Greg Sargent:How Wall Street really views the protesters

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/how-wall-street-really-views-the-protesters/2011/11/19/gIQAfvSObN_blog.html?tid=sm_btn_twitter

MSNBC’s Chris Hayes just aired an exclusive that provides an interesting look at how some of those being targeted by Occupy Wall Street may really view the protests. He reported that a memo from a prominent corporate lobbying firm to the American Bankers Association proposed an extensive public relations campaign — including opposition research into key movement figures and an elaborate media strategy — designed to discredit the movement, and Dems who embrace it.

The memo was authored by lobbyists at the firm Clark Lytle Geduldig Cranford — and there are two key takeaways. The first is that some allies of Wall Street firms see Occupy Wall Street as a potential long term political threat. The second is that they see the Democratic strategy of embracing the populist message of the protests as something that could work, rather than something that is an automatic negative for Dems, as conservatives keep proclaiming is the case.

(snip)
Now, this could merely represent a lobbying firm trying to drum up some business. And it’s still unclear whether Occupy Wall Street, in its current form, will ever translate into real reform. But at a minimum, these well connected lobbyists saw this pitch as something that had a chance to be taken seriously by the American Bankers Association. This could also open the door to more reporting on how Wall Street firms really view the meaning and potential of the protests.

Indeed, today’s New York Times has one more data point: The paper reports that Wall Streeters are privately discussing with genuine worry the prospect of Elizabeth Warren ascending to the Senate — and raising big money for Scott Brown in order to stop her.


Vilifying Rival, Wall St. Rallies for Senate Ally
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/19/us/politics/wall-street-rallies-around-scott-brown-for-senate-race.html?ref=politics

What they rely on - and it's effective - is dissension among the 99%.

are going to become more and more unglued and start dividing and arguing amongst themselves.

peaceful protest you invite violent protest.

Concepts like Justice, Liberty, and Opportunity are too nebulous to attack.

oh, and Peace. Almost forgot that one.