric, about peace and jobs and taking care of our citizens, it's like a moment of rationale thinking entered DC in a crowd!

:woot:

[EFerrari]

50. Whenever I look at Jesse, I remember being at UC Berkeley

and having the feeling that our anti-apartheid protests were collapsing and then, he showed up to re-energize the whole community.

And then, that community held its ground and became the first domino that led to the collapse of not our protests but of support for SA apartheid in this country.

That's what I see when I look at the Rev. Jackson -- Sproul Plaza and a bunch of dispirited people perking up.

:hi:

[Duer 157099]

54. I'm desperately seeking the silver lining, so I'll grab on and hold tight

I know that what you're describing has happened in history, so clearly it's possible. That's another reason that learning about history is a good thing.

Cheeers! The human spirit thrives on hope.

[EFerrari]

55. It wasn't all that long ago. And if we could do that

you, with so much more info and better tech, surely will do better.

:)

[Duer 157099]

60. I know. Frankly, nothing in this country's history was all that long ago

It's shocking to remember that sometimes. A mere few hundred years.

[jillan]

12. It's just not as exciting without all the costumes!! Seriously - the difference was is this was a

rally for everyone. So many different types of people came out to speak.

It wasn't some Pundit and his female equivalent leading the whole thing.

It was real.

[tabatha]

13. I thought it was GREAT!

I loved the speakers; the variety of people; some of the speakers were outstanding!

It was far far far far better than that terrible elevator-music beck thang.

[stevedeshazer]

48. Sure, if there had been about 15X more people there.

You won't find me praising Beck.

[KoKo]

138. These are REAL PEOPLE...not "Paid Fors" by "Corporatists. Need to Remember That!

Because "It's the Truth!"

[Quantess]

14. It couldn't possibly make us look worse than the Beck rally made RWers look.

They won that prize.

[Change Happens]

16. You seem to be one misearable person, get out, go to the beach today...

Go for a walk outside, get some fresh air...

[WeekendWarrior]

17. "We're really in trouble here." ??

I don't get that statement at all. How are we in trouble?

I get really sick of this sky is falling stuff.

EVERYTHING you see on cable TV news is an invention. It's ginned up drama. Why do any of us swallow the bait and start getting hysterical.

We'll be just fine next month. We'll lose a few seats but retain power.

And, frankly, I don't think ANY rally is going to make much of a difference. Hell, the media is barely covering it, so what difference does it really make?

[stevedeshazer]

76. "EVERYTHING you see on cable TV news is an invention. It's ginned up drama."

Of course it is. Unfortunately, people believe it and vote accordingly.

[Puregonzo1188]

What exactly were you expecting?

I've only seen bits and pieces on TV, I was planning on attending, but I ended up getting my appendix out instead.

[stevedeshazer]

How about more than about ten thousand?

Sorry about your appendix.

Predictions of 300,000+.

And how hard was it to find on TV? MSNBC and C-Span. Few watch those.

Sorry to burst the bubble of so many here who had high hopes and expectations. I did, too.

But to deny that this event failed to meet expectations is denial.

[Hannah Bell]

59. there were way more than 10,000 people there.

[stevedeshazer]

66. Okay.

How many?

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6911YX20101002

Denise Gray-Felder, a spokeswoman for the organizers of the rally, estimated that 175,000 to 200,000 people attended.

----

Now, we had people who GUARANTEED a turnout of 300K +.

Looking at the pics, I doubt it was 1/2 even the optimistic estimate by Ms. Gray-Felder.

It just amazes me that so many here can't look at this objectively.

It didn't meet expectations.

Why do people go to such lengths to deny that?

[Hannah Bell]

134. i agree it didn't meet expectations, at least mine, but there were at least as many as at the

bagger-fest. which was about 80k.

[Puregonzo1188]

80. From what I saw on CSPAN the attendance was way over 10,000--though maybe not

300,000. And what rally gets covered on stations besides CSPAN? Even the Beck rally was only on CSPAN. Honestly, they don't normally cancel network programming for rallies.

It was more attended/widely covered than any Left-wing rally in the last 3 years. I'm just curious, how often do you go to rallies/what is your point of comparison?

I wish I had been there. And I would have been had my appendix not ruptured.

[B Calm]

20. I get what you're doing here, but some don't seem to get it!

[NewEngland4Obama]

41. oh we get it...

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

21. ''We're just going to be vilified in the right-wing press for it. It's a loser. The teabaggers and

the media are going to have a field day with this.". That's your problem right there.

[B Calm]

26. You really think the press will say anything. . .

[EFerrari]

30. We've been going around the presstitutes for years now.

And making gains in the media.

Hello?

Amy, Thom, Laura, Ed were all there. And since I'm at work, maybe others I didn't catch.

This is the future. The WaHo and the NYTs lose readers every day and we gain them. This even will be a turning point in that regard, betcha.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

33. Of course not that my point. Either A) They'll ignore it or B) They'll do what they always do

and shit all over it. People can't live their lives based on what some overpaid TelePrompter reader or paid shill is going to say. If that's the case what's the point of even leaving our houses in the morning.

[butterfly77]

114. You really believe they .

won't after all they have done and not done????

[B Calm]

135. Oh it will be mentioned on MSNBC and C Span, but don't hold your breath

if you expect the evening news to carry any of it!

[stevedeshazer]

34. No. That's OUR problem, Guy.

We're all in this together, folks.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

39. No, your issue seems to be that you care what so and so is going to say. If people

rally they're gonna talk shit if they don't they'll do the same. This is nothing new. People got together they seemed to have a good time. It was for a good cause so I and many others really don't care what some psychotic shock jock or beltway dickhead has to say about it. If anything they won't want to show the photos because it truly shows what this country looks like. Beck shit all over the legacy of Martin Luther King with his Scared Confederate Retiree rally. I'm glad that the heirs of that legacy got together even if it is for one afternoon. I think you're reading way too much into this.

[butterfly77]

117. +1

[hollowdweller]

118. Have to agree

Who cares about the right wing press. We democrats tend to use the right wing as a sounding board too much.

When some asshole like Colin Powell or some other moderate likes something we think that's some sort of validation. Do the republicans say "look Bill Clinton likes our idea too"???? Hell no they view things thru their own lens and that makes them look stronger.

We gotta stop worrying about the RW and be democrats.

[Hissyspit]

22. Well, I'm here and it was successful.

But I wasn't expecting too much. I think the message was not clarified enough.

There were as many if not more people at the height of the day as were at the Beck rally.

I'll be here for the Colbert and Stewart rallies, too, and between the two/three of them, the Beck rally will fade to nothing, and maybe that's the best we can expect.

[unapatriciated]

51. we could only attend one and will be in DC on the 30th,

Is anyone planning a DU meet-up?

[Hissyspit]

53. I haven't heard of one, but that's a good idea. Although

I will be meeting with non-DU friends and going to a house-warming party in Baltimore that night.

[unapatriciated]

67. enjoy your evening...

I was thinking of trying to meet up at the rally. Maybe getting there early at a designated time and place. Hubby lame54 has never been to DC and I have only been there once a very long time ago (yikes I was only 17) so we do not know the area well enough to plan a meet-up. We are staying at the The Madison, hope it is close enough to walk. It seemed to be only a mile (which is a short walk for us) or so from all the touristy things we want to do and see.

[stevedeshazer]

71. That is exactly what I am saying.

The expectations were waaayy out ahead of the reality.

I appreciate that you were there, and I would have been there, too if 3,000 miles and limited cash weren't obstacles.

[socialist_n_TN]

116. You keep talking about expectations.

WHAT expectations? I didn't have any expectations for crowd size. I had HOPES.

As to crowd size, it looked to me like it was a LOT bigger than the Beckapalooza. I just judged it by looks, but stage right at the Beck thing was VERY scattered. Today it was pretty dense. The rest of it looked about the same. I did see one judgment of crowd size from one of the participants of 175,000+. That's decent and more than Beck's group. Now what I'd LIKE to see is the CBS third party group that estimated the Beck crowd. I'd like to see what they have to say. It sounded like they had a objective METHOD to measure crowd size.

I do agree with one of your postulations. It didn't seem to be too well organized. I myself tried to get in touch with the local office twice this week for some guidance about travel, etc. and nobody called me back until Friday afternoon. And they were leaving in a couple of hours. If I had had all week to prepare, I could have gone, but I didn't, so I didn't.

[pa28]

23. Don't seal up the doors and turn on the gas just yet.

We have a month before the election and the public is just now starting to pay attention. What happened today was just a predictably lame rally that will be forgotten by everybody, including the critics, in a day or two.

[stevedeshazer]

42. LOL, no I'm not there yet. I think we can win in November.

:)

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bbinacan]

27. Sadly, I agree. n/t

[peacetalksforall]

29. There were many diverse people coming together to state what they know best - their cause(s). It

was perfect. And I don't think they had expectations about numbers - I did not get that impressions. It was Open House and for me - it was perfect. I think everyone who is leading a cause made some quick arrangements and re-arrangements and many citizens did the same.

The Obama Administraton is not handling one cause - there are many causes spread across that pool. It was perfect.

No one was on TV like FOX News was and all six of the other Republiclown networks did not hype it like Glen's Insult Show.

I am proud. It was a quick counter to the Insult of the Year before it gets cold. It was perfect.

Thanks to Ed Shultz and everyone. We heard from the true and we heard from some new. It was perfect.

[blogslut]

31. Dude..

Really?

[old mark]

35. The thing was we got almost zero publicity and coverage by the MSM.

Maybe we should start paying some of the networks under the table like the GOP does and things might be a little more "fair"...

On the other hand, the thing was to get Liberals/Democrats to vote, and I hope we are doing that...and I don't give a damn if the GOP is aware we are all voting or not, in fact I'd love it to be a surprise when they lose again.

mark

[EFerrari]

43. We got almost zero publicity and it didn't matter.

Imagine if the corporate media ignored one of our events and nobody noticed.

They are making themselves obsolete. :)

[KoKo]

73. It would be very hard to get "Liberal Dem or DLC Dem Donors" to support this because it looks bad

for Obama that folks are there trying to "collect on"...."Change you Can Believe In!" It's an embarassment for Dem Party to see something like this...so they must stand back. If they "stand back" then their Media Sympathizers and Wall St. Sympathizers..don't donate and don't promote.

[EFerrari]

74. We don't need them. It's very much the other way around.

:)

[old mark]

136. YES! I looked over several newspaper articles online this morning -

many were pretty negative, stating that "Beck's Rally drew more people"...Well, Beck's Rally still has more media coverage than ours did...and we did damn well.

The right tends ti lie more when they are scared, and they are doing it right now.

Actually, I'd really love them to be completely surprised when we win in November! I love to see them stomp around and whine! :rofl:


mark:patriot:

[NewEngland4Obama]

38. Sounds like the Republicans are getting scared. So far its

been pretty good!!!

[hlthe2b]

49. we're Dems, so it goes without saying there's always at least one

Debbie Downer ;)

[A-Schwarzenegger]

56. Ding!

Dong! :*

[stevedeshazer]

58. I don't identify with Debbie Downer.

I'm more like Negative Nancy.

:hi:

[hlthe2b]

69. I give you credit for the sense of humor...

;)

I just think your expectations may have been a bit too high. Frankly, I was worried it would be poorly attended and thus an embarrassing bust. I don't believe that to be the case at all. As for being the most inspiring rally I've ever seen, well, no. We can certainly agree on that.

[Mimosa]

57. George Clinton and Parliament..is that the best they could do?

I don't think a rally like this means anything. I don't even know who came up with it.

These days only prosperous people are able to make time and afford travelling.

[EFerrari]

61. Are you kidding? Thom Hartmann and Laura Flanders

have been interviewing high ranking officers of big unions, of civil rights organizations, independent journalists.

It is true that travel takes money. But the turnout today by community leaders was just outstanding.

:shrug:

[ProSense]

63. "The attendance is way below expectations."

"It is an embarrassment."

Tens Of Thousands Of Progressives Rally At The Lincoln Memorial For Jobs, Justice And Education

Teamsters March on Washington for Jobs

‘America is One Nation and We Signify that Nation’

WSJ:

The U.S. park police didn't release crowd numbers, in keeping with the agency's policy. The event permit called for 100,000 people, and rally sponsors paid for Washington's public transportation system to open early Saturday morning. As of 1 p.m. the crowd had filled, but not packed, much of the National Mall.

[Tx4obama]

85. Preliminary satellite estimates put the crowd size at 175,000 to 200,000 at about noon EST

Preliminary satellite estimates put the crowd size at 175,000 to 200,000 at about noon EST
http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/heres-your-enthusiasm-gap-one-nation-

[Cattledog]

64. Another whinny thread by OP. NT

[stevedeshazer]

75. I like to 'whinny', what's wrong with that?

There's at least two or three just like me.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

127. You got the wrong end of the whinny.

:)

[opihimoimoi]

65. RW NEGATIVE MEME....they keep trying but no cigars yet

[Ikonoklast]

70. You keep on saying 'we'.

'We'are not in trouble.

[Lucian]

72. I find your OP to be an embarrassment.

[stevedeshazer]

77. Sorry you are embarrassed by something you didn't write.

That's a new one.

[KoKo]

79. The "OP" misses that this was a rally that was totally "unfunded" except by those who came to it....

whereas the TeaParty Stuff has BIG MEDIA CAMPAIGN AND BUZZ.

This is ordinary people. Folks here on DU and elsewhere trashed "United for Peace and Justice" and "A.N.S.W.E.R" for all the marches they sponsored around the USA to stop the Invasion of Iraq and after we Invaded Iraq the mass marches went on for years. But, there was backlash by Dems here and the Dem Party about it.

Folks trashed both organizations and they eventually got into a turf war and aren't able to organize anything these days that matched what they did for those of us out here who were so angry we didn't know what to do. They had the permits they had the organizers...but they are both more for Global Human Rights and that didn't sit well with many folks here and across the Democratic Landscape so they trashed the organizations and much of the funding for both got cut when Kerry ran.

We in the Dem Party on the Left (which used to be mainstream) have tough times to deal with. Money cut waiting for Obama to fulfill his promise and a Media that is the worst it's ever been ...even worse than the "McCarthy Era" where you were put on a "List."

Anyone here who thinks they AREN'T on a LIST is a DREAMER. It's worse than McCarthy...and it could go even darker without loosly coalesced groups who showed up in DC Today.

I'm not figuring Comedians are going to save us...but ordinary people. The Comedians will get coverage and Lookers but the GRASSROOTS are those people who turned out in DC Today! Underfunded but sincere...trying to get Obama to listen to them...because they are hurting and disappointed that this Administration promised so much...but the delivery seems to not be working out well for them. Maybe if the Obama Administration/Dem Party had Obama's back then there would have been huge push back over the Negative Tea Party/Koch/Murdoch funded outrage.

But....the fact is...Our Dem's let us down... The DLC Dems/Wall St. Wing of the Party...let us down..

Time and Again...they let us down. And, they have our Presiden'ts EAR... So what are we to do? :shrug: We get rag tag groups together and do the best we can. Even though we have no FUNDING..for a PEOPLE's MOVEMENT...that didn't stop other groups in Civilizations HISTORY from getting CHANGE. Most times, though it mean things got so bad there was a REVOLUTION where people die...innocents die and sometimes the Dictators and Fascists gain the upper hand because the imbalances are so huge in the struggle.

[stevedeshazer]

82. I haven't missed that point at all

In fact, I don't disagree with most of what you said.

I think you missed my point...this was a poorly organized effort that unrealistically raised expectations and did not meet them.

[SargeUNN]

88. again I have to point this out to you

You certainly are entitled to your opinion and the issue I take with you is that you tried to claim it as if it wasn't an opinion but factual. Then you assume that the topic would be locked (note it hasn't been) and yet at this point you haven't stated you were wrong on that. I would be more impressed if you would correct these things just to show you are fair about things.

[proud2BlibKansan]

78. Were you there? I was and I strongly disagree with you.

[HughMoran]

84. I was hoping you'd say more

I searched the thread knowing you attended - please expand your comments...

[11 Bravo]

81. Horse ...

shit.

[Beaverhausen]

83. OK, so what was the "unified message" at Beck's rally?

the point that our side is made up of all of these different groups is a GOOD thing.

[B Calm]

97. That when geese fly over it's a damn miracle!

[HughBeaumont]

104. Honesty, did he HAVE a message?

Ours was "Jobs, Education, Equality". Not really that difficult.

[Zax2me]

107. Trick question...

There was no unified message at Beck 'rally'...!

[phasma ex machina]

113. Restoring "Honor" AKA "Republican majorities."

It's easier to unite people around a perceived common enemy.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

The only thing more dangerous than failure is success.

[deaniac21]

87. I could literaly feel the excitement while watching.

[KansasVoter]

89. Jesus. You must be drunk!

[KoKo]

94. I wondered about that myself...Maybe the "OP" is a die hard Wall Streeter..and can't get Over It!

CHUCKLES! They really do send Wall Streeters over here to give "Their Opinion" thinking we are "Clueless and Gullible."

Amazing! What a way to FUND AN ELECTION!

[Imajika]

90. I knew the crowd estimate would end up being the main story...

...so I watched pretty closely on CSPAN, MSNBC and clips on CNN and online news.

From what I saw, the event seemed to peak between 1-2PM. CBS commissioned a crowd estimate for Beck's rally:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20014993-503544.html

So CBS says Beck got approx 87,000. From what I could tell, and comparing what I could see from the video of this crowd compared with Beck's crowd, I would have to say Beck's rally was considerably bigger. My guess is that this rally had around half the attendance of the Beck rally - so around 43,500. Round up and say 45K. 45K is not bad at all. Considering the months and months of promotion Beck's rally got and all the money poured in to get their people out compared with how little promotion our rally got, and I think the turnout wasn't bad.

As far as the speakers go, I thought they were really good the first 1 hour or so. It felt like the crowd broke up far too early though and left some of the speakers later in the day talking to a very diminished crowd. I felt a little bad for George Clinton because there was so few people remaining when they played at the end.

I agree, we really need to speak on one topic with one voice. I know we had like 400 groups turning out people, and each group wants a slot, but it is just too much. It reminds me of the anti war rallies that fall off the main point most people think the rally will be about, and degenerate into "free mumia", "free the Cuban 5", etc, etc. For these rallies to really be effective, we need to speak with one voice on one topic. Perhaps the theme could just be "No going back" or something like that. We pick the very best, most influential speakers and give them more time to really give significant, newsworthy speeches, then end the rally earlier so we don't have images of people leaving during speeches and large chunks of lawn for a couple hours.

If you watched just the last hour or so, I can see how you'd be a bit depressed. However, if you watched the first hour or two, I don't see anything to be upset about. The initial speakers were inspirational, the crowd looked good, and the diversity looked great and stands in stark contrast to Beck's whitefolksonly rally.

A rally like this also helps with the GOTV effort. It is like a trial run for the election. Gets all of our groups coordinated and ready to work together. Overall, I think this rally was a pretty big success. You've no reason to be disappointed in my opinion.

[stray cat]

92. Progressives like to think they are more important and more persecuted than they are

[inna]

95. Huh?

:wtf:

[HughBeaumont]

105. Yep, I don't know why he's still here either.

Classic H&R artist, just like the other non-progressive I reserve this subject line for.

[KoKo]

102. Seriously! And can you give "Evidence" that would support your Post? Links?

Any commentary that would reveal why your "gut" is saying this is so? :shrug:

[Marr]

110. I can't believe you haven't been banned yet.

You're transparent as hell.

[uncommon]

93. From Reuters:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6911YX20101002

"Denise Gray-Felder, a spokeswoman for the organizers of the rally, estimated that 175,000 to 200,000 people attended."

Sounds like a hell of a turnout.

[Zax2me]

108. Of course the organizers are not reliable sources

The glenn beck math whiz coalition said they had 2 million.
The numbers don't matter to me anyway. Todays message was spot on and not preceded by months of promotion form corporate and media interests. The only thing I regret is not being there today.

[Zax2me]

109. Of course the organizers are not reliable sources

The glenn beck math whiz coalition said they had 2 million.
The numbers don't matter to me anyway. Todays message was spot on and not preceded by months of promotion form corporate and media interests. The only thing I regret is not being there today.

[Name removed]

98. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[greytdemocrat]

100. So...

At the end of the day, what got accomplished here in DC to create Jobs?

Anyone???

[underpants]

101. The alternative to the status quo does not have to be perfect

remember that

[KoKo]

103. Don't know who is looking for "Perfect" but many of us are looking for SOMETHING ELSE than THIS!

. Yep...Repub owned Koch/Murdoch/Wall St. Media promoted Tea Bag "gathering"...but Dems don't have any

Edited on Sat Oct-02-10 05:55 PM by KoKo
folks pushing this. Labor and others were told to have a "low voice." That there was labor there at all is a good thing...but when you are told to "cool it" you aren't going to get the publicity this should have gotten. MSNBC did cover it...to be fair...I didn't check CNN because I rarely watch them.

Ed Schultz was promoting it on his radio show heavily. But, without funding for a blitz of the media and a split Dem Party...most folks would seem to prefer a comedian's gathering over the "regular folks" like Black Church folks who are trying to send Obama a message and labor which is torn.

The publicity sucked...because we just don't have a Murdoch, Koch Bros., Mellon-Scaife and many Big Guns on Wall St. promoting..

What a mess. I was proud to see all those people out there though! For that number of people to get on buses or drive to be there says there's something going on that could be built upon. Maybe more "staying power" than "Tea Party/Baggers" for the long haul ahead.

At least we should hope.
Bring Back our Fighting Donkey! :kick:

[deutsey]

112. And I heard the sky was falling too.

:sarcasm:

Look, I agree that it could have been a stronger, more compelling demonstration. Still, thousands of progressives came together for a much needed rally. I'll take that. We've been beaten down for so long, it's nice to see something that brings us together to advocate our values on a national platform.

Maybe from this small seed something bigger and stronger will grow. That's up to all of us to make happen.

[dionysus]

115. this thread will one day be looked upon as an EPIC FAIL

[ellie]

121. Really?

From the photos, it looks like a lot of people were there. The weather looks nice. It is cold and rainy here.

[Raine]

122. I don't' know why you are vilifying Ed Shultz

that really pisses me off to see someone who knocked himself out and then all he gets is insults for his work! :argh: Sometimes I wonder why I can barely stand to come here much anymore than I see this kind of crap and I know why. :-(

[EFerrari]

137. Actually, up thread the OP says he likes Ed Schultz.

(I hope that's the spelling of his name.)

[RiverStone]

124. What were you hoping to accomplish by complaining about the rally?

WTF? :shrug:


I say kuddos to any progressive that took the time and effort to show up! I see no down side when people of passion get involved in the political process.

[handmade34]

125. I was there and it certainly was not a waste of my time... n/t

[Loudmxr]

128. That sounds like the complaint of every ex liberal I have ever talked to.

Let me first point out a difference between them and us. If you speak with anyone from the conservative side who was involved with left wing politics in their youth you will hear the same story. It will go something like this:

"Then there were the meetings that dragged on for hours... we had to hear from the marxists and the trans genders. The trans genders who were gay and the trans genders who were straight then the lesbians who dressed as men then the lesbos who dressed as women. Everyone HAD to have their say and we all had to sit there and treat them as equals and hear them out.GOD in heaven couldn't someone make a decision and just go forward without hearing EVERYONE out!!!"

That is their authoritarian self coming out. They just want a leader to tell them what to do, where to go, then they will go out and do it. It is really quite amusing in it's similarity across many conversations i have had.

Yeah we are really different and we have a lot of things to say. We are not authoritarians. To put on a "good show" is like herding cats. I have done that. Once. Three of them.

It is a strength in groundroots politics but a weakness on TV.

[StandingInLeftField]

140. +1

Very perceptive.

[w8liftinglady]

129. my partner,a school teacher,and I watched...and were moved to tears

anyone with one ounce of compassion,with one person who could benefit from public education,with one family member who is looking for significant employment...who feel they have lost their soul...couldn't experience this without a change in their opinion,in their inspiration to acheive more for their nation.It regenerated me...and inspired him as nothing has before.

[Vickers]

131. Your concern is noted. n/t

[LiberalAndProud]

132. You seem to think people will pay attention.

I don't think most people paid any attention to Beck's rally. And most people won't pay any attention to this rally either.

I do think measurably more people will be intrigued by the Stewart-Colbert rally, but in the grand scheme of things, still only a ripple on the pond. Your expectations were high considering that most people are too broke and too busy and too worried about making it day to day to undertake a pilgrimage to D.C. in order to ... what? I managed to miss the point somewhere.

In a word, nobody cares.

[RedCloud]

133. Well it did rain like the great flood on the east Coast for many days right up to it.

I would imagine:

That makes planning harder, seating squishier, leaving your unattended rain soaked property a question and a myriad of other possibilities I cannot even imagine.

One problem I do notice is how many people on the left willingly eat the shit the right calls news. Give it 48 hours. I notice quite a few of the conservative hate bloggers are focusing on the numbers showing up, almost verbatim. So remember all the shit they have pulled and give it 48 hours.

[Malikshah]

139. Wow. Someone is feeling lonely. Crave attention much? At least put one's

points in semi-serious way. This looks like a stream of consciousness screed, stopped on occasion when the OP tries to remember which buttons to push.

Not helpful for any intelligent, adult discourse. Do try harder next time. Or let the adults talk uninterrupted.

[StandingInLeftField]

141. I was there.

From very early in the morning until about 3:00 pm. I think one reason many people left is because they had to make a day trip out of it, due to financial reasons. I myself took Amtrak overnight and then had to catch the train back that evening - so about 37 hours without sleep. I heard many others say they couldn't afford to get a hotel room, but made the sacrifices necessary to attend the rally.

There were some problems with the PA (when aren't there problems with the PA? lol.) However, I thought the majority of the speakers stayed on-topic i.e. Jobs, Education, Justice. Each made a point of the necessity of cohesiveness going into November. Every one was smiling, talking, laughing, singing. The UAW was kibitzing with the SEIU; the Dems were chatting with the Socialists (I counted 13 Socialist parties); everyone seemed genuinely enthused.

If the only positive to come out of the rally was a renewed sense of purpose and conviction for those of us under the Big Tent, then the rally was a unconditional success.