You can't
argue with a twit. Hence the impasse between Ammon Bundy and the entire Federal
government. The Federal government has been especially diligent in not turning
the takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge into a bloodbath after its
dubious beginning as the most ludicrous protest in recent US history. The
self-styled Constitutional Patriots drove up to the closed building at the
refuge and moved in for the long-haul. They immediately realized they were
wholly unprepared to last the "many years" if necessary and put out a
plea on the Internet for snacks and warm clothing and everything else they
might need if they were opening a Bed & Breakfast.
"Snacktivists"
of every ilk quickly picked up on the absurdity of the occupation and mercilessly
bombarded the armed militants with internet memes and actual "care
packages containing "Gummi Dicks" and a plethora of dildos for their
use during the long winter months.
Aside from
the absurd maneuver they perpetrated by armed intrusion onto Federal property,
a crime of sedition and possible treason, their demands for actions that will
end this tempest in a teacup are supremely absurd.
The Chief
spokesman and militant Mormon manipulator has said he will end the occupation
when the Federal government surrenders to his ragtag rabble rousers and turns
over all of the Federal land (of at
least the Refuge) to local control. He seems to think that is a viable
negotiating position.
What is a
more likely outcome is that the patient Federal agencies, FBI and BLM, will
listen to the request of the Oregon Governor, Katherine Brown, and will
escalate the standoff to the level of crises. Until now (Jan 22) the debacle
has been more a point of parody and satire on the part of 15,500 "Snacktivists"
on the Facebook page "Snacks for Y'allQaeda". This group of earnest
patriots and wannabe weekend warriors have been on the receiving end of volley
after volley of the sharpest of wit. Every day more criticism than support
weighs against them.
From the
"Daddy Swore an Oath" videos of numerous bearded men sitting behind
the steering wheels of their vehicles to the destruction of pole-mounted
cameras and barbed wire fences, these little men in their jungle camo clothes
believe they can cherry pick parts of the Constitution and Bill of rights to
their own agenda.
At the end
of this standoff they will have damaged their brand beyond hope of recovery.
The Federal Agencies are letting them have sufficient lengths of rope with
which to hang themselves. Each member of their Band of Bothers will be arrested
or be buried when the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is once again open for
the public to learn about the birds and other species who are the intended
inhabitants of the preserve.