I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange
Comments
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Glenna - you are definitely one of those who lives alongside their cancer. Nevertheless, very sorry you have to go through these never ending treatments now. You still amaze me!
On another note - Quinn and Emma are getting along pretty well. Still no cuddling, but I have been enjoying the show of little 4 lb Quinn chasing (now!) 14 lb Emma across my field of vision. He jumps all over Emma without her flinching. This is a pain though--she goes out, he stays in. She has taken on dominant cat status now...guarding the fence perimeter (even escaping twice!). Before she was timid Emma, only staying in the lower backyard and letting Ms Boo do guard duty.
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WOW, glenna, you have really been thru it. So happy to know a MIRACLE. Inspiring. Is your neuropathy in feet, hands, both? I had it during Arimidex, the only thing which helped me was acupuncture. Can't wrap my what's left of my mind around the "wny" it worked, but it did. My oncs suggested it, saying there was "anecdotal" evidence of success, meaning noting scientific/clinical trial-ish, and they were right.
Kam - I had my fingers crossed for a "Mickey Mantle number 7", but got one less than Elston Howard's number 32 ;-) Can anyone tell I used to be a Yankee fan? Which all my friends still tease me about since of course I am now wearing a B on my baseball cap.
Happy Patriots' Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriots%27_Day
A HUGE day in New England, and so emotional after last years bombing. Two bombs at finish line, so the volunteers racing to help were hurt too. At the time when the majority of runners would be crossing the line, AND the place where most fans gather to cheer, and then all go on to the Fenway Park Red Sox game. Hard to imagine someone with that much hate in their hearts, to plan something like that. Well, Boston Strong is out in force today, thousands more running, and all along the race line. Still, I think everyone will be relieved when the race is over.
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Saw this on my facebook feed....
Tom Joad
I
really don't want to write a lot about Cliven Bundy's war with the
Bureau of Land Management, but too many people are repeating nonsense
about "government tyranny" and ignoring a simple truth: I own that land.
So do you. Yes, it's really that simple. This isn't about herds of
cattle, or desert tortoises (“[who, according to Bundy] eat the cow
manure … it’s filled with protein”); this is about one man's flagrant
disregard of the rule of law and apparent inability to manage his own
affairs. He's been thumbing his nose at authority for decades now —
enough is enough.Since the early 90s we've known that Cliven
Bundy is just a lousy rancher who can't seem to keep his cows on his own
property. Yes, it's really that simple. For years, ranchers in the area
applied for, and were granted permits to graze their cattle on federal
lands (think of it as a kind of subsidy — or nearly free feed — a way to
maintain the herd [and Cliven's paycheck] before driving them to
market). But he never owned that land — you did. Me, too. And whether or
not you agree that America's natural resources are a treasure to be
preserved for future generations — all of us agreed a long time ago to
send representatives to Washington to mediate these kinds of issues for
us — to determine what's best for the majority of Americans — and then
pass laws, which we all need to obey. Law — and ORDER.Cliven is a
scofflaw. Yes, it's really that simple. Cliven's cattle aren't just
illegally wandering around federal lands, either — they've damaged golf
courses, private gardens and community gardens over the years, too. And
what's really sad, are the reasons people are giving for supporting
Bundy in his decades-long disagreement with the feds. Asked why she
brought her kids to an armed standoff between gun-toting militia members
and federal employees in body armor (attempting to enforce a court
order), one woman said "I’m a good mom,” my kids are "learning about the
Constitution.” No, sweetheart — they're learning that personal greed is
okay — as long as you have armed thugs standing behind you, threatening
violence. Hey — it works for bank robbers, right?I should go
looking for any one of hundreds of quotes from big-name conservatives,
who defended the "collateral damage" and loss of life in Iraq and
Afghanistan (or Israeli missile strikes into Palestinian neighborhoods);
they tried to place the blame on "terrorists" for hiding among the
women and children. “We were actually strategizing to put all the women
up at the front. If they are going to start shooting," said former
sheriff Richard Mack, "it’s going to be women that are going to be
televised all across the world getting shot by these rogue federal
officers.” I'm sorry, DICK — WHO'S gone "rogue"?The Bundy's have
been working that hardscrabble piece of the desert since the 1880s —
and it's easy to see how losing those grazing permits would change their
business model. Cliven's neighbors adapted, or found other uses for
their land; but the Bundy's didn't even consider it. Since 1995, Cliven
Bundy has racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and
penalties for his illegal activities — and more for the costs associated
with rounding up the herd. He pleaded his case, unsuccessfully, all the
way up to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Along the way, he
claimed the U.S. government didn't have 'jurisdiction' — because he is a
“citizen of Nevada.” Evidently, he tried appealing to a higher court,
too (by including Bible quotes in some court documents) — all to no
avail.One of his neighbors said "I feel that the rule of law
supersedes armed militias coming in from all over the country to stand
with a law-breaking rancher, which is what he is." Yes, it's really that
simple. If you listen to media coverage about this event, someone will
eventually use the phrase "state's rights" — but Nevada's laws are clear
on the subject: Bundy is a freeloader, trespassing on government land.
Those armed men (hiding behind the womenfolk) are all guilty of domestic
terrorism — and I hope they do time in federal prison. Fox doesn't talk
much about the pipe bombs that have gone off in U.S. Forest Service and
Bureau of Land Management offices — now do they?I think we'll
be damed lucky to put this madness behind us absent casualties.
According to Cliven's son, "we won the battle … the war has just begun.”
Right. Perfect. Y'know — Tim McVeigh packed ammonium nitrate fertilizer
and nitromethane racing fuel into 13 plastic barrels and used it to
kill 168 people (including 19 children) in his "war." The Oklahoma
Constitutional Militia targeted the Southern Poverty Law Center, gay
bars and abortion clinics in their "war" (but thankfully were
apprehended by federal authorities before anyone died). Remember Joseph
Martin Bailie's "war?" Probably not — the fuse on his ammonium nitrate
bomb sputtered out and died before ripping through an IRS office in
downtown Reno. This is why we HAVE federal offices to deal with these
nut-cases; they're not patriots — they're [edit] mostly angry,
right-wing, misinformed libertarian zealots with guns.The
Aryan Republican Army, the Militia-at-Large of the Republic of Georgia,
the "Viper Team" of Arizona, the "Phineas Priests" (anti-Semitic
Christians), West Virginia's Mountaineer Militia, the League of the
Silent Soldier, the antigovernment Sons of Liberty group and members of
the "Army of God" are all waging "war" on our federal government. That's
why we ask those who work for us — you and me — to swear an oath to
protect us from ALL our enemies — both "foreign and domestic." I really
don't care if we never collect a dime in fees or penalties from the
Bundy's — or sell off cattle we find wandering around on OUR property.
Just do me a favor — understand that anyone who talks about Cliven
Bundy's "rights" — is an idiot. Yes, it's just that simple — and so are
they.You're welcome.
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Hi Blue,
Interesting article. Since I own that land too, I don't want those stupid cows wandering around on it. I've spent lots of time hiking on BLM land, especially in Utah, and it was so beautiful. It's a shame that Bundy can't abide by the rules.
Hope you're feeling pretty good these days. Been thinking about you.
hugs,
Bren
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It's interesting, but not surprising, that FAUX NEWS Sean Hannity is egging this Cliven Bundy along. Makes Sean Hannity a domestic terrorist in my book.
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Brainless Bundy is mouthing the words "civil war." Mmmmm ...yeah ... That worked out so very well for the last people who tried it.
Seditious ass.
L
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Thank you for posting that, Blue. It's been my Issue of the Month and I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around BundyLogic. Then one day, I realized there was no logic at all, just BundyWords. And misspelled words at that.
And oh yeah, just LOVE the true patriots sacrificing up their womenfolk for a bunch of cows. Or was it Bundy's constitutional right to graze cattle wherever he Damn well pleases? I forget.
Anyway, happy Monday. We had an open fire weinie roast tonight and then tortured some peeps. I rarely have fun with peeps, but today was transcendental. :-)
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E - had brunch with OS and Todd and family yesterday and Todd and I reminisced about Peeps and things you could do to them (or your microwave) and the various colours they come in - did you actually eat them???
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Blue, thanks for posting the bundy article. There sure are some crazy people in this country! And scary ones at that!
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God no, Sandy. Peeps aren't edible. I thought everyone knew that?
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In today's news, the Supreme Court will determine whether or not aspirants to political office can lie about their opponent. The case originated in Ohio, where it's illegal to lie about your opponent. I'll let y'all read about it here:
The defendant is claiming first amendment rights. To lie. In a public setting. When they're selling something. How can anyone think that's okay?
Once again, Canada's far ahead of us on this.
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Chris Christie here in NJ lied on his first political campaign. Just flat out lied. He won the office but was sued for libel by his opponent - who won. Christie had to pay and to publish ads retracting what he said. He lost his bid for re-election. I don't understand why this law is up before the Supreme Court. The First Amendment is not a license to lie: slander and libel laws still exist.
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The story of Chris Christie's first venture into politics.
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It's a pity that President Obama couldn't sue all of those people who insist he's a Kenyan and didn't graduate from Harvard, and that Michelle Obama couldn't sue all the people who say she had her law license revoked. And that the Clintons couldn't sue all the drooling idiots out there who say they killed Vince Foster or ran drugs from private airfields in Arkansas. *SIGH* There is so very much lying stupid sloshing around out there.
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Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive.
If I can't get something by being honest, upfront and to the point, then it is doubtful that I would want it. So many people spend a long time "getting" away with all they do, I'm sure it spurs more of the behavior which likely extends to many around them. Karma can take its time, but when it comes you can't get far enough away from the fan.
Jackie
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Here is an article full of facts about the Bundy issue. It is long, and some of the jpgs don't show up (but the links are there). I know that the people who "know" Bundy is right will not read this and are completely uninterested in the truth (because it goes against their belief of a tyrannical black man in the White House), but for the rest of you, this will be very interesting. Bundy is 100% wrong. No room for negotiation.
The Bundy Ranch – Cliven Bundy’s Cattle & The BLM
April 14, 2014
A recent confrontation between federal employees and protesters over the attempted federal confiscation of cattle (belonging to rancher Cliven Bundy) grazing on federal land (illegally, going on 20 years now) has made its way into several news outlets. The usual suspects have turned this into some Orwellian takeover and suppression of civil liberties, along with alleged backroom deals involving Harry Reid and Chinese solar farms. Reality is more benign and less dramatic. Claims that can easily be checked (and refuted) are nevertheless being spread across social media and websites that claim to expose the truth.
A few facts about the Cliven Bundy and the BLM incident
For some time, the Bundy’s have owned cattle that have grazed in Bunkerville, NV area. Since his cattle grazed on federal land, he paid grazing fees to the federal government. In 1993, the local grazing rules changed when a number of things came together; the Desert tortoise became protected under the species act, and the Fish and Wildlife Service determined that this was one of the areas critical to their long-term survival. Grazing rules were also changed in order to accommodate restoration from years of overgrazing and recent fires. These new rules would include Bundy having to reduce his number of cattle. Refusing to comply, he decided to “fire” the BLM, and stop paying grazing fees, while continuing to use federal lands for his cows to graze. Not only did he not reduce his cattle count, but actually increased them over time.
As a result, Cliven Bundy’s cattle have been illegally grazing on federal land for 20 years. Over these 20 years, Cliven Bundy has racked up over $1 million in unpaid grazing fees, and has actually expanded his cattle’s grazing further into federal lands. He has been taken to court (and defeated) several times.
In Case No. 2:12-cv-0804-LDG-GWF, on July 2013, US District Court – District of Nevada Ruled:
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Bundy is permanently enjoined from trespassing on the New Trespass Lands.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the United States is entitled to protect the New Trespass Lands against this trespass, and all future trespasses by Bundy.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Bundy shall remove his livestock from the New Trespass Lands within 45 days of the date hereof, and that the United States is entitled to seize and remove to impound any of Bundy’s cattle that remain in trespass after 45 days of the date hereof.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the United States is entitled to seize and remove to impound any of Bundy’s cattle for any future trespasses, provided the United States has provided notice to Bundy under the governing regulations of the United States Department of the Interior.
As a result, the BLM attempted to round up at least some of the 900 cattle illegally grazing on federal land. And because of his implied threats of “armed resistance” (and the fact that an attempted roundup in 2012 was called off due to veiled threats of violence) and previous intimidation of public employees, they came with protection. It bears mentioning that no one is trying to remove Cliven Bundy from his land/home. No one is trying to “take his land away.” After 20 years of Bundy not paying for his cattle’s grazing fees, the BLM was there to remove cattle that were grazing on federal lands.
In response, several protesters (including armed militia members) gathered in defense of Bundy. The standoff came to an end when the BLM, citing safety concerns, decided to stand down. Supporters of Bundy have of course, labeled this successful (and armed, as well as potentially violent) defense of Bundy’s illegal activity as a “win for freedom.”
From the BLM website
Is Bundy Constitutionally correct?
Bundy says he doesn’t recognize the federal ownership of land he believes belongs to Nevada and has stated that “It’s a statement for freedom and liberty and the Constitution.” Of course, at the writing of the Constitution, much American land was in fact owned by the federal government. There is no “Constitutionality” in not recognizing federally-owned land.
Some have gone further, and incorrectly argued that the the US Constitution guaranteed that future states brought into the union would be granted full control over the territory of their borders. This is not only untrue, but the property clause, which states that Congress has the power “to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States” grants the Federal government authority over public land. This is exactly what the Ninth Circuit decided in United States v. Gardner (107 F.3d 1314 ). Most of the arguments being made by “Constitutional” proponents of Bundy were denied in the above case (which also took place in Nevada).
For example, Bundy proponents have cited the equality clause which was established in 1783 would indefinitely apply to every future incorporation into the union. However in United States v. Gardner, the 9th Circuit held that:
The claim by Gardners that it is the duty of the United States to hold public lands in trust for the formation of future states is founded on a case dealing with land acquired by the United States from the thirteen original states….. This decision was based on the terms of the cessions of the land from Virginia and Georgia to the United States. Before becoming a state, however, Nevada had no independent claim to sovereignty, unlike the original thirteen states. Therefore, the same reasoning is not applicable to this case, in which the federal government was the initial owner of the land from which the state of Nevada was later carved.
The BLM & Public Land vs Bundy Land
In the back-and-forth over states vs federal rights, BLM fees, tortoises, an conspiracy theories about Harry Reid and the Chinese, it’s easy to lose sight of one important fact: this is public land that’s been in use by more than just Cliven Bundy and his cattle. Much of the rhetoric around this subject assumes that this is land that he, and only he (and his predecessors) has used over the years.
But this is public land, in use by animals other than cows. The now-defunct BLM page explained the numerous complaints including cars running into cattle, a state employee being attacked by a bull, crops being destroyed on private property, and damage to the Mesquite Heritage Community Garden and golf course.
The page also lists the destruction of natural and cultural resources, including: crushed artifacts at cultural sites, damage to springs (fecal contamination included), vegetation trampling, etc.
A little digging on the web does reveal local citizens expressing dissatisfaction with Bundy’s cattle.
From Let’s Talk Nevada (Aug. 6, 2013)
Despite having no legal right to do so and in defiance of federal court orders, Bundy has continued to graze his cattle throughout the Gold Butte area without paying a penny to do so for decades, competing with tortoises for food, hindering the restoration of extensive wildfires, trampling rare plants, damaging ancient American Indian cultural sites, and threatening the safety of recreationists. A drive along Gold Butte Road will often require that you dodge trespassing cattle. Surveys by the BLM have found well over 1,000 cattle — many in easily damaged freshwater springs and riparian areas on public lands managed by the National Park Service and State of Nevada as well as the BLM.
InfoWars and other Conspiracy Theorists
[img width="250" height="175" title="infowars bundy ranch reid" align="right" alt="infowars bundy ranch reid" src="http://www.factandmyth.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/infowars-bundy-ranch-reid.jpg">The independent media “sphere” includes a collection of websites/blogs that thrive on continued perpetuation of fear (usually of the government). Situations like this Bundy cattle dispute are described in Orwellian contexts (in this case, Bundy is made to look like an innocent rancher who the government has decided to come after) with no explanation of the actual context (that Bundy’s cattle have been grazing on federal lands for 20 years, has over $1 million in unpaid grazing fees as a result, and has lost numerous court battles).
Common Conspiracy Myths
“This is a federal land grab of sorts!”
This has been US government property since it was taken from Mexico in 1848, before Nevada was an actual state.
“The Bundy’s have worked and maintained this land since 1877!”
As shown above, this has been US government property since before Bundy’s alleged ancestors began settling here. There is also some question as to the Bundy’s alleged longstanding history with this land. Cliven Bundy’s father, David Bundy was actually born in Arizona, and would later move to Nevada. So Bundy’s “lineage” claim is murky at best, if not outright bogus.
“Bundy’s great grandfather bought the rights to the Bunkerville allotment back in 1887″
This claim has been repeated numerous times but there appears to be no record of this. Since the Bunkerville allotment is part of federal land it is unlikely that any of the Bundy’s would have ever been sold the rights. This may actually be a conflation of the claimed “pre-emptive” rights, which some have claimed Bundy’s family to have. It would appear that this is nothing more than a subjective belief on the part of the Bundy’s, that their longtime use of federal lands somehow gives them ownership. Furthermore, given that Bundy lost in court 3 times, it’s unlikely that he in fact owns the portion of the land in question.
“Cliven Bundy stopped paying because the BLM hiked their rates!!!”
The grazing fees are not determined by the BLM. They are a based on a formula which was originally set by Congress in the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 and modified via executive order (Order 12548 — Grazing Fees) under President Ronald Reagan in 1986. The fee falls and rises based on the cost of livestock production, beef cattle prices and current private grazing land lease rates. Known as the per animal unit month (AUM), today it is $1.35, compared to the $1.23 per AUM that it was in 1966. This is actually a decrease when adjusted for inflation, as $1.23 in 1966 would convert to $25.40 in 2013. Grazing fees from 19814 to 2012 can be seen here (PDF).
These rates were set in stone by way of Ronald Reagan’s executive order as of 1986. Executive Order 12548 states:
Section 1. Determination of Fees. The Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior are directed to exercise their authority, to the extent permitted by law under the various statutes they administer, to establish fees for domestic livestock grazing on the public rangelands which annually equals the $1.23 base established by the 1966 Western Livestock Grazing Survey multiplied by the result of the Forage Value Index (computed annually from data supplied by the Statistical Reporting Service) added to the Combined Index (Beef Cattle Price Index minus the Prices Paid Index) and divided by 100; provided, that the annual increase or decrease in such fee for any given year shall be limited to not more than plus or minus 25 percent of the previous year’s fee, and provided further, that the fee shall not be less than $1.35 per animal unit month.
“It’s because of Harry Reid and the Chinese Solar Farm Deal” & The “Why The Bundy Ranch – What You’re Not Being Told” Video
Ignoring the 20 years of illegal cattle grazing and the numerous court battles that Bundy lost, conspiracy theorists have made the argument that this is somehow in connection with a 2012 proposal for ENN Energy Group, to build a $5 billion solar farm and panel manufacturing plant in Nevada. The problem with this “connection” is that Laughlin (where the solar farm was going to be built) resides about 180 miles south of the Golden Butte area where the point of contention lies.
There is at least one video (Why The Bundy Ranch – What You’re Not Being Told) falsely claiming that solar farm was to be built where the Bundy Ranch. The video cites this Reuters article (which actually states that the solar farm was to be built in Laughlin, NV–of course, the video provides no link to the actual article).
[img width="506" height="425" class="size-full wp-image-1209" alt="nevada chinese solar harry reid" src="http://www.factandmyth.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/nevada.png">It’s unlikely that Harry Reid is pulling strings to get ranchers off federal lands so that a Chinese Solar Farm can be built 170 or so miles away.
“The BLM’s removal of a cached page ties BLM to solar projects!”
The taking down of the BLM site’s old “Northeast Clark County Cattle Trespass” page has caused come conspiracy theorists to assume foul play (as if the BLM has something to hide). Namely, they believe that this sentence is revealing:
Non-Governmental Organizations have expressed concern that the regional mitigation strategy for the Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone utilizes Gold Butte as the location for offsite mitigation for impacts from solar
This is apparently a “smoking gun” for anyone subjectively trying to “find” some new world order conspiracy, and it is confusing for someone trying to objectively understand what this means. Fortunately, The Wildlife News translates this for the rest of us:
This is bureaucratic language but all it means is that private groups like the Western Watersheds Project, Friends of Nevada Wilderness, Friends of Gold Butte and Friends of Joshua Tree Forest don’t think the solar power damage elsewhere can be mitigated here at Gold Butte because the damn cattle will tromp all over it and shit on it.
Yes, but, but, but are not then Bundy’s cattle stopping the solar projects that Harry Reid wants so much? Of course not. They are gleefully ripping up the desert anyway without wildlife mitigation near Gold Butte.
The last sentence brings up an excellent point. The government doesn’t need to round up cattle to build solar farms. They can simply have them built (it’s federal land) with or without the cattle there. The very logic behind this “dot connection” is flawed to begin with.
If the BLM were truly trying to hide “Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone” reference, they could have just deleted that specific point, and it would have drawn less (if any) attention than deleting the page altogether. In fact, if this statement were somehow incriminating, it’s unlikely they’d have posted it on their website to begin with.
It’ worth emphasizing what the intended mitigation means. The BLM was stating that NGO’s want to use this place as a refuge for species being affected by solar development elsewhere. This is essentially a guarantee that NO solar development is scheduled to take place here. In other words, the statement makes the exact opposite point the conspiracy theorists have run with.
Furthermore the BLM page actually lists many problems Bundy’s cattle are a problem, including (which conspiracy theorists glaze right over):
- One feral cow was hit by an automobile within Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Cattle are frequently seen on public roads, including State Route 170 and pose a danger to vehicles and to members of the public traveling on public roads.
- Overton Wildlife Refuge (State of Nevada) employee attacked by a Bundy bull.
- Crop destroyed by Bundy cattle on private land.
- Mesquite Heritage Community Garden damaged by trespass cattle.
- Mesquite golf course damaged by trespass cattle.
Finally, in regards to the BLM “removing the Google Cached page” as well (in addition to taking if off of their own site): the BLM has no control over the Google cache. Google keeps a cached version of a page, which shows how the page appears when Google last crawled the page. If a page goes away, the Google Cache will remain until Google once again tries to crawl the page. Once Google “realizes” that the page is gone, the cache will disappear as well.
The government simply wants to lease this land for fracking!
Similar to the “Chinese Solar connection” this claim depends on a sloppy correlation between the Bundy/Gold Butte area and the mere fact that there may exist future energy development “somewhere in Nevada.” The source of this particular conspiracy did bother to show the map (PDF) showing the alleged relationship between the area of contention and potential fracking. However, the map clearly shows no potential oil-production in Gold Butte region.
Click to enlarge
“The BLM is just using the Desert Tortoise as an excuse”
The Endangered Species Act is administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), not the Bureau of Land Management. The protection of the Desert Tortoise has long been a priority for animal preservation groups. And again, the point was to have Bundy pay his grazing fees. The government came to remove his cattle from this area, not to remove him from “his land.”
“But desert tortoises and cattle have existed for X amount of years!”
Like many other similar claims, this is true but misses the point: human encroachment has reduced the desert tortoises’ viability (reducing its population by 90%). This reduced viability means extra care must be taken in areas where a species still resides.
As reported by The Sierra Club:
As with many species, the primary threat facing tortoises is habitat destruction and fragmentation. Rapid urbanization and development in tortoise habitat causes direct and indirect mortality. Examples of indirect effects include barriers to movement, introduction and increase in predators (e.g. domestic dogs), and spread of non-native plant species that displace important native vegetation and increase wildfires.
Roads and off-highway vehicles can have serious detrimental impacts on tortoise populations. A number of tortoises have been killed or injured by vehicles on both paved and dirt roads as well as off roads. Roads also accelerate the spread of invasive non-native plants.
Environmental groups filed a notice of intent to sue the U.S. Bureau of Land Management today for failing for seven years to report impacts to the desert tortoise and similarly threatened and endangered species from off-road vehicles, cattle grazing and other activities in California’s deserts.
Cattle impact desert tortoise in many ways. Cows trample tortoises, their eggs and their burrows, they compete for important food plants, degrade the habitat and promote the spread of weeds and nonnative vegetation” said Michael J. Connor, California Science Director for Western Watersheds Project. “This plan is particularly bad because it will increase the number of cattle grazing in desert tortoise habitat and concentrate those cattle in the most sensitive critical habitat areas in dry years, the very years when the tortoises are most at risk.
“Enough is enough,” said Mrowka. “As of December 2011, more than 80,600 acres of desert tortoise habitat have been destroyed in Clark County under the pretense that the agreed-on steps were being taken to help tortoises in protected areas. But since 1998, grazing that was supposed to be eliminated at Gold Butte has gone on, despite two federal courts saying it should stop.”
In 1994 the Fish and Wildlife Service identified areas critical to the long-term survival of the desert tortoise; one was Gold Butte. In 1998 the BLM released its current “resource management plan,” which clearly indicates that grazing allotments in tortoise critical habitat would be closed, Mrowka stated.
“If the BLM cares about Tortoises, why do they euthanize them!?”
Due to shortage of funding (in part due to a slow economy, and perhaps in part due to people like Bundy not paying their grazing fees) for the Desert Tortoise Conservation Center was running dry in 2013. The plan was to adopt out as many tortoises as possible, release some into the wild, and euthanize those who carrying diseases or who were too feeble to survive in the arid deserts.
“If this was a lawful attempt to collect a debt owed, why were the Feds armed?”
After 20 years of allowing his cattle to graze on federal lands without paying (with him expanding said grazing into other federally-owned territories), 3 court judgments against him, the federal government was finally sending agents in to collect the trespassing cows. Bundy, who was given fair warning of the future seizure, issues implied threats and implications of “another Waco.” Hence, it’s no surprised that federal agents were armed in case these threats were in fact, real.
“The BLM is out of control, and doesn’t represent the people!”
In the onslaught of hyperbole and vitriol leveled at the BLM, many have overlooked some basic facts, and treated the BLM as some all-encompassing agency with no oversight, making decisions at its own whim. For example, it was the Fish and Wildlife Service, not the BLM, who decided the desert tortoise was in danger, and that Gold Butte was essential to its long-term survival. Three separate court rulings all ruled against Bundy. The BLM has 29 citizen-based (not government agencies) advisory councils (each consisting of 12-15 members from diverse backgrounds–including ranchers) in the western States alone. And while, the average citizen does not “elect” BLM members, they do elect the head of the executive branch (of which the BLM is a part of), the President of the United States.
Interstate Highway 15 was built for easier access to the Bundy Ranch area
One of the more interesting rumors involves the claim that the 15 was built so that some future development could take place in the area where Bundy’s ranch resides. This highway connects Southern California (starting just a few miles north of the Mexican border), Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Great Falls, and the Canadian border. In connecting Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, it almost necessarily runs in relative proximity of the Gold Butte. This is a significant stretch for a highway that’s supposed to merely provide access to the Bundy ranch area.
Keeping things in Context
In the process of discussing all of this, it’s easy to lose context and begin to think that the BLM was attempting to take Bundy’s ranch, and that it was all over some desert tortoises. But remember, no one was attempting to kick him off of his land, they were attempting to get him, first to pay his cattle-grazing fees (for 20 years), then to get his cattle off of federal land. The BLM attempted seizure of his cattle has been 20 years in the making.
Further Reading
- Bundy standoff WIkipedia Article
- Everything you need to know about the long fight between Cliven Bundy and the federal government
- The Irony of Cliven Bundy’s Unconstitutional Stand
- Spurious Cattle Conspiracy Dodges Facts But Still Lands On Fox News
- Does rancher Bundy have a legal claim? No.
- Right wing disinformation: Bundy’s Land Is NOT Solar Farm for Harry Reid
- Cattle trespass operation made dangerous by media coverage
- Right-Wingers Claim Victory Over Feds At Nevada’s Bundy Ranch: ‘We Won The Battle’
- About the Judge who issued latest Cliven Bundy Order
- Right-Wing Media Are Throwing Gas On A Rancher’s Violent Threats Against The Government
- Cows Have Been Illegally Grazing in Gold Butte Area for More Than Two Decades
- Lawbreaking Rancher Cliven Bundy Wins Victory That Will Embolden Domestic Terrorists
- Armed Right-Wing Militia Members Descend On Nevada To Help Rancher Defy Court Order
- The Nevada Tortoise War Is A Right-Wing False Flag
- Freeloading Rancher has Trespassed on Hundreds of Thousands of Acres of
Public Land for More Than Two Decades
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News Bulletin: Peeps of all colours are edible as long as you bite off the head first. Licking sugar anywhere else is allowed too, before munching.
Thus endeth the lesson.....
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"When [Morrison] did the bridge to 'End Of The Night,' he said 'Realms
of bliss, Realms of light' -- I said 'Jim, that's William Blake's "Songs
Of Innocence."' He said, 'I know, but nobody's busted me yet'. The
Doors really represented a rock band really tapped into literature, and
it worked." - LA poet and friend of Jim's, Michael C. Ford
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Great article and resource, RL. Thank you.
Haha love the cartoon, Blue!
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I just love being Strange! Don't you?????
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Local TV Station Sheds Doubt On Bundy's Claims About His Family Ranch
Tom Kludt– | 13882
Cliven Bundy has trumpeted his "ancestral rights" in his land-use dispute with the federal government, but a report on Monday from a Nevada television station placed doubt on the defiant rancher's claims.
KLAS in Las Vegas obtained property records showing that Bundy's parents purchased the family's ranch in 1948. The Bunkerville, Nev. ranch has been the site of a tense standoff with the federal government over Bundy's use of land managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Those records appear to contradict Bundy's own history of the ranch, as well as his biography.
"I've lived my lifetime here. My forefathers have been up and down the Virgin Valley here ever since 1877. All these rights that I claim, have been created through pre-emptive rights and beneficial use of the forage and the water and the access and range improvements," Bundy told KLAS before the government's round up began.
The standoff has made Bundy a hero among conservatives like Sean Hannity.
Nevada Assemblywoman Michele Fiore (R), who is showing solidarity with Bundy and the armed militias supporting him, said Friday that the federal government shouldn't "come here with guns and expect the American people not to fire back."
Bundy said that his rights predate the formation of the Bureau of Land Management, and he has refused to pay more than $1 million in cattle grazing fees.
"My rights are before the BLM even existed, but my rights are created by beneficial use. Beneficial use means we created the forage and the water from the time the very first pioneers come here," Bundy said.
But court records obtained by KLAS indicated the family's cattle didn't begin grazing the land until 1954. The Bureau of Land Management was created in 1946 (the same year Cliven Bundy was born.)
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Oh funsies. He is not only a seditious ass, he is a lying seditious ass.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/cliven-bundy-ancestral-rights
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Why are they "conservatives", when they are loony,with screws loose?
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Good old fashioned gall in my part of the country. Bundy seems to have an over-large share of it too.
Jackie
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Libby ... I liked the chart in the article you posted. It shows what the ranchers have to pay per head of cattle for grazing rights on BLM land. OMG ... can't believe how cheap it was to use BLM land for the cattle ranchers.
Blue ... Love Jim Morrison's poetry.
Jackie ... Keep meaning to tell you I love the rose in your avatar!
It rained for a while this afternoon. Glad I walked the dogs and did my errands early in the day. I've also had quite a bit of work come in over the past 3 days!! Yay! I did manage to take a break yesterday and mow the front, sides and back 40. My allergies were so bad and I couldn't stop sneezing, I had to stop mowing for a few minutes and get some Benadryl and Sudafed. Tim says I should wear a mask when I'm mowing.
Kad2kar ... Good to see you!!
hugs to all,
Bren
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Love Stevie Nicks..........
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