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."

He said when Texas entered the union in 1845 it was with the understanding it could pull out. However, according to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Texas negotiated the power to divide into four additional states at some point if it wanted to but not the right to secede.

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 (EDIT HERE - WHOOOOOOO - HELL YEA!!!!!) 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."

I'm a native Texan. (George Dubya is not, btw). I'm not particularly proud of it, anymore than I am about having the accidental fortune of being born an American. I'm a world citizen.
But I can tell you this:
Texas politics have always had a wild, maverick aspect, as you might expect. Lots of corruption, too.
Texas has had some great leaders, but I use the term loosely. Great does not necessarily mean good.
I would spit on most of the recent modern Texas Republicans, but that's a whole 'nother story.
Plenty of Texas Dems I would spit on too. But check out John Henry Faulk, a great American and a great Texan, who just happened to be a liberal (he stood up against Joe McCarthy when few dared to):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_Faulk

Anyway, count on Texas to stir the pot a little. I love it.
I am a believer in States Rights and and in the absence of a multi-party Federal system, state sovereignty offers a buffer between us and the centrist assholes.
But don't get me wrong, Texas is one fucked up place. There are more prisoners per capita than any other state, it really feels like a police state when I go back there.
It's why it's so hard for me to buy into any of the -isms, -crats, or -icans.


Did I ever mention that I am the director of the Center for De-Centralization?
(Sorry to blow my own horn)
We offer courses in Enforced Spontaneity, and How to Turn Your Family Room into a Garage.

And not to mention Austin is a pretty sweet city!
=)

I can't wait to move back there!

*sigh... well folks , the more I read and here , it looks to me that America is heading towards Civil war , it's kind of sad in a way , but somehow invigorating, if nothing else, we are all about to be involved in some profound history , so keep the faith ... and peace ....

Where was Texas when Bush was setting into motion the problems that Obama now has to try and solve?

Why does Bush get to destroy our entire infrastructure and Obama has to take the blame simply because his solutions are so radical?

If Obama had not been so quick to try and solve the economy crisis the same people would still be protesting whining about him not doing anything.

All this smacks of revenge. For all those who supported Bush and were proven to be idiots for doing so this is their way of striking back.

Democrats are no different they will go after the next republican president before he has even had a chance to do anything wrong. It's a vicious cycle that gets worse with each president.

Civil war is likely. Only this time there is no righteous cause like slavery to hang any motives on. It will just be our own ignorance that guides this one.

Americas not heading for civil war, and if by some chance it does, it wont be becuase of any serious differences in ideology. It will be more like the reasons that guests fought on Jerry Springer.

Getting Loud to get Over.

Perry is not leading a charge toward Secession.
He is reasserting states rights, letting the people know exactly why he is refusing portions of the stimulus packages offered. He does not want texas to have their budgets dictated by people who have not a damn clue how or why Texas is run the way it is.

He is ALSO charging up his campaign to run against Kay Bailey Huchinson, and therein lies 90% of the level of rhetoric, aside from clarifying his position with regard to Pay for Play stimulus packages which force spending above and beyond state capacity to balance budgets after the money is gone..nothing more and nothing less.

My absolute favorite quote of the day.
All this talk about civil war, the web-bots are gonna love this shit...

That evil witch is still around? Lord help us all. I'm glad I'm in Holland, where Harry Potter is Prime Minister...

Funny that you use the Jerry Springer analogy since this whole matter seems like one of his shows.

Yes..........this path we are now on does lead to something as stupid as another civil war. It has nothing to so with conspiracies or spreading fear. It has to do with the overwhelming ignorance of the consequences than can come from these movements that are only spurred on by those seeking more political clout.

Read an article where it said due to the webs social networks we now have mobs on demand. Today was a prime example of that.

Touch up on your history for what lead to the succession.