And I disagree that his rights expired 20 years ago. Hope this turns into a media circus. I have much more respect for a rancher with a family business than polluting oil-industry scum.

No sympathy from me for a guy who has openly admitted to grazing there for 20 years without paying the grazing fees.

The oil industry issue is completely separate, and as of yet unproven, IMHO.

I found this equally interesting...Ignore the source, but read the story.

» BLM Action in Nevada is Unconstitutional, Here’s Why Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

... but you have no problems using their products?

This after 20 years? I'm not sure I know how it would be "heavy handed". Had this been 2 weeks after his first missed payment, I'd agree it was.

What has your history got to do with anything? You have kept the rent based off the lease agreement steady. Next time the lease comes, you want to raise the rent. What of it? If I don't feel like paying your rent whether it is reasonable or not, what right have I to keep using the facilities?

I can certainly understand and sympathize with the argument, but I see it as more of an excuse rather than a reason.

If he was so incensed with the federal government stewarding the land and charging grazing fees, why did the family pay them for so long?
Nevada became a state in 1864.... that's 150 years ago. It seems like they might have found the time to lodge a complaint before now....

My understanding is that the family was fine and dandy with the arrangement until BLM modified the grazing permit to accommodate the desert tortoises which live in that area. That was when Bundy quit paying. That was when he should have pursued his argument regarding the 'Enclave Clause'.... Not after 20 years of continuing to operate a commercial herd on public lands without making a single payment. That is theft of public money in my book.
Had he wished to give his constitutional argument some validity, he would have paid the grazing fees to the State of Nevada....

Unless something else comes out, I can't see him as anything but an opportunistic scofflaw who has been abusing the public trust for decades.

Is "respect" now a new word for "double standards"?

While that is a fascinating viewpoint, whether an action is constitutional or not is not for him to decide. IIRC, there is a group that decides that. You get a ticket you don't believe you deserve, take it to court. That is the venue for such decisions. Your personal interpretation of the law notwithstanding, it isn't your call.

The Bureau of Land Management website says Bundy has defied trespass laws for more than two decades, ignored rules and fees that other cattle ranchers have observed and refused “repeated attempts to resolve the matter administratively and judicially,”

Had he wished to give his argument any validity, there was an invite to take it to court.

The imagery of the self-reliant cattle rancher running up against the image of a cheapskate scofflaw.

yadda yadda, another states rights over fed.

As if some kid was taken away from their parents by CPS, --oh wait, which state is this... a red one or a blue? and what yr is this (whos occuping the WH).
Its as clear as red and blue--move along -nothing here any different.

Could he be both?

Why not, we all project our own prejudice to most situations.

They are all as cheap as El Chivito says.