We have to remember that we firebaggers are not quite representative of broader society, as much as we wish we were. Broader society wants soundbites, not deliberation and accord.

There will be people who think it’s a big party and they’ll burn out at some point. But there are plenty of smart people out there who know in their hearts the game is rigged, or they sense it, and the only reason they haven’t gotten mad is that they think it’s *their* fault that they’re not doing better. There’s such a cult of individual responsibility in this culture that I know folks working two and three jobs just to keep heads above water and the mortgage paid, and they beat themselves up for not being the next Mark Zuckerberg and coming up with a way to get rich enough not to have to work two or three jobs…I think people are starting to realize, “maybe it’s not my fault I’m so behind.” Whatever is actually happening, I sense general-public-receptiveness is turning for the better and not the worse. And I was not so hopeful only, say, two weeks ago.

1. Big Business and Big Media become very nervous because there are lots of raggedy people — not the right kind of people — camping out on their front doorstep calling for change. [Check, this has already happened.]
2. BB&BM try to use force to get these folks evicted; this fails and in fact there’s a backlash that makes the movement stronger. [Check, cf Scott Olsen.]
3. BB&BM wise up and hope/expect that if they ignore #OWS, they’ll go away. [Check, I believe -- the media isn't reporting as much on #OWS these days, or so it seems.]
4. Without a concrete, concise list of demands, #OWS degrades into a giant street party, without any positive focus. [Check, sadly -- most of the people I know talking about going to #OWS are talking about how "fun" the "scene" is... not that having fun is BAD, but when that's WHY people are going... your fate as a protest movement is sealed. True protest is not FUN.]
5. Inevitably, bad actors — agent provocateurs, trust fund wannabe-anarchists, right wing nutjobs, crazy homeless people, drunks, addicts — move into the #OWS encampments, and due to the laziness and right wing bias of Big Media, become associated with #OWS. [Check, happening now.]
6. Winter arrives, and the “fun seekers” go somewhere warmer and drier to party. [We'll see how this one plays out.]
7. The result of #4 and #5 is that a NEW media consensus builds up, supported by the public perception — that #OWS is mostly a bunch of stoners and layabouts, coupled with some truly nasty folks who prefer firebombs to discussion. As a result, the MOTU’s feel justified in calling in the goon squads, and the remainder of the #OWS support crumbles, and the modern protest movement suffers yet another dagger in its heart. [Sadly, I believe this is already playing out, just from listening to people talk about #OWS... "I used to support it, but now..." is a common refrain.]

We’ll see how my cynical scenario plays out. I could be wrong; I hope I am… But I don’t think I am.

“we recognize that a number of the individuals who are on the lawn are not affiliated with the Occupy L.A. protest.”

I’m glad the Mayor’s office has admitted that. The city is hosting all kinds of groups on the South lawn at City Hall, the Tarp Tribe, the Star Tribe, the Sovereign Nation of Libertarians, random individuals, etc. some of which are very violent, unlike Occupy LA. Why? The others are not covered under the Constitutional rights to Free Speech/Assembly, only Occupy LA is and they are in a minority at the site and are victimized by the others. Occupy LA has no authority to throw the Mayor’s guests out, much as they might want to.

Neither the Times’ article nor this one states that any of the damage or assaults was the fault of Occupy LA, because they weren’t. Yet all trouble is blamed on Occupy LA by the media, because that is the spin they want to give it.

I sincerely wish the city would eject their guests, not affiliated with Occupy LA, and let the protesters get on with it.