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 court—indeed, has challenged the federal government’s title to land in Nevada—and 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 courts”—for 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 Bundy’s rancher-neighbors and the Nevada Cattlemen’s 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, Nevada—many armed and brandishing weapons—to disrupt the government’s 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 isn’t “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 Bundy’s 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 terrorist’s tactic of placing innocents in harm’s 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.
You are my hero for posting that.
The right to keep and bear arms is a constitutionally protected right and that is precisely why folks get defensive when their protected rights are questioned. The Constitution is a contract that is the lawful reins with which you control your government. The people dropped the reins and the government went out of control. It is a pleasure to see honorable men like Jeff McCloskey, David Cox and John Pennington stepping up to educate and get control of the reins again.
The BLM went on a rampage in the early 90s and drastically cut almost every rancher’s permit because of the desert tortoise. In 1976 there were 52 ranching permits in that area of Nevada. Most of those people lost their livelihoods because of the actions of the BLM. There are three left today.
Mr. Bundy took a stand, not only for himself, but for all of us. He refused to be destroyed by a tyrannical federal entity and to have his American liberties and freedoms taken away.
Ranchers in the western states have paid enormous amounts of money for the forage rights those permits allow — not rights to the land, but rights to use the forage that grows on that land.
Many of these AUMS [animal unit months] are water based, meaning that the rancher also has a vested right (state owned, not federal) to the waters that adjoin the lands and allow the livestock to drink. These water rights were also purchased at a great price. If a rancher cannot show beneficial use of the water (he must have the appropriate number of livestock that drinks and uses that water), then he loses that water right. Usually water rights and forage rights go hand in hand.
The Bundys purchased their allotment in 1887 and have improved the public land at their expense.
The issue at Bunkerville, Nev., is a question of law, not an emotional issue. Does the BLM have police power on land not ceded by Congress?
Ninety-nine percent of the public land in Nevada is held in a proprietorial interest and therefore the managers of the land (BLM) have not been given the power of law enforcement and for that reason have no authority to carry guns to enforce criminal laws on the land. The sheriff of every county has been given constitutional authority to enforce the law when acts are done in the commission of a crime.
Pursuant to Constitutional provisions, land must be ceded and accepted by the federal government in order for them to have exclusive jurisdiction and enforce with police power.
If you really want to enjoy your public land then get active in protecting the right of use.
Linda Bestland
Mesa County Patriots
I don't think so. No one really OWNS land. We get to "rent" it for a bit of time while we are on earth.
BTW, I think Reid is a pimp.
We can keep willing it to our heirs but sooner or later said family will lose that bit of land.
Being on Bundy land for 1000 years STILL doesn't give him the right to graze that land because it's not HIS anymore. It's a shame that he lost it, but he lost it and won't be getting it back any time soon. Is that worth dying for? I don't think so.
WHY didn't he "lawyer up" and keep the government from buying that land?
I would die for family and friends but not for a piece of property. Especially one that I didn't own anymore. Land isn't worth that sacrifice.
SURELY this past Sunday taught you that.
The WS is a DC elite rag and takes its marching orders from K Street.
I wonder if the Chinese were promised this land and the DC elites have ordered all these sad obvious Hit pieces which will justify some upcoming
action .
I am, from tyrants no longer serving in my local or state government and I cannot get any redress. You talk about hiring lawyers, are you going to foot MY bill to help me fight off government over-reach? It would take me days to explain to you my suffering at the hands of government but I doubt that would change one thing. You obviously have a hard on for government as shown on this thread. Quite honestly, I went through something quite similar to Bundy; a government asks then imposes one set of rules and when you reach that mark, they change it up some more and when you reach THAT mark, they chance again; and again. By the time you are done and say "fuq-it" there is no money left for legal defense. Go lick a boot.
You post socialist crap on FR? Surprised you have lasted this long.
Give the government 1/2 of your work or go to debtors prison...Sounds like the good old days before this country was born. Repeal the 16th amendment, quit giving tyrants around the world the money it steals from its citizens. The congress has passed so many laws, we are all lawbreakers and they enforce only the ones they want. Eliminate all the alphabet departments. They were set up so congress wouldn't have to be blamed for the thieving and killing of the citizens. They have regulators to do their dirty work...Wake up, we have lost most of our freedoms already. Being 75, I remember when we had a legit. government...and freedom, get out of my toilet, off my property, quit telling us what we can and cannot do. And some so called governments want to tax us for the rainwater that falls on our land....Only the dumb and blind stick up for unconstitutional laws and illegal regulations. Gee what kind of light bulbs can you buy, Part of my farm was considerred wetlands because of the mud in the spring and a high watertable. Yet it had been nursery stock for 10 years before I bought it...didn't know about the wetlands until I went to the twspship to get a plat of the acreage. Opps they said at township hall, this must be wrong, we will have to change it....covered on 2 sides by farming of feed corn by the neighbor. You need to get some education on freedom as you don't seem to know what it is....
“I do hope this can be resolved peacefully.”
I hope it can’t... Peacefully only means that Brundy gives up. I hope that doesn’t happen. This is too deep of a wound for there not to be any blood.
You are saying that Bundy used guns on someone. that is a lie. it was Obama who sent an army with guns and special forces against Bundy. that is a violation of the Constitution and of Posse Comitatus.so Obama is the criminal .
so many democrats/liberals/socialists on this thread . amazing I know others keep focusing on Reid , the BLM , Bundy as the culprits. Well Reid and the BLM are criminals and wrong here too but we have to focus Obama is responsible. Only this Obama can order these special forces that were sent to attack Bundy a private American citizen .
and also the federal government cannot own 86% of Nevada which it does. that is socialism not capitalism nor freedom
I know about the second amendment. Did I EVER question Bundy's right to carry arms? NO, I didn't. So, WHY bring it up?
Also I taught U.S. history and government years ago so I don't need a lecture on the Constitution either. I know you mean well.
My husband had many guns, well, four rifles, and 10 pistols. My personal favorite was the little Baretta. I used to shoot at Osama bin Laden's beard as my target. I got pretty good at nailing his throat! :o)
The GOP can get control of the reins again if they can produce a decent candidate. I won't vote for a Mormon. They STILL believe that Jesus and Lucifer were brothers! Whaaat? Where did they GET that garbage?
NO. Cliven Bundy is in the RIGHT!!
Is sending in military forces to collect on a fine tarnishing the obama tyranny?
>> Obama isn’t a criminal
You need to get out of WH more often
I was wondering about that, too.
You are really suffering? Well, I am sorry for that.
You will be in my prayers. I guess you haven't a home, not enough to eat, no vehicles, poor health, ragged clothes, no shoes and all the pain from the death of a spouse or children.
I lived in the middle east five years and when we got back home for good, at LAX, I KISSED the ground of our wonderful USA.
God has INDEED blessed us beyond anything and I consider myself a VERY fortunate woman to have been born and brought up here.
I thank the good Lord every single, solitary day for allowing me to be born in this WONDERFUL country.
Its flaws are bad, but that's because we are FLAWED human beings. No government can make everyone content with their lot in life. It's impossible.
Our original sin and continued sinning is what makes us unhappy. We can only be truly happy if we are with the Lord.
QUESTION: What do you think Jesus would say to Bundy?
Seems things are hunky dory in the land of the Socialist lovers. They love jack boot of govt. on their necks... perhaps because they work in govt. and benefit from it.
Sad to see these people posting on this site with impunity.
I miss the Viking Kitties.
Yes Obama is a criminal .It was Barack Obama the president who sent an army with guns and special forces against a private American citizen for a civil matter.
Here is proof Obama sent special (armed) forces to attack Mr. Bundy:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3147138/posts
Obama broke the law of Posse Comitatus and must be imprisoned now
you need to look up Posse Comitatus or read the Constitution or learn about what the Constitution and individual rights versus collectivism mean.
The federal gov nor a president cannot send an army against a private citizen for a civil matter. that is a crime , a violation of Posse Comitatus . plus you’ll say that is not army well it was and Obama also sent special forces that only answer to him to help out in the raid against Bundy. so Barack Obama is a criminal and must be imprisoned for it
================================
If you think Obama is a criminal then you give him credit for MORE brains than I do.
I don't think he's SMART enough to be a criminal.
Michael Warren of The Weekly Standard has written a very similar article here.
Egan and Warren have both inspired me.
There are NUMEROUS deadbeats involved in this story - oh, yes!
But they are deadbeat JOURNALISTS. Pretenders who fail to get the facts, but instead rely on the government pablum spoon-fed to them by the BLM and its brethren government bureaus.
Timothy Egan: deadbeat
Michael Warren: deadbeat
Bundy can't pay the BLM its grazing fees because he has to sign their contract before doing so. And the contract hands Bundy's business to the BLM.
This is why it's taken 20 years to get to this point. The BLM needs to jump through all the legal hoops to be able to jam the contract down Cliven Bundy's throat.
If the "journalists" weren't DEADBEATS, most people would know these things.
Plus all kinds of things to sign under a contract.
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