These people were not bothering nobody of camping out in the first place, why couldn't they left alone, they have right to assemble and demonstrate, it when police tried to move them it become to this point.

Can we call the UN to enforce no-fly zones? Will they then continue to bomb US loyalists until our leader is dead?

...oh wait, wrong part of the world.

The OWS crowd is only protesting because we have a black president. Racists!

When the Tea Party crowd was protesting the bailouts of the banks, you know, when they were actually occuring, they were called racists and wackos. What's the difference now?

The conspiracy theorist side of me says that this is part of the bigger plan. The chaos is being created to allow for the powers that be to have a reason to clamp down with greater control...dictatorial control. Only the government can fix this...with greater control. Believe in us, peasants, we know how to help.

The story line clearly says, SOME protesters ( for me placed agitators) started throwing rocks and bottles at the police. Reaction ? Police have to send in the riot police. I may not agree with everything they are protesting about, but do believe they have the right to PEACEFUL demonstrations. They (the protesters) should have what is commonly known as disiplenary teams that make sure outside agitators do not do these things. This shows me they are not well organized. But the right to protest must be kept withing the bounds, that WE ALL have rights. And neither is greater then the others. It's sad when people get hurt and equally sad when police are forced into using their riot squads because of a few infiltrated agitators. Lets keep it peace full people. And I am referring to everybody involved . And a lit bit of organization would help and coordination with the local authorities to establish how things are going to be done. If you need permits, get them

Just my thoughts

Oakland is in trouble financially. To combat this, here is a list of crimes Oakland police won't respond to:

burglary
theft
embezzlement
grand theft
grand theft:dog
identity theft
false information to peace officer
required to register as sex or arson offender
dump waste or offensive matter
discard appliance with lock
loud music
possess forged notes
pass fictitious check
obtain money by false voucher
fraudulent use of access cards
stolen license plate
embezzlement by an employee (over $ 400)
extortion
attempted extortion
false personification of other
injure telephone/ power line
interfere with power line
unauthorized cable tv connection
vandalism
administer/expose poison to another’s

http://jonathanturley.org/2010/07/13/oakland-police-announce-they-will-not-respond-to-various-crimes-like-burglary-grand-theft-and-other-crimes/

Funny, the city's got money to break up the peaceful Occupy Wall Street protestors. And now they'll undoubtably will have to cough up a bunch of money for the lawsuit that will surely come from this injured man. While it was the police that did the damage, it was the higher ups that called out the dogs on them. They need to ALL be looked at as guilty.

These people got violant, and he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Unfortunate, I hate it, but these protesters are getting violant, and they get what they deserve when they do.

I don't think these people want to get violent and cause a revolution, nobody will be there to pay their entitlements. I feel horrible for this Vet who was protesting against war, which should have been done seperately. Not the same goals.

These people were not bothering nobody of camping out in the first place, why couldn't they left alone, they have right to assemble and demonstrate, it when police tried to move them it become to this point.

Actually they are violating local ordinances and laws against camping in public places. They are also creating health hazards, and throwing rocks and bottles at authorities. They are also killing businesses in the areas where they are protesting as patrons are avoiding these areas for fear of trouble. Where did they THINK this was all going to end?

You all made your point. Now it's time to go home and go back to whatever lives you had (or look for work like the rest of us).

Why do you launch bottles and rocks at the police?

There is a reason why tear-gas canisters are not supposed to be shot directly into a crowd. Although, I'm hardly surprised at the notion that some gung-ho hateful officer would shoot the canister in such a way that this may happen "on accident" - I mean, just look at some of these posters on here who would undoubtedly applaud such a lack of professionalism and restraint so long as it's against their oh-so hated 'libbies' or whatever Pavlovian response word they choose to refer to these protestors.

A few protestors throwing rocks and bottles does not mean the police can use deadly force - and shooting a tear-gas canister at head level into a crowd would be exactly that (if it indeed was from an officer, and not a poor throw from a protestor)

I STILL don't get what these protesters want. So far, all I've gleaned from various news stories is that they want student loans forgiven, and to "tax the rich". Sure the rich can and should pay more taxes, but even then that's not going to pull the country out of the huge debts and the deficit Obama has borrowed us into. He'll continue to court Wall Street to help finance his campaign, and make impossible to keep promises to forgive OWS protesters student loans, pandering to both groups for their votes. I don't see how the OWS group expect to have WHATEVER it is they want, to be clearly understood and/or respected while they are just marching, marching, marching, trashing city parks and property with garbage, urine, feces, drinking, doing drugs, and thinking they have the right to go storming into banks, etc. They are disrupting people's RIGHT to get to and from work safely, with even a modicum of convenience and security. They defy law enforcement by refusing to comply with city laws and ordinances, then throw bottles and rocks at the officers who are just doing their jobs...and their jobs are meant for the protection of ALL the city's citizens...not just them. Now one is injured, of course none of them mentions that police officers were also injured, and they are carrying on like this kid was pulled from his home and beaten. It's a shame that he is seriously injured, but when you go looking to disrupt and cause chaos, an defy laws, that's what happens. That park belongs to ALL of the citizens of Oakland, not just the squatters to take over and trash. I've seen photos of some protesters jumping on a police officer's BACK...but that's okay, huh? Officer has no right to defend himself or arrest the guy for assaulting him? Of course, that's what some of these squatters want...then they can whine to the camera about the police. Peaceful protesters?... my aunt fannie. So far, all I can see in these occupier groups is a massive temper tantrum. And...a chance for one big party.

Here is how to break up the occupy movement:

Water

Worked win the 60's against smelly hippies so it should also work against smelly hipsters.

When protestors act in an aggressive manner, they are no better than the people they are protesting against. When one is passionate about their believes, at times it is hard to stay in control, but we must. How can anyone acting aggressive be taken serious. There is a difference in being aggressive and being assertive. Yes, we all have rights...within the law. God Bless the vet that was injured...God Bless Us All!

We all have rights! Just ink on paper when this is a policed state. just to make a point police show up with riot gear on like there is no intent there. they lined up ready to do battle.

sorry vets you were lied to about protecting freedom for ALL except the 99%.

I agree. Once you start throwing rocks and bottles at another human being, I don't care what your cause may be; you are the bad guy. I hope they figure out what happened to the guy. Was he fighting, attacked, or just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time?

"Demonstration remains peaceful"

What a joke. There is nothing peaceful in those protest, when they where peaceful nobody listen to them, they need riots,casualties, , martyrs to be heard, because there is no consistency in their demands, other than their communist organizations supporters like AFL-CIO. Those are not the sentiments of the 99% .

wheather you are the so called 99% or the tea party or whoever when you start throwing rocks and bottles at the police this is what you can expect to happen. the city oakland very clearly stated when you are allowed to assemble and protest. there are laws against camping in parks for a reason and you all are breaking those laws. it is sad when an overall peaceful demonstration gets ruined when a couple of idiots are out looking for trouble. but dont blame the police for this. when you break the law you get to deal with the cops.

Stinky Libby:

We in D.C. not only feed the homeless, but they volunteer with the Occupy D.C. movement.

Aggie, you don't know because we have almost no journalists anymore. They are all political pundits now.

The OWS people want Wall Street and Main Street to stop stealing their money and losing it on stuff like derivative bets. Alot of those people lost their retirements in the 2008 financial crisis because of Wall Street using their money to make very bad bets.

They also want these big corporations who send jobs overseas, give little or no raises while the CEOs and other top executives get massive raises or charge so much for their products that are essential items like health care to end their greed. I agree that the corporations need to make a profit but they are by a massive amount. They are doing so well that their CEOs get unbelievable amounts of compensations. When does top executive pay turn from appropiate compensation to just blatant greed. The 10 highest paid CEOs from last year made from around 40 million to 123 million a year. The one who made 123 million dollars works for McKesson which is part of big Pharma. Big Pharma's excuse for charging so much for their products is to cover research costs. Kind of hard to believe when one company is doing well enough to pay their CEO a 123 million dollars.

They also want campaign finance reform. We all know that Congress is bought by big corporations. Do I really need to argue this point?

but dont blame the police for this. when you break the law you get to deal with the cops.

If this was indeed a gas canister that hit him in the head - whoever shot it was not using it properly. You do NOT shoot gas canisters at head level into a crowd of people, especially at any range close enough to cause a fractured skull.

They are pretty simple to operate - the only reasons I can think of why someone would get popped in the head with a canister is either a) poor training on its proper use b) malicious officer c) very unlikely malfunction.

Shooting a gas canister at head level into a crowd intentionally, would be the use of deadly force. Some protestors tossing rocks and bottles does not constitute the use of deadly force.

So, yeah, if this is true, I do definitely blame the officer and his superiors for this injured vet.

My problem with the article:

"It's not known exactly what type of object struck Olsen or who might have thrown it, though Guy's group said it was lodged by officers. Several small skirmishes had broken out in the night with police clearing the area by firing tear gas and protesters throwing rocks and bottles at them."

While the photo notes that Occupy protesters are carrying away Olsen whom was struck by a police tear gas canister.

Speculation isn't the facts MSNBC. If you don't know then you don't know, so don't make claims/accusations in your photo descriptions that your article doesn't support! I'm sure Olsen went to the hospital in critical condition, maybe some doctors took those funny x-ray pictures and have a better grasp of what kind of object struck him. Maybe you could follow up on the story??

AtlasWillShrug Comment collapsed by the community

The OWS crowd is only protesting because we have a black president. Racists!

When the Tea Party crowd was protesting the bailouts of the banks, you know, when they were actually occuring, they were called racists and wackos. What's the difference now?

Let me know when you see a sign with obama and a bone through his nose at an occupy rally. Yeah... stupid statement at best - idiotic at worst.

There is a right way to protest and there are wrong ways to do it. You want to be taken serious, do it peacefully and have a clear message. This is reality and not some tv show. When those morons start throwing bottles and rocks at police, expect a response.

That vet that received a fractured skull, yes it was tragic but was a poor move on his part. He should know better. He has been on the other side of the fence before. Dealing with hostile population and him trying to keep peace. Throwing bottles and rocks at armed police will only result in someone getting hurt. I know. I'm a 2 tour vet myself (iraq, afghanistan)

Tell you one thing, you throw rocks and bottles at me you kiss your mommy first and I don't care what you were trying to do..

That's the difference between you, and a professional officer of the peace. There's a certain level of discipline required. Let's hope that you never decide to join the force.

Someone can die from a thrown rock or bottle. So YES, it does constitute the use of deadly force.

Isn't there an old saying? People who aren't wearing riot gear shouldn't throw stones? Let he who is without common sense cast the first stone?

had enough -

I agree, throwing rocks, etc... at police is a bit too much. However, the article doesn't say who did what first. If I am peacefully marching down a street and the police fire tear gas and/or other objects at me, I will probably respond in kind. If I threw something at the police first, then I can expect a response from them. Preferably, to be arrested. Not everyone that was being tear gassed threw something at the police, therefore, they are firing on innocent protestors. Why not just arrest the "trouble makers" and leave the rest of the peaceful crowd alone??? Just sayin'.

However, the article doesn't spell out if the Iraq Veteran threw something at the police. I doubt very seriously that he did. Hopefully a video recording of the incident will get into the right hands (I wouldn't give it to the police without making a copy first as it could get "lost") and the officer/officers responsible for this man's busted skull will be reprimanded.

Someone needs to prove that the police launched any projectile. No proof, other than the rotten crowd. What do you think they are going to say, launch a projectile?

My son was in Iraq for 2 tours. Funny, he said while patrolling, the kids would throw rocks at the soldiers all the time. They were told to ignore them even though sometimes they would come out of it bruised. .

I'm not saying that if the protesters were throwing rocks, they should be ignored, but the canister incident was obviously someone losing their temper and the police are supposed to be above this.

Attitude says a lot. If the cops came up to the crowd all cocky and looking for trouble, the crowd will give it to them. Visa Versa too. If the crowds are obnoxious, these cops will suit their manner to deal with unruliness. Everyone needs to keep their tempers in check.

It's pretty common for police to use non-lethal weps to cause injury if they want to. Shooting CS canisters at people (CS is overkill for these protest btw), firing rubber bullets and beanbag rounds (which can kill and/or penetrate the skin) at people's heads and necks etc. I would love to know what the protestor "attack' really looked like. Was there a rain of bottles and rocks coming down on the cops or did one person loft a bottle and the cops used it as an excuse to come down on them? Where are all the injured cops if they were attacked so viciously?

Something doesn't seem right about this. I know every time I read a story like this I have even less respect for cops. Most of the ones where I live are fat, out of shape and are more interested in being tough guys than helping anyone. You can't just trust a cop any more. Sad but true. When I was a kid parents used to tell their kids that if they were lost or in trouble to look for a cop. I don't know of anyone that tells their kids that now.

I don't care if the guy was a vet or not! This goes with the territory of participating in an aggressive protest. It's the chance you take when you become an agitator.

Most of these protesters are nothing more than re-incarnations of the filthy nitwit hippies of the 60's. They obviously have nothing constructive to do in life and most people are ignoring them as just an annoyance. They are keeping other citizens from using the public spaces that they have soiled with their filth and trash, and they are consuming tax payer dollars for their own narcissism!

It's time to end this crap. Get out the fire hoses and clean the places up!

Someone can die from a thrown rock or bottle. So YES, it does constitute the use of deadly force.

No, it doesn't give the officers the necessary qualifications to respond with deadly force in this sort of situation. I'm sorry, but you don't know what you are talking about. Having worked security and trained others in the proper use of deadly force in police actions against civilians - I'm pretty sure I can say that you are very very wrong.

Although, apparently by your standards, they would be completely justified to have just opened fire at the first sign of a rock in the air.

I really don't see how a thrown object does not call for a tear gas, water cannon, etc. response. Sometimes I am sure it only takes one bottle and one injured policeman to start a riot. The police are there to PREVENT a riot. Therefore, they do not wait until there is a rain of objects, death threats, or an angry mob with torches to act. This should be common sense. You can't just 'arrest the trouble makers' sometimes.

A cannister fired at someone's head from close range is another story if that is what happened. There will always be peacefull folks who get tear gassed if there are a few idiots near them chucking rocks. It is just the sad nature of things.

Citizens have the right to protest peacefully. I don't think they should be attacked by or local police departments, tat makes us no better the Gahdaffi and his thugs. I'll remember come election time. This is all BS what they're doing to protestors.

Sad state of affairs folks. Did the demonstrators throw rocks because the police shot tear gas or did the police shoot tear gas because the demonstrators started throwing rocks? A peaceful demonstration is just that, no rocks or bottles, you take away civility and throw down the gauntlet when you start heaving missiles at the authorities.

Peter Jacobs you Moron, he was hit with a canister because he was hiding behind a scarf.

Shuklack, what are you some kind of expert on the proper use of tear gas canisters? Give it a rest, you don't know what transpired when the canister was shot. Cause trouble and this is what happens.

You clowns that think these protests are so fantastic should go hang out in downtown Manhattan. The smell alone will make you want to vomit. What a disgrace.

Was the injured Iraqi war vet throwing rocks or bottles? No. Were the students killed at Kent State doing anything disruptive or violent? No, they were walking to class.

This is the kind of tragedy that happens when police respond to a situation with ten times the necessary force.

There are slow motion videos of the police shooting tear gas at a small group trying to rescue the fallen marine who was nearly killed when hit by something the police shot at his head. Wake up folks, so many of you don't know what you're talking about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqNOPZLw03Q&feature=player_embedded
Watch it all

Shuklack, what are you some kind of expert on the proper use of tear gas canisters?

I'm experienced in it, that's all.

As I stated several times IF IF IF this guy was hit in the head with a canister, the police were not using it properly.

IF IF IF it was done with intent to harm, it would be considered the use of deadly force, which would not be authorized under such conditions (even with a few protestors throwing rocks or bottles).

Seriously, anyone that would argue that protestors throwing some rocks would authorize the use of deadly force by police officers needs to think real hard on their values. I would have let it rest all ready if knuckleheads didn't actually make that ridiculous argument.

Frankly, it's fine with me if they used the canisters properly on an unruly crowd. But using them with the intent to harm or injure is... well... not authorized.

No, it doesn't give the officers the necessary qualifications to respond with deadly force in this sort of situation.

Sorry, but you don't know what you are talking about buddy. I didn't say anything about a response, and the officers did not respond with deadly force. They responded with tear gas (though it is possible someone responded with deadly force, if a canister was fired at the guys head). An object that can kill someone is deadly force. What definition of 'constitute' are you using? Constitute does not mean requires a response of. It means a hurled object that can kill IS deadly force.

Open fire at a rock in the air? If you are referring to live ammo, could you please stop putting words in people's mouths and actually read the what is written.

I just read your last post, I think you are misunderstanding me.

Not only did the police attack these protesters, they actually attacked the people who trie to help the injured vet. Watch this video. It shows the injured man lying motionless on the ground, a group of people surround him to try to help him, and a cop clearly lob a flash grenade into the group of people. Absolutely disgusting

ok, it won't let me post the link, so this is the title of the video on youtube: Occupy Oakland - Flashbangs USED on protesters OPD LIES

Demar

Shuklack, what are you some kind of expert on the proper use of tear gas canisters? Give it a rest, you don't know what transpired when the canister was shot. Cause trouble and this is what happens.

And neither do you yet you say it was warranted. Anyone else see the stupidity in this guys post?

As a 60 y/o, I don't understand the mentality of many in my age group. We had every opportunity to succeed and this generation doesn't. Join them, don't fight them. Stop doing the bidding of the corporate elite.

This is comical, YET scary that people can't READ. The PROTESTORS had showed violoence, throwing rocks and objects at the OFFICERS who were there to do a JOB (what a stark contrast). The tear gas is NOT deadly, it's unfortunate that it hit someone, but WHY can't you Liberals FOCUS on the VIOLENCE that the "protestors" have been causing. Somehow, "if" it's a Liberal "agenda" thing, violence is acceptable. You idiots pitched a fit when there were accusations that Tea Party members were racist and did violence, (even though NO proof has been found), yet we have clear proof that the Wall Street protestors have been violent on many occasions, and YOU defend.

Az dad, to equate this to Kent State is moronic, seriously, ROCKS and Projectilves are "deadly" force, police have the right to defend with equal force. The police were there to do a job, and these MORONS threw rocks, projectiles, were breaking glass of businesses and cars, and yet you clowns don't seem to mind this...

We don't know "if" this guy was or wasn't involved, nor do the police have time to determine which people in a MOB are the leaders or followers, we DO know HE was in the MOB group, they had shown violence the previous day, they had changed their route to continue and somewho you feel the police are supposed to allow this MOB of criminals to continue to destroy property, defacate, trash and destroy...NO...unacceptable...I'd be Fine if you simply said police should/could have used better judgement, though we don't know the facts, was the cannister FIRED, did someone else pick it up, did a rock hit the person firing...any are somewhat irrelevant, as the Vet was a part of a MOB mentality.

Why don't you read our history of what our Founding Fathers thought of MOB mentality...it's the reason why we have a representative gov't.

How about accountability for the people that live and work in the area...these clowns somehow can't PEACEFULLY protest? They destroy and defacate...READ the whole story..

Shulack, you are wrong...A tear gas canister isn't any more deadly force than a rock. This response you gave suggests you know something, how about knowing. The officer likely did over react, as the canister didn't need to go where it went, but it is not anymore (actually less) deadly than rocks heaved, and Officers are able to use EQUAL force when assaulted. Maybe we should start looking at the cause of the issue and not blaming someone.

They were throwing rocks and bottles at the police. Expect the police to use force in this case. End of story......

(though it is possible someone responded with deadly force, if a canister was fired at the guys head).

Which is EXACTLY what I said above. I'm sorry 'buddy' but you need to work on your reading comprehension.

Open fire at a rock in the air? If you are referring to live ammo, could you please stop putting words in people's mouths and actually read the what is written.

You are the one that stated that rocks and bottles could kill someone, thus justifying the use of deadly force. Read your own posts, man. If you are saying that rocks and bottles justify the use of deadly force, then you are in effect saying that they justify the use of live ammunition.

Sorry this happened to the kid, but frankly not surprised. If you join a mob moving against police in riot gear, you take your chances. You'd think being a Marine he would understand that.

But then these people don't know what they're protesting, what their goals are, or who their enemy is. From the outside, they just look like an unruly, unhappy bunch of hipsters and anarchists.

Shulack, you are wrong...A tear gas canister isn't any more deadly force than a rock. This response you gave suggests you know something, how about knowing. The officer likely did over react, as the canister didn't need to go where it went, but it is not anymore (actually less) deadly than rocks heaved, and Officers are able to use EQUAL force when assaulted. Maybe we should start looking at the cause of the issue and not blaming someone.

Indeed, in certain situations where an officer is in imminent danger of major bodily harm from a rock or projectile, deadly force can be used to respond.

But this is not policy when dealing with unruly crowds, nor is it justified when the police are well protected in riot gear. That's just how it is... you use the gas properly - you don't shoot it at people's heads with the intent to harm.

No one in Washington is addressing the problem, America is attempting to send a message to our rulers(politicians); no one in the castle of Washington is listening; this can and will turn into violent civil disobedience unless the real problem in America is addressed; a collapse of the middle class, no jobs , a taxation system out of control and un-ending wars (with nothing to gain); wake up Washington, a revolution is brewing and no one in authority has the slightest clue about it !

Because there is no theme to this camping anyone can join. Soon it will be out of control and the media will turn on them. When NY finally says it is time to go home and nobody moves what do you think the outcome will be? A lot of people are trying to project their own agenda on these people. The reality is these people have their own motivations and can't articulate them like President Obama can. Only the protesters should articulate their positions. They are the ones earning the recognition, not some ideologue reporter that wants to spew his own agenda. Because they can not articulate their views their actions will speak for them.

The article clearly states that both the object and who might have launched it are unknown. So, what's with all of these bulls**t comments about the police shooting tear gas grenades at the guy?

The guy was part of a mob who chose to attack police with rocks; what did they expect the reaction to be.....oh, I forgot... these protestors aren't the brightest bulbs in the bank.

"Several small skirmishes had broken out in the night with police clearing the area by firing tear gas and protesters throwing rocks and bottles at them."
The article does not say that the bottles or rocks were thrown 1st.
And to the poster who said that our economy is down because of debt that Pres Obama accumulated, pls remember that Obama inherited this mess and our huge mountain of debt from G. W. Bush. (Who started his presidency w/ a healthy economy handed to him by Clinton. Yes the bubble of the 90's was bursting, but Bush destroyed the economy.)
To the Marine who was injured - Thank you for your service and for continuing to fight for democracy. I pray you recover quickly and completely. Semper Fi and God Bless.

As the Occupy Taxpayers Wallets protesters show their true violent colors - we see the irony that people who want more Gov't rules and regulations are unwilling to obey the law themselves. (Mirrors their idea to tax everyone but themselves more.)

Compare that to the TEA Party that got all required permits and had no violence or arrests.

I guess there is something about people that start their protest with the Pledge of Allegiance, and ask the Gov't to follow the US Constitution that makes them non-violent. That thing is honor.

There is no honor in the "Occupiers".

Throwing rocks at police. Defying basic laws such as no camping in downtown parks, public urination, and smashing store windows.

If you or I did those things, it would be directly to jail, do not pass go.

It's time to let these criminals get to see how much fun the Gov't is. Let the get the regulation of THEIR behavior.

Throwing a rock a police officer is a felony.

It's time for them to get a little dose of reality.

The Police do not throw rocks and bottles, the protesters are the people that throw rocks and bottles and are responsible for the injury to this person. Anarchist, Communist, Socialist and now Labor Unions have now joined these protesters. It appears that the anarchist, Communist and Socialist are represented by the likes of the AFL-CIO. These people need to stop looking to others for their support and need to support themselves. THEY SHOULD BE PROTESTING IN WASHINGTON AGAINST O"BAMA. IT IS O'BAMA THAT HAS DESTROYED THE U.S. ECONOMY. IT'S O'BAMA WHO IS CAUSING OPEN REVOLT THAT WILL LEAD TO ANOTHER CIVIL WAR IN THIS COUNTRY. It is O'Bama who is leading the "Class War" and using these protesters as pawns in his quest for Socialism and winning another election. Unfortunately these mis-guided and socially ignorant protesters are not smart enough to realize that the very structure they are protesting is the same structure that allows them to protest. The protesters want the rest of America to support them and their cause believing that the government owes them a living. The only thing they should be "given" is a quick kick in the back-side. They should be immediately disbanded by any means necessary.

Will you people please stop with all the inherited B.S.? Obama has spent more ( and continues to ) in the last couple years than all other presidents to date! I'm talking from George Washington people! I guess if you repeat a lie enough times, you will start to believe it?

The guy was part of a mob who chose to attack police with rocks; what did they expect the reaction to be.....oh, I forgot... these protestors aren't the brightest bulbs in the bank.

It's coming from reports of his friends, and another mention in the article in the picture caption.

So far, no other good explanation has been givin to why he received a skull fracture to what appears to be the forehead.

Being a vet doesn't protect you from making dumb decisions. I can think of 3 things that are going to bring an end to the occupy wall street craze....December, January, February

My husband and son are both active Military so I feel badly for the injured Marine. Although I do have one correction in the article. There is no such thing as a FORMER Marine. Once a Marine, ALWAYS a Marine.

That said, there is no proof from what I can see as to who threw the item that injured this Vet. To blame it on the police is too easy. It's the demonstrators that were throwing things at the cops. Could be the Vet just got in the way.

While I don't necessarily agree with their issues, I DO support their right to assemble, PEACEABLY. When they start throwing things at people who are there for their protection as well as outsiders, they've gone beyond Peaceful demonstration. Anyone caught throwing a rock or glass at ANYONE should be arrested.

Janine-1645002
My husband and son are both active Military so I feel badly for the injured Marine. Although I do have one correction in the article. There is no such thing as a FORMER Marine. Once a Marine, ALWAYS a Marine.

That said, there is no proof from what I can see as to who threw the item that injured this Vet. To blame it on the police is too easy. It's the demonstrators that were throwing things at the cops. Could be the Vet just got in the way.

While I don't necessarily agree with their issues, I DO support their right to assemble, PEACEABLY. When they start throwing things at people who are there for their protection as well as outsiders, they've gone beyond Peaceful demonstration. Anyone caught throwing a rock or glass at ANYONE should be arrested.

I get tired of that, "once a Marine, always a Marine." I was Navy. Does that mean that I'm still Navy? Nope. Once you get that DD-214, you're former.

As for the measures taken by the protestors--what measures did the colonists take against the tyranny of the British? Kissing the feet of that 1% leaves an awful taste in your mouth--doesn't it?

Hey Mike, what would you call all of the anti Semitic language coming out of the OWS crowd . You know like deporting all Jews. You're such a hypocrite.

Comment collapse for OWS

The actions of the police was a an accident that will go under investigation, however the police was trying to stop an uncontrollable mob of protesters. Violence has consequences, don't play with fire if you don't want to get burn out.

They are not the 99%

I read that it wasn't known were the object came from or if it was thrown by police, In a crowd it may have come from any were so why does an officer automaticaly get blamed, if it is a lawful protest good on them but if it is unlawwful or becomes unlawful (in any way) then like what happened here comes the police.

as a vet I hope all is well and as a vet I know sh1t happens and "Murphy" hangs in everyones hip pocket

WATCH WHAT HAPPENED HERE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZLyUK0t0vQ&feature=share

You can see the guy was hit with a high-velocity projectile--not a rock. Then, as if that weren't enough, you can see the police officer throw the tear gas into the crowd of people trying to help him. If you aren't outraged, you should be.

Glenn Davis-1290305

Citizens have the right to protest peacefully. I don't think they should be attacked by or local police departments, tat makes us no better the Gahdaffi and his thugs. I'll remember come election time. This is all BS what they're doing to protestors.

Yes they do. I'm all for peaceful protests. Not morons starting up trouble by throwing bottles and rocks and smashing up property.

Duster011

There are slow motion videos of the police shooting tear gas at a small group trying to rescue the fallen marine who was nearly killed when hit by something the police shot at his head. Wake up folks, so many of you don't know what you're talking about.

You make it sound like these young kids just happen to stroll in the sidewalk minding their own business when police in riot gear popped out of nowhere and started to attack these innocent people.

BS. These kids saw riots on television. They want a reaction from the police by throwing rocks and bottles just like in Greece, England and other places in the world. They are itching to move the protests and riots to the business sector so they can raid and steal tvs and other things. Grown mature adults dont throw rocks at police to get their point across.

sandtrich - Once a Chief ALWAYS a Chief, yeah it goes for Navy too.

You can't see how the injured guy went down at all, but that grenade is a bit much. It didn't look like the police were making a move to help the guy, and I don't think you could reasonably conclude that the protesters/rioters were gathering to attack him. No more video afterwards, but if he was being carried by protesters the police likely didn't move to help him.

Funny, we aren't having these problems in Boston. The city has sent in people from the health and santitation departments as advisors and are ensuring the food and garbage are disposed of properly. The police have developed a relationship with the Occupiers and are working with them to ensure that everything remains peaceful. So, ask yourself why one city can do it, but others can't. It all comes down to attitude.

Iam3rd, would you trust the police not to destry evidence. Why would you let them assist a fallen protestor. Suddenly the victim would be "saying" things that exonerated the police. Yeah, trusting the police after an event like this would be a good idea..... Right.

What would they have the protesters do?......write their congressman?...like that would get anywhere......

Americans have a constitutional right to protest against their government...right?

The only people who seem to be getting hurt are the protesters..why is that?

How many battered and injured law enforcement people have been hospitalized or carried out on stretchers?

This smacks of what is so common in countries run by dictators.............have our local governments become the very thing that our men and women in the armed forces have laid down their lives for fighting against?

perhaps what the protesters should do is start a caravan and drive to Washington DC and engulf the congress and at the same time do the same thing to Wall Street.......................by the millions......guess the government locals would call out the national guard for that...

pitting American against American...............next thing you know the republicans will go from calling the protesters names and labeling them as insurgents(armed only with words and determination and faith in right and wrong) and create a SS squad to deal with the matter....

Why doesn't Wall Street and the republican congress just give into the wishes of the people and create jobs and work for these 99% who pay their salaries and then things would settle down.........

this holding a hard line for money or ego or what ever is non productive and non constructive and simply inflames the situation......there is an easy way to solve this...

PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK AND PROTECT AND SERVE THEM AS THEY PAY YOU TO DO..........

NOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL GOOD MEN TO COME TO THE AID OF THE CAUSE....learned that in typing class, couldn't be truer than right now.

I challenge the idea that any legitimate member of OccupyOakland threw anything. Republican provocateurs have been caught already trying to make this movement look violent. Why not this time too? It's the republicans that have lost any credibility with me, and every time I hear of a thrown object/public urination/defecation, or inappropriate marches, I have to think it's just another thug the republicans sent in to make OWS look bad. They made that bed, proudly flaunted their intentions of Fox, so they have to lie in it. Catch the people that threw things and prove the are not republicans. From the moment they started the infiltration, the burden of proof shifted to the republithugs.

differnet,

What? What are you talking about? I said they likely didn't assist him since he was being carried away by friends or fellow protesters.

I love how all the anti-protest people just assume that the protest provoked the officers... no where in the story does it say that... Did they throw rocks and bottles? Is there any video showing that they did?... Were you there?... or did you just immediately accept it as fact because it easily fits into your delusion? ..if you had actually been to a protest in your state you would know this protest is advocating non-violence very often... and you learn the Media is already against the protests often spreading exaggerations and lies.... keep lying to yourselves people its the only way to support the delusion that banks and corporations had nothing to do with what happened to the economy and the middle class.

I don't believe the 'infiltration'theory any more than when it was used with Tea Party rallies/protests. It could be possible here, and maybe one or two TP rallies, but I don't believe it is a widespread conspiracy.

Debbie, Congress doesn't have the power to just create jobs out of thin air. They don't even write laws very well, and that is what they are sent to DC to do.

Iam3rd:

Congress is the reason basically nothing is getting done in Washington DC...they hold the purse strings........they are also beholding to the 1% for getting them into office and could URGE their benefactors to address the jobs situation with more vigor.......

I don't believe that congress does the job they are paid to do but the job that their benefactors tell them to do..........time they started talking to the puppeteers and made them realize that if they don't something to ease the burden on the 99% their republicans puppets will voted out and then where will they be........powerless?

And funny how republicans keep putting the lack of jobs on the President.........does he have the magic touch to just create jobs or is he lacking the same power as the congress?

Republicans need to step up and be productive and constructive in any way they can to bring about relief to the 99%............jobs, education, healthcare, ss, unemployment benefits.......how about getting rid of all fraud and ending the wars?

Anything would help........anything at all......heck a single phone call to the powers that be would be something..........but the republicans are good at being the puppets but are seriously lacking in their ability to use their own brains..........

sorry sack of ****'s that they are........they do nothing for the 99%...

NOTHING!

So how about just a phone call to advise their puppeteers that things are really getting out hand and they can do something to appease the situation?

Anything......anything.......anything.....................nothing.

To Had enough - Watch all the videos, so far I have not seen one item thrown by the protestors. Admittedly I have only seen 2 different vids.

In the USA (that is here) we have Constitutionally guaranteed rights, one is the right to protest, not only can protest in certain areas. Anything done over the years and NOW to weaken OUR Constitution was illegal and made those who did it/are doing it now Domestic Enemies of the USA. Quick refresher on D. E.'s

Domestic Enemies are those within our own government who pursue legislation and programs that are contradictory and/or against the powers and principles held within the US Constitution. They are the individuals who create laws/etc in a manner that goes against the Constitution's restraint on the three branches of our government; plus destroys or weakens the Rights of the people as guaranteed by the Constitution.

Understand? By these definitions, all members in this complete administration (executive, legislative, judicial) are Domestic Enemies.

There are those, (including this president) who actively is destroying the Constitution and our Rights. Then there are those who are passively letting it happen. Neither group doing as required to be in the office/position they are in, which is supporting and defending the US Constitution (nor preserving and protecting it as all US Presidents are required to do).

Significantly the oath they all take is to support and defend the US Constitution and not an individual leader, ruler, office, or entity.

That is because our US Constitution is based on lasting principles of sound government, providing balance, stability, and consistency through time. Which we had until they began dismantling the US Constitution, and now in a time when they have increased the attack on our country with Domestic Enemies our country is in great hurt and turmoil.

A government based on individuals (who are inconsistent, fallible, corruptible, and often prone to error) too easily leads to tyranny on the one extreme or anarchy on the other and that is why OUR US Constitution was created.

So where are all of those who pledged their live to preserve, support, protect, and defend the US Constitution. How many of you are going to go against the People of the USA trying to save our nation, our Constitution, our country and our freedoms from the attacks happening to them from within "our" government?

The thing is this is a liberal city. The police have unions just like the school teachers. The police are part of 99%. If an order is given many hours in advance to disperse and not camp and after the deadline late into the night 1000 people are still there, what exactly are the police to do? Society is saying hey it is cool to protest just don't camp out like it is a Phish concert. If the Grateful Dead/DMB gave a free concert in Central Park there would be 10's of thousands camping out. Not sure what the political statement would be.

Debbie...Debbie.... why do most liberals seem to be plagued by anosognosia?

Democrats control the Senate. Republicans control the house. Unless the next voting cycle changes that... you can't blame republicans and falsely claim they "control" congress! But I do agree with you that both sides need to be flushed. Career politicians are in the pockets of whoever is funding their program. Obama has the unions and banks, Republicans have the corporations. Nothing is going to change until we clean house. Push for term limits and end the lifetime paychecks and benefits that congress people recieve after just ONE term. Pointing blame back and forth about who's side is better doesn't solve anything.

Knine

Great post. I cannot say much more because I am seething with anger. This is a tough time for our country. I hope we can get through it.

One side is never totally right. And when that one side holds all the power (and weapons), they are suspect.

Iam3rd, the protestors didn't wait or give the police a chance to assist the victim, because they are untrustworthy.

differnet, I think they didn't wait because it is the good part of human nature to help someone who is hurt. I agree though, I am sure the protesters didn't trust the police. The police didn't trust the protesters either.

Debbie, I think you are severley misguided if you just want to blame this all on 'those evil republicans'. Cutting the purse strings of ALL politicians via campaign reform and lifetime benefits would be a start.

I'm appalled and ashamed for anyone who sides with the Oakland Police in this case with the "well, what do you expect?" attitude.

This is exactly what OWS has been protesting: the status quo. What happened was NOT OKAY. There is no mistaking that the police showed excessive force at best, but more accurately this is just outright brutality, caught on film.

Claims of rocks and bottles being thrown I meet with skepticism. This is the Oakland Police here, folks! Not exactly known for being the best and the brightest... Even if these claims are true, and they had to bring in the riot squad, shooting a person who is clearly dispersing and obeying the law POINT BLANK in the head is unforgivable. Going on to throw tear gas at the people trying to help him is a crime. To say that "well, he had it coming" is low-down cruelty, and I hope you are ashamed of yourself.

We have the right to protest peacefully, whether or not you agree with our message. That's what THIS VETERAN was doing, even if others in the group may have gotten unruly, he was leaving the scene as instructed when he was attacked. I hope these officers are found and punished appropriately.

Duster: I looked at the video closely and the officer that was highlighted, I saw him raise his weapon, then when the kids all came running to the one on the ground, he lowered his weapon, stepped back a step or two and folded his arms across his chest. He did not fire on them. The flash was a bit after that. Who knows where it was shot from..there was smoke all around and visibility was next to zero. Whoever fired it probably couldn't see through all the melee and smoke.

PrecededByNone...How can you say that the Marine was shot "point blank"? You can't say that because there was smoke everywhere and can't see from the video where the shot came from, and I didn't see any officers IN the street, "point blank" in front of anyone.

The police did NOT come in with guns blazing. They told the kids to leave, and when they wouldn't the officers began removing the tents and gear from the plaza when the protesters starting fighting and attacking them and throwing bottles and rocks at them.

Someone brought up Kent State. That wasn't the cops who fired, it was the military. There were non students and agitators in that crowd. Agitators are brought in for the simple reason of creating chaos mass hysteria. Too bad innocent people were killed. The girl bending over that victim at Kent State was a drifter and not a student nor had any affiliation with Kent State.

But she was an UNARMED citizen of the U.S. as was EVERYONE associated with Kent State. Cops are trained to respond to crowd control and when and how to use or escalate force. You start at 2 or 3 not 9 or 10. I spent 20 years as a cop. THIS LOOKS BAD. REAL BAD.

"Point blank" isn't my phrase, it's the consensus of news stories and hospital workers. But looking at the video and the explosion that caused him to fall to the ground, it's pretty obvious I'd say.

And the police DID come in, guns-a-blazing. They told the kids to leave, and they WERE leaving, which is also obvious in the videos. Show me video, or photos, or eyewitness accounts that show protestors throwing rocks or bottles, attacking, looting, or anything else violent. I've heard the reports of that, but nothing to back it up.

If you're going to believe the OAKLAND POLICE department over eyewitness accounts, video, and other documentation, you're in a pretty pathetic state of mind my friend. Pretty sad indeed.

What is sad PrecedByNone is you equate public servants to a bunch of lying thugs. Don't you think they are the middle class. On the other hand a bunch of kids disobeying a lawful public order, you see as a pack of saints. When a police officer says to disperse you do not stand around and take youtube videos. They are kids and will learn this with maturity. You most likely have never had to deal with the police. It is best to comply when they issue a lawful order. Trust me, a judge will have no sympathy.

I'm not going to watch videos on youtube where it's been edited like crazy to make protesters look like saints.

Police officers are middle class just like us. They are there and majority of them do support the protesters. But when these spoiled brats start up tantrum and start attacking police officers and throw bottles and rocks at them in order to get a reaction, record it and upload it to youtube........ sorry buddy but that labels them hoodlums and law breaking scums according to my book.

Like I said, there are correct ways to protest and that's by doing it peacefully and respectfully.

@1.56 -- spider wrote "The article clearly states that both the object and who might have launched it are unknown. So, what's with all of these bulls**t comments about the police shooting tear gas grenades at the guy?"

Why don't you just watch the video? The police are behind a barricade. There is no one else there with them on their side of that barricade. A high-velocity projectile comes in from the cops' side of the barricade, hits the Iraqi war vet in the head and he drops like a sack of potatoes. A small crowd starts to gather around him, some of whom are photographing him, others kneeling over him, and then you clearly see a cop toss a flashbang grenade into that group -- it detonates just a couple feet away from the unconscious body of the guy who had just been hit in the head.

Do we know what the high-velocity projectile was? You can't tell from the video, so nobody can say with certainty what exactly the object was that the police shot this guy in the head with.

What is sad PrecedByNone is you equate public servants to a bunch of lying thugs. Don't you think they are the middle class. On the other hand a bunch of kids disobeying a lawful public order, you see as a pack of saints. When a police officer says to disperse you do not stand around and take youtube videos. They are kids and will learn this with maturity. You most likely have never had to deal with the police. It is best to comply when they issue a lawful order. Trust me, a judge will have no sympathy.

Oh please. You haven't read my other posts, have you? Just the bits and pieces you want to read. I said the violent protestors should be treated accordingly. But this protests and the other protests have been peaceful, up until now. Unconfirmed reports of a couple people throwing bottles out of a crowd of thousands does not mean the protest have gone violent, nor are they anywhere near approaching riot status. If big crowds is all it takes to scare you and make you cry "riot!", you'd better start getting used to it.

I never said the police were lying thugs . The Oakland Police department, however, has a pretty notorious reputation for being unlawful, so I would certainly not even begin to believe this was any kind of "lawful order" to disperse or else, until I see documentation (photos, video, eyewitness accounts) of bottles or rocks being thrown. I strongly believe that the two cops who are responsible for shooting the Marine in the head and lobbing in tear gas certainly need to be held accountable though!

And there is nothing wrong with taking YouTube videos as you are dispersing . If the freaking news media is not going to document anything, if they're only going to stand by at the sidelines (or just speculate from their high-rise offices), then who else is going to take video?

Oh, by the way Patrick, and perhaps most importantly, stop calling the protestors "kids". There is a HUGE diversity of protestors out there, all ages, from children to the elderly. Stop patronizing them.

And has for never having to deal with the police--my grandfather was a cop. In Oakland. You think I don't know how it goes? Nice try, but your condescending attitude won't get you very far with me.

Actually Patrick Demarco ("On the other hand a bunch of kids disobeying a lawful public order, you see as a pack of saints.")

The Constitution is the Highest law of this land. They could legally remain there all night as long as not destroying stuff, breaking windows, etc. We American citizens have a constitutionally guaranteed right to protest our government.

Had-enough, the police are required to video so they do not get wrongfully blamed, be it pulling over a car to crowd control. All they have to do is post them.

ww...Once again, it was NOT cops who fired on the kids at Kent State. It was the National Guard. That's all I was saying, don't blame cops for that incident.

That was during the times of the Weather Underground and some of the agitators on campus were thought to be affiliated with the likes of that bunch who were invading buildings, sometimes blowing them up. The Ayers followers generation and compadres. Which is why they called out the National Guard, and unfortunately they mistakenly thought they were being fired upon or thought they heard an order to fire.

I believe that's what fat cat is doing, Rob, speaking for him/herself.

I looked at a few of the videos. I think I saw one protester that looked like he threw something, one. This was an unnecessary show of force.

It's easy to see who was the aggressor - just check the youtube and on-line videos - you make the decision. As cops videotape these events, perhaps they should show every piece of video showing how they were attacked by their fellow citizens. Social networking brought an "Arab Spring" and toppled totalitarian governments - maybe the same can happen here in the U.S. One can only hope our corporate overlords get what's coming to them.

"Land of the free..." is becoming a pipe dream... It's sad to see the decline of the greatest nation in the world, just because a few people rape our country of its wealth.

I'm sure these youtube videos are showing only what the person that put them there wants to show.

I just want to make sure everyone keeps fighting over the 5% we disagree on instead of doing something about the 95% we agree on, let me know when this changes please, "i dont play the opening rounds"

Monk, <3

Little bit o hyperbole Mr. Cat? I agree about YouTube. Lets not pretend it is the gospel truth.

Not all police officers are bad. Just like not all citizens are bad. The problem is, when some people in a group act like animals, the whole group is treated like animals. I don't blame the police for having riot gear on. Who you gonna call when you are having a problem...police. Respect goes both ways. "BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD."

The Major of Oakland a Democrat that support the protest , but he got fed up like most people with those protesters. Why they cant go home and return the next day to protest, in a well organized manner. There is no need to create this kind of chaos.

I won't blame the police for doing their job,

But I will always blame the police for doing their job improperly or unprofessionally.

There is no need to create this kind of chaos

.

I think it really boils down to getting attention, lest the media sees a butterfly and wanders after it. That's how it is now - if you don't have the media's attention, you are immediately marginalized and quickly forgotten on a national level.

Skiddy, I agree with you that that might be true. TPokeys is making a good point. The police officers do videotape these also. They started that while ago to back themselves up. TPokeys is saying that if the protestors really did attack first then those videos should be posted also. So far I haven't seen any of those either.

Just your name speaks volumes of your pathetic attempt to lump everyone who is against your cause as evil. Grow up and get a grip on life. Not everyone/everything is perfect, but most people think and feel the same as you do. There are better ways of addressing issues than throwing rocks/bottles, or lumping wealthy people as all bad.

Tea party got enough attention without create chaos or violence, not arrest at all , even Obama supporters call them terrorist.

It sounds like laws were broken on both sides.

Protesters: Protest within the rule of the law.

Police: Police within the rule of the law.

Violators should be punished accordingly...where's the drama?

So..... its ok to throw rocks, bottles and anything that is not bolted down at police while destroying property eh? That will show people that they are serious and acting like adults. Start a tantrum until someone listen.

All weapons that police uses can kill people. Stun guns, clubs, tear gas, beanbag guns, anything. Why is it that people get surprised if someone do get hurt? Police warned those hoodlums several times. They continue to throw rocks, bottles, etc.

Scott Olsen, 24, suffered a fractured skull Tuesday in a march with other protesters toward City Hall, said Dottie Guy, of the Iraq Veterans Against the War.

That is sad but why is this vet in the protest starting up trouble? Why is he in a crowd that is throwing rocks and bottles at police to provoke them? By the young age, it looks like he got out of the military with a full ride through college. Post 9/11 GI bill that pays all your tuition bills and writes you a check every month for living expenses. He was in a way better position economically than any of the kids there. Too bad he didn't make the right choice.

He was in a way better position economically than any of the kids there. Too bad he didn't make the right choice.

Someone in a good economic position can't support the cause of those in a bad economic position?

Talk about 'class warfare' lol.

FatCat,

Your are an ignorant buffoon. Those "grenades" your video supposed to show the cop throwing into the crowd are called "Sting Balls". They are a crowd control/riot suppression non-lethal device. Are basically a rubber ball filled with rubber pellets the size of marbles around a small "deployment charge" equal to a firecracker. They use them in detention facilities all the time.

The vet that was injured was hit by a rock thrown by a protester by MSNBC, and definitely none of the OWS retards will report the truth. It makes better "theater" for them to be "the "victims" of the "fascist police state". Gee, didn't we hear this exact same BS back in the 60's when those drugged out hippies went psycho-violent? Why YES, yes we did.

WATCH WHAT HAPPENED HERE, HTDJPF, YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZLyUK0t0vQ&feature=share

You can see the guy was hit with a high-velocity projectile--not a rock. Then, as if that weren't enough, you can see the police officer throw the tear gas into the crowd of people trying to help him. If you aren't outraged, you should be.

AND THIS WAS A MARINE, NOT A "DRUGGED OUT HIPPIE". Show some respect. When was the last time you stood up for your rights and the rights of others? (Your pathetic posts on Newsvine don't count).

After all the name calling by the media and the left about the tea party, to make these people out to be poor and pitiful is a complete joke. What protest by the left has ever been peaceful?

Americans are pathetic

@FatCat I agree with your sentiment, frustration and anger 100%

I have read a lot of quotes lately from famous men in history, for some reason this came to mind...

Hate them not for what they do.

I am not sure why this came to mind, I am not fond of organized religion, it has become a crutch for the corrupt. Be strong and remember...

The WORLD has eyes.

Having watched the vids, one of the officers in charge declared it an "unlawful assembly" and said that they would "start using chemicals to dispel the people if they did not leave".

Then they did.

All Law Enforcement are required to take this Oath to join:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”

CA Oath of Honor: "On my honor, I will never betray my badge, my integrity, my character, or the public trust. I will always have the courage to hold myself and others accountable for our actions. I will always uphold the constitution my community and the agency I serve"

SEC. 3. Members of the Legislature, and all public officers and employees, executive, legislative, and judicial, except such inferior officers and employees as may be by law exempted, shall, before they enter upon the duties of their respective offices, take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation:

"I, ___________________________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter.

"And I do further swear (or affirm) that I do not advocate, nor am I a member of any party or organization, political or other- wise, that now advocates the overthrow of the Government of the United States or of the State of California by force or violence or other unlawful means; that within the five years immediately preceding the taking of this oath (or affirmation) I have not been a member of any party or organization, political or other-wise, that advocated the overthrow of the Government of the United States or of the State of California by force or violence or other unlawful means except as follows:___________________— (If no affiliations, write in the words "No Exceptions") and that during such time as I hold the office of _____________________________________— I will not advocate nor become (name of office) a member of any party or organization, political or otherwise, that advocates the overthrow of the Government of the United States or of the State of California by force or violence or other unlawful means."

And no other oath, declaration, or test, shall be required as a qualification for any public office or employment.

"Public officer and employee" includes every officer and employee of the State, including the University of California, every county, city, city and county, district, and authority, including any department, division, bureau, board, commission, agency, or instrumentality of any of the foregoing.

We have a government full of those who are Domestic Enemies of the USA, for those of you who do not know what that is: "

Domestic Enemies are those within our own government. They pursue legislation and programs that are contradictory and/or against the powers and principles held within the US Constitution. They are the individuals who create laws/etc in a manner that goes against the Constitution's restraint on the three branches of our government; plus destroys or weakens the Rights of the people as guaranteed by the Constitution"

So the police are being used on lawful assembly, against their Oath. Yet, NOT one Law Enforcement Agency or Military (takes the Oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, domestic along with foreign) is doing anything to save the Constitution which is the USA despite the Oath which is required from All three branches of our government, the Military, all Law Enforcement, all Heads of the States, all federal employees are required to take an oath to support and defend the Constitution and not an individual leader, ruler, office, or entity to get into the Office or Position they want; and they must keep it until they leave office to be able to stay in that position.

It is up to us, "We the People... " to protect and defend our country, our freedom, our Constitution from those who are destroying it from within. They have proven they will use our own Law Enforcement against us, are they going to use our military or bring in the UN to put down us "rebels" fighting for Our Constitution, our country, our freedoms as they are bringing in our military to put down the "rebels" in foreign nations?

Long Live America, Home of the Free and the Brave!

The cop that threw the grenade right into the middle of that crowd needs to be sent to Afganistan for a year, see how tough he is over there.

NO! As a veteran I see this officer as a liability to any combat unit. As a former cop I see his actions as disgraceful. I was not there but from what I've seen there did not appear to be any real threat to the well armed and overwhelming police presence.

What makes you think he didn't serve in either conflict, you guys so quick to condemn .Former cop I'll bet, coming to a conclusion with out all the facts. Yeah you were a cop.

I sure was and I have the pension to prove it! By the way did you read the second sentence? How many times did you fail the PD exam?

Where is the Governor? Come on - you can send out an edict !

I don't think that was really necessary and it was really quiet offensive. Not all right wing people are nut jobs and not all left wing people are either. That is the problem with politics, everyone is out to cut someone down. Highly inappropriate and it is also why nothing ever gets done. People are just out to put other people down and call them names; they don't do what is best for the country. Sad really.

A bunch of trained officers firing canisters, or a bunch of amateurs throwing rocks? Who hit him? My money is on a stray rock. Was he hit in the back of the head while facing the cops? Then what direction did the projectile come from? I'm sure some forensics could revel the nature of the object that hit him.

WATCH WHAT HAPPENED HERE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZLyUK0t0vQ&feature=share

You can see the guy was hit with a high-velocity projectile--not a rock. Then, as if that weren't enough, you can see the police officer throw the tear gas into the crowd of people trying to help him. If you aren't outraged, you should be.

My outrage is that the Police had to be there in the first place, why couldn't they be more like the Tea Party protest you know peaceful and orderly.

First, to the marine. He took an oath to uphold and defend the constitution of the united states. then he allied himself with a group with many members who publicly call for the violent overthrow of the US and joined a skirmish line against the police enforcing the law. I think that calls for him to lose all gi benefits present and future, including medical.

Next you morons , tear gas is NOT a high velocity projectile. It is a low velocity projectile that is lobbed in an arc . try to hit a moving object from more than a couple of feet away and there is no way, cept for luck that you are going to hit it.

Next you punks do not represent 99 percent of anything...maybe 25 % and you are really starting to piss off the rest of us. even those who agree with some of the things you say you are protesting. and by the way, why dont you "leaderless grassroots movement" get together with your planning committee and come up with something that does not involve you getting the legal contracts and obligations that you incured canceled. you took out student loans by signing a contract saying precisly what you would have to pay back, how much and at what rate. PAY IT BACK funny how many people think its evil for people to loan money and actually expect it to be paid back. ( even the millionairre president and his millionaire wife didnt pay their loans back till he started to run for office).

Tired of Pirates,

Who is calling for a violent overthrow of the US? NOT OWS... these have been peaceful protests, up until this point. A few individuals have maybe said something to this effect, but it is not the message they are going for. At all. Despite what Fox & Friends is telling you, or even MSNBC on occasions.

Tear gas, bean bags, and the like ARE high-velocity projectiles when you are shot in the head with them, point blank, like the Vet was. He's in critical condition in the hospital now, and deteriorating, last I heard a few moments ago. He was dispersing at the time this happened, and when people tried to help him, a cop lobbed a can of tear gas into the crowd. I posted a video above for your viewing "pleasure", and I'm sure you will get pleasure at seeing a protestor's blood, so enjoy.

Furthermore, whether or not you agree with the message of the protestors is irrelevant. They have the right to gather peacefully, whether you like it or not. Which they have been until now. Things were getting unruly in Oakland, but in a city that is notorious for police brutality, I'm highly skeptical of the rumors of rocks being thrown and looters. I'll do the research for myself to figure that one out. I suggest you turn off Fox and do the same.

Tired of Pirates, "First, to the marine. He took an oath to uphold and defend the constitution of the united states. then he allied himself with a group with many members who publicly call for the violent overthrow of the US and joined a skirmish line against the police enforcing the law."

First, he was upholding the Constitution. We have a Constitutionally guaranteed right to protest our government. The US Constitution is the Highest Law of this land.

I did not hear anyone say violently overthrow our government. But it is not needed. Those currently (and some past administrations) are Domestic Enemies of the USA.

Domestic Enemies are those within our own government who pursue legislation and programs that are contradictory and/or against the powers and principles held within the US Constitution. They are the individuals who create laws/etc in a manner that goes against the Constitution's restraint on the three branches of our government; plus destroys or weakens the Rights of the people as guaranteed by the Constitution.

All Three Branches of our Government, the Military, all Law Enforcement, all Heads of the States, all federal employees are required to take an oath to support and defend the Constitution and not an individual leader, ruler, office, or entity to get into the Office or Position they want; and they must keep that Oath until they leave office/the position to be able to stay in that office/position.

They have gone against our US Constitution making them no longer meeting the requirements to be able to stay in those offices/positions.

Those laws/amendments/etc that were made to weaken the US Constitution, Our mandated Rights are illegal. Unfortunately those who also took an Oath and are enforcing those illegal laws/amendments/etc are made criminals, Domestic Enemies as those in our government have become.

Plus I guess you are commenting the way you did because you do not know what they are protesting for.

From Johngypsy - "I have attended a few of the Occupy meetings, and I never heard a single person ask for anything for free. What I heard them ask for was the following:

Campaign finance reform so that corporations could not buy OUR politicians;

Repeal of the Citizens United rule that designates corporations as 'people';

End to wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and no further involvement in foreign countries until the needs of Americans have been addressed;

Stop spending American taxpayer money on foreign countries, and instead use that money to help America to repair our failing infrastructure, build schools so our children can get a decent education, take care of our seniors who have to choose between food and medicine;

Bring down the cost of health care so that more Americans can afford it;

Close tax loopholes for all, from the top to the bottom;

Make college education more affordable so that more middle class Americans have a chance to improve themselves.

Understand now?

No, I don't understand now. What I see is some dipwad who says , in a second handed comment,(in other words , meaningless drivel)"I have attended a few of the Occupy meetings, and I never heard a single person ask for anything for free. What I heard them ask for was the following:...and after that all I see is yada yada yada.

By the way I met a guy who was neighbor with the guy who knows the sister of one of the guys from OWS and they said Bush did it...Understand now

Oh, and as a little add on. To all of you worrying about this hero marine...all your semper fi's and all this other crap. Go look up I hatae the marine corps .com.

This pick started it...he hates america and the Corps

Another report I read said a rubber bullet. Either way throwing a flash-bang into a group giving first aid is a sad move.

Actually Geek it was a canister

Peaceful...staying in a park NOT intended for camping is a violation. Solution GO HOME!

I wonder how many of the people
*have a job
*expect handouts
*go to cause trouble
*want the protest to stay civil
*want to blame police for what a few rebels caused

Go picket, do it within the law, if ONE person is content on causing trouble there will be TROUBLE, don't blame police for coming in before many join the rock thrower(s), it's more difficult to keep a large crowd under control. It needs to be stopped before they can't get control back.

Was the canister shot or thrown?

Its hard to believe a rubber bullet would fracture a skull, especially causing them to be put into critical care. I've heard of them causing hairline fractures of the ribs though.

The next question is, if it was a rubber bullet how did it end up by the head when a center mass shot is the only allowed shot in this case.

This is what you get when kids are taught there are no losers. In sports there is a winner and a loser but these protesters want everything for free or a tie since that is what they learn. Will I get my money back that I paid on my student loan?Did I lose money on Wall street with my 401, I sure did but guess what it is making a come back. Shut the hell up and go get seasonal jobs. They make me sick.

@WOW

They never played musical chairs as children.

Either make the chair or guy buy one, don't rely on the system to give you one.

WATCH WHAT HAPPENED HERE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZLyUK0t0vQ&feature=share

You can see the guy was hit with a high-velocity projectile--not a rock. Then, as if that weren't enough, you can see the police officer throw the tear gas into the crowd of people trying to help him. If you aren't outraged, you should be.

The information given to police by non-Occupy Wallstreet and otherwise unbiased eyewitnesses vastly differs from what the protest spokespeople are saying. The vet wasn't directly hit by the canister nor was he (or any other protester) deliberately targeted. Also, he wasn't seriously hurt, a fact which was backed up by the hospital spokespeople and surveillance cameras at the scene.

The embellishment only serves to undermine the weight of their message, as does the violence exhibited by some of the protesters. There is no excuse for rock and bottle throwing or any other form of violence (vandalism, etc.).

Civil disobedience will go a hell of a lot further than purposeful embellishments and violence.

Get with it, folks. You've come too far to screw it up with nonsense and shenanigans.

formerstew,

Have you watched the video? Have you read anything? He is still in the hospital in critical condition. He was bleeding from the head and clearly in shock, prostrate on the ground when people tried to help him. As a few people gathered round to get him out of the way of the cops, a cop lobbed a can of teargas onto the scene. Tell me that isn't police brutality.

Everyone in the video I posted above is dispersing from the scene. What these police officers did is despicable. The one shown on the video needs to be fired, if not prosecuted.

Please take into account who is reporting it. Of couse they blame the police first. That is how their main leader does it and they are just following his example. oh and by the way what does the Nazi party, the communist party, the afl-cio the teamsters,iran, hugo chavez, the muslim brotherhood, nacey pelosi amd barrack husein obama have in common? they all fully support this fleabag trash

Tired of Pirates,

I flagged your comment. If you want someone to take you seriously, stop posting inflammatory rhetoric that can't be backed up by anything even remotely resembling a fact. Doesn't really make you any better than the "fleabag trash" you despise so much.

Explain the blood on his forehead and face and the fractured skull then.

Also let's see some links to your reported testimony of hospital staff and "other unbiased witnesses"...without that you're statements are just your statements.

culheath, it was on HLN this morning. They quite appropriately reported both sides of the story and I made up my own mind.

My point was that the canister most certainly was not launched AT this guy on purpose, as the protest spokespeople were indicating. They were spinning the facts in an attempt to what...incite more violence? Just for the record, I support the message they are trying to convey. But the violent turn it has taken makes me sick.

PrecededByNone - I wasn't responding to your post. It was either deleted or collapsed when I posted. In any event, wouldn't you prefer civil disobedience over violence as a means to get your point across?

I don't care if you were responding to my post or not, you clearly haven't read the news or watched any footage, so I was responding to you.

The initial rubber bullet that hit him in the head (last I heard, it was confirmed that this was in fact what hit him) was launched at him POINT BLANK. If the officer didn't do this on purpose, it's still gross negligence. The tear gas canister that was launched into the group trying to help him was CLEARLY on purpose.

What violence was being used by the crowds in these videos? I've heard claims of rocks/bottles, even looting, but haven't seen or heard of any of them being backed up. If you have, I'd appreciate evidence.

Even if a few protestors were getting unruly, this Vet was not. He was exercising his right to protest peacefully and was dispersing as instructed when he was hit. The riot police are MORE than equipped to deal with any individuals who were being violent. Shooting this guy in the head, whether or not you believe it was on purpose, is appalling. Throwing the tear gas when people tried to help him is a crime.

These protests have been been overwhelmingly civil. A few rogue protestors do not stand for the majority, and they should be dealt with accordingly. But two people throwing rocks out of a crowd of thousands does not a riot make.

Preceded - Please watch your own link. I just did several times, as did the 12 people around me. This particular video does not show how this kid was injured. So...you HEARD it was a rubber bullet fired by police? Considering you heard it, then it must be true, right? The footage aired this morning on Headline News showed him getting hit with something thrown by another kid with a bandanna covering his face. It wasn't clear what the object was. And the tear gas canister? It was launched by someone standing behind the row of police. You only see it mid-air. In fact, you can't even see the hand that tossed it. Besides, the use of tear gas is a tried and true method of crowd dispersal and it played no part in the injury this young man received. We also found the Occupy trademark fist displayed at the end of the video very interesting. Spin knows no boundaries.

What we saw was a gang...not a few, but a gang of riotous knuckleheads with bandannas covering their faces. Peaceful? Really? Last time I saw a peaceful group like that, they were looting an electronics store in Compton...right before they set it on fire. And why bandannas? Why not man-up and be known? After all, this is a respectable cause. Why wouldn't they want to own their beliefs?

It's clear we will not agree. But I do respect your opinion and your perception along with your right to give them voice. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.

I've watched the link dozens of times, and just watched it again. What were you watching? You can see the people, and the Marine standing, and then you see a small explosion coming from the line of police officers, you can actually see the Marine fall to the ground as the crowd disperses (more like ricochet to the ground... it's about 11 seconds in) and the Marine down, prostrate and bleeding. And I don't know what you're talking about with the cops and the tear gas, it's obviously a cop with a riot helmet and gear that lobs the tear gas in. 36 seconds in. Someone from the sidelines tosses a bandage or cloth in for the Marine's bleeding head a few seconds before that... maybe that confused you, but there's really no question about the tear gas. They even have a little spotlight on it for you.

I didn't just "hear" of the rubber bullet hitting him 'point blank', I've read it in multiple stories and heard from radio sources that this is what hospital staff confirmed happen. And I still say from the video that it's pretty obvious, but hey, believe what your eyes and ears tell you I guess.

Even though this video clip has the "Occupy" 'logo' on it, it still doesn't change the facts of what happened.

And are you seriously going to conclude that these 'knuckleheads' wearing bandanas are gang-affiliated? Seriously? I think the last time you watched the news was in the 1990s. Obviously they're wearing bandanas because there's TEAR GAS EVERYWHERE!!!

I don't know what there is about this video to disagree on, but keep on watching it with your eyes closed and yeah, you will disagree with me I guess.

In response to Procededbynone. What you claim to be rhetoric with no basis in fact. Google each one and choose what source you want to read it it...dont matter they all agree and then look at how many you can who claim to disagree with it. I expect an apology if you find what I said to be true. If you find it to be untrue. please show me...(here is just fine) what I said was wrong and what source confirms your position.

Larry

even though it could come down one day to this, Unfortunally I don't want to, but people are frustrating. I would like to see peaceful protest. God help us if this country starts tearing apart.

Rob

nobody is advocating that, actually your republican morons are one who advocating that earlier

Rob, you are definately not a Marine, must be a cop.

As a veteran with eight years active duty, I doubt you were ever in the military. If you were, you certainly wouldn't have lasted long with your name calling remarks, let alone your extreme right wing views. most guys I served with were moderates mainly because they had to adapt quickly to ever changing situations. Drink Tea Bag much?

ROB777 Jefferson a founding father of America advocates a revolution every 20 years armed if needed.

ROB777 is not a veteran but talks the talk but is too scared or rich to go serve his government with arms in foreign nations.

Peaceful protests can be easily ignored, and made look like unruly pests in the media. It can only be so effective. Some unruliness will make those in power respond.

bmax, you have to be a liberal just by the blog your wrote.

I see the gun sissies are on today. Their answer to everything is, "just shoot em". Pathetic.

Unfortunately that is what it could come to,,, God help us all if that does,, but the country is about evenly divided on everything,, the OWS protests as well,, look at most of the presidential or other political races, rare to see a landslide,, so there are lots of folks who are not pleased with anything that is going on, frustration will turn to desperation, desperation can turn into violence, when you have nothing left to loose you dont give a damn. So when you get wacked in the head by a teargass cannister, the next time you bring a gun to the teargass fight.

no tactical the answer to everything is just Nuke them all the whole planet then there is nothing to worry about , lmao .

Independent so what's that Tea Bag taste like you never told us. So you served your country for 8 years, I served for 4 does that make you twice the patriot as me. Look at the way the Tea Party has handled themselves, compare that to the OWS both have legitimate complaints, one could learn from the other.

All of you do not seem to realize that the current administration is no longer meeting the requirements to stay in the position they are in. They are Domestic Enemies of the USA.

Domestic Enemies are those within our own government who pursue legislation and programs that are contradictory and/or against the powers and principles held within the US Constitution. They are the individuals who create laws/etc in a manner that goes against the Constitution's restraint on the three branches of our government; plus destroys or weakens the Rights of the people as guaranteed by the Constitution.

All Three Branches of our Government, the Military, all Law Enforcement, all Heads of the States, all federal employees are required to take an Oath to support and defend the Constitution and not an individual leader, ruler, office, or entity to get into the Office or Position they want; and they must keep it until they leave office to be able to stay in that position.

They have attacked the US Constitution, our Rights and lost the right to stay in office. We can replace them any day. I also recommend we prosecute those who actively went against the US Constitution as they are attacking America.

Are you forgetting the task force (military & police) that was set up to control the expected protesters at the last Democrat convention during 2008???

It should be interesting when the Democrats show-up next year in Charlotte, NC...

Police forces in Charlotte, NC, are preparing for unruly crowds when the 2012 Democratic National Convention comes to town, according to recent reports. Although the city already has a few hundred trained riot police, they have decided to recruit as many as 3,400 extra law officers. Extra training will include intensive riot training—just in case.

Well, I was a kid then but I remember it well. I was maybe 16. I remember watching it on TV with my dad and uncle. The crowds were incredible, marching and chanting, "the whole world is watching". What Daly and the police did was nothing short of criminal assault. I remember watching 4 cops knock down one guy and then each grabbed a limb and they did the old "1-2-3" and sent him flying -literally- into the back of a paddywagon. I remember that night vividly. It was like war in the streets of Chicago.

Thomas Blue - I was there in Chicago - one of my friends a Chicago Cop had his ear lobe bitten off - sorry it got out of control by both sides

RoB

The same way you don't know anything about Socialism and Communism as you right wingers try to blame us.

look who is ignorant

Yes it did,Barbara. I didn't mean to imply otherwise. I think more than a few on each side wanted to fight. And if you were a cop, I guess, you could just wind up in the wrong place at the wrong time on orders. Kinda like the military.

Rob- I know the difference between facism, socialism, and communism. Do you? In fact, of all of the idiots I've known and seen post, the overwhelming majority of them were hardcore righties that were being persuaded to vote against their own best interests by the facist right. Now that's the ultimate demonstration of idiocy.

I just re-read your post, AC. My bad. I thought you meant 1968. Yeah, well, 2008 was nothing like that. But clearly, they were ready for the same thing, though I didn't understand why. I thought that was overkill. And doing the math, I guess I was only 14 or 15 during the '68 convention but I still remember it vividly.

ROB777 Facism is when the government socializes corporate losses and privatizes profits and privatizes social programs for profit.

Rob777 has no idea what fascism means.

Go to Benito Mussolini, the father of Fascism and see how he described it. Mussolini descibed it as. "Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is the merger of the state and Corporate power".

That is exactly what has happened in Amerika today. The Citizens United ruling is a prime example of corporate power taking over government. As for Rob's interpretation, as we speak American multi-national corproations are moving their money from Europe back to the United States so their losses will be covered by the FDIC which translates into U.S. taxpayers footing the bill for the corproations right-wing Republicans love to protect. Their mantra is screw the general population (the people) and protect corporate profits.

Right-wing Republicans are Fascists. Ask George W.'s grandaddy Bush. He supported Hitler in his run-up to WWII. It's all public record. Republicans are greedy bastards who would sell their mother if they could make a buck.

The various forms of government rarely fall into easily to define categories. Fascism is one of those with many indicators and many exceptions. Largely, it is known as an extreme-right nationalistic ideology focusing on a strong national government. It is a distinctive form of anti-capitalism as Bear mentions above - privatization of social programs, while 'socializing' (ie government/corporate merger) of industry. Also known to be heavily militaristic, anti-communist, and anti-conservative.

There is no such thing as a 'pure' form of any 'type of government'... there has been no example of such by any measure. All governments are a mix of pros and cons for one thing or another in an attempt to strike a working balance.

When it gets too heavy one way or the other - it is doomed to fail. Pure free-market won't work in reality, neither would pure-communism... because BOTH of those ideologies in a pure form depend on a theoretical perfect world to work. But, as we all know, there is no such thing and there will always be those looking to exploit the systems when nothing is there to safeguard against such exploits.

Rob777-4376409 Comment collapsed by the community

beware of left-wing idiots throwing around words like fascist. most of them are ignorant and dont know what they are talking about

The question is do YOU know what it means? Doesnt appear so.

shurlack,

Thank you

as for the protesters they have a right to protest yes, but they do not have the right to demand space in restaurantsto do book keeping, to create health hazards by defecating and urinating every where, to block people from businesses they wish to got to or work at, to break laws that are inforced on everyone for the common good of everyone

I see many mention the TEA BAGGERS well weather you agree with them or not it has to be said aleast they cleaned up after themselves

Wow! Sure a lot of nasty remarks being thrown around here today. No wonder people can't get along if anybody who doesn't agree with you is a moron or an idiot.

There is another one here following Rob doing nothing but name calling. I forget the name.

The difference between the USA and Lybia is the police didn't come out with tanks and start gunning people down.

It's one thing to protest. It's one thing to go to the park I enjoy walking in each Sunday. But when you take the space permanently and to the point I do not get to enjoy the park then you are no longer a protester. You are loitering.

well, what's really a shame is that the majority of police, I think, are decent public servants but you get just a few jackasses like this who think they're Sherriff Buford T. Justice and it taints the whole group.

These protesters were not loitering, they were spending night there, so what? they were not bothering nobody, they could have been left alone.

Rob, if everyone breaking the law were arrested, we would all be in jail. Ever sped? Ever been drunk? Ever take a hit off of a funny cigarette? In some states, until recently, adultery or sodomy could get you arrested. If we all go to jail, who watches the prison? The inmates are running the asylum.

ROB777 there have been many laws broken with in the banks and wall street and they do not get their heads bashed in for breaking a zoning law.

Breaking a zoning law does not require the police to bash Americans heads in! I am sure you speed so should you get your head bashed in for breaking a law like speeding? Your breaking a law and you condone it against people you do not agree with so I sure hope you get your head bashed in next time you speed! What comes around goes around.

Robert,

It's not a revolution. It's a protest. And whether you agree with what we're saying or not, we have a basic right to it, guaranteed by the constitution.

"Chops busted" is an understatement. Watch this video: No rocks being thrown, but when protestors try to come to the aid of the vet who was wounded by the tear gas canister (despite what MSNBC says, you can clearly see he was hit with a high-velocity projectile while he was leaving the area), the cops throw tear gas into the group of people trying to help him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZLyUK0t0vQ&feature=share

He hit the ground hard, but there is NO shot of him being hit with a high-velocity projectile from the police. The lobbed grendade did not look like it was meant for crowd control, just sadism though.

Well, no one was throwing rocks, no one was throwing bottles in this video. Claims to the contrary by the media haven't been proven that I'm aware of or have seen. The only thing being thrown or launched was bean bags, rubber bullets, and tear gas by the police as demonstrators were dispersing the area. You can see him go down in the video after a blast, so I don't know what else would have hit him. He is in critical condition and deteriorating last I checked. Draw your own conclusions based off the video evidence and doctor confirmations, but there's no mistaking the brutality here.

Minnesota went in the crapper after they lowered taxes and let the infrastructure and schools fall apart.

I can only speak for what I know but I do try to keep up. My states constitution requires a balanced budget. So when our governor open the books and finds 76% of all our funds going to pensions for state workers, Medicaid and social programs he has very little left to work with. Raise taxes and people and business moves out.

Think about this. Do people on the government dole who live in the projects of various cities wake up one day and say, gee I want to leave this state and move to another state's city projects? No. Why go through all that paper work and proving need?

Ohio is unique in that we have so many major cities where most states have one or two.

Ohio has Cleveland, Akron, Toledo, Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, Parma, Youngstown, Canton and Loraine.

We are gaining more and more have not's as the haves are racing to the exits out of Ohio.

you should look what republican policies doing to their state, what high taxes? taxes is being historically low. What driving companies overseas is ability to make product much cheaper and sell it back to us. We need to cut the those loopholes and politicians on both sides don't have enough balls to do that.

Taxes are not what makes prices go up as much as owners, investors, CEOs and such thinking they deserve some huge profit and most for not even working. They need to take huge pay cuts if our country is to return to what it was when one person supported an entire family. The non-working parasites (Investors and such) need to be held accountable for stealing workers wages.

The job makers are those who spend their money. Not being able to save. The 99%.

Rob- let's take a look at which states have the highest poverty- blue or red?

bmax- we also need to stop buying products made overseas as much as possible. It pains me to look for power tools and to see names like Chicago Tool, Milwaukee Tool and you look closer and they're all from China.

I am a Canadian who lives in Quebec, if anyone knows about taxes I certainly do. Here is the problem that I see from the North. The USA has been cutiing taxes since over 10 years, the problem is this has benefited only corporations, wall street and the very rich. The middle class is being squeezed. Cutting taxes at the very top didn't produce more jobs, it cut more jobs because corporations only got greedy and started taking their jobs abroad for ¼ of the price putting more money in their pockets.

Underour Liberal government, we had more taxes, but we also had and have many services that Americans don’t. We have Medicare for everyone (and it is
functioning very well after we made some adjustments), we have all day daycare
for a minimal charge, 1 year maternity or paternity leave, drug prescription
plan for everyone (if you don’t have employee insurance) and best of all a
surplus budget and cleared our deficits.

Enter our conservative government and they started cutting
taxes and we no longer have a surplus budget.The tax system should be fair and everyone should pay their fair share, but regulations are of extreme importance as well. We didn’t have the financial meltdown like the USA because our banks are highly regulated, and are fully capitalized. Our banks did not need 1 penny of bailouts. I know most right wingers consider Canada as a socialist
country. We are not socialists, we have more freedom than the USA, the
government does not regulate our bedrooms or women’s’ bodies . What we have in Canada are good social programs that are well regulated. I am proud to be a
Canadian and maybe Americans should look to the north for some solutions to
problems that are plaguing your country

Amen my brother from the great country to the north!

fran-2716185- All you Canadians hate your socialist government with its free healthcare and stuff. It must be true, Fox News says so. So don't try to confuse us with truth, we won't listen, we musn't.

actually, you are wrong. The last few governor's of Ohio have been republicans- Voinovich, Taft, and the recent governor was Strickland a democrat whose term ended in January, and the new governor is Kasich also a republican. Ohio primarily votes republican for governor historically.

I work for an internet company with facilities in several states, CA, IL, OH, TX, and WA. When compared to the other four states OH taxes are relatively low.

Your government tells you, you can not have a handgun for personal protection. Our govenrment wrote an amendment telling us to be at all times armed. And you say your not socialist.

We also have much lower crime rates. Carrying a gun for you means protection for me it means killing. Unfortunately our conservative government wants to roll back the regulations concerning guns, but we the people will stand up to them. We already have and will continue to do so because it has benefited us, we have lower crime rates.

Fran ~ Thank you for a clear view of how a country could and should be run. I've never heard a Canadian complain about their health care, or anything about their country, actually, despite what many in this country would like to believe of a nationalized health care system, business/bank regulations, social programs, etc. Again, your country is an excellent example of how regulations can be beneficial. I suppose you also regulate immigration. Sigh.

Robert Artes

Judy---- Like most leftys Fran and the truth don;'t get together, all that much.
Factually, their violent crime rates have climbed every year since they took away the weapons.
The Canadians send about 150 people a year to ER['s in tMi and Ny, because they have inadequate equipment to handle neurophysical injuries..
The physician shortage is so bad that health secretaries, in rural areas hold lotteries to determine who gets to see the doctor., Payment for doctors is low, so they re leaving Canada in a steady stream.
Canada routinely use denial of services and product as a n economy measure,.

It helps when your research extends beyond fox news.

I know several candadians and never heard a single one of them complain about their health care system.

I am sure you get your "facts" from fox news. I am living the true facts not the false news facts. Have you even been to Canada? Did you speak to any Canadians? I think not. I on the other hand own 4 homes in Canada and 2 homes in the USA. I spend half of my time in Canada and the other half in the USA either on business or pleasure. Believe me when I say the false facts you are getting on Fox News are just that false facts. Look up the statistics, dont take what they say at face value, speak to Canadians, come visit us and then only then you can judge.

Fran, first off if things are so great when the left holds power ,how is it possible that the conservatives take power? Second Fox news gets their reports about Canada from Canadians. Fran ever heard of Danny Williams you know the Premier of Newfoundland.I've been to Canada , nice place to visit ,but wouldn't want to live there.

Sorry you feel that way, the majority of Canadians who travel abroad and are open to other cultures are extremely proud of our country and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. You quote Danny Williams from Newfoundland - one person's opinion is not valid. Remember we all live in a democracy where the majority counts. I am sorry to say but when people are not open to other cultures or ideas from other countries then you isolate yourself and isolation is the mother of ignorance and is no longer acceptable in a global economy. In Canada we are not a melting pot , we consider ourselves multi-cultural and that is where the huge difference is.

wlee-950886:

Here is the reason conservatives took power: Our conservatives are no where as right winged as yours, plus we have a parliamentary system with 3 major parties. 2 of the 3 parties can get together and declare a non confidence vote on the party in power and a new election is called. The majority rules regarless of who is in power. Furthermore our election campaigns only last about 2 months at most not 2 years and campaign funds are regulated.

Fran didn't answer my question. Danny had heart surgery here because he couldn't get it in Canada, not the first and won't be the last.

fran-2716185 --

"Sorry you feel that way, the majority of Canadians who travel abroad and are open to other cultures are extremely proud of our country and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. You quote Danny Williams from Newfoundland - one person's opinion is not valid. Remember we all live in a democracy where the majority counts. I am sorry to say but when people are not open to other cultures or ideas from other countries then you isolate yourself and isolation is the mother of ignorance and is no longer acceptable in a global economy. In Canada we are not a melting pot , we consider ourselves multi-cultural and that is where the huge difference is.

Oh, my. You live in a Democracy where the majority counts. And the minority?

"I am sorry to say but when people are not open to other cultures or ideas from other countries then you isolate yourself and isolation is the mother of ignorance and is no longer acceptable in a global economy."

Oh my. It sounds as if you were claiming that what you describe is the way Canadians like to live. I've spent a fair amount of time in Canada and it never struck me that way. OTOH, Canadians have a unique way of telling most of the world top bugger off.

"...a global economy."

And why would anyone in his/her right mind have any interest in a global power that could control the entire world?

eh?

Makes great one sided news stories. (of which there are more than the number of protesters....

midwesterner - get off of it - the entire system starting with Sir Ronnie and was a concerted effort to supress the middle class - go after Gordon Norquist whom 99.9% of Republicans have signed his pledge not to raise taxes - he wants government to fit in a bathtub - go after these at the least unethical - at the most treasonous representatives - who put a pledge by an unelected individual over the Constitution

Oh you don't see the Gap between rich an poor is growing and middle class is wanning? You don't see rich getting most of the cuts and middle class have to carry them on the shoulders. you just ignorant, that all or blind.

Barbara- absolutely right on the nose. Best post I,ve read in days. If Grover Norquist were to meet God, We'd all be better off.

Rob, I don't see the "left" spending trillions of dollars on another 500 stealth boomers at a gajillion dollars apiece when we already have enough air superiority to take out all the rest of the world's air force 23 times over. I don't see the "left" bleeding us dry by convincing us 38% interest on a credit card is reasonable. I don't see the "left" sending all the manufacturing jobs overseas so YOU can't get one. And if you are fortunate enough to have a job, look at how your cost of living has increased over the last decade, compared to the size of your paycheck. You aren't part of the one percent, why are you bending over for them?

Rob - obviously you knew who they were talking about - why the spelling critique - can't find anything to say that is important?

Rob777-4376409

the middle class is shrinking under obama and the Dem-majority government genius; faster than it did under republicans

LOL! Arent repubs the party of fiscal conservatism? Small government? ROFL! Take a look from 2000-2008 and tell me that with a straight face. Clowns - LOL

Robert Artes

He just did lefty, Bush had better UE rates, better growth rates and Obams is already close to spending more money in four years than Bush did in 8

Does that include the wars being put on the books in 2009? Thats a few trillion right there. Deficits created by medicare part D? What about the banks running rampant with sub prime mortgage backed securities? Credit default swaps? Derivatives?

Yes Bush was wonderful. LOL! Clowns.

Army, your democrats voted for all of this, also. The right did not vote for a healthcare plan that is costing us more money and not saving as obama, pelosi, and reid stated many times. The right did not vote for an almost $1 trillion stimulus plan that did almost nothing. The right does not want to vote for another $500 billion stimulus plan that is a union payback. Did you not see the $500 million to Solyndra that was lost? Did you not see that the democrats broke the law and paid back the investors first and not the american people? Did you not see around another $500 million go to a company in Finland and we helped Finlands unemployed workers and not ours? Did you not see the $700 million that a company in Russia would like to get after they closed plants in at least 3 states? How is this for our stimulus?

Army: i see the left giving away trillions to people who don't even belong here, trillions to welfare for people who don't want to work, billions so the ows' can talk on there Iphones and use there Ipads while claiming they need relief from their student loans because they want to change the rules now that they have the money. I guess they should have gotten a different degree

These posts continue to amaze me. Beautiful. I just can't figure out how the people that post in here, praise GW. They turn the numbers around and they think they are right and they demand that everyone believes them? Where these people in a deep sleep from 2001 to 2009? Nothing they say is true at least from what I can remember? Then the lies about the WMD? They act like it like was a common mistake, no big deal, like it happens all the time or maybe even like it wasn't a mistake at all or it was Obama's fault because he supported the lies as everyone else did in ths country after an incident like 9/11 because people just don't think our president would straight out lie to us, but those are the hard right, bible and gun totin repubs, usually from the deep south that have funny names for their camps. Then what I love the most the hard right wingers will go out there to places in the deep, deep south and tell those people that they will have gay marrigages in their towns if they don't vote repub or tp and those people believe them and that scares the daylights out of them because the bible says thats not right. Brain washed from an early age with bible preachings that tell them if they see a gay couple they will go to hell because thats the devil and they will go vote for a racist repub candidate in a second. Its just unreal and you just can't fix that.

Thomas, who is sicker, someone with a negative view of the left or someone who wishes someone dead. Pathetic

Joe, you can easily replace Lib where you put Repub, but you're to blind to see, blacks hanging from trees old ladies being pushed off a cliff dirty air dirty water on and on and on zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Mark-384387 --

Um, 'scuse me Mark, but allow me to set a record straight. Finland is the only country that repaid its debt in full to the United States for our help in WW II. I, for one, see nothing wrong with helping out a country that sees the point in repayment.

Guess how much Mexico will send us?

I'm a vet and I support them!

I am vet and I Support them

Rob, you gutless piece of trash, I'd love to see you have the guts to talk like that to the face of a vet or a vets father.

Rob just made my ignore list. Post all you want, boyo. I won't see it.I hope someday you grow up before a vets stomps you.

all he said is that "being a vet doesn't make you immune to the law". do you disagree with that? thomas you are psyco!!!

I'm a vet, and I support.

I am a vet and I support the 99%'s as well

Rob, I would love to see you talk like that in front of a vets mom. You don't want to mess with our son's and/or daughters. If you had a protective mom, you will understand us moms. You don't even want to go there.

By the way, thank a vet for your freedom to talk bs on the web.

I'm a vet and I support people's right to peaceful demonstrations.

I'm a vet and I support some of their complaints but not the way they are going about it, nor do I support the communist,anarchist anti Jewish element socialist or people who don't clean up after themselves.

I'm a Vet and I support the 99%

I'm a retired cop and I support the 99%

WE ARE THE 99% WAKE UP!

rob, if police didn't go to uncamp them the whole violence wouldn't even happened. they didn't bother nobody until they showed up

Better lay-off that Tea bag, Rob.

yea they were breaking the law and should be left alone...what is wrong with you people

I also want to see the film of the violence done by the protesters. Don't even try to tell me that the right has no cameras and is not filming. Take back our streets, take back our cities, take back our jobs and put the CEO's in prison and their families on welfare. None of them deserve a dime that was made off the backs and pain of the poor.

People why do you think the Police were there in the first place? Do you think they were there because they didn't have anything else to do? What a surprise the left pointing the finger again "WHO ME"

They were there to SERVE AND PROTECT! Not advance and attack!

ww , yeah you were a cop. So there was no warning to disperse, no bottle throwing just some poor kids who were viciously attacked by some union thugs err I mean cops BTW they did serve an eviction notice!

We have the "privilege" of peaceful protesting in this country. I am like another poster, I really don't know what these people are protesting or what they hope to accomplish. However, I agree that they have the privilege of being able to protest but they should do so during the day, cleaning up the mess they made, then go home to sleep at night. That is also one advantage they have over the homeless, they can go home! People who visit a park for fun, enjoying the outdoors, just relaxing, don't expect or deserve having to step around people on the ground or stepping in something they left on the ground. The protesters need to remember that the taxpayers pay for the parks upkeep and should respect the others who want to use it as a park, not as a campsite.

Janie so you won't mind if someone sleeps on your front porch stfu

Name some.

Rob is an idiot, better off blocking all his comments cause he is only on here to strir up crap. Lets not forget how Bush raised gas to 5 bucks a gallon & started 3 wars & not forget more jobs were lost under his watch then any other president.

Rob777-4376409

millions of jobs that existed under Bush and republicans dont exist now. but dont let reality stop you from making a fool of yourself

And why arent they there? LOL For a person who recommends not making a fool out of oneself you sure are a hypocrite.

Larry they can always count on that Dem. welfare check and food stamps oh and the taxes.

Janie first I believe it was 9/11 that started one of those wars, I must admit I don't remember the third war.

He must have been turned the wrong way then. The fracture was to the forehead... unless those protesters are throwing bottles backwards...

the fracture was to the top front of his head not forehead. once the medical personal take a molding of the wound it can be determined what kind of object hit him. i am willing to bet it was a rock..you can find video of the crowd throwing rocks, bottles etc. and some are going into the protest crowd not making it to the police. my opinion is this: you chose take $60k in debt. pay it back. i worked for 8 years getting my degree not in debt for it..just ignorant idiots crying because someone has something they dont. F.U.

Wow! You have been watching too many movies for sure. Bravehaert, really?

That just goes to prove my point, if you throw a stone at a cop, don't be surprised if you get hit on the head with a tear gas grenade!

Did the Vet throw a stone at a cop? I didn't see that in the article.

Glass houses

Does Rob have to reply to everyone?

Rob777-4376409

honestly the left-wing loons comparing themselves to the victims of the brutal islamic SOCIALIST regimes of the Middle East; like Libya and Syria, (yes both of them are socialist dictatorships) is just laughable

Wow - you just keep offering up material to make yourself look stupid eh?

Any other time you clowns do say we live under some totalitarian, socialist regime - but not now? Idiots. LOL

Rob is like a kid running around taunting others in a playground. His arguments have as much credibility as his stance on the subject.

Hans shame on you for that pathetic comparison. Tony you actually think that's an accurate comparison. give me a break.

Bring it on Granpa, we like business here in the south so any busiinesses and jobs you guys can chase out of the North with protests and unionization would be appreciated!! We'll take any that don't go to China first. We don't bite the hand that feeds us down here in Dixie.

You also don't get much of an Education.

You missed the bus on that one Granpa, I have a degree in engineering and an MBA from a southern university and am the product of the South Carolina public school system. I also don't have any student loans since I did an unusual thing, I worked my way through school.

Then why don't you use all that education and use your brain to think for yourself instead of just throwing out extreme right wing phrases?

As a southerner though, I have to admit that even with the "if you're a corp you can can get away with anything" mentality we have here, its not doing much to improve out educational systems or infrastructure. The South is also heavily dependent on the Federal Government to keep our states afloat. The only exception is Texas and that's only because they have oil.

It's unwise to try and flaunt a degree around on these vines, there is ALWAYS somebody to put you in your place.

Mompantero

"You missed the bus on that one Granpa, I have a degree in engineering and an MBA from a southern university and am the product of the South Carolina public school system. I also don't have any student loans since I did an unusual thing, I worked my way through school."

I wouldn't be too proud of that Southern education. I lived in the South for 8 years while my children attended the public schools, earning straight A's, and always top of their classes. After moving back to the Northwest we were shocked to find that the education my children received in the South made it so difficult for them to keep up with their peers in their new public schools. My daughter is ashamed and embarrassed by her lack of education. I've seen first hand the lack of self-thinking in the South. The majority of the people believe what is fed to them by their parents, and their parent's parents. Hardly anyone there does their own research to distinquish fact from fiction.

Gee what a surprise a company wants to make money, do I think they should share some of their profits yeah, but to think they shouldn't be out to make money is ridiculous.

Independent you mean like the left wing phrases you're throwing out

Sure you were. uhhuh..and we all believe you Mompantero. That was one utter nonsense post.

Mompantero,

Nice bit of comic relief. :)

bdk, could you let cronewinter know.

Our subversive socialist president is stimulating this kind of thinking in the country. He wants people to hate the wealthy and the corporations so he can keep his wealthy butt in the White House. After all, he never had a real job himself.

Guess your simple people are finally learning to do what you republicans perfected. Shift the blame!

Rob777-4376409

i actually feel sorry for you; and afraid that someone so ignorant votes. i guess i willl have to do my best to cancel your vote with mine. you are "coming after" people? but i guess you feel as long as it is your political party that uses the fascist tactic it's ok?

And there it is - you have no idea what fascisim means. Thanks for proving your stupidity.

\

shalyse17 - I believe it is China that is referred to as the sleeping giant. It has swallowed up our jobs, our money. They buy up our gov't. bonds. This country is so in debt to them, there is nothing left for us.

As you said, our vote is our strongest weapon but what is the percentage of registered voters who actually go to the polls??? My state (RI) only 27% went to the polls. Apathy has been the biggest problem in this country - as long as we got ours, we didn't pay attention to what the politicians were doing. That makes us, the voters & citizens, as guilty as the politicians & greedy CEOs. By not speaking up, we gave them tacit permission to do whatever they wanted.

Well, it's come home to roost. I support the protesters - we have it going on in Providence as well. It seems disorganized only because there are so many demands. There isn't any one factor to focus on. Too many violations of the law by gov't., no representation by officials except to further their own agendas.

It's not okay for protestors to protest but it's okay for the President (not a fan) to at least try to present a plan and have Boehner & Co. create chaos in Congress by not even looking at any plans, coming up with any plans but just get on the tube & show his personal disdain for Obama. Boehner has shot down any plan but has spent too much time telling people he doesn't like Obama. Has he come up with any plan??? NO...They are protesting in Congress but that's ok but it's not okay for people to gather in the streets.

How else can people get the politicians attention?? Blogs, e-mails, letters, phone calls - none of these work. Maybe if they see the bodies carrying signs, they'll get the hint - we are not happy. Our gov't is failing us. The middle class is well on its way to extinction - this country has always run on the backs of the middle class. The middle class is tired, broke and finally, FINALLY speaking up.

They are on public property. My tax $$$ paid for the public property. It is called public property because it belongs to the public. Is that clear enough?? As far as I'm concerned, since I own part of that public property, they can walk, camp, demonstrate on my patch of public property.

BTW - did all of you see the profit Exxon Mobil posted today???? Still, gas prices, heating oil prices rise and this is one company that gets tax subsidies. Is that right?????? The average homeowner will pay $2500 to heat their home this year - yes, I saw that on the news (not Fox lol..). If they make such enormous profits on our dime, why are prices so high & why are we subsidizing them? With the profits that one oil company alone makes, gas should be about 50 cents a gallon & heating oil about the same.

And the naysayers continue to mock the protesters......

Independent, shift the blame, you should be on comedy central .In case you've been out of country or asleep Obama has been blaming everything but his policies, lets see the Japan earthquake, Arab spring,Bush,Bush, Bush, Europe, McDonalds Fries

Do you think that you are the only one qualified to have an opinion. If you can't see what they are protesting you are not very smart.

Can't answer the question huh grandpa...

Sure can but I don't really think it's necessary.

He supports the occupy movement who's ultimate goal is to bring down the United States dictatorship which had, for quite awhile, done a good job of passing its self off as a democratic government. It's become painfully obvious that this is not the country which Grandpa fought to protect. It's become painfully obvious that the citizens of this country (of which you are one) no longer have a say, and we must or else we are just slaves.

High and mighty Rob who thinks he is smarter and better than ANYONE that does not have his opinion has the single, simple minded syndrome. Protesting isn't something I would partake in I support their efforts.

We have FREE speech able to give our opinions - just like the clowns that get up almost WEEKLY as TPGOP candidates and make fools out of themselves.

The only violence here was from the police.

lol, Grandpa really did just own that kid. Was painful to read.

Paul, I'm still unclear about the aims and goals of OWS. I've been trying to figure out what they are trying to accomplish. I understand that they are against Wall street. I know they want their voices heard and I'd like to hear them. I've heard a couple things that they're against but what are they for? What do they want? Do they want to raise corporate taxes? Regulate Wall street? Rewrite the constitution? Bring down the government? When they started they said they had one simple demand. What is it? They never mention it in news stories.

i'm with Seriously People 42 on this one. What is the goal?

Robb, as Magni said "

The OWS people want Wall Street and Main Street to stop stealing their money and losing it on stuff like derivative bets. Alot of those people lost their retirements in the 2008 financial crisis because of Wall Street using their money to make very bad bets.

They also want these big corporations who send jobs overseas, give little or no raises while the CEOs and other top executives get massive raises or charge so much for their products that are essential items like health care to end their greed. I agree that the corporations need to make a profit but they are by a massive amount. They are doing so well that their CEOs get unbelievable amounts of compensations. When does top executive pay turn from appropiate compensation to just blatant greed. The 10 highest paid CEOs from last year made from around 40 million to 123 million a year. The one who made 123 million dollars works for McKesson which is part of big Pharma. Big Pharma's excuse for charging so much for their products is to cover research costs. Kind of hard to believe when one company is doing well enough to pay their CEO a 123 million dollars.

They also want campaign finance reform. We all know that Congress is bought by big corporations. Do I really need to argue this point?

Shuklack, you call that owning, to say that the OWS has a coherent message is a complete falsehood. You can interview any number of people there and come up with multiple answers if you're honest and I believe you to be just that

OK Knine, those are all valid concerns. I guess my question is what do they propose doing? I don't want wall street to steal my money and lose it on derivative bets either. Nobody would. But what should we do to stop it? It does no good to protest and complain without a solution. What do they want to happen? Not, what do they want to stop happening. I'd like to hear their ideas on steps that should be taken in order to achieve these objectives. I can't support their movement if it's based on vague wishes. And I'd like to support any good ideas they have.

Seriously People 42 --

Good question and good answer. The problem, sir, is their are no real leaders of the OWS. They are simply free Americans who seem to me to be disgusted and tired of the lack of leadership from those who claim to have all the ideas America needs. Yet these same people are incapable of writing a bill that would stop the Supreme Court from accepting corporations to be treated as citizens (including all of your rights and freedoms). As if a corporation that is out to take your money from you one way or another (through advertising for the less discriminating of our citizens), to paying you less money and benefits than what you should be paid.

I send them my very best wishes if that is the case, as I believe it to be. Oh,yeah, I voted either "no" or for the opponent (where the incubent had inc, after his /her name) or were going to tax us by claiming the bill wouold not raise taxes (yes, I wrote to my representatives and the Governor and asked them how I might get a magic money tree. No answers, yet.)

Rob777 obviously cares enough to comment....lol

Rob, can't you just agree with them, then you'll be their bestest buddy, cause everyone knows Liberals are all knowing.

Rob who?

There's a BIG difference - in Egypt they don't speak english and we don't have mummies in the US.

Mompantero

Most Egyptians not only are fluent in English, but speak three or four languages, as do most residents of other countries. Only in the U.S. are we adverse to learning about the language and cultures of others. As your comment shows.

Why would an American need to speak another language? Especially if he has no intention of leaving his home. So, yor point is Farmer Brown needs to speak another languae - when there is no one to use it with? Now we do have a few communities where German, Italian, Spanish are spoken as often as english, in the home. Thats a personal choice, and I'm cool with that.

Obviously, when you live in continent where most of the countries are smaller than some counties in Texas - there are bound to be a bunch of different languages, how is that Americas fault?

Hell we have some cites that are larger that a few European countries.

One of the few things which this country did right was decide to use a single language for official business.

We are not the only ones either, Japanese speak Japanese, Koreans speak Korean ... most of those in the smaller cities and town do not speak anything else. Even if they teach English in schools (attended school in Texas, Oklahoma, Washington state, Oregon) .. each had foreign language classes as electives, so its not that we don't teach other languages. Its just stupid - when you know you'll forget most of it within a year from non-use.

I see American using thier 1st Amedmant Right. Demanding freedom to assemble.

During the fall of Rome 2000 yrs ago the Roman senate kept giving tax breaks to the rich and allowed Romes roads and aquaducts to go to the way side for the benefit of the rich. History is repeating its self and your repeating history because youare ignorant of history. So you are doomed to make the same mistakes as the Roman empire. Look at your bridges and roads... You can't move goods you can not create trade and commerce.

So instead of using some Rome analogy that doesn't come close, how about answering the question.

What else are they protesting for other than the rich have too much and they feel they deserve some of what the rich have?

If it was the governments involvement with wall street or how politicians are bought and paid for, then I would think they would be in Washington.

No, this is class warfare generated by Obama, paid by Unions and MoveOn.com...

In my opinion the occupy movements ultimate goal is to bring down the United States dictatorship which had, for quite awhile, done a good job of passing its self off as a democratic government. Wall Street is just one part of a really big problem. It's become painfully obvious that this is not the country which Grandpa fought to protect. It's become painfully obvious that the citizens of this country (of which you are one) no longer have a say, and we must or else we are just slaves. You probably think that since the system is "working" for you then why should you care? That simply shows that you are not capable of empathy which by the way is a key indicator of some serious mental deficiencies, everything from Aspergers Syndrome to Psychopathy. I suggest you get that checked out.

WhereHasAmericaGone

occupydc.org

I am in D.C. - born and bred. I'm 64 years old and have a full time job. I pay my taxes and have voted in every election since I was 18.

Why am I among those in McPherson Square (Occupy D.C.)?

I don't want a handout from anyone, but I believe that everyone deserves a level playing field. I recently read a report by the CBO which states that between 1979 and 2007, after tax incomes for the top 1% increased by 275%, the top 20% (excluding the top 1%) increased by 65% while the bottom 20% saw an increase of 18%.

I've worked hard to make a decent living, but I represent at least some portion of the 99%. All the while, Wall Street insists that they must pay their executives exorbitant salaries and bonues in order to retain "talent." Really? Seriously, REALLY? The same talent that bloodied my 401(k) and crows arrogantly as many Americans lose their homes and can't send their kids to college?

And what about my treasured right to vote? It seems to me that none for whom I've voted represent my interests. They are the ones who are influenced by K Street (lobbyist) and have their hands out for money from big business.

I speak only for myself, but I hope that answers your question about why I'm there. I'm angrey, I'm frustrated and I'm hoping, in some small way, to join my voice to thousands of others and try to make this country a better place for all of us.
Having been to McPherson Square, I can unequivocally tell you that I will be there every weekend that I am able. I have serious orthopedic issues which prevent me from marching (my son, who is a veteran, does that). Nonetheless, I will continue serving from the kitchen, washing dishes, handing out pamphlets or however else I might serve

Great post Nothing! You have described the movement perfectly. To those who say the OWS is unfocused, has no unified purpose, I think it is perfectly obvious: as you described!

"We have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly

I support OW!

awsome post nothing at the end of the rainbow. and I will be standing with you at the other end of this nation

Where,

The OWS people want Wall Street and Main Street to stop stealing their money and losing it on stuff like derivative bets. Alot of those people lost their retirements in the 2008 financial crisis because of Wall Street using their money to make very bad bets.

They also want these big corporations who send jobs overseas, give little or no raises while the CEOs and other top executives get massive raises or charge so much for their products that are essential items like health care to end their greed. I agree that the corporations need to make a profit but they are by a massive amount. They are doing so well that their CEOs get unbelievable amounts of compensations. When does top executive pay turn from appropiate compensation to just blatant greed. The 10 highest paid CEOs from last year made from around 40 million to 123 million a year. The one who made 123 million dollars works for McKesson which is part of big Pharma. Big Pharma's excuse for charging so much for their products is to cover research costs. Kind of hard to believe when one company is doing well enough to pay their CEO a 123 million dollars.

They also want campaign finance reform. We all know that Congress is bought by big corporations. (credit to Magni)