Perry: Don't Get The Wrong Impression--No Secession For Now
A few minutes ago, I spoke with Catherine Frazier, spokeswoman for Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Noting that Perry hadn't spoken of imminent secession, I asked her what sort of scenario the governor envisioned when he spoke at the Austin Tea Party, and what the legal ramifications of such a move would be. She sought to assure me that Perry does not want Texas to secede, and directed me to this blog post.
This is interesting that this has really kind of bubbled up, to uh... I refer people back to my statement, and I gotta a charge out of it. I was kinda thinking that, maybe the same people who hadn't been reading the constitution right were reading that article and they got the wrong impression about what I said.Clearly, I stated that we have a great union. And Texas is part of a great union. I see no reason for that to change. I think that may not be the exact quote, but that is, in essence what I said.
Below you'll find the audio of Perry's remarks, followed by some commentary from MSNBC's Contessa Brewer:
In other words, Perry's remembering about half the quote. "There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it," Perry said.
And then he followed that up with: "But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, who knows what may come of that."
So that's the statement he's standing by. As for the portion in bold, Perry seems to be trying to conflate his affirmation of Texas's 10th amendment rights with his statement on Texas' right to secede from the union. But those are two very separate issues. More on this soon.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Oh, Goodness, another reason to be ashamed of living in Texas. Milly Ivins is spinning in her grave with laughter and Barbara Jordon is just shaking her head.
Perry is a jerk. We call him Mr. Good Hair here (I think that's from Molly). Remember he only got 38% of the vote in the last election. Kay Baily is coming home from the Senate to run against him. I will even vote for her from the leftie side just to get rid of him!
The Republicans don't know how to do policy here either. They keep rolling in politics and thus accomplish nothing but pi**ing people off and polishing their base. Problem is that their base is shrinking and the Democrats are rising here as whites become the minority in this state. Please hurry!
April 16, 2009 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Hutchison would be an improvement to Perry's fanatical antics but I want to see big change for Texas. My theory is that Perry will continue to go hard right in order to get a leg up on Hutchison in the Republican primary most likely alienating moderates across the board. Hutchison will still be formidable and has an edge in this race meaning Perry will have to malign her considerably to bring her numbers down and win. The key for Dems is to let the Rebublicans beat each other down while we organize our voters and our message so we can win this thing.
April 16, 2009 6:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
The first thing I thought when I read the headline was that I was so sorry Molly Ivins was no longer with us, because she would be having a field day with this.
I don't know if calling Rick Perry "Governor GoodHair" was original with her or not, but she's sure the one who took that ball and ran with it, always adding the explanation that "he has a head of hair any Texan would be proud of."
April 16, 2009 11:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
They have really stretchy essences in TX.
April 16, 2009 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Looks like Obama and Lincoln might have even more in common than any of us thought.
April 16, 2009 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm pretty sure we fought a Civil War to settle the issue of Union and secession. I don't doubt that the great-grandchildren of the old Confederacy still hang onto some outdated ideas.
April 16, 2009 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, here is one great-grandchild of the old Confederacy that regards that whole secession thing as a deeply tragic folly. But then I'm from Richmond, VA, where there's hardly an acre of ground within a 10-mile radius of the city that is not soaked with the blood of the soldiers of that war. And it is within my living memory that Virginia finally paid off its Civil War debt.
Maybe in Texas they didn't pay such a heavy price for that folly that it would put it out of their feeble minds to talk about taking that path again for anything short of very extreme provocation. They have no real provocation except that which exists in their imaginations.
April 16, 2009 11:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Damn. I was SO looking forward to losing these losers. Well, there's still hope for Georgia coming through on the idea:
http://www.americablog.com/2009/04/georgia-senate-threatens-to-secede.html
April 16, 2009 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
In the very near future I predict we will be able to call clowns like Perry, UnAmerican and have it actually mean something. I can imagine Austin being like post war Berlin, a walled city surrounded by grayness.
April 16, 2009 6:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, c'mon, secede.
This is a human rights issue.
It'll ensure that there are no more conservative Christian torture-loving Texans sent to Washington.
April 16, 2009 6:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've long had this fantasy where we gave Texas back to Mexico. But then I realized that if we tried, Mexico would simply declare war on us.
"You take it"
"No, you have to keep it"
;-)
April 16, 2009 7:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Texas seceding would be a net gain for the treasury, since Texas takes more than it gives in federal funds
April 16, 2009 7:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wonder who the president of Texas might be?
In the event Texas seceeds, the US will really have to crack down on illegal immigration.
April 16, 2009 8:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hear Chuck Norris has expressed interest.
April 16, 2009 9:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not President.....Dictator.
George W. Bush is ready, willing and able...and already said it would be much easier if he could be Dictator.
April 16, 2009 11:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Aw, come on, this secession talk is just political crazy talk. Follow any politician long enough and you will see some crazy talk. Gov. Perry just does it so often......
April 16, 2009 8:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've long had this fantasy where we gave Texas back to Mexico. But then I realized that if we tried, Mexico would simply declare war on us.
"You take it"
"No, you have to keep it"
;-)
April 16, 2009 9:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I say let the bozos go and see how long it takes for them to beg for foreign aid. Watching Chuck Norris actually try to run a country would be hilarious.
The one concern would be that with sovereignty they may start imposing capital punishment on illegal immigrants (and probably some of the legal ones too).
April 16, 2009 9:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Buh-bye, Texas! Don't let the door hit ya on the way out.
April 16, 2009 10:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
It would be much easier and less trouble to vote Perry out of office. This guy is done.
April 16, 2009 10:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's the thing. And there is really no getting around this.
The Deep South (including Texas) didn't want to be part of the United States anymore in the mid-19th century. And they were prevented from leaving that same Union, by force of arms.
Ever since then, there has been a strong undercurrent, on a cultural level, among many Caucasian Southerners, of states-rights and succession. Its just kind of there. Like a mild headache that you just can't seem to get rid of.
Normally, these days, it doesn't amount to a hill of beans. But, in times of political stress, such as what the South is experiencing right now with the ascension of Obama and the eroding of conservative power in Congress, it rears its ugly head.
In fact, it was the election of Lincoln, and the erosion of southern power in the House and Senate, that was kind of the tipping point to southern secession last time (1860/1). How oddly similar. Eh???
These fools in the South are nothing if not predictable. Back to the Future, baby. HA!
April 17, 2009 9:39 AM | Reply | Permalink