Beer Drinking, Gun Toting Larry Mattlage: Fascist Or Misunderstood Kook?

[DistressedAmerican]

There seems to be some division on this point.

Let's quantify DU opinion shall we?

"This is a war of the Porta-Potties!"

[ohio_liberal]

1. Wildly gesticulating gun-toting fascist with a porta potty fixation

:)

[DistressedAmerican]

3. LOL!!!

Best description EVER!

"Wildly gesticulating gun-toting fascist with a porta potty fixation"


:rofl:

[ohio_liberal]

4. I would've added some shit about Jesus

but it wouldn't all fit in the subject line like I wanted :evilgrin:

[efhmc]

2. How about a do not care category?

[DistressedAmerican]

5. That Would Be Pointless. If You Do Not Care, Why Would You Vote

Or reply for that matter?

More importantly the only person that would vote "I don't care!" Would be those freeps chanting it the other day in Crawford!

[titoresque]

17. true true!

you're quick! :)

[libhill]

102. They don't care about a mother grieving for her

dead serviceman son? Way to "support the troops" ass hats - I'm impressed!

[DistressedAmerican]

6. Neck And Neck!

The race is on!

[DanCa]

7. i vote ......

... He's a disappointed ,self-loathing, couldn't make it into the cast of Deliverance, because no one couldn't learn him his letters, trash bag feeding, inbree,d meally- faced hermaphrodite.

[DistressedAmerican]

11. I'll Take It That's "Other"!

[DanCa]

21. Lol I Cleanned it up was I still over the top :)

[libhill]

103. Possibly -

then again, he could be a Bible thumpin', Nascar ah watchin', Rush Limpballs ah listenin', don't like no funny boys round these parts, anal cyst.

[eleny]

8. Picking up a shotgun and actually firing it

Menacing followed by a verbal threat. Hmmm... He's not pussyfooting around. I may have dealt with him by using some humor. But this guy is as serious as any other home grown fascist thug.

[ohio_liberal]

10. Menacing

That's exactly the right word. If he had done this in my state, he'd be arrested for menacing. And probably a few other things.

[eleny]

25. Btw, I live in the state with the first "Make My Day" legislation

I can shoot someone to death in my front yard if I believe they're trying to kill me. But shoot into the air when people are far away? That's a no-no. That'll buy me a visit from the SWAT team. Menacing when there's no one threatening my life is so against the law.

[ohio_liberal]

30. Ah, that's a touchy thing here

One would probably still be required to go through the grand jury process. I think the only way you can 100% go scot-free in Ohio is if an intruder is in your bedroom.

[eleny]

40. Not so in Colorado

If you were on my front lawn with no weapon - but I thought you were armed and going to kill me, I could shoot to kill. Scary stuff.

[titoresque]

9. I think he's a stressed

out country boy. However, calling all Rednecks out to his land to join forces in "practice shooting" for the upcoming dove season could attract the real dangerous wackos....so technically I vote for both.

[DistressedAmerican]

15. That Is Fair And Balanced!

[katinmn]

67. I have to agree. If there weren't guns involved, I would give the

guy a pass and chalk it up to being a pissed off local.

However, drinking and guns are a dangerous combination. Didn't like the invite to the other good old boys, either.

[Rex]

12. Repuke that got carried away and blew his load.

nt

[DemonFighterLives]

110. Shooting Blanks

:rofl:

[Gman]

13. Cut the guy some slack!

I don't blame him one bit. Without alienating his Bush loving neighbors, he basicly said the war is bullshit.

And besides, would you like it if a similar circus-like atmosphere were going on in the street right outside your front door? That's what it's like for him.

And... dove season in Texas is just as sacred as high school football. Dove season opens in his area September 1. Right now is when you start sharpening your eye to get ready. (Us folks down here in the South zone have to wait until September 26 so we have a few weeks before we pull out the shotguns.).

[DistressedAmerican]

23. I Do Not Care What He Like Or Does Not Llike. He Is Threatening People

guns while drinking. These people are peaceful and well withing their rights. Rights that he would like to unilaterally deny them with threats of violence and incitement of others to join him!

You sure have gone out of your way to make apologies for him all evening!

If he doesn't like it, let him fire at Bush's ranch and hold a press conference about that!

[Gman]

47. Yup, I've made apologies for him all evening because

that's the way it is, and always has been here in Texas regardless of which way the political pendulum has swung.

[DistressedAmerican]

59. (Sound Of Banjos And The Chirping Of Crickets)

[Maru Kitteh]

109. That's just the way it is............... some things will never change....

that's just the way it is.......... ahhhhhh but don't you believe them.

Yeah, great song.

You know what? GETTING DRUNK AND THREATENING PEACEFUL PEOPLE ON PUBLIC LAND WITH GUNS IS WRONG. No amount of apologizing or candy-ass sunshine rationalizations and justifications will change that. The man may have been genuinely frustrated but you know what? IT DOESN'T EXCUSE HIS BEHAVIOR.

Yes, let's encourage people to use FIREARMS to vent their frustrations, there's a good idea.

I will not be doing anything to provoke Larry when I go to Crawford, but I won't be sending him chocolates either. I'll save my precious resources for those who are there doing the hard work of Democracy by supporting Cindy. I'll also be very GRATEFUL the S.S. probably has the guy under 24/7 because I don't trust the guy any further than I can throw a case of Keystone Light, and I sure don't like him. His "being rural" doesn't excuse it either. I'm from Central Nebraska and I COME from rural people, and I don't even know ONE who would think of behaving like this asshat, so that whole culture clash argument is also bullshit as far as I'm concerned. Sometimes a jerk is just a jerk. Larry can go piss up a rope.

His big boo-hoo is that he's inconvenienced and bothered. I'll be happy to worry about his inconvenience and bother just as soon as our troops are home and no longer have the worry of being inconveniently shot at and bothered by losing limbs and life.

[Gman]

120. I'm not defending him, I'm just saying

that's the way it is here in Texas, as well as probably everywhere else in the rural South.

[Catholic Sensation]

14. other

understandably annoyed person who now seems to be the target of actual provocation. since nobody answered this honestly last time i asked, how would you feel if a group of people were outside your property, being loud, smelling up the place, and supporting Bush? And what if they were doing this for over a week?

[ohio_liberal]

18. well I think I wouldn't like it

but I wouldn't go outside and fire a gun into the air. I'd probably ask if they had any beer.

[DistressedAmerican]

24. I May Not Like It. But, I Would Not Threaten People Over It.

Especially threaten them with guns and ask "every redneck in Texas" to join me in doing to.

Feel free to come set up some porta-potties on the public land near my house. I promise no gun play.

[Catholic Sensation]

27. threatening them with guns would require aiming somewhere near them

or saying he's going to actually shoot them. I've seen nothing of him actually aiming at the protestors, or saying he was going to fire on them.

[DistressedAmerican]

32. Have you Even Bothered To Listen To Him In His Own Words?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4348643

He is CLEARLY both threatening the protesters and inciting others to join him. Or do you think he is just inviting "every redneck in Texas" to join him for a legitimate hunting trip?

[Catholic Sensation]

no i think he's inviting the "rednecks" to make the environment

as unpleasant for the protesters and he's going to be as obnoxious to them as he feels the protesters have been to him. and calling him a fascist is plain stupid by the way.

edit: too many pronouns, not enough clarity

[A Simple Game]

41. Exactly.

And people the porta potties are a metaphor.

[DistressedAmerican]

44. Have Any Protesters Threatened Him? Any Gun Play?

In Short, Bullshit.

Intimidation plain and simple.

No excuses for fascists that try to deny people their free speech at the end of a gun!

[katinmn]

61. Were the protestors really obnoxious to him? This is news.

[libhill]

104. Well -

I happen to be a Texas "Redneck", and I have half a mind to go up there with my shotgun, and shoot back at his ass. Fuck him and the nag he rode in on. If he can't handle his beer, he should leave the shit alone. And that goes for all of you freeptard lurkers out there, and I know you're out there. If you're so gung ho about this war, go enlist. Or shut the fuck up.

[DemonFighterLives]

114. Good Post - You cracked me up!

:rofl:
If he can't handle his beer, he should leave the shit alone.

[katinmn]

116. LOL!

:rofl:

[titoresque]

26. I'll answer your question

If a bunch of right wing twinkies were across the street from my place for over a week...and I had, let me see..........90 acres of land that I had owned for the past....let's say, 125 years, I think I'd stay off that side of the property and mind my own business and be thankful that I wasnt the majority of U.S. citizens under this regime who are FAR less fortunate.

Yikes, I take that back, if they were right wing twinkies, it would piss me off real bad, but not because of the noise, cause I probably wouldnt hear them unless I drove that mile or so down the road and stood at the fence and tried to hear them.....I think I'd just be pissed at the fact that they were out in packs supporting a murderer who continues to rape and pillage this planet.

[DistressedAmerican]

33. That 125 years stuff is crap. He has been there 5 or 6. Said So On CNN.

That "We have been here 125 years" is a reference to the Germans that settled the land.

What a freaking crock. This guy is almost as new to the neighborhood ad his imfamous neighbor.

[Kali]

37. FYI

90 acres is about 1/8 of a square mile, so even if his property had a wierd configuration his house is probably at least within 1/4 mile of the camp and likely he is much closer as utilities and driveways tend to be cheaper coming of the nearest road.

No excuse for firing guns near these folks, but plenty of sympathy for rural property owner with a crowd at the fencline.

Some of us in the west have had a long-running conversation (fight) about the kinds of impacts livestock have on the land. Nobody disagrees about the kind of damage a crowd of humans can do. If there was a crowd camped near my property I would be concerned about the potential damages.

[DistressedAmerican]

42. That Is Why He Has A Fence Line. We Will Stay On Our Side.

Him? Less certain...

[KitchenWitch]

69. hear hear!

[TomInTib]

16. Has anyone here spent much time

in this part of TX? I have and old Larry is pretty level-headed, relatively speaking.
I am with Cindy 100%.

[cloud75]

19. it's not Cindy and supporters he's mad at it is the media....they are

the most intrusive types when it comes to covering a story.

[eleny]

28. I read that he's renting his property to the media now

Interesting turn of events if it's true.

[ohio_liberal]

29. I don't think so

He's pissed off that all those people are so close to his property. He thinks the media is going to somehow mediate between the protesters and Bush.

[DistressedAmerican]

35. He Rents His Land To NBC. He Is Profiting Off This Event.

[ohio_liberal]

38. Yes I know

:)

[sarahlee]

45. He has been renting his land to NBC

Since Bush bought the ranch... big deal....

If I lived next door and they were going to be there anyway, I would too.

[DistressedAmerican]

46. Would You Use Gun Threats To Drive Peaceful Protesters From

adjacent PUBLIC LAND?

Would you?

If so, you are no better than Larry! And if not, you should stop defending his gun nut ass.

[sarahlee]

48. Geez

He fire birdshot into the air. When I lived out in the country in Texas that was a common way to get a neighbor's attention. It just aint that big a deal on its own except to city folks.

Now if you want to keep trying to make him angry, he can probably, legally get half of Crawford to come over and shoot their guns in the air as well - heck they could do it all night.

Is that what you are trying for?

Read what the guy has said - he doesn't like Bush living next door. He hates EVERY August when the Bush show comes to town.

Back in 2002 he said:
"I'll make some people mad for saying this, but I'll tell you what really ticks me off. Bush portrays this as his hometown, and it ain't. He just barreled in here."

In another 2002 interview he said:
But Larry Mattlage, who permits NBC to use his 90-acre spread, is somewhat resentful of Mr. Bush's presence.

"It sort of messed up a nice quiet neighborhood," he said. "When he's here, you get a lot of traffic and a lot of people and a lot of airplanes and a lot of security and a lot of things we didn't have here in the beginning."

Neither Mr. Mattlage nor Mr. Bradford would say how much he is paid for the use of his property, though Mr. Mattlage called it small recompense for the hassle of living next to a president.

"I figured, 'Well, if you've got to put up with this stuff, you might as well make a little money off of it,' " he said.

On Aug 7, 2005 he told a supporter at Camp Casey:
"The rancher was quite sympathetic and completely agreed with us but he was not comfortable providing any support for Cindy. He said that homeland security could determine that he was a threat, declare eminent domain, and seize his land."

I just don't understand the goal of your anger. What you hope you will achieve with it. What good you think it will do Cindy or the cause of peace?

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[sarahlee]

91. Give me a break

He is next door to the frigging president. There are secret service people all over and they have already come to visit him after this morning's incident.

If the guy is already worried about getting on some Homeland Security list, do you really think he is honestly going to do something "dangerous?" What he has left is his mouth.

Why not try to get it saying good things about the camp?

[katinmn]

94. Being drunk at 10 am and firing a gun several times to scare people is not

acceptable, no matter how rosy you want to paint the picture, Sarahlee.

If you want to spend time winning Larry over, by all means do so. No one is trying to stop you.

But I do wish you would stop trying to convince people that they should join in by kissing Larry's ass or that we are somehow wrong for being appalled at Larry's behavior.

Perhaps if he sobered up and apologized to Cindy and the rest of the camp I'd feel differently.

[crispini]

125. "Being drunk at 10 am and firing a gun ... is not acceptable"?

You don't know many good ol' boys, do you?

[HereSince1628]

105. Many Texas landowners do "Deer Leases," essentially let

people rent the right to hunt on their property. I suspect that the lease with NBC is a more or less natural growth out of that.

[Cocoa]

20. I like Larry

from listening to the audio of his comments he seems just like a crank with an interesting way of speaking and bad taste in beer.

[Clark2008]

22. Larry needs a hug

and some pine scented air freshener.

:7

[scudrunner]

31. All Bark,No Bite

Just a country boy with his peaceful country life interrupted,he seems harmless to this country boy.

[DistressedAmerican]

36. How About The Fire Breathing Freeps He Encouraged To Join Him

in firing guns into the air on his land if he does not "get something" tonight.

Can you assume they also are harmless?

[Liberal In Texas]

74. It's called bluster...He was DRUNK!

It won't happen...(the gun thing.)

Stop worring about Larry, he's just a scared intimidated old fart.

If anybody from FW or Dallas shows with guns, I'll bet he won't let them on his property either.

(I actually think he's in support...of Cindy...he just needs some schmoozing.)

NOW! stop being so paranoid!

[Swamp Rat]

34. All of the above!

:D

He reminds me of my uncle, who lives not too far away. x(

I say, send the raging grannies to talk to him and give him jars of honey. :)

[Duncan Grant]

39. Actions speak louder than words.

Larry has fired shots - ostensibly as preparation for "dove hunting season". And, he's invited others to do the same.

When asked about the dove hunting "spin" of his actions, here's what Larry had to say (from the CNN interview):

Reporter: "Larry, did you mean to send another message?"
Larry: "Figure it out for yourself."

Personally, I can't shrug this off as easily as some of you.

[Carolab]

43. NUTJOB!!! n/t

[BeTheChange]

49. Spoke with Mr. Mattlege when we were out last Sunday..

Although TexasLady, another DUer, didnt particularly care for the fact that he left a pamphlet about the church sermon he had attended that day for Cindy.. said that this was an imperfect world and that while he supported what Cindy was doing, that the only one that could take her pain away was Jesus...

This guy didnt start out with malice. He isnt the sharpest knife in the drawer and he is a crumudgeny old man who just wants to ride around on his property on his 4 wheeler and not be bothered..

Im not thrilled about the guns, that definately needs to be diffused.. but I dont think the guy is a facist.

[TheWatcher]

51. He basically invited every redneck in Texas to come to his

Property and bring their guns to put on a real show.

When asked if he was trying to send a different kind of message, he responded "Figure it out fer yerself."

As far as I'm concerned, he's inciting and threatening, and if ONE HAIR on any innocent person's head is harmed because of his irresponsible words and actions, he should be held FULLY accountable, and at this point, the way I feel about these people who are destroying our country, I don't really care what that ends up entailing.

There are dark days, only on occasion and in the worst of moments that I think the world would be better off WITHOUT the people on the other side of the argument.

Yes, it's the wrong way to feel. Yes, I am aware of it.

But I am fed up.

These people, and the people who support them are insane. As far as his "support fer their cause", I'm sorry, I believe it's feigned at BEST.

Enough Is ENOUGH.

Someone should remind this Good O'l Boy that if that Fascist Cowardly FUCK of a neighbor of his would just come TALK to her, none of this would be happening.

In fact, if this Fascist FUCK of a neighbor had never started this insanity to begin with, Cindy would never have BEEN there in the FIRST PLACE, and he would be free to continue his beer-swilling, completely pointless existence in PEACE.

Sorry for the rant, but FUCK what these people want.

We want our country back that was stolen from us.

I want my friend Angel back who DIED in this conflict.

We have lost 1800 of our sons and daughters and over 100,000 innocent Iraqi's have DIED because of a LIE.

So sorry for the inconvenience Larry.

SUCK IT UP.

[BeTheChange]

52. I just dont know what being jerks is gonna accomplish..

So Im willing to try diplomacy. I definately dont like the guns, I dont like guns at all. And there is no way the secret service is gonna let a whole bunch of people with guns come shoot on his land, so Im not really concerned about that portion of it.

[TheWatcher]

53. I think you are right about that

At least I HOPE you are right about that.

The problem I have with Larry making that absurd invite is that even if he really doesn't plan on shooting anyone, there ARE idiot rednecks in that State, and other places who would travel to Crawford that WOULD,

It was an absolutely stupid and irresponsible thing to say, and we have enough crazy people in this country who are just itching to kill or instigate violence upon people who's views are opposite of theirs.

I don't mean to be a jerk about things BTC, but the fact is there has been a Cold Civil War in this country for a long time, and it isn't going to take much to make it turn Hot.

Larry needs to tone that shit down.

[DistressedAmerican]

56. They Allow One. He's In His Legal Rights To Invite As Many Over As He

sees fit. As long as they are shooting on his land.

Stop relying on the secret service to protect us (ans I say Us because I am heading down myself). They have no interest in protectiung us from anyone. They hate us!

I have noticed those of us actually looking to be there are the ones that find this to be unacceptable harrassment and intimidation. Folks that are miles away can feel free top make excuses. I will not.

I have a family and I an entitled to express my views right there on the public land outside of his property without wondering If I am walking into a "redneck" shooting gallery.

Maybe you'd like to come on down and join us?

[titoresque]

60. Im coming down on Friday it

will be a pleasure to meet you. 16 hour drive, coffee and too many cigs.
Packing the kids up and taking a history trip!

[DistressedAmerican]

63. Yeah! I Cant Wait To Meet You! You Have Been Kicking Ass!

Keep your head down though. They like to drink and shoot of both their guns and their mouths early on a Sunday morning.

Hey, with all his talk of living Jesus Christ, Why wasn't he at church instead of getting drunk and beligerent?

Hmmm?

[titoresque]

66. sounds like the makings of a good country song

Got drunk fer Jesus
load'n up them guns
gonna shoot the meakest
on a Sunday morn....
Gett'n drunk fer Jesus.........

[nadinbrzezinski]

64. That is why I'd rather it be defused before anybody

even larry, gets hurt...

That said, if they start shooting DIVE into the ditch... or find another firm object, like tree or an engine block. If he uses solid shot, (assume such)... the engine is your best choice... bird shot the ground will stop it

[DistressedAmerican]

68. Good To Know. I Know With Your Experience, You Know!

I'll keep all of that in mind!

[katinmn]

78. ....

:hide:

[nadinbrzezinski]

84. the other old adage, the bullet that kills you is the one

you don't hear, and quite brutally honest, I doubt Larry has access to subsonic munitions

[BeTheChange]

65. Actually, maybe you'd like to come down and join me..

Ive been there every day I could since this thing began including this whole last weekend...that means today during the event in question, just incase there was any confusion.


Ive seen how the secret service has been, Ive seen how respectful and nice the Crawford police have been. Nobody is interested in this becoming a shootout.


Heh, I was the closest person to Mr Mattledge for most of the weekend, we had the luck of sitting in front of the Republican Headquarters sign because we wanted to be right on the corner of the road... I did not feel unsafe.

Im sorry, your post is just funny to me, you have no idea what Ive been doing or where Ive been since this whole thing began...

Yet you are the one freaking out from miles away... interesting how that table turned, huh?

[katinmn]

71. Thanks, DA. I have the same concerns.

I want to feel safe while I'm practicing my right of free speech.

[DistressedAmerican]

72. I'm Pretty Sure That Is A Reasonable Position To Have. Despite

claims that I am baiting him or what the hell ever.

He is going off about rights he made up in his head. I want the rights that are guaranteed in the Constitution.

Silly Me!

[BeTheChange]

73. No comment, eh?

Here you are ratcheting up the fear.. and challenging people to come join you in a place you arent...

Yet someone tries to tell you what happened, someone who was there and you ignore it.


You would make me more jumpy then the gunshots did.

[titoresque]

75. Im sure DA

can handle this, but I've read back thru your posts and I think you might be making a bigger issue of what he said. I didnt read it like it was a personal attack.

???

[BeTheChange]

81. Put up or shut up isnt a challenge?

Cause telling someone that maybe they would like to come down and join them in a place they werent, while freaking out about a situation that they only know about due to the msm seems a bit like saying put up or shut up to me..

[titoresque]

85. yikes

alrighty then. Sorry to have pissed you off.
Really, I have my own views, we all do. Sometimes I feel like a good arguement, sometimes I dont. Tonight, I don't.
Maybe we can do this another time.....hopefully not though :)

Peace

[BeTheChange]

89. This gets more and more comical..

you say sorry to have pissed me off... see I dont see where I said I was pissed off...I explained how I interpreted DAs post, which you advised me on how I should have interpreted...

We all read what we want to into things, eh?

:)

I dont want to fight with you, infact, believe it or not, Im not fighting with anyone.

[titoresque]

90. ok

:)

[DistressedAmerican]

76. Sorry, I Didn't See Your Post For Whole 18 Minutes. My Bad!

I am glad that you feel safe with drunks inviting all the state's gun nuts to come out shooting until we leave.

We'll have to agree to disagree I guess.

This is wreckless and irresponsible behavior and I am going to point that out. I have what most folks would consider reasonable concerns under the circumstances.

Feel safe all you want. I do not.

[BeTheChange]

83. People often fear the unknown..

Hopefully you will feel better when you get here.

Have a safe trip down.

[DistressedAmerican]

88. Most People Have Fear Of The Drunk, Belligerent And Armed.

I'll feel better if I get there and "every redneck in Texas" hasn't taken Larry up on his invitation.

Why is it so hard for you to just say thew guy was way out of line? I really do not get it.

Who spends all this effort defending a guy threatening them with gun and more gun nuts to come?

Just so you know these are the kind of people that can't wait to show up armed:

"That damn old Cindy and the rest of the Left Wing commie pukes deserve to be intimidated."

I am not so worried about Larry hinself. it is his invite of these freaks that pissed me off.

I certaily hope to have a safe trip. That is what all of this is about. I didn't wake up wondering if I would be safe. I wonder now.

Sorry you find that so wrong of me...

[BeTheChange]

92. Let's try it this way..

I did say I was happy about the gun. I never even suggested that it was "inline".. Ill quote it for you: "Im not thrilled about the guns, that definately needs to be diffused.. but I dont think the guy is a facist."

Im not defending the guy. Im just saying its not like he was out with a sniper rifle picking people off. What good is it to freak the fuck out on him? I dont understand that.. what exactly do you expect anyone to do about this? He fired a gun in the air from his property. He let off steam. Id rather him fire the gun, get reprimanded by the SS and the cops and then simmer the heck down then antagonize him into pointing it next time.

There simply isnt going to be a congregation of gun nuts 3 miles from the "Western Whitehouse" I dont care how much the SS "hates us". You didnt see the cops step in when a handful of counter protestors started getting really mouthy.. I did. You didnt see the SS respond today... Im trying to speak out of a place of reality, not paranoia. I dont want to discourage people from coming because Larry had a bit of a hillbilly moment.

Im sorry you are scared. Im sorry Larry shot his gun in the air.. I cant change that, but I sure dont want alot of malice and paranoia making the scene all weird. If you are going to go to Crawford, you must go there realizing the risks. Cindy does. Maxine did.. At any point in time some nutcase can drive by and open fire. I dont need Larry for that.

[katinmn]

77. Why are you being so argumentative, BTC? Geeze. Give it a rest

You've been at this all night!

[BeTheChange]

79. Like you know me personally or something,,

to quote you from earlier..Come on now Katinmn.. are you really gonna go there?

Im tired of people and their fear, hate and judgement spiralling everyone else into a frenzy.. argumentative.. I guess one thread on this by DA wasnt enough, maybe they could start a 3rd or 4th just for niceness sake.

[katinmn]

82. If you're tired of the threads, why do you make MANY posts

on each one??

[BeTheChange]

86. There has to be some voice of sanity..

I mean, unless you'd like to start being one.. Personally, Im gonna go to bed and it would be nice to know there was someone else to take up that cause.

[katinmn]

87. Yes, please, get some sleep. Wake up happier.

[nadinbrzezinski]

93. He is right actually

if you do not know truly the situation on the ground, and he does, you really have no way of judging, and neither do I, but I will take his report faster than yours

Now a reasonable person AWAY from the situation may assume that every red neck will show up... to the ranch that border's the ranchette... okay, given how the SS works, they are there to primarily protect their package, that is very unlike. I would not be surprised if the security teams are right now looking for ways to defuse this themselves... after all that IS their job. (worked around security personnel for ten years and can tell you some stories, one of them includes the SS... nice people and very professional by the way, though a tad quick on the trigger if their package should be in trouble.. that is their job)

Now a reasonable person will also look for very basic info on what may be involved so they can take appropriate emergency actions. Quite brutally honest, I have been expecting something far worst than a country boy making statements that from his point of view are very justified and actually also protected by law... here is the classic dilemma of freedom of speech, property rights and where your rights and my rights may be infringing on his, or his rights (property in this case, whether perceived or real) may be infringing on yours.

There is also a lot of stereotyping and assumptions going on. I am not there, so I cannot and do not what is truly larry's position, so I will speculate right now, again having talked to country folk over the years, not only in the US but abroad. He likes his privacy, and we all, coming from this damn cities (city versus country) are getting on his way. He is and has the right to complaint about it, and even if he wants to, to make a point. Now the shotgun may or may not have gone too far. I have no idea what distance he did it, or what ammo he used. He uses guns all the time, you don't, suffice to say that shotguns have a lousy effective range with bird shot or 12 gauge as they tend to spread in the air, and loose velocity quite fast. Hence why they are the proffered home defense and small game weapon. Again I was not there, but if he was far enough nobody was in real danger, but what he did is classic for the country... very classic, and it comes from the way of the country. And if in the judgement of the Sherriff he did it far enough inside your property, they may talk to him and warn him.. that will be the end of it. When we all leave, in spirit or otherwise, well Larry will be still be there... and that is how it works... now if he actually hurt somebody... bad... hence why to a point the portrayal of Missisipi burnign was not off, for the record not only in the US... and he also hates them Feds, btw.

Now a reasonable person may assume that his call will lead to a bunch of committed pro bush people showing up with 22 rifles or even assault rifles, yes a shot gun is scary, a 22 is far more effective as well as an AR... ok... so if this should go south, DUCK as in dive, again a reasonable person will look for cover and you have no training... I hear a back fire and at times I am looking for cover, automatic, so rehearse this in your mind, but don't let this scare you... fear is your worst enemy. Oh and if I could I would be down there, heck I might even take a pecan pie to Larry... and pay for a BBQ just to smooth things over, heck even drink a cold one, and clean after myself. He sounds like a cranky old curmudgeon living in the back country... who really wants his privacy back... and feels you are impinging on his rights, which brings me back to the classic dilemma.

[katinmn]

95. Wow. You really are into this aren't you?

:rofl:

[nadinbrzezinski]

96. No just happen to understand how the country side works

you don't (read rural areas)

Also I am not into spreading fear... if you think the SS is gonna let a bunch of armed rednecks three miles from the Ranchette, you are having a serious problem... after all them boys are some of the same type that are part of them militia's and them Feds are coming and taking all from us.

Oh and keep laughing that is one reason we keep loosing, becuase we high totting edjumakated city folk refuse to get down and drink a beer and ahem walk in them shoes

[titoresque]

80. LMAO

you people crack me up! Sorry, I'm finding this a bit humorous.
Really if you want somoeone to "give it a rest" because you think they are too pissed.......you don't tell them to "give it a rest"

LMAO! sorry. :)

[KitchenWitch]

54. I was not there, so I cannot really speak to the situation

But he did not CHOOSE to have Bush move in next door. Whether or not he voted for Bush, I am certain it was not HIS choice that our country invaded Iraq. Under the best of circumstances, when his neighbor is "home", it has got to be the worst of clusterfucks with all the security and all the extra people coming and going.

Now factor in the protesters. There are even more people around, making it hard to drive down the road, messing with his view, etc.

My suggestion for those planning on going to Crawford, please leave the grounds in better shape than they were in when you arrive. In other words, be good stewards. And do not get into verbal warfare with him, be mindful of what you say, always be pleasant with him (especially when it is the most difficult to be so). Be an example of peace.

[DistressedAmerican]

58. There Is No Indications Of Us Behaving Anyway But Respectfully

and lawfully.

We did not provoke this.

He is the one out of line. Not the peaceful protesters.

[KitchenWitch]

62. I am sure the protesters have been respectful

But walk a mile in his moccasins...then you may understand why he may be behaving in such a manner (not that it excuses it, but it can give insight into his feelings).

[DistressedAmerican]

70. I Fully Understand His Frustration. This However Is An Unacceptable Way

of dealing with it.

Saying that out loud should not taken as provocation or anything of the sort.

It is a simply statement of fact that the vast majority of the country would agree with. Thankfully America got to see drunk, beligerent (ans yes frustrated) Larry in all his gun nut glory. So they know.

[etherealtruth]

123. You got it ...

I could sympathize with some of his concerns ... IF and ONLY IF he expressed them in a civilized way.endangerring others is NOT civilized!

[Jack_DeLeon]

129. Perhaps not but its pretty much a given when you have large groups...

of people in one place, that place usually gets trashed and a mess is left behind.

[XOKCowboy]

98. All I can say is Thank You

You said all I wanted to say in your post. He's an old Texas country boy who didn't ask * to move in next door to him and is getting fed up. I really can't blame him. Cut the guy some slack.

[KitchenWitch]

100. You are more than welcome

Not everyone has achieved enlightenment...

[nadinbrzezinski]

124. Nope and it truly sumarizes what is the matter with kansas

[maveric]

55. Fucking Asshole!

Where's the poll choice for that?

[oasis]

57. I'll second that.

[katinmn]

97. If you don't hear from me, it means you are ignored because I find

you belligerent and a waste of time.

Good-night, all!

:)

DA: :pals:

[dxstone]

99. Wow... SCARY poll results, bro!

Looks like most of tonight's participants are happy to let Larry shoot first, and maybe ask him some questions about it later...
He's probably NOT a fascist--too dumb for that. His 'philosophy' can likely be drunk right out of a bottle purchased at any of yer finer e-stablishments, if he don't make his own at home (maybe that's what's got him so spooked; he's worried those damn protesters are gonna bring the revenuers down on his sorry ass!--or maybe he's worried that someone will hear the screams and cries of young girls comin' from his sub-basement)... but WHATEVER the unknowns, he is INDEED a pretty loopy ol' bastard, and given what he's already done, it's really pretty hard to predict what might come next...
I'm just gonna repeat my posting from that other thread of sarahlee's, for the sake of brevity and a great need for sleep:

102. What so many of you seem to be missing here...

Is the fact that Cindy DID try to talk to this drunken doofus... but he's in a shootin' mood, not a talkin' one, don't ya know...
MANY of us who have reacted with shock and anger are VERY peaceful folk, not knee-jerk reactionaries at all... but there are some people out there you just can't reason with, and Larry's a'lookin' not all that reasonable right from the git-go...
You wanna give him cakes and pies? Fine! Why don't you just take whatever stuff you were gonna use to support Cindy and give it to Loser Larry, the man who shoots first and then shoots some more later and won't LET you talk to him and threatens to bring all his green-toothed cousins in, along with a few pros from Dover, to show ya what REAL shooting is all about?... being so far from that action, it seems to me pretty easy to be all cuddly and hopeful that you can turn this guy around with a few peace offerings; but hey, you're welcome to try...
But a few of you suggested bringing him beer or even stronger drink, and this tells me something about the clarity of your thinking here...
We are NOT manufacturing fear where none existed previously. We are being reasonably cautious, cuz Larry came out of his house and started shooting his gun in a very deliberately threatening way... and he has NO LEGAL RIGHT to do that. The fact that no one's pressing charges against him YET is gift enough for his dumb ass, if you ask me.
I'm not sure just how a peaceful group of protesters some half a mile away from his house is causing him this great agony... and as I've stated before, if this legal sit-in of peaceful folk causes him such undue stress, well then what ELSE might get his dander up and get him reaching for his long-iron? Interracial marriage? Gay civil unions? Men sporting long hair? People who use three-plus-syllable words? Liberals eatin' sushi and smokin' them fancy machine-rolled cigarettes right in HIS beloved drainage ditch?
And how far do you want to go to appease poor Larry in his confusion?
There are people camped down in that PUBLIC place with CHILDREN!!! And he's 'practicing' for dove season? Blasting away like a loose cannon and speaking in tongues?
There are LITTLE KIDS over there, folks... and Cindy tried to speak to this misunderstood redneck with a heart of gold, and was for some unguessable reason rebuffed... and even if I didn't KNOW that she'd tried and failed, honestly: do you REALLY think that none of those protesters haven't tried this approach already?
I wonder about some of you. You're giving poor ol' Larry such benefit of the doubt, and apparently treating those he was MENACING with a SHOTGUN as if they were indeed the goddamn troublemakers he sees them as...
I really, REALLY wish it WAS possible to reach out to EVERY insane delusional psycho gun-totin' hill-billy out there and heal them with a cake or a pie... but IS that really possible, or even plausible?
Not necessarily, Sarahlee...
But good luck in your effort anyway. I guess another attempt couldn't hurt.
If he repeats that performance even ONCE more, though, I'd personally like to see him put into a nice quiet rubber room to dry out for awhile.
At least til' the end of August.
And after all, dove-murdering season doesn't start til' September anyway.
d
ps: I really do hope that this one can still be turned from the Dark, Stupid Side of the Force... but he looks like a pretty old dog from the pics I've seen, so I'm not holding my breath.

[libhill]

106. Great post -

that pretty well sums it all up. The guy is a nutcase sociopath.

[marions ghost]

111. actually we don't know what he is...

since you're legally allowed to shoot guns around people (as long as you're technicially on your own land)--Larry may actually be within the normal range of crackpots and not a true sociopath. I think that's why you have so many people willing to excuse his behavior as just "country boy." There are very real urban/rural pressures playing into this.

On the other hand, you DON'T have time to fully access Larry's true mental state. ANYBODY brandishing a gun and threatening people should have their guns removed and not given back to them without a hearing and a mental/medical assessment. That would stop a lot of these guys who get fortified with a few beers and then go shooting guns to intimidate people. THIS SHOULD be taken very seriously. If we had better laws, we wouldn't be sitting here speculating about where Larry stands on the spectrum of aberrant personalities (or what his political affiliations might be). Larry would have been already separated from his guns, and the message would be sent that any others thinking of doing the same thing would face the same discouragemnt. That is the LEAST we can do to prevent gun tragedies invovling innocent citizens.

[katinmn]

115. Agreed. If you fire a gun to intimidate while drinking it

should land you in jail or detox and your gun should be confiscated.

[libhill]

131. What you say is true, however

the so called "Law Enforcement" people there seem to be more interested in intimidating the protesters than in enforcing the law. "I'M SURE THEY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT THAR GOOD OL' BOY, HE JUSTS HAVIN' HIM A LITTLE FUN, AH JOSHIN' WITH THEM HIPPEYE PROTESTERS".

[marions ghost]

108. It's not really about Larry

It's not quite right to place all the blame and focus for this situation on Larry. But my reasons are not the same as those who defend the widespread ownership of guns.

Larry's Last Stand (and Made For TV Mid-Life Crisis) is merely yet another example of ineffectual gun laws and a legal system which makes it very difficult for law enforcement to do its job (look at what happened to the automatic weapons legislation).

The gun laws of the US (esp in rural areas) are just are not tight enough, and are not enforced.

LAWS that SHOULD be in effect:

ANY PERSON THREATENING OTHERS with a gun (and this IS a case of that) should have his guns IMMEDIATELY confiscated by the sheriff, and his permits revoked. A process of reinstatement could then follow. This would make the Larrys of the world a lot less inclined to brandish a gun just to make a point about property rights. Larry did not choose to leave it in the truck. That should be prosecuted.

ANY PERSON INCITING VIOLENCE such as Larry publicly calling for supporters to come onto his land with guns to threaten people -- should be prosecuted for it. (In this situation there is so much surveillance I don't that will happen, but you never know). Larry should have ALREADY clearly broken the law on this.
------------------------

BUT since those laws are not in effect, the creative solutions people have offered to try to make Larry feel better about this "invasion of his homeland" make sense to me. I like the idea to take him some food, maybe steaks (not beer) with a conciliatory card signed by some of the Peace activists. Yes, it's a practical compromise with the reality of the situation. Doesn't hurt to try.

While you may not agree with DA's strong rhetoric about Larry and his guns--the fact is that DA is expressing what all too many people keep hidden -- WE HAVE LOST OUR RIGHTS to live without fear of gun violence in public places. We have a RIGHT to go to a place like Crawford, without fearing that we might get blown away by some idiot with a gun. Too many people are willing to just accept the current situation and mourn the victims of gun violence, without realizing how it infringes on them. DA is absolutely right that we must take a strong stand on this. Just when you think one of these crackpots is harmless, they prove you WRONG. DA has every right to be worried as he plans to be going there.

This "hunter" thing is nothing but a smokescreen. One day the brutal "sport" of killing animals and birds with guns will die out. Trying to defend this kind of hunting to me is useless. I have had to chase a hunter in camo out of my driveway who was aiming at an owl. I have had a bullet from a high-powered rifle hit the shed outside my house. I know someone who had to dodge a bullet being fired at a cardinal, while he was hanging laundry. I have many more stories about living in areas where there are no enforceable laws.
It's out of control.

Can't do anything about that right now. But there SHOULD have been laws that would ALREADY have controlled Larry's behavior!

[titoresque]

118. Great post!

You hit it right on! And very witty I might ad. :)

[libhill]

101. Voted : "other"

Freeptard moran. Probably a good "Christian" too.

[Crankie Avalon]

107. If he's so incensed about protestors in "his" backyard...

...he needs to realize the only reason they are there is because he has such a lousy neighbor.

His neighbor is the one who brought the problem into "the community" with him. That's why, in places where residents have a say about who buys in, they often block celebrities and such from purchasing.

You want to live in a "quiet" community? Well, then, don't live next to the President of the United States, particularly the most polarizing and divisive one in memory.

Anyway, anyone who would go around shooting guns like this lunatic would is obviously an extremely undesirable neighbor, himself.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

117. This has already been addressed........

.....Larry has stated several times in other places before that Bush is a headache to him and that he lived there before shithead showed up.

[DemonFighterLives]

112. I voted other

I can see that he has a facist side and I can also see that his world has changed this August.
It is not right for him to threaten and intimidate people at a peaceful protest. At the same time, the crowds and cars and perhaps people who do not share his political views are all around him.
At first I thought he was the worst, and then started to hope that the peace loving people could cross the line and practice a little peace making. It would sure make dubby look stupid since his administration has nothing along the lines of diplomacy.
And if something could be worked out, the media would be on our side if the lion layed down with the lamb.
There is no way that the SS or sheriff will allow a bunch of shooters come there. If they allowed that, it would really be time to move the peace camp.
What is going on now? Is Larry ok or is the situation escalating?

[MojoXN]

113. Hey now...

I'm a beer drinking, gun toting individual. I just happen to be, um, what's the word I'm looking for... Oh! I know, sane!

MojoXN

[ohio_liberal]

121. And I'm guessing you're smart enough not to mix the two

:)

[anarch]

119. hey hey hey, now...

let's lay off the criticism of beer drinking and gun toting, eh? This is America, dammit, and I've got my 2nd Amendment rights...and, umm, also my 21st Amendment rights!

Also, "they can have my gun when they can pry it from my cold, dead hands!"...or perhaps when I pass out and drop it on the ground.

[ohio_liberal]

122. That p-shop is priceless!

I keep coming back to this thread just so I can see his arm flailing in the air in front of those porta potties. :D

[Shakespeare]

126. I felt a *little* bit sorry for him UNTIL....

...an off-camera reporter asked him if he was trying to send a message, and he muttered "you figure it out."

No sympathy at all for him, because he made himself fully known. I hope everyone at Camp Casey watches their backs around this hateful old man.

[Jack_DeLeon]

127. Looks like the poll has spoken and I agree...

I'd be pretty damn annoyed if a large gaggle of people congregated around my property aswell.

He has every right to fire his weapons on his property aslong as he isnt threatening or hurting anyone.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

128. Hired distraction. n/t

[NoPasaran]

130. He's just a good ol' boy

Who has the misfortune of waking up one day to find history being made across the street. I really hope things can work out with him.