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Is Bundy's Protest Tarnishing the Tea Party? (Weekly Standard jumping the shark?)
The Weekly Standard ^ | April 22, 2013 | Michael Warren

Posted on 04/22/2014 6:56:08 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Senior writer John McCormack joined Greta van Susteren's political panel Monday on Fox News to discuss the protest at the Bundy ranch in Nevada. Watch the video below:

(VIDEO-AT-LINK)

Meanwhile, in this week's issue, the Scrapbook writes about the problems with Cliven Bundy's cause:

Twenty years ago, the federal government, which owns the land on which Bundy grazes his 900 cattle, decided to impose a grazing fee. Bundy opposes that fee, has consistently refused to pay it, and the federal Bureau of Land Management now claims that he owes $1 million in unpaid fees. Bundy has challenged the grazing fee in federal court—indeed, has challenged the federal government’s title to land in Nevada—and has consistently lost. Sixteen years ago, a federal judge issued a permanent injunction against Bundy, ordering the removal of his cattle. Bundy appealed that ruling to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and lost again. Last August, a federal court gave Bundy 45 days to remove his cattle, and in October, a federal district judge ordered Bundy not to “physically interfere with any seizure or impoundment operation.”

This does not sound to The Scrapbook like the dread hand of tyranny, in Nevada or Washington, oppressing an innocent farmer, or pushing some law-abiding citizen around. It sounds, instead, like a rancher gaming the system to his own financial advantage, and disguising his scheme in populist rhetoric: refusing to pay a tax which others must pay, and “tying up the courts”—for two decades!—as he continues to ignore the law. Far from acting in an arbitrary or capricious manner, the federal government has shown patience and forbearance in the face of lawlessness that customarily lands people in jail. It is worth noting that Bundy’s rancher-neighbors and the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association, who contend with the same federal policies, offer him little support.

Bundy has exercised his First Amendment right to plead his case publicly and inflame his admirers. And inflamed they have been: A few hundred people from around the country converged on Nye County, Nevada—many armed and brandishing weapons—to disrupt the government’s attempt to enforce the law, taunting and attacking agents dutifully carrying out the orders of a federal court. Last week, fearful of violence, the BLM suspended its roundup and withdrew from the area.

This is no victory for anyone other than Bundy and, The Scrapbook hopes, a temporary one at that. There is a term to describe the people who surround him, and it isn’t “militia.” The word is “mob.” And what this mob has practiced is not civil disobedience but armed provocation of a democratic government which has afforded Cliven Bundy every right and privilege as a citizen. One of Bundy’s supporters boasted to the press that “we were actually strategizing to put all the women up at the front.” This is the same spirit that animates people who attack firemen during riots, or opposed school integration with violence in Little Rock, Arkansas. In that case, 57 years ago, President Eisenhower was obliged to send the 101st Airborne because, as he said, “mob rule cannot be allowed to override the decisions of our courts.”

What was true then remains true today. Cliven Bundy is no hero of any kind. No conservative would pick and choose the laws he intends to obey, defy the rest, and challenge the rule of democracy with guns. No hero would adopt the terrorist’s tactic of placing innocents in harm’s way. Any fool can pick up a weapon and aim at an officer of the law; the moral power of civil disobedience lies in the willingness to defer to the law and accept punishment on principle.


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: blm; bundy; cinos; rinos; teaparty
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To: cloudmountain

Rot in hell you government loving Lapdog!


101 posted on 04/22/2014 8:30:23 PM PDT by ohioman
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To: cloudmountain

I read articles and comments on many sites every day. I have never seen so many people so angry at the government. If you do not see that, start reading something besides the sports page. I go to many sports sites every day and even the posters on those are saying enough is enough. Why does the BLM need control of so much land in the SW? If that happened east of the MS River, you would see even more anger. I do not understand how any real conservative supports the BLM.


102 posted on 04/22/2014 8:30:31 PM PDT by MamaB
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To: antceecee

I miss VK, too. Now the trolls are invoking Jesus. Natch.


103 posted on 04/22/2014 8:31:25 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (Great vid by ShorelineMike! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOZjJk6nbD4&feature=plcp)
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To: antceecee

I miss VK, too. Now the trolls are invoking Jesus. Natch.


104 posted on 04/22/2014 8:31:36 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (Great vid by ShorelineMike! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOZjJk6nbD4&feature=plcp)
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To: cloudmountain

“Wrong is wrong”

It’s wrong for Feds to be strong-arming Bundy. He is small potatoes compared to the millions of invaders that have entered this country in recent decades. The Feds could completely ignore Bundy’s “transgressions” and no-one would notice. The Feds de facto ignore the invasion of our country and everyone is affected by it. The Feds ignoring this invasion is a wrong that our country will not survive.


105 posted on 04/22/2014 8:33:14 PM PDT by Prolixus (We feed; they breed.)
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To: kiryandil

” - - - Citing fears of a “runaway convention,” Biggs is apparently more comfortable continuing to let Congress and the President “runaway” with our liberties. - - - “

“Froggie” Biggs does not want to jump out of the near boiling pot of water on the Obamanation stove whose eternal flame is loyally protected by Doormat Republicans such as Boehner and McConnell.


106 posted on 04/22/2014 8:33:18 PM PDT by Graewoulf (Democrats' Obamacare Socialist Health Insur. Tax violates U.S. Constitution AND Anti-Trust Law.)
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To: cloudmountain

Most criminals are idiots.

Wiggle away and go lick obama’s boots.


107 posted on 04/22/2014 8:39:10 PM PDT by Ray76 (Take over the GOP? You still beg! Forget them. Second Party Now.)
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To: RushIsMyTeddyBear

Right... 90... tries too hard to look conservative. After posting outrageous comments then a post loving guns and Jesus. Surprised FR has not zotted this one.


108 posted on 04/22/2014 8:44:55 PM PDT by antceecee (Bless us Lord, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
that's Weaky Standard...std. RINO issue.

109 posted on 04/22/2014 8:46:50 PM PDT by skinkinthegrass (The end move in politics is always to pick up a gun..0'Bathhouse/"Rustler" Reid? ;-)
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To: kiryandil

I agree with your assessment of so-called journalists. There are few, if any journalists left instead they print what they are told to print and never question the people these journalists speak with unless told to by God knows whom, to question, honestly question the interviewee via the interviewer. A vicious circle, in my humble opinion, and not very many bits of truth ever filter down to the People of our nation. This is (imho) built into the system where once there were checks and balances but now with free flowing misinformation coming from all talking no truths are shared or the truths shared are more misinformation ... once more in my humble opinion. If I had the solution would share but I do not have the solutions. I do sense the federals are coming like a thief in the night. Will they though? Will the federals decide you life, your children’s lives and your grandchildren’s lives have become worthless to they, the rulers. Is today the day when the People will be considers liabilities rather than assets? Wish I knew for I’d have my children and grandchildren on the first flight out of this nation but I do not know. Do know we have plenty of DEADBEATS though.


110 posted on 04/22/2014 8:47:00 PM PDT by no-to-illegals (Scrutinize our government and Secure the Blessing of Freedom and Justice)
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To: kiryandil
Bundy can't pay the BLM its grazing fees because he has to sign their contract before doing so. And the contract hands Bundy’s business to the BLM.

*************************************************

Well we should actually recast this sentence a bit. The fees in question should be called “management fees”. How they morphed into grazing fees might be an interesting part of this saga.

Bundy decided the contract they wanted him to sign was another example of astoundingly bad management that would result in bankruptcy and loss of his surface rights. He decided he would fire them, but generously offered to pay the fees as severance pay.

The BLM threw a temper tantrum and refused to accept his generous offer unless he signed the contract that would lead to the demise of his livelihood.

How's that for spin on a narrative?

111 posted on 04/22/2014 8:48:06 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: antceecee; Ray76
I'm sending a note to the mod requesting that this anti-American socialist get the zot. In honor of "Earth Day", I hope to see this "pollutant" banished from Free Republic. :)

This is a forum for pro-God Conservative Activism not for leftist talking points.

112 posted on 04/22/2014 8:50:18 PM PDT by re_nortex (DP - that's what I like about Texas)
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To: kiryandil

You apparently haven’t read anything that Timothy Egan has written. He’s far from a “hack” and has a pretty firm grip on land use issues in the West.


113 posted on 04/22/2014 8:50:38 PM PDT by stormer
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To: kiryandil
"I hope the hat fools em...."



114 posted on 04/22/2014 8:51:16 PM PDT by MeshugeMikey ( "Never, never, never give up". Winston Churchill)
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To: cloudmountain
Also I taught U.S. history and government years ago so I don't need a lecture on the Constitution either.

Here's some history for you:

Wayne Hage (Cliven Bundy's predecessor), and the US Forest Service which conspired against him (as detailed by the Federal judge hearing the case):

Federal Judge Accuses Federal Land Managers of Attempting to Bankrupt Ranch
http://watchdogwire.com/nevada/2013/06/14/federal-judge-accuses-federal-land-managers-of-attempting-to-bankrupt-ranch/

June 14, 2013
In a scathing 104-page opinion a Nevada federal judge lambasted the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service for behavior that “shocks the conscience” of the court, accusing federal officials of attempting to bankrupt the Hage family ranch by entering into “a literal, intentional conspiracy to deprive the Hages not only of their permits but also of their vested water rights.”...

Cliven Bundy was one of Wayne Hage's supporters at Hage's "felony brush-cutting" trial.

You rest assured that the BLM is up to the same tricks.

That's why they destroyed Bundy's water retention tanks and equipment - without a court order.

Don't be a deadbeat by taking the word of deadbeat "journalists".

115 posted on 04/22/2014 8:51:33 PM PDT by kiryandil (turning Americans into felons, one obnoxious drunk at a time (Zero Tolerance!!!))
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To: stormer
You apparently haven’t read anything that Timothy Egan has written. He’s far from a “hack” and has a pretty firm grip on land use issues in the West.

I read his article on Bundy, and I'm not impressed.

Egan lapped up the government's Bundy vomit, and puked it back up for his readers.

I've crossed swords with writers who were published in the Times before. Their credentials don't easily impress me.

It's interesting that Egan's wife is considered a "right winger" by the Watermelons in Seattle. LOL!

116 posted on 04/22/2014 8:58:03 PM PDT by kiryandil (turning Americans into felons, one obnoxious drunk at a time (Zero Tolerance!!!))
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To: cloudmountain

“QUESTION: What do you think Jesus would say to Bundy?”

It would be along the lines of ‘I see you remember when I used the whip. I’m glad you read about it and learned from my example. Bless you my son’.


117 posted on 04/22/2014 9:01:12 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle (Want to keep your doctor? Remove your Democrat Senator.)
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To: re_nortex

Sounds good to me... VK resurrection!


118 posted on 04/22/2014 9:04:02 PM PDT by antceecee (Bless us Lord, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life.)
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To: Balding_Eagle
It would be along the lines of ‘I see you remember when I used the whip. I’m glad you read about it and learned from my example. Bless you my son’.

Excellent! Cliven Bundy is a true Patriot in the manner of the Founding Fathers who bravely fought tyranny and I pray without ceasing for the Bundy family to prevail against the BLM thugs.

Yet I also think that Christ would admonish him to repent of his sin of following the cult of Mormonism.

119 posted on 04/22/2014 9:07:02 PM PDT by re_nortex (DP - that's what I like about Texas)
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To: antceecee

I’m halfway tempted to inform Jim of this traitor in our midst but I know he’s busier than a one-armed paperhanger with the FReepathon. I’m sure the boss will catch a whiff of the government lapdog spoiling the conversation here.


120 posted on 04/22/2014 9:09:35 PM PDT by re_nortex (DP - that's what I like about Texas)
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