So now the focus has shifted to it being about the wildlife refuge

[Quixote1818]

First it was the Hammonds then it was federal lands all over the west and now it's down to the actual refuge they are at. This is why the Republican candidates wont even touch this. They don't know what they are fighting for and what their demands are. In the latest interview Bundy says the federal Gov. took the land from the locals to make a wildlife refuge which has put them into poverty and it sounds like they want the wildlife refuge given back to "the people" whatever that means. Currently it is already owned by "The People", everyone in the United States, not just a few ranchers. Is this idiot for real? Never mind that it was 1908,when President Theodore Roosevelt took the unclaimed lands and set them aside and the current locals don't seem to have a problem with the refuge. If the locals are good with the refuge, WHAT THE FUCK are they there for?

This is so ill-conceived it's mind boggling.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/04/us/oregon-wildlife-refuge-protest/

[MohRokTah]

1. They know damned well and good what they are fighting for, they just won't come out and say it.

It's all about Deseret:

[backscatter712]

15. In other words, they're Mormon ISIS. n/t

[MohRokTah]

17. Basically, especially given the mainstream LDS church has disowned this whole move by them. eom

[HassleCat]

2. Most of the locals are good with it

The refuge attracts enormous crowds of birders, and they bring tourism dollars. The Bundy family are not locals, so they're not going to be popular with either side.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

3. Nevermind that it happened in 1908, and nevermind that a Republican President did it. nt

[GusBob]

4. It's now a refuge for loons. Nt

[Coventina]

8. DUzy!

[Warren Stupidity]

5. They are there to demonstrate that armed white

men can commit crimes with impunity.

It is a statement about social justice in America.

[madokie]

11. That's pretty much 'it'

[malaise]

14. +1,000

That simple

[2naSalit]

18. Ding Ding Ding!

That's it!

[Vinca]

6. They just want to strut around with their big ass guns.

This is probably the closest most of them have gotten to war. One military blog identified a couple of them as being faux heroes who claimed to be decorated military, but most likely didn't even join the Boy Scouts.

[GGJohn]

7. Most of those loons only military duty is setting on the couch playing

Medal of Honor, or Call of Duty, they'd be surprise at how many of us liberals have, you know, actual combat experience.

[thecrow]

9. If the gov't has (tyranically) driven them into poverty

Then how did they get the money to buy those big-ass guns?
And who is paying for food, ammo, etc.?

[Vinca]

10. Wasn't one guy bitching about his meager disability check? LOL.

[csziggy]

12. The Bundys have all that money they have NOT paid for grazing since 1993

Well over a million dollars that should have been paid to we the people for using public land at a cheap price.

[Lizzie Poppet]

13. The 1st rationale got yanked out from under them when the Hammonds turned themselves in.

In the latest interview Bundy says the federal Gov. took the land from the locals

Well, that's not entirely false, in a sense. I'm sure the Paiutes that once lived in the area (and a tiny community still do, just a few miles north of Burns) might appreciate the return of at least some of it. I kinda figure that's not who the Bundys had in mind, though...

[gratuitous]

16. The media are nothing if not agile

They're following each and every jump with aplomb, betraying not the slightest hint that they have noticed that the Bundy Bunch are calling more audibles than Peyton Manning.