On the lighter side: Jury selection in the Bundy Bunch trial has begun

[jmowreader]

And you may want to read Ryan Bundy's insane "Statement by verified declaration" at

http://res.cloudinary.com/bdy4ger4/image/upload/v1469756323/Bundy_sovereign_citizen_mxzt2u.pdf?t=924916

Some highlights...

He says he's not a person, a child or a human being.

He believes he's entitled to $800 million to restore him to the wholeness he enjoyed before he was arrested. Further, he believes the government must set him free immediately.

He believes district courts have no jurisdiction over him.

It's pretty standard sovereign citizen bullshit.

[ffr]

1. Let him die in prison

He'll cost us more than that if he's ever set free. Freeloader!

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. Ryan is the face and soul of the Bundy clan inbreds.

Anyone got a pic to post here?

[jmowreader]

4. Here's my fave

[struggle4progress]

3. Maybe he and David Fry could share a padded cell

[VMA131Marine]

5. Well, that should go well.

Not!

[gratuitous]

6. Judge Brown will only put up with so much of this

I don't know how well Ryan Bundy is going to take orders from a female judge, but he should practice saying "Yes, Your Honor."

[jmowreader]

7. Oh lord...you're totally going to believe what they demanded to wear to court

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/ammon-bundy-cowboy-boots-trial

Their defense is going to revolve around their "authenticity" as cowboys, so this is what they want to wear to court:

Ties, Bows, Belts, Handkerchiefs, Cuff Links, Steel toe boots/shoes, Shoe laces, Shirt tie down straps, Safety pins, Shirt pocket pen protectors.

Now I don't know about y'all, but to me that sounds like a list of weapons they plan to use to try to break out of the courtroom and run into the arms of their supporters, who will spirit them to Mexico before The Law can catch up with them.

Does anyone know if US District Courthouses have indoor loading docks they can employ to bring the defendants into court away from the hundreds of sovereign citizens who plan to encircle the courthouse? I'm a little worried about Judge Brown's safety; I wouldn't put it past these overarmed maniacs to try killing her if/when the jury finds all those people guilty.

[gratuitous]

8. There was one guy yammering on the corner yesterday

I rode by, and heard him going on about laws and the country. Banty rooster-looking fellow in a cowboy hat and western shirt, could have come out of central casting to play a rancher. I'll check to see if he's there again today, but he looked awfully lonesome. Don't know that he'd talk with some fat old man on a bike, but maybe I'll try to chat with him.

The downtown federal courthouse is quite new and pretty secure, and everyone seems to be taking the possibility of a confrontation seriously. The feds were none too gentle with the Occupy folks a couple of years ago when they expanded into federally-controlled Schrunk Plaza.

And the Bundys will not be allowed to wear anything that can be turned into a weapon, like cowboy boots. Courthouse security folks have been at this a LOT longer than the Bundys have been scofflaws.

[gratuitous]

10. He was on the corner again today

Engaged in earnest conversation on his cell phone, so I didn't want to interrupt him. He was wearing a blue wind-breaker with some printed stuff on the back about living in God's world under the lordship of Jesus Christ. All I can say is that he'll get a far nicer response from heathen Portland than a heathen from Portland could expect from the denizens of wherever he lives.

[snooper2]

9. LTD face is going to be in a mental hospital soon LOL

Everyone should read this drivel at the link it is fucking HILARIOUS