Bill O’reilly November 16th, 2011.
“In the beginning, there was some sympathy toward the protesters, who believe the federal government should take action against financial institutions that cheat. In the face of the terrible recession, that message is a powerful one, and so the “Occupy Wall Street” movement got some traction.
But the more we saw and heard, the more fair-minded Americans came to believe that the “Occupiers” were not interested in legitimate issues. Many of them simply want to blow up the economic system.
In addition, some of their behavior was and is reprehensible: all kinds of violent crime, all kinds of provocation against the police, all kinds of depraved behavior in general.
A picture taken by the New York Post shows hypodermic needles that were taken out of the New York City site. Isn’t that nice? I don’t believe we saw any hypodermic needles at the Tea Party protests, or am I wrong?
The left-wing media is still trying to portray the “Occupiers” as the liberal equivalent to the Tea Party. One simple question: Would you prefer that your daughter demonstrate with the Tea Party people or with the “Occupiers”? You make the call, remembering the hypodermic needles.
A recent Wall Street Journal poll asked: Do you consider yourself a supporter of the “Occupy Wall Street” movement? Sixty-three percent of Americans say they do not support the movement; just 28 percent say they do.
Because President Obama was sympathetic to the movement in the beginning, along with many members of the Democratic Party, this presents a big political problem for them. And so officials in 11 cities got on a conference call to discuss how to deal with the “Occupiers.”
JEAN QUAN, MAYOR, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA: What had started as a political movement and a political encampment ended up being an encampment that was no longer in control of the people who started them.
And that’s true. To be fair — and we always are on “The Factor” — some of the “Occupy” protesters are well-intentioned folks who believe the financial system is no longer fair. That’s a legitimate debate. But they have been overrun by thugs, anarchists and the crazies who intimidate. If you are a violent person, people usually back off.
So the “Occupy Wall Street” movement is dead, finished as a legitimate political force in this country. And that’s a good thing.”
My response:
Isn’t this brilliant? Notice how often Bill mentions hypodermic needles. Bill, you are looking for needles in a haystack! The fact of the matter is our country is messed up. The Occupy Wall Street movement is an adolescent event that foreshadows more severe and broader protests to come. So wipe that cocky smirk off your face Bill. That is a memo.
Socrates, Jesus, Darwin, Beethoven, Einstein, and George Washington came back from the dead to review the state of America. Socrates examined our souls, Jesus reviewed our spirituality, Darwin assessed our evolutionary potential and the environment, Beethoven observed our music and culture, Einstein analyzed our employment of scientific knowledge, and Washington reviewed our political and economic environment. All of these men were terrified by what they observed, but they couldn’t all agree on a solution or compose a clear singular sound bite for the media.
Bill interviewed this group of men and listened to each of their opinions on the current state of America and suggestions to make improvements. He was shocked by their responses and inability to agree and design a “legitimate” solution within the current construct of our economic and political systems. As such, he concluded they were a bunch of far left liberal loonies, crazies, and anarchists.
Contemplating The Human Direction 
I’m gonna comment cuz I’m an official participator here… and cuz I like being first at stuff. 🙂
Just strictly from the point of view of someone watching… Bill’s right. Not in what he says, but in what he sees. Jeez how many shootings does it take to realize we don’t know how to protest? How many different names do you need for the same stupid “Occupy” movement to realize the whole country is “All About Me?” I said this when Occupy Wall Street started, that it was only a matter of time before the piggy-backers brought it to ruin like every other protest this country ever had.
America? I love you. I care about your opinions. But your pretense of unity hides behind a shallow veil of selfishness. There is no solidarity in your gripes. There is no strength in your absolve. There is no body in your populace. You are the Me First and the Gimme Gimmes… playing to an empty hall.
I don’t know much about banks, or about corporations, or about hypodermic needles really. But I know disorganization when I see it.
Tinc, I missed where Beethoven came back from the dead. Google brings up Chuck Berry.
Hello Anne S,
You are right–Billy O is right; but not in the way you think. The Occupy movement is in fact “dead”–and that is precisely it’s value and virtue. It is a seed that has “gone to ground”.
To quote “Tinc”: “The Occupy Wall Street movement is an adolescent event that foreshadows more severe and broader protests to come. So wipe that cocky smirk off your face Bill. That is a memo.”
Remember these words–because the Spring Storms are coming, and they will rock your world. They won’t have anything to do with setting up “camps”–they will have to do with taking over establishments. Can you say “Second Civil War”?
This is a Tsunami, not a sandcastle building contest. Join the wave, or start running.
Second Civil War? Soo… confused. I can see maybe like an angry stampede, with the corporate hunters picking off the juiciest weaker calves until the rest of the herd goes back to their normal slaughterhouse routine.
Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
What happens, though, when the hunters become the hunted? If you are really “soo . . . confused”, do some research on the French Revolution.
The funny thing about people like you is that you possess this circumscribed intelligence and creativity, but lack the radical vision that would enable you to see that the forms you take for granted, your insulated little “world”, can very easily be ripped to fucking shreds by a natural–or social–cataclysm.
You actually kind of remind me of Marie Antoinette and company, the way you delight in witticisms for the sake of witticisms like a child licking icing off its fingers and throwing away the cake. You are one of those who only wake up when their heads are being placed into the guillotine. “What happened? This stuff is so over my / . . . . “
You’re right dragonstrand. I had no business under your guillotine. Sorry, Tinc. I am going to unparticipate now and let your friend here decapitate someone else. Thank you so much for inviting me. ♥ I really did feel wanted for a day. It means more than you think.
Good riddance (big brother edit).
Haha, Insert profanity of your choice here! ^
Now you’ve deprived it of its Clint Eastwood accented edge. 🙂
Of all the places in the world, Contemplating the Human Direction is one place I would never have expected to encounter censorship. Henceforth, I will be starting a protest: Occupy Contemplating the Human Direction (OCHD).
“Mic check!” “MIC CHECK”
“The owner of this site” “THE OWNER OF THIS SITE”
“Has caved in to pussy” “HAS CAVED INTO PUSSY”
Et cetera. You can imagine the rest. 😉 I’m sure it would have been edited out anyway.
Oh Jeez… I swore I’d never talk to you again you (big brother edit)
If this was contrived, I’m going to kill someone (not like his name is bro emailed bro) somewhere later and then nod my head yes when they pepper spray me at the crime scene.
You can NOT be both that (big brother edit) mean AND that funny both drugginstand. Are you from Earth? I hear they serve wine there.
p.s. Why didn’t you just say “cuntfused” coward? Not like I haven’t heard it before.
Happy Thanksgiving Flower and Dragonstrand…I have now converted to Buddhism…no women or 44 Magnum…no revolutions…no Utopias…no symphonic analogies…will tune out all of mankind and simply stare at rivers and clouds and hold out my tin cup in hopes someone drops a peanut or two…or better yet, some whiskey.
Hello Again Anne S,
Glad you changed your mind and decided to continue the conservation. To answer your questions:
1. No, I am not from Earth; but I do enjoy wine. The place I am from is indicated in my “hovercard”.
2. I did not use the word “cuntfused” (or cunt for that matter), because I do not use that word as a pejorative in as much as I find it a beautiful description for what is generally a beautiful place. Asshole, on the other hand, is a description of a pretty shitty place. 🙂
And Tincup: Get your newly tonsured head out of your asshole and “face the music”. You look as ridiculous in that Orange robe as a monk in an Elvis suit. You of all people should know that when I’m serious I’m joking and when I’m joking I’m serious. No peanuts or whiskey for you . . . but there is always an exquisite bottle of wine waiting for you in the lair of the Dragon. Bring your sticks.
~DS~
Ah Flower, and I am so happy you are a participator…to bring some intelligence to this blog. Yes, behind a lot of our problems is this hyper focus on “me”. My favorite analogy for an ideal human structure is the symphony…a brilliant and creative composer, a talented conductor to correctly interpret the composition, and properly educated, trained, and passionate musicians that fulfill their roles. Can you hear the beautiful coordinated results?
[lol @ Flower] [lmao @ intelligence]
I just threw some creative writing at the subject and then HATED it! “Shallow veil” Ugh! “Absolve?” Ooh! Coined a new noun there! Way to go Flower! <– still crackin up
I'm not really an idealist. I don't have any trouble following a good metaphor though, so the symphonic tone of your comment is not for deaf… um… eyes only.
This stuff is so over my head.
I could honestly write you a novel about my hatred for Mr. O’reilly. But I won’t because I am not sure he is worth it. As for the movement, I initially supported it, and I still kind of do, though I can see its inclination towards the trendy youth with very little brains. I hope something greater comes from it though, because our country needs change and it needs change quickly. We need a revolution. America was founded on capitalism, yes, but what we have now is not the intended capitalism of our forefathers. It is social-Darwinism codified economically. Income is more polarized than ever before. The mere 1% make enough money combined to feed, clothe, and house our entire country. I’m not okay with that. I am not okay with the fact that most of my generation will never retire, will struggle to own houses smaller than the ones in which we grew up, will put more money into our education and end up with lower salaries anyway. I am not okay with countless families losing their houses and jobs. These aren’t people expecting “handouts”. They just want to know that their work will pay off. It is so frustrating.
My dad loves Bill, and I have to say he is a pretty good common sense debater. All the news channels have become pretty much a form of entertainment so I have become rather cynical about their purposes. But on this issue Bill really lost me. From the very beginning he blatently blasted the movement and those participating and used selected video clip interviews with protestors to bend and twist the movement into the realm of the idiotic — red herring a la mode. I lost a ton of respect for him. Even Hannity was more understanding of the protest and he usually drives me nuts. When I heard Bill and other news anchors from other channels asking why are people upset and what exactly are they protesting, my thought was open your eyes to the incredible challenges and problems that are before not just America, but the human species. And, I saw many protestors talking or displaying signs about the big issues…bigger than the fact that Wall Street is nothing more than a casino.
Bill is simply incapable of realizing that the system which rewarded and rewards him now is corrupt. Common sense debate and working within the constructs of the current systems isn’t going to get it done — those that have been rewarded by those systems and continue to be rewarded are those in charge and therefore they will do everything in their powers to maintain the status quo. They will make tweaks here and there in an attempt to pull the wool over the masses eyes, but at some point in the future, the volcano will blow.
I am not a big revolutionary or protest type, and often revolutions end up with awful short-term and long-term results. I have no idea what results will come out of the looming upheavel, but I can say that in the short-term it will be bloody. I am afraid our problems are so deep and broad that the only solutions are radical solutions that need to be backed by intelligence not only by new leadership, but also by the populace. And now you are getting to the heart of other issues like education, soul, and spirit. I am also afraid that when you include world-wide problems the task for a smooth turnaround is even more of an impossibility.
Yours truly…the cynic (ancient greek definition)
B. Penn,
I share your contempt for O’Reilly, your concerns about the Occupy Movement, and above all, your intelligent grievances with regards to the circumstances we find ourselves in. I suspect you are much like me–introverted, hermetic, cautious and skeptical when it comes to anything external and publicly oriented. I have fought my entire life against the things you mention above, and which are now suddenly being discussed prominently vis a vis the Occupy movement. My fight, however, has been in the form of thoughts and words expressed on paper that no one would publish because they were “too radical”. Even American Atheist Press rejected a MS of mine because it was “too radical” for its audience.
I too have some misgivings about the Occupy Protests–I do not agree with some of the causes they espouse, and I find some of the individuals involved and their perspectives highly problematic. At the same time, however, I feel like we have reached a crossroads–and I don’t know anymore if I can’t sit impassively by watching and allowing the other side to successfully engage in their machinations, in their puppet show from which they parasitically profit at the expense of far too much of true value.
“We need a revolution”–yes, we do. We need a cultural, political and economic revolution. The question is how? This is one of the things that has attracted me to Tincup’s site. I see the Occupy Movement as a starting point–but it is sorely lacking. It needs people like you and I to give it the “brains” it lacks, to step in and fill the void. No doubt this will involve us leaving our “comfort zones” to do so. This is very difficult for me–it is a predicament I struggle with every moment of the day now. Like I said, up until now my fight has been in thoughts in words–now I feel like it must be translated into deeds; and it is very difficult to figure how to best go about achieving that translation. It’s like learning a new language–yet I think we must learn to speak it, for silence is no longer a viable option.
Your further input on this subject would be very much appreciated.
~DS~
DS,
Yes, the troubles of which you spoke are the same ones I battle with. While the notion of protesting appeals to me on an objective level, I find myself too introverted to really get involved. So I contemplate other possible directions and ways in which I can influence and help the movement. I haven’t really found any yet, except for spreading the word face to face and trying to correct people when they spew ignorant nonsense about it. I suppose this is the age-old problem with revolution and revolt — the reason the French Revolution became such a misled blood bath — we often lack direction, and the people who could honestly help the movement, give it direction and knowledge, hang back and get involved too late. I am sorry I don’t have more ideas to share with you, but obviously I too am at an impasse. One suggestion I do have, and I mean this in the kindest of ways, is: when talking to people, no matter how close-minded or uninformed, try to use pragmatic facts and persuasion, instead of cursing and profanities. Once you get too worked up, there is little chance of convincing anyone they’re wrong.
Kindly,
B. Penn
Kind B. Penn,
Thanks for your further input. It is in process.
The question of when and when not to use “cursing and profanities” is, ironically, a delicate one. Ridicule, mockery, insult and jest are part of the intellectual repertoire I employ as part of the dialectical process. While some people argue that this “shuts down” the conversation, I’m not entirely convinced of that–sometimes it drives it to a deeper place.
Additionally, for me it is not always so much about convincing someone they are “wrong” as it is about expressing exactly what I think and feel on the subject in the exact way that I want to express it–to say what I want to say in the way I want to say it. If someone doesn’t like it, there is nothing I can do about it–in the same way that if someone doesn’t like a poem, or an essay, or a book I’ve written, I can’t go back and change it so that they do.
I’ve had a lot of discussions with people about this subject. For me it comes down in the realm of discourse to Nietzsche’s “Whatever doesn’t kill me makes me stronger”. Of course, it is probably unrealistic to expect everyone to be capable of the Nietzschean ideal. Many people can’t handle it and flee the fire like burnt children. Still, I question whether one ought to spare anyone or anything. Socrates didn’t. True, he didn’t use curses and profanity–but then, I’m not Socrates. Everyone has their own style.
I do appreciate your suggestion though–“Moderation in all things, including moderation”. It may spur me to try to be more civil in certain discourses; but then again, I cannot help but suit the tone to the situation, and sometimes one just has to call a spade a spade.
Cheers,
~DS~
Realized I never commented on your post…got carried away with my own chatter. Nice post and I agree with your thoughts. There are so many layers to discuss. The fundamental layer is ensuring everyone has food and a home and can contribute. We can’t even get the fundamental layer in place…not just here in the most recent greatest economic powerhouse, but throughout the world. If we can’t get the fundamental layer right, then we can never move to the next layers which are in my mind more interesting.
“Practice what you preach.” Is this America?
Every single person at U.C. Davis VOLUNTEERED to be pepper-sprayed on TV. Every single one.
Sensationalism is a cowardly attempt at bullying people by using media (technically, in this case) unavailable to your opponent. I never appreciate it. …still this was almost well done until a “young woman dying in the streets” of Tehran was so heartlessly exploited for just another stupid joke. I’m kind of sick about it. Sick.
I am just going to say this. All my (admittedly short) life, I have listened to how corporate America is part of the “American Dream.” It is part of the allure that is still engraved on a plaque on Ellis Island, and yet here we are, lining up in droves to protest that the dream needs to die, and breaking our laws and stretching the boundaries of our Constitution to prove it.
You know, I watched the news again tonight. I saw more people deliberately breaking the law and deliberately resisting arrest as peacefully as possible in order to create more sensationalism. Peops? If you’re doing this for me…? Please stop. If you’re doing it just for yourself… well, then wasn’t that my point in the first place?
“Every single person at U.C. Davis VOLUNTEERED to be pepper-sprayed on TV. Every single one.”
Anne, if you really, truly believe this, you are so lost it is unlikely anything can ever retrieve you from the depths of your negligent imbecility.
Do you really believe that these students knew in advance that they were “volunteering to be pepper-sprayed”? Really? You must be fucking joking! If not, then you are blind. Beyond blind–deaf and dumb too. Pepper-spray is designed to be used as a means of incapacitating an attacker. Where exactly is the attack here?
“Using media unavailable to your opponent”????? The entirety of our conventional media is controlled by and supports this “opponent”.
“All my (admittedly short) life, I have listened to how corporate America is part of the “American Dream.”” Ever thought about questioning what you have “listened to”?
Do you really believe that the founders of America had ENRON, Bear Stearns and Co, and Justin Bieber in mind when they were envisioning the “American Dream”?
“It is part of the allure that is still engraved on a plaque on Ellis Island, and yet here we are, lining up in droves to protest that the dream needs to die, and breaking our laws and stretching the boundaries of our Constitution to prove it.”
Actually, it is my understanding that the protests are precisely about the opposite: keeping the dream alive for all people, not just the few. Exactly which laws are being broken? What boundaries of the Constitution are being stretched? The right to free speech? The right for the People to freely assemble?
“Deliberately resisting arrest” What the fuck does that even mean? Isn’t that a double positive? Resisting arrest means that a person is aggressively fighting against a police officer who is attempting an arrest. None of these people are resisting arrest–they are passively allowing themselves to be arrested but without participating in the arrest itself. All tactics of Civil Disobedience clearly spell out that one should not resist arrest but “become limp” so as to not become complicit in the injustice that is being inflicted upon one by the representatives of the Police State.
“Peops? If you’re doing this for me…? Please stop. If you’re doing it just for yourself… well, then wasn’t that my point in the first place?”
Actually, they are doing it both for you and themselves. I know–you just can’t fathom that. Things are just so great as they are–why would anyone want to change them? We’re all just “livin the dream”.
Wake up fool . . . this “dream” is a nightmare.
And this . . . a very powerful example of what happens, what should happen, when those in power become too insulated from the harsh realities on the ground and imagine themselves invincible (the root of many revolutions). There are many people who have done far worse things to ruin this country and its people than this woman who should be subjected to such a “walk of shame”. It’s time–long passed time–for accountability.
what a lively discussion. obviously something must change in this country (for the betterment of the middle and lower class) and i do not see that change coming from people like O’Reilly, his overseers, any of the republican candidates, and the Republican party in general – with the possible exception of John Huntsman – and he has a snowball’s chance in hell of the nomination. considering the fact that we do not as of now have a viable 3rd party, and short of violence, which i think no one really wants, i believe our best chance for change right now is at the ballot box and for independents to swallow hard, re-elect Obama AND give him a Democratic Congress to work with. as we have seen with our own eyes no change for the better for working America will come from the Republican party as presently constituted, as they have been co-opted by the extreme right wing of their party. and, in fact, they have given us every indication that they would be regressive. i myself applaud the Occupy protesters, rag-tag as they may be made out to be by some of our slightly suspect media, in that they are bringing up issues of Corporate control of politics through big money. something that might not be in the front of people’s minds were they not out there. anyway, just a few of my thoughts on the matter, and yes, i have been to Occupy. a thought-provoking post tin…and a thoughtful discussion all. continue…
“we all go a little crazy sometimes”
Having worked with religious organizations throughout my life (which are generally either thought of as inherently corrupt, or divinely pure) I try often to remind people that any large collection of people, be they religious, political, military, or otherwise, will contain flaws. Politicians should be the first to admit that in the world of politics even the smallest amount of dirt can soil an entire career. In that knowledge, many politicians have whitewashed, obscured, or downright denied their dirt in an attempt to be untouchable. Every group has its rough spots. Even if only 28% of Americans supported a movement like that, we are talking massive numbers of people. The vote getters certainly do not discount a statistic like that. As a public speaker, I would be afraid to term people “crazies” and such when dealing with a movement that has already been legitimized by all classes, persuasions, and careers. So where do I stand? In the balance–wherever that might be. If occupiers can tip scales and create a more balanced playing field for the various individuals in our society, then I applaud them. I am neither republican nor democrat, neither left nor right. I am the defender and opposition of both. We must always hear the voices, thought there are many and they say different things. The Tea Party movement certainly had its black spots, but don’t we all? My hand is raised. A dose of sympathy and open mindedness goes a long way. With that in mind, I also see where he is coming from. When you surround yourself with people who share your point of view, it is easy to feel overly justified. When you are out there in the crowd, you see the faces and you hear the stories.