This is a thousand times bigger and stronger than the Tea Party.

Politicians should be very afraid.

All those that sold out the people for their big corporate donations are at risk, no matter what their Party affiliation. This is not a Democratic or Republican movement. This is a People movement.

The Tea Party was an instinctual Party that knew something was wrong. But they didn't know what it was and they were soon captured and taken over by the corporate Republican Party. But these folks know what is wrong and they will not be a servant to any political Party.

If a Third Party is born from this movement, it will be very, very strong. It is almost inevitable. The change will come from either political or violent means. It is my opinion that it will not be violent. These are people of peace.

It is a reason for hope. These are mostly young people. They are a new generation. They are changing the world before our eyes. Power does not surrender voluntarily. But they will be defeated.

It is a time for celebration. I stand with the Occupation.

feeling used.

OWS is the antithesis of the Tea Party. The movement has organically grown and will continue to grow...I will do everything I can to support it.

It's easier to sing the same tune if someone is paying the piper. It's easier to start a movement if the direction is clearly defined top-down. In much the same way, atheists who outnumber Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists combined get far less traction than any in the public discussion about religion precisely because we have no unifying doctrine or magisterium to which pundits (including Hindu ones ;)) can refer. The Kochs and Fox et al orchestrated a much smaller, much less real movement than OWS, but it WAS orchestrated, and there's a reason the London Philharmonic gets more attentive listeners than a collection of buskers in London ten times their number.

It's just not clearly defined and honed like a political message, or media-friendly soundbyte. The OWS protesters didn't need a leader and a message to tell them what to think. They came together and took ACTION; based on their own thoughts.

Actually "I am the 99%" is a perfect message.

can cut across the political spectrum. I find it hard to believe every R and I is siting on a few million and PO'ed at OWS. And that, of course, is why the politicians fear it so much IMO. OWS has the potential to define an entirely new political spectrum in this country.

a time that never existed and OWS wants something new.

After all, the ones who funded the Tea Party have stated that we should admire the "grass roots" aspect of American citizens protesting the way the original colonists protested by dumping tea into Boston Harbor. And the new Tea Party originally came about because of the dissatisfaction over the Wall Street bailout. The occupiers on Wall Street should invite the Koch Brothers to give them a few million dollars. Any day now, I'm sure David Koch will be cutting a fat check to fund the type of grass roots citizen and populist movement he claims to admire.

comes out with the new cuts....it won't be the big guys getting cut...it will be the 99%

It is an arrogant bunch of elitists that think the people aren't watching...

upon whom the brunt of the sacrifice will fall. The term shared sacrifice is shamefully and disingenuously euphemistic. :patriot:

I just heard a Chicago teacher on Ed Schultz's show say that. I think she was a union leader but I didn't catch her name at the start of the interview.

She said that we should be very clear about the fact that there are not two political parties in this country, but one: the party of money, with two branches.

I don't necessarily 100% agree with her--I think there are a few really good, progressive, genuinely dedicated public servants in our party and in the Independent Party--but I thought it was some tasty food for thought.

The other side love their guns and they think God gives them the right to use them.

If OWS becomes successful there will be violence. It will start on the other side and OWS will have no recourse except to defend themselves.

Lots of people think the marchers in the 60s started the violence, but that not what happened. The violence stepped up considerably when Nixon decided he wanted to literally beat the demonstrators out of the streets. It started in Kent State when students were shot and killed.

During the earlier days marches were very peaceful. Joan Baez used to sing at them.

Violence will come.

You could be right. I hope they can keep it non-violent but there are indications that provocateurs have already been planted and we have seen some violence from the police already.

But I think this generation is smarter and has learned a lot from history.

Glen Beck said today that these protesters were violent and that they would drag people like him out of their houses and kill them... A lot of people are very scared about what is happening, especially those in the top 1%...

They were treated horribly by the police and remember them using water cannons to disperse the crowds?

I think the Mayor and the powers that be are making a political calculation not to be too violent with this group for fear it could backfire on them. They are hoping it will eventually fade away. The longer it lasts, the more likelihood for violence, in my opinion.

First of all, they will attempt to turn public opinion against the OWS. Then they will not hesitate to attempt to disperse the crowds. So far, the public is with the OWS.

And more militant movement as people got sick of getting heads bashed in.

I'm not predicting that for OWS.

It wasn't about heads getting bashed in, a movement can handle being hosed down and tear gassed. But once you start bombing people, it gets a bit ridiculous and shit hits the fan (see the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing).

But then we will win in the end. It is just a matter or recognizing that we have to do it.

If not us who?

If not now when?

... although every maintream media outlet wants to give that impression. Time will tell... OWS is an honest, real movement, which has only just begun but has been brewing for quite some time.

We only see the tiniest tip of the iceberg right now.

LOL! Yeah a Black man was in the White House. They still don't have a clue as to what is going on.

The Tea Party was a bunch of scabs hired by Grover Norquist that got a small following of sheep.