The Folly Of The Bundy Ranch Rebellion

[Cryptoad]

It’s the stuff of Westerns: a showdown on the desert plains, the big bad government against an underdog farmer.

Though the story has only grabbed national headlines in the past several days, rancher Cliven Bundy has illegally grazed cattle on the Nevada land surrounding his farm for over 20 years. He hasn’t paid grazing fees since 1993, and refuses to renew the necessary grazing permit. Things came to a head this past week, when the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) seized almost 400 cattle belonging to Bundy. In response, angry protesters formed an armed rebellion, opposing BLM federal workers. The BLM’s ensuing retreat has gotten a lot of attention, and some called it a huge triumph for state sovereignty. Says TIME Magazine, “At a press conference on April 14, [protesters] invoked battles against the British and shouted quotes from the Scottish revolutionary William Wallace, memorialized in the Hollywood blockbuster Braveheart.” Others are calling Bundy a “folk hero.”

But before we venerate Bundy as a freedom fighter, we might stop to consider the facts.

Bundy's support even about the far right is dropping like a rock!

But does Bundy really qualify as a law-abiding Nevadan? Atlantic contributor Matt Ford pointed out Monday that Article 1, Section 2 of the Nevada Constitution directly contradicts Bundy’s actions:

“... Whensoever any portion of the States, or people thereof attempt to secede from the Federal Union, or forcibly resist the Execution of its laws, the Federal Government may, by warrant of the Constitution, employ armed force in compelling obedience to its Authority.”

[brush]

1. Thanks for the researched postings

As Harry Reid said, it's not over.

The Feds and the county sheriff did the wise thing by pulling back as the armed extremists were looking for a high-visibility incident or even fire fight to rally wingers nation wide to cause celebre.

When the crowd goes home Bundy will be dealt with.

They might have even already started freezing his assets. And you know the IRS frowns on unreported income — his years of free grazing — which constitutes income.

[Control-Z]

2. Is it strange that I've seen this headline

at least three times and each time I've read Brady Bunch instead of Bundy Ranch?

[Democracyinkind]

3. You and me.

"The Brady Bunch rebellion"

Now how could I not click on such a thread title?

You'd think I would have learned to curb my expectations after clicking on the second thread... But no.

What dark and unexplored part of me yearns for a Brady Bunch uprising? I feel like I'm in need of a therapist.

[Control-Z]

5. Or a Brady Bunch marathon.

"I feel like I'm in need of a therapist."

The opening song of the first show would cure me of any yearnings.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

6. Or at LEAST a "Marsha, Marsha Marsha."

[jonjensen]

4. is standing up against the federal government on immigration alright too?

chris hayes on msnbc asked nevada law maker if armed resistance to forced deportation by latino community and their supporters would be o.k. since she advocated standing up to federal government. I think he is still waiting for her to stop stammering! But it is a good question to ask elected officials who support armed civil insurrection(thats more then half of the republican elected officials in my state of arizona!)