Monday, January 4, 2016

2016 off to a rousing start

NY Daily News
Militiamen/'Patriots' occupy wildlife refuge
The Ducks choke away a sure win, the Saudi-Iran split heats up big time, the stock market plunges thanks to China and militiamen occupy a remote outpost in southeast Oregon.

And, it's just the fourth day of this Leap Year.

Also, on Tuesday, gun sales are about to reach an all-time high when President Obama finally announces some basic, common sense, gun-safety reforms.

Obama's actions, no matter how tame, could be a tipping point for the militia types, particularly those 20 or so holed up at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns.

This latest confrontation between ranchers and the federal government over management of public lands would be another comical episode of "Angry White Men," except that these "patriots" are willing to kill or be killed, if necessary.

Incredibly, a majority of respondents to an online poll for KTVZ in Bend, more than 100 miles away from the scene of the occupation, believe that an armed takeover of a federal facility is an acceptable way for the militiamen to make their case. Yes, there are crazy people everywhere.

Still, this hasn't stopped the rational world from poking a little fun at all these yahoos and their sympathizers.

Leave it to Twitter to get the ball rolling with #Y'allQaeda, #VanillaISIS, #YokelHaram  and #YeeHawdist.

Evidently, you can't have a movement without a hashtag, aka, pound sign.

The wildlife refuge, by the way, is a mecca for birdwatchers and was established in 1908 by President Teddy Roosevelt.

Who knew that militiamen and women had a thing for greater sandhill cranes.

Actually, they don't.

They just care about riding around showing off their guns. They think they know what is constitutional, but they obviously do not.

And, it appears a bit of Mormonism is to blame.

These so-called ranchers believe they own all the land that belongs to the government.

But, if we're talking real ownership, here is a map that shows who the land should really belong to:


These nutcases from Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and elsewhere claim they're willing to stay at the refuge for as long as it takes.

I say let them freeze to death in the frigid high desert.

That way, the authorities can pry the militiamen's sacred guns from their cold, dead hands.