The two most disturbing things is that the NYPD allegedly set up some "Free Press Zones" and confiscated credentials. And that Bloomberg claimed that any injuries were caused by protesters laying down and banging themselves up.
Bloomberg is practical-minded, and simply doesn't understand absolutes. You're either free or you're not free; but to him, it's "Let's be reasonable. You're free until what you do gets messy and annoying, and then you've made your point and enough is enough."
@atipofthehat He may not understand absolutes, but that doesn't prevent him from using them as his rationale. For whatever reason, he seems to think that we'll all agree that the need for surveillance is absolute. http://wp.me/p1ZocT-p
Bloomberg is an idiot. I went to sleep last night after reading an email from Adbusters explaining that they could either wait out the winter, or declare victory very soon and end the occupation, probably returning for a monthly anniversary and continuing to organize. I never thought they would wait out the winter. Bloomberg just decided to be hated over a problem that wasn't there.
This is likely for the best. The park really deteriorated over the last two weeks from a place of protest to a ramshackle homeless encampment. The mentally ill and drug dealers were creating a negative edge to the place that could only end poorly.
@Lockheed Ventura And even when it was a place of protest, protest in aid of what? If a protest has no aims, it's just a bunch of people hanging out. Which they might as well do without a tent-and-tarp city, so other members of the 99% can enjoy the park and go about their lives. For its lack of intentions, I have always found the Occupy movement unforgivably stupid.
The incursion of the homeless and drug dealers and whatnot has been discouraging, but you know what? They're part of the 99%. They're part of what happens to a society when it's been run by rich crooks like ours has for the last 30 years.
And Flaneur, the protestors had plenty of aims. They may not have all been the same, but nobody walked away from that park saying "I have no idea what any of these people want!" Protests aren't so laser-focused when they have a focus that goes beyond "I hate Obama" and aren't organized by the PACs of millionaire congressmen-turned-lobbyists.
I'm so impressed you've found the time amidst your busy schedule of casual strolling, idle loitering, opium smoking and absinthe swilling to critique this movement, @Flaneur — "Assommons les pauvres!" as they say.
Also, your boss wanted me to tell you: Your job's been outsourced to a pair of GM'd dolphins at the company's new marina in the Cayman Islands. Can you clean out your desk by 4:30? We're shooting a snuff film at your cubicle around 5:00pm.
@Davetar Actually, i was last down there on Thursday, and that was EXACTLY what I walked away saying. The guy with the guitar wanted everyone to sing "We Shall Overcome," the snotty, heckling teenagers wanted donations ("For the movement! We swear, man!") the homeless guy wanted food, the NYU students wanted me to do something about their student loans, I guess (no one MADE you go into debt to study philosophy, dude) and those were pretty much the only agendas I heard articulated. Not to mention the smell was unbelievable, as were the number of people who were still passed out in their tents at 1pm. Whatever force OWS has nationally, Zucotti Park was becoming a cesspool.
@Titania In other news: Whatever force this Batman guy has nationally, he's only made Gotham's criminal element more desperate and more dangerous.
Also, that fake gravelly voice he uses sounds soooooooooo stupid, AMIRITE!? PPL!? We could all be superheroes if we were billionaires with your emotional baggage, whoever you are, Batman. No one MADE you become a vigilante, dude.
@davetar The protests don't need to be laser-focused, but as you know, the OWS movement overall has made a great show of refusing to have leaders, refusing to present demands, refusing to advocate political participation. It has been a tantrum. I don't sympathize with the tea party, either, and there's no "but at least" coming–I don't sympathize with the tea party, full stop. They are just as inchoate and daft in their thinking as OWS, but far scarier, given that they do have elected officials attempting to enact their insanity.
@Titania What force did OWS ever have nationally? almost everyone saw through it immediately. The notion that it had the potential to usher in some kind of new dawn in american politics is just the usual story of perma-deluded progressives forgetting that they are a despised minority who always fucking lose. The only way you can even get a sniff of power is when 'your' party promises to keep you miserable bastards in your box.
@beatbeatbeat right, because the first amendment also doesn't guarantee the right to peaceably assembly, which lawmakers have diminished so much as to make it almost impossible to do so in a lawful manner.
The two most disturbing things is that the NYPD allegedly set up some "Free Press Zones" and confiscated credentials. And that Bloomberg claimed that any injuries were caused by protesters laying down and banging themselves up.
"Stop hitting yourself. Stop hitting yourself."
Third term, baby! There's your Boombust legacy right there.
Bloomberg is practical-minded, and simply doesn't understand absolutes. You're either free or you're not free; but to him, it's "Let's be reasonable. You're free until what you do gets messy and annoying, and then you've made your point and enough is enough."
@atipofthehat He may not understand absolutes, but that doesn't prevent him from using them as his rationale. For whatever reason, he seems to think that we'll all agree that the need for surveillance is absolute. http://wp.me/p1ZocT-p
Regis and Kelly haven't mentioned this so I don't care. Ooh, a Larry King story!
Bloomberg is an idiot. I went to sleep last night after reading an email from Adbusters explaining that they could either wait out the winter, or declare victory very soon and end the occupation, probably returning for a monthly anniversary and continuing to organize. I never thought they would wait out the winter. Bloomberg just decided to be hated over a problem that wasn't there.
@tropical icey Nobody cares what Adbusters thinks, fortunately, certainly not OWS.
Occupy Scores
@Abe Sauer They have enough trouble! Have you heard the bonus projections for next year? Champagne room sales likely to be down 40-50%.
I kid. Who ever heard of hedge fundies at a gentleman's club? Occupy East Hampton.
@dntsqzthchrmn Occupy the Jitney
@Abe Sauer It's just a fucking bus.
@tomme Where were these fucking buses when I was single?
This is likely for the best. The park really deteriorated over the last two weeks from a place of protest to a ramshackle homeless encampment. The mentally ill and drug dealers were creating a negative edge to the place that could only end poorly.
@Lockheed Ventura And even when it was a place of protest, protest in aid of what? If a protest has no aims, it's just a bunch of people hanging out. Which they might as well do without a tent-and-tarp city, so other members of the 99% can enjoy the park and go about their lives. For its lack of intentions, I have always found the Occupy movement unforgivably stupid.
The incursion of the homeless and drug dealers and whatnot has been discouraging, but you know what? They're part of the 99%. They're part of what happens to a society when it's been run by rich crooks like ours has for the last 30 years.
And Flaneur, the protestors had plenty of aims. They may not have all been the same, but nobody walked away from that park saying "I have no idea what any of these people want!" Protests aren't so laser-focused when they have a focus that goes beyond "I hate Obama" and aren't organized by the PACs of millionaire congressmen-turned-lobbyists.
I'm so impressed you've found the time amidst your busy schedule of casual strolling, idle loitering, opium smoking and absinthe swilling to critique this movement, @Flaneur — "Assommons les pauvres!" as they say.
Also, your boss wanted me to tell you: Your job's been outsourced to a pair of GM'd dolphins at the company's new marina in the Cayman Islands. Can you clean out your desk by 4:30? We're shooting a snuff film at your cubicle around 5:00pm.
@Davetar Actually, i was last down there on Thursday, and that was EXACTLY what I walked away saying. The guy with the guitar wanted everyone to sing "We Shall Overcome," the snotty, heckling teenagers wanted donations ("For the movement! We swear, man!") the homeless guy wanted food, the NYU students wanted me to do something about their student loans, I guess (no one MADE you go into debt to study philosophy, dude) and those were pretty much the only agendas I heard articulated. Not to mention the smell was unbelievable, as were the number of people who were still passed out in their tents at 1pm. Whatever force OWS has nationally, Zucotti Park was becoming a cesspool.
@Titania In other news: Whatever force this Batman guy has nationally, he's only made Gotham's criminal element more desperate and more dangerous.
Also, that fake gravelly voice he uses sounds soooooooooo stupid, AMIRITE!? PPL!? We could all be superheroes if we were billionaires with your emotional baggage, whoever you are, Batman. No one MADE you become a vigilante, dude.
@davetar The protests don't need to be laser-focused, but as you know, the OWS movement overall has made a great show of refusing to have leaders, refusing to present demands, refusing to advocate political participation. It has been a tantrum. I don't sympathize with the tea party, either, and there's no "but at least" coming–I don't sympathize with the tea party, full stop. They are just as inchoate and daft in their thinking as OWS, but far scarier, given that they do have elected officials attempting to enact their insanity.
@Titania What force did OWS ever have nationally? almost everyone saw through it immediately. The notion that it had the potential to usher in some kind of new dawn in american politics is just the usual story of perma-deluded progressives forgetting that they are a despised minority who always fucking lose. The only way you can even get a sniff of power is when 'your' party promises to keep you miserable bastards in your box.
Bashar al-Bloomberg will regret this decision.
Is that Howard Wolfson on the right side of the Bloomie presser picture?
@kilgub Sure is. He needed a day job when the whole music critic thing didn't pan out.
@brent_cox Looks like he's trying to sneak out on this one…
Defecate in a downtown alley? You're an anarchist bum who's a threat to neighborhood safety.
Defecate on the Queensboro Bridge? You're a contender in the ING New York City Marathon!
Barry Bostwick would've let them stay.
I imagine the Occupations will have far more power as myth and legend than as physical realities, with all their details and difficulties.
Mayor Bloomberg: "the first amendment protects speech; it does not protect the use of tents and sleeping bags."
If only the occupiers could just use money to shelter themselves in the park, they would have full first amendment protection, right?
@beatbeatbeat right, because the first amendment also doesn't guarantee the right to peaceably assembly, which lawmakers have diminished so much as to make it almost impossible to do so in a lawful manner.
I'll leave it to others to be rigorous, but at first glance New York City 2011 reminds me of Oaxaca City 2006.