Agree.
Joanie, let me use my response to you...which I agree with...to sound off on many of the things I am hearing now about Cliven Bundy as they attempt top wage the PR war against him and his family and prepare the public mind for what they intend.
I know some of the people involved. Cliven Bundy is a good man. He is a honest hard working man.
Of course the other side in this is going to do all in their power to besmirch him and get others to believe it...it’s what they do. Ask Herman Cain and so many others.
Of course Cliven Bundy has looked out for his own interests through this. He has a family and grandkids and he takes seriously his injunction to provide for them. He is living free and he and his family have claims to that land that the Federal government has dismissed. But his unalienable rights supercede such rulings, just as our founder’s did. So he is doing all in his power to fight it.
It was brought to my attention to look back at his family’s claims to that land that predate the 1877 time frame...that go back into the Utah territory before there was a Nevada territory. Apparently his family laid claim to that same land back then and intended to work it, but was then called away by their Church, the LDS Church.
When they finally came back, it was still not occupied so they started working the land. Apparently they document this in their court proceedings...but it was dismissed by the Federal government. And of course it would be. To admit to this would mean that the Bundy claim predates any and everything the State of Nevada did at its inception.
The truth is, the BLM and the Federal government have been moving people like Cliven Bundy off of the land for decades. They do not want independent ranchers or farmers making use of that land. The same was true at Klamath, it was true at Jarbidge, it has been true in too many places to count. This man and his family are standing up to it...and we need people to stand up to it with them and many others to supports them.
Is Cliven Bundy perfect? Of course not. Only One is. But knowing what I know of him, and given my own history and background in these matters...I would stand with Cliven Bundy long before I would stand with any Federal Agency or their enforcement arms under this administration (and I myself work for one of those agencies).
This administration is wholly corrupt and it winds its way down in the policy and actions of its various organs.
This issue goes well beyond the specific incidents involved directly with the Bundys. Cliven Bundy is standing on his own personal rights and the constitution.
There is no provision for the Federal government to own or control vast swaths of lands in any of the states. it is not granted in the Constitution, and according to the constitution that power then belongs to the people or the states. A state cannot give the Federal government that which it has no power to accept according to the Constitution...despite usurpations that have occurred in spite of that.
That’s where Cliven Bundy stands. And despite whatever court rulings to the contrary (because they themselves would also be unconstitutional) I stand with him.