Governor Perry, Colonel Travis and Bick Benedict

Leading up to the I.R.S. holy day of April 15th it appears that Texas may have actually found her Patrick Henry.

In a speech yesterday Gov. Rick Perry (R-Texas) re-asserted Texas rights under the 10th amendment of the U.S. constitution which states "The power not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people." The Governor boldly stated "Millions of Texans are tired of Washington, D.C. trying to come down here to tell us how to run Texas." The governor went further "I believe that our federal government has become oppressive in its size, its intrusion into the lives of our citizens, and its interference with the affairs of our state." Not unlike Col. Travis at the Alamo, Gov. Perry has drawn a line in the sand. Liberty and Independence is alive and well down here in the republic.

In the novel "Giant" (written by Edna Ferber in 1952 made famous by the motion picture with the same title starring Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and Rock Hudson), lead character Bick Benedict (Rock Hudson) expresses the same view as Gov. Perry; "If it's freedom you want, come to Texas. No one there tells you what to do and how you have to do it."

Texas has once again poked a much needed finger in the eye of an oppressive federal government. Indeed north easterners and left coasters are probably 'tisking' while rolling their eyes and muttering to themselves "There they go again!"

Down here Texans love their individuality. Here The Lone Star flag is revered as much and in many cases more than the flag of the union. Values are embraced here which are scoffed at elsewhere. On Sundays businesses still close, waitresses still call you 'honey' and no one ever orders a steak 'well done'.

Gov. Rick Perry's actions of the last few days have brought another famous Texan to mind. In 1833 as a congressman from Tennessee, David Crockett opposed President Andrew Jackson's Indian Removal Act with the following statement; "I bark at no man's bid. I will never come and go, and fetch and carry, at the whistle of the great man in the White House no matter who he is."

www.youtube.com/watch?v=blgUvlqLOmE

Where's our Daniel Hannan?

A couple of weeks ago, Daniel Hannan M.E.P. (Member of European Parliament for southeast England) slammed P.M. Gordon Brown and the Labor Party 'goons' for tanking the British economy. Mr. Hannan's comments were enough to make any patriot cheer. But between the 'atta boys', and the 'Hip Hip Hoorays!' one can't help asking; Where is our Mr. Hannan?

Outside of talk radio and the 'new media' no one has had the courage to stand against the 'bailout' orgy that's enslaving our culture. Are there any politicians willing to be statesmen? Is there an individual willing to stand on the rights of 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of property' regardless of the next election? This week Alabama congressman Spencer Bachus stated that 17 of his colleagues are in fact socialists. Mr. Bachus stopped short of naming them. Now it's a fair bet that if you are still reading this that you could identify to whom the congressman was referring. If only he had shown a little more courage.

The answer is in the hearts and minds of the people. So turn off 'American Idol', and go join a tea party!