The Bundys are at it again.

[you_with_the_face]

@Scumpup

Yeah…just walk in and put the cuffs on them all peaceful, like. There are armed people on both sides. I keep “reducing this to dead bodies” because that is a not unlikely outcome.

You’re right, it’s not an unlikely outcome. The more this stretches out, the more likely that will be.

With crazies from Idaho now planning to lend a protective hand, how many guns will likely be in play now? Twice as many as before? Maybe even more? Seems awfully like the potential for mayhem is growing. Seems awfully like allowing a bunch of armed idiots to descend on one location is not very smart policing.

But let us keep pretending like the cops are handling this with ingenuous cunning.

Have you ever considered that maybe our cops should shoot less people no matter what color they are?

Gosh gee, no I never considered that. When Tamir Rice was killed, I wept with sheer joy and jubilation.

[Grsz11]

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge - Princeton, OR

Enjoy!

[enipla]

Not an armed standoff? I wonder if this would still be going on if it was a peaceful sit-in.

I donno. Maybe just what is happening now. Let 'em mis their Doritos.

[eschereal]

I have some free time, I am feeling a bit like going down there and see how far they would go in keeping from wandering around in there and taking pictures. I mean how can they claim a unique right to be there that somehow would supersede mine?

[Count_Blucher]

@digs

What a coincidence. The wife and I are just this moment sipping an insouciant little Pinot.

…wish I’d thought of that…

[enipla]

I have to put this quote in here from 'The Dark Knight (a Batman movie). For some reason, I think it’s fitting.

[Wayne Enterprises accountant Coleman Reese believes that he’s discovered Batman’s secret identity]
Lucius Fox: Let me get this straight. You think that your client, one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world, is secretly a vigilante who spends his nights beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands; and your plan, is to blackmail this person?
[pause, Reese looks nervous]
Lucius Fox: Good luck.

[GIGObuster]

More news from the Bird Putsch:

It turns out that there was a move to prevent violence by the government by closing shop before the militants came in.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2016/01/08/the-government-closed-its-offices-in-oregon-days-before-the-armed-takeover-due-to-fears-of-violence/

The federal government began shutting its offices in eastern Oregon days before the showdown with armed anti-government protesters began this week, because of mounting hostility and security threats, officials said Thursday.

With threats against individual employees and a campaign of intimidation by out-of-town ranchers who had been in the isolated area for weeks, federal officials at agencies from the U.S. Forest Service to the Bureau of Land Management started sending more than 150 people home as early as Dec. 30.

That was three days before a group calling itself Citizens for Constitutional Freedom holed up with guns inside a wildlife sanctuary in remote Harney County to protest the arson conviction of two local cattle ranchers who set fires to federal lands.

“It became a serious safety concern for the employees,” Eardley said. He and other federal officials said self-described militia groups showed up in the Burns area in early December, weeks after a federal judge resentenced local father-and-son ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond to five years in prison for arson.

The protesters, with harsh anti-government rhetoric and an aggressive social media campaign, began stalking some federal employees as they left work and leaving threatening messages on office phones, officials said. Some employees reported cars they did not recognize parking on the street outside their homes at night.

Local planning for the closures, in consultation with senior officials in Washington, D.C., started weeks ago, officials said. The Bureau of Land Management made the decision to close as early as Dec. 28, concluding that the environment around Burns was not safe for its employees, who issue permits to ranchers for grazing and other uses.

The U.S. Forest Service, with about 35 employees and the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency followed suit. The U.S. Postal Service stopped delivering mail to homes and business in the area last week, although the post office in Burns has stayed open.

The displaced employees are either teleworking at home, working from remote locations in other counties or on paid administrative leave if they are not set up to do either, costing the government thousands of dollars a day, officials said.

IMHO the government should throw the book at the militants for trespassing and conspiracy at least and fined for the costs to the government for the money lost for the leave of the workers. IMHO this should be a point to make constantly at it does point out at the mounting costs, and the fact that all taxpayers are also the ones losing money thanks to the ones that are relying on gun bullying and terror tactics against federal employees.

[China_Guy]

@eschereal

I have some free time, I am feeling a bit like going down there and see how far they would go in keeping from wandering around in there and taking pictures. I mean how can they claim a unique right to be there that somehow would supersede mine?

only problem is the risk that the occupiers might shoot you for some perceived reason. I mean, they are good guys with guns, but they might think you’re a bad guy…feel free though.

[eschereal]

@China_Guy

only problem is the risk that the occupiers might shoot you for some perceived reason. I mean, they are good guys with guns, but they might think you’re a bad guy…feel free though.

I would remind them that shooting me would precipitate a shitstorm that they really, really would not want to face.

[Truman_Burbank]

@Chefguy

I said nothing about killing everyone or carpet bombing anybody. Did you quote the wrong post? If not, then put words in your own mouth, not mine.

I just watched the meeting between the Sheriff and Bundy. Bundy doesn’t seem to understand that he is placing people in real jeopardy with his stance. While the Sheriff didn’t say specifically what is coming next, any fool can read between the lines. The smart ones in the group will get in their trucks and get the fuck out before things get rough. Whoever stays will see what pressure feels like when communication, utilities and food are cut off, the press isn’t allowed to approach the compound, and they start turning on each other. Bundy seems to think he’s in a reality show.

The* smart ones* in the group? I doubt your hypothesis.

[Muffin]

The Bubbabundyites want the arsonists released from prison.

The arsonists want to be released from prison.

The lefties want more programs to reintegrate convicts into the community.

The righties want to immolate the Bubbabundyites.

Seems like a work-release program might satisfy everyone.

[eschereal]

@GIGObuster

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2016/01/08/the-government-closed-its-offices-in-oregon-days-before-the-armed-takeover-due-to-fears-of-violence/

With threats against individual employees and a campaign of intimidation by out-of-town ranchers who had been in the isolated area for weeks, federal officials at agencies from the U.S. Forest Service to the Bureau of Land Management started sending more than 150 people home as early as Dec. 30.

The protesters, with harsh anti-government rhetoric and an aggressive social media campaign, began stalking some federal employees as they left work and leaving threatening messages on office phones, officials said. Some employees reported cars they did not recognize parking on the street outside their homes at night.

Yet (my emphasis),

@"[OPB

(Militants May Have Accessed Government Computers At Refuge - OPB)"]Finnicum says the group plans to turn the office into a media center that would eventually house reporters.

There are four desks in the office, two on each side. Three of the computers were turned on, and in screen saver mode. Papers in the room were strewn about in a disorderly manner.

After Finnicum realized he shouldn’t have allowed OPB to access the room, he quickly picked up lists of names and Social Security numbers by the computers, and hid government employee ID cards that were previously in plain sight…

When asked about the computers, (Ryan) Bundy emphatically denied any of the work spaces had been touched since the occupation.

“No, we haven’t touched a single personal item. We haven’t touched any of the computers, we haven’t tried to log on — we haven’t done anything. We’re not here to hurt people,” Bundy said, “not even the people who work here.”

Oh really. And we should trust you because … ?

@GIGObuster

IMHO the government should throw the book at the militants for trespassing and conspiracy at least and fined for the costs to the government for the money lost for the leave of the workers. IMHO this should be a point to make constantly at it does point out at the mounting costs, and the fact that all taxpayers are also the ones losing money thanks to the ones that are relying on gun bullying and terror tactics against federal employees.

I heard a rumor that Ammon was saying they will not leave without a grant of immunity. I am not sure he understands how these things work.

[tingbudong]

The egos on these militia-types jaw-dropping, especially when they wave their little Constitution copies for the media.

Clearly they are the only people in Earth who truly understand freedom and thank the Lord they are standing up for the rest of us… rolls eyes.

[octopus]

@Scumpup

It’s a pretty well established fact here in the US that LE can kill you. I don’t think there was enough doubt about it that this hillbilly situation not being handled quite the way you want will lead to widespread mopery. We already have jampacked prisons and our cops shoot stacks of people every year. We have federal agencies that spy on us and every once in a while do something appallingly stupid with a high body count. You think maybe we could try slowing down the express train to police state station?

When the target of the police state are ideological undesirables the critique of a police state oddly morphs to cheering. Funny how the desire for power and the elimination of competitors reveals human nature.

[octopus]

@Grsz11

She’s like reality television shows… Everybody gets a go.

Slut shaming? On a predominantly leftist board? How shitlordesque!

[septimus]

What’s LEO strategy? Wait for one of the Bundy’s to change lanes without signalling so they can be arrested?

TL;DR:
In a country where unarmed black innocents are shot by LEO because they might be reaching for a gun, white criminals are left alone because they are armed.

[elucidator]

@octopus

Slut shaming? On a predominantly leftist board? How shitlordesque!

Oh, no! Liberal hypocrisy! We lose again! Damn!

[Count_Blucher]

@octopus

Slut shaming? On a predominantly leftist board? How shitlordesque!

Your circus. Your monkeys. Have fun…!

[davidm]

@eschereal

I have some free time, I am feeling a bit like going down there and see how far they would go in keeping from wandering around in there and taking pictures. I mean how can they claim a unique right to be there that somehow would supersede mine?

Just watch out for any suspicious plastic tarps. Especially blue ones.

[Dangerosa]

One of the articles I read said that some people from the militia community had gone in and removed one of the squatters - its the article about the fist fight breaking out. The reason - this guy wants to commit suicide by fed and become a martyr to the cause.

If they have other guys like that in there, the best thing the feds can do is wait it out and let local law enforcement deal with it as much as possible. The militia tends to be more supportive of local law enforcement - i.e. is less likely to fire.

This is a different situation than BLM or Occupy Wall Street protesters, who have the stated intent of being peaceful. But then, we allowed OWS to occupy public areas for a long time with very little interference and basically let them lose momentum. In Minneapolis, BLM protesters occupied the space in front of the 4th precinct for about a week before action was taken.