Is laying the ‘intellectual foundation’ of OWS something one ought to brag about?

JF McNamara

October 26th, 2011
5:42 am

Remember when you criticized people for saying most Tea Party members are uneducated and racist and people should go to the rallies to see for themselves? How is it on the other side, Kyle?

Sound like voters to me

October 26th, 2011
6:35 am

So we have ignorant voters/protesters and a not so smart politician….nothing to see here folks, move along.

Joe The Plumber too.

October 26th, 2011
6:39 am

Glad to see the APD pushed the trash out of the park. Even the blind can see what was gathered at the park when before the arrests the leader tells them if any of them have been doing drugs, drinking or are on probation to leave before the arrests begin. Model citizens there.

marko

October 26th, 2011
6:42 am

Groucho Marx once said, Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it
everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.
Prior to OWS, news coverage focused on deficit reduction
now the debate is focused on job creation. The OWS crowd might not be rocket scientist, but they seem to have a pretty good idea of the problems ordinary Americans confront. Reality evidently stops at the Potomac.

Stephenson Billings

October 26th, 2011
6:50 am

“Useful Idiots” is the term…. and the Democrat base.

DeborahinAthens

October 26th, 2011
6:53 am

As a person who protested the draft and the Vietnam War,I shake my head at how I’ll informed these people are, sometimes. However, I just don’t understand why most of the Republicans that read you, Kyle, are so opposed to banking regulations. These are regulations that attempt to plug the hole that the repeal of Glass-Stegall, that created the structure that enabled the trading (for the banks’ own accounts) of the very bad and investor unfriendly derivatives. I do understand why the banks bought and paid for plenty of Repugs that would make sure that Elizabeth Warren would not be put in charge of the agency she created. They are powerful, very wealthy people that have made billions of dollars since the walls between banks, investment banks, and insurance companies came down in 1998. I have no problem with banks being profitable–they MUST be strong to keep the wheels of the economy turning–I do resent seeing them continue to pay the traders, the manipulators, the failed CEOs billions in bonuses while they lay off the people (the financial advisors, the stockbrokers, the bank tellers, the administrative staff) that work so hard to make sure
the customers prosper. Kyle, you seem to like the idea that the rich are getting richer and richer and the middle class is disappearing. And I don’t get it. Unless you are a trust fund baby, I would guess you are one of us–hard working, just asking for an opportunity to earn a living doing what you love. So make fun of the ignorance of the OWS folks, to my mind you are no less ill informed.

Mickey Roberts

October 26th, 2011
6:54 am

The vast majority of Americans could not answer most of those questions; I would even bet that majority of our /congress could not answer those questions. So what? Right and left, we have no leaders anymore, and that is why this country is in big trouble.

Waheema

October 26th, 2011
6:59 am

Occupy’s member are just a few sadly decieved children and professional marxists. The only way for them to learn is to spend a little time in jain and a lot of time looking for work. Ignorance is not somehting to be admired.
Politicians who ally themselves with Occupy’s marxist propoganda are in for a nasty suprise when they face the voters.

Working Grandma

October 26th, 2011
7:00 am

DeborahinAthens, thanks for writing what I’ve been thinking. Your comments were right on target.

Joe The Plumber too.

October 26th, 2011
7:03 am

deborah, I just don’t see how it is anybodys business except the stockholders how much any company pays anyone. What I pay a person in bonuses is at my discretion and what you pay someone is at yours, it is not the governments. If as a stockholder a person doesn’t agree with compensation given a CEO, that stockholder is free to sell the stock. It is just like the people screaming about companies taking away Americans jobs, those jobs don’t belong to the employee, they belong to the employer, people tend to forget that. If I were to lay off staff today, I wouldn’t be taking a job they own, I would be taking I own. Some see reality as heartless but it is still reality.

Jimmy62

October 26th, 2011
7:16 am

JF McNamara: The difference is that people at Tea Party rallies were able to demonstrate general knowledge of government and politics, while the Occupy people, as discussed in the column, demonstrate only their ignorance. The rush of Democrats to claim some sort of patronage over a mostly ignorant and whiny rabble is hilarious.

I sympathize with the true, secret aim of the sort of protesters who are there scouring the internet on their iPads while claiming they can’t afford health care (which I am not at all saying represents a majority of the protesters). They want the right to be lazy but still have the trappings of modern middle class lifestyles. I too feel there should be more to life than spending 2/3s of my waking hours working for someone else doing things I’d rather not have to do, but in a world of scarcity, I see no better options.

Jimmy62

October 26th, 2011
7:21 am

Deborahinathens: Please tell me how the repeal of Glass-Steageal affected Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Goldman Sachs, AIG, Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, Countrywide, and pretty much all the big players in this? Sure, it may have affected Wachovia, but they were a relatively small player in all of this. So your big repeal was negligible in all of this, and if anything helped mitigate the problems by allowing Merrill Lynch to be bought by Bank of America.

I love it, you saw some soundbite repeated a bunch of times and decided it must be true, and took that as education, without any further critical thinking.

Stevie Ray

October 26th, 2011
7:22 am

DEBORAHNATHENS:

The repeal of Glass-Steagall was 100% responsible for the mortgage crisis we currently enjoy. Under financial lobbying pressure, our corruptresentatives began to chip away at the perimeter of this law in the late 80’s with repeal per Clintons congress in 1998. The conflicts (just as in 1929) that resulted allowed the wall to crumble between banks, investment houses and insurers who gave away services in one sector to profit in speculation. Once again, the re-election minded machine screwed all of us, especially the 10% that now pay 73% of the taxes.’

The argument against re-instituting a modern version of GS is whining from financial lobby that they won’t be able to complete globally which in my mind is bunk. Really has nothing to do with any of this as the conflicts of interest that exist are not illegal albeit unethical.

Also, why everytime I turn TV on or read left blogs (right no better), I keep seeing this graph relative to the income divide? Who cares and why is this the best evidence for reform? How do you propose fixing this? How about the top 10% pay 100% of the taxes?

Sticking your nose in CEO pay is not appropriate. Most Fortune 1000 companies have comp plans that generally do not allow compensation not proportionate to results but of course no one wants to discuss this fact…the whiners are completely mis-informed and need to be on K Street…too bad they can’t afford gas money.

Stevie Ray

October 26th, 2011
7:30 am

JIMMY:

The repeal of GS impacted all the above. The banks used our money to bet on real estate and dumped the FMFM type loans, many toxic. The Goldman Sachs, Bear Sterns et al who were allowed to get into banking did basically the same thing and in addition, were able to get greedy due to the inherent conflicts of being in multiple businesses. AIG biggest sucker of all as they insured pools of crap laiden mortages at less than 2% rate on line based on total assets insured. Before GS, they were pretty much lambs and the repeal transformed them into snakes….

Ronnie Raygun

October 26th, 2011
7:36 am

Kyle’s is just jealous that, unlike conservatism, someone else’s ideology actually has an ‘intellectual foundation’.

GT

October 26th, 2011
7:44 am

The Tea Party now there is an intellectual group. Unless we are doing away with democracy in the 21st century this kind of stuff has got to be dealt with the way it is packaged. Last week as we talked about child poverty the Heritage Foundation had decided that education had little to do with it. I really believe the education and the disciple it takes to get the education has all to do about this. I also say those people in the park come closer to getting it than the Klan. I question if that same magazine would venture to even survey that crowd of brain dead nuts that have switch sides of the pool and now call themselves Republicans. One sign of intelligence with the Tea Party they keep most of these nuts in a closet during these rallies. PR is like a deodorant, it covers up a lot of sins. I am sure the Occupy people will become as disingenuous as the other side eventually.

One thing about the Occupy people, they are not against free enterprise. It is the bailing out of the corporate and bank failures while the rest of America suffers that is the theme here. I have notice with the fees Bank of America is charging masses of middle class people are moving their money to smaller banks. Wouldn’t it be justice if these banks despite their lifelines still could not survive and healthier smaller banks took their place. This country is great because the grassroots buy in. I am sure a lot of these people don’t understand that in measurable term, but as they travel up the ladder they will. The problem is when most of them have made it they quickly forget what they learn going up.

Get on with it

October 26th, 2011
7:46 am

I’m very happy to see that he Democrats are still supporting these people made up of communists, radicals and stupidty. That again tells me that the 2012 election is very important and that the real working people of America need to continue to clean house in the White House, senate and House. Remove the commies who are giving our country away piece by piece and taking our freedoms for more of the wealth and power. I personally cant wait till November 2012.

Bob

October 26th, 2011
7:47 am

JF, you do not need to go to one of these rallys to see how ignorant these fools are. When a good portion of the crowd wear brightly colored stocking caps in 90 degree weather, they will not be confused with our brightest kids.

Daren Gray

October 26th, 2011
7:48 am

To the Occupy Atlanta movement What did you accomplish? You had no discernable message just he capitalism is bad! InMySouthparkVoice. Go away I am glade your gone. You were just some simple people who wanted to act out like little children.

Use the tea bag party ultra conservative model pick a very narrow set of goals and put your people in office to achieve them

Stop bitching and Start Voting!

Bob

October 26th, 2011
7:50 am

Ronnie, can you show us where this group did anything at all to be confused with intellectuals ? And why isn’t the left whining about the makeup of the crowd, it’s mostly white, wasn’t that the knock on the tea party ? Other than the normal bums that hang out at Woodward, the rest are a bunch of soft white kids whining.

Ronnie Raygun

October 26th, 2011
7:51 am

“The difference is that people at Tea Party rallies were able to demonstrate general knowledge of government and politics,”

Badly misspelled signs, threats to bring guns “next time”, and saying “keep your government hands off my medicare”. Yeah, the people at the corporately funded teabag rallies were such intellectual giants. LOL

GT

October 26th, 2011
8:00 am

Daren Gray the Occupy Atlanta movement just took five minutes of your time to complain about them. I doubt you will ever change your point of view, but millions of Americans are in the middle and each have their own thoughts of what this movement and what is behind it represents. Not being defined and polished like the Tea Party may work better, it is food for thought for more different types of people. The organized Tea Party tries so hard to have something to hit at from O and the Tea Party. They give them nothing and it drives them crazy. This subject of American misery is well defined in the minds of the people sharing it, just different definitions to different people. The Tea Party has tried to own this area, and draw our thoughts away from the real cause of our problems. It was a brilliant plan for a party many thought was on its last breath. What America has forgotten is there was a reason the Republican Party about died. Now the real grass rooters are reminding us.

Cal

October 26th, 2011
8:16 am

Warren served as the “intellectual foundation?”

hahahahahaha

The OWS crowd must be living in a basement somewhere.

Before disbanding OWS at Woodruff, one of their leaders advised:

It became clear around 8 p.m. Tuesday that arrests were imminent. Officers blocked off Park Place NE alongside Woodruff Park as about 50 additional officers arrived on the scene.

At 10:45 p.m Tuesday, Franzen told participants who were willing to be arrested to gather in a circle in the middle of the park. He advised those who had been drinking, using drugs or were on probation not to take part and asked demonstrators outside the park to return at 6 a.m.

Bobby

October 26th, 2011
8:27 am

God bless the occupiers. As a Vietnam Marine vet it gives my heart pleasure seeing Americans stand up to the Corporations and Republicans which are destroying this country.

brad

October 26th, 2011
8:31 am

Meanwhile, the State of Georgia is attempting to have the Voting Rights Act dismantled.

JF McNamara

October 26th, 2011
8:32 am

Jimmy62 and Bob,

My comment was basically pointing out Kyle’s hypocrisy. The treatment of the Tea Partyers was no different. I remember watching CNN reporting on the racism at the rallies and the outrage from that.

I believe that was wrong to stereotype the Tea Partyers. I also believe its wrong to Stereotype the OWS people. Its called having a consistent intellectual viewpoint instead of a viewpoint dictated by the party in which I reside.

Chuck Doberman

October 26th, 2011
8:39 am

Bringing ignorance to light… do conservatives really want to go there? You’ve been dumbing-down your base for decades and it’s working! There is no other explanation as to why said base still supports the republican platform (make wealthy people even more wealthy, Eff the rest, we’ll just attack, villify and shout them down with great fervor until that point where they are broken and reeling under our emotional and financial fusillade) Much to-do is made regarding values, religion and ideology, yet these are teasers and smokescreens and distract from the real issues which are jobs and the economy… two areas where the GOP offers us nothing except more of the insane and unrealistic practices that contributed mightily to the piss-poor situation we are in today. I, for one, believe that even after decades of dumbing-down and turning hard-right, most of these people truly realize this deep down and will at some point cast away the emotional reigns the GOP has them in and embrace reality… a. the wealthy can’t haver much more of our wealth without dealing a death-blow to the already-reeling middle-class b. without the middle-class the American Dream is dead, period.

smart dawg

October 26th, 2011
8:40 am

I didn’t see anyone in the photos that I would hire to represent my business.

Bob

October 26th, 2011
8:45 am

I’m pretty sure people don’t need to pass Economics mid-terms to know that their lot isn’t improving, and that the lot of the bailed out is. And no amount of smarm can remove that awareness.

Michaela

October 26th, 2011
8:52 am

I think, if these protesters had instead used the time to help the farmers in the fields, who’ve lost all these laborers, and then given the earned money to those that they feel have been wronged, then I think they could have brought attention and also kept credibility. Just sitting around doesn’t accomplish anything.

carlosgvv

October 26th, 2011
8:55 am

Kyle, dismissing the prostestors for their lack of economic knowledge is nothing but a conservative smokescreen. They are protesting because they can’t find work, many after 4 years of college and a degree, and they know how corrupt and rotten Wall Street has become. They also know how bought and paid for most politicians are. “The economic system they’re fighting to change” is sick, and we all know it. You do too.

Uncle Jed

October 26th, 2011
8:57 am

smart dawg

October 26th, 2011
8:40 am
I didn’t see anyone in the photos that I would hire to represent my business.

+++++++++++++++++

Don’t worry, they aren’t seeking employment, but rather a handout.

JKL2

October 26th, 2011
8:59 am

I love the smell of tear gas in the morning. Smells like victory.

Nothing says peaceful like riot gear, tear gas and concussion grenades.

Lynnie Gal

October 26th, 2011
9:01 am

My question–did the pollsters only interview people with southern accents? A dead giveaway that they wouldn’t know much because the south is last in the nation in education, mainly from state republican’s who’ve been shortchanging education for decades. The reason republicans don’t like to fund education? Because a lack of it expands their base.

Uncle Jed

October 26th, 2011
9:08 am

carlosgvv

October 26th, 2011
8:55 am
+++++++++++++++++

For the sake of argument and nothing more, let’s assume your premise is correct. WTF is standing around in the streets and illegally sleeping in public parks, smoking weed, and looking like ragamuffins going to do to help their situation? If most of them indeed did finish four years of higher education, regardless the respective majors, they should have known a bit more about the subject of their protests. It is/was clear that the vast majority of these rabblerousers were just that, not the poor downtrodden innocents laboring under the evil Wall Street bankers. For crying out loud man, they were organized by BIG LABOR and many were paid in one form or another to participate. The best thing that resulted from these OWS gatherings was the illustration of how critical the next national election will be for the future of our country at large and not narrowly for the moocher class.

I do agree with you to a degree that our political system is now at a low point relative to integrity and public service. There is too much money in the pot as demonstrated by Obama’s fuindraising.

Chip

October 26th, 2011
9:12 am

DEBORAHINATHENS: Since you seem so concerned about what corporations pay CEOs and executives… how do you feel about the millions paid to filthy stinking rich entertainers?

Should we be looking into how much the movie studios pay George Clooney? How about the millions of dollars made by those OTHER filthy stinking rich fat cat capitalists, like Michael Moore and Stephen Speilberg and James Cameron?

Or do they get a free pass because they’re liberal?

Jefferson

October 26th, 2011
9:14 am

The wealthy does not have to complain about their taxes as long as they have their pawns writing stories and paying their fair share for them. The older the pawns get the more they will realize they used and abused.

Uncle Jed

October 26th, 2011
9:16 am

The reason republicans don’t like to fund education?
++++++++++++++

Funding education isn’t the issue. It should be done at the state level not through some grotesque federal bureaucracy beholden to labor unions a/k/a liberal democrats in yet another Democrat contrived and controlled slush fund a/k/a/ union dues, that is then used to fund liberal democrat candidates. It is a vicious cycle and nothing short of money laundering in campaigns.

Uncle Jed

October 26th, 2011
9:20 am

Or do they get a free pass because they’re liberal?
++++++++++++++++++

Yep, of course they do because they are….oh well, you know…I mean they…well anyway, the corporations and CEO’s are bad and you know…I mean…well anyway they are and you must watch FOX News and listen to Rush and go to Tea Party events and must be a racist. So there!!!

MassMudder

October 26th, 2011
9:24 am

When EW filed her papers, she elisted the services of Perkins Coie to head up her campaign. She’s just like all the others.

Sometimes the best strategies to protect your business involve working outside the conventional financial and legal world. Decisions that can make or break your company can be made at high levels in Washington, D.C., a state capital, a city hall or by a bureaucrat or regulator. To succeed in these arenas, a business must be able to access the right people and use the access wisely.

Our group has spent years understanding how government works and developing relationships with its decision makers.

Jimmy62

October 26th, 2011
9:24 am

Stevie Ray: that’s not an answer, you didn’t explain anything. Now be specific, what is it that aig orgoldman sachs and other players did that they couldn’t do before glass-stegal was repealed.

MarkV

October 26th, 2011
9:26 am

Kyle,
Your article may be good for some chuckles, but if it has any intellectual quality it is hardly noticeable.
If you want to mock the “mixed” results of a (hardly scientific) survey, those results should be compared with those of other groups and for the population at large. I bet you would find most of them even less informed. That includes the 24 percent number for Elizabeth Warren, which actually seem surprisingly high. As for what you call Warren’s “boasting,” in the sense of the main theme of the OWS being a protest against the excessive income inequality, her statement regarding creation of “much of the intellectual foundation” of the OWS protests is not without merit.

Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)

October 26th, 2011
9:31 am

Greedily grabbing at the property of others, and demanding ever-larger handouts is hardly an “intellectual foundation”.

OWS: Greedy scum.

Now with Ten Percent More Flavor

October 26th, 2011
9:34 am

I remember seeing something similar regarding the tea party protestors. Something about keeping your hands off my Medicare. Your intellectual dishonesty is so partisan, Kyle. Desperate times, eh. Anyway, I’ve done my part to keep you around.

stands for decibels

October 26th, 2011
9:37 am

Kyle, you’re basing this thesis on a 50 person self-selected sampling by a magazine writer with an apparent ax to grind. Pretty lame.

Uncle Jed

October 26th, 2011
9:37 am

MarkV

October 26th, 2011
9:26 am
++++++++++++

Kyle offered commentary on a survey reported in an Associated Press article. Did Kyle purport that the survey was scientific or inclusive of all demographic delineations? Kyle started out by writing that the story gave him a chuckle and he closed with a tongue-in-cheek humorous line. Geesh!!!

Uncle Jed

October 26th, 2011
9:40 am

Uh-Oh, somebody needs to get back over to the H.O.T. lane blog.

MarkV

October 26th, 2011
9:40 am

Uncle Jed @9:37 am

And what is your point? That Kyle did NOT try to make any point?

carlosgvv

October 26th, 2011
9:41 am

Uncle Jed

Before BIG LABOR came along, we had 12 hour workdays, 6 day work weeks, no paid overtime, no paid vacations, no paid holidays, no insurance, no Workman’s Comp. and child labor. The ultimate goal of Big Business, who toally owns the Republican Party, is to get America as close as possible to those days gone by. The protestors understand this. Big Business has ordered their Party lackeys to instigate a smear campaign against the protesters which you have bought hook, line and sinker. The Party and Corporations are counting on people like you to believe what they say and ignore what they do. Looks like they’re succeding so far.

Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)

October 26th, 2011
9:46 am

Shame on the Atlanta OWSers for bringing imported assault weapons to their protests. If they weren’t so greedy they’d spend a little more for American made.

Uncle Jed

October 26th, 2011
9:49 am

MarkV

October 26th, 2011
9:40 am
Uncle Jed @9:37 am

And what is your point? That Kyle did NOT try to make any point?
+++++++++++++++++

It is my fervent belief that most understood that Kyle found humor in the AP piece and reiterated a point that seemed evident to most people anytime a OWSer was interviewed. Surely we can agree that many, way too many, of the OWSers came across as ill-informed and pawnlike.

Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)

October 26th, 2011
9:49 am

carlosgvv, I’ve heard a lot more from the protesters than the eeeeevil corporations, and I’m not exactly impressed by their incoherent ramblings and pleas for other people’s property.

Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!

October 26th, 2011
9:52 am

“what is it that aig orgoldman sachs and other players did that they couldn’t do before glass-stegal was repealed.”

They could treat mortgages in the same way as securities and use them as investments. Unfortunately, the mortgages they were using were sub-prime and had no actual value. Big, big problem. Glass-Stegall prevented that from happening.

Chuck Doberman

October 26th, 2011
9:53 am

“… demanding ever-larger handouts is hardly an “intellectual foundation”.”

Correct, yet big-business does this daily, and pays our conservative “representatives” to forward and foment this practice… and they’ve become quite adept at selling this practice to their base as being “business-friendly” and “creating an atmosphere for job creation”. Newsflash! Corporations are enjoying profits at levels never seen before RIGHT NOW (I’d say that’s a pretty friendly atmosphere already) while killing jobs and shipping our manufacturing capabilities and those jobs (what little is left here) abroad. Deny this all you want, insult the unemployed and under-employed, attack detractors as unpatriotic, glaze it all over with a coating of emotional wedge issues and vitriole… but it won’t change the reality that conservative practices are destroying the middle-class one little bit. Those of us who can look past the faux outrage, personal attacks and snake-oil sales realize this and I believe as time goes on more and more people will wake up and take notice. I just hope that when that does happen it won’t be already too late

commoncents

October 26th, 2011
9:56 am

carlosgvv “Before BIG LABOR came along, we had 12 hour workdays, 6 day work weeks, no paid overtime, no paid vacations, no paid holidays, no insurance, no Workman’s Comp. and child labor. The ultimate goal of Big Business, who toally owns the Republican Party, is to get America as close as possible to those days gone by.”

And those 12/6 work-weeks are gone, and many labor laws have passed that will ensure a fair work practices. For that, we should be thanking unions. Now, unions want to say that only workers who pay union dues are entitled to jobs, and that corporations based in union states are only allowed to operate in union states. Unions are now taking business hostage, ensuring that the best people for the job can’t be hired and the wrong people can’t be fired.

Don't Tread

October 26th, 2011
9:57 am

These “test results” aren’t surprising. These are probably the same people who spent their high school and college years stoned playing Xbox and benefitting from “social promotion” while others were actually learning the material. They have no knowledge of how the system works except what the alphabet media told them, and have probably forgotten half of that.

And now they say life ain’t fair. Well, karma’s a b!#*h, ain’t it?

Chuck Doberman

October 26th, 2011
9:57 am

“Shame on the Atlanta OWSers for bringing imported assault weapons to their protests. If they weren’t so greedy they’d spend a little more for American made”

Now this I can agree with. Chinese and Eastern European equipment is total crap

Uncle Jed

October 26th, 2011
9:57 am

@carlosgvv

October 26th, 2011
9:41 am
++++++++++++++
Before BIG LABOR came along, we had 12 hour workdays, 6 day work weeks,…
Ahh, the glory days when we had jobs came to mind.
++++++++++++++
The ultimate goal of Big Business, who toally[sic] owns the Republican Party
And then GE came to mind.
++++++++++++++++
…instigate a smear campaign against…
Obama and the liberal media machine sets the standards.
++++++++++++++++
…counting on people like you to believe what they say and ignore what they do…
And then children, the pot said to the kettle…

stands for decibels

October 26th, 2011
9:57 am

Surely we can agree that many, way too many, of the OWSers came across as ill-informed and pawnlike.

I doubt you, or many of the other conservatives posting here, have heard OWSers whose spoken opinions weren’t cherry picked by right wing media outlets.

The spokesfolk I’ve heard have been generally articulate, well informed and, I might add, polite. For what it’s worth.

commoncents

October 26th, 2011
9:59 am

Doberman “Corporations are enjoying profits at levels never seen before RIGHT NOW (I’d say that’s a pretty friendly atmosphere already) while killing jobs and shipping our manufacturing capabilities and those jobs (what little is left here) abroad”

So you answer to prevent the shipping of jobs overseas is to tax them more and create a less friendly work environment in the US?

Uncle Jed

October 26th, 2011
10:07 am

I doubt you, or many of the other conservatives posting here, have heard OWSers whose spoken opinions weren’t cherry picked by right wing media outlets.
++++++++++++++++++

Speaking for myself, I made it a point, as I usually do, to formulate opinions after hearing reports and anecdotal information from a broad base of sources. While I can agree that some of the professional organizer types were much more informed and generally able to communicate their positions, it was apparent to me that the vast majority of participant protestors were very much the opposite. In fact, it was laughable to witness the fumbling and stumbling on the part of many.

commoncents

October 26th, 2011
10:08 am

Seems I lost my comment somewhere…

SFD: “I doubt you, or many of the other conservatives posting here, have heard OWSers whose spoken opinions weren’t cherry picked by right wing media outlets.

The spokesfolk I’ve heard have been generally articulate, well informed and, I might add, polite. For what it’s worth”

Sounds very similar to what happened with those racist Tea Party members…

Uncle Jed

October 26th, 2011
10:11 am

commoncents

October 26th, 2011
10:08 am
++++++++++++++

Touche’

(I am out and in pursuit of corporate spoils)

Chuck Doberman

October 26th, 2011
10:15 am

“So you answer to prevent the shipping of jobs overseas is to tax them more and create a less friendly work environment in the US?”

If the sole purpose is to hoard profits, pay a few executives exhorbitant salaries and layoff thousands (killing jobs, not creating them) then we are left with few alternatives. We could leave things as they are and watch corporate coffers grow (with no benefit to the nation… in fact if we continue along this course the middle-class will surely disappear), the wage gap expand even more and the number of Americans in poverty increase exponentially. We could adopt the republican platform, return to the practices which put us here and accelerate my previous statements; or we could come up with a method to reward businesses which creates jobs and keeps them here while somehow make those businesses that only wish to maximize and hoard profits at the expense of Americans compensate we Americans for said practices.

Is your answer to our present dilemma to make things easier for corporations and special-interest to bleed the American middle-class faster? Do you honestly believe our way of life will continue after you’ve accomplished the destruction of the middle-class?

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
10:15 am

You got a “chuckle”, Kyle?

Let’s see where this figures in Gandhi’s progression: “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

Jimmy62

October 26th, 2011
10:20 am

Tiberious: Investment banks were never prevented from buying mortgages by Glass-Stegall. They bought mortgages before the repeal, they bought them after. The repeal of Glass-Stegall had a negligible impact on any of this.

MarkV

October 26th, 2011
10:28 am

Uncle Jed @ 9:49 am “Surely we can agree that many, way too many, of the OWSers came across as ill-informed and pawnlike.

Surely we can agree that many, way too many people in this country are ill-informed and pawnlike.

“It is my fervent belief that most understood that Kyle found humor in the AP piece and reiterated a point that seemed evident to most people anytime a OWSer was interviewed.”

(also, Kyle @10:13 am)
No objection to anybody’s beliefs. However, this is a conservative blog, inviting comments. Kyle mocked the survey results of people he clearly does not agree with, thus making a political point. Therefore, it is appropriate to point out the fallacy of that point, whether it is humorous or not..

carlosgvv

October 26th, 2011
10:48 am

Uncle Jed

I told you something you did not want to hear and you have reacted in a knee-jerk conservative way, just as I knew you would. Making fun of me does not invalidate anything I said and will NOT make it go away.

carlosgvv

October 26th, 2011
10:51 am

Barry – 9:49

You have heard from the protesters only what Business and The Republicans have wanted you to hear. You are too brainwashed to realize you hear only what they tell you to.

cranky old man

October 26th, 2011
10:53 am

Hi, Joe The Plumber too,

I can’t speak for anyone else, but for me there are several problems with executive pay and bonuses. They are tied to short term (often quarterly) performance. They also tend to be paid in the form of stock options instead of salary/cash. As a CEO, I can make decisions that will cause a short term rise in profitability at the expense of long term company health (eating the seed corn, as it were). I can then cash in my stock options (which are only taxed at 15%), and retire with my golden parachute before the carefully balanced house of cards comes crashing down. Blame the board of directors for agreeing to the pay package, you say? The problem there is that the CEO of company A often sits on the board of company B, and vice-versa. It’s a huge good-ole-boy orgy of mutual back scratching.

Chuck Doberman

October 26th, 2011
10:55 am

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — “It’s official. The first decade of the 21st century will go down in the history books as a step back for the American middle class.

Last week, the government made gloomy headlines when it released the latest census report showing the poverty rate rose to a 17-year high. A whopping 46.2 million people (or 15.1% of the U.S. population) live in poverty and 49.9 million live without health insurance.

But the data also gave the first glimpse of what happened to middle-class incomes in the first decade of the millennium. While the earnings of middle-income Americans have barely budged since the mid 1970s, the new data showed that from 2000 to 2010, they actually regressed.

For American households in the middle of the pay scale, income fell to $49,445 last year, when adjusted for inflation, a level not seen since 1996.

And over the 10-year period, their income is DOWN 7%.”

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/2011/09/21/news/economy/middle_class_income/chart-income.top.jpg

UGA 1999

October 26th, 2011
11:04 am

If they want to take the blame for the crimes, ignorance and communist views….then yes it is a good idea.

DannyX

October 26th, 2011
11:08 am

“‘intellectual foundation’”

Intellectual foundation???? Like this blog and its daily followers???

LMAO! Now that’s funny!

Dusty

October 26th, 2011
11:13 am

Well, one thing is very obvious here. Not only are liberals lacking a sense of humor, they also have a lockset mind based on a brain washing agenda. You can spot them a mile off. EVIL Republicans! EVIL corporations raping the country! Child labor! EVIL CEOs! I protested!! Rich people should pay MORE! (Obese)Children are starving!

It goes on and on. Liberals need to write some new lines not written by communists, creeps and counterfeit intellectuals. Tiresome!

ragnar danneskjold

October 26th, 2011
11:14 am

I respectfully believe the Occupy Wall Streetpeople represent the highest and best intellectual thought found on America’s left. To borrow a line from my favorite co-blogger, @@, “snerk!”

UGA 1999

October 26th, 2011
11:15 am

Danny X “Like this bog and its daily followers???” You mean like YOU?

Intown

October 26th, 2011
11:16 am

What Elizabeth Warren should have said is: I can provide the intellectual justification for the meaningful protest that the Occupy Wall Street SHOULD be having. (Not the one they’re actually waging.)

Make fun of her all you want Kyle. But she’s one of the few willing to fight for working stiffs like you and me.

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
11:20 am

Sort of like the “intellectual foundation” of the whole so-called conservative movement:

what, Milton Friedman?

Give me a break. Probably the biggest crank and pseudo-intellectual charlatan in the past 150 years.

UGA 1999

October 26th, 2011
11:23 am

Intown…I do a pretty good job fighting for myself. No help from Ms. Warren needed.

John

October 26th, 2011
11:31 am

Kyle, no less intelligent than the Tea Party…don’t you think? Remember the Tea Party sign…”keep your government hands off my medicare”. And now we have every Republican politician trying to be more Tea Partier than their opponent.

Jack

October 26th, 2011
11:31 am

“…intellectual foundation…” ?? I know some grade school kids that have a better intellectual foundation than those hippie losers at OWS. The Occupy Everything slugs need to include their participation in this circus in their resumes.

Chuck Doberman

October 26th, 2011
11:32 am

That’s funny…. I haven’t seen any of these words or phrases used by anyone except those on the right attempting to discredit anyone with whom they disagree… which I see a lot of. This can’t be the simple deflection and denial it so appears to be… that would be childish and hurtful which is IMPOSSIBLE because it is widely known that those of us “on the right” are far holier and are just better people than those of us on the left… There must be hidden text somewhere on this page…

Hey Dusty, I’m in the middle here as I’m no Obama fan and often laugh at the disorganized and unfocused democratic party, On the other hand I’m well aware of the GOP’s mission to destroy the middle class, how far they’ve already pushed that agenda and how close they are to accomplishing that goal. Is there a way for those of us who subscribe to neither party to view these hidden pages you see. If not, is there an abridged, censored or simplified version for we unwashed masses?

UGA 1999

October 26th, 2011
11:34 am

Chuck….destroy the middle class? Can you please site an example?

Chuck Doberman

October 26th, 2011
11:35 am

“EVIL Republicans! EVIL corporations raping the country! Child labor! EVIL CEOs! I protested!! Rich people should pay MORE!”

These are what my previous post spoke of. I forgot to paste them… I must become holier which will make me smarter and better than most!

getalife

October 26th, 2011
11:36 am

Are we even getting closer to you cons saying the 1 % does not need any help?

Chuck Doberman

October 26th, 2011
11:36 am

“Chuck….destroy the middle class? Can you please site an example?”

see my 10:55 post

stands for decibels

October 26th, 2011
11:39 am

stands: New York Magazine is now a “right-wing media outlet”?

did I say that? no. I meant that that the impressions being made on the conservative posters regarding the intelligence of the OWSers are those carefully edited and presented by right wing media outlets; and I think that’s a defensible statement.

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
11:40 am

UGA 1999: “Chuck….destroy the middle class? Can you please site an example?”

How about a collapsing employer-sponsored health insurance system?

http://www.startribune.com/business/132307903.html

DannyX

October 26th, 2011
11:41 am

from a new CBS/NY Times poll,

“Only 26% said that money and wealth are distributed fairly in America, while 66 percent say they aren’t.”

Kyle are you part of the 26% or part of the 66%?
Count me i

stands for decibels

October 26th, 2011
11:43 am

And for the record, I’m fine with Kyle and others choosing to laugh at what they see as silly, dissolute youth; we read what we like into the other sides’ chosen outrage, and I can certainly see how the superficial stuff–the drum circles, some of the hairstyles, the tats, etc.–seem unserious.

But the notion that Wall Street needs “occupying” by those heretofore without access to the levers of power? I think that’s got legs, myself.

getalife

October 26th, 2011
11:43 am

Again, are we even closer for you cons to admit the 1 % does not need any help?

Can you answer this simple question cons?

Shawanda

October 26th, 2011
11:46 am

“…(though I smiled to see 4 percent, in New York, answer “The Southeastern Conference?”).”

Hey that woulda been MY answer, too. Goooo DAWGS, woof woof woof.

UGA 1999

October 26th, 2011
11:46 am

Chuck….Thank you for actually posting a legitimate post. (Sincerely).

I agree that your data does show a downward spiral in the incomes of the middle class. However that is not only due to presidential policies but more a focus on the economic times. The thing that I have a hard time with is the fact that Obama seems to only be making things much worse.

UGA 1999

October 26th, 2011
11:47 am

Getalife…depends on your definition of help.

getalife

October 26th, 2011
11:48 am

I think the 9% approval for corrupt congress answers my question cons .

getalife

October 26th, 2011
11:51 am

Your tea party gave us our first downgrade to further our recession but that is okay.

You cons call that intelligent but real Americans are fighting to get our country back from a 1 % controlled government.

I stand with the 99 % of real American patriots.

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
11:51 am

OWS protestors are losers.

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
11:51 am

The only reason Warren is popular with the left is because John Stewart is in love with her. Most of his viewers are drug addicted crybabies.

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
11:52 am

“Your tea party gave us our first downgrade to further our recession but that is okay.”

getalife please get off the drugs.

saywhat?

October 26th, 2011
11:53 am

I now know that if I make a joke, and the punch line has content regarding the inbreeding, idiocy and lack of morals rampant among southern conservatives, it’s o.k., because it’s just a joke. Good to know.

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
11:55 am

Speaking of “intellectual influence”, one of you cons’ smarter compadres has long since woken up and smelled the coffee. You other cons would do well to observe his example.

Andrew Sullivan on how he learned to love the ‘goddam hippies’—and why their protests aren’t going to end.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/10/23/how-i-learned-to-love-the-goddamned-hippies.html

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
11:56 am

“You other cons would do well to observe his example.”

Or we could just sit here, laugh at you and vote out the Dems again next year. You can keep your smelly hippies.

DannyX

October 26th, 2011
11:57 am

*******CAUTION: ALLEGED HUMOR********

Seriously Kyle, you must be proud of the intellectual foundation this blog provides. This statement is brilliant,

“The only reason Warren is popular with the left is because John Stewart is in love with her. Most of his viewers are drug addicted crybabies.”

You must be so proud.

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
11:58 am

Billy Bane: “Or we could just sit here, laugh at you and vote out the Dems again next year. You can keep your smelly hippies.”

You think this is about votes?

He he, he he …. keep dreamin’ buddy.

getalife

October 26th, 2011
12:00 pm

The most ignorant people in our country talking about other American’s intellect is hilarious kyle.

The only poll that matters is the 9 % approval rate for corrupt congress.

That is hilarious too.

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
12:04 pm

Billy Bane: “Or we could just sit here, laugh at you and vote out the Dems again next year. You can keep your smelly hippies”

The whole point is the democratic system has been bought, Einstein. We’re past that now, don’t you see?

Votes, even whole elections, will not save us when the system has been bought wholesale.

Thus you get: occupations.

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
12:04 pm

DannyX

Warren is a hack. She’s someone who hates capitalism and rails against “evil corporations.” Not my fault if you’re not smart enough to understand this.

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
12:05 pm

“You think this is about votes?”

No, I just wanted to add that in to piss you off.

DannyX

October 26th, 2011
12:05 pm

*******CAUTION: ALLEGED HUMOR********

“Or we could just sit here, laugh at you and vote out the Dems again next year. You can keep your smelly hippies.”

Your intellectuals are so awesome.

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
12:05 pm

“The most ignorant people in our country talking about other American’s intellect is hilarious kyle.”

Nah, the most ignorant are those who live off of welfare like you.

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
12:06 pm

“Your intellectuals are so awesome.”

Insult fail.

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
12:13 pm

No, I just wanted to add that in to piss you off.

Do I look pissed off?

He says after 4 posts in two minutes. I love it.

Chuck Doberman

October 26th, 2011
12:17 pm

@ UGA

I respect your opinion and your presentation of it. I myself believe the idea of “trickle down” and it’s implementation are the biggest contributor to the decline of the middle class and to the present mindset of corporate welfare. I also agree that things have not improved over the past 3 years, but think that our situation would be worse had McCain (who I voted for btw) been elected. IMO the bottom line is that our middle class has been whalloped and is presently on the ropes; and that if we continue the assault then the mission to defang it will actually destroy it. Without the middle class in America the bottom falls out for ALL of us and disaster ensues

Chuck Doberman

October 26th, 2011
12:18 pm

“Nah, the most ignorant are those who live off of welfare like you.”

Yea you’re right, this isn’t an ignorant reply AT ALL (eyeroll)

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
12:18 pm

“Do I look pissed off?”

Yes

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
12:19 pm

“Yea you’re right, this isn’t an ignorant reply AT ALL (eyeroll)”

Not sure if you know this or not Chuck, but getalife is a regular on Bookmans blog and has stated that he smokes weed and is “retired” living off of taxpayer dollars.

DannyX

October 26th, 2011
12:20 pm

“Insult fail.”

Didn’t you read my disclaimer at the top of my post? It wasn’t an insult, a failed attempt at humor maybe, but not an insult.

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
12:24 pm

“Didn’t you read my disclaimer at the top of my post? It wasn’t an insult, a failed attempt at humor maybe, but not an insult.”

I stopped reading after your attempt at discrediting conservatives as intellectuals. BTW, what degree do you hold?

stands for decibels

October 26th, 2011
12:25 pm

vote out the Dems again next year

you’re going to need a lot more than 44 million republican voters to do that in a general election.

Good luck with Mittens leading the charge.

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
12:32 pm

Chuck Doberman: “I myself believe the idea of “trickle down” and it’s implementation are the biggest contributor to the decline of the middle class and to the present mindset of corporate welfare”

Speaking of intellectual inspiration, there’s none greater for the con movement than that Trotskyist retread Irving Kristol, not that very many of the con riff raff we see around here have ever heard of him. (Wingfield MIGHT have heard of him, once.)

Anyway, here’s what this former Communist, bomb-throwing conservative “intellectual” had to say about how “trickle down economics” should be sold to the public, despite the fact that it’s obviously a fraud. He was quite open about how cynical the ploy was.

It is often said that capitalism – that is, a market economy is morally obnoxious because its “trickle-down economics” inevitably creates inequality of income and wealth. Now it is certainly true that “trickle-down economics” has that effect. It is also true, however, that if you want economic growth and greater affluence for all, there is simply no alternative to “trickle-down economics,” which is just another name for growth economics.

Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)

October 26th, 2011
12:39 pm

Thanks for reminding us that capitalism, or “trickle down”, is the best economic system. The lack of newly-communist countries says or all.

commoncents

October 26th, 2011
12:43 pm

LBB “Thanks for reminding us that capitalism, or “trickle down”, is the best economic system. The lack of newly-communist countries says or all.”

Didn’t Castro even recently say that “communism doesn’t work”?

Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)

October 26th, 2011
12:43 pm

“If you want economic growth and greater affluence for all, there is simply no alternative to “trickle-down economics,” which is just another name for growth economics.
———-

Why don’t Obozo and the Democrat party want growth and greater affluence for all?

It won’t get them elected, that’s why.

Obozo & Democrats: America haters.

Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)

October 26th, 2011
12:46 pm

If Castro didn’t say it, he sure as hell was thinking it!

getalife

October 26th, 2011
12:46 pm

The real Americans will get our country back.

You cons stay bowed down as usual..

Be the silent minority because you zero credibility.

getalife

October 26th, 2011
12:48 pm

“Romney Fundraising With Solyndra Lobbyist, Despite GOP Blasting Company”

See.

Zero credibility.

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
12:55 pm

Lil’ Barry Brainout: “Why don’t Obozo and the Democrat party want growth and greater affluence for all?”

Don’t know, guess you better ask him.

getalife

October 26th, 2011
12:58 pm

So the cons will stay bowed down to 1 % power but the real American patriots will get our country back.

Corporate media is fascinated with this movement and so are the American people.

cain did not pay his taxes.

Get him cons.

You don’t even know he is punking you.

You cons are so smart.

Yeah right.

UGA 1999

October 26th, 2011
1:08 pm

Getalife….please show proof of your 9% number. I can prove the 39% number approval for Obama.

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
1:08 pm

Mark it down. Mitt Romney’s a union busting thug.

And the Oakland police department?

He hee ..

UGA 1999

October 26th, 2011
1:08 pm

Getalife…something tells me you have experience being the “minority” haha.

UGA 1999

October 26th, 2011
1:11 pm

“Mitt Romney’s a union busting thug”……..AMEN! Good for him and us!

Filter

October 26th, 2011
1:16 pm

Continue to belittle the Occupy protesters at your own peril. I have no problem with a broad brush dismissal of the entire movement based on your own bias because all of your protestations don’t change the real game. Now I’ll admit there is always a chance that I’m wrong as this is only my opinion but it seems as if the tide is turning and people are starting to realize that something is seriously wrong with their country (and yes it is theirs too) even if they can’t quite put their finger on it. Is this movement the answer? Who knows, maybe not. But this much is certain; they appear to have ignited a fire that is not going to be doused by the normal channels of the 24 hour news cycle and the talk radio sound machine.

The reason I believe this is that I was in NYC for business a week ago. I decided to take a walk to Zuccotti Park to see with my own eyes who these people were. True, it did have the vibe of the hippie but the smell of patchouli aside the people down there are a very clear cross section of America. There were more young than old, but all ages were represented and I saw many different races as well. I certainly did not feel I was surrounded by extreme America hating communists as the Hannity’s of the world want us to believe.

And while I do think it is fair to say that many of them can’t exactly put into words exactly why their anger exists, I walked away with this: The anger is real and they all seem to possess the basic understanding or belief that the deck is stacked against them. They know there is a serious problem and some serious inequities even if they aren’t able to articulate them. I do not think this should be seen as a point for which to dismiss them. But if it makes you feel better about yourself go ahead with the belittling. But be aware of this.

I’m still not certain that I buy into a lot of the ideological points I heard in NYC, but I am convinced that these are people serious about changing the system by shaking corporate and political America to their foundations. If this movement can progress beyond its’ infancy, sharpen its’ focus and avoid the corporate astroturfing that befell the Tea Party (evident to all but the most partisan) then it will morph into corporate and political America’s worst nightmare.

getalife

October 26th, 2011
1:17 pm

The super corrupt congress has a plan.

The 1% have the cons, corporate media and most of corrupt congress fighting for them.

Guess who will lose?

We, the people.

That includes you dummies.

getalife

October 26th, 2011
1:19 pm

ug,

I don’t engage with no credibility cons.

You lost so get over it.

UGA 1999

October 26th, 2011
1:22 pm

Filter….I was in NYC about two weeks ago as well. I walked down to battery park and wall street. I saw the protesters. Really had a Woodstock type of feel. However many many many of the people out there have not idea what they are talking about and are just protesting to protest. They want to be part of a movement that has no legitimacy at all.

Dusty

October 26th, 2011
1:22 pm

OH my, now the liberals here are digging into their propaganda suppliers AND “Mitt Romney is a union busting thug”!! Got any more shady stuff you want to present here? Still scraping stuff out the bottom of the barrel?

But I was wrong. Liberals do have comedians. GETALIFE makes me laugh everytime he posts. Or maybe it is because he so well respresents the liberal “intellectual” personality. Ho ho ho….and away those liberals go!

UGA 1999

October 26th, 2011
1:23 pm

Getalife….”I don’t engage with no creditlbity cons”…..hmmmm now that is a double negative (which means you do). So either you have no use for the English language and proper grammar or you agree with me. Which is it?

UGA 1999

October 26th, 2011
1:28 pm

OWS….Look at the CLOWN in the middle. He is scared to expose his face!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/

getalife

October 26th, 2011
1:32 pm

I think we are witnessing the end of the globalization scam for the 1 %.

Bring our jobs back home and end this scam.

UGA 1999

October 26th, 2011
1:34 pm

Getalife….”bring our jobs back home”…..Now THERE is something we CAN agree on.

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
1:39 pm

“I don’t engage with no credibility cons.”

Now there’s some stellar grammar.

Filter

October 26th, 2011
1:41 pm

UGA,

But that is exactly my point. I think it is intellectually dishonest to dismiss this movement based on the idea that they are unable to articulate the conviction they have that something is fundamentally wrong with the direction they see this country moving. I dare say that in the early Tea Party rallies (before the astroturf) there was the same lack of focus and inability to go any further than “I know there is something wrong here, even if I’m not able to put it into words.” I believed it was wrong to dismiss them at that point just as firmly as I believe it is wrong to attempt to belittle and dismiss these people as well.

And I remain convinced that these attempts to dismiss and belittle are more dangerous for the person attempting to do so than for the movement itself.

Filter

October 26th, 2011
1:42 pm

And FYI, I use the term movement not as term of endorsement or accurate description, simply as a convenient label.

TRUTH

October 26th, 2011
1:42 pm

And the GOP Presidential field is STILL a CIRCULAR FIRING SQUAD….

None of them are electable, but sure are a hoot to watch…..

OBAMA 2012

Dusty

October 26th, 2011
1:43 pm

Of course we want our jobs brought back home. But we are bringing the Chinese with the jobs. Chinese company going to open plant in Georgia and hire 300 people. Yep! New jobs, with the profit going to China.

I don’t hate the Chinese. We already owe them huge sums of money. Now they build our plants. Well, OK. But I hope the number of American plants in China are equal. Something here makes me feel a little nervous! We are getting too dependent on China. There goes our independence.

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
1:47 pm

Yep. Romney whispers in his smarmy way the message: “yeah, I’m with the union-busting thugs here”.

UGA 1999

October 26th, 2011
1:47 pm

Truth….see that is where you are wrong….they are all electable. That is why they all (except for Cain) are holding an office today,

Mark T

October 26th, 2011
1:47 pm

GT

October 26th, 2011
7:44 am

One thing about the Occupy people, they are not against free enterprise. It is the bailing out of the corporate and bank failures while the rest of America suffers that is the theme here.

Wrong!…while that may be the centralized theme of the protest I can show you 5 video clips right now of these idiots saying capitalism is evil…etc, etc….The vast majority of these morons are marxist, socialist, and communist. If you remember correctly, the Tea Party protested bank bailouts, corp bailouts etc. except, they were protesting the right people…GOVT…and doing it peacefully I might add

Mark T

October 26th, 2011
1:53 pm

JF McNamara

October 26th, 2011
8:32 am
Jimmy62 and Bob,

My comment was basically pointing out Kyle’s hypocrisy. The treatment of the Tea Partyers was no different. I remember watching CNN reporting on the racism at the rallies and the outrage from that.

I believe that was wrong to stereotype the Tea Partyers. I also believe its wrong to Stereotype the OWS people

How many arrest and acts of vilolence were there at the Tea Party rallies again and how many have there been with the OWS people..there is no sterotyoe there, just facts

Obozonomics

October 26th, 2011
1:54 pm

DebrainAthens;
Man you libs really need to get an education, Obozo got more banker and Wall Street money than any previous candidate, so tell me again who Wall Street owns….It seems that YOU are ill informed.

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
1:54 pm

Mark T: “these idiots saying capitalism is evil…etc, etc….The vast majority of these morons are marxist, socialist, and communist. If you remember correctly, the Tea Party protested bank bailouts, corp bailouts etc. except, they were protesting the right people…GOVT…and doing it peacefully I might add”

Tea Party people WRONGLY attributed blame to excessive government spending, thus giving aid and comfort to those who perpetrate violence with their economic policies, expropriating the futures of the people to preserve the financial privileges of the wealth class.

That Black guy

October 26th, 2011
1:54 pm

Filter
October 26th, 2011
1:41 pm
“I dare say that in the early Tea Party rallies (before the astroturf) there was the same lack of focus and inability to go any further than “I know there is something wrong here, even if I’m not able to put it into words.”

Filter, it is dishonest to compare the “occupiers” with the tea partiers in this way. They stated what was wrong in their very name, TEA party (Taxed Enough Already). From the outset they made it clear they were against the TARP and Bailouts that would have to be paid for by increased taxes.

Filter

October 26th, 2011
2:00 pm

The early focus of the Tea Party was fuzzy at best.

It’s OK if you want to rewrite history but don’t expect to be seen as credible when you do it.

Mark T

October 26th, 2011
2:00 pm

getalife

October 26th, 2011
1:17 pm
The super corrupt congress has a plan.

The 1% have the cons, corporate media and most of corrupt congress fighting for them.

And how much money has obama raised already from these greedy corp.?

Dusty

October 26th, 2011
2:01 pm

Filter,

Do you think this if the first time in American history that we have had difficult economic times? Of course it isn’t.

But we went to work instead of campouts and kooks to pull out of it. And our hardtimes hardly equal those such as the countries of Arab Spring.

We are blessed with freedom and those who do not appreciate it are turning against it. Rich people have just as many rights as anyone else. Large companies have been the business life blood of this country. They are not responsible for the downturn of our country’s finances.

When the far left liberals get through ruining the companies that keep America going, we will be in terrible shape. Seems that is what they want to do. They wish to run our country as they are trying to do now with no success. We cannot continue to run a country overwhelmed with debt. That is something liberals do NOT understand.

Mark T

October 26th, 2011
2:07 pm

Welcome to the occupation

You keep banging on bongo drums thinking thats gonna change things and ill keep voting

Tom(Independent)

October 26th, 2011
2:19 pm

Guess how many of those 52 Occupy ATL protesters will show up in March for their day in court. They were all given signature bonds(even though some can not write) by that liberal Democratic Muncipal Court Judge. My guess is about 2 or 3 of them. A good number of them will be arrested again before March 2012! The judge probably should have just given all 52 “Time-Out”, it would have accomplished more. Signed Retired Military/Law Enforcement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What

October 26th, 2011
2:25 pm

To me OWS means get money out of politics. Rich is fine, we would all like to be rich (in our own way), but just because you are rich doesn’t mean you should be able to get special treatment from the government.

I am not sure why this is even debatable?

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
2:28 pm

Obama is a one term president.

Deal with it libs.

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
2:29 pm

Mark T: “You keep banging on bongo drums thinking thats gonna change things and ill keep voting”

You keep voting and I’ll keep supporting movements that result in things like this:

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/College-Students-Join-Occupy-Philly-March–132317078.html

Voting is great for incremental gains. Uprising and social protest changes the conversation itself.

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
2:33 pm

Obozonomics: “Man you libs really need to get an education, Obozo got more banker and Wall Street money than any previous candidate, so tell me again who Wall Street owns….It seems that YOU are ill informed.”

Billy the Bane: “Obama is a one term president. / Deal with it libs.”

Obviously you people haven’t fit into your mental architecture yet the fact that this movement is not about Obama. Frankly from the standpoint of the protesters it doesn’t really make a whole lot of difference WHO gets elected next year. Sure Obama may be incrementally better than the GOP. But we’re tired of increments. We want renewal.

Doug B

October 26th, 2011
2:36 pm

Since when did Social Security qualify as a pension?

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
2:37 pm

This movement is light years away from being merely a cheerleader for Barack Obama, believe me.

Filter

October 26th, 2011
2:38 pm

Dusty,

No this is not the first time we have had hard economic times. But the hard economic times are not across the spectrum as was the case in the past which is what has driven these people to the streets. Their belief is that the system is gamed and books like “Retirement Heist” by Ellen Schultz seem to bear that out.

As for your statements about how liberals are running the country, in the immortal words of Inigo Montoya “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” Check your facts.

Obozonomics

October 26th, 2011
2:40 pm

I wonder how many at the Tea Party rallies where getting paid, i bet none, but what about OWS crowd?
“Sources said NYCC has hired about 100 former ACORN-affiliated staff members from other cities – paying some of them $100 a day – to attend and support Occupy Wall Street. Dozens of New York homeless people recruited from shelters are also being paid to support the protests, at the rate of $10 an hour, the sources said.”

Filter

October 26th, 2011
2:48 pm

And the beat goes on. “Sources” is a smart guy. Too bad “Sources” is all there is.

Keep dismissing and belittling but methinks you are on the wrong side of this one. If I’m wrong then good for you, but if I’m right you’ll regret dismissing them out of hand. Kind of the same way the Democrats regretted dismissing the TP in 2010.

Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)

October 26th, 2011
3:00 pm

So the OWS losers are going to “shake corporations to their foundations”, eh? So how exactly does this manifest itself in terms of the law? And will there be any eeeeeevil corporations sticking around for the losers to punish?

Keep up the business bashing, losers. It’s worked out so well already.

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
3:00 pm

“And in a strange kind of way, Occupy Wall Street made me think more fondly of the Tea Party as well.” – Andrew Sullivan

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/10/23/how-i-learned-to-love-the-goddamned-hippies.html

Filter

October 26th, 2011
3:12 pm

LBB,

Thanks for quoting me but I stopped trying to discuss anything with you a long time ago.

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
3:14 pm

“Obviously you people haven’t fit into your mental architecture yet the fact that this movement is not about Obama.”

Nah, moveon orchestrated it…nothing to do with Obama. Nah, nothing.

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
3:15 pm

“Kind of the same way the Democrats regretted dismissing the TP in 2010.”

The Tea Party had candidates and wiped the Dems out of the House. Next up, the Senate and White House.

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
3:15 pm

Welcome to the occupation

Daily Beast is crap.

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
3:16 pm

“This movement is light years away from being merely a cheerleader for Barack Obama, believe me.”

It’s also an anti-Jew movement.

Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)

October 26th, 2011
3:17 pm

Why are the OWS protests so beset with robberies, sexual assaults, and drug crimes, and why are we supposed to care what these gatherings of human debris think of the productive class?

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
3:23 pm

“Why are the OWS protests so beset with robberies, sexual assaults, and drug crimes”

Because the Democrat party is made up of criminals.

Junior Samples

October 26th, 2011
3:23 pm

Hi Kyle,

Elizabeth Warren is stating that her work has brought to light what’s happening within Wall Street, therefore laying the “intellectual foundation” for OWS.

Whether or not the protestors paid attention is a different subject altogether. Sure, it’s entertaining to poke fun at the other side when they congregate en masse. We certainly had fun with Tea Party protestors who didn’t know this or that about the founding fathers, the Constitution, Bill of Rights, etc…

I think we can agree there are loons on both sides.
And that’s certainly entertaining.

Chance Laruffe

October 26th, 2011
3:33 pm

As for those in the World Trade Center… Well, really, let’s get a grip here, shall we? True enough, they were civilians of a sort. But innocent? Gimme a break. They formed a technocratic corps at the very heart of America’s global financial empire – the “mighty engine of profit” to which the military dimension of U.S. policy has always been enslaved – and they did so both willingly and knowingly. Recourse to “ignorance” – a derivative, after all, of the word “ignore” – counts as less than an excuse among this relatively well-educated elite. To the extent that any of them were unaware of the costs and consequences to others of what they were involved in – and in many cases excelling at – it was because of their absolute refusal to see. More likely, it was because they were too busy braying, incessantly and self-importantly, into their cell phones, arranging power lunches and stock transactions, each of which translated, conveniently out of sight, mind and smelling distance, into the starved and rotting flesh of infants. If there was a better, more effective, or in fact any other way of visiting some penalty befitting their participation upon the little Eichmanns inhabiting the sterile sanctuary of the twin towers, I’d really be interested in hearing about it.

Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)

October 26th, 2011
3:39 pm

Those in the WTC “formed a technocratic corps at the very heart of America’s global financial empire”
———-

I doubt the janitors, waiters, dishwashers, security guards, secretaries, and accounts receivable clerks considered themselves part of the technocratic corps of Americans that you so loathe. A$$hole.

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
3:42 pm

Billy the Bane: “It’s also an anti-Jew movement.”

A little worried, aren’t you?

Keep grasping at straws there, as your intellectual lieutenants like Bill Kristol set the marching orders for you to follow. You can try to smear the OWS movement as anti-semitic, but you’re going to fail.

It’s cuz you got nothin where it counts.

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
3:43 pm

“A little worried, aren’t you?”

No

“Keep grasping at straws there, as your intellectual lieutenants like Bill Kristol set the marching orders for you to follow. You can try to smear the OWS movement as anti-semitic, but you’re going to fail.”

Uh huh, just like we “failed” in 2010.

“It’s cuz you got nothin where it counts.”

It truly sucks to be you.

redneckbluedog

October 26th, 2011
3:44 pm

WE DON’T NEED NO DERNED COLLEGE, BY GOOT….WE GOT GUNS, BY GOOT….and spit….

WE’LL SPIT ON CONGRESSMEN UNTIL THEY DEFAULT THE FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE US GOVERNMENT…!!!!!

ND

October 26th, 2011
3:46 pm

While the Occupy supporters are for the most part uninformed, it is amusing to say the least to see Tea Partiers criticize others for their ignorance. You really think most Tea Partiers wouldn’t say the SEC stands for Southeastern Conference? Come on now.

Chance Laruffe

October 26th, 2011
3:47 pm

Any word on whether Deal got to see the birth certificate?

Filter

October 26th, 2011
3:48 pm

Billy Bane
October 26th, 2011
3:23 pm

“Why are the OWS protests so beset with robberies, sexual assaults, and drug crimes”

Because the Democrat party is made up of criminals.

And Billy Bane goes on the mental midget ignore list. When you grow up and realize that those who don’t share your political viewpoint are Americans too with convictions as firmly held as they are different than your own then you can join the adults at the big table where the fun discussions happen. Until then I’ll not address you or read your posts.

Not that you care nor should you really.

Chance Laruffe

October 26th, 2011
3:48 pm

Teatards can’t read.

Chance Laruffe

October 26th, 2011
3:51 pm

The FBI would not have arrested the Goldman Sachs chairman today if it were not for the efforts of the OWS’ers.
But Teatards are important, too. They can save the world with their misspelled signs and personal attacks on racial minorities. They are doing their best to turn back time until America is a third world country.

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
3:53 pm

“And Billy Bane goes on the mental midget ignore list. When you grow up and realize that those who don’t share your political viewpoint are Americans too with convictions as firmly held as they are different than your own then you can join the adults at the big table where the fun discussions happen. Until then I’ll not address you or read your posts.”

What time will the library finally kick you off their computer?

Junior Samples

October 26th, 2011
3:53 pm

Laruffe,

Even I find your earlier post off-base. By your own logic, you’re not innocent either. Your taxes are funding the “the “mighty engine of profit” to which the military dimension of U.S. policy…”

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
3:54 pm

“Teatards can’t read.”

What profound intellectual grammar you possess, bigot.

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
3:54 pm

When the brass up in the higher ranks of the Republican establishment start pulling out the big guns – e.g. the antisemitism claim — that’s how you know they’re really worried.

They’re absolutely frantic to find something to pin on the OWS movements.

Where were Mr. Kristol and Gingrich back when Glenn Beck was attacking George Soros using Nazi-like metaphors of “puppet masters” and “pulling strings”?

So for them to now try to drag this claim is pathetic. They’re frantic to find something to smear this uprising.

And it shows.

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
3:54 pm

“While the Occupy supporters are for the most part uninformed, it is amusing to say the least to see Tea Partiers criticize others for their ignorance.”

You sound scared.

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
3:55 pm

“So for them to now try to drag this claim is pathetic. They’re frantic to find something to smear this uprising.”

You sound scared as well.

professional skeptic

October 26th, 2011
3:59 pm

Kyle, that was the most childish entry I believe you’ve ever posted. “Oooh look at meeee, well-educated elitist journalist poking fun at Americans’ ignorance! Tee-hee!”

Tell your TEApublican friends to keep on slashing education budgets, Kyle… just think of how many more ignoramuses you’ll have to ridicule! Tee-hee!

Know your history

October 26th, 2011
4:19 pm

Tea-party activists: Just as ignorant as you thought

Former Bush speechwriter David Frum enlisted some interns this week to survey Tea Party activists protesting in D.C. earlier this week. The goal was to get a sense of the activists’ understanding of taxes — ostensibly, the “movement’s” raison d’être — and factual knowledge.

Bruce Bartlett reported today on the survey’s results, and found that for an anti-tax group, “they don’t know much about taxes.”

Indeed, it appears much of the Tea Party crowd is simply clueless about the issues they claim to care the most about, wildly exaggerating federal tax rates, how much a median family pays in taxes, and what’s changed since President Obama took office.

In short, no matter how one slices the data, the Tea Party crowd appears to believe that federal taxes are very considerably higher than they actually are, whether referring to total taxes as a share of GDP or in terms of the taxes paid by a typical family.

Tea Partyers also seem to have a very distorted view of the direction of federal taxes. They were asked whether they are higher, lower or the same as when Barack Obama was inaugurated last year. More than two-thirds thought that taxes are higher today, and only 4% thought they were lower; the rest said they are the same.

As noted earlier, federal taxes are very considerably lower by every measure since Obama became president…. No taxpayer anywhere in the country had his or her taxes increased as a consequence of Obama’s policies.

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
4:19 pm

You sound scared as well.

Maybe. Then again, maybe not.

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
4:28 pm

prof skeptic: “Kyle, that was the most childish entry I believe you’ve ever posted”

And that’s covering some ground. Man.

duke

October 26th, 2011
4:45 pm

The intellectual foundation for OWS is the strategy of world communism. It goes all the way back to Plato, whose “Republic” is the model for totalitarian socialist dictatorship. Karl Marx was a student of Plato. Plato taught that enlightened activists should use any means available to destabilize existing society, to clear the way for the New World Order.

Saul Alinsky was an advocate of this strategy. See, for example, his “Rules for Radicals”. Google the connections between Alinsky and Hillary Clinton for some interesting insights into what’s going on. He was a major mentor of hers; I think she wrote her senior college thesis about him. ACORN, with whom Obama has a long and intimate association is heavily involved in this sort of thing.

Here is a quote from Wikipedia about one typical example: “The Cloward–Piven strategy is a political strategy outlined in 1966 by American sociologists and political activists Richard Cloward (1926–2001) and Frances Fox Piven (b. 1932) that called for overloading the U.S. public welfare system in order to precipitate a crisis that would lead to a replacement of the welfare system with a national system of ‘a guaranteed annual income and thus an end to poverty’. Cloward and Piven were a married couple who were both professors at the Columbia University School of Social Work. The strategy was formulated in a May 1966 article in left-wing magazine The Nation entitled “The Weight of the Poor: A Strategy to End Poverty”.”

The housing bubble which led to the financial collapse was part of the same strategy. Sympathetic Congressmen enacted laws which enabled radical lawyers like Barack Obama to sue banks for discrimination if they denied loans to people who were not credit-worthy.

These people just might succeed. They have often succeeded in other countries. No one in the United States has yet confronted them successfully. The sympathetic news coverage is a powerful weapon indeed. They are positioned to use sophisticated vote fraud; and if riots break out, which is the next stage of the plan, we can be sure that President Obama will not use the Army to suppress them.

During the post-Katrina looting in New Orleans, the Police, mostly Black, confiscated weapons from homeowners who were trying to defend their lives and property. Black homeowners got no special treatment; it is not about race. But international socialists have successfully radicalized our Black communities.

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
4:54 pm

duke: “Plato taught that enlightened activists should use any means available to destabilize existing society, to clear the way for the New World Order.”

Well, we can see from this that your name doesn’t refer to the school. I doubt you could have gotten in with shabby reasoning skills like that.

I Report (-: You Whine )-: Thee Magnificent!!! mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...

October 26th, 2011
5:05 pm

She already admits to being a dummycrat so how much of a leap is this?

Nothing says I’m gullible, ate up and lazy more than being an OWS’er.

So how do you tell them apart?

I Report (-: You Whine )-: Thee Magnificent!!! mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...

October 26th, 2011
5:39 pm

When the Wild West was won, guaranteed, the liberals of the day rode in the back of the wagon blubbering and whining all the way across the country.

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
5:49 pm

“Well, we can see from this that your name doesn’t refer to the school. I doubt you could have gotten in with shabby reasoning skills like that.”

So what school did you graduate from?

Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)

October 26th, 2011
6:08 pm

” No taxpayer anywhere in the country had his or her taxes increased as a consequence of Obama’s policies.”
—————————-

Incorrect. Obozo raised everyone’s taxes in his fascist healthcare power grab:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/24/healthy-tax-increases-not-only-on-wealthy/?page=all

MarkV

October 26th, 2011
6:15 pm

Welcome to the occupation @4:54 pm

Is the duke’s fantasy(@ 4:45 pm) even worth debating?

gkingii

October 26th, 2011
6:15 pm

The whole system of living on credit is the basis of the financial problem in our country. Banks get the lion’s share of the blame. Consider the housing debacle since banks moved into the mortgage business. Politicians pushed them, they saw a way to make more money and still wind up with the properties, and went for it. In face, the mortgage process is a full-blown scam. Compound interest serves only to enrich mortgage holders unfairly. If houses were sold for a flat, one-time interest rate, buyers wouldn’t have to pay twice the price for the privilege of borrowing money. The papers say it’s 4%, but the payback is closer to 100%.

Tealiban Party

October 26th, 2011
6:24 pm

The Tea Partiers – CLUELESS

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20002529-503544.html

They’re white. They’re older. And they’re angry.

CBS News and the New York Times surveyed 1,580 adults, including 881 self-identified Tea Party supporters, to get a snapshot of the Tea Party movement.

Fifty-three percent of Tea Party supporters describe themselves as “angry” about the way things are going in Washington, compared to 19 percent of Americans overall who say they are angry.

Asked what they are most angry about, the top four answers among Tea Party supporters who identify as angry were the health care reform bill (16 percent), the government not representing the people (14 percent), government spending (11 percent) and unemployment and the economy (8 percent).

Eighty-eight percent disapprove of President Obama’s performance on the job, compared to 40 percent of Americans overall. While half of Americans approve of Mr. Obama’s job performance, just seven percent of Tea Party supporters say he is doing a good job.

Asked to volunteer what they don’t like about Mr. Obama, the top answer, offered by 19 percent of Tea Party supporters, was that they just don’t like him. Eleven percent said he is turning the country more toward socialism, ten percent cited his health care reform efforts, and nine percent said he is dishonest.

Sixty-four percent believe that the president has increased taxes for most Americans, despite the fact that the vast majority of Americans got a tax cut under the Obama administration.

Sixty-three percent say they get the majority of their political and current events news on television from the Fox News Channel.

*********************************
TEA PARTY — NOT SURE WHY WE ARE MAD, EXCEPT WE HATE OBAMA, WE MISTAKENLY, IGNORANTLY THINK OBAMA RAISED OUR TAXES, AND WE GET OUR INFO FROM FOX.

What an itelligent movement!!!

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
6:27 pm

MarkV: “Is the duke’s fantasy(@ 4:45 pm) even worth debating?”

No, not really. But to paraphrase Mr. Perry, it’s kind ‘a fun pokin’ at him.

Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)

October 26th, 2011
6:31 pm

“They’re white. They’re older. And they’re angry.”
————————–

And America agreed and voted for a whole bunch of their candidates in 2010.

Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)

October 26th, 2011
6:33 pm

Tealiban Party: WE MISTAKENLY, IGNORANTLY THINK OBAMA RAISED OUR TAXES, AND WE GET OUR INFO FROM FOX.
———————

He did. Maybe Fox News is why they know this.

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
6:45 pm

“They’re white. They’re older. And they’re angry.”

Herman Cain is white? Alan West is white? Don King is white? Tim Scott is white?

Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)

October 26th, 2011
6:47 pm

Billy, stoking their cognitive dissonance isn’t very nice!

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
6:48 pm

“They’re white. They’re older. And they’re angry.”

Marco Rubio is white? Nikkie Haley is white?

Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)

October 26th, 2011
6:48 pm

Enter your comments here

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
6:49 pm

Lil’ Barry Bailout

These left wingers are all crybabies who want the nanny state to take care of them. They need their diapers and formula from Obama or they won’t survive. They’re also desperate.

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
6:50 pm

“Sixty-four percent believe that the president has increased taxes for most Americans, despite the fact that the vast majority of Americans got a tax cut under the Obama administration.

CBS: The same news organization that falsified documents about President Bush.

Great source there, tard.

Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)

October 26th, 2011
6:51 pm

And they’re so lame that they can’t repay their student loans in 20 years…Obozo has to forgive the loans, sticking the productive with the loss.

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
6:57 pm

“And they’re so lame that they can’t repay their student loans in 20 years”

Especially when they get degrees in pottery making and poetry.

Tealiban Party

October 26th, 2011
7:04 pm

“Gauging the scope of the tea party movement in America”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/23/AR2010102304000.html

A new Washington Post canvass of hundreds of local tea party groups reveals a different sort of organization, one that is not so much a movement as a disparate band of vaguely connected gatherings that do surprisingly little to engage in the political process.

The findings suggest that the breadth of the tea party may be inflated. The Atlanta-based Tea Party Patriots, for example, says it has a listing of more than 2,300 local groups, but The Post was unable to identify anywhere near that many, despite help from the organization and independent research.

Mark Meckler, a founding member of the Tea Party Patriots, said: “When a group lists themselves on our Web site, that’s a group. That group could be one person, it could be 10 people, it could come in and out of existence – we don’t know. We have groups that I know are 15,000 people, and I have groups that I know are five people.”

There is little agreement among the leaders of various groups about what issue the tea party should be most concerned about. In fact, few saw themselves as part of a coordinated effort.

The most common responses were concerns about spending and limiting the size of government, but together those were named by less than half the groups. Social issues, such as same-sex marriage and abortion rights, did not register as concerns.

Eleven percent said that Obama’s race, religion or ethnic background was either a “very important” or “somewhat important” factor in the support their group has received.

************************

Billy Bane

October 26th, 2011
7:06 pm

“A new Washington Post”

Love it when left wingers post garbage from left wing rags.

lil barry burn out

October 26th, 2011
7:08 pm

intellectual foundation… OWS?

marty

October 26th, 2011
7:10 pm

The difference between Bookmans’ blog and this guys’ is that Jay will respond to challenges. Debbie from Athens made cogent points early on in this thread and Wingfield simply avoids engaging. Speaks volumes.

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
7:33 pm

Brainout, Billy our Bane: “And they’re so lame that they can’t repay their student loans in 20 years…Obozo has to forgive the loans, sticking the productive with the loss.”

Seriously, is that the best you can do?

The free market system you’re so dedicated to had its day, and it was a miserable failure, as everyone can see. And the fact that people are coming around to the scam in greater numbers now seems to have you in a lather.

Guess you’ll just have to keep calling the movement antisemitic like your washed out movement leaders Kristol and Gingrich and Beck. The only thing you have is baseless smears. So have at it boys.

sarah kathryn pookie smith

October 26th, 2011
7:37 pm

Kyle – great article. I’m starting to wonder if the tea party and the OWS could join forces. They both are sick of government waste and both have been victims of media mockery. I’m the first to admit that I don’t know enough current events. But am thrilled that 4% recognized the SEC – South Eastern Conference! Go Dawgs!

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
7:42 pm

By the way, Billy Bane, when you say : “Love it when left wingers post garbage from left wing rags.” What do you mean?

Do you really think the WaPo is a left wing rag? Seriously? Wow. Do you know what they had in their coverage today of the Oakland police thuggery? They featured a large picture of an anti-riot cop petting a kitten. It was absolute pro-police whitewashing.

The fact that you think of WaPo as left wing tells us all we need to know about where you’re coming from. Just a tad provincial in your right wing paranoia, lol.

JKL2

October 26th, 2011
8:37 pm

tealiban-

So the gist of your article is the Tea Party is angrier with obama than the average citizen? It took a real Eistein to come up with that conclusion.

The Tea Party want’s government to listen to the people who elected them and do the job they were originally intended to do. (crazy talk I know)

OWS wants the government to steal all the money from anyone they deem “rich” and give it to them.

People wanting elected officials to do their job v. people wanting bigger handouts.

I can see how you could confuse them…

JKL2

October 26th, 2011
8:41 pm

welcome- The fact that you think of WaPo as left wing tells us all we need to know about where you’re coming from. Just a tad provincial in your right wing paranoia, lol.

You don’t think WaPo is a left wing rag? That tells us all we need to know about where you’re coming from.

Maybe obama should call the police idiots and then invite everyone to the White House for a beer.

Don't Tread

October 26th, 2011
8:47 pm

“No taxpayer anywhere in the country had his or her taxes increased as a consequence of Obama’s policies”

Yes they have…it’s called a permanent tax hike covered up with a temporary tax cut (aka “Making Work Pay”). Once that expires, voila….tax increase.

@@

October 26th, 2011
8:59 pm

Too funny!

Note to self: Send Ms. Warren one of those T-shirts with a left-pointing finger that says “I’m With Stupid”.

Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)

October 26th, 2011
9:01 pm

“The free market system you’re so dedicated to had its day, and it was a miserable failure…and the fact that people are coming around to the scam in greater numbers now seems to have you in a lather.”
———————–

In the free market, businesses that fail go away and the capital and labor they’re consuming are freed up for more productive uses. The scam was the taxpayer bailing out the banks, car companies, insurance companies, and the scumbags who chose not to pay their mortgages.

Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)

October 26th, 2011
9:12 pm

Here is what the OWS morons are complaining about:
———————

If Suzy Creamcheese gets into George Washington University and borrows from the government the requisite $212,000 to obtain an undergraduate degree, her repayment schedule will be based on what she earns. If Suzy opts to heed the president’s call for public service, and takes a job as a city social worker earning $25,000, her payments would be limited to $1,411 a year after the $10,890 of poverty-level income is subtracted from her total exposure.

Twenty years at that rate would have taxpayers recoup only $28,220 of their $212,000 loan to Suzy.

Dusty

October 26th, 2011
9:22 pm

Welcome to the Occupation

How’s the job hunt going? When are you planning to go to work?

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
9:48 pm

JKL2: “You don’t think WaPo is a left wing rag? That tells us all we need to know about where you’re coming from.”

Proud home of George Will, Jennifer Rubin, Marc Thiessen, a very right-friendly main editorial board? Uh, yeah, I’d say that’s anything but a left-wing rag.

Barry Bailout: “In the free market, businesses that fail go away and the capital and labor they’re consuming are freed up for more productive uses. The scam was the taxpayer bailing out the banks, car companies, insurance companies, and the scumbags who chose not to pay their mortgages.”

But if AIG had been allowed to go the way of Lehman, there would have been people in bread lines probably numbering into the hundreds of thousands. And that wouldn’t have been a very nice send-off for Georgie at the end of his two terms, now would it?

So the decision was taken to avoid all-out depression. Not that it wasn’t entirely bipartisan. It was.

So are you saying we should have gone ahead and braved depression?

Dusty

October 26th, 2011
9:54 pm

Well, I guess WELCOME had to get over to Centennial Park and get new orders.

Has anybody seen the Georgia Pacific building being lifted? I believe the Atlanta OWS leader said he had made arrangements with gurus, mediums and fortune tellers to raise that building right off the ground. Abra ca dabra! Upsy!

Crenshaw8

October 26th, 2011
9:58 pm

Here we go again.

Moral blind spots in Obama mortgage refinancing scheme
Why try to base the economic recovery on dubious financial information from borrowers under Obama’s latest home refinancing plan?

The president’s plan may reflect a last-ditch attempt to boost the housing market before the 2012 election. Many of Mr. Obama’s efforts so far have done little to slow down the pace of foreclosures or achieve significant numbers of refinancing.

But his latest plan makes short-term ethical compromises that could lead to negative long-term consequences for the economy, taxpayers, and the federal deficit.

Dusty

October 26th, 2011
9:59 pm

Welcome to the occupation

Were you in the bread lines over at Woodruff Park? That’s not a very good show off for Obama.

Welcome to the occupation

October 26th, 2011
10:04 pm

Hi Dusty, good to see you’re reading deep into my posts. It’s god fer ya. And I appreciate it.

Dusty

October 26th, 2011
10:09 pm

Crenshaw8

“Short term ethical decisions” by Obama? I thought most people knew by now that President Obama does not mind giving away taxpayer money or adding another trillion or two to the national deficit. He doesn’t worry about such trifles as that.

Dusty

October 26th, 2011
10:19 pm

Yes, WELCOME, I’ve been wading through your posts. Amazing the amount of time and effort wasted on mob efforts. Not to mention the thousands spent by the city just to keep order and prevent lawliness by unemployable people.

How did you say the job hunt was going? I guess you’ve been too busy. Are you also homeless? I understand the Salvation Army will take in almost anybody. Gonna get cold tomorrow night.

JKL2

October 27th, 2011
12:01 am

Dusty- Not to mention the thousands spent by the city just to keep order and prevent lawliness by unemployable people

I think the police should just leave all those “peaceful” protestors alone to rape, kill, and steal from each other as they see fit. Be careful what you wish for in your Demwit utopia.

Fast and Furious Spending

October 27th, 2011
2:21 am

I’m surprised 24 percent knew who the hell she was. Shows you the extreme sensitivity of socialist/communist goons for catching an internet virus.

And “virus” is the perfect name for it.

Fast and Furious Spending

October 27th, 2011
2:21 am

Good article, Kyle.

I like it.

Fast and Furious Spending

October 27th, 2011
2:24 am

Yeah Sarah,

We could join forces with OWS. We tea partyers could order pay toilets, obtain demonstration permits, reserve the space and arrange transportation. The OWSers could show up late, complain loudly, crap on police cars, get arrested and garner all the good press coverage.

Fast and Furious Spending

October 27th, 2011
2:25 am

I can’t help but notice that intellectual foundations and OWS are mutually exclusive. So too often are intellectual foundations and ivy-league progressives.

Is laying the ‘intellectual foundation’ of OWS something one ought to brag about?

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Is laying the ‘intellectual foundation’ of OWS something one ought to brag about?

247 comments Add your comment

About Kyle Wingfield

Search this blog

Recent Posts

Archives

More from the AJC

Search by blog topic

Blogroll

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My special series on MARTA

All AJC blogs »

Tell us what you think about the site

Subscribe »

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