Ammon Bundy and the rest of the loosely gathered militiamen at an Oregon wildlife refuge meant to stage a fierce show. The initial Saturday reports of gunmen occupying a federal building struck fear (and confusion) into the hearts of people, but it didn’t last. Soon, the wheels started to fall off. Law enforcement ignored the dudes hanging in a remote area of the woods. The Internet started dropping unflattering hashtags — including #YallQaeda and #VanillaISIS plus #DaddySworeAnOath — then the militiamen got hungry for snacks, and the last shred of dignity dropped out of sight.
Ammon and his pals insist they’re out to defeat “tyranny” through life and death. These guys first said they were prepared to stay “for years.” Folks are also laughing at this parody account from a fake Ammon Bundy, who claims the group is like Rosa Parks:
https://twitter.com/Ammon_Bundy/status/684618461100818432
Less than a week into the standoff, the Bundy militia’s supplies are dwindling, and The Guardian reports how authorities will likely defeat the group. Very soon, the area plans to cut the refuge’s water and power, which could signal the standoff’s end. And not a moment too soon? Bundy militia star LaVoy Finicum admits, “I need to get home. I got cows that are scattered and lost.” Finicum then tucked a gun under his arm and ducked into a blue tarp, but the media found him and the #TarpMan hashtag was born.
This is happening on teevee nuz rn pic.twitter.com/pZDkbQc2Ix
— Steve King (@steveking_) January 6, 2016
This tarp business is so bizarre that Twitter launched a ton of #TarpMan memes. Will the humiliation ever end for the Bundy crew? The Internet isn’t ready to let this militia go.
https://twitter.com/KStreetHipster/status/684592330700009472
You’re only seeing 10% of the #Derp. #TarpMan pic.twitter.com/uxKB2jVgJN
— Charles Gaba ( ✡️, deal with it) (@charles_gaba) January 6, 2016
@ElsieSnuffin @owillis You *don’t* want to see what’s under his “tarp”, though… #TarpMan pic.twitter.com/Tf0rLBWzdS
— Charles Gaba ( ✡️, deal with it) (@charles_gaba) January 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/mohammedzismail/status/684609997930643456
https://twitter.com/MrBrandonStroud/status/684601870078197761
Okay, last mash-up for the night, then I stop tweeting. (cc: @owillis) #tarpman pic.twitter.com/zHiyb6418U
— skullsinthestars (@drskyskull) January 6, 2016
.@owillis "This is my tarp. There are many like it, but this one is mine." #tarpman pic.twitter.com/giWmn24PBR
— memento mori.Slava Ukraini, heroiam slava! (@HelpThe99ers) January 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/BundysBeard/status/684602352460955648
Shhh, be very very quiet… I'm hunting wabbits #tarpman #OregonUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/aSCqzziojI
— Kelli Russell Agodon (@KelliAgodon) January 6, 2016
.@owillis "This is my tarp. There are many like it, but this one is mine." #tarpman pic.twitter.com/giWmn24PBR
— memento mori.Slava Ukraini, heroiam slava! (@HelpThe99ers) January 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/owillis/status/684587180237402112
Lavoy Finicum. He's on Last Word, says prepared to die. He's part of #YallQaeda, sitting under a plastic tarp holding a rifle. Need I go on?
— Laffy (@GottaLaff) January 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/BigSkyDem/status/684578641829744640
#tarpman only joined the militia because his first career choice didn't work out. pic.twitter.com/DFyXHKDZSo
— Dub Pool (@dubpool) January 6, 2016
Where have I seen #TarpMan before? Oh. Right. pic.twitter.com/zh97HrLHkJ
— Dub Pool (@dubpool) January 6, 2016
(Via NBC)