The Glade 4.0

New York (CNN) -- Are you tired of the extremes dominating the debate? Angry about hyperpartisans hijacking American politics? Well, Jon Stewart has a rally for you and me.

The Rally to Restore Sanity is slated for October 30, the weekend before Election Day, on the Washington Mall.

This isn't a concealed campaign rally for either party. It's a counterprotest against the rising tide of conformity that causes hyperpartisans to demonize people with whom they disagree. It's the anti-demagogue Saturday on the mall; people taking to the streets and yelling, "Be reasonable!"

Here's how Stewart described it on "The Daily Show": "We live in troubled times, with real people who have real problems. ... Problems that have real but imperfect solutions, that I believe 70 to 80 percent of our population could agree to try, and ultimately live with. Unfortunately, the conversation and the process is controlled by the other 15 to 20 percent.

"You may know them as the people who believe that Obama is a secret Muslim planning a socialist takeover of America ... or that George Bush let 9/11 happen to help pad Dick Cheney's Halliburton stock portfolio. You've seen their signs: 'Obama is Hitler'; 'Bush is Hitler'... But why don't we hear from the 70 to 80 percenters? Well, most likely because you have sh*t to do."

Among the signs suggested for the rally:

-- "I disagree with you, but I'm pretty sure you're not Hitler"
-- "9/11 was an outside job"
-- "Got Competence?"
-- "I'm not afraid of Muslims, Tea Partiers, Socialists, Immigrants, Gun Owners or Gays ... but I am scared of spiders."
-- "Take it Down a Notch For America"

In the week since the Rally to Restore Sanity was announced, more than 100,000 people have signed up on Facebook (not exactly a scientific measure of success but a good gauge of interest), and more than 900,000 people have watched the announcement on the Comedy Central website.

In comic strips the person on the left always speaks first. - George Carlin

Fairly Pathetic, watching comedians, those supposed to be edgy as guards for the administration.

Way to miss the point.

Not necessarily. For anybody who has accused Stewart of being a Democratic establishment shill, this rally is a fairly overt attempt to undermine the Tea Party factor.

Likewise, I've heard several people speculate that Colbert, despite his character's right-leaning declarations, is satire intended to undermine the right. Again, Keep Fear Alive could be taken as an attempt to marginalize the Tea Party movement.

and what is the point? Basically it seems to be a event to mock Beck, Palin, and the Tea party

and what is the point? Basically it seems to be a event to mock Beck, Palin, and the Tea party

and what is the point? Basically it seems to be a event to mock Beck, Palin, and the Tea party

The point is to address the excessive and absurd partisanship that has been the norm in politics for the last many years, and poke fun at it. To "hold up the mirror" as it were on everyone involved in politics to show them just how assinine they are behaving and that it doesn't actually address the concerns of the majority of the voters.

Last I saw, the Tea Party was something around 40% democrat?

As to "Beck, Palin, and the Tea Party are nuts," substantiate that in any way. It's this type of bullshit hand-waving that raises tempers.

Not necessarily. For anybody who has accused Stewart of being a Democratic establishment shill, this rally is a fairly overt attempt to undermine the Tea Party factor.

Likewise, I've heard several people speculate that Colbert, despite his character's right-leaning declarations, is satire intended to undermine the right. Again, Keep Fear Alive could be taken as an attempt to marginalize the Tea Party movement.

It's interesting there is an automatic link here between Beck, Palin and the Tea Party movement, and its so readily accepted as a logical grouping. Last I saw, the Tea Party was something around 40% democrat?

Not necessarily. For anybody who has accused Stewart of being a Democratic establishment shill, this rally is a fairly overt attempt to undermine the Tea Party factor.

Likewise, I've heard several people speculate that Colbert, despite his character's right-leaning declarations, is satire intended to undermine the right. Again, Keep Fear Alive could be taken as an attempt to marginalize the Tea Party movement.

At the organizational level and in media appearances, Tea Party leaders/groups have certainly aligned themselves with Beck, Palin, Republican candidates, and "conservative" issues generally. That's an interesting stat regarding the party affiliation of the rank and file, though I'm a bit skeptical of it, given the foregoing organizational/media profile.

OK, first of all, the target of this particular piece of satire seems much bigger than just the Tea Party rallies. This is a comment on blind partisanship, extremists on all sides, our media's sensationalism, and oversimplification of the political system.

Secondly..."several people speculate that Colbert, despite his character's right-leaning declarations, is satire intended to undermine the right." There...there are people who question that the character of Sir Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, D.F.A. is in fact a parody of right-wing bloviators and fear-and-anger-based political pundits? I...don't ever want to meet those people. Because their existence makes me sad. I'm pretty sure that vegetables know he's a parody. Probably some minerals, too.

In comic strips the person on the left always speaks first. - George Carlin

At the organizational level and in media appearances, Tea Party leaders/groups have certainly aligned themselves with Beck, Palin, Republican candidates, and "conservative" issues generally. That's an interesting stat regarding the party affiliation of the rank and file, though I'm a bit skeptical of it, given the foregoing organizational/media profile.

At the organizational level and in media appearances, Tea Party leaders/groups have certainly aligned themselves with Beck, Palin, Republican candidates, and "conservative" issues generally. That's an interesting stat regarding the party affiliation of the rank and file, though I'm a bit skeptical of it, given the foregoing organizational/media profile.

Since neither party has demonstrated an ounce of fiscal sense once in power, I have to think something like the Tea Party should be bipartisan. Why would people who understand economics and have some sense in that regard come primarily from the sexist, racist, and religiously bigoted roots that the left has always worked to overcome?