Campaign finance revelations today:
“Now, for the first time since they started shaping the campaign in earnest, many of those super' political action committees are set to disclose just who is financing their pseudo-campaign operations.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-ap-us-campaignmoney,0,23319.story
Oakland stories:
"Activists calling for greater equality in income and tighter regulation of financial institutions have clashed with police across the country since September, usually while advocating non-violence. But a series of conflicts with police in Oakland have stood out as the most violent, with one activist, Iraq war veteran Scott Olsen, suffering a brain injury on October 25.”
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/01/us-occupy-oakland-idUSTRE8101BI20120201
Terrible messaging?
Mayor Quan says occupiers are targeting Oakland for vandalism and violence, stop using Oakland as it's playground. “These people gathered with the intention of unlawfully entering a building . . . “ and so on. In the past, it has been clear that police were aggressors, many videos showing abuses. Events in Oakland, especially the Scott Olsen incident, were among the first documenting them.
On this occasion, January 28, Occupy Oakland clearly stated its intention to take over the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center, a vacant building, very well suited for the objectives stated by Oakland occupiers. The cause was just and clearly stated. However, the mayor chose not to respond to the Occupy Oakland press release and instead made plans to confront the protesters with riot police.
It's hard to imagine the mayor objecting to what Occupy Oakland was trying to accomplish in principle. Who is against distributing food and clothing to the poverty-stricken, or providing shelter in the winter and other services that have suffered severe cuts, the residual effects of 1% malfeasance?
The protesters were being pushed around all day, and there weren't very many instances of protesters stepping towards the cops. The protesters were kettled, herded into that position by tear gas and other hostile projectiles. What is a protester supposed to do anyway? The mainstream media was nowhere to be found, but the video that was produced showed objects being tossed by protesters.
The Young Turks produce a newscast featuring Cenk Uygur and he raises some interesting questions about the tactics, but more importantly the portrayal of the Occupy message. Mr. Uygur may be right that the imagery from Oakland was not always consistent with the policy of non-violence which has prevailed in the vast majority of actions. Flag burning is always controversial, but it has also become a symbol of free speech. But we'll let him present both sides of it because that's the American way.
Occupy Oakland's press release posted as a communique here, or at this link
http://occupyoakland.org/2012/02/occupy-oakland-denounces-police-violence-and-city-lies/
Cenk Uygur:
Eugene in DC: His own network?
Eugene Davidovich is still in DC, and he's been busy. Here's the latest from the All-Star citizen journalist:
Eugene Davidovich: Jerry Nelson interview
Obama video:
Watching Davidovich roaming Washington, DC is a lot of fun, and educational. Thanks for the effort Eugene. You're a tribute to the movement and the many semi-professionals working as citizen journalists for the cause.
Grumpy
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