| Submit your comments on this article |
| Home Front: Politix |
| Perry fires up anti-tax crowd |
| 2009-04-16 |
| 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. 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." 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. He 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." 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, organized throughout the country by conservative groups and talk show hosts, were held on the federal income tax deadline day to imitate the original Boston Tea Party of American revolutionary times. Conservative syndicated talk show host Glen Beck broadcast live in San Antonio from outside the Alamo, a legendary symbol of Texas independence, with crowds packing the small plaza. Many waved signs or carried little yellow flags that read, "Don't tread on me." A local barbecue chain gave away free cups of iced tea. Mike Smart, a 51-year-old oil field worker from West Texas, held up a white handwritten sign that said, "I'll keep my freedom, my $ and my guns. You keep the change." "I just want the government to stay out of my way. I won't get in their way if they don't get in mine," said Smart, who described himself as conservative but not a Republican. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #11 Not quite, RJ. Texas has the right to devide into at least 3 states but the Civil War ended any chance of Texas seceeding. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2009-04-16 18:46 |
| #10 Y'all seem to forget Texas HAS THE RIGHT TO SECEED, as Texas was an independent Nation before Statehood. (And the USA can't do shit about it.) |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-04-16 17:23 |
| #9 Y'all seem to forget Texas HAS THE RIGHT TO SECEED, as Texas was an independent Nation before Statehood. (And the USA can't do shit about it.) |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-04-16 17:23 |
| #8 Texas is the only state I've ever been to where I've noticed the state flag flying all by itself. Great big Lone Star flags on giant poles. |
| Posted by: Abu Uluque 2009-04-16 16:11 |
| #7 There were three guys waving full-size "Don't Tread on Me" flags at the State College, PA rally. One of them whapped me in the face with his, although he was good enough to apologize for having done so. If the Texicans were serious about secession, they'd be waving the state flag, not the "Don't Tread on Me" & the Stars & Stripes. |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2009-04-16 16:01 |
| #6 One word Yankee: Pantex. |
| Posted by: ed 2009-04-16 15:15 |
| #5 "Later, answering news reporters' questions, Perry suggested Texans might at some point get so fed up they would want to secede from the union, ..." yeah, so how'd that work out for you the last time around....? |
| Posted by: Yankee Redneck 2009-04-16 14:12 |
| #4 Damn him for requiring the HPV shot! I mean who wants to prevent cervical cancer! Slut shot?! Is there a retard shot? My biggest problem with Texas is all of the creationist horse-shit that has been going around. There's your retard shot right there. |
| Posted by: Flineter Hapsburg6785 2009-04-16 13:12 |
| #3 He let it be known that he wanted to talk at the San Antonio Tea Party, but we turned him down flat. It was one of our early rules - no politicians as speakers. |
| Posted by: Sgt. Mom 2009-04-16 08:45 |
| #2 Goodhair talks a good game but it is pure demogoguery, designed to mollify the "little people" for whom he can scarcely disguise his contempt when he thinks the media aren't around. He is strictly a big business Republican and has proven it over and over. He took office on a promise to hold down property taxes. He did but only for business, residential rates continued to rise exponentially until the bubble burst last year. He pushed through the mandatory HPV vaccination (the "slut shot")which would have brought millions to the pharmaceutical companies with whom he is notably cozy. He is the leading proponent of the Trans-Texas corridor, which would be the largest eminent domain seizure in US history and which would be built and run by a Spanish company. How's that for limited government? He is not the "common man." He is a redneck aristocrat and has all the arrogance of that class and then some. He was videotaped browbeating a state trooper who dared to stop his unmarked Suburban and issue his driver a warning, or start to, before the governor jumped out and intervened. He held up funding for the state's junior college system because the junior college board neglected to meet with him personally and pay homage, thereby bruising his ego. Next year's election will really be decided in the primary, since the Texas Democrat party is a wholly owned subsidiary of ACORN and everyone knows it. |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2009-04-16 06:43 |
| #1 Bravo. Interesting to see someone as mainstream as Perry invoke the idea of secession. Even more interesting the policial ground he seems to be attempting to stake out. |
| Posted by: AzCat 2009-04-16 01:11 |