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Occupy Congress is going to DC

Posted: Nov 18, 2011

after the reps get back from their 11-day Thanksgiving holiday break and right before their target adjounment date for their 28-day Christmas/Hanukkhah/New Year's holiday which commences tentatively on December 8. After they reconvene Jan 5, Occupy plans a return visit to Congress around March 31 to kick off American Spring. Bill "OWS-is-dead" O'Reilly must have missed the memo.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/next-up-occupy-congress/2011/11/18/gIQAGObiYN_blog.html

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IMO - Independent

[ In Reply To ..]
OWS and TP should show up for that together. Washington wants to keep this country divided, Washington is sending this country right down the toilet. I think the only way we are going to get change, is to take over Washington together and tell them we're done with their crap. I'm so sick of it all I could just puke my Cheerios.

I would LOVE to see that happen - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
but they are too busy trying to eradicate OWS and are not likely to go within 100 miles of a protest where organized labor is visible. Still I agree with the concept. If only....

That is an amazing idea! - Zville MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm going to get with my TP group and see if we can make it happen :) We're in regular contact with other TP groups in Ohio, so maybe we can get the word out all over the country! If anyone else on the board is in a TP group or knows someone that is, let's get the word out!!

OK, question... - Zville MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I talked with some of my TP friends and they all loved the idea. However, I got on the OWS facebook page and sent them a message about how we'd like to join them in thier march and I got a lot of nasty explatives that I'm pretty sure meant no. Does anybody know another way to discuss this with some OWS folks? We don't want to just crash thier march by just showing up.

Did you approach them about December or March? - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
OWS is still dealing with the aftermath of thousands of arrests, physical, dehumanizing confrontations with law enforcement, getting either trashed in the media or ignored, ridiculed, being declared dead and generally not being taken seriously. They have barely had time to come together to articulate messages to each other and until now, their focus has been primarily on building strength in numbers. They are also dealing with lot of outside pressure to produce leaders and concrete solutions. That's why I think December is too soon. They have a lot on their plate but I do believe they are just now beginning to turn a new page. I really do not think it would take much time to get them receptive to this idea.

The idea to come together with the TP in the Spring can be more easily sold to the OWS by OWS supporters. I think what you could do is what Zville suggested....get the word OUT there and promote the idea, first amongst yourselves in the social media. I think the way to bring the two together initially is to engage a third party. IMO, that would be the broadcast media. This will take a little time, but I do think that, just like OWS was a movement that was waiting to happen, this could esily be an idea whose time has come.

OWS Facebook is not a whole lot different than this forum. It is a highly charged partisan environment where battles can be waged at the drop of a hat. If we can get media attention on this, the separate parties will post links to articles and get initial discussions going. Broadcast media farms the blogosphere, social media and You Tube on a daily basis. I think we need to get ourselves out there and post 'til the cows come home by mobilizing the various media outlets. It really shouldn't be that hard to get their attention.

Think of it this way. The 9%ers (our illustrious Congressional reps) are hopelessly locked in partisan gridlock and corruption. That's why they need to go. They need to be shown how to come together for a common purpose and we need to figure out how to do just that. Though driven by almost totally opposite political agendas, OWS and the TP share a few other common traits. Both groups are tenacious and highly motivated. Let's do our best to show the 9%ers how to get the job done.

You're right, I'll get my friends on it. - Zville MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm so excited that there just might be something we can all come together on!! And with four or five months to plan, this could be terrific! I'd like to enlist everyone's support on this - either OWS or TP - talk this up, get some support, and maybe then we can start talking with each other and making plans. Anyone who has any updates can post them on here to keep everyone else updated.

I'm really serious about this - I hope we can seriously make this happen :)

Word out - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I support the OWS agenda and have done more than my share of chasing the TP around on this board, but over the last week or two have thought A LOT about that one common goal both sides share. I think it would be absolutely AWESOME if the two movements could come together on this. The reason I don't think December's Occupy Congress is the right time for that is because the SIEU and other union groups are going to play a prominent role in organizing that event. OWS is so new and, given the TP union agendas, I just think it might generate a potentially confrontational environment that could prove counter-productive.

However, I do think the American Spring would be a perfect time for that. OWS would by that time have had a chance to mature a bit, at least in terms of leadership, platform and policy agendas, but in the meantime, the 4+ months between now and then should be enough time for the groups to strategize a more united front on this singular purpose. While the TP could conceivably simply stage counter protests to OWS while articulating the same housecleaning goals, just imagine how much more effective and powerful it would be for the two groups to lend each other the strength of their numbers...and resolve. It may be too tall an order, but I find the very idea of it REALLY exciting. It's crazy even to dare to hope, but it just might work and is certainly worth a try. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

I'm wondering what your thoughts are on this. Are you talking about aiming for the Spring when approaching your local folks?

I was thinking more of December... - Zville MT

[ In Reply To ..]
but read post above. Maybe you're right about the spring instead. And you're wrong about the union agenda - I think that's just another misconception. We're all about accountability in government, not about busting unions. I'm excited about the OWS group finally going after the main problem - DC! I'm really hopeful we can work something out - can you imagine if all the TP members AND the OWS members show up in DC? Think those lousy politicians would get the messge then? Probably not, but it would be an amazing effort on behalf of the entire country!!!

I elaborted a bit on the December vs March thing - above...

[ In Reply To ..]
If not the TP, then who do you think is behind the anti-union policies and for what purpose? That has been a really polarizing issue that has generated referendums, recalls and general pandemonium. I'm curious about what you think accounts for that?

Having just gone through the SB5 thing in Ohio, - Zville MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I can tell you it is republicans that are behind it, but I know our TP group had nothing to do with it and I voted no. I don't have a problem with unions - union leadership, I think, has become too politicized. I think what's behind all the anti-union stuff is that so many states are going broke trying to pay off promises to union members that were made when times were better, but now they can't afford. I also think there's a selfish componant to it as well - republicans see the large donations going to democrats from unions and are looking for a way to curb them.

I guess maybe I shouldn't have spoken for all TP groups because I'm really not familiar with them all. There are probably some of the TP groups that support what those governors are doing and really are anti-union. My message to them would be to start concentrating on the big picture - what's going on in DC. I think if things could get straightened out at the national level, things at the state level would follow.

I agree with several - points you made

[ In Reply To ..]
I support union workers 100% and agree with their leadership for the most part in principle, but sometimes their tactics are too aggressive and at times when they overstep, they do more harm than good. I do not appreciate their cavalier attitude toward the mob/thug perceptions that members end up having to defend or be associated with. I think the issue of what states can or cannot afford is a by-product of the fact that neither party seems to have a clue about how to get the economy moving. It's pretty obvious that status quo isn't working. Wherever the money is, it's staying put instead of moving through the channels to destinations where it can flow and grow and neither party wants the other to get credit for even the slightest measure of policy initiative or achievement.

I do not think that slashing program after program after program to smithereens is the answer. They can start looking at that after they explore more lucrative options such as reforming the tax code wreck, streamlining existing programs and eliminating duplication and waste, rethinking military strategies to create more efficient and effective approaches, reinstate more comprehensive diplomatic schemes and (sorry, here comes one of the OWS battle cries) get the friggin' money out of politics via sweeping campaign finance reform.

I think progressives have the same problem with misconceptions and misidentification. I am not familiar with TP "factions" but I can tell you that liberal "chapters" of OWS arise out of the sense that they have no place to go within the rank and file democratic establishment. I guess we need to open up a genuine multiparty system sooner rather than later, before the whole thing blows up in our faces and we find ourselves thoroughly entrenched in a full-blown civil war.

I just heard on Chris Hayes program called UP - (I think) on MSNBC sm

[ In Reply To ..]
that the 2 groups came together somewhere locally in the midwestern part of the country. Sorry I don't know anymore details. It was on the Saturday morning show at 7-9 AM. Someone made a comment that this probably would not happen on the east coast but likely in the middle of the country. Who knows? It is a great idea.

I'm up at the crack of dawn gulping down - a first cup....

[ In Reply To ..]
After my final post last night, I went to sleep and had a dream about printing this thread out and taking it down to the OWS site in my city since I couldn't find any other "go to" person. I'm up hours earlier than usual feeling charged up over this whole idea.

I turned MSN on because I missed the first half of Hayes' UP program yesterday a.m. in the hopes they would rebroadcast it. Rachel Maddow had done a lead-in to the show on Fri night, saying that Chris was going to "break an exclusive" on conclusive evidence of a concerted blowback push that can be traced to some "highly placed" members of GOP political strategy groups and that money was being poured into an effort to discredit OWS and drive them from the scene. During the second half that I did catch, they had a recap that mentioned Karl Rove, Crossroads GPS, other lobby firms and John Boehner. So far, yesterday's UP has not appeared, but now that I have opened up mtstars and read your post, I am even more interested in hearing that portion of the broadcast you mentioned.

I'm having an early Thanksgiving dinner later today with my son and husband, and I have to make a dessert and clean up a little in the front room, so will not have as much time as I usually do to follow up on any of this, but would love to get my hands on a podcast of Saturday's Up program or any further information about what you and Maddow said was discussed. I will be jumping on and off the board whenever I get a chance between now and turkey time, but cannot research this until after late this evening. If anyone happens to can find more details on the broadcast or on these two stories, could you please post them under this thread? I am also trying to find "go to" sites within the OWS network where this idea can be floated.

It has been my habit to try to start this sort of thing "at the top." The only person I can think of so far who might be receptive to brainstoming this and able to provide some guidance is Jesse Lagreca, one of OWS's "rising stars" who appeared in an interview with Keith Olbermann on Current TV either on Wed, Thur or Fri night. This same guy was interviewed by a Fox News reporter at one of the OWS sites recently. Originally Greta Van Sustern was supposed to air the clip, but Fox declined to do so. It went viral. He has other "dispatches" on You Tube I have not had a chance to view. See links below. He also freelances for Daily Kos and was interviewed by Christiane Amanpour on CNN. Since I haven't actually viewed any of these links, except for his Fox exchange, I aplogize in advance if there is any political content that TP supporters may find offensive! Jesse is a young guy who has been thrust into the limelight in response to media pressure that OWS lacks leadership and clear message, so he's a bit wet behind the ears and rough around the edges, but appears to be a well connected, well read, fired up and motivated OWS supporter.

There were a couple of other OWS spokesperson interviews over the past week or 2 on MSNBC and Pacifica programs such as Democray Now!, but this is the only name I can rememember at the moment because the guy seemed to be so articulate. This does not necessarily mean he is as interested in strategizing as he is in articulating message, but I think he would know who is. Along these same lines, I think we could each engage posts, emails, tweets, etc. with other prolific contributors on our various forum sites. I am planning to do that with Huffpo, Daily Kos, Democratic Underground, and various Pacifica program boards and with anchors such as Amy Goodman.

Cup's empty. Time to start slogging through early morning cat-feeding, dishwashing and bath-taking routines on my way to putting finishing touches on this early holiday meal. In the meantime, I'd appreciate any feedback to my post.

PS: Many thanks to Zville for the turkey tips. All went well. Every time I look at the final product, my mouth starts to water!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX7a5RMwyPI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX7a5RMwyPI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udfYr-UuB8Y

Fantastic ideas, all! - Zville MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I'll watch the links you provided this afternoon (have some work to catch up on today). Putting posts on forums is a great idea - sounds like you have the liberal ones covered, so I'll take the conservative ones and maybe next year we can meet in DC ;)

Have a great Thanksgiving with your family and I'm glad the turkey turned out for you - my mouth is watering just thinking about it!!

WOW! - Independent

[ In Reply To ..]
I haven't been on here since I posted on Saturday. This is fantastic! I really thought it would be shot down and told why it wouldn't work. D.C. in the spring, 2012 campaign well under way. Maybe we really could make a difference together.

OWS also has Annonymous knocking at their door, - wanting to be let in. (sm)

[ In Reply To ..]
Not only greater numbers, but some TEETH and major hacking-savvy, too boot.

LOL - tune in, kiddies, 2012 is a year that's gonna be fun to watch!

Pro-Occupy

Do me a favor... - Zville MT

[ In Reply To ..]
When you post something on any of the forum sites you talked about, post a link - I would love to read them! I'll do the same :)

I kinda let it go for a few day because of work, but my clinic will be closed for Thanksgiving, so no work this weekend - I'm gonna try to get a start posting on some forums, just testing the water.

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