Mikey Visits Portland

Michael Moore says Portland's is the largest occupation he's seen.  He calls it the "seat of our new democracy."

Man. The largest occupation I've seen is in Moore's hoodie.

So much for the "occupation" of Schrunk Plaza in Portland: the feds told 'em to scram - or else.

Comments

[TMI]

I gotta tell you, Max.

I think they have a guaranteed right to occupy federal land in protest.
.

[Max]

Sorry, TMI - you're wrong on this one. This is the most open and transparent administration in the history of the country.

Engage other countries in war without Congressional approval? No problem.

President Obama campaigned for office largely on the claim that his predecessor had shredded the Constitution. By the Constitution, he could not have meant the document signed on September 17, 1787. Article II of that document begins with a simple declaration: “The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.” Not “some” or “most” or even “all but a teeny-weeny bit” of the executive power. The President is vested with all of it. This is particularly noteworthy when compared with the enumerated legislative powers vested in Congress: “All legislative Powers herein granted.” The Founders understood, based in part on their unfortunate experience under the Articles of Confederation, that the branch of government most likely to be in need of the ability to act quickly and decisively is the executive. The branch most likely to overreach is the legislature.

Perhaps, then, candidate Obama was thinking of the Bill of Rights in claiming that President Bush shredded the Constitution. But leaving that question aside for now, let us consider how President Obama has fared in undoing the Bush policies he opposed. He began dramatically in January 2009 by issuing a series of executive orders. According to one, Guantanamo was to be closed within a year. Even though the principal planner of September 11, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, or KSM, had announced that he would plead guilty before a military tribunal at Guantanamo, the Justice Department announced in November 2009 that the military commission was cancelled. Instead, KSM would be brought to the mainland United States to stand trial. In response, Congress passed a statute, relying on its constitutionally-enumerated power of the purse, directing that no federal funds be used to bring any detainee from Guantanamo to the U.S. As a result, the Guantanamo military commission trial for KSM and other detainees charged in connection with September 11 is back on.

Now, as for the "protesters":

Federal officials say that protesters can use the plaza until 10 p.m. when it closes, but there is no camping at any time there.

Certainly, they have the right to peaceful assembly; there is, however, no provision which allows them to set up homesites, however temporary or putrid they may or may not be.

[Sam L.]

I think TMI wrote "I" when he meant "They".

[Chris McMullen]

Fat, hypocritical piggy...

And did you check this out?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwLduh4gXtw&feature=player_embedded#!

[Max]

Yep - I'm very familiar with DD's material.

Moore should have his photo featured as part of every dictionary, under the heading, "hypocrite". It's amusing, however, that he's so well-received by the #Occupy crowd.

[ZZMike]

If things get dicey, the whole crowd could huddle behind Moore, using him as a human shield.

I'll concede that "peaceful assembly" doesn't extend to setting up a campsite and acting like a bunch of unruly teenagers.

[Max]

Thanks for the update, ZZ - I wasn't aware that Moore had attained human status.

In Portland, it goes beyond acting like unruly teens: there have been a number of assaults, some sexual. Last night, according to several accounts, a guy was stabbed with a used hypodermic. Raw sewage. Scabies. It's really a freak-show down there.