So gonzomax’s support is the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval and John Mace’s opinion is, I’m guessing, worth four Michelin Stars. I’m going to go ahead and state that my viewpoint gets two thumbs up from Siskel and Ebert. So I win. Right?
Barney Frank’s basically said the same thing. I think he kinda supports them but even he’s annoyed by how ineffective they’re going about it. “Where were they in 2010?” he asked. Where will they be in 2012? One of the reasons the Tea Party succeeded is because it scared politicians in the only way they know how to be scared. If you didn’t support The Tea Party, then get prepared to run a primary against someone who did.
Will we have that in 12 months? Only time will tell.
Were you there? I’m going to take a WAG and say no. I was. If you believe there were rocks and bottles thrown, maybe I could interest you in some dick-lengthening pills, because you obviously believe whatever people are selling you to further their own self-interest. The police chief also claimed no rubber bullets were used, a bald-faced fucking lie with eyewitnesses and photos to disprove it. I’m not shocked you right-wing shills are OK with all this, of course (though it would probably be different if it happened at a Tea Party rally). Scumbags do tend to stick together.
Don’t waste your ammo on the neutral non-partisans, Woody. We have real enemies. Its what they call a “target rich environment”.
Police have used the old "somebody threw a bottle’ defense for crushing dissent. It is bullshit. But who can prove otherwise. It is a perfect made up excuse .
The occupations have been a rousing success. They have changed the dialogue which was all pro corporate ,right wing before. It was all about "we need to gut all the programs for the poor and extend tax breaks to the job creators’. Now politicians are able top mention income inequality without the press labeling them hippies. The conversation has changed.
Banks can be brought into question on TV now.
There is progress. That is probably because the pols are seeing how broad the support is. It could translate into votes. Lots of votes.
Eh, frothing morons like Mr Smashy aren’t even worth wasting time on. It’s when the more reasonable people start spouting the OPD company line bullshit that it’s time to speak up. The press I’ve given up on altogether (it was mere seconds after the chief of police’s news conference where he announced they deployed tear gas in response to thrown objects that news reports started coming out that the protesters had thrown rocks, etc.).
Bit of droll humor from our good friends at Daily Kos
The argument that people need specific demands, misses the point that the mess is systemic. The American economy has been perverted to enrich the few. It has been done over a long time and has been accomplished on many fronts.
I am surprised more people are not up in arms over the monied coup that took place. It harms almost all of us and takes away our hope for a better future. The occupations are the only way the rest could get heard.
The study that was just finished on the theft of defense contractors in Iraq just finished its work. It determined that over 60 billion dollars has been fleeced out of American tax payers. But of course, the last action of the panel was to seal the records for the next 20 years. You will not be permitted t6o find out who the thieves are. Business as usual.
I notice you still haven’t addressed the main question at hand - since the protesters were clearly violating the law, even after being warned, do you feel that they shouldn’t have been arrested? To, you know, suffer the consequences of their actions?
If you have no reasonable answer, feel free to ignore.
Another, objective view of the protest, at least the one going on in DC.
Simply because you think its the “main question” does not make it so.
An editorial on MSN Money? I take it all back, you truly have a droll sense of humor.
Arrested? Sure. I’m pretty sure a lot of them even expected that. Tear-gassed and shot with rubber bullets? Hell no.
Why is that the main question? Because you say so?
People have the right to protest. It should be protected. That is far more important than a trumped up trespassing violation. That is a horrible hierarchy of rules you ascribe to. The right of speech vs trespassing. it should be easy to understand.
Whoa, steady up, there, big horse! Those are property rights you’re talking about there! Sure, free speech is important, long as you mind your manners.
OK, now to the next question - If (hypothetically speaking) the protesters were throwing bottles, rocks and M-80s, do you feel that it would be a reasonable police response to use the tear gas and/or rubber bullets (or the ‘beanbags’, as others have reported)?
If not, then what measures do you feel would be a reasonable response. Again, assuming the protesters were throwing those things, which, I get it, you do not stipulate.
Well, the police in Albany don’t feel that protesters need to be met with decisive force. What are they doing that’s so wrong that it needs to be met with force? Breaking curfew? Oh, the horrors.
And you think the police bear no culpability when they show up in riot gear for a non-violent protest and announce that a failure to disperse will result in arrests?
Does the general public have the right to use public spaces as they were intended to be used. And for which the people pay taxes? I respect the right to peaceably assemble and protest, but not to take over areas for weeks at a time. And you?
Zero responsibility. You’re asking them to put themselves at greater risk against a crowd. A crowd that can easily turn into a violent mob, as happens more than rarely.