“It’s not the money they want, it’s getting the cows off the public land.”
It might have started out that way, but now the Feds want to make an example of that defiant rancher to scare other Americans into submission when other encroachments against freedom are committed. Another Waco massacre could happen, because each Federal outrage becomes easier to commit than the last. After all, there was no consequence to the last massacre, so why should they worry?
I can’t see them using the IRS, too much stink on that agency already. Internet media would crucify the FedGov/BLM.
So they attach liens to the ranch, so what? A lien doesn’t remove the cows off the range land and doesn’t solve the PR issue.
I can see a contempt of court finding followed by a bench warrant and jailing him till the cows are removed, but I don’t know how they can possibly manage an arrest w/o a militarized assault on the ranch. How’s that going to play out on the news?
The difference between Waco and the Bundy ranch is the internet, social media and the alternative media like the blogosphere. America has other sources of news and information apart from the mainstream media and the evening news.
That’s why they retreated this time, too much public knowledge and involvement.
I don’t know how it’s going to play out, but I do know that this time things are different.