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October 21, 2012 10:15 am

f="http://leftish.tumblr.com/post/34038527661/topics-you-will-never-see-addressed-in-any-debate">Topics you will NEVER see addressed in ANY debate:

Here’s a short list of Taboo Topics (because the candidates AGREE on all these issues!) that I would like to see addressed, that never will be:

Bradley Manning’s illegal treatment - The Obama Administration called him a criminal before he’d ever even been charged.  Would Mitt be worse?  Yes.

Obama’s raids on legal (within their state) Medical Marijuana Clubs, after promising to leave the states alone.  Would Mitt be worse?  Yes.

Obama’s war on Wikileaks and Julian Assange, after promising greater government transparency.  Would Mitt be worse?  Yes.

The 960 Executive Orders Obama has signed (the previous high record of Executive Orders signed belonged to GW Bush, at 60).  Would Mitt be worse?  Probably.

The illegal assassinations of American Citizens in foreign countries without benefit of trial.  Would Mitt be worse?  Probably.

The Obama Administration’s war on Organic Raw Dairy and Livestock Farmers.  Would Mitt be worse?  Yes.

Obama’s quiet approval of the lower half of the Keystone XL Pipeline, and the seizing of private lands under the cover of “Eminent Domain” - this for a pipeline which will produce oil that is not even targeted to be sold in the U.S.  Would Mitt be worse?  Yes.

Obama’s silent approval of the vicious and illegal treatment of the Occupy Wall Street movement by nationwide police forces.  Would Mitt be worse?  Yes.

Obama’s support of Online Privacy Restrictions such as NDAA, SOPA and PIPA.  Would Mitt be worse?  Yes.

Obama’s refusal to prosecute George W Bush and Dick Cheney for War Crimes.  Would Mitt be worse?  Yes.

Obama’s refusal to prosecute the Fat Cats on Wall Street who caused the Great Recession.  Would Mitt be worse?  Yes.

Obama’s continued caving to the demands of Big Oil, “Clean Coal”, Fracking, Nuclear Power and other 20th Century Fossil Fuel technology.  Would Mitt be worse?  Yes.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION - Obama’s massive war on illegal immigrants, having deported way more than GW.  Would Mitt be worse?  Yes.

GREEN ENERGY - Obama’s doublespeak - trying to be both Green and a big supporter of fossil fuels all at the same time.  We have increased our Fossil Fuel production to the greatest levels EVER under Obama, and he proudly boasts about this…all while talking out of the other side of his mouth that he is in favor of implementing a Greener Energy Policy for America.  HUH?  Would Mitt be worse?  Yes.

There’s so very many more, but this list is a good smattering of some of the most worrisome issues for anyone concerned about Civil Liberties, Online Privacy and the Environment…

I think these public debates are just a show for those American citizens who are not huge political junkies, but do still vote.

Hopefully Monday’s third and final debate will at least be entertaining!

April 20, 2012 5:14 pm
BREAKING: Feds Standoff with Occupy against NYPD Eviction on Wall Street (Live Link)

via Charlie Grapski

COPS ISSUE NEW RULES to NY OCCUPIERS:

No Signs Bigger Than 3’x4’x.25”

No bags of belongings larger than Subway Carry-On limit

http://fdl.me/I1sHWq from @firedoglake

This is breaking. I will try and put more info up shortly. But right now there is a stand-off on Wall Street between the Occupiers backed by the Federal Park Police and the NYPD. For a week Occupiers have camped out on the steps of Federal Hall, location of the authoring of the Bill of Rights, af…

Like ·  · Follow post · Share · 4 minutes ago

Watch Live as it Unfolds: http://www.ustream.tv/occupiedair

January 28, 2012 1:58 pm
versuschristus: All Cops Are Bastards. [NOTE* from Leftish: Wow!  I’m shocked and disturbed by this. I do not agree with the “Fuck the Police” banner or the above sentiment that “All Cops Are Bastards”…two things I know is that All Cops Are Humans, and All Cops Are Employed…and they want to stay employed…and that, more than anything else, probably motivates the majority of them. Cops, too, are a part of the 99%, they just do the bidding of the 1%.  Pitting ourselves against the cops is just what the 1% wants.  They don’t want the cops to wake up and realize that they are actually part of the 99%, and btw, expendable.  The 1% are happy to have the 99% fighting amongst ourselves. I posit that we cannot accomplish anything constructive by taking a stance against the cops, although I understand the sentiment and its easy to see how many people got there. But even though lots of cops have been vicious and cruel in many of the Occupy arrests, it still does not help us achieve our overall long-term goals to try and fight back in this way.  There is no way to WIN a fight with “Officers of the Peace.”  They’ve got weapons.  Simply put - we cannot win a battle with the cops that takes place on the streets of our cities. The only way to WIN against the COPS is to use the principles of Aikido…use their own energy to redirect their intentions…join with them, and include them on our side…I’m not exactly sure how to go about doing that yet, but I do believe that it would be way more constructive than the attitude depicted in both the photograph and comment above. Violence begets violence.  Saying Fuck the Police is an irresistible invitation to them, with very predictable results. I don’t want to see more and more coverage of cops beating up on peaceful citizens…I want to see REAL change - cleaner air, cleaner water, cleaner energy sources, cleaner politicians… Combat in the streets can only do so much. Plus, in truth, the cops need to wake up to their OWN predicament.  Many of them have refused to commit violence against unarmed, peaceful protesters already.  It’s just one step further for them to realize that they are one of us, that they have WAY more in common with us than with their overlords.  They need to WANT to join us…and I believe it could happen over time, but not by taking a belligerent, “Fuck the Cops” stance. THE COPS ARE NOT THE ENEMY and focusing on them, and creating volatile confrontations with them is not nearly as valuable or powerful a statement as other actions we might take could be.  (I, for one, would prefer if our actions took on an element of surprise.  I think broadcasting where the dissent is going to be ahead of time can be detrimental to really making a statement, and kind of goes against the whole concept of actual dissent…it is ‘dissent with permission from the government’ - we have to get a permit in advance that tells us where and when we can march - how is that dissent???   Having demonstrations, like the one above, which I’m sure was “permitted”, just gives the cops advance notice, so they have plenty of time to plan their tactics, suit up in riot gear, and properly line up for combat, with us, the unarmed enemy.)  I hope our future demonstrations will be a bit more creative, as well as target the REAL ENEMY, which, imho, is NOT the cops… I always like to remind myself that it took 80 years for women to get the right to vote. Susan B. Anthony did not even live to see it happen…so patience is the lesson….the Occupy movement is just over 1/3 of a year old…I think, in time, we might be able to influence the minds and hearts of some of the cops and at least bring a few around to our side… I’m with Gandhi.  I’m for Peace.  I do not like confrontations and I think that statements and actions like these hurt the purity of the movement. But that’s just me. P.S. Feel free to delete my commentary when re-blogging this…]

versuschristus:

All Cops Are Bastards.

[NOTE* from Leftish: Wow!  I’m shocked and disturbed by this.

I do not agree with the “Fuck the Police” banner or the above sentiment that “All Cops Are Bastards”…two things I know is that All Cops Are Humans, and All Cops Are Employed…and they want to stay employed…and that, more than anything else, probably motivates the majority of them.

Cops, too, are a part of the 99%, they just do the bidding of the 1%.  Pitting ourselves against the cops is just what the 1% wants.  They don’t want the cops to wake up and realize that they are actually part of the 99%, and btw, expendable.  The 1% are happy to have the 99% fighting amongst ourselves.

I posit that we cannot accomplish anything constructive by taking a stance against the cops, although I understand the sentiment and its easy to see how many people got there.

But even though lots of cops have been vicious and cruel in many of the Occupy arrests, it still does not help us achieve our overall long-term goals to try and fight back in this way.  There is no way to WIN a fight with “Officers of the Peace.”  They’ve got weapons.  Simply put - we cannot win a battle with the cops that takes place on the streets of our cities.

The only way to WIN against the COPS is to use the principles of Aikido…use their own energy to redirect their intentions…join with them, and include them on our side…I’m not exactly sure how to go about doing that yet, but I do believe that it would be way more constructive than the attitude depicted in both the photograph and comment above.

Violence begets violence.  Saying Fuck the Police is an irresistible invitation to them, with very predictable results.

I don’t want to see more and more coverage of cops beating up on peaceful citizens…I want to see REAL change - cleaner air, cleaner water, cleaner energy sources, cleaner politicians…

Combat in the streets can only do so much.

Plus, in truth, the cops need to wake up to their OWN predicament.  Many of them have refused to commit violence against unarmed, peaceful protesters already.  It’s just one step further for them to realize that they are one of us, that they have WAY more in common with us than with their overlords.  They need to WANT to join us…and I believe it could happen over time, but not by taking a belligerent, “Fuck the Cops” stance.

THE COPS ARE NOT THE ENEMY

and focusing on them, and creating volatile confrontations with them is not nearly as valuable or powerful a statement as other actions we might take could be.  (I, for one, would prefer if our actions took on an element of surprise.  I think broadcasting where the dissent is going to be ahead of time can be detrimental to really making a statement, and kind of goes against the whole concept of actual dissent…it is ‘dissent with permission from the government’ - we have to get a permit in advance that tells us where and when we can march - how is that dissent???   Having demonstrations, like the one above, which I’m sure was “permitted”, just gives the cops advance notice, so they have plenty of time to plan their tactics, suit up in riot gear, and properly line up for combat, with us, the unarmed enemy.)  I hope our future demonstrations will be a bit more creative, as well as target the REAL ENEMY, which, imho, is NOT the cops…

I always like to remind myself that it took 80 years for women to get the right to vote. Susan B. Anthony did not even live to see it happen…so patience is the lesson….the Occupy movement is just over 1/3 of a year old…I think, in time, we might be able to influence the minds and hearts of some of the cops and at least bring a few around to our side…

I’m with Gandhi.  I’m for Peace.  I do not like confrontations and I think that statements and actions like these hurt the purity of the movement.

But that’s just me.

P.S. Feel free to delete my commentary when re-blogging this…]

(Source: iv-viii-vii, via amodernmanifesto)

December 9, 2011 11:53 am

Uploaded by on Dec 9, 2011

Occupy Updates: Protesters Crash Set of Law & Order “Mockupation,” Boston Couple Defies Eviction Order by Getting Married | AlterNet

[BRILLIANT!]

—Last night a group of about 60 Occupy Wall Street protesters gathered at their old occupation site, Zuccotti Park, to protest the crew of Law & Order, which had set up a faux OWS encampment at the park to use in an upcoming episode of the show. The “mockupation” had a library, a kitchen, tents, and protest signs, just like the real OWS… except not.

Reportedly, it was a pretty bizarre scene, especially after the real OWS protesters shut down filming by chanting and entering the park. The cops ended up rescinding Law & Order’s filming permit, and the crew had to dismantle the set and get out of there. Here’s a video of the ordeal, with some great protester interviews, via Gothamist:

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

While cast and crew were waiting for their early wake up calls,
about 100 Occupy Wall Street friends came to check out the “mockupation”, going on in Foley Square.
What twisted reality plot lines, will Dick Wolf’s sweat shop writers, squeeze out, in the guise of entertainment.
A few weeks after the illegal eviction, just blocks away, at Liberty Square, the “mockupy” at Foley Square was seen as disrespectful to all people that showed up.
The kitchen was set up nicely though, oh craft services!!
I think we were having a gluten free meal, this early morning.
It wasn’t clear if the art department, purposely misspelled signs, or they’re just working too hard. One sign spelled “country”, contry.
Luckily, the NYPD’s, acting lessons did not go unnoticed. The lighter, less riot gear, with still questionable civil rights issues, tied to the “mock” eviction that went on here, with the real threat of real arrest, brought back some memories, for some.
They were talking about getting a group rate on head shots, to get in to the reshoots.

December 7, 2011 8:56 pm

f="http://leftish.tumblr.com/post/13909417106/last-night-occupy-wall-street-protesters-were-removed">“Last night Occupy Wall Street protesters were removed by Cesarean.

The Founding Fathers never intended indefinite free speech. They assumed after two weeks any protest would be wiped out by smallpox.”

~ Stephen Colbert

6:22 pm
Yes!

Yes!

December 3, 2011 1:11 pm
~ Mayor Bloomberg [Feel Safer Now?]

~ Mayor Bloomberg

[Feel Safer Now?]

December 2, 2011 8:43 am

f="http://leftish.tumblr.com/post/13637495791/public-safety-doesnt-defeat-free-speech">“Public Safety doesn’t defeat Free Speech.”

~ OWS Attorney Howard Cooper, on the ostensible reasons for the Police Raids on the Occupy Encampments.

November 30, 2011 3:16 pm
OCCUPY LA PROTESTERS LIGHT CANDLES, WHILE WAITING TO BE RAIDED.

OCCUPY LA PROTESTERS LIGHT CANDLES, WHILE WAITING TO BE RAIDED.

12:33 pm
The movement may be forced to change…but as we’ve discovered, we are not the encampments - maybe we don’t even need them any more. Make Way for OWS 2.0… We are the 99%, and WE WILL PREVAIL!!

The movement may be forced to change…but as we’ve discovered, we are not the encampments - maybe we don’t even need them any more.

Make Way for OWS 2.0…

We are the 99%, and WE WILL PREVAIL!!

November 28, 2011 12:44 am
Sign at Occupy Point Reyes earlier today.

Sign at Occupy Point Reyes earlier today.

November 25, 2011 12:55 pm
Captain Ray Lewis, and “Angry Pacifist” sign.

Captain Ray Lewis, and “Angry Pacifist” sign.

November 24, 2011 9:50 pm
“The moment when I was walking across that intersection was the proudest moment of my life, because I thought I was doing the greatest thing that I have ever done. I’ve had many academic achievements. I’ve been recognized, had professional achievements but I consider that to be the most important thing I ever did.” ~ Capt. Ray Lewis, RetIred - arrested while protesting with Occupy Wall Street

“The moment when I was walking across that intersection was the proudest moment of my life, because I thought I was doing the greatest thing that I have ever done. I’ve had many academic achievements. I’ve been recognized, had professional achievements but I consider that to be the most important thing I ever did.”
~ Capt. Ray Lewis, RetIred - arrested while protesting with Occupy Wall Street

9:13 am
Captain Ray Lewis, Retired - arrested later this day while protesting with Occupy Wall Street.

Captain Ray Lewis, Retired - arrested later this day while protesting with Occupy Wall Street.

November 15, 2011 11:33 am
Zuccotti Park Cleared Out: Occupy Wall Street Supporting Celebs Speak Out (TWEETS)

[These TWEETS are REALLY GOOD - some excellent links, too]

As the New York City Police Department raided the Occupy Wall Street encampment at Zuccotti Park in the early hours of Tuesday morning, protestors scattered and reassembled, undeterred at what they saw as a violation of their First Amendment rights. Many have reassembled at the city’s Foley Square, and others have marched through the city.