Gosh, I still remember all that tough talk about how they were willing to bear any burden, pay any price, even giving their very lives, fortunes, and sacred honor while fighting against the tyranny of ... you know, the wildlife refuge.
Ryan Payne used to go around giving speeches about how "the first patriots to stand up always take the brunt of tyranny." Blah blah blah.
But today in federal court, they sang -- sobbed? -- a different tune.
After the judge explained their rights to a trial and their presumption of innocence, several of the defendants directly challenged her assertions.
"It's difficult to understand the presumption of innocence when I've spent the last month in a jail cell and led around in chains wherever I go,'' Payne said.
Brown said she understood his concerns, but noted that his detention was a separate matter.
Co-defendant Ryan Bundy, standing beside his lawyer in the jury box, grabbed hold of a wireless microphone that the lawyers were passing from one to another and told the court that he shared the same reservation. He is Ammon Bundy's older brother.
"We're being treated as we're guilty,'' he said. "So I don't understand the presumption of innocence.''
Co-defendant Jason Patrick, when asked if he understood his constitutional rights, replied, "I understand I have no rights at all. You're the federal government. You're going to do whatever you want.''
And David Fry, the last to surrender to federal officers on Feb. 11, joined in, "It's weird - innocent until proven guilty - shackled up.''
Yeah, real weird, dude!
That's the best these guys have? "It's weird?"
Did any of them think they were making a convincing case? Like the judge was going to say, "My god, you're right, man! It is weird! You're all free to go!"
I'll tell you what weird is. Weird is a bunch of guys taking over a bird sanctuary at gunpoint and saying they are going to be there for several years in defiance of federal law. Weird is those guys saying their intent is to personally oversee the redistribution of 300 square miles of public land to miners, loggers, and ranchers, while setting up their own ad hoc legal system to prosecute local officials -- and thinking they were going to get away with it!
I so can't wait for the Hollywood movie version of this story.
Will Ferrell would make an outstanding Ammon Bundy!
ここには何もないようです