That’s all I was asking. Kind of odd that he would try to pay a state entity for the use of federal land. Had the FedGov kept this in the courts (biased as they are) at least it would maintain the semblance of legitimacy. If what you say is correct, then the feds have decided that they’re not getting their way fast enough to suit them, and have decided to force the issue. In that case, I’m surprised that a) they haven’t already launched their assault, and b) the various private-citizen groups there haven’t told the feddies more explicitly that it’s time for them to go home.
The man is arguing from old common law, equity and natural law which were all jettisoned during the 20th century in favor of ‘positive law’ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_law
IMO, odds of him having a winnable case are nigh nonexistent.
I suspect his efforts to pay other entities were to demonstrate honesty and good faith during the dispute, but that is not how it works and they properly refused it.
My understanding is that he has since lost in court, and had no means or counsel to move with an appeal.
He is a rancher not an appellate attorney, and it appears that people in very high places want him out and dispossessed of valuable land.
The ONLY reason they haven’t turned full-blown scorched earth at this point is because of all the video cameras and media attention. The first opportunity when the media gets distracted with something else, the protesters will be tazed and drug off along with their video cameras and the slaughter will commence. They will also probably claim Bundy was filing off trigger sears or that he had a shotgun with a 17 7/8” barrel. Of course, Bundy and his family will be dead so there will be no one to dispute those claims.