The armed Oregon moochers (famous for grazing their cattle on public land) are “defending” a couple of arsonists. But what you don’t hear is the story of their arson. They were hunting illegally (in Oregon), got spotted, and to cover their tracks, set the area on fire. Burned up 139 acres and almost killed their son, Dusty, who was 13 and was helping them as instructed. Later Dusty told the story. Here are the details. Dusty’s story. Arsonists got federal subsidies.

Outrageous and violent actions like this do not happen in a vacuum; they are encouraged, inspired and to some extent legitimized by the extreme anti-government rhetoric we continuously hear from Republican Presidential candidates and from members of the GOP majority in Congress.  Anyone who thinks the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, a preserve for over 320 bird species, is a symbol of government oppression is, well, a bird brain. This refuge was established in 1908 by Republican President Theodore Roosevelt who must be rolling in his grave as today’s Republican politicians and their followers wage an endless campaign against public land and wildlife protections that are pillars of his legacy.

Most Americans have been surprised to learn there are people so violently opposed to environmental protection and the very notion of American public lands that they would forcibly take over a wildlife refuge and threaten to kill anyone who stands in their way.