The 12 Scariest Findings in the New Report on the Bundy Ranch Standoff

[xchrom]

http://www.thenation.com/blog/180619/12-scariest-parts-new-report-bundy-ranch-standoff


An armed protester patrols a bridge near Cliven Bundy's ranch outside Bunkerville, Nevada. April 12, 2014. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart)

***SNIP

1. “Almost overnight, thanks largely to the Bundy’s video going viral on antigovernment websites, the family’s fight with the federal government became a touchstone for various Tea Party Republicans, libertarians, antigovernment Oath Keepers and militia members, many of whom saw in the footage the beginnings of a war.”

2. “After watching the video from his home in Anaconda, Montana, 650 miles away, Ryan Payne, 30, an electrician and former soldier who had deployed twice to the Iraq war, became enraged […]

“Payne left that day with another member of his militia, Jim Lardy, and drove through the night, a few sleeping bags in tow, burning up cell phones hoping to bring every militia member they could. On April 9 he sent out an urgent call for the militias to mobilize. ‘At this time we have approximately 150 responding, but that number is growing by the hour,’ he wrote, offering directions to the Bundy ranch. ‘May God grant each and every one of you safety, wisdom and foresight, and courage to accomplish the mission we have strived for so long to bring to fruition. All men are mortal, most pass simply because it is their time, a few however are blessed with the opportunity to choose their time in performance of duty.’”

3. “In a low-lying wash where gates held the Bundy herd, an angry, heavily armed crowd grew, defying orders and engaging in a tense game of chicken with BLM rangers in riot gear demanding through loudspeakers that they disperse. They shouted profanities and gripped their weapons.

“Militia snipers lined the hilltops and overpasses with scopes trained on federal agents. What happened was not unplanned. As Payne later told the SPLC, he had ordered certain gunment ‘to put in counter sniper positions’ and others to hang behind at the rance. ‘[M]e and Mel Bundy put together the plan for the cohesion between the the Bundys and the militia…. Sending half of the guys up to support the protestors…and keep overwatch and make sure that if the BLM wanted to get froggy, that it wouldn’t be good for them.’”

[hobbit709]

1. If the Occupy, black or brown people had done this, you know what would have happened.

But dumbass angry white men get a pass when it comes to defying the government.

[MohRokTah]

2. These people will understand nothing short of direct action against them

Every last one of them belongs in prison for the rest of their lives.

[Shrike47]

3. This is so damned depressing. They're nuts, they can vote, and facts don't sway them.

[Bandit]

4. And they are still walking (strutting) around free without a care in the world

What is the Government waiting for?

[Babel_17]

7. Well said

I can understand the desire to build a case, and maybe connect the dots as to who else is involved, but there's a compelling need to address this.

[Squinch]

5. These guys are dying for a fight. It is very reminiscent of the Whiskey Rebellion, which

I doubt the "patriots" understand, was summarily crushed by the founding fathers the "patriots" think they resemble.

[conservaphobe]

6. Allowing antigovernment/hate groups to function in any meaningful way

is more detrimental to this nation than cracking down on them.

It is my hope that we eventually have less of a tolerance in our culture and our laws for these types of dangerous groups.

[Enthusiast]

8. I think the police should have killed every last one of them.

[Jim Lane]

9. I disagree with the calls for killing or immediately imprisoning them.

The government has the advantage in a long, drawn-out struggle. Many of these people can't stay camped out at the ranch forever.

I don't understand why the BLM released the Bundy cattle it had already confiscated. That, I think, was carrying the restrained approach too far. I also don't understand how things got to this point when, IIRC, there are court orders against Bundy dating back several years.

In general, the government can let the "militia" posture for a while. Meanwhile, the government can build on prior court orders. It should get a judgment against Bundy for a specific sum, if it hasn't done that already, and then execute on that judgment, such as by finding Bundy's bank accounts. If that doesn't work, it can go through legal process to obtain legal title to his ranch and cattle. He must sell the cattle somewhere, right? The government can notify all the places that buy them (brokers or beef processors or whatever, there can't be that many possible buyers) that Bundy no longer has title to the cattle, and any such cattle that are found can be taken by the government without compensation, and a buyer's only recourse will be to go demand a refund from Bundy. With that course I don't think anyone will pay him for the cattle. You could bring a lot of pressure to bear without even having to try to evict him from the ranch, although that of course would be the last resort.

[Paladin]

10. This isn't going to end well. Way too many unhinged minds, intent on using their fancy guns. (nt)