OT: Off to DC for the weekend for the Stewart/Colbert rally...

Just curious if anyone here will be at the rally as well. I am going with 3 friends, and am so looking forward to it!

My left side of my face started hurting today, I hope and pray it goes away. I cant let anything interfere with my fun weekend.  If it is still bad by Wednesday, I might call the pain neuro to see if he can inject on the left side of my head.

Julie, how far away are you from DC or Fairfax VA?

Michelle

[Lulu54]

I wish I were going.  It sounds like it will be a great time for everyone.  HVAC (Alex) mentioned she is going to DC this weekend - but didn't say if it is for the rally.

have a great time - L

[JemmAus]

I am so jealous! I hope, Michelle, that you are sufficiently afraid of everything so as not to have TOO good of a time!

Stewart and Colbert are my link to all things yank. They are hilarious!

[HVAC]

Yes I will be up from NC on the bus. I am so excited.

Alex

[michelleislay]

jealous too!!!

have the BEST time michelle!!!

xo (other) michelle

[Audrey_M]

Hope you enjoy yourself with this one; I'm envious.

John Stewart is very passionate about politics and spot on in so many ways. It may not be all comedy, with his passion.

My sister, who lives in California, will be there for this event, along with several of her kids. She asked my Dad to join her, but there was "no room at the inn" and while he would love to have gone, he did not want to deal with hassles of being in separate hotels.

Wish I could be there along side of you in person; I guess being there in spirit will have to do!

Have fun!

Audrey

[twopack]

Have a great time Michelle!  I have no idea what's going on in DC but I know any time spent with friends is wonderful.

(Guess I'm going to have to do a search for Stewart/Colbert.  Am I revealing something incredible by being clueless about who this is?)

Mary

[JemmAus]

well Mary.....I did have a bit of a chuckle, that me over here in Australia knew what was happening but you in Ohio (is "OH" Ohio?) didn't.....

However my dear, to save you wondering:

Jon Stewart from "The Daily Show"  and Stephen Colbert from "The Colbert Report", both on Comedy Central and shown here Down Under daily to my great amusement, are hosting two simultaneous rallies on October 30 in DC. Stewart started it, I think in response to that Glen Beck and his "rally" a month or so ago. Stewart's rally is the "rally to restore sanity".

http://www.thedailyshow.com/

Colbert added to the fun by declaring a "march to keep fear alive"

http://www.colbertnation.com/home

I am really REALLy hoping we get to see some of it on the tv here........looks like it'll be a whole lot of laughs and fun!

[Sarahsmom46]

My son talked me into going to the rally this weekend. I am just a couple subway stops away. I'll send you a PM with my phone number so maybe we can cross paths.  Did you work out the scooter/wheelchair issue yet?

Talk soon.

Julie

[ashleyPT]

I live in the area and am going! I think everyone I know is going - from our age group to our 70 year old aunt.

[michelleric]

I am off to work, but apparently they have handicapped seating available towards the front. I am bringing my moms walker, "just in case" I need it. I know there will be tons of walking. I would LOVE to meet everyone there. What fun!@

[HVAC]

I will arrive at Union Station on the Bus at 9AM from NC. I will not have Polly Doodle with me I do not want to freak her out with a crowd all day. I ordered folding crutches which only weigh a pound, I hope I get them in time and they work. We have to be at the bus at 3AM in NC. This is my forth D.C. rally and I am so excited. I have what to bring down to a science. We have ten buses coming from our area.

Small pack
Sunglasses
cheap rain poncho
almonds or other snack
water
Lip balm with sunblock very important
layered clothing
I.D. / cash
any meds you might need
instead of a sign NC flag, because my arms get tired and a flag can be folded up
camera
cellphone/numbers
ball cap
The best walking shoes you have

You will be drained by the end but at the same time so charged by all the people.

Alex

[twopack]

You'll have to tell me all about it when you return.  I'm having a hard time figuring out if this is entertainment or political.  It's a fine line these days.  One thing for sure -- we could use a little more sanity in the world.

Mary

[michelleric]

Thanks for the packing tips Alex.  Mary: JemmAus gave you a perfect description of the rally.  I am not hugely political, but I LOVE Jone Stewart and should be really fun.

Julie, I sent Alex my cell and I will do you the same.  I hope we all get to meet!  That would make this rally just the ultimate!  

I wasnt going to go, even though my friends were pushing me too. but as soon as my hubby found out he said I have to go!  (dont have to tell me twice, let him take care of the boys and dog! :)

Really I am SO looking forward to this. The only thing I am nervous about is my face.  The steroids shots worked so well on my right side, so I am going to call the neuro tomorrow to see if he can give me the shots on my left side of head too.

Michelle

By the way, adding in the fun, is we all got shirts with Sterward on the front and Colbert on the back, with the rally stuff on it as well. Had I known you were all going, I would have ordered many more!  

[JemmAus]

Don't forget your camera!!!!!!!!

I'd go, but I'm MUCH TO SCARED to leave the country. HA!

[rendean]

Have a GREAT time, as I'm sure you will!  I'm jealous I can't go with you so you guys have to have an exceptional good time in my absence. Love the T-shirt idea!

Have fun!!!!
Ren

[Sarahsmom46]

So, apparently there will be a perimeter rally by Federal Government workers. They are calling their march the "Government Doesn't SuKK" march.  This is going to be fun and the weather is supposed to cooperate.  Can't wait to see everyone.  

[twopack]

Hate to confess.....

I don't know who Glen Beck is either.
(I'll crawl back under my rock now.)

Mary , who might need to consider re-establishing a newspaper subscription?

[twopack]

I'm not surprised they provide entertainment.  Sadly, politics here has become a joke.

Mary

[Lira_MHModerator]

Just a friendly reminder that discussions of a political nature aren't allowed.  As such, we have edited a few posts containing political opinions.  If anyone has questions about this, please feel free to let us know.

[doublevision1]

I'm jealous of you all!  I LOVE Stewart and Colbert, watch them just about every night.  I am fascinated by American politics and avidly watch all the debates.  Am even a bigger fan of political satire.  Wish I was going too!  Plus I've never been to DC and it's always been on my to do list.
Have fun, my friends south of the border!!!

[JemmAus]

Wow, those two sure seem to have a following with us foreigners!

[ashleyPT]

This was the most mild political "discussion" I've ever seen - I can't believe they edited it.  The comment was pretty much fact too.

[HVAC]

I guess that is a good thing you know the three things that get people riled s--, politics, and religion. In a diverse group it is important not to start trouble with differing opinions. When I did HVAC we were not permitted to put bumper stickers on our vans for this reason.

Alex

                  

[twopack]

Oh my, Audrey must be in the neighborhood.  SX is making another appearance!

I agree with Ashley.  I hadn't noticed any P-word discussions.  I suppose the bio information supplied to answer my ignorance had potential to morph into P-opinion.  I do understand it's best to douse embers and avoid the need for renewal after a forest fire.  My apologies to the rulebook, et al.

Thanks for the info Jemm.  Sorry for leading this to a turbulent spot.  If I'd had a clue what I was asking, I wouldn't have gone there (would I?).

I'm going back to simply wishing Michelle and the gang a wonderful adventure and leave the rest to people who understand it.

Mary

[RedFlame]

I love these guys.  Hysterical---I wish I could go.  

Did all of you see Colbert when he did a rast of Bush at a White House dinner?  Incredibly hysterical and so true that Bush walked out.

I hope all of you have a wonderful time

Red

[kelly97]

Me too, I want to go! It would be even better if Bill Maher was there for th rally, too!  

Have fun!
-Kelly

[JemmAus]

That must have been prior to our getting the show down here. Do you know if it's on youtube?

PS my comments were removed..........I think my opinion of Glenn Beck was too for the board to cope with!

[HVAC]

Jemm she may be referring to one of the correspondents dinners?

[doublevision1]

Kelly - I was going to say the same thing re: Bill Maher!  He is probably my most favourite person on TV.  I can't get enough of that guy.

[kelly97]

I agree, Bill Maher is one of my favorites! Him and Rachel Maddow, but of course he's way funnier than she is.

[Nancy T]

I will be at the Portland rally the same day! It's supposed to rain, but I'll bring my umbrella so it will be dry. (According to our soggy-Oregon tradition, bringing your umbrella along anywhere means it won't rain. :)

[HVAC]

Yes, an ADA equipped section has been reserved on the Mall near the corner of 4th Street and Madison Drive. The reserved section will include both sign language interpretation and wheelchair accessible seating. Volunteers and Event Marshals will be on site to direct individuals to the reserved ADA section.

Due to limited space, we must limit access to the individual with special needs and one guest.

Getting There:

Shuttle:
We will be offering a complimentary ADA shuttle from the RFK Stadium-Armory Metro Station to the intersection of 4th Street and Madison Drive. Shuttles will run every 15 minutes from 8:30am to 5pm.

Via Metro:
The Washington, DC Metrorail and Bus system are fully ADA accessible. Should guest choose not to take the shuttle from Stadium-Armory, they can arrive at any one of the nearby Metro Stations, including Smithsonian, L’Enfant Plaza, Federal Center SW, Archives-Navy Memorial, or Federal Triangle and proceed to the reserved section located at 4th Street and Madison Drive.

[JemmAus]

I wonder what Stewart and Colbert would think if they knew an international medical forum about MS was raving about them........LOL

[michelleric]

Thank you Alex for the great information.  I wrote it down and will follow it. However, I think my friends are now going to fight with who gets to be the "guest" of me.  How lucky I have MS, huh?  Always the silver lining...

Jemm, I do wish you would have managed to get here.  You sound like a big big fan.  Maybe next time??

"See" you all after Halloween!

Michelle

[Sarahsmom46]

Alex, thanks. I found the website, finally and see that the ADA area will be a fairly easy walk downhill for us.  Michelle coming from one of the other metro stations will have a bit of a walk though unfortunately.

Can't wait to see you guys tomorrow.  Wish you all could come with us too.  :(

Julie

[HVAC]

There will be transport from Union Station to the Rally in the morning per ADA.

[JemmAus]

OH MY GOODNESS.

I just opened my ABC News (aus equivalent of the BBC) and it got top billing over bombs 'scares' (be afraid!) and everything else!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/31/3052937.htm

[Audrey_M]

Michelle, Alex, Julie, AshleyPT and Anyone Else Who May Have Been There:

I watched most of the rally today on Comedy Central. It was a huge crowd!

I hope that you enjoyed it. I did not know what to expect.

I personally was thrilled to see Cat Stevens/Yusef perform. His music touched me deeply when I was younger and I still listen to him today.In terms of his personal history, when he converted to Islam, he gave up his music, due to a strict interpretation of Islamic readings. Over time, his interpretation has changed and he has once again begun to share his gift of song with the world.

I was glad to see Jon Stewart wrap up the rally in the manner that he did. He did keep it calm, yet my take was that was within his goal of "restoring sanity" and showing that Americans as a whole are deeply patriotic, tied by common bonds and care very much about what is happening in and to this country.

The youth of America today list Jon Stewart as their number one source of the news and that is with good reason. He does filter things in terms of what is important and has a cynicism with which youth can identify. He calls things as he sees them, putting down the pundits when deserved. I am impressed with him in terms of the respect that he shows to guests on his program, who range from movie/music stars to important government officials and politicians. He does his homework before guests appear on the show, including reading obscure works of authors. I was doubtful of him when he took over as host in 1999; now I have nothing but the utmost respect and appreciation for him.

I'm envious of you and hope that it was a great time and one that touched your consciousness. Please let us know what it was like to be there!

Audrey