This is Jon Stewart's speech from yesterday. I think it's wonderful. Finally, something to restore my hope!
"And now I thought we might have a moment, however brief, for some sincerity, if that's ok; I know there are boundaries for a comedian, pundit, talker guy, and I'm sure I'll find out tomorrow how I have violated them.
I'm really happy you guys are here, even if none of us are really quite sure why we are here. Some of you may have seen today as a clarion call for action, or some of the hipper, more ironic cats as a clarion call for 'action.' Clearly, some of you just wanted to see the Air and Space Museum and got royally screwed. And I'm sure a lot of you are here to have a nice time, and I hope you did. I know that many of you made a great effort to be here today, and I want you to know that everyone involved with this project worked incredibly hard to make sure that we honor the effort that you put in and gave you the best show we could possibly do. We know your time is valuable, and we didn't want to waste it. And we are all extremely honored to have had a chance to perform for you on this beautiful space, on The Mall in Washington, D.C.
So, uh, what exactly was this? I can't control what people think this was, I can only tell you my intentions. This was not a rally to ridicule people of faith, or people of activism, or to look down our noses at the heartland, or passionate argument, or to suggest that times are not difficult and that we have nothing to fear. They are and we do. But we live now in hard times, not end times. And we can have animus and not be enemies. But, unfortunately, one of our main tools in delineating the two broke. The country's 24-hour, politico, pundit, perpetual, panic conflictanator did not cause our problems, but its existence makes solving them that much harder. The press can hold its magnifying glass up to our problems, bringing them into focus, illuminating issues heretofore unseen. Or they can use that magnifying glass to light ants on fire, and then perhaps host a week of shows on the sudden, unexpected, dangerous flaming ant epidemic. If we amplify everything, we hear nothing.
There are terrorists and racists and Stalinists and theocrats, but those titles that must earned; you must have the resume. Not being able to be able to distinguish between real racists and Tea Partiers, or real bigots and Juan Williams or Rick Sanchez is an insult, not only to those people, but to the racists themselves, who have put in the exhausting effort it takes to hate. Just as the inability to distinguish terrorists from Muslims makes us less safe, not more. The press is our immune system. If it overreacts to everything, we actually get sicker, and perhaps eczema. And yet, with that being said, I feel good: strangely, calmly good. Because the image of Americans that is reflected back to us by our political and media process is false. It is us through a fun-house mirror, and not the good kind that makes you look slim in the waist and maybe taller, but the kind where you have a giant forehead and an ass shaped like a month-old pumpkin with one eyeball.
So why would we work together? Why would you reach across the aisle to a pumpkin-assed, forehead, eyeball monster? If the picture of us were true, of course our inabilities to solve problems would actually be quite sane and reasonable. Why would you work with Marxists actively subverting our Constitution, or racists and homophobes who see no one's humanity but their own? We hear every damn day about how fragile our country is, on the brink of catastrophe torn by polarizing hate. And how it's a shame that we can't work together to get things done. But the truth is, we do. We work together to get things done every damn day. The only place we don't is here or on cable TV. But Americans don't live here or on cable TV. Where we live, our values and principles form the foundation that sustains us while we get things done, not the barriers that prevent us from getting things done.
Most Americans don't live their lives solely as Democrats, Republicans, Liberals, or Conservatives. Americans live their lives more as people that are just a little bit late for something they have to do. Often, something they do not want to do, but they do it. Impossible things every day, that are only made possible through the little reasonable compromises we all make.
Look. Look on the screen. This is where we are; this is who we are: these cars. That's a schoolteacher who probably thinks his taxes are too high. He's going to work. There's another car. A woman with two small kids, can't really think about anything else right now. There's another car, swaying, I don't even know if you can see it. The lady's in the NRA and loves Oprah. There's another car. An investment banker: gay, also likes Oprah. Another car's a Latino carpenter. Another car a fundamentalist vacuum salesman. Atheist obstetrician. Mormon Jay-Z fan. But this is us. Every one of the cars you see is filled with individuals of strong beliefs and principles they hold dear. Often, principles and beliefs in direct opposition to their fellow travelers. And yet these millions of cars must somehow find a way to squeeze one by one into a mile-long, thirty-foot wide tunnel carved underneath a mighty river. Carved by people who by the way I'm sure had their differences. And they do it. Concession by concession. You go, then I'll go. You go, then I'll go. You go, then I'll go. Oh my God, is that an NRA sticker on your car? Is that an Obama sticker on your car? Ah, well that's okay, you go, then I'll go. And sure, at some point there will be a selfish jerk who zips up the shoulder and cuts in at the last minute. But that individual is rare, and he is scorned not hired as an analyst.
Because we know instinctively as a people that if we are to get through the darkness and back into the light, we have to work together. And the truth is, there will always be darkness. And sometimes, the light at the end of the tunnel isn't the promised land. Sometimes, it's just New Jersey. But we do it anyway, together. If you want to know why I'm here and what I want from you, I can only assure you this: you have already given it to me. Your presence was what I wanted. Sanity will always be and has always been in the eye of the beholder. And to see you here today and the kind of people that you are has restored mine. Thank you."
http://www.reddit.com/r/reddit.com/comments/dysci/jon_stewart_thank_you_for_your_serious_comments/c13xzpy
I am so sick of the Republican politicians and the Teabaggers in their manners and their intelligence and really the Independents. I can under stand the reason the Republicans and the Teabaggers it is about power and greed. They will do anything to get back into power, even is it destroys the country.
Who in their right mind would want to get rid of minimum wage, have waiter and waitresses work for tips only. Taking the right of women away and make the by law and penalty of prison to have an abortion ever if it means the death of the mother.
Do away of Social Security, Medicare, Medicade, health care, unemployment and all of the safety nets that has made this country great. Taking us back to the 1800s of the Robber Barons and two class of people, the rich and the poor. No middle class.
If might be a good thing to let the Republicans have control of the congress. Obama and the Democrats have save us for the present time from a Hover depression. But we are far far from getting well from all of the damage the Republicans and the predatory capitalist corporations have done to moving our jobs overs, bad and unfair trade agreements and the damage they did to the housing industry, banks and the stock market.
When they take over the house you will see the biggest circle fu*k you have ever seen and nothing will be done and they will cause nothing but trouble for America with their stealing, cheating, lying and endless trouble making. Hell, let them have it. It's really going to be fun to watch and all of the dumbasses who put them it, will pay big time. There in on thing about a Republican politician, when they are in power, they can't stand success, THEY WILL STEP ON THEIR DICKS, BIG TIME, EVERY TIME.
WHOOOOSH!
I totally agree! It's perfect.
I've grown so tired of everyone treating the elections almost like a football game. Competing to see who can have the most signs, banners, bumper stickers of opposing candidates. I heard one advertisement for a candidate the other day that said to vote for him because to do otherwise would be a vote for Obama. What?!? So this candidate is preying on the people who don't understand the political process? He's preying on emotion rather than logic? Why would anyone want a candidate who obviously thinks they're stupid?
I'm not saying that a vote for someone else might be better, but at least do some research and find out what they're bringing to the table. Ignore political party and go for what makes sense.
As for the rest of it, the American people are clearly divided. If I were a conspiracy theorist, I'd think that this is all part of a scheme, using the media as it's medium to divide and conquer us. Now who the "it" is, I can't be sure, but so far it has been successful. We complain that our government doesn't care about America, but apparently we don't either. If we did, then we'd stop bickering and stand together to demand that our government get it's act together.
Here's a story about the signs at the rally. :smile:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130953793&sc=fb&cc=fp
These are wonderful. These signs offer proof that, while the sense of proportion among average Americans has become dull, the sense of humor is still razor sharp. Let's go with that.
Quote from: Sandy Eggo on October 31, 2010, 03:56:15 PM
I heard one advertisement for a candidate the other day that said to vote for him because to do otherwise would be a vote for Obama. What?!?
When I was voting at the library last week, a huge debate about who to vote for was holding up the line. I suggested we move it along and was told how important it was for these voters to discuss their choices, "Because I don't think that Obama is even a citizen!" I told her to relax, 'cause Obama wasn't on the ballot. She was dumbfounded. (Or maybe just dumb.)
The latter.
I think the fear mongers have successfully picked the cherries.
Nothing would be more pleasing to America than to discover all this fear mongering was undertaken for nothing what so ever.
Restore the future of America and refuse to listen to the hyperbole and fear mongers!
Quote from: Sandy Eggo on October 31, 2010, 03:56:15 PM
I totally agree! It's perfect.
I've grown so tired of everyone treating the elections almost like a football game. Competing to see who can have the most signs, banners, bumper stickers of opposing candidates. I heard one advertisement for a candidate the other day that said to vote for him because to do otherwise would be a vote for Obama. What?!? So this candidate is preying on the people who don't understand the political process? He's preying on emotion rather than logic? Why would anyone want a candidate who obviously thinks they're stupid?
I'm not saying that a vote for someone else might be better, but at least do some research and find out what they're bringing to the table. Ignore political party and go for what makes sense.
As for the rest of it, the American people are clearly divided. If I were a conspiracy theorist, I'd think that this is all part of a scheme, using the media as it's medium to divide and conquer us. Now who the "it" is, I can't be sure, but so far it has been successful. We complain that our government doesn't care about America, but apparently we don't either. If we did, then we'd stop bickering and stand together to demand that our government get it's act together.
I agree wholeheartedly.:thumbsup:
Ever since I could remember, the Republicans I knew would talk about how the old son of a bitch Franklin Roosevelt tried to stack the Supreme Court. Well, he tried, but he didn't get done, Congress stopped him.
But now in the 21ST century the Republican stacked Supreme Court made it legal to create a a new person a super person. By giving corporation the same rights that human beings have, in giving money to political elections. But the court made them Super Humans allowing they to give unlimited amounts of money and not say who gave it.
The Supreme Court of America sold out America to the corporations and the Republican party lock stock and barrel. It is criminal and a fraud, bribery. I wonder how the Republicans, under the table, pay the judges for selling out America.
As Jon Stewart said in his instant classic of a closing speech: "Why would you work with Marxists actively subverting our Constitution or racists and homophobes who see no one's humanity but their own? We hear every damn day about how fragile our country is -- on the brink of catastrophe -- torn by polarizing hate, and how it's a shame that we can't work together to get things done. But the truth is we do. We work together to get things done every damn day. The only place we don't is here [in Washington] or on cable TV."
Most thought provoking sign (among many so this was a tough decision for me)"
". . .Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, Here I am; stuck in the middle with you!"
INDEED!
Quote from: Palehorse on October 31, 2010, 09:49:15 PM
". . .Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, Here I am; stuck in the middle with you!"
That's pretty much the theme song for this election, isn't it.
Quote from: Palehorse on October 31, 2010, 09:49:15 PM
As Jon Stewart said in his instant classic of a closing speech: "Why would you work with Marxists actively subverting our Constitution or racists and homophobes who see no one's humanity but their own? We hear every damn day about how fragile our country is -- on the brink of catastrophe -- torn by polarizing hate, and how it's a shame that we can't work together to get things done. But the truth is we do. We work together to get things done every damn day. The only place we don't is here [in Washington] or on cable TV."
Most thought provoking sign (among many so this was a tough decision for me)"
". . .Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, Here I am; stuck in the middle with you!"
INDEED!
You surly won't have any problem to "trying" to throwing out Luger and Pence. Luger has set on his ass for years going nothing for Indiana, what a lazy old fart. Pence, well, it has always been about him. Right now he thinking where he is going to be in the leadership of the Republican Party.
What has Pence done for Indiana. NOTHING! But year after year the hard headed :wall: Republicans keep sending them back to do the same thing. Take our money and do NOTHING!
THE INDIANA REPUBLICAN PARTY, THE PARTY OF NOTHING!
Quote from: LOsborne on November 01, 2010, 07:36:48 AM
That's pretty much the theme song for this election, isn't it.
Yes. . . It is! :yes: :yes: :yes: :yes: :yes:
http://www.youtube.com/v/OMAIsqvTh7g
;D
Quote from: Henry Hawk on November 01, 2010, 11:14:38 AM
;D
Welcome back Hank! Glad to see the vacation put the smile back on your beak! :biggrin: