Unbelivable AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry fired up an anti-tax "tea party" Wednesday with his stance against the federal government and for states' rights as some in his U.S. flag-waving audience shouted, "Secede!" An animated Perry told the crowd at Austin City Hall -- one of three tea parties he was attending across the state -- that officials in Washington have abandoned the country's founding principles of limited government. He said the federal government is strangling Americans with taxation, spending and debt. Perry repeated his running theme that Texas' economy is in relatively good shape compared with other states and with the "federal budget mess." Many in the crowd held signs deriding President Barack Obama and the $786 billion federal economic stimulus package. Perry called his supporters patriots. Later, answering news reporters' questions, Perry suggested Texans might at some point get so fed up they would want to secede from the union, though he said he sees no reason why Texas should do that. "There's a lot of different scenarios," Perry said. "We've got a great union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that. But Texas is a very unique place, and we're a pretty independent lot to boot." Texas should do that. "There's a lot of different scenarios," Perry said. "We've got a great union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that. But Texas is a very unique place, and we're a pretty independent lot to boot." Texas did secede in 1861, but the North's victory in the Civil War put an end to that. Perry is running for re-election against U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, a fellow Republican. His anti-Washington remarks have become more strident the past few weeks as that 2010 race gets going and since Perry rejected $550 million in federal economic stimulus money slated to help Texas' unemployment trust fund. Perry said the stimulus money would come with strings attached that would leave Texas paying the bill once the federal money ran out. South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, also Republicans, have been outspoken against the federal economic stimulus spending and were supportive of tea parties in their states. The protests were being held throughout the country on federal income tax deadline day to imitate the original Boston Tea Party of American revolutionary times. In an appearance at the Texas Capitol last week, Perry joined state lawmakers in pushing a resolution that supports states' rights protected in the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. He said the federal government has become oppressive in its size and interference with states. Since then, Perry has been featured on the online Drudge Report, and other conservative commentators and citizens have latched on to his words. After praising veterans in the cheering crowd Wednesday, he said: "I'm just not real sure you're a bunch of right-wing extremists. But if you are, we're with you." Perry said he believes he could be at the center of a national movement that is coordinated and focused in its opposition to the actions of the federal government. "It's a very organic thing," he said. "It is a very powerful moment, I think, in American history." For her part, Hutchison issued a newspaper opinion piece Wednesday criticizing the Democratic-led Congress for spending on the stimulus bill and the $1 trillion appropriations bill. "On April 15 -- Tax Day -- some in Congress may need a reminder of just who is underwriting this spending: the American taxpayer. I am deeply concerned over the swelling tax burden that will be imposed on all Texas families," she wrote. The crowd at the Austin tea party appeared to be decidedly anti-Democrat. Many of the speakers were Republicans and Libertarians. One placard said, "Stop Obama's Socialism." Another read, "Some Pirates Are in America," and it showed photographs of Obama, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid wearing pirate hats. Rebecca Knowlton, 45, of Smithville, said she took the day off of home-schooling her three children and brought them to the rally to teach them about civic duty. Knowlton, a critic of the Social Security system and the United Nations, said she felt camaraderie at the demonstration. "The movement is growing stronger," she said. "You're not alone."
He's trying to lock up the right to fight off a primary challenge from Kay Bailey. But he's burying himself in the process.
It is good to see Rodney Ellis, my state senator respond to Perry as he disgracefully tries to redirect the anger of Texans who are suffering after 25 years of supply side economics. ********** "There are some issues that simply should not be legitimized in any way, shape or form, and secession is one of them," said Ellis. "By not rejecting out of hand the possibility of secession, Governor Perry is taking a step down a very dangerous and divisive path encouraged by the fringe of Texas politics. "It was only 12 years ago that Texas had a deadly stand-off with those urging secession. Governor Bush stood up to those fringe elements. I urge Governor Perry to ramp down the rhetoric and state unequivocally -- as Governor Bush did in the 1990s -- that secession is not only not an option, it isn't going to be part of the political discussion. The senator pointed out the dog whistle politics going on here among the right wing. "In the last week, we've seen an extremely troubling escalation of rhetoric," said Ellis. "Talking about state's rights, the oppressive hand of the federal government and secession brings up some pretty bad memories in this state. It was not all that long ago that those were the exact words used by those who opposed desegregation and the civil rights movement. The top elected official in the second largest state with our history simply cannot be so loose with his comments. He's not a radio or cable TV talk show host. Ellis also said what we're all thinking: why the hell are the Republicans talking about this now, three months into Obama's administration, but never during eight years of George Bush. Also, didn't Texas get a lot of hurricane relief from the federal government? "The timing and focus of this talk doesn't make much sense," said Ellis. "Since 2001, the Texas budget has increased by 62 percent. The budget we are now working on includes $65 billion from the federal government. We didn’t hear about the oppressive hand of the federal government when we asked for hurricane and wildfire relief and, we didn't hear these complaints when we took money for transportation and education and health care. We didn't hear about it for eight years of exploding federal budget deficits, so why now? "I understand that the governor has a difficult political race on his hands, but that is no excuse to whip up this type of frenzy among people who are already worried about keeping their job or a roof over their heads," said Ellis http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/4/16/720889/-Texas-State-Senator-Responds-to-Perry
He's already got the right-wing locked up and put away, which is part of why he can't position himself into winning. Soon enough, Perry will come out throwing bombs at Hutchison to see if he can sink her that way, because he definitely can't win running on his record.
she's going to kick his ass in the election. republicans lose jobs too. and given that the average employee in the US works 33 hours a week now, a lot of them are part timers.
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You know, this is so irresponsible that it should be criminal. If you incite a riot in public (e.g. falsifying a cry of "fire!" in a crowded theatre), isn't that a crime? I know (desperate) politicians do this kind of thing for political points, but where's the line? Ugh. Wherever the line is, our nation's pathetic politics is moving closer to that line, if it didn't cross it already.
"Fighting like a Texan" - lol <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uSdtGS4hYzc&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uSdtGS4hYzc&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
I've heard many times (even from teachers) that Texas has the right to secede from the U.S. because it was an independent republic before it applied for statehood, and also explains why Texas can fly it's flag the same level as the national flag. I've also heard that if Texas were a nation, it'd be the 8th richest nation in the U.S.
No that's not true at all. No state has the right to secede, the civil war kind of cleared that question up. As for the Texas flag, that was part of the treaty that Texas signed when it joined the US. Other conditions include the clause allowing it to split into 4 states and the clause granting Texas control of all public land within the state. None of that is a binding rule about the right of secession. This is just Rick Perry being a dumbass. Thankfully for him he ran against 4 other people that split the vote and handed him the election.
The only reason Texas was a republic for 7 or what years is because the senate rejected them initially as they would be another slave holding state voting against the north, otherwise we wouldn't have our little scoff about being a nation..But anyways, Rick Perry is just doing his job representing the rise of anti-intellectual republicans.
We have heard talks like this before. Let's say a state really wanted to go through with it and secede from the union. Now the US might not recognize the state as a sovereign nation but what if the state really tried to go about this by creating a federal government, closing borders, printing currency, etc. What would happen?
Oh Perry you old shark -- one of those people in Washington is coming to Texas to try and take your job. He must have got some nice readings from the HCR 50 speech.
Since we are on a "what-if" topic, I wonder if Texas would have an influx of people coming to Texas or if there would be a mass exodus. In me being out of the state for 10 years and living in a region where we have a lot of out of state residents moving here, its always the Texans who voice their origins. The Yankees, Floridiots and Great Lakes region are usually not very vocal.
Tom Delay coming to the defense of Rick Perry is like dropping a giant anvil on a person about to drown.
What's the matter liberals? Your Obama love-fest dying down? Got nothing better to talk about? Making drama out of comments by Perry that were taken out of context? OBAMA = ONE & DONE
There's only one nation in the U.S., but I take it you meant "world." I know you're just repeating what you've heard, but I couldn't stand this notion when I was growing up and still have little patience for it. Take away all the Fed contributions to Texas and you'd have backwater schools served by substandard roads, no NASA, probably still no electricity in the Hill Country and West Texas, and lots of polluted air and waters.
Well Stern has wanted to make the NBA more international for years. We could have the US (25 teams), Canada (Raptors), DC (Wizards), and three teams in the Texas Republic.
