Thousands expected at Stewart-Colbert rally in DC

[onehandle]

Source: AP



WASHINGTON – Comedians Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are appealing to thousands to rally with them in the nation's capital Saturday for a return to "sanity." Their fans just aren't certain what to expect.

Organizers insist the "Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear" on the National Mall isn't about politics. Still, that hasn't dampened the hopes of supporters and advocacy groups seeking to rekindle some of the voter enthusiasm for Democrats seen in 2008, particularly among young adults.

A Pew Research Center poll last month found 41 percent of Stewart's fans identify themselves as Democrats, compared with 38 percent independents and 14 percent Republicans. His audience also tends to be younger than for many cable programs, a key segment since adults 18-29 are half as likely as those 30 and older to vote.

A preliminary list of entertainers included musicians Sheryl Crow and The Roots. Actor Sam Waterston and Don Novello, who years ago played Father Guido Sarducci on "Saturday Night Live," were also expected to appear.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101030/ap_on_en_tv/us_stewart_colbert_rally

[ejpoeta]

1. i do not fit into that demographic.... 38 here. wish i could go, but alas it was not

possible. i hope to be able to see it on tv today but i don't know. I hope the attendance blows expectations out of the water.

[pattmarty]

6. What the hell difference does it make if you're 38, 28 or 68? If I were........

...........closer, I'd be there and I'm fucking 63. These days, in my opinion, you can toss things like "demographics" and "target audience" bullshit out the fucking window.

[ejpoeta]

18. i agree. i was merely referring to the article regarding young viewers.

imo the audience for stewart and colbert is a lot broader than 18-29.

[pattmarty]

26. I think so too. That's what's wrong with "demographics" and "averages".

[vduhr]

30. Me too.....

I'm 61, and if I had the funds, I would absolutely, positively been there...but watching (and recording) it on TV (Comedy Central).

[dgibby]

7. I definitely don't fit that demo.

I'm almost 65, but would love to be there. Here's hoping they have a bigger crowd than Beckkk.

[demi moore]

20. its on!!!

[Dulcinea]

27. Me neither.

I'm 45 & watch the Daily Show with my kids! I couldn't make it either, but hope it's VERY well attended.

[Faygo Kid]

2. This Boomer is dressed and ready to go. Beautiful day here in DC.

Father Guido! Excellent.

I will take pictures. See you all on the Metro shortly.

[onehandle]

3. He's giving the benediction. Should be good. nt

[No Elephants]

10. LOLOL!

[madmax]

4. Have a blast

I remember Father Guido Sarducci :rofl: Ah, a trip down memory lane. :bounce:

[dgibby]

8. Have fun for all of us who couldn't make it!

Can't wait to see your pics!

[No Elephants]

11. Have fun, Faygo.

[pattmarty]

5. It ought to get a fair amount of press/media attention just because..........

.........Colbert and Stewart are such huge "media stars", which is good. You can bet your ass if Jesse Jackson and Bernie Sanders were holding a "spectacle", we wouldn't hear shit.

[pattmarty]

9. Anybody wanna give a preliminary crowd estimate? I going to "low ball" it.........

..........and say just UNDER one hundred thousand gazillion.

[think]

13. Go to RallytoRestoreSanity.com and see the FourSquare counts

You can also see the counts at Four Square here:

http://foursquare.com/venue/9377520

Four Square is a social media site where people locate each other by GPS so the Four Square counts for the rally are actual people logged into the network who are at the Rally. This won't be the total because many won't be logged into Foru Square but it gives you a statistically factual number of people present at the rally for your low end estimate :)

Wish I could be there but I will be watching the simulcast on ComedyCentral.com

[lobodons]

14. 500K

I guess 500K or the size of Becks and One Nation combined!!

[GoldenOldie]

15. Son-in-law reporting from DC......

was told that the initial permit for the rally was for 26,000 and then changed to 100,000. It is now expected to be 600,000. Wishing I could have been in whatever the number is.

[bikebloke]

12. I'm going.

But first, I'll run my Saturday errands. So don't wait for me. I'll catch up.

With camera in tow, hopefully I can shoot enough for one of my photo/videos.

[xxqqqzme]

16. DC too far for me. I was going to the

companion rally in LA but woke to the sound of RAIN? It will probably clear up but the ground will be soggy 'n wet so there will be no place for a blanket. Guess I'll have to watch on TV.

[demi moore]

17. watch live:

http://www.comedycentral.com/dcrallylive/

[beac]

19. Apparently, CNN will be streaming it too (beginning at noon):

http://live.cnn.com/

Just in case Comdey Central's video goes wonky.

[beac]

22. C-Span will also be showing it from noon to 3pm on TV (which they of course stream their programs

online too at cspan.org.)


Great to have three options for those of us who can't be there in person. :)

[earcandle]

35. Thanks for the link! We watch the whole thing! Fun event. Anybody know if the SF Rally was

successful? 

[demi moore]

21. this makes me wanna eat

sooo bad.
why don't we have them in new zealand?

[demi moore]

24. watch the sanity you mofos

search it using
and eat while you do it.

[Solly Mack]

23. 100's of thousands, I'd wager.

[siligut]

25. The Roots are playing now.

Comedy Central has it on, they haven't panned out far enough to show the crowd yet. Comcast here didn't show it in the listing, must be a bunch of repugs, which I already suspected.

[siligut]

28. OK, they just showed the crowd.

AND IT IS HUGH!!111!11 About 150,000 people.

[FailureToCommunicate]

29. Sure hope they mention GOTV to the young (and forgetful) attendies...

[demi moore]

31. guys..

this way bigger then beck

WAY BIGGER

[savalez]

32. Watching it on Comedy Central!

The Ozzy/Yusuf (Cat Stevens) is hilarious.

IMO, this rally is incredibly important.

[SemperEadem]

33. It's more than true... the trains are full to capacity

I just spent the last 3 hours trying to get from Takoma Park to the rally. The trains are stupid full. You have to ride all the way out to where the line ends in order to get a seat on the train. By the time you get from Glenmont to TKPK, the train is full, and that's only 4 stops. All stations inbound to this event are the same--the platforms are nuts.

There are easily half a million people attending this event. WMATA did not plan well for this==and perhaps someone with a political slant who makes decisions there decided that this was the perfect weekend to shut down one track to do repairs and make the "green commute" a nightmare. Not next weekend when nothing is going on. OR last weekend.

I'm disappointed that I can't manage the time to wade through the crowd, but I'm thrilled to see thousands of progressives/liberals---COOL PEOPLE---coming together with a wonderful vibe and a common goal: to show this town that WE AIN'T SLEEPING, NINJA!!!! We're about to hand you your asses once again.

THOSE WHO CAN DO. THOSE WHO CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT. We progressive/liberals have been keeping it taciturnly, in case it got past you!

[onehandle]

34. Crowd size pics here --->

Rec it up for the freepbaggers!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9420424

[Tanelorn]

36. FAUX crowd estimate

Well here is a quote from the Faux News website about the
crowd. It was the only number I could see.

"Comedy Central's park permit puts the crowd estimate at
60,000. There were plans for satellite rallies in cities
including Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver and Honolulu."

The 'article' was very condescending. Please don't make me
read it again or even go back to the site. I think I need a
shower.

Well Comedy Central ,Stewart , Colbert et al.  The lion is
awake and about to roar.

Good luck for the election. We in Australia are watching. 

[Ian David]

37. OMG Snake! Help! SNAKE!

[truthrocks]

38. KUDOS to Stewart/Colbert for having the guts to take the risk! INsanity is

so much more exciting to watch onstage than Sanity - "if it bleeds, it leads" and all that. Great job, you guys! You've created a whole new genre of public discourse.
:toast:

[FailureToCommunicate]

39. So if about half the attendees are "independent" and republicans

is that why they never mentioned "VOTE this Tuesday"? Okay, Tony Bennett said it as he ended his song, but you could easily have missed it.
What a lost opportunity. Without that was this all just a big promo for ratings? Just a 'happening'? Groovy.