Dance for that Anarchy: My Love-Hate Relationship with Black-Blocs

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Friday May 25, 2012 · 1:05 AM PDT

2012/05/25 · 01:05

Crosspost: http://occupiedchicagotribune.org/...

It’s exhilarating to have power. Exhilarating, really. It makes sense, then, why women and men sign up to do repressive jobs, like policing—with a badge comes power, a tacit “okay” from the state and fawning public for any acts of violence you may commit. The police aren’t all bad: Many a burglary victim, for example, will be eternally grateful for police help. At the same time, however, for every heroic deed this power begets, there is a rape, a murder, and a coerced confession.

Power, or the perception thereof, is not limited to the badge. Participating in a “black bloc” likewise grants a sense of invincibility. The uniform is different—more black than blue—but some elements of the same code are present. Leave no one behind. Protect your people. Have no fear. Take no shit.

The 10 days I spent with #noNATO protesters in Chicago, more often than not as a participant, caused me to consider the nature of the interactions in the streets, and the thinking (or lack thereof) behind police and black bloc actions. This is my assessment.

tsitfel

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Wednesday October 29, 2008 · 9:06 AM PDT

2008/10/29 · 09:06

Democratic challenger Roy Carter in North Carolina's 5th district got some great news this morning when the largest paper in the district, the Winston-Salem Journal (circulation 82,000) ran an article that highlighted the race in the fifth district. The ad, which detailed the tense nature of the race, made mention of Roy Carter's terrific Gold Star Mom ad, diaried here. It also mentioned Carter's pledge not to take PAC money and speculations that the district is in play. This kind of press is a fantastic sign for a cash-strapped campaign desperate to get its message out.

Poll

16 votes Show Results

Are you giving to Roy?

16 votes Vote Now!

Are you giving to Roy?

Yes! Virginia Foxx gives me the ickies and I want an NC progressive in Washington.

11 votes

No, I'm tapped out, having supported other candidates.

4 votes

No, meaning i won't complain when blowhards like Foxx throw tantrums about drilling.

1 vote

ANOTHER NC GOP Rep with Anti-American Comments -- Virginia Foxx (update x1)

tsitfel

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Thursday October 23, 2008 · 10:18 AM PDT

2008/10/23 · 10:18

Representative Virginia Foxx in North Carolina's Fifth District is the latest in a string of GOP house members (and vice presidential candidates, an pundits, etc etc) to impugn the Americanness of certain members of Congress. According to CQ Politics, Foxx has leveled the anti-American charge several times on the floor of the house while debating energy policy and other things.

More below the fold.

tsitfel

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Thursday October 09, 2008 · 1:04 PM PDT

2008/10/09 · 13:04

NC-5 is where to do it. Rated at R+15, this district has been where well-recruited candidates go to die, and hasn't elected a democrat since Jim Neal in 1994. Cutting a wide swath through the northwest corner of the state, the district is mostly rural, and in any other year is safely red.

This year, a different sort of candidate is running. Roy Carter, Progressive grassroots all star, has spent 40 years of his life as a teacher, football coach, and part time farmer. From a decidedly rural upbringing emerged the sort of democrat that shatters the myth of Republican monopoly on small towns. His opponent is Virginia Foxx, who, in addition to being in lockstep with President Bush on nearly every issue, has voted against SCHIP, Hurricane Katrina Relief, and extending the Voting Rights Act. She received a 100% rating from the American Conservative Union. She has received failing grades from labor and environmental groups.

The Kicker is after the jump (it's good.)

tsitfel

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Wednesday October 08, 2008 · 12:26 AM PDT

2008/10/08 · 00:26

During the portion on healthcare, when McCain was talking about Obama's supposed fines on small business owners, did anyone else notice that he seemed to misspeak and say 'find' before quickly correcting himself and repeating fine again? I'm not sure he did, but if so, you want to bet that this slip was intentional, designed to subconsciously reinforce people's fears about terrorist-pallin' Obama?