Bundy vs. The Feds

Recently there was a stand-off between the Cliven Bundy family with support from Right Wing Militia members vs. the Federal Government. According to reports Mr. Bundy has been grazing his 500 head of cattle on Government land for over 20 years without paying grazing fees.

 

From what I have read, Mr. Bundy says he was paying the fees but stopped in the early 90s because the Government wasn’t assisting in the upkeep of their part of the land. He said the fees he was paying was to go for the salaries of the Forrest Rangers and the maintenance of the Government part of the land. Mr. Bundy said the Government wasn’t maintaining the property and therefore he was no longer paying the fees. 

After Mr. Bundy stopped paying the Government took him to court to collect what was owed. As I understand it, he was sued 3 times and he lost every time and was told he owed $1.2 million. Mr. Bundy ignored the ruling and continued to allow his cattle to graze on Federal land without paying the fees.

The Government rounded up his cattle while they were on Federal land and the Bundy family along with members of Right Wing Militia all armed with side arms and rifles went to get his cattle back. That is when a heated confrontation began. 

Naturally since this involves the Federal Government where Democrats are in charge Fox (NOT) News must take the side of the opposition. The location is Nevada and is the state of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Fox (NOT) News is helping to float a made up story about Senator Reid wanting to push the Bundy family off their land so he can build a solar farm with the Chinese. Even though the story has been proven to be false Fox continues to push it. 

The confrontation got heated and the Bundy group seemed to be ready to die. They were recorded saying they were going to put women up front so that the Government could be filmed killing them.

Not wanting to kill a bunch of crazy people, the Feds backed down and released the cattle. The Bundy group claimed victory and Fox (NOT) News was sad. Fox wanted to see shoot out so they could blame Sen. Reid and President Obama. 

NOW, Mr. Bundy says he is refusing to pay the fees because he doesn’t recognize the Federal Government as owners of the land he uses. He says the land belongs to the State of Nevada and therefore he should not have to pay the $1.35 per head each month grazing fee to the Federal Government.

 

This has gotten to be longer than I wanted so let me end saying this. Mr. Bundy is another Right Wing freeloader. If the land he is using belonged to the state of Nevada he would be paying over $15 a head in grazing fees and would owe close to $20 million instead of $1.2 million to the Feds. This guy doesn’t want to pay anything. He wants it all for free.

http://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Grazing_Fees/gf_hm.asp

Fox (NOT) News is promoting this wealthy rancher that is freeloading off of the Federal Government, who is basically refusing to pay his taxes, and making him out to be some sort of patriotic hero. Then that same fake news station is calling the poor people that collect any assistance from the government, a drain on the system and not worthy news coverage. 

Tell me where I am wrong.

 

 

Former Governor Indicted

Today the former Governor of Virginia, Robert McDonnell and his wife Maureen were indicted by the Federal Government. The indictment could have come while he was still in office but his lawyers somehow convinced the prosecutors to wait until he finished his term. Why should they do this guy a huge favor by allowing him to finish his term? If he had been a Democrat it would be a scandal to put it off.

The 43 page indictment will have you shaking your head. If the things claimed are true then he and his wife should go to jail for a long time. They are accused of 14 counts of fraud, conspiracy and obstructing a federal investigation.

In a nut shell as I understand it, this is what happened. Jonnie Williams, a business man in Virginia gave the Governor and his wife lots and lots of money and gifts in exchange for promoting his company and assisting with obtaining research grants. The list of things received from Mr. Williams are unreal. The Governor said Mr. Williams was his friend and saw nothing wrong with the gifts. This is the list from page 42 of the indictment;

 
The sum of not less than $140,805.46;

Black Rebecca Minkoff shoes;

Black Louis Vuitton shoes;

White Louis Vuitton shoes;

Cream Louis Vuitton purse;

Cream Louis Vuitton wallet;

Silver Rolex Watch engraved with "71s1 Governor of Virginia";

Yellow Peter Som dress;

Blue Armani jacket and two matching dresses;

Two Gold Oscar de la Renta dresses;

Black Louis Vuitton rain coat;

Gold Oscar de le Renta sweater;

One pair of Amelia Rose earrings;

One Gear sweatshirt;

Two pairs of Foot Joy golf shoes;

One button-down Ralph Lauren shirt;

One white Peter Millar golf shirt;

One baby blue striped Peter Millar golf shirt;

One royal blue Peter Millar golf shirt;

One aqua Fairway Greene Tech golf shirt;

One white striped Ralph Lauren golf shirt;

One Ping University of Virginia golf bag;

One Ping Kinloch golf bag;

One Sun Mountain Notre Dame golf bag;

Two sets of golf clubs;

One Heather Mackenzie water color and frame;

Two iPhones; and

30 boxes of Anatabloc®.

 

The Governor insists he has done nothing wrong. He says he has given it all back and he never broke the law and he also apologized. My question is why did he give it back and why is he sorry? If he did nothing wrong then why did he apologize. How can an apology be sincere if he can’t understand what he did wrong?  

I am sick and tired of powerful people getting caught doing something wrong and they say “I’m sorry” and give some of it back then go on about their business. When poor people get caught they go to jail.  

If you have some time read the indictment. This is what happens when you think you are above the law and drunk on power. He needs to sober up in a prison cell for 20 years.