Gail Collins (and me): Free Us From ‘Freedom’
To be fair, I don’t think Hannity had any idea about Bundy’s racial theories. However, it’s generally a good idea to be wary of lionizing people who go around saying: “I don’t recognize the United States government as even existing.”
Anyhow, Cliven was toast, although he did make an appearance on CNN, in which he explained that his racist remarks were all about — yes! — freedom. In this case, the “freedom to say what we want. If I call — if I say ‘negro’ or ‘black boy’ or ‘slave,’ I’m — if those people cannot take those kind of words and not be offensive, then Martin Luther King hasn’t got his job done yet.”
— Gail Collins, Of the Fox and the Cattle, NYT, today
I was happy, when I read that column this morning, to see that people are catching on to this rightwing “stick-the-label-’freedom’-onto-whatever-we-want-to-do” thing–this is very big at the Supreme Court these days–but now I’m having second thoughts.
I’ve always wanted a ranch out West. And I don’t really recognize Cliven Bundy as even existing, nor the Recorder of Deeds in his county as even existing. And if I can get a group of folks together who don’t either, I see no reason why I can’t fulfill my dream and have a ranch out West even though I can’t actually afford to buy one.
My dream involves horses, though; not cattle. But there probably are some horse ranches in that county whose “owners” I don’t even recognize as existing, so while I don’t really want the land they claim is theirs–the Bundy ranch is big enough for my needs, and it looks nice–I’m sure my group and I can manage the horse-herding thing from one ranch to another. At least as long as we have enough ammunition for our AK-47s.
The best part is that one of my senators–not Harry Reid; the other one–will be very supportive of me in this. I can’t wait to vote for him in 2018. If I haven’t shot myself with my semi-automatic by then.
I now want to see the Republicans regain control of the Senate. So maybe I can convince the Democrats to feature ads quoting Heller on this whole freedom/Bundy issue. I’m sure the Dems think that would scare some moderate folks into voting Democratic, so they won’t see my real purpose. But I know better. A lot of moderates want ranches in the West, too.
Wanna join me on the ranch?
At least I have something to smile about today.
Seems the only thing that can save democracy from the Roberts Court is the incredible greed of the beneficiaries of the Roberts Court.
You can’t make this stuff up.
“Out of the $37.5 million spent so far by the PACs of six major tea party organizations, less than $7 million has been devoted to directly helping candidates, according to the analysis, which was based on campaign finance data provided by the Sunlight Foundation.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/tea-party-pacs-reap-money-for-midterms-but-spend-little-on-candidates/2014/04/26/0e52919a-cbd6-11e3-a75e-463587891b57_story.html
You’re going to join me on the ranch, EMichael! Cool!
Btw, check out THIS: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/27/opinion/sunday/the-koch-attack-on-solar-energy.html?hp&rref=opinion&_r=0
Actually, incredibly, Oklahoma’s Repub governor vetoed that state’s ALEC-drafted law.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/04/oklahoma_sb_1456_why_the_tea_party_is_fighting_for_solar_power.html
I’m surprised that the NYT editorial didn’t mention that.
Anyway … we now know what the appearance of corruption doesn’t look like. Even when appearances are not deceiving, and no one but John Roberts, et al, would fail to recognize it as quid pro quo corruption.
Bundy’s armed militia is reported to be manning “checkpoints, controlling traffic flow, illegally stopping and search US citizens.
Obama needs to be like the guy in Kyiv who is sending force out to rid the country of thsoe pro Russian terrorists.
What is Homeland Security doing about the Bundy terrists?
I would like to see one of Bundy’s victims sue him–in Nevada state court. There are both state tort claims and federal civil-rights-statute claims available, and they can be brought in a single lawsuit, either in state court or in federal court.
I’d also like to hear Bundy’s explanation of why, if he doesn’t recognize the federal government as even existing, he keeps invoking parts of the U.S. Constitution, claiming that his constitutional rights are being violated. Free speech, and all, y’know.
I don’t think that what you’re describing comes within the purview of DHS, ILSM, but it does come within the jurisdiction of the Justice Dept.’s Civil Rights Division.
And I would like to hear Bundy’s explanation of why, if he doesn’t recognize the federal government as even existing, the primary decoration in his little encampment is the Stars and Stripes. Cognitive dissonance, maybe?
You are all confusing Bundy’s United States with these United States.
I would hope that law enforcement has assembled a list of the lawbreakers, will issue warrants and has plans to arrest them individually whenever they leave the immediate area.
Let them stay in Bundy’s idea of the US and see how they make out without a job, etc..
EMichael,
Of course. He tricked me by using a very similar looking flag. The Stars and Bars would have been more appropriate.
A special place in the history of rebel bravery needs to be reserved for the ex-sheriff who was planning to use women and children as shields if the federal authorities attacked… for the negative PR it would generate for the Feds.
I eagerly await news of the first arrests.
That’s how The Red Man lost THAT land. Need an EXPERIENCED horse trainer/forman???
Rachel Maddow gave a history lesson as to where Bundy’s thinking comes from. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_04/cliven_bundy_and_the_posse_com050059.php
“… the Posse Comitatus Movement, rooted in Reconstruction-era efforts to remove federal military authority from the South.”
Basically his continuous reference to Nevada being a sovereign state and recognizing the county sheriff as the only authority comes directly from this still in existence movement via the Christian Identity Movement. William Potter Gale founded Posse Comitatus as a branch of the Christian Identity Movement. Thus, citizens are sovereign, only the county sheriff has authority and the federal government has no authority. Citizens are thus free to interpret the constitution as they see fit using the county sheriff as the enforcer.
Watch the video.
Last Friday Ed Schultz had a piece questioning the right’s and news reaction to a person in fatigues laying in a sniper position with rifle pointed at the federal agents and asked what if the person in that posture were nonwhite.
Sorry I will not be joining the party and thus ranch. The weather is getting crazy and right now, here in RIland we appear to be protected in some way.
One more organization to be aware of from Rachel’s report: CSPOA the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. Rachel referred to Sheriff Richard Mack (the one talking about using women and children) as the CSPOA being his group, under his clip it was noted he is a “former” Graham County Nevada sheriff.
What is this organization about? “The county sheriff is the line in the sand.” and can say to the feds “Beyond these bounds you shall not pass.” They plan to vet and train state by state and then these local governments will “issue our new Declaration to the federal government…said Declaration will be enforced by our Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers…”
Get it?
I was in Vegas yesterday, saw the local news, The Feds are talking about GIVING that disputed land to Nevada. Nevada is NOW claiming they can’t afford to up keep the land or pay for fire control. That county doesn’t pull enough TAXES to support it.