In jail and in court, the millionaire ranchers think that rules are for other people

Ryan Bundy waving a copy of the Constitution that he doesn't understand. No, Ryan, you don't get to steal land, destroy government property, intimidate government employees, and pillage historical sites just because you are a Bundy.

District Court Judge Anna Brown is probably getting a bit exasperated with bad boy Ryan Bundy.

Bundy, who is being held awaiting trial for the unlawful occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge last January, has opted to defend himself rather than have an attorney.

In an order filed August 24, Judge Brown threatened to strip Bundy of his pro se status because of his unwillingness to follow court orders and his open defiance of court authority.

Brown wrote that by repeatedly raising "frivolous issues and matters'' that the court has previously ruled on or resolved, Ryan Bundy has engaged in "serious and obstructionist misconduct,'' "abused the dignity of the courtroom'' and used his pro se status as a "license not to comply with relevant rules of procedural and substantive law."

In July, Bundy filed "legal" paperwork demanding $100 million to play the "role" of "defendant" during the trail. In the same document, he declared "I, ryan c, man, am an idiot of the 'Legal Society'; and; am an idiot (layman, outsider) of the 'Bar Association'; and; i am incompetent," implying that he didn't have to follow court rules because he doesn't understand them.

Two weeks ago the judge had to quash his subpoena requesting Oregon Governor Kate Brown to appear to testify at his trial.

Bundy argued that the governor had become directly involved in the case by "actively managing" law enforcement when she called on federal law enforcement to move quickly to end the occupation.

"The Court notes Ryan Bundy has not demonstrated Governor Brown has any personal knowledge of the law enforcement response to the events at MNWR,'' Brown wrote.

Just days later, she also had to quash his subpoenas for State Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley.

This waste of court time isn't too surprising to anyone who has been following the pitiful saga of the Bundy Boys.

While the derogatory tag of "affluenza" seems far removed from the wild west image that this rancher family likes to cultivate, these are men whose financial privilege within their own community has left them truly unable to understand the difference between right and wrong.

Basically, they act like spoiled brats under any circumstances.

Take their complaints about jail:

Most of us realize that jail is not meant to be a comfortable place, but apparently that memo didn't reach Ryan and his brother Ammon.

Last May, they complained because they didn't have internet access in their cells. They NEEDED to have access to Facebook and email, they said. The boys also demanded a printer, a scanner, video editing software, comfortable chairs, "real pens," unmonitored phone calls, and permission to freely socialize with one another and their co-defendents (with whom they face federal conspiracy charges).

Ryan didn't want people rifling through his stuff.

Ammon actually said he was going to sue the jail for violating his civil rights, including his second amendment rights.

Say, what?

Yes, that's right: apparently if you're a Bundy, you should be allowed to have guns in jail.

Then Ammon filed to dismiss all charges on the basis that the federal government has no authority over the refuge and, thus, no standing to prosecute him. He also filed paperwork with federal court in Oregon stating he is a sovereign citizen and not subject to U.S. law.

These men have lost touch with reality. They are living in some sort of Bundy-centered fantasy world of their own creation.

I guess all of this isn't shocking, considering they were raised by welfare rancher Cliven Bundy, who has stolen more than $1M in grazing fees from us, the American people.

Welfare ranchers are those who run their livestock on public lands at prices far below what they would have to pay to lease private lands. Less than 3% of ranchers hold all of the public lands leasing rights, and the majority of them are 1%ers, including the Koch brothers, Ted Turner, the Hilton family, Mary Hewlett-Jaffe (Hewlett-Packard), and the Robert Earl Holding family (Sinclair Oil and hotels).

A host of advantages come with these leases, including the right to demand predator and wild horse removal at the public's expense. Almost half of the welfare ranchers have taken out substantial loans using their leasing rights as collateral.

All of that is not enough for Cliven, though.

No, he thinks we should actually GIVE him the land because, well, you know: he wants it.

The affluenza runs deep in this family.

Cliven Bundy: Failed at being a father.

As for Ryan Bundy, Judge Brown has graciously agreed that he could continue to defend himself after eliciting a promise that he wouldn't raise issues in front of a jury that have already been resolved.

You have to admire the Judge for her professional patience. She has continued to treat Bundy with respect and dignity, no matter what kind of annoying adolescent shenanigans he throws her way.

The saddest part is that this delusional lad doesn't even seem to know that his behavior is inappropriate. No one has ever taught him how to act like an adult.

When it comes to being a father, Cliven Bundy truly dropped the ball.

They may look like grown men, but his boys still act like children.