Alfonzo Rachel has schooled me that I was wrong to immediately label Bundy as a racist. Take a look at the edited vs unedited video of what Bundy actually said.
Read by Ammon Bundy at the Clark County Sheriff Precinct, May 2, 2014
quote:
As we have had the opportunity to reflect on the events that took place between March 26th and April 12th, 2014-we have experienced feelings of concern, confusion, fear, anger, sadness and joy.
Our peaceful community has been shaken. In many ways, we are still processing the magnitude of what took place. We ask ourselves so many questions; did the federal government really come into this valley and terrorize our community?
Did hundreds of armed forces, in Red Dawn fashion, lock down the hills and valleys of our peaceful home-threatening at gunpoint, anyone who stepped off the paved road, with forceful and lethal action?
Did we really see armed forces convoying through the streets of our town, diligently recording names and identities of anyone who glanced wrong or opposed them in any way?
Was there really heavy equipment in the form of dump trucks and backhoes, on our mountains, tearing up infrastructure that we have used for hundreds of years, and is vital to our survival? Were we truly in the cross-hairs of snipers, and under surveillance by the latest in technological weapons?
Did these forces actually point their rifles in the faces of our little children, while beating their unarmed fathers to the dirt and hauling them off in chains?
Did they really body-slam our friend, a 59 year old woman to the ground, and sic German Shepherds on our neighbors-even a pregnant woman?
Did they actually shock a man multiple times with a 50,000 volt Taser for honorably protecting his aunt, while she gathered herself out of the dust?
We reflect in sadness and awe that this could take place in our little town. The terror of armed men occupying our land will never be forgotten. The feelings of despair of these events will long reside in our hearts. Thoughts of anxiousness that this may ever happen again, will awaken us from our pillows from time to time.
During quiet reflection, we may ask ourselves if we did the right thing by resisting. Were we in the right when we acted to safeguard ourselves? When the only response to our multiple pleas for help was silence, when we were left alone to clean our cuts and wounds, did we have a divine right, duty, and obligation to protect our family and ourselves?
We recall the many times we pleaded with our local government to protect us; the numerous times we called 911, and begged our Sheriff to send his deputies to assist. Our cries of distress were met with silence. We ask ourselves, “Did we try hard enough to get our local government and law enforcement to act as a buffer and perform their duty to protect and serve?”
Were the hundreds of phone calls not enough, or is it just that our elected leaders and Sheriff have forsaken the people in trade for power and money? We whole-heartedly want to believe that our Sheriff would not abandon us, but where has his shielding influence been?
Why was he not here to represent and protect the very men, women and children of his county that he swore an oath for? Why did he stand silent and neutral, knowing our community was in terror? What was his motivation of inaction; was it fear of the federal government or political reprisal from powerful politicians?
The scars of this traumatic event will heal over time. We hope our community will eventually return to a sense of normalcy. We fervently hope and pray that these heavy-handed tactics will not be used on us or any other American ever again. We wonder if our hopes will be in vain; will they return?
Will they come back with greater force and more cunning tactics than before? Will our Sheriff keep his oath this time, and use his lawful forces to stop them, or will the people be left to their own protection? Will the good people of this nation yet again have to come running to the rescue of a neighbor?
Will veterans, retired police force, churches, businesses, families and individuals have to unite once again to confront these acts of governmental terror upon the American people?
Will our local government rouse themselves from disaffection and intervene-protecting the people? Will they stop fearing to do the right thing and come to the realization that the people are more important than a government agency? Will they fight for the rights of the state and her people?
They must stop putting personal gain and advancement in front of the rights of citizens.
They need to recognize, that as our elected representatives, they have more power than those governing in brute force, as they have the might of the people of this state backing them. With that power we invest in them, they have the obligation to safeguard our livelihoods, combat forces of fear, and protect our lives with their own.
A few weeks ago, our community was in a state of innocence and naivety. We felt safe and mostly kept to ourselves. We thought the world’s problems would only affect us through television, and could be shut off with the push of a button.
Our innocence has left us now, we have experienced first-hand the breath of force upon our necks. We have gasped in desperation as our lives and agency were threatened. Our cries have been ignored by our guardians in the next room.
We faced a choice-either lie down and submit helplessly in defeat, or bite, scratch, and fight until help would come. We are eternally and profoundly grateful for the many heroic neighbors who heard our desperate cries and crashed through the windows to rescue.
We additionally thank the thousands that came from every States in this great nation, and stood in front of raised guns in our defense, and for the hope that those same guns would never come to their doors and their families.
We are grateful for those that arrived with pen and camera, those that arrived with faith and prayers, and those that arrived with fist and gun. The variety of support from all walks of life has shown that this was an event that truly touched the good hearts of many Americans.
We cannot thank you all enough-you have restored our faith in the goodness of the American people. Our message to all, is that it is time to make things right. It is time to adhere to the supreme law of the land-The Constitution of the United States.
It is time to understand right, stand for what’s right, and do whatever it takes to make it right. We must continue the vision of our Founding Fathers in preserving the freedoms of the American people and the sovereign rights of the States.
A nation can never abandon its fate to an authority it cannot control.
Men must decide if their rights and freedoms are God-granted or are assigned by a federal government. We believe in the rule of laws and sustain a limited government. May God bless us to protect this sacred instrument.
The sheriff in this case was completely derelict in his duties. He almost had a hot war break out in his jurisdiction and he was nowhere to be found despite having been called to help. Many people misunderstand the power the sheriff holds. The reality is that he has power over the federal government in most matters of law enforcement.
Despite the frequency or the severity of government abuses, if they were to happen in your county, would your sheriff intervene? Well, don't look now, but they are already occurring and some sheriffs have indeed taken very courageous stands against the feds coming in to their counties to "enforce" their laws. Cattle, lands, homes, bank accounts, cash, and even children have been seized and prisons filled all in the name of federal enforcement of EPA rules, The Endangered Species Act, IRS rules, (of which there are over 10 million pages) Forest Service and Dept. of the Interior technicalities and the list goes on and on. The sheriff of NYE County, Nevada stopped federal agents from seizing a rancher's cattle and even threatened to arrest the feds if they proceeded against his orders. Sheriffs in Wyoming have told the agents of all federal bureaus to check with them before serving any papers, making any arrests, or confiscating any property. Why? because they are doing their jobs that's why! It's just another way to provide checks and balances that ultimately protect and help citizens.
Any of that sound chillingly familiar? This isn't a one off incident. It's way bigger than Cliven Bundy.
Many people misunderstand the power the sheriff holds. The reality is that he has power over the federal government in most matters of law enforcement.
A county Sheriff is the Big Dog, way bigger than the Fed dogs, bigger by design. Hence the frustration (and criticism) by the Bundys directed toward their Sheriff (who likely was "leaned on" by the Feds to stay out of the way on this one).
The following is lifted from the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association home page; it is not dated.
quote:
Sheriff Mack travels with other CSPOA members to stand with Nevada rancher against the BLM
Many of you have called or emailed regarding the storm brewing between Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and the BLM. We all know how we feel about the all-too-frequent bullying of individual citizens by various Feds with their usurped, unconstitutional powers. It’s an epidemic that must be stopped.Well, we want you to know we ARE doing something about it, and thankfully this time we’re not alone. Sheriff Mack is leaving early Saturday morning for an emergency trip to Bunkerville, Nevada, along with other members of the CSPOA posse (hopefully that’s some of you!) to stand vigil and find a peaceful resolution to this conflict (i.e., the feds going home).
AND this late-breaking news as per Lyle Rapacki today:
State Senate President Andy Biggs and House of Reps Speaker Dave Livingston have both agreed that Arizona should be involved in supporting CSPOA and Oath Keepers in going to Bunkerville, NV to support the movement for freedom there with the Cliven Bundy family. State Senators Al Melvin, Chester Crandall, and Kelly Ward along with State Reps Brenda Barton, Bob Thorpe, Kelly Townsend and Warren Peterson are all planning to be at the Bundy ranch by Sunday morning. Furthermore, they all plan to attend the Press Conference Monday afternoon with the CSPOA and Oath Keepers along with the Bundys and other sheriffs and public officials from across the country.
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We hope you understand how HUGE this is, that state senators and reps are supporting the CSPOA and the Oath Keepers! We are not alone!
quote:
We quote now from an excellent press release regarding the event, recently put out by the Oath Keepers, one of our closest allies.
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A Delegation of state legislators, lead by Washington State Representative Matt Shea, along with a delegation of current serving Sheriffs, lead by Sheriff Richard Mack of the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, and military and police members of Oath Keepers, are converging on the site of a stand-off between federal law enforcement and Nevada Rancher Cliven Bundy, to prevent bloodshed and to stand in defense of hardworking rural Americans who are under assault by a runaway federal government.
LAS VEGAS, NV, April 10, 2014
The Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA.org), led by retired Arizona Sheriff Richard Mack, and the Oath Keepers organization (oathkeepers.org) are assisting Washington State Representative Matt Shea in organizing a delegation of current serving Western state legislators and Sheriffs to travel to the site of a tense stand-off between Bunkerville, Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The delegation is traveling to Nevada to support a coalition of current serving Nevada legislators being organized by Nevada State Assemblywoman Michele Fiore, of Las Vegas, to stand vigil at the Bundy ranch to prevent Federal Government provocation of violence resulting in another Ruby Ridge or Waco type incident. They also hope that their example of oath-sworn public servants defending the rights of the people will prompt Clark County, Nevada Sheriff Douglas Gillespie and Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval to honor their oaths of office by taking real action to defend the rights of the Bundy family, the rights of all Nevadans, and the sovereignty of the State of Nevada.
Yesterday, April 9, 2014, Nevada State Assemblywoman Michele Fiore served the first watch in this vigil shortly after Cliven Bundy’s son, Ammon Bundy, was tazered by BLM “Rangers” during a heated confrontation. [The video of that confrontation can be seen with the full article on the Oath Keepers web site, www.oathkeepers.org]:
The courage and resolve displayed by Ammon Bundy and his relatives is inspiring, and may well go down in history as a watershed moment – a turning of the tide. But the above video also amply demonstrates the heavy-handed behavior of the BLM that risks escalating an already volatile situation into open bloodshed, that, once begun, may spiral out of anyone’s control.
It is necessary that current serving public servants step in-between the protesters and the BLM, to protect the rights of the people and to prevent violence against them by the militarized federal law enforcement that are massing near the ranch to continue the forced confiscation (theft) of Bundy’s cattle, while they also restrict all access to huge tracts of public land, and attempt to restrict the free speech of protesters with their absurd “First Amendment Area” (which the protesters are ignoring, to their honor).
The Oath Keepers organization, comprised of 40,000 current serving and former military, police, and first responders, is also calling on its members and all other patriotic Americans to join the vigil at the Bundy ranch under the leadership of the current serving legislators and sheriffs. The goal is to have at least one current serving state legislator and at least one sheriff on the ground at all times until this is over. And they will be backed by a large number of military and police veterans, as well as dedicated patriotic Americans from all walks of life, to interpose and defend the rights of the protesters and to keep an eye on the actions of the BLM and any other federal law enforcement present, to prevent a recurrence of the horrid abuses seen at Ruby Ridge and Waco, and to hopefully pressure the Clark County Sheriff and the Nevada Governor to step up and do their constitutional duty.
Regardless, please tell everyone you know to be praying for a peaceful resolution to this situation and for the safety of the brave patriots headed there and on the ground there right now.
The Purpose of the CSPOA – An introduction by Sheriff Richard Mack
Dear Friend of Freedom: Back in 1988 I left a job I loved to move home to AZ to run for Graham County sheriff. Nobody thought I could win, as I had never been a cop in Arizona or in my hometown and hadn’t even lived there for nearly 12 years. I won. Then I ran for re-election in 1992. I won again.
Soon thereafter, the Brady bill was signed into law by Bill Clinton. Three federal agents showed up at our AZ Sheriffs Association meeting and handed us each a document from the Dept. of the Treasury, which detailed what our “orders” were to comply with the Brady bill.
All the sheriffs were shocked and against it. However, each sheriff said there was nothing we could do about it, “you can’t fight city hall” was the frequent comment. I disagreed and decided to sue my own government. Everybody said I was crazy and that I could not win. Six other sheriffs from various parts of the USA joined the lawsuit. The case went all the way to the U S Supreme Court and miracle of miracles, WE WON!
Now, today, our country is dying and all the experts say we’re on the right track or if we are not, that there’s nothing we can do about it. I disagree; there is something we can do! Our “leaders” continually urge us to stay on the Titanic and they count on our ignorance and apathy to keep us on board.
The questions are: 1. Can we save America? And 2. Will enough people get involved and dedicate themselves to make this dream a reality?
The answers lie within our grasp and come from the foundation of our country. The principles are embodied within the Declaration of Independence and outlined in the Constitution.Yes, America is in deep, deep trouble. The good news is that there is hope and my victory at the U S Supreme Court proves that it only takes a few to stand to make monumental changes. We do not have to stand by and watch while America is destroyed from within. If our counties, cities, and states and all local officers keep their oaths to protect us from tyranny, we can win this battle to take our country back.
This is our plan, our goal and our quest. We are forming the Constitutional Peace Officers Association which will unite all public servants and sheriffs, to keep their word to uphold, defend, protect, preserve, and obey the Constitutions of the United States of America. We already have hundreds of police, sheriffs, and other officials who have expressed a desire to be a part of this Holy Cause of Liberty.
Jerry, thanks for posting. Your presence builds moral of us silly little motorcyclists in a time of exponentially growing Federal Government Un-American Para Military operations. The most any BLM personnel needs is a sidearm. Ever. Period.
One facet of this that really bothers me, and it's a running theme. Not meaning to pick on Buellkowski, but just using him as a typical example. He felt the need to post about this far into this thread. Based on what he said, I really don't think that he read the thread up to that point. If he did, he simply ignored the information easily available to him. Furthermore, he doesn't respond to a direct question to him. In short, there is zero exchange of meaningful ideas between one side and the other. I see this trend in liberals all the way from my wife's family on up right up to pResident BO. They think they know what's right for me without even understanding the situation. They feel they don't need to know anything about my side of the issue that they don't already know, and them telling me how it should be is supposed to be good enough.
To bring it back to my own personal situation, I would really like to know why ANYONE would think that it's OK that it should be up to some federal bureaucracy as to whether or not I should be able to cut a tree on my own land. A tree that my father planted when he owned that land. Yet I still am expected to pay taxes on that land. I'm restricted in how the land is used. I'm restricted in how the land is sold. I am not allowed to use the land in the way that nearby land with the same zoning is used. I can't go back to using the land the way it was used 70 years ago, despite nothing having changed in the zoning of the land. I have been approached by a park ranger, holster unclipped, hand on gun, to question my presence on my land, when he was the one trespassing. I have also found survey markers from the federal government in the middle of my land. They have no reason to be surveying my land without notification or permission. All of this is being done by bureaucrats in DC that have never even seen my land, and have certainly never talked to me about it. Why in the hell would you think that this is how things should work.
My situation at the moment is minor compared to what has already happened to others in the area, and what is happening right now in various places across the country. I'm a virtual nobody in the world. Keep that in mind when you think that this will never happen to you, simply because you are not important enough. Who was Cliven Bundy six months ago? Who were the other 52 ranchers in Bundy's area that have been put out of business? Who where all the workers on those ranches that have lost their livelihoods? Do you really feel that you are safe from the oppressive hand of the federal government? I really wish liberals could explain to me how they come to support this sort of tyranny. Unfortunately, I have come to expect that they will not. They will expect me to quietly accept the situation though. We are reaching a point where quite acceptance is coming to an end. It won't be fun times for any of us when that happens. I have a feeling that the liberals won't have a clue as to why this is happening. It's a shame, because we are trying to give them that clue.
You're welcome Blake and Reindog. I'm not posting much anymore - we know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, who the enemy of this great country is, and the lines are mostly drawn. There's not much else to say.
I transformed from a Bleeding Heart Liberal to an informed Conservative but the process takes time. There are some who sit on the fence and we can help them see which side is mostly logical and believes that freedom can solve most of our problems versus the other side which tends to be driven by emotions and desires for Daddy to tell them what to do. The overwhelming number of Liberals on Badweb do nothing but engage in histrionics, sniping, and hiding when things don't go their way. Their behavior is in plain sight for everyone to see. I truly wish this wasn't the case but there are several years of hard evidence that says otherwise.
Conservatism and faith is the only way to heal our great country. Yes, we are in great danger (from politicians of both the left and the right).
Changing a single person's mind on Badweb is worth the effort even if it takes time. Plus I have always had a passion for political cartoons and that is what I mostly post these days.
I am not a bleeding heart liberal. I take meds for that.
It really seems to be a religious issue ( see my pjtv link above ) and the social herd animal bit and is quite true. On a different thread all here were chastised by a troll as having the unpopular view.
First....popular by what method? I'd say most folk would agree to nicely phrased questions on a poll and that result is easily faked by the pros all the time.
Second..... the truth does not care how popular it is. Reality is objective. I don't care how much you don't want a volcano to erupt. Neither does the volcano.
Third...... my self worth is tied to my actions not my opinions. Some obviously feel differently. I want people to like me, sure. I often hold my tongue to avoid conflict but I won't lie to be popular.
Obviously there are a lot of people that will. You see them on tv all the time. On rare occasion they get caught and shunned or jailed. Some really deserve prison. ( don't hold your breath )
makes you wonder about those who never ever admit an error and respond to contradictory evidence with avoidance, rage, and personal attacks.
How elitist snob sick is a comment like "you really drive a bus?" ????
"How elitist snob sick is a comment like "you really drive a bus?" ????"
Get it straight. Your inferences are incorrect as they so often are. I don't demean bus drivers since I've considered doing the same to supplement my income. My point was to challenge his defense of the republican party who masquerade as champions of the middle class. "Elitist snob" - There is no one on this thread who fits the bill more than you with the proliferation of irrelevant historical goop.
As I've pointed out before, he can be entertaining, not much else. The bus driver comment was in no way connected to any political point. It was aimed directly at me. I'm comfortable with what I'm doing. It in no way defines me.
"Just" a bus driver huh? It's a position with an awful lot of trust, training/experience and responsibility placed upon them. I still have one kid riding the school bus every day and I may be biased, but that operator is one of THE most important professionals of the day IMHO.
A lot of farmers, retirees, matrons of the home and even a judge or two make up the operators in our fleet, professionals all. I can't fathom someone demeaning such a vital and responsibility driven occupation.....
Sifo, the land grab you describe is playing out every where these days to differing degrees. I have family property within the Adirondack park (small "p") so I can tell you these things happen on a State level as well......even worse when the regulating agency is NOT wholly a .gov operation but quasi-gov run by appointees with almost zero accountability to the people they rule over.....
You should be press secretary. You appear to be able to lie with the best of them. Anyone who has bothered to read your posts knows otherwise
That is hilarious. I think the Troll formerly known as Frankfast would make an excellent press secretary for the crime syndicate currently occupying the White House. He is adept at folding, bending, and mutilating.
Fred, so who are the middle class champions? It sure as hell ain't the democrats when you consider Congress has so many millionaires and they all have either a D or an R next to their name.
There are none that I know of in Congress. As long as 'politician' is an occupation there never will be. To me, that's justification for strict term limits. I'd rather be represented by a working conservative neighbor (not Tea Party) than a wealthy liberal.
There are none that I know of in Congress. As long as 'politician' is an occupation there never will be. To me, that's justification for strict term limits. I'd rather be represented by a working conservative neighbor (not Tea Party) than a wealthy liberal.
If you believe this to be true, how in the world can you support Democrats and their big government, government control mentality? If you fundamentally believe they only have their own interests at heart and not yours, why would you want to give them more access and more control over your life? Don't you see the disconnect in your line of thinking?
The single biggest driver in my ideology is based in the belief that Politicians and Washington elites are only concerned with one thing ... power. How do I get it, how do I keep it and how to I expand it? The only difference between Rs and Ds is how they go about it. There is a reason that three of the wealthiest counties in the country are all surrounding Washington, DC. If you believe that then you have to accept that less government is better because you don't want to give more power and more control to those only looking to benefit from it. Once you accept that there is no way you can logically fall in line with Democrats and their motives and objectives.
Unless you are already attached to the government teet and are trying to protect those benefits.
I heartily agree. We do have a mechanism for term limits. It's called vote the bastards out. We, as a people, appear to be incapable of doing so.
Primaries have proven that you have to have a BIG war chest to go against the establishment. They have that war chest and can and will outspend the little guy. And far too many people are completely uniformed and easily duped. Term limits, IMO, are a necessity at this point.
The US is an oligarchy and all of you have been tricked into believing that the other political party is the enemy.
"The central point that emerges from our research is that economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy, while mass-based interest groups and average citizens have little or no independent influence. Our results provide substantial support for theories of Economic Elite Domination and for theories of Biased Pluralism, but not for theories of Majoritarian Electoral Democracy or Majoritarian Pluralism." Source
You don't need a Princeton professor to tell you that.
I'll ask again ... if you believe that to be true, why do you support the big government party and big government policies which just give more power and control to the Oligarchy?
Big country, big population = big government. Not the same when the Constitution was written. If you want smaller government, you have to divide the country. Not a bad idea eh?
.. I'd like to see this one go viral. Thx for posting
