NEVER AGAIN Say OWS Is Failing: AG Schneiderman Credits OWS for Renewed Pursuit of Bankers (updated)

[ProSense]

Last edited Tue Jan 31, 2012, 02:37 PM - Edit history (2)

NEVER AGAIN Say OWS Is Failing: AG Schneiderman Credits OWS for Renewed Pursuit of Bankers

The Troubadour

This morning on MSNBC, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman told Chris Hayes that "the people's uprising" should be credited for renewed efforts to investigate and prosecute big banks.

The people's uprising, of course, is Occupy Wall Street, and the renewed efforts about which Schneiderman speaks is a "nationwide probe of wrongdoing in the mortgage-backed securities market" that he has just been named to co-lead.

Schneiderman's (nearly) direct reference to Occupy Wall Street as a motivating impetus for the national probe explicitly confirms what many have been arguing: that the nation's protest movement has shaken the halls of government at its deepest levels by transforming the national conversation...In short, on the personal deficits individuals and families must contend with due to the corrupt stranglehold financial institutions and the one percent have on our elected leaders.

"Banks Got Bailed Out. We Got Sold Out."

Schneiderman's utterance this morning comes on the heels of President Obama's State of the Union address this week, which echoed many of the themes Occupy Wall Street has injected into our national consciousness, specifically themes of economic fairness and the need for the wealthiest Americans (1%) to pay their fair share.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/29/1059619/-NEVER-AGAIN-Say-OWS-Is-Failing:-AG-Schneiderman-Credits-OWS-for-Renewed-Pursuit-of-Bankers

The Occupy movement can be a force for positive change. It seems some people have misguided notions about the goals, which from the original statements are to force accountability for Wall Street fraud and address rising inequality. Some want the movement to be all about violence and others want to denounce it. Peaceful, sustained protest is just what this country needs at this moment. It would be great to have a strong progressive movement leading the way, but it is what it is.

President Obama has always expressed the sentiment, "make me do it," and he's clearly listening.


Updated to video: NY Attorney General Eric Schneiderman on President Obama's Mortgage Crisis Unit
http://upwithchrishayes.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/29/10264609-ny-attorney-general-eric-schneiderman-on-president-obamas-mortgage-crisis-unit

My transcription:

"public outcry from activist groups..." (9:44 mins)

"This is about the American people having risen up over the course of the last year... the political atmosphere right now is so different...that's because of the grassroots uprising that's taking place across this country..." (16:36 mins)

Watch the entire segment. Fascinating stuff!

[mmonk]

1. Thank you.

I was trying to tell others the movement has already helped bring change but they insist it has brought nothing and hinders things.

[trumad]

2. Oh we got some dumb ass concern trolls here on DU that say it's worthless.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. Good post, glad to see you sticking up for OWS

nt

[bullwinkle428]

4. I think the OWS movement is the very essence of the proper way

to respond when Obama says "I need your help to accomplish this".

K&R.

[Spazito]

5. There is no question Occupy changed the focus...

from debt and deficit, which was the repubs agenda in election season, to the inequality practiced by the 1% over the 99%. That accomplishment alone is huge, imo.

In changing the dialogue, Wall Street, the banks, the unfair tax system, etc., are now in the headlights and I have no doubt, without Occupy and the change in focus, this heightened awareness and call for accountability would not be happening.

[oldhippydude]

15. it may infact insure victory in the elections for the Democrats

its looking like a terrible year to be running a millionaire venture capitalist, at the head of the ticket..untill OWS the Republicans had hi jacked the dialogue.. it's going to be awfully hard to sell Willard this year

[Spazito]

19. Exactly! The 1% and the economic inequality...

focus of the public is an anathema to the repubs, they don't know how to combat it. Listening to the repub candidates has been fascinating, they have been slamming the 'vulture capitalists' and actually think the public is too dumb to know they ARE the 'vulture capitalists'.

[Old and In the Way]

6. No question that the OWS has been an effective change agent on the issue of banking.

I'm glad to see Schneiderman acknowledge the roll they've played in forcing the government to take action on this problem of financial organized crime.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. K&R

But I expect some on DU won't believe him and will come in here to dismiss this.

[redqueen]

8. +1

[randome]

9. The article says he didn't even mention OWS.

Why would you deliberately imply that he did?

[ProSense]

11. See the update. n/t

[randome]

13. Thanks. Yes, he was channeling OWS.

And "Banks got bailed out. We got sold out." is a very relevant message.

[Zorra]

10. Thanks, ProSense. I have a suspicion that Occupy may

cause President Obama to regret that he ever said "make me do it".

We're here, we're focused and dedicated, annoyingly persistent, we're never going away, and we're never going to quit.

President Obama and the legislative crews might as well just save themselves the nasty chronic headaches we will cause them, and make the process of getting the money totally out of government top priority.

We can do this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way, but whichever way they choose, it will be done, and done to the satisfaction of the 99%.

You can take that from the bank.

☮ccupy

[ProSense]

14. Thanks. As

"I have a suspicion that Occupy may cause President Obama to regret that he ever said 'make me do it'."

...long as that means progress.

We also need to stop the RW assault on the country.

[malaise]

12. 100% correct

Rec

[ananda]

16. K & R

bump

[PhoenixAbove]

17. K&R n/t

[ProSense]

18. Worth reading:

Why SEIU Is Thankful For Occupy Wall Street
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/24/1039632/--Why-SEIU-Is-Thankful-For-Occupy-Wall-Street

[hughee99]

20. Congrats to OWS, but I suspect that the "Renewed Pursuit" will slow down

around the first Wednesday in November.

[Zalatix]

21. Dear OWS bashers:

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