When Americans badly needed a few laughs during the Great Depression, a cowboy comic named Will Rogers became a huge star--and influential public figure--by tweaking politicians and announcing, "I don't belong to any organized party, I'm a Democrat."
Now that Democrats and their independent ilk are even more disorganized and disheartened, here comes another comic calling for a "Rally to Restore Sanity" at the Washington Monument on October 30th.
After Glenn Beck's crowd scene at the nation's capital, Jon Stewart is organizing "people who've been too busy to go to rallies, who actually have lives and families and jobs." The effort may be starting out as a parody but could turn into a rallying point to counter Tea Party excesses.
The call to arms starts with the now classic "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!" and goes on to riff on it:
"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."
Stewart, along with Stephen Colbert holding a mock counter-rally, have the star power to draw an enormous crowd, and there will be no shortage of big names eager to join them. A cameo by one from the White House is certainly not out of the question.
Striking back at the Tea Party with reasonable arguments is not likely to sway millions of voters. Holding its excesses up to ridicule may work better
As Will Rogers used to say, "People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing."
Update: As almost 100,000 write on Facebook that they are planning to attend, Democratic gurus, true to their nature, are finding reasons to worry about the Jon Stewart rally, citing "asymmetry" (say what?) between the "zealous" Tea Party turnouts and those who respond to "a very gifted satirist calling for everyone to just chill."
They may have failed to notice that, if Democrats were at any lower temperature this year, they would be eligible for cryogenic storage. Chilling would be hot stuff.
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Important Announcement: We Need You
Many people question what Obama has done, consider these accomplishments:
Decreased the national debt by 8% .
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/04/13/politics/washingtonpost/main6391441.shtml
Though 80% are protected by private health insurance or medicare, the health care insurance
program was created to help protect the rest.
The challenge to solving the unemployment problem is not just creating industries that will
out-source jobs overseas, but to create industries that won't. The old way just doesn't work any more. Do you really think the Republicans are that innovative?
Obama's administration reformed the rules of the Wall Street financial industries. It's not
enough—I agree—but at least the Congress got something positive accomplished amidst
Republican objections.
To view a list of 100 of Obama accomplishments, see:
http://simplifythepositive.blogspot.com/2010/03/100-accomplishments-of-president-barack.html
What would Republicans do if they got into office:
Republicans support reinstating Bush tax cut for millionaires and billionaires, which would
deny the government $700 billion—sorely needed to combat the deficit the Republicans left us.
htttp://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews_excl/20100913/pl_ynews_excl/ynews_excl_pl3604
Republicans say it will be reinvested in the economy. But will it? It didn't happen last time. What a gamble, based on a theory. I say 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush'--no pun intended.
Some of the most radical Republicans have seemed to suggest 'gun play' if they lose; or suggest
ending social programs—like medicare and social security—because they're too expensive, while profiting from these very programs all these years; or that science is creating mice with fully developed human brains. Do we really want persons like this representing the American people?.
How will improve the economy? All they do is complain about 'tax and spend' Democrats.
What's their plan? While the conservatives were in power, during the past 10 years, America's middle class income has been reduced by 5%!
http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid={01647C10-C1BB-11DF-BA89-00212804637C}
Many Conservatives have exhibited intolerance—similar to the KKK—currently directed
toward the Muslims and LGBT's, and sounds like they would limit freedom. This attitude is suggested by statements of 'Birthers', and a wealth of pictures depicting President Obama as a witch doctor or pimp or Hitler. Do you really want these kind of sentiments having an influence on our government?
Changing the economy is not an easy job—ask Ronald Reagan. He had unemployment of
about 9.8% for two years—and that was a mild recession compared to this near depression.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-abrams/pop-quiz-under-reagan-wha_b_341348.html
And Tea Party candidates are just going to be co-oped into the Republican Party. A vote for
them is just as good as a vote for the Republicans. It's them or us!
If you agree with what I've said here, go out and vote for the Democratic candidate in November, so we don't through this country back into the Dark Ages.
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