Posted on 04/22/2014 6:56:08 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Senior writer John McCormack joined Greta van Susteren's political panel Monday on Fox News to discuss the protest at the Bundy ranch in Nevada. Watch the video below:
(VIDEO-AT-LINK)
Meanwhile, in this week's issue, the Scrapbook writes about the problems with Cliven Bundy's cause:
Twenty years ago, the federal government, which owns the land on which Bundy grazes his 900 cattle, decided to impose a grazing fee. Bundy opposes that fee, has consistently refused to pay it, and the federal Bureau of Land Management now claims that he owes $1 million in unpaid fees. Bundy has challenged the grazing fee in federal courtindeed, has challenged the federal governments title to land in Nevadaand has consistently lost. Sixteen years ago, a federal judge issued a permanent injunction against Bundy, ordering the removal of his cattle. Bundy appealed that ruling to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and lost again. Last August, a federal court gave Bundy 45 days to remove his cattle, and in October, a federal district judge ordered Bundy not to physically interfere with any seizure or impoundment operation.
This does not sound to The Scrapbook like the dread hand of tyranny, in Nevada or Washington, oppressing an innocent farmer, or pushing some law-abiding citizen around. It sounds, instead, like a rancher gaming the system to his own financial advantage, and disguising his scheme in populist rhetoric: refusing to pay a tax which others must pay, and tying up the courtsfor two decades!as he continues to ignore the law. Far from acting in an arbitrary or capricious manner, the federal government has shown patience and forbearance in the face of lawlessness that customarily lands people in jail. It is worth noting that Bundys rancher-neighbors and the Nevada Cattlemens Association, who contend with the same federal policies, offer him little support.
Bundy has exercised his First Amendment right to plead his case publicly and inflame his admirers. And inflamed they have been: A few hundred people from around the country converged on Nye County, Nevadamany armed and brandishing weaponsto disrupt the governments attempt to enforce the law, taunting and attacking agents dutifully carrying out the orders of a federal court. Last week, fearful of violence, the BLM suspended its roundup and withdrew from the area.
This is no victory for anyone other than Bundy and, The Scrapbook hopes, a temporary one at that. There is a term to describe the people who surround him, and it isnt militia. The word is mob. And what this mob has practiced is not civil disobedience but armed provocation of a democratic government which has afforded Cliven Bundy every right and privilege as a citizen. One of Bundys supporters boasted to the press that we were actually strategizing to put all the women up at the front. This is the same spirit that animates people who attack firemen during riots, or opposed school integration with violence in Little Rock, Arkansas. In that case, 57 years ago, President Eisenhower was obliged to send the 101st Airborne because, as he said, mob rule cannot be allowed to override the decisions of our courts.
What was true then remains true today. Cliven Bundy is no hero of any kind. No conservative would pick and choose the laws he intends to obey, defy the rest, and challenge the rule of democracy with guns. No hero would adopt the terrorists tactic of placing innocents in harms way. Any fool can pick up a weapon and aim at an officer of the law; the moral power of civil disobedience lies in the willingness to defer to the law and accept punishment on principle.
Rot in hell you government loving Lapdog!
I read articles and comments on many sites every day. I have never seen so many people so angry at the government. If you do not see that, start reading something besides the sports page. I go to many sports sites every day and even the posters on those are saying enough is enough. Why does the BLM need control of so much land in the SW? If that happened east of the MS River, you would see even more anger. I do not understand how any real conservative supports the BLM.
I miss VK, too. Now the trolls are invoking Jesus. Natch.
I miss VK, too. Now the trolls are invoking Jesus. Natch.
“Wrong is wrong”
It’s wrong for Feds to be strong-arming Bundy. He is small potatoes compared to the millions of invaders that have entered this country in recent decades. The Feds could completely ignore Bundy’s “transgressions” and no-one would notice. The Feds de facto ignore the invasion of our country and everyone is affected by it. The Feds ignoring this invasion is a wrong that our country will not survive.
- - - Citing fears of a runaway convention, Biggs is apparently more comfortable continuing to let Congress and the President runaway with our liberties. - - -
“Froggie” Biggs does not want to jump out of the near boiling pot of water on the Obamanation stove whose eternal flame is loyally protected by Doormat Republicans such as Boehner and McConnell.
Most criminals are idiots.
Wiggle away and go lick obama’s boots.
Right... 90... tries too hard to look conservative. After posting outrageous comments then a post loving guns and Jesus. Surprised FR has not zotted this one.
I agree with your assessment of so-called journalists. There are few, if any journalists left instead they print what they are told to print and never question the people these journalists speak with unless told to by God knows whom, to question, honestly question the interviewee via the interviewer. A vicious circle, in my humble opinion, and not very many bits of truth ever filter down to the People of our nation. This is (imho) built into the system where once there were checks and balances but now with free flowing misinformation coming from all talking no truths are shared or the truths shared are more misinformation ... once more in my humble opinion. If I had the solution would share but I do not have the solutions. I do sense the federals are coming like a thief in the night. Will they though? Will the federals decide you life, your children’s lives and your grandchildren’s lives have become worthless to they, the rulers. Is today the day when the People will be considers liabilities rather than assets? Wish I knew for I’d have my children and grandchildren on the first flight out of this nation but I do not know. Do know we have plenty of DEADBEATS though.
*************************************************
Well we should actually recast this sentence a bit. The fees in question should be called “management fees”. How they morphed into grazing fees might be an interesting part of this saga.
Bundy decided the contract they wanted him to sign was another example of astoundingly bad management that would result in bankruptcy and loss of his surface rights. He decided he would fire them, but generously offered to pay the fees as severance pay.
The BLM threw a temper tantrum and refused to accept his generous offer unless he signed the contract that would lead to the demise of his livelihood.
How's that for spin on a narrative?
This is a forum for pro-God Conservative Activism not for leftist talking points.
You apparently haven’t read anything that Timothy Egan has written. He’s far from a “hack” and has a pretty firm grip on land use issues in the West.
Here's some history for you:
Wayne Hage (Cliven Bundy's predecessor), and the US Forest Service which conspired against him (as detailed by the Federal judge hearing the case):
Federal Judge Accuses Federal Land Managers of Attempting to Bankrupt Ranch
http://watchdogwire.com/nevada/2013/06/14/federal-judge-accuses-federal-land-managers-of-attempting-to-bankrupt-ranch/
June 14, 2013
In a scathing 104-page opinion a Nevada federal judge lambasted the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service for behavior that shocks the conscience of the court, accusing federal officials of attempting to bankrupt the Hage family ranch by entering into a literal, intentional conspiracy to deprive the Hages not only of their permits but also of their vested water rights....
Cliven Bundy was one of Wayne Hage's supporters at Hage's "felony brush-cutting" trial.
You rest assured that the BLM is up to the same tricks.
That's why they destroyed Bundy's water retention tanks and equipment - without a court order.
Don't be a deadbeat by taking the word of deadbeat "journalists".
I read his article on Bundy, and I'm not impressed.
Egan lapped up the government's Bundy vomit, and puked it back up for his readers.
I've crossed swords with writers who were published in the Times before. Their credentials don't easily impress me.
It's interesting that Egan's wife is considered a "right winger" by the Watermelons in Seattle. LOL!
“QUESTION: What do you think Jesus would say to Bundy?”
It would be along the lines of ‘I see you remember when I used the whip. I’m glad you read about it and learned from my example. Bless you my son’.
Sounds good to me... VK resurrection!
Excellent! Cliven Bundy is a true Patriot in the manner of the Founding Fathers who bravely fought tyranny and I pray without ceasing for the Bundy family to prevail against the BLM thugs.
Yet I also think that Christ would admonish him to repent of his sin of following the cult of Mormonism.
I’m halfway tempted to inform Jim of this traitor in our midst but I know he’s busier than a one-armed paperhanger with the FReepathon. I’m sure the boss will catch a whiff of the government lapdog spoiling the conversation here.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.