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Protesting the jailing of a 73 year old rancher and his son, more than 300 citizens marched through the small town of Burns, Oregon this weekend, and have now taken over a federal building in Southeast Oregon, reacting to what they are calling "government over-reach."
This weekend Mike Huckabee predicted a "mass" exodus from the Republican Party this year.
WA State Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers published an end of the year press release/fund raiser on New Year's Eve which began with, "2015 was a great year for us filled with accomplishments."
Columnist George Will in his Washington Post article called 2015 a "dismal year" citing government over-reach and political correctness as the prevailing reason.
Most of America agrees with Will---not Rep. McMorris-Rodgers.
Christmas week, 74% of Americans told Rasmuessen Survey the country is headed in the wrong direction.
Yet 2016 holds reason for hope.
George Will, in his article for the Washington Post, defined 2015 as a pathetic year that crossed a "dismal threshold."
Listing many episodes of cultural insanity, he noted that in 2015, "The value of property that police departments seized through civil asset forfeiture---usually without accusing let alone convicting the property owners of a crime---exceeded the value of property stolen by non-government burglars."
A simmering discontent toward government over-reach has become a boiling cauldron.
This weekend more than 300 citizens gathered in Burns, Oregon to protest the jailing of a 73 year old cattle rancher and his son for controlled burning on just 103 acres of BLM land in 2001.
George Will says, "A Michigan woman was fingerprinted, had her mug shot taken and was jailed until released on bond because she was late in renewing her $10 license for her dog" and "New Jersey police arrested a 72 year old retired teacher, chained his hands and feet to a bench and charged him with illegally carrying a firearm---a 300 year old flintlock pistol (with no powder, flint or ball) he purchased from an antique dealer."
In Burns, Oregon some of the citizens are armed but are telling the press and the public they "are not terrorists" and have no intention of harming anyone. They are simply trying to support a fellow rancher and take back what the government has taken from the people.
Ammon Bundy, the 40 year old son of Cliven Bundy, a Nevada rancher who made news when he faced off with the government a couple of years ago, is in town, joining with those in protest of the treatment local rancher Dwight Hammond and his son have gotten from the government.
Although Bundy is urging the Hammonds to resist being jailed again, the Hammonds say they intend to turn themselves in to authorities this morning.
The Hammond's lawyer told the press, "Bundy does not speak for the Hammond family."
However, Bundy and nearly 100 citizens have now occupied a government building at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns.
The press is working overtime to make this event an extension of the Nevada episode.
In this case, the government has accused the Hammonds of starting the 130 acre fire, not for controlled fire maintenance, but to cover up deer poaching.
Acting US Attorney Billy J. Williams says the Hammonds are charged with committing arson in 2001 and Steve Hammond was charged again in 2006, both times for covering the evidence of deer poaching, removing 130 acres from public use for 2 years because of the burning.
Ammon Bundy says for him and others, it is about government over-reach, he and the others are "not terrorists," however, "we will be here as long as it takes, and if force is used against us, we will defend ourselves."
"And," Bundy says, "we feel that we will occupy this as long as necessary." He says, "Now that people such as the Hammonds are taking a stand and not selling their ranches, they are being prosecuted in their own courts as terrorists and putting them in prison for five years," noting that the government has taken over the space of 100 ranches in the area during the last century.
Indeed this current government administration has a thirst for power.
He also correctly says that the government has caused Harney County in Southeastern Oregon "to go from one of the wealthiest counties to one of the poorest."
This will be a leading news story today because it's about more than ranching. It's about freedom. And it's about the media's obsession with controlling the narrative rather than merely reporting the facts.
While I respect Rep. McMorris, I do not agree with her that this year, from a political point of view, has been "a great year for us filled with accomplishments."
I am not alone.
A Rasmuessen Survey published Christmas week found 74% of Americans believe America is on the wrong track.
Most Americans disagree with Rep. McMorris. Only 10% of likely voters think Congress' performance is better now that the GOP controls both the House and Senate.
Mike Huckabee said Saturday that there is a "mass exodus being witnessed from the Republican Party."
He said, "Conservatives across America put their trust in the Republican officials who they voted into office to represent their party's supposed platform ideals," saying Republican leadership's decision to fully fund Planned Parenthood, after promising to de-fund it, was the last straw."
Huck noted that even Franklin Graham has left the Republican Party to become an Independent.
In December, we remembered the 75th anniversary of Japan's bombing of Pearl Harbor.
The poignant comments made by Japan's Admiral Yamamoto following Pearl Harbor should also be remembered by those elected politicians who fail to do what they promise conservatives they will do, and by those progressives fixated on "remaking America."
Following the carnage in Hawaii, while ships were still sinking and bodies were bobbing in the surf, Japan's Admiral Yamamoto was asked how he felt about the stunning victory.
His response is recorded in infamy: "I am afraid all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant."
A majority of Americans are sick and tired of a president who presumes to be a king, political correctness that declares sexual perversion to be normal and killing unwanted unborn babies a right.
A majority of Americans are outraged that America, a nation founded by Christians and consisting of nearly 90% Christian citizens, has to experience the ritual of pretending that Santa Claus, fir trees, stars, shepherds and camels are "Christian" and therefore must be removed from public discourse---in the name of separating the church from the state---while teaching our kids in public English class the Islamic pledge.
A majority of Americans are fed up with a coach from Bremerton being fired because he says a prayer, a florist destroyed because she believes marriage is between a man and a woman and a County Clerk in Kentucky thrown in jail because she believes the same thing.
A sleeping giant has been awakened.
Political consultants like Carl Rove and hundreds of others who regularly make millions of dollars "consulting" Republican candidates and the Party itself as to how to win are being ignored. Conservatives are awakening to the fact that this group has given us Bob Dole, John McCain and Mitt Romney and this election, planned to give us Jeb Bush.
It isn't working anymore. Even the RNC has admitted they have lost control of the Republican Party.
I have not seen this level of cultural outrage in my lifetime.
All outrage is not righteous indignation---a lot of people are mad about a lot of things---but a good part of it is righteous indignation.
Christians, as well as conservatives, are awakening from their slumber. That is the good news for 2016.
2015 has passed. 2016 lies ahead.
There will be no political restoration until there is spiritual restoration.
Certainly politics is the process we use in this country, but prayer must precede politics.
Remember..."If My people, who are called by My name..."
More people are asking more questions, looking for more answers than anytime in recent history.
The darkness does not comprehend the Light of biblical Truth---it must be explained.
I believe 2016 is an outstanding opportunity to "explain." Speak up. Get involved.
Work as though it all depends on you. Pray as though it all depends on God---because it does.
Be Prayerful. Be Vigilant. Be Active. Be Bold. Be Blessed.