Posted on 07/08/2018 6:28:40 AM PDT by Nextrush
While President Trump seems to have it right in his consideration of pardons for Dwight and Steven Hammond, treated unjustly with five year manadatory sentences for lighting a backfire to protect their land, the political machine seems to be grinding out credit for itself for any pardons that may be coming.
In this mid-term election year Oregon's leading Republican politician Congressman Greg Walden broke his silence last week to call for a pardon of the Hammonds.
Its an issue that he remained silent about for years, never saying a word about it.
He followed that up with a personal meeting with the Hammond family this week, having his picture taken with them for publication.
Dwight and Steven Hammond should have first on Congressman Walden's list way back in 2016 when they were being forced back to prison for a second time to serve out the mandatory terrorism sentences.
But it took the courage and committment of others not that much unlike those we remembered this week, the signers of the Declaration of Independence, to put the Hammonds first on their list.
People like Ammon Bundy, Ryan Bundy, LaVoy Finicum, Shawna Cox, David Fry, Ryan Payne and others put their faith in a power greater than themselves and by their actions pledged their "fortune" and "sacred honor" and in LaVoy's case "their lives" to freedom for the Hammonds.
Their actions brought the case of Hammonds to the world stage, forcing political forces to act to offer relief in the end.
But notice how long it took the political forces. Here we are 17 months into Republican control of Washington (White House and Congress) with this waiting until four months before an election and political forces hint a pardon is on the way shamelessly drawing attention to themselves to get votes in November.
Lobbying groups connected to politicians started leaking out the notion of a pardon right before the Memorial Day weekend in May, letting people know the request was inside the White House.
Then Walden made his speech on the floor of the House days ago and last Saturday later got a call from President Trump, doing his job, reviewing the pardon request and saying he was giving "serious consideration".
Again Walden exploited the call with publicity.
Its worth noting that the political machine produced the anti-terrorism law in 1995 that put the Hammonds behind bars in the first place. That federal law came in the year of the Oklahoma City bombing at a federal building driven by emotions and fear, passed by a Republican controlled Congress.
One thing I've learned from watching the Oregon and Bunkerville Standoff cases playing out, is that with the Bundy's and their supporters you have God, the Constitution and commitment to sacrifice for the sake of others.
That's something that's sorely lacking in the forces of the Uniparty political machine in general and the Republican Party in particular.
Its refreshing to see Ryan Bundy in the political arena as an independent candidate for governor in Nevada this fall.
He stands for the principles that the Democrats and Republicans left behind a long time ago as was evidenced in Nevada at Bunkerville and in Oregon with the Hammonds.
One more thing. Ryan Bundy still carries shrapnel in his shoulder he took to support freedom for the Hammonds. It came from a bullet apparently fired by FBI Agent W. Joseph Astarita January 26, 2016 moments before bullets took the life of LaVoy Finicum.
Republican politicians like Congressman Walden who failed to stand for freedom for the Hammonds back in 2016 and Adam Laxalt running for Governor of Nevada this year who failed to defend the Bundy's from the federal snipers and cattle rustlers in 2014 pale in comparison to a man like Ryan Bundy.
(EDITED AND EXPANDED SATURDAY JULY 7TH PM)
I am of the opinion that the Hammonds were prosecuted not for starting a back fire but for letting it get out of their control.
Frontline had a documentary called American Standoff telling the story of the Hammonds.
The politics by the republicans here is disgusting. Dwight Hammond is 78 years old. Get him out of his prison along with his son Steve.
I have donated to their cause, and it’s despicable that the republican party has played politics with the release of the Hammonds for nearly two years.
http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/what-is-the-oregon-standoff-really-about/
Walden is worse than an old fashioned Carpetbagger.
“Republican politicians like Congressman Walden who failed to stand for freedom for the Hammonds back in 2016 and Adam Laxalt running for Governor of Nevada this year who failed to defend the Bundy’s from the federal snipers and cattle rustlers in 2014 pale in comparison to a man like Ryan Bundy.”
Right on.
It might be fun to watch Walden’s consternation if a competitor uses a ‘Where’s Walden?’ meme. Imagine a pic of the trial with a Where’s Walden and and empty chair superimposed.
Did the Hammonds accept the Bundy's offer of support? I thought the Hammonds said in 2016 that neither Bundy nor anyone in his organization spoke for them?
The Hammond Family always appreciated that the Bundy’s cared and that was evident throughout all that happened with family members going to Portland to testify in defense of those accused in connection with the Oregon Standoff.
Dwight and Steven Hammond chose to go back to prison but the protesters came to give them freedom and their efforts now appear to be bearing fruit with a Presidential decision on the way regarding a pardon.
I am of the opinion that the Hammonds were prosecuted not for starting a back fire but for letting it get out of their control.
Dry grass and brush when combined with a little wind... by their nature get out of control almost immediately. I cannot comment on the details or wisdom of the Hammond’s actions, because I do not know enough of the specifics. But I have had enough experience that I do know that fighting these types of fires require good tactics and strategy to get them under control. If you have people acting outside of the command structure that it can cause dangerous situations regardless of their motives or intent.
Sorry forgot to italicize, those were not my words.
I also have fought wild fires and know full well that:
1) Fire wants to burn
2) Fire is a stubborn thing
3) Most people VASTLY over estimate their ability and skills when it comes to containing a fire.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday pardoned two eastern Oregon ranchers serving time in federal prison for setting fire to public land in a case that inflamed their supporters and gave rise to the armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
The right thing to do and thank President Trump but not the grandstanding political and governmental elements who are saying things about the Hammonds they weren’t willing to say before.
That includes both Congressman Greg Walden and Sheriff Dave Ward of Harney County.
And special thanks to those who went there to protest especially the ones that got sent to jail in plea deals or the second rigged trial over the Oregon Standoff protest.
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