Battle for the Soul of Occupy
Jump, jump, jump over the dead body of the old left! ///// You must be whistling past the grave yard. Yes we are dead. We are ghosts. We're invisible. But you fear us. Why do you fear ghosts ?

What's missing from this discussion is diversity of tactics, with regards to this diversity of tactics.

The 99% Spring is not just an attempt to co-opt OCCUPY. It's a fait accomplis.

Some occupiers may see this as a victory, now OCCUPY issues are going mainstream. But the issues have always been mainstream, just repeatedly pushed aside by the press and sitting members of Congress.

The 99%Spring has hijacked OCCUPY language, are using OCCUPY tactics, and possibly aim to have bodies out in the street, to push forward leftist issues in tandem with Democratic party campaign. At first this seems great, but in reality, the pushing for leftist issues is worthless because the Democratic party have no intention of following through. It's just the best way to get your base back on board before election time.

Obviously, nothing is proprietary in any political movement, but when you see the masters of propaganda, using your language, tactics and publicity, to achieve their own aims, you must also assume they intend to thwart or divert your movement, take the spotlight off your movement, and hijack it for their own gain. Being aware of that is not paranoia. It's just being aware of the inevitable.

Since we know the 99%Spring aren't going to protest NATO, G8 or push for a general strike, it's not outrageous to assume they're ultimately working towards getting Democrats elected and reelected, even if that's not immediately apparent in their trainings and current campaign. Several different people have related several different stories, and apparently there's been varied experiences, some positive, some negative. However, we only have to look at how moveon runs campaigns in tandem with the Obama administration to see where this is ultimately headed, after the Spring.

Obama used the 99% language in his last SOTU address without referencing OWS, and he's been using it heavily in the last week to promote the Buffet rule (aka the 1% tax, aka the millionaires tax) that failed a Senate vote yesterday - http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/16/smallbusiness/buffett/?npt=NP1, while moveon have tax day protests arranged for today: http://civic.moveon.org/event/events/index.html?rc=homepage.sidebar&action_id=272

The real issue now is how Occupiers choose to handle the co-option. Occupiers should do whatever they feel, suits them.

Here's some suggestions:

* Occupiers can take part in the 99% Spring and co-occ everyone they meet, network and take contact details. Form a database. Take note of the methods that these other groups use, and co-opt their methods when useful. Moveon members don't generally know each other, socialize with each other or form groups outside of moveon. Occupiers could change some of that at these events, and co-occ. Occupiers could try to get Occupy events or actions publicized through the 99%Spring network.

* Be part of the 99% Spring as long as it's convenient and productive for Occupiers or until the interests start separating and become more apparent.

* Combat the 99% Spring by reaching out to the progressive press in a coordinated media blitz for the purpose of publicizing upcoming Occupy events, thus taking the spotlight away from the 99%Spring.

* Ignore the 99% Spring, continue on with whatever you were doing before you heard of the 99% Spring.

Please add to these options.