no, and i never did.

I understood "Occupy Wallstreet". Now... it just seems like bored people that don't have jobs. I'm not sure what good camping out is doing. The point was made months ago - big banks got bailouts but hard-working average Americans that fell on bad times didn't, and that just isn't fair or right. Now what? The message was heard, but the message is now getting diluted by the few violent thugs and by the perception that its just a bunch of bored unemployed guys with nothing better to do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no comparison to the behavior of the tea party demonstrators and the occupy demonstrators.

I agree tea party is/was much worst. Just nasty racist old people, you know republicans.

As one who also has more sympathy for occupiers than tea partiers, I would ask the second PP to refrain from name-calling, since the majority of tea partiers, like the majority of occupiers, are probably honest citizens exercising their First Amendment rights.

Besides, as an old person myself, I am uncomfortable with having "old" linked to "racist" like that.

Just friendly feedback; please don't take offense.

There is no comparison to the behavior of the tea party demonstrators and the occupy demonstrators.

I agree tea party is/was much worst. Just nasty racist old people, you know republicans.

Anonymous wrote:There is no comparison to the behavior of the tea party demonstrators and the occupy demonstrators.

Oh, how short our memories are. Have we forgotten the neck stomping incident at Rand Paul's rally, the attacks on democratic campaign offices? Tea partiers carrying around signs with the N word? The tea partier who tried to run a man off the road because of his bumper sticker? Death threats? Do you remember when ultra liberal John Boehner had to denounce tea party violence? Remember when one of McCain's own staff quit over threats of violence to him and his family?

Looks like a bit of selective amnesia on your part.

The thugs are up on Wall Street and in Congress as they transfer wealth to the richest people. I doubt anyone downtown has raided a retirement fund.

There is no comparison to the behavior of the tea party demonstrators and the occupy demonstrators.

Would I support them? no. Would I think they are thugs? No. Then again tea partiers got the best media coverage I've ever seen-- even when they were intentionally disrupting Congressional town halls no one dreamed of calling them thugs on in print or on the air.

I dare say you would be so understanding and tolerant if you deleted occupy and insert tea party into this story.

The message is viable, albiet misunderstood. However, we've got to admit that some of the messengers had a little too much sugar. Like any other protest movement, it doesn't take much for it to get out of hand. A few drunks, some folks with nothing better to do with their time and next thing you know, the message itself is perverted into a keg party. This is not the only part of the world where this happens.

Building sturdy structures and holding onto them is the new definition of thuggery?

I support Occupy DC. I would like you to support your description of them as "thugs". A thug is a violent person. Occupy DC has been decidedly non-violent. Dvorak's article is inaccurate in many ways and is contradicted by the live treating of Post Reporter Tim Craig who was on the scene yesterday. Regarding Dvorak's claims of taunting and insults of the police, Craig tweeted this today: "I think, while clearly a few often taunt police, most do not, so got to be careful about over generalization."

I watched the livestream being broadcast during the arrest of the five protesters who climbed on the structure. I could clearly hear many of the chants of the crowd. Several were friendly toward the police, and even humorous. For example, when the police began putting on riot gear, the crowd chanted, "You're sexy, you're cute, take off your riot suit." There was also a chant that -- paraphrasing -- said "even after this is over, we will still give you a hug". Another chant said "the police are just like us". Of course there are always a few jerks who go beyond what is acceptable. That's true on both sides. Yesterday on the livestream the narrator told of seeing a protester knocked to the ground in order to be arrested. A commanding officer of some sort ordered an officer to use his tazer to subdue the already subdued protester. The officer refused the command and arrested the protester peacefully.

But, I will stress that the police have mostly been professional and respectful. The Occupy Movement in DC enjoys a much better relationship with authorities then in other cities. Sometimes the bar is set pretty low. For instance, praising officers that didn't pepper spray people who were simply taunting them seems like a low bar. But, the DC and Park police perform well above that bar. The police really didn't need to remove the five protesters who were on top of the structure -- how long could they have lasted without food or water while standing on thin beams without even the benefit of warm clothes? But, given the police didn't want to wait them out, they did the best the could under the circumstances.

The Occupy Movement deserves praise for bringing attention to issues that were being ignored. The fact that people living comfortably in their warm homes choose to ridicule these brave protesters who are sleeping out in the cold is a shame.

Today, Jackson Browne stopped by Freedom Plaza to perform for the protesters. It's good to see his offer of support.

The two tent encampments are an eyesore. Plus how many people are really in them? Apparently they did some kind of thermoimaging at a tent park in another city and found that only about 3 people were there overnight.

We know no one supports the tea party any more...just look at the republican primary.