Obama was right, I was wrong.

[Glamrock]

I read someone's op about the Malheur standoff and got to thinking.

Man those fuckers pissed me off. Both times. Who the fuck did this motley crew of morons think they were. Pointing guns at federal agents, taking over federal property. Are you kidding me? Put these idiots down, I said. Enough is enough. Put em down like rabid dogs. And when their buddies show up to "take back 'merca", put those fuckers down too. Enough of this shit. Plus, we'll improve the gene pool for awhile. BONUS! And I was fucking wrong. Period. On soooo many levels I was wrong.

First and foremost, almost no one was killed. Especially law enforcement. And really, after seeing blue tarp guy, did anyone really think blue tarp guy was gonna walk away from that? That was 250 pounds of stupid with an assault weapon. There was no hope for that one. R.I.P. blue tarp man, your cause was just....just fucking ridiculous.

Secondly, the ongoing saga of the snack-less was...I don't have the words. It was like...shit man. I mean... Right? What in the christ was that? It was like those Eugene Levy/David Guest/Michael McKean flicks. Like "Waiting for Guffman" or "Best In Show". The whole thing was absolutely surreal. I mean "The Movement" was on full fucking display. And it wasn't good. There's no such thing as bad publicity my narrow white ass. The damage these guys did to their "movement" in the eyes of the public was incalculable. They were a complete laughingstock. To the point that they were getting dildos and drums of lube in the mail! Fucking priceless man! Methinks recruitment efforts may be stalled for awhile, especially once this band of merry buffoons is sentenced.

And finally, the behavior of the feds. While I still think something should have been done after the first incident, their handling of the circus was hugely successful. They came across as completely rational, "just doing my job, sir" human beings trying to negotiate with a bunch of wackos playing guerrilla army man. Alas, not a shred of publicity to promote the "movement". Which is really what the whole thing was about.

So, to my president, my justice dept., and my FBI. I raise my bowl to you! Great job ladies and gentlemen. Great job.



This op brought to you with the help of Bubblegum.

[HassleCat]

1. What they have learned

Ruby Ridge and Waco taught them that the "identity groups" benefit from publicity and the impression of victimhood when the feds move in on them. The best course, as long as they're not threatening immediate harm, is to let them make themselves look stupid, get bored and hungry, issue strange press releases, and burn themselves out.

[Glamrock]

2. I have to quit smoking pot...

You turned my whole post into one sentence....thanks man.

[Warpy]

3. What they haven't learned

is to block them in and hold their mail, keeping the media with the cops and not with the arseholes, although letting them in initially let the rest of the public know what dumb fuckers those "revolutionaries" all were.

They run out of tobacco, they're going to start trying to sneak into town. One by one, they should get nabbed.

Still, seeing that one take the GoFundMe money and spend it on a drunk at the No Tell Motel was priceless.

[passiveporcupine]

4. It was allowing them to use the media that got the charges to stick

They put themselves in jail with their own words.

[JDPriestly]

5. It was absolutely wise not to escalate that situation.

The guys that brought their guns and took over the bird sanctuary at Malheur Wildlife Refuge were just fools.

There is no reason to over-react.

Obama's administration and the FBI and all law enforcement involved did a great job. They stayed cool and let the matter play itself out without a lot of trouble.

Great job. They deserve a lot of gratitude.

[B Calm]

6. We're going to miss Obama.

[brer cat]

7. +1

Patient and reasoned response won the day.