This Rally IS The Most Brilliant Indictment Of The MSM That We've Ever Seen

[stopbush]

Stewart and Colbert are hitting everything that the media holds dear, from misunderestimating crowd sizes to the presentation of awards.

I thought the Mythbusters "Wave" count was brilliant. They will be able to go back to the video and do a scientific analysis of the amount of people who were there that will give an accurate estimation of the crowd, which will - of course - be at least twice as large as the estimate given in the MSM.

The crowd - while largely white - is also predominantly YOUNG, putting the lie to the idea that the young don't care. Or maybe the crowd isn't younger. Maybe it's just healthier than what one sees at the typical tea bag rally.

The "Greatest Country" song was brilliant.

The MSM hasn't a clue as to what Stewart is about. They hadn't a clue as to what he would do with this rally. Well, the joke is on them, because as Stewart is proving, they are the joke.

[Fumesucker]

1. K&R up to zero or some negative number..

[tabatha]

2. I think Colbert just coined a new word.

[Ruby the Liberal]

3. MSNBC: "Comedy Central's park permit puts the crowd estimate at 60,000."

There is a BOATLOAD more people than that there. By the way they noted "park permit", is this related to permit fees?

Many people were reporting that the metro was still jam packed and the HuffPost busses were still in traffic when they did the wave. That was a brilliant, brilliant move.

[whathehell]

4. This looks to me like the biggest televised rally since

Obama's cmapaign!B-)

[axollot]

101. That is exactly what I was thinking - the one he did in MN in 08! n/t

[whathehell]

118. self-delete n/t

[Qutzupalotl]

21. Yes, the permit was before the event. NPS estimate of crowd is 300,000

quoted on NBC News.

[SnakeEyes]

30. Interesting that NPS offered an estimate

Would be the first one they've given since the 1990s.

Wonder if they're going to start doing it again and say screw whomever disagrees with us and complains.

[AtheistCrusader]

77. Park Service Started doing it again in 2008.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-01-19-crowd_N.htm

[spooky3]

112. According to a more recent article, Congress has directed them not to do so.

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/10/30/counting-the-crowd-hard-to-do-for-jon-stewarts-rally/

[PatrynXX]

44. considering the scientific count of the Beckkk rally was 79,000

or something. and nobody really paid much attention to Beckkk. They were all doing their own thing. But Stewart and Colbert. They are worth listening to. I still feel that if the Tea Party pulls out some sort of win, they can't do much except sit on their asses and people hopefully will finally be fully awake and pull a 1984 on the Republicans. (landslide)

[KoKo]

42. I taped it and they figured doing the body count vs. Mall Space..150,000.

That's a pretty good number of folks there. Probably they were up all night biting nails worrying how this would work out. Imagine trying to do a Comedy/Return Sanity when you wouldn't know what kind of crowd your audience would be. It's like trying to write a script for people in the dark, with no idea of who will show up and your "Club" which is really an OPEN PLACE! It had to be incredibly hard for them to get this all together and to try to make it work. Improvisation probably took over when they looked over that Mass Audience that Filled the Mall all the way BACK TO THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.

It was an unbelievable crowd. But, there have been huge Anti-War Crowds that filled that Mall way back to the Washington Monument and the media said "A Few Thousand gathered today at the DC Mall to Protest ...."

I was glad they did some Crowd Action that caused the Cameras to have to actually SCAN that Mass of People. It was very clever what they did.

Since I'm still watching the taping I did of it...I'm not able to give more opinion about how it all fit together or where it will go...but it WAS A HAPPENING... I hope the spirit there will last and be the sign of a "new movement" that we know not yet where it will go...but it will go somewhere.

I just hope it wasn't a "One Off."

[Subdivisions]

70. I'm out at the lake and have been fishing all day. Is there going to be another

opportunity to see this either online or on the TV machine?

[Butterflies]

104. you can watch it on C-Span's website

They have the whole 3 hours and 6 minutes available to stream.

[droidamus2]

71. My guess

When you apply for a permit for an event you would have to estimate how many people. That scale may go up to 60000 and anything over that is considered a major event that is treated differently. Just a guess though.

[demwing]

74. That number is the estimate Stewart and Colbert gave

when submitting paperwork for the permit. I don't believe there are fees involved. Here's a good summary of the steps to getting such a permit:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2051467_organize-protest-washington-dc.html

[Ruby the Liberal]

119. Thanks! Interesting information.

[devilgrrl]

5. I wish I could keep pushing the recommend button

eom

[AnotherMother4Peace]

67. Recommend for devilgrrl

[devilgrrl]

6. Did you just see the review of the fear mongering "news" clips? Genius!!!

You so called it! :thumbsup:

[blondeatlast]

8. And about 90% from WHICH network? Hmm... nt

[lobodons]

25. Big Eddy clips

Were all in response to the FAUX NOISE lies.

[mzmolly]

28. Yep. And how does one answer

insanity and bigotry, quietly? I don't think you can. Unless of course, you're a satirist.

[pokerfan]

7. The live feed worked great

http://www.comedycentral.com/dcrallylive

[fishbulb703]

9. You know their bosses are Viacom right?

Just because you have an illusion of dissent does not mean anything in terms of changing the status quo.

[stopbush]

59. Just like the same political system that elected Obama elected bush, right?

What's your point?

[Octafish]

107. Illegal, immoral and unnecessary wars continue. Rich get richer off the status quo.

And the poor as a group and the nation as a whole get poorer.
The middle class, good jobs, justice and the Bill of Rights dissappearing.
All as a result of the way things are run by Washington and Wall Street.

You know, stuff like that.

[Aramchek]

10. it's hilarious watching these MSM tools repeating "this is just entertainment, how quaint"

They are scared to death.

[malaise]

14. It's very entertaining

laughing at M$Greedia because they just don't get it.

[FailureToCommunicate]

43. "They are scared to death" Really? See post #9

[blondeatlast]

11. "The MSM hasn't a clue as to what Stewart is about." Some of them do--and

that's why they HILARIOUSLY try to criticize him.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

12. TURN OFF THE MSM!!!...DING DONG THE WITCH IS DEAD!!!

[glitch]

69. +infinity. Do it and you'll live longer and happier lives. nt

[tavalon]

98. Ain't that the truth!

TeeVee free for over a decade. I'm not saying I completely unplugged because I'm here on the tubes, but I choose here.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

115. !

;) Did it a long time ago.

Excellent advice. Too bad it is not heeded as well as it ought.

[lunatica]

13. Have some teabaggers been smart enough to turn on Colbert yet?

Or do they still think this is a real debate?

[MadMaddie]

57. After all of these years they still haven't figured out Colbert's

show is pure satire....

[ElsewheresDaughter]

93. No they still think he really is on their side..seriously too many think he is a Conservative

[tabatha]

15. Please end with Cat Stevens !!!!!!

[Tanelorn]

32. Peace train would be nice

[spooky3]

48. He sang it. Colbert (I think - we had trouble hearing) interrupted with Ozzy Osbourne

as though it were a war of peace vs. metal.

[Myrina]

60. "Peace Train" (us) vs. "Crazy Train" (Teabaggers)

:hi:

[eilen]

83. Then they ended with Soul Train

and everybody danced.

[Myrina]

99. ... "Love Train", bythe O'Jays, actually.

:hi:

[eilen]

120. I know, it will alway be "Soul train" to me

from the Saturday morning dance show.....

[spooky3]

53. check this out:

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/yusuf-islam-aka-cat-stevens-and-ozzy-osbourne-battle-at-sanity-rally/

[lumberjack_jeff]

62. That was completely awesome. n/t

[Enthusiast]

90. That was fucking awesome!

Wonderful. Maybe the sane will prevail.

[Chimichurri]

121. Jeez, Mediaite's comment section is swarming with lunatic right wingers

I hope they're learning something at their after school job as troll.

[siligut]

16. It gives one hope.

The M$M seemed like such a monster. This rally, Stewart and Colbert, they are rising above the hypocrisy.

[Enthusiast]

91. Good way to put it.

"Rising above the hypocrisy."

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Those video montages were brilliant.

[rocktivity]

18. Hopefully, C-span will be doing a replay later on today.

:bounce:
rocktivity

[Tippy]

19. 8:00 Eastern Time...replay

[Arugula Latte]

20. You have a point about the healthiness of the crowd.

I think "giant beer belly" is one prerequisite for being a 'Bagger...Maybe the sane people will just outlive the 'Baggers.

[Missy Vixen]

38. I'm fat

I'm not a Teabagger. Then again, it really screws up the broad-brush generalizations around here to note that tiny little fact.

>Maybe the sane people will just outlive the 'Baggers<

Maybe, maybe not.

Did some of you even listen to what Stewart had to say today?

[TheeHazelnut]

65. well said

Love all the comments (all the way up to Al Franken) about Limbaugh's fat when we have Michael Moore on our side. Fat isn't what's despicable about Rush Limbaugh. But some people like to use any excuse to get in their jabs at people they don't like looking at in public.

[eridani]

82. Sneering at fat is a latte liberal thing, that just reinforces the support

--that lower income people give to people like Limbaugh and Beck. Fat is a class thing, people.

[Eric Condon]

116. The Al Franken thing was a specific point

made after Limbaugh referred to Chelsea Clinton as "the White House dog." Franken specifically said he never would've gone there had it not been for that. He specifically made a point of making his book title an ad hominem attack.

[BrklynLiberal]

52. Irony thy name is Tbagger

At the RWingnut rallies, one always sees some very unhealthy looking people, in wheelchairs, with oxygen tanks..very, very likely on Medicaid or Medicare...holding signs that demand that the govt keep their hands off health care.

Talk about voting against one's own best interests...

[WillyT]

22. HUGE K & R !!!

:kick:

[Motown_Johnny]

23. woot, I got to be the 100th rec !!!!!

nice post, keep it up

[Poboy]

24. contested -The Colbert correspondents dinner comes in close.

That performance was epic.

[stopbush]

45. Except that today's event had the added dimension of adding 250,000+ REAL people

to the event.

Colbert did real work for the good guys in his appearance, but today's event moved things onto a whole new level or criticism and parody.

In 2006, Colbert stood alone against the cretins. Today, he stood with 250,000+ against the cretins.

[Poboy]

63. The man went into the lions den ALONE, looked them all in the eyes, and called them OUT!

It was devastating.Even I as a spectator in my living room I was uncomfortable at times.
Now that I think about it,

Rereading the specific title in the OP, I'm going to say for the time it occurred, that shit was, and still is the MOAB.

[Poll_Blind]

79. I watched that too- Colbert has balls the size of Jupiter, EACH.

If America last another 50 years, 50 years from now some researcher is going to be digging through video and come across that- and the historical context in which it was made- and it's going to blow them away.

And oh, as the memories come flooding back, the fucking delicious look on his hagwife's face. She had the "You mean you let a negro use our bathroom?!?" look on her face the whole time.

I don't know if a politician has ever been so poignantly skewered to his face, essentially at his behest in American politics as what Colbert did to him during that dinner.

PB

[MadMaddie]

58. That was a thing of beauty wasn't it? Fond Memories...

[Poboy]

64. That was unbelievable. Stunning. -nt

[90-percent]

97. Correspondents Dinner

Stephen's performance was one of the most courageous acts of truth and patriotism and courage of the entire lost Bush years.

It was one of the most awesome acts of defiance in recent American history.

In that moment Stephen displayed more courage than anything anybody in the Bush White House did in the entire eight years of their putrid existence!

-90% Jimmy

[lonestarnot]

26. Twas most excellent!

[Bitwit1234]

27. Folks we all know that the one thing Sarah Palin is right about

is the fact that the media is LAMESTREAM. But she wants people to believe it favors the liberal side. Why in the world would corporate republican companies publish mostly liberal sayings, liberal rallies and mostly everything liberal. They don't and we all know it. So do the republicans that's why they are constantly beating the drum that it is liberal trying to convince us to what we know is a lie.

[nxylas]

117. They take the liberal side when it's uncontroversial to do so

For example, saying that Martin Luther King was right or that women shouldn't be chained to the kitchen sink might make you a few enemies among the nuttiest teabaggers, but the MSM knows that on the whole, public opinion is on their side, and it doesn't hurt corporate profits to promote a touchy-feely version of anti-racsim or feminism.

[pacalo]

29. As someone who couldn't attend & couldn't watch it live, your OP is appreciated.

I'm very excited about watching it, but in the meantime, the pictures posted are a thrill to look at, but the really informative OP's such as yours are especially nice to read. Thanks!

:hi:

[CRH]

31. Let's just hope the humor and satire, ...

is not too sophisticated for the many.

[Bozita]

33. If the MSM ever had a clue, CNN would never have invited Jon Stewart to "Crossfire"

[pinboy3niner]

34. Stewart said he was very happy with the way it turned out

He and Colbert were taking media questions after it was over, and they ran a clip on MSNBC. I hope we'll get to see more from that session.

Yes, it WAS brilliant--eclipsed Beckkk by light years!

[myrna minx]

35. Of course the self important media wouldn't understand brutal satire of THEM.

:rofl:

[Arugula Latte]

36. Stephen Colbert's brilliant takedown of them at the 2006 Press Corps Dinner

was a perfect example. The corporate media were completely FLUMMOXED that anyone DARED call them out to their smug, arrogant faces.

[rocktivity]

80. If memory serves me correctly

The New York Times pretended that it didn't even happen!

:headbang;
rocktivity

[jonthebru]

84. I enjoy the word flummoxed and use it all the time.

It explains a lot.

[Arugula Latte]

114. It is a good one, isn't it?

Flabbergasted is good, too.

:hi:

[southernyankeebelle]

37. Am 62 yr old and Love watch both programs and watch the rally today.

[cachukis]

39. Can't wait to hear the Sunday morning pundits.

Hope Frank Rich stays up late and writes.

[Bozita]

54. Frank Rich's column is already posted here in GD. - link

It's a beauty!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9423137

[BlancheSplanchnik]

40. You say it well!

YAYYYYYYYYYY!!

[KoKo]

41. There were many "Oldies" there, too. It was a cross current of America......

and DU poster "Hissspit" has photos of clever oldies....and their signs. It was an INCLUSIVE RALLY. Just remember there are Grandparents and Older Parents so concerned about the future of their Grandkids and Kids that as long as they are ambulatory they felt they had to be there..

[stopbush]

46. I said it was predominantly young people.

I'm 56. I imagine that I would qualify as one of the oldies had I been at today's rally.

[pink-o]

113. Me too. I would'[ve been there with bells on, and I'm a month and 1/2 shy of my 56th b'day.

As someone the same age, could you please explain to me how that happened???? I still can't figure out when I got so old!:hi:

[spooky3]

47. Yes, I agree with you. It looked very representative. Plenty of young folks but also

plenty of middle agers and older. I didn't see many who looked in their 30s or in their 80s, and most people wisely left their children at home, but people in every other group were very well-represented. All races, all types of attire, including some very funny costumes and great signs.

[KoKo]

51. Agree...and I think Colbert and Stewart had to be Impressed with the Broad Spectrum

Of folks who got out there and were creative and inspiring in their efforts to make this meaningful.

Look at Long Time DU'er "Hissyspits" photos from "On the Ground" at that Rally....

The MSM is going to give you this "On the Ground View."

From His I-Camera:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9420996

[stopbush]

49. BTW - just checked Yahoo and there isn't a PEEP about today's rally to be found

in their links to news stories. Nothing in their "Today" stories either. I guess the rally isn't as news worthy as "Dion reveals twins names" or "Cute cats play patty cake."

Amazing.

On edit: and yes, they did have plenty of links to Beck's rally the day it happened.

[KoKo]

55. Yahoo is in trouble...gone to the Dark Side...only get stuff from "AP" and we know what they are/n/t

[s-cubed]

50. It was great, and I am so glad I went. But, a lot of people couldn't

hear or see anything. There were no Jumbotrons spaced along the mall, with additional speakers, so unless you were near the front, you couldn't hear. We were back a ways, and could hear most of what was said/sung, but we still missed some. The waves were incredible: you couldn't even hear the people in front for the longest time, then it washed over you, and finally you heard it die out behind you. Also, we could hear chants of "louder, louder", which did no good.
The weather was perfect, the theme was well done and right on target, and Jon's closing statement should be played and replayed all over America.
Peace to all.

[Laurab]

56. K&R! nt

[Zax2me]

61. A difference remains from MSM to fox

While the MSM has faults there remains a huge difference between ABC, MSNBC, CBS and the like, and fox news.
There needs to be a dividing line here between irresponsible reporting and republican talking points reporting, as is the case with fox.
Micro-mini rant over - K&R!

[Enthusiast]

94. Still, ABC, NBC and CBS

frame the argument to favor the GOP/RW every time. Just because they don't foam at the mouth like Beck doesn't mean they aren't one sided and completely unfair. They suck.

[SpiralHawk]

66. Corporate media is not a joke, it is a tragedy

A full on, bent-knee freaking tragedy

[Skittles]

68. correct

but there's nothing wrong with using comedy, and the fame from that comedy, to bring it to national light

[Enthusiast]

95. Right on. nt

[Bragi]

72. The crowd

I was there, and agree the crowd was "mostly white" and young. There were not a lot of African Americans, true, but there were a great many young asian and middle eastern people.

Lots of oldies too, like me. I'm 60 and drove in with friends from Toronto. The young people were amazingly nice to us in all the jostling. I'd do it again in a flash.

Sanity rules, at least for a day.

[madmax]

73. +100 Fantastic and done with such class. nt

[and-justice-for-all]

75. If Stewart ever left the Daily Show, he would run for office...nt

[spooky3]

110. I don't think he would. I think politics would be too constraining for him.

People have to be incredibly patient with all kinds of people and honestly enjoy some of the sausage-making.

And I don't think it would use his best talents to the fullest.

Although he would be great at it and would be a refreshing addition to any political office, I just don't think he would find it as satisfying as other ways he could influence the world.

[Stellar]

76. K & R

Great !!! :thumbsup:

[Stellar]

78. People around the world did Rally's with Jon!

Both American expatriates and foreign fans of "The Daily Show" and its creator, Mr. Stewart, are organizing meet-ups Saturday – everywhere from London to Tel Aviv to Seoul – to concur with the rally on the Washington Mall.
http://tinyurl.com/29tp8q2

*Pics from the rally at Washington Mall...

http://tinyurl.com/25fp796

*Pics from rally in Chicago...

http://tinyurl.com/2fjjbgj

*eta: Video of rally on C-Span.

http://tinyurl.com/2fa5w8t

[HEyHEY]

81. sigh

[DesertDiamond]

85. It got a huge, long segment on whatever TV station was playing at work. YAY!

[apocalypsehow]

86. They didn't "misunderestimating" anything - there weren't many folks there. It was a futile gesture.

The crowd was almost entirely white, and not all that young, at that. Your OP is simply an exercise in wishful thinking.

[madmax]

88. Excellent 'tude. nt

[WinkyDink]

92. Define "weren't many," I dare you.

[Enthusiast]

96. I don't care for your attitude. nt

[spooky3]

105. Were you there? I was and can say you are wrong on all counts.

There were plenty of Asian, African-American, and Latino people around us. There were also a lot of people speaking different languages, as is the case throughout the Washington DC area; coupla guys in front of us were speaking Russian. Lots who weren't young and lots who were. The majority appeared white, non-Latino though nothing close to "almost entirely", and that is the demographic of the metro area (not the city proper) and the nation.

[dogday]

106. My Brother in-law was there and repeated the same thing as you.

right on!

[spooky3]

109. thanks for the backup! Did he have a good time?

[dogday]

111. They had a ball!

Said they met people from Boston and Washington state. It was quite an experience for them. They have never been to any rally like that...

[madmax]

87. Stopbush - fantastic analysis

After all my exuberance calmed down I was planning to post something along the line of what you wrote. However, yours what concise, sweet and hit all the points - BAM!

I would have been too wordy and too much. Nice job.

K&R

[Enthusiast]

89. No question.

The M$M has completely failed.

Look for the right wing to try to emulate Stewart and Colbert in some way. They will fail miserably. The 'conservatives', they can't be funny. They can't show cutting insight because their whole thing is covering up their real agenda. They can't possibly be 'funny' in the tradition of Carlin. This is one huge advantage for those on the left, the people of truth.

[Kurovski]

100. I really enjoyed the show, but I'd say the movie "Network" did it better. (nt)

[stopbush]

108. That's not really the point, is it?

The point is that people need to be made aware of things TODAY, and the only way to do that is to engage in some kind of action TODAY.

What's a more-effective indictment of the MSM going into Tuesday's election? Bringing 250,000+ people to DC for an event that gets media coverage 3 days before an election, or referencing a movie that was made almost 40 years ago?

I don't know. Maybe Stewart could have been more effective had he closed Thursday night's show by saying, "oh, yeah, make sure you rent the movie Network over the weekend. It will help you understand this election."

[Mosaic]

102. Corporate Beltway Media

Is operating on all cylinders now to spin, spin, effing spin for the heartless rethugs to take congress. Stewert did a good job showing the theater of corporate media, but he failed to show the main problem, it is all a monopoly owned by a handful of giant corporations all spinning like mad for the corporate party to win. This manipulation has been going on for well over a year, the infamous, beltway Narrative.

[nannah]

103. my local paper has NO mention of it

neither does the other paper near me..... i am speaking of the Daily Olympian, in Olympia, WA and the Kitsap Sun in Bremerton. very revealing.