On Saturday, Ammon Bundy’s mother, Carol Bundy, sent out an email to supporters asking for much-needed supplies for the dozen or so people still occupying the federal buildings at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Among the critical items needed are French vanilla creamer, gaming supplies, Pall Mall Menthol 100s and Miracle Whip. Because you can’t have a proper government standoff without French vanilla creamer and Miracle Whip. You can see the full list below.
Meanwhile, the Bundy-led occupiers changed the name on the sign of the refuge entrance and suddenly a group of heavily armed men arrived at the refuge:
LaVoy Finicum, a prominent member of the Bundy crew, had just finished a speech about the sign when a convoy pulled up. Members of the Pacific Patriots Network, a consortium of groups from Oregon, Washington and Idaho, emerged from their cars and trucks carrying rifles and sidearms and clad in military attire and bulletproof vests.
The new armed gang held a press conference and then were promptly asked to leave by a Bundy representative:
Bundy's message: "We don't need that. We don't want it and we're asking you to leave," MacFarlane told reporters at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
MacFarlane said he had just met with Bundy and other leaders of the occupation.
They're "alarmed" by the arrival of Pacific Patriots Network members, some carrying rifles, and concerned about the perception they convey.
They rolled out all right, straight over to the FBI's temporary compound. The Pacific ammosexuals left their big guns in their vehicles as they confronted FBI agents and worked out a plan to deliver their own "articles of resolution." Kudos to the FBI for humoring these guys for a full 30 minutes. You can watch video taken by one of the “patriots” below the fold.
And not to be outdone by the heavily armed “patriots,” several politicians descended, despite pleas from local politicians to stay away:
Oregon Rep. Cliff Bentz, a Republican from Ontario, and Harney County Judge Steven E. Grasty said that they tried to warn state Rep. Dallas Heard against traveling to Burns. But Heard, a Republican from Roseburg, arrived anyway, they said, and brought officials elected to state office in Washington, Idaho and Nevada with him.
"He had called me and indicated he was heading that direction, and I indicated that was inappropriate," said Bentz, whose district includes Harney County. "I think it's fair to say I was not enthusiastic about the idea."
One of those politicians was Nevada state senator Michele Fiore. She’s a big fan of the Bundy men and their armed standoffs with federal authorities:
Fiore has long been an ally of the Bundy family. The representative sponsored land transfer legislation known as the ‘Bundy Bill’ in March last year, and directed profanity at another colleague on the floor of the Nevada legislature while defending it.
“Everyone knows I’m a supporter of the Bundy family,” Fiore said. “Our relationship is pretty well documented.”
Rep. Fiore is a huge fan of guns. The biggest. So much so that she has her own calendar modeling guns and sent out a Christmas card of her fully armed family.
Law enforcement be damned, nothing could keep her from seeing Ammon Bundy:
Multiple law enforcement officers close to the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told OPB they warned lawmakers not to meet with the armed group of men who are illegally occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, as there is concern it could undermine efforts to bring the event to a peaceful conclusion.
In other Oregon standoff news, it appears the group has broken even more federal laws by accessing sensitive information:
OPB observed militants interacting with computers in the compound that can only be accessed with employee ID badges. The armed men also appear to have gone through materials in an office building used by federal employees.
Law enforcement are even more concerned about possible attacks on government employees:
However, law enforcement officials are concerned refuge employees could potentially be harmed by members of the group. Prior to the occupation, federal employees and family members of local law enforcement had received anonymous threats.
Harney County Sheriff David Ward said at a community meeting Wednesday that his deputies and own family members had been followed home, photographed, and had personal property damaged in recent months.
And then this happened:
Because why not?
Send gaming supplies and tampons, please! See the full list below:
Watch the “patriots” roll up to the FBI compound to greet heavily armed FBI agents near the refuge: