'Sanity' rally set for Janesville
If you go
What: Local Rally to Restore Sanity, in step with the national rally to be held in Washington, D.C., on the same day.
When: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30.
Where: Basics Cooperative, 1711 Lodge Drive, Janesville
Cost: No entrance fee, but rally-goers are asked to bring nonperishable food, clothing or school supplies to be donated to local charities.
Photo 
Yuri Rashkin
Photo
John Kozlowicz
JANESVILLE — A rally in the nation's capital on Oct. 30 will have an echo in Janesville.
Yuri Rashkin, a Janesville City Council member, is the spokesman for a committee that is organizing a local "Rally to Restore Sanity."
Rashkin said Monday that plans are to hold the rally in the meeting room at the Basics food store, which holds about 75 people.
The response so far has led organizers to think about moving the rally outdoors to the Basics parking lot, however, Rashkin said.
The rally in Washington, D.C., is being organized by a cable TV comedy show. Or actually, two comedy shows.
Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" are set up to look like cable news shows. They criticize, satirize and parody national politics, culture and the news media.
The shows' latest gag is an actual "Rally to Restore Sanity" on the Capitol Mall in Washington, D.C. The rally is supposed to counter the focus on angry outbursts and political demonizing by conservatives and liberals alike.
Rashkin said local plans include watching the national rally on a big-screen TV but hitting the "pause" button from time to time in order to allow local politicians to speak, including Republican state Senate candidate Rick Richard and Democratic Assembly member Mike Sheridan.
"So far, every person involved in politics I talked to about this seems to want to be there," Rashkin said.
A press release urges rally-goers to "bring signs that demonstrate your sanity and reasonableness. And remember to be super-courteous with your signs and do not obstruct your neighbor's view or enjoyment of the rally. Be kind, all the time."
The website of the national Rally to Restore Sanity states: "We're looking for the people who think shouting is annoying, counterproductive and terrible for your throat; who feel that the loudest voices shouldn't be the only ones that get heard; and who believe that the only time it's appropriate to draw a Hitler mustache on someone is when that person is actually Hitler."
Rashkin said the rally's purpose is to celebrate civility in politics.
People can have their political differences, but they should be able to state them in a non-confrontational manner, Rashkin said, echoing the theme promoted by Jon Stewart, host of "The Daily Show."
"We know there are problems out there, and we know we need work together and solve them, so let's work together and solve them. … Not in a mean, angry way, but in an uplifting, humorous, fun way," Rashkin said. "Leave your pitchforks at home."
Longtime UW-Whitewater political scientist John Kozlowicz said Stewart's rally plays more to liberals than conservatives.
"I don't see it as a real political movement, but it may have an impact in getting some people out to vote, especially with younger, liberal voters," Kozlowicz said.
"I would imagine that somebody like President Obama would be very happy with this sort of thing," Kozlowicz said.
Rashkin said a Pledge of Allegiance and a singing of the national anthem are planned.
"I view this as a very patriotic event," Rashkin said. "To me this is an opportunity for us as Americans to come together and enjoy democracy a bit."
Oct 22, 2010 at 9:40 a.m.
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Yes, having the rally outdoors is definitely a better idea. A meeting room holding 75 people for an event that will be attended by 500-1,000 will simply not do.
Oct 22, 2010 at 9:08 a.m.
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Mr. Eyster should attend this rally...maybe he'll learn something.
Oct 21, 2010 at 10:02 p.m.
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916WI:
No, I'm critical of Ron Johnson for complaining about government being too big and attacking Feingold for voting for the Obama health care plan while, at the same time, utlizing state funded health care so he can save a buck. I don't have a problem with him running a business and providing jobs. I have a problem with his hypocrisy. I'm not going to fault Russ Feingold for not providing jobs by running a business for the past 18 years as you seem to want to. I realize that he's been busy trying to keep things honest in Washington. He has worked on bi-partisan campaign finance reform by coauthoring the McCain-Feingold act. He was also the one vote against the Patriot Act which continues to violate the individual rights of Americans. To persecute Feingold for not directly giving jobs to Wisconsinites is the same as persecuting Ron Johnson for not doing more in Washington for the past 18 years.
Oct 21, 2010 at 9:06 p.m.
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sry this is the link to the stewart video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFQFB5YpD...
Oct 21, 2010 at 9:03 p.m.
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no: that is seriously hilarious. john stewart is doing this to mock the rally that glenn beck had in washington. where was glenn beck for the last 6 years?? where was the tea party to whine about the borrowed money on the iraq war?? if you want to know where john stewart was, well heres a clip from him in 2004 on crossfire. tell me if you think his mojo has changed at all. please.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpIay8-nx...
heres a good clip of what ron johnson knows about jobs and the middle class. hes like all other new found 'political' candidates. they run on fear and the platform of 'vote for me cuz im not him'. im not endorsing or saying russ fiengold is the man...but being able to run a successful business does not necessarily prep one for a govt job or mean he knows how to get us jobs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpIay8-nx...
Oct 21, 2010 at 8:43 p.m.
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uwwalum......you seem to be critical of how the people that work for Johnson's company get their health care. In Feingold's successful business ventures, you know--those in which he employs Wisconsinites and contributes to Wisconsin's economy--does he happen to cover their health care expenses?
Oct 21, 2010 at 7:16 p.m.
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Johnson is too busy wrapping his money in plastic ready for storage.
Oct 21, 2010 at 6:41 p.m.
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totellthetruth:
One big race, Feingold vs. Johnson, is tightening up. The St. Norbert poll has Johnson ahead by only 2 points. Perhaps its because yesterday Johnson referred to homeless veterans in WI as minor details that are irrelevant to the election, or maybe its because he has employees using state funded BadgerCare so he doesn't have to pay for their health care. Maybe he can come down to the Rally for Sanity and explain all of that.
Oct 21, 2010 at 5:58 p.m.
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It's amazing that Jon Stewart & Co. didn't have this idea the entire time GW Bush was being called everything from a chimp to Hitler. I mean, it was going on for 6 years at least, and it never once crossed Stewart's mind to have a rally to put an end to that, oh no.
What a coinky-dink that it took someone talking back to a President and a Congress with D's after their name for Stewart and his "non-partisan" [wink wink] ilk to come up with this fabulous idea.
Oct 21, 2010 at 5:47 p.m.
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evansvillehousewife, what polls are you looking at? Everything across the media puts almost all democrats behind at least 10 points if not more, except for a few local races?
Oct 21, 2010 at 5:44 p.m.
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justsaynotomath, calling the tea party in the same line as the KKK as the hate party is out of line. Anytime anyone disagrees with our leader they are racist. You my unmathed friend are just as bigoted.
Oct 21, 2010 at 11:33 a.m.
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im gonna go for both mouse:)
Oct 21, 2010 at 10:31 a.m.
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Would speaking at such an engagement call for being genuine or theatrically civil?
Oct 20, 2010 at 6:06 p.m.
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oooooooooops (rhymes with "soups") lol
Oct 20, 2010 at 5:48 p.m.
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opps? (rhymes with "cops")????
Oct 20, 2010 at 4:58 p.m.
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opps. ; )
Oct 20, 2010 at 4:35 p.m.
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Beware of polls that exclude cell phone-only voters. Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/10/18/10...
Oct 20, 2010 at 4:22 p.m.
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hopefully some thoughtful and insightful dialogue comes out of this. although, when you have something like this set up by a comedy cable channel your hopes can only be so high.
@evansvillehousewife - are we talking local or national polls? not that it really matters, as most every poll shows the Dems down. not sure what polls you're checkin.
Oct 20, 2010 at 3:50 p.m.
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Bond, you should be the one on The Daily Show with a sense of humor like that. Wow, how original.
Oct 20, 2010 at 12:51 p.m.
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A sanity rally? Isn't it a little late? The Whitehouse is nothing but a taxpayer funded Insane Asylum and it's full of NUTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oct 20, 2010 at 11:17 a.m.
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Note to oldvet: Rick Richards, GOP Wisconsin State Senate candidate, has confirmed to be a speaker at this rally. A "left-wing" spokesperson?!?!? Other invited guest speakers might surprise you. I hope you won't lose the point that it IS possible to have fun, discuss politics fairly, and "Be kind, all the time".
Oct 20, 2010 at 10:32 a.m.
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I am very excited that Janesville will be a part of this overdue event.
Oct 20, 2010 at 8:12 a.m.
Oct 20, 2010 at 7:42 a.m.
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Troublemaker, the mortgage issue is financial, not partisian. It's not as if you elect a certain party line, all of a sudden the economy will spring back and the housing bubble will blow up again.
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The 'sanity" and 'civility' comes from the fact that the recession has caused people to panic and adopt a mobthink mentality. The defensiveness and fear are palpable, when what needs to happen is careful planning and analysis, not knee jerk reactions.
Oct 20, 2010 at 7:35 a.m.
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Uh oldvet... don't know what polls you are paying attention to, but the rally hasn't been held yet, and most of the polls are almost neck and neck.
Oct 20, 2010 at 7:26 a.m.
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"They" decided our houses are only worth half what we paid for them, but kept our mortgage balances the same. Now they're foreclosing on them. "They" decimated the value of our retirement accounts. Now, the people behind it are all getting extremely rich.
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We should be mad as hell (but not at each other) and rioting in the streets! What's with this "celebrate civility" BS? Are we supposed to behave even more like sheep on the way to the slaughter?
Oct 20, 2010 at 7:23 a.m.
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Jim Lyke you should have been the 'Face' of this event, I'm afraid the one that is hurts the credibility of what the group is trying t do here.
Oct 20, 2010 at 7:13 a.m.
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Oldvet - I was invited to speak at this event, and I said only if it was truly a non-partisan event. This event is aimed at promoting civility and dialogue between people with opposing political points of view. Inflammatory rhetoric and shouting not allowed. Niceness is a left wing idea?
Oct 20, 2010 at 7:03 a.m.
Oct 20, 2010 at 6:26 a.m.
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This is a left wing show put on by the left wing for the left wing in an attempt to lose fewer votes on November 2
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