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Nov 2023 Mod notice:


There may be other, more specific, threads about some aspects of US politics, but this one tends to act as a hub for all sorts of related news and information, so it's usually one of the busiest OTC threads.

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In line with the general forum rules, 'gravedancing' is prohibited here. If you're celebrating someone's death or hoping that they die, your post will get thumped. This rule applies regardless of what the person you're discussing has said or done.

Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#108352: Jan 8th 2016 at 8:16:36 AM

Not so much expecting as craving. The impression Ryan Bundy's been giving me throughout this has consistently been that he desperately wants to be a martyr. That his hopeful best-case scenario is if CIA agents kick in the door with a minigun and take everybody out in a spray of blood. He's trying so hard to craft an "Inciting point of the revolution" narrative.

edited 8th Jan '16 8:18:02 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
Julep Since: Jul, 2010
#108353: Jan 8th 2016 at 8:34:55 AM

He probably already names the director he wants for his biopic in his last will.

Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#108354: Jan 8th 2016 at 8:36:02 AM

And the title of the movie he wants to be remembered in, the actor he wants to portray him, and the amount of cash his family will get for those proceeds.

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#108355: Jan 8th 2016 at 8:40:24 AM

It seems like the feds are currently intent on ignoring them to see if they get bored and go away. Do we know what's going on with that weird guy out there hanging out under the tarp?

On the one hand, I want to say they chose the most dumbass building to take over, since it's obviously not the most important federal building, but on the other it's unlikely they would have been able to get into any other building without resistance and that probably factored into their decision.

I love how that one guy said "this is what they want to kill us for" when totally ignoring the fact that they literally invaded a federal building; any killing that happens definitely very much has their own hand in it.

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#108356: Jan 8th 2016 at 8:41:44 AM

Tarp Man? I think he just wants attention. He's their mascot.

NOTE: Attention from the group, not necessarily the media. He's like the little brother who tags along with the Cool Kids and wants to do what they're doing.

edited 8th Jan '16 8:42:25 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
NoName999 Since: May, 2011
#108357: Jan 8th 2016 at 9:13:26 AM

HAHAHAHA! I'm never gonna trust a cop EVER again thanks to this

It's now VERY clear that they basically exist to coddle the majority race

This was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#108358: Jan 8th 2016 at 9:25:27 AM

Letting a fascist militia openly walk all over your authorities? Isn't that an early sign of America being a failed state or something?

These guys at the very least are long overdue for a date with some tear gas.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#108359: Jan 8th 2016 at 9:30:54 AM

Why would you give them attention? As many said, the place they assaulted is so irrelevant that the government can perfectly just wait until they get bored and run out of funds.

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#108360: Jan 8th 2016 at 9:36:06 AM

This kind of apparent inactivity/lack of response may encourage further such actions.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#108361: Jan 8th 2016 at 9:37:07 AM

Where are they held up? What exactly are they trying to accomplish?

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#108362: Jan 8th 2016 at 9:39:44 AM

It's a bit tough. Let them do nothing and we've shown that we won't stand up to militias but do anything and we make them the martyrs they desperately want to be.

[up]They're in a disused federal building and they're trying to accomplish a massacre.

edited 8th Jan '16 9:40:11 AM by LeGarcon

Oh really when?
Kayeka (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#108363: Jan 8th 2016 at 9:44:04 AM

Yeah, I get why people want to just ignore the problem until it goes away, but wouldn't that just encourage these idiots t do something really stupid and dangerous next time they get the revolution shivers?

Seriously, just starve them out. Not a single shot needs to be fired.

edited 8th Jan '16 9:45:26 AM by Kayeka

Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#108364: Jan 8th 2016 at 9:46:27 AM

It is going to be hard to rally the people after your last effort was so pathethic that absolutely nothing but an awful press came out of it.

Yes, they are fanatics and do not listen to reason. But supplies, money and moral support can only last so long.

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#108365: Jan 8th 2016 at 9:47:41 AM

Why wouldn't they be able to come and go as they please? They're holed up in a disused building on public land. They're calling it a revolutionary stand, but they're basically just squatters.

The complete lack of any reason for the huge federal response they so desperately want is exactly what makes this so funny. Barring them from leaving would not only be counterproductive, it would feed their persecution complex. They're trying to provoke a response and the government is refusing to humor them.

edited 8th Jan '16 9:48:29 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#108366: Jan 8th 2016 at 9:49:40 AM

Besides the Government already cut the power and the heat.

And it's the middle of winter.

So.

Basically the best thing is to just let them wear themselves out. The government doesn't want another Waco/Ruby Ridge. Especially with the fervor of the Political Right going on right now.

NoName999 Since: May, 2011
#108367: Jan 8th 2016 at 9:51:38 AM

Even if this is prevent another Waco, this just begs the question why are we afraid of Muslims blowing shit up and not gun toting white people blowing shit up?

Bombs don't discriminate. And bombs aren't gonna get a +6 in attack when Muslim makes one.

Medinoc from France (Before Recorded History)
#108368: Jan 8th 2016 at 9:53:47 AM

One has to admit that radicalized muslims set up us more the bomb than gun-toting rednecks, who prefer to show off guns instead.

When they start bombing (assuming they don't blow themselves up while building the bomb), response will escalate.

edited 8th Jan '16 9:54:30 AM by Medinoc

"And as long as a sack of shit is not a good thing to be, chivalry will never die."
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#108369: Jan 8th 2016 at 9:54:48 AM

When a bunch of redneck truckers decided to stage a blockade of U.S. Interstate 495 in Washington, DC to "starve out" President Obama a while back, the response from the administration was not to arrest people but to ignore them. Sure enough, a few dozen showed up, did nothing, then went home.

The most effective response to this kind of stupidity is to ignore it and let it gutter out. Reacting only inflames the feelings of persecution. You only diverge from this when the activity presents a clear and present danger to lives or property.

Yes, these folks are committing illegal acts, but treating them as a serious threat only serves to legitimize them.

edited 8th Jan '16 9:55:40 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#108370: Jan 8th 2016 at 9:55:11 AM

There's been no significant redneck bombings since the Oklahoma City mess, so that probably has a lot to do with it.

NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#108371: Jan 8th 2016 at 10:18:09 AM

HAHAHAHA! I'm never gonna trust a cop EVER again thanks to this
Police attempt to avoid unnecessary violence, therefore they're untrustworthy?

Uhh....

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#108372: Jan 8th 2016 at 10:23:48 AM

[up][up] Bombings, no, they're more prone to shootings like the Planned Parenthood Massacre.

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#108373: Jan 8th 2016 at 10:24:17 AM

Gotta agree with Native Jovian on this one; this response alone isn't proof of coddling anyone. Sometimes not responding is actually the best tactical response, regardless of the race of people involved. Plus, this is an entirely different situation than the whole police interacting with individuals who are black situations we've had on the news lately. It'd require a different response no matter what that response is.

Frankly, I find the lack of further news about Cliven Bundy specifically to be the more potentially frustrating thing, and that one requires a federal response and not one from local police unless he decides to do another "stand". (Which would end up involving both local police and the FBI anyway, probably.)

edited 8th Jan '16 10:24:36 AM by AceofSpades

NoName999 Since: May, 2011
#108374: Jan 8th 2016 at 10:43:44 AM

But what good is playing the waiting game when they can just leave any time?

And what's to stop someone from playing vigilante and shooting the protesters themselves when they get off federal ground?

If the law enforcement views them as a joke, why are schools closed for a week?

And as for ignoring them: That really hasn't been working

edited 8th Jan '16 10:45:38 AM by NoName999

AngelusNox Warder of the damned from The guard of the gates of oblivion Since: Dec, 2014 Relationship Status: Married to the job
Warder of the damned
#108375: Jan 8th 2016 at 10:45:18 AM

And what you want then? Go full Wacco on them?

Also didn't the Black Panthers did the same thing with open weapons demonstrations and the police didn't dare to touch them?

edited 8th Jan '16 10:45:59 AM by AngelusNox

Inter arma enim silent leges

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