It was an amazing event and experience. Whatever is said about crowd size is probably underestimated. CBS commissioned estimate was 215,000, CTV ( Canada ) was 250,000. All I know is that we all stood shoulder to shoulder, virtually unable to move, for the entire event. We arrived about 2hrs before it began and the Mall was already packed. We squeezed in at 7th ST.NW. The crowd was attended by people of all ages. I stood next to a family with two young sons, about 11 and 13, from Illinois. Behind me were a pair of 50sh PHD's from New York. In front of us was a group also in their 50's. It was Woodstock with seemingly intelligent and mannerly people but without the mud. It took two hours to walk back 2/3 mile to our hotel on H St NW. Some folks trying to get to the rally never made it. The DC Subway system was apparently overwhelmed. Vehicular traffic was gridlocked with pedestrian choked streets until about 6:00pm. You had to be there.
Just Got Back - Rally To Restore Sanity and/or Fear
Comments ... #
Outstanding Holland. I'm looking forward to the Jon Stewart shows this week for reports on how it went.
posted by rch101 on Oct 31, 2010 at 06:29:32 pm # 1 person liked this
I've been amused by reading the signs from the rally -
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/30/the-funniest-signs-at-the_n_776490.html#s169285
posted by JJFad on Oct 31, 2010 at 07:22:57 pm # 1 person liked this
So jealous .... I wanted to be there. If they do it again, I'm going! Halloween would be an excellent time to see the sights in DC anyway ;-)
posted by viola on Oct 31, 2010 at 07:25:45 pm # 1 person liked this
The signs, and there were a multitude of them, were hilarious and pithy. However, my favorite for just a plain non political laugh, was spotted on H street as we inched our way back to the hotel. "Tights are NOT pants."
Beck wasn't there, but the parodies were every where, as were the number of folks who dressed as tea baggers, about one every 150 feet or so.
The rally was extremely well managed and staged. The entertainment was awesome. The Mythbusters hosts were there and did crowd experiments which were quite entertaining. 250,000 people doing a timed wave?! 250,000 people jumping up and down once while seismologists recorded the " earthquake" intensity! That shook the crowd up some as the earth felt like it did move and the sound was incredible. 250,000 folks laughing and then crying on cue! Like I said, you had to be there.
I'll be 65 in three weeks, my husband is 72. We've been to China, Turkey and lots of exciting places around the globe. We ranked this event as one of our top three epxeriences.
posted by holland on Oct 31, 2010 at 07:52:02 pm # 1 person liked this
Sounds like a lot of people with their heads in the sand....But thats what is great about our country
How sad that Gunz doesn't even get it.
Good for you Holland!!!
posted by Ryan on Oct 31, 2010 at 08:04:53 pm # 1 person liked this
The funniest thing is seeing the negative knee-jerk responses to the rally -- when those responses are exactly what the rally detested.
Give everybody a hug...then go home to no job....no house....
you're getting closer... but still far from accurate.
I dunno about the no job, no home stuff gunz1. If you stop and think about it, for many, it took some disposable income to attend. We filled the gas tank three times, ate at restaurants and paid $280 for a hotel room. Not terribly expensive, but not exactly cheap either. I think you're just sore because this rally was attended by three times more people than Beck's rally most credible crowd estimate.
Before this rally I might have said - "I was there. You weren't. So, shove it". I came back a little more tolerant so now I'm just saying - Shove it.
posted by holland on Oct 31, 2010 at 08:29:32 pm # 1 person liked this
Bank of America. Ford. Everything looking brighter. Vote Democrat!
posted by dhr on Oct 31, 2010 at 08:31:02 pm # 1 person liked this
I am not sore...just sorta sad that this and the beck rallies really do nothing in the big picture but make one feel good...not bad in itself, but not the solution for better economy and jobs....that becomes a fiscall action and more taxes will not stimulate job and small business growth. So diversions such as these rallies are fine...we must be conservative on our social policies and our spending...bottom line.
I dunno... gunz1 sounds a little sore...
posted by JJFad on Oct 31, 2010 at 08:36:17 pm # 1 person liked this
Sorry if i offeded anyone...Vote tour heart on Tuesday but VOTE.....Thanks
No, the last thing we need to do is be "conservative on our social policies". That's a horrible idea. Maybe on our fiscal policies, but even that's debatable, from a historic perspective.
Thanks, gunz1 - I'm not offended. I voted before I went.
Good for you holland and hubbie. Glad it was a good time.
posted by corky on Oct 31, 2010 at 11:35:17 pm # 1 person liked this
Man, I am so jealous. Glad you had a good time, Holland!
That really helps the democrats, people going to a shindig to "party on, dudes", when they could have stayed in the area and did things like going door to door-campaigning in their neighborhood, volunteering at local democrat headquarters to make phone calls to voters, and so on. I only wish that even more democrats went to laugh along with the other comedians.
What was the point-when your party needs you most, thousands of democrats go partying! I never knew there were soooooo many "Neros" in this country. I'm truly happy all of you had a good time!
People spending their free time on themselves? Why, I never!
posted by dhr on Nov 01, 2010 at 05:34:47 pm # 1 person liked this
So then, there won't be any bitching here tomorrow if the democrats come up a little short in the vote department because of voter apathy.
posted by Wulf on Nov 01, 2010 at 10:08:56 pm # 1 person liked this
Time better spent going door-to-door? That's just dumb.
And, you're right, there won't be any bitching tomorrow. The bitching will start in a year or so, when everyone realizes that the Reps are just as corrupt as the Dems.
I can't agree more, love this sign.
posted by INeedCoffee on Nov 02, 2010 at 12:02:09 am #
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