October 30, 2010 in City

Spokane rallies against the insanity

Chelsea Bannach The Spokesman-Review

Tags:2010 electionsRally to Restore Sanity

Dan Pelle photo

Those attending the Rally to Restore Sanity in Riverfront Park, October 30, 2010, got a little wet while watching from the steps outside of the INB Performing Arts Center.
(Full-size photo)

After being bombarded by political attack ads from both sides in one of the most contentious election in years, some Spokane area residents are fed up with all the “insanity.”

Some 200 people gathered at noon Saturday at the Riverfront Park Floating Stage for the Rally to Restore Sanity, Spokane’s version of Jon Stewart’s Washington, D.C., rally. The rally, held just three days before the Nov. 2 election, was organized by Spokane Democrats. It combined comedy acts and political pep talks to send a message: Be reasonable. Take things down a notch.

Rally speakers and attendees called for civility and an end to the nasty rhetoric and hyper-partisan punditry they say has taken foot in American politics. Above all, they called for sanity from all sides. Using inside voices.

Stewart said the rally is for average people who do not have the time – or the attention-grabbing theatrics – to be heard in the political sphere.

“We have seen these folks – the loud folks – over the years dominate our national conversation on our most important issues,” Stewart said on the Sept. 16 “The Daily Show.”

Stewart called the rally “a clarion call for rationality.”

Groups around the country held their own versions of the D.C. Rally to Restore Sanity.

Rally-goers denounced scare tactics employed by some that create a climate of fear. And they laughed while they were doing it.

Several politically disillusioned people carried signs with slogans protesting the present state of American politics.

“No more ‘Us vs. Them,’ ” one said. Another: “Sane people unite!”

Rally speakers included state Sen. Chris Marr – who is locked in an ugly and expensive race against Republican challenger Michael Baumgartner – comedian Paula Poundstone, among others.

Although Stewart and his cohort Stephen Colbert refrained from taking political sides on their D.C. stage, there were political undertones at Spokane’s rally, where attendees seemed to be mostly left-leaning.

One person carried a sign that read “The only thing to fear is Fox.” Greg Youmans, 53, of Loon Lake wore American Revolution-style garb and carried a sign calling tea-partiers hypocrites.

But despite some political undertones, the main message of the rally was not lost.

Jen Garrison-Stuber’s sign, which read “I may not agree with you, but I’m pretty sure you’re not Hitler,” was a big hit among the crowd.

Garrison-Stuber said we are wasting energy on arguing instead of working together to find real solutions.

“Politics are so shrill and I think people are talking past each other,” she said. “I think we need more moderation and more sanity in politics.”

Cale Lively carried a sign prescribing six tenets of a healthy democracy: Reason, logic, debate, civility, clarity and dissent.

“I don’t think the principals are defined by party lines,” he said. “I think our country has lost sight of these things.”

15 comments on this story so far. Add yours!

hawken on October 30 at 9:24 p.m.
So…. It was organized by the Spokane Democrats!
Liberal left desperation, is it?
“Some 200 people gathered at noon Saturday at the Riverfront Park Floating Stage for the Rally to Restore Sanity, Spokane’s version of Jon Stewart’s Washington, D.C., rally. The rally, held just three days before the Nov. 2 election, was organized by Spokane Democrats.”
Jon Stewart? The far, liberal left comedian? Yes… Comedic it is.
“Rally to Restore Sanity”…. to center-right, conservative values? … and policies?
It should be… but as organized by the Democrats,,, I think… they mean…. “Restore to the “INSANITY” of Obama policies.”
Which,,, is about to be “rejected” by the American electorate. Namely,,, Obama polices.
Me thinks the Democrats at the rally might be a bit naive…. with all due respect….
Strike that…. Not naive…. IDEOLOGICAL… behind the veil of “comedic.”
Per the SR article above… quoted:
“After being bombarded by political attack ads from both sides in one of the most contentious election in years, some Spokane area residents are fed up with all the “insanity.””
If they are referring to the “insanity” of the liberal left, Obama policies… I would concur…. However, we all know,,,,, that is not their reference. Don’t we.
Poor,,,,, losing Democrats…..
American politics is alive and well! Just as it has been from the beginning of our republic!
American politics is probably more “tame” today, in adversarial exchange between ideologies and parties, than it was at its origin.
May I suggest some study of American Political History?
No doubt politics is a blood sport…. probably, as it should be…. the process determines the future of our nation to one degree or another, every two years…. and especially every four years. And…. the stakes are high!
In the end, we have a peaceful transfer of power without actual bloodshed on the streets unlike non-democratic nations.
Let the bloodsport continue! The political spoils go to the winner! Then we all go back to work, without gunning each other down in mob riot.
The Rally, in my judgment, is nothing more than a final, liberal left, screech before Tuesday.
eagleproducer on October 30 at 9:43 p.m.
hawken: You are naive enough to believe that come Wednesday it will be anything other than business as usual.
johnclarke on October 30 at 9:47 p.m.
Oh Hawken, stop it with the sniveling already. Everyone is tired of it.
ZagChuck on October 30 at 10:12 p.m.
.
“Rally speakers and attendees called for civility and an end to the nasty rhetoric and hyper-partisan punditry they say has taken foot in American politics.”
But the keynote speaker was Democrat Chris Marr, whose commercial have contained some of the most despicable and blatant lies of the election cycle?? Their purpose is exposed as pure leftist rhetoric; a desperate bid for a few more votes.
Even with the Democrat Chris Marr, and Paula Poundstone, and a tie in to the national event; with the comedy central sponsored commercials, the Spokane Democrats were only able to draw in a crowd about 1/8th the size of the smallest tea party held here in town.
This is nothing more than another failed political stunt by the left, as they attempt to portray a grassroots movement.
remymartin on October 30 at 10:22 p.m.
Look, everyone knows that Stewart and Cobert are liberal demorcrats, what else is there to know. Anything they do or promote is on that level, so give them their do. They just brought out the best in their party and if you like that way of thinking, then enjoy it. A more despicable way of ruining our country, I could not think of. Bye, bye United States Constitution!
selkirks on October 30 at 10:41 p.m.
@ZagChuck:
And Baumgartner, Marr’s opponent, is not being blatantly misleading in his role in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? Marr, at the same time, is being misleading in his attacks that Baumgartner “doesn’t support veterans.” Which is probably false.
Bottom Line: There are negative attacks coming from both sides. There are lies coming from both sides. You missed the point of this Rally.
saxinator on October 30 at 10:53 p.m.
ZagChuck:
“the Spokane Democrats were only able to draw in a crowd about 1/8th the size of the smallest tea party held here in town.”
Yea, I’ve seen pictures of the “tea party crowd”. I’m shocked that you guys don’t have more pressing engagements to get to besides tea party rallies. Say…..such as watching tv in your mom’s basement, talking about Obama’s birth certificate, or pretending that you are making a difference. Oh wait, thats what a tea party rally is.
As soon as everybody realizes that no matter what party it is, Republican or Democrat, they aren’t out for whats best for the average person maybe something will change. But it won’t happen.
Dazzeetrader11 on October 31 at 12:15 a.m.
Marr with his mouth open ..as usual..in the rain speaking to the rain drenched faithful of 50. He probably went stealing Mike Baumgartner’s signs when he was done. Blue van..my dad has the license number…comes after 11 pm. Whatta goof!
Does this guy ever do anything honest? I suppose Ron the Cop is right..a lie told often enough becomes the truth.
Makes me wonder how Marr’s gotten this far. Looks like it took the public to catch up with him. Mike was out doorbelling and passing out literature while the drowned rats were downtown listening to Marr’s pitch in the rain. I Wish em well. I wonder if they’ll even understand the implications of this defeat. Time will tell
…Vote Mike Baumgartner! Vote Rossi so that witch Murray can be retired to a flower garden!!!
maria on October 31 at 12:26 a.m.
Dude, you prolly shoulda stopped at a six pack
davidthewhat on October 31 at 2:07 a.m.
Boy that is so neat that America is so screwed up politically in so much as it has made a world that is so complex and broken that it cannot even begin to govern itself whatsoever. How wonderful is all this political dysfunction. Actually, everyone should vote for the Republicans and have them give everything in this country entirely to the rich where the not rich will have nothing to their names. It would be so wonderful when the Republican greed kicks in and they bring this country to its very knees and then once again elect the Democrats to fix it and then not have any competency to do so. The absolute political dysfunction is so wonderful you should have all the more of it and cast your votes for it with whoever you would vote for whatsoever. It is so neat to see just how screwed things are in this world that you have all made yourselves to be so screwed up as it is. Good for you all.
ZagChuck on October 31 at 4:32 a.m.
Insanity is a commitment to continue down a path of destruction. We’ve had Dems in complete control of our state budget for the last 10 years, and in majority control for 38 of the last 40. Have they made the state budget better?
Last session they raised our taxes by nearly $1 billion dollars. Democrat Chris Marr was one of those responsible for the tax increases. Even after the tax increases, they increased spending so much we still have a budget deficit.
They’re simply not competent.
Their policies are simply unsustainable.
They must be replaced!
mikeln on October 31 at 4:39 a.m.
Both parties are useing proproganda against us while leaving no room for real, working ideas to come to the surface. You just have to look at the posts hawkins puts up to see that it is working just the they want. People like him will never have a original thought as he lets fox do his thinking for him. We need to tell these people that america comes first, not their money or power. People need to get their heads back in the sunshine and see things for what they really are. None of the idiots seeking public office have a clue, just talking points and my family cannot eat talking points. People like hawkin, who have taken their shpill, hook, line and sinker will figure it out when they have no gravy for their bisquit, but it may very well be too late.
ZagChuck on October 31 at 5:03 a.m.
@ Selkirsk
Mike Baumgartner has been upfront about his service in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
He’s never claimed to be a Veteran; he’s never allowed others to claim it for him. He’s proud of his service with the State Department and his role training military leaders, and he speaks of it honestly.
Numerous veterans have spoken about it as well. The only person whose ever raised the issue about Baumgartner’s claim to be a Veteran is Democrat Chris Marr. He used an old screen shot of a PAC website that posted the claim.
That PAC was contacted by Baumgartner and the website corrected LONG before Marr’s attack piece.
As a veteran myself, I am very aware of these developments. Additionally, Democrat Chris Marr attempted to use a Statement from Rep Matt Shea, but he took the quote out of context.
Rep Matt Shea, a combat Veteran himself, has also stood up to condemn the mis-information provided by Marr.
misjustice on October 31 at 1:14 p.m.
Peace Train versus Crazy Train?
http://c-span.org/Watch/Media/2010/10…
The D.C. Rally to Restore Sanity and or Fear was hilarious!
Remember to mark those ballots and get ‘em sent in!
; )
jrgs1 on October 31 at 11:21 p.m.
I think, if we could leave the vitriolic rhetoric behind, we’d have half a chance to band together on the things that really matter to us all.
I suspect that, like me, that most people feel clean air and water, a stable economy, a future for our children, individual liberty, social justice, and some representation that both represented us *and* upheld the Constitution — are non-partisan issues.
I’m willing to listen to and talk with anyone, from any point of view — I may disagree with you, but I’m pretty sure you’re not Hitler.
—Jen Garrison Stuber