Is anyone truly surprised?

Attention whores attract other attention whores? Really?

Cythraul: sinschild: Is anyone truly surprised?

Attention whores attract other attention whores? Really?

You're going to spread your shiat-stink in this thread too? It's not even green, and still you leave your cave.

Make sure you juggle the balls scooter, I like it when you do that.

GAT_00: Is this just like the time the Teabaggers got backed by a white supremacist group and they denounced anyone who said that the endorsement represented the group as a whole?

All troll aside, you can't control who throws their hat in with you. I imagine there are parts of the OWS platform that appeals to these folks, but overall there is nothing for them there. Well, the Nazis anyways. I imagine the Communist party folks might stick around a bit.

GAT_00: sinschild: GAT_00: Is this just like the time the Teabaggers got backed by a white supremacist group and they denounced anyone who said that the endorsement represented the group as a whole?

All troll aside, you can't control who throws their hat in with you. I imagine there are parts of the OWS platform that appeals to these folks, but overall there is nothing for them there. Well, the Nazis anyways. I imagine the Communist party folks might stick around a bit.

So you're saying this isn't representative of the group at all? That a better argument is that even Nazis are smart enough to realize our country's system is farked, yet Teabaggers and Republicans think everything is totally cool?

both of those groups have maintained that the US is farked since they were created, no surprise there.

But I agree, the fact that idiots and bigots choose to support you has no bearing on the relevance or legitimacy of your movement.

what is funny is the TeaBaggers, the GOP, and pretty much everyone else says exactly what the occupy movement is calling for. They are just too stupid to realize it.

Did anybody stop to think that those who call themselves nazis would support OWS just to make them look bad?

I support Ron Paul running on a third party ticket just to split the far right and wacko fundi vote.
That doesn't mean I want Paul to be president.

This isn't why the protests are a joke, but it's a symptom of it. The protestors haven't decided what they're protesting over, what they want, when they want it, or why they're there in the first place. Any attempt to interview somebody leads to platitudes ("We're against INJUSTICE!"-- as if anybody is out there, wishing there would be more injustice in the world, instead of having different conceptions of what constitutes justice) and to the extent anybody says anything with an actual policy, we're quickly reminded that they're not a spokesman for the group. So, if you're mad about anything and there's anything you might want, you 'belong' in the 'protest.' I believe this is an intentional PR tactic-- it's much easier to build a movement when you don't stand for anything, because then anybody can join you regardless of what they stand for.

Well, when you are more interested in getting a high body count than you are in delivering a concise message you'll let anyone in. Recipe for chaos.

Also NAMBLA, Bad Newz Kennels, and the cast of Jersey Shore.

Anyone reminded of the South Park episode with the KKK?

FTFA: "In a move that may redefine the term "strange bedfellows," the American Nazi Party issued an official endorsement of the Occupy Wall Street protest movement on Sunday afternoon. The announcement put the organization, a self-described "National Socialist" political party, in company with the Socialist Party USA, which explained its own support for the left-wing protesters in a nationwide conference call last Tuesday night, crediting organized labor with the protests' strength and sophistication to date."

These idiots have no clue. Nazis (Fascism) and socialists are at opposite ends of the political spectrum. Fascists are right leaning, while socialists are left leaning. Whoever came up with the idea of a "nazi socialist" party has never read a history book.

Sure smells desperate in here.

They are protesting against

greed
injustice
more greed
lack of unicorns

Minimally Hairy Beer-Powered Simian: These idiots have no clue. Nazis (Fascism) and socialists are at opposite ends of the political spectrum. Fascists are right leaning, while socialists are left leaning. Whoever came up with the idea of a "nazi socialist" party has never read a history book.

... not sure if serious. But just in case you're not a troll, you know that "Nazi" is a shortened form of "National Socialist," right? The name literally translates as "National Socialist." If you want socialism, hop in a time machine and set a course for 1942.

I think we should get both groups to show up and aim for a three way monkey knife fight between the Commies, Nazis, and police. We need something to jazz this up and keep it in the news cycle.

It is time.

Minimally Hairy Beer-Powered Simian: FTFA: "In a move that may redefine the term "strange bedfellows," the American Nazi Party issued an official endorsement of the Occupy Wall Street protest movement on Sunday afternoon. The announcement put the organization, a self-described "National Socialist" political party, in company with the Socialist Party USA, which explained its own support for the left-wing protesters in a nationwide conference call last Tuesday night, crediting organized labor with the protests' strength and sophistication to date."

These idiots have no clue. Nazis (Fascism) and socialists are at opposite ends of the political spectrum. Fascists are right leaning, while socialists are left leaning. Whoever came up with the idea of a "nazi socialist" party has never read a history book.

You are joking, right?

/you guys are slipping.

Forced Perspective: Minimally Hairy Beer-Powered Simian: These idiots have no clue. Nazis (Fascism) and socialists are at opposite ends of the political spectrum. Fascists are right leaning, while socialists are left leaning. Whoever came up with the idea of a "nazi socialist" party has never read a history book.

... not sure if serious. But just in case you're not a troll, you know that "Nazi" is a shortened form of "National Socialist," right? The name literally translates as "National Socialist." If you want socialism, hop in a time machine and set a course for 1942.

I did not know that....but it doesn't change the fact that the Nazis of WWII were fascists, and fascism is right leaning, and socialism is left leaning.

Minimally Hairy Beer-Powered Simian: FTFA: "In a move that may redefine the term "strange bedfellows," the American Nazi Party issued an official endorsement of the Occupy Wall Street protest movement on Sunday afternoon. The announcement put the organization, a self-described "National Socialist" political party, in company with the Socialist Party USA, which explained its own support for the left-wing protesters in a nationwide conference call last Tuesday night, crediting organized labor with the protests' strength and sophistication to date."

These idiots have no clue. Nazis (Fascism) and socialists are at opposite ends of the political spectrum. Fascists are right leaning, while socialists are left leaning. Whoever came up with the idea of a "nazi socialist" party has never read a history book.

Stalin invented socialism, and Stalin was a conservative.

/or at least, he is now
//along with LBJ, Chairman Mao, Ho Chi Minh, Pol Pot, and anyone else the liberals can plausibly deny

The important question is what side of this is Andy Dick on?

Poisoning the well strategy eh? not gonna work i'm afraid. Nothing in the OWS agenda benefits a racial mindset, so these endorsements really don't fit with them.

Minimally Hairy Beer-Powered Simian: Forced Perspective: Minimally Hairy Beer-Powered Simian: These idiots have no clue. Nazis (Fascism) and socialists are at opposite ends of the political spectrum. Fascists are right leaning, while socialists are left leaning. Whoever came up with the idea of a "nazi socialist" party has never read a history book.

... not sure if serious. But just in case you're not a troll, you know that "Nazi" is a shortened form of "National Socialist," right? The name literally translates as "National Socialist." If you want socialism, hop in a time machine and set a course for 1942.

I did not know that....but it doesn't change the fact that the Nazis of WWII were fascists, and fascism is right leaning, and socialism is left leaning.

I think it's you who needs to read a few books. Pot/Kettle....

Forced Perspective: This isn't why the protests are a joke, but it's a symptom of it. The protestors haven't decided what they're protesting over, what they want, when they want it, or why they're there in the first place. Any attempt to interview somebody leads to platitudes ("We're against INJUSTICE!"-- as if anybody is out there, wishing there would be more injustice in the world, instead of having different conceptions of what constitutes justice) and to the extent anybody says anything with an actual policy, we're quickly reminded that they're not a spokesman for the group. So, if you're mad about anything and there's anything you might want, you 'belong' in the 'protest.' I believe this is an intentional PR tactic-- it's much easier to build a movement when you don't stand for anything, because then anybody can join you regardless of what they stand for.


Seems more likely that there are a lot of people pissed off about a lot of related but different things, and they're all making it known.

Call in McBain.

It was a bigger problem when the libs tried to claim it as their own.

liam76: Minimally Hairy Beer-Powered Simian: FTFA: "In a move that may redefine the term "strange bedfellows," the American Nazi Party issued an official endorsement of the Occupy Wall Street protest movement on Sunday afternoon. The announcement put the organization, a self-described "National Socialist" political party, in company with the Socialist Party USA, which explained its own support for the left-wing protesters in a nationwide conference call last Tuesday night, crediting organized labor with the protests' strength and sophistication to date."

These idiots have no clue. Nazis (Fascism) and socialists are at opposite ends of the political spectrum. Fascists are right leaning, while socialists are left leaning. Whoever came up with the idea of a "nazi socialist" party has never read a history book.

You are joking, right?

No, he is correct, in theory. Fascism is when corporate interests and political interests join to form an elite that oppresses workers. Communism (ideally) is when ordinary people control both the government and industry via majority rule. The current corporate republican party is fascist. People wanting equality and freedom for everybody would be more like communists.

In reality, every government today that calls itself 'Communist' adheres to none of Marx's teachings. They are, in fact, fascist countries calling themselves communist (China, Russia, N. Korea).

madpiper: Minimally Hairy Beer-Powered Simian: Forced Perspective: Minimally Hairy Beer-Powered Simian: These idiots have no clue. Nazis (Fascism) and socialists are at opposite ends of the political spectrum. Fascists are right leaning, while socialists are left leaning. Whoever came up with the idea of a "nazi socialist" party has never read a history book.

... not sure if serious. But just in case you're not a troll, you know that "Nazi" is a shortened form of "National Socialist," right? The name literally translates as "National Socialist." If you want socialism, hop in a time machine and set a course for 1942.

I did not know that....but it doesn't change the fact that the Nazis of WWII were fascists, and fascism is right leaning, and socialism is left leaning.

I think it's you who needs to read a few books. Pot/Kettle....

I have. Fascism is a right leaning ideology, while socialism/communism are left leaning.

left-wing protesters

I love how this is the meme that has stuck. If you are upset that in a time of high unemployment that companies are reporting record profits and sitting on huge cash piles without hiring, you're "left wing".

If you are upset that over the last twenty years a fraction of the country has absorbed a record amount of new wealth while the 95% below them have been left with shrinking job benefits and wages and retirement plans that have actually left them poorer for harder work, you're "left wing".

If you are upset that the chance for upward mobility in this country is at a record low while the chances for furthering expanding your wealth if you're already wealthy are at a record high, you're "left wing".

If you are upset that you or your parents' retirement plans have been cut in half because of the decisions by a few ultra-wealthy people who took enormous and obviously stupid risks and took on ridiculous levels of leverage because they just never have enough no matter what the consequences are of trying to get more, you're "left wing".

If you are upset that being a CEO of a failing or failed company is worth 500x as much money in this country as being an employee of that company working unpaid overtime for a frozen wage, cut benefits, and little to no job security, you're "left wing".

If you are upset that a person can manipulate tax laws to minimize their taxes on "money earned from money" and pay lower income taxes on those earnings than if you are making your money by actually working for it, you're "left wing".

If you are angry that the bankers that cost the world trillions by doing things a second grader knows are wrong got to keep their jobs despite their hugely destructive - and in some cases criminal - behavior while you'll get fired just because you took a personal call during work hours, you're "left wing".

If you are angry that those same bankers used the bailout money to pay enormous bonuses to the people overseeing the companies most directly responsible for our economic problems, you're left wing".

If you are angry that corporations have been allowed to write the regulations for their own industries, lobby directly with unlimited, secret money to candidates, and gain near-constant audience with politicians to plead their cases while the average citizen is lucky if he can get a form letter or robocall from the people he helped elect, you're "left wing".

None of these things make a person "left wing". Being upset about these problems makes you a person with common sense, at least a tiny bit of self interest, and the courage to acknowledge that there are serious, systemic problems with long term and very serious consequences.

This isn't a "left wing movement". This is a lot people who are justifiably pissed off that they've been pissed on for so long. I'm sorry so many of you are so desperately afraid of change that you'd rather continue living in squalor than try to fix things, but that's YOUR shortcoming, not anybody else's.