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Special Report

The Red and Blue States’ Fort Sumter

By on 12.28.10 @ 6:09AM

Last week, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson fired the opening shot.

The opening shot of the War Between the Red and Blue States may have been fired last Friday when the Environmental Protection Administration announced its intention to take over Texas’s authority on issuing clean air permits to new industrial facilities as of January 2.

It is hard to imagine a more stark confrontation between public and private sector-oriented economies. Texas has the strongest economy in the nation, based on its philosophy of limited government. The Texas Legislature convenes only in odd-numbered years is constitutionally limited to meeting only 140 days. Until this year, Texas has had a budget surplus and still has $7.5 billion in a rainy-day fund created by voters in 1988. During 2006 and 2007, Texas created 52 percent of all new jobs in the nation, according to a study done by the Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business. People are flocking to the state so fast that Texas will gain four seats in the House of Representatives in the new decade.

Washington, on the other hand, has run up a trillion-dollar budget deficit and destroyed private-sector jobs all over the country while expanding the government and presiding over 10 percent unemployment. The states on the East and West Coast that adhere most closely to Washington’s philosophy are approaching insolvency. Yet they continue to pursue dreamy energy agendas, trying to close down existing power plants and refusing to build new ones while planning for a world running on windmills and solar collectors.

Now Washington is going to try to impose this blue-state agenda on Texas. The struggle will dwarf the Arizona-versus-Washington contest over immigration.

In fact the conflict over energy production has been brewing for decades. As far back as the 1920s, Texan entrepreneurs built natural gas pipelines to carry their surplus gas north, only to run into Progressive Era reforms saying that utilities had to be regulated as “natural monopolies.” In 1936, the Roosevelt Administration extended this municipal regulation back to the gas pipelines themselves, giving the Federal Power Commission authority to fix prices across the country. Then after endless prodding from northern consumer states, the U.S. Supreme Court finally decided in 1954 that the whole diversified collection of thousands of wildcatters and individual well owners in Texas and Louisiana constituted a “monopoly” that could be regulated by the federal government. Over the next twenty years, the D.C. Court of Appeals tried every trick imaginable to prod gas out of its Texas owners’ hands. It developed the “life of the field” doctrine saying once gas had been put into interstate commerce it could not be withdrawn. Even if a well owner went bankrupt, he was still obliged to keep sending gas to northern consumers at prices fixed by federal regulators. Still, Texas managed to keep as much gas as possible at home. When the Arab Oil Boycott prompted thousands of northern businesses and residences to convert from oil to gas, the whole system collapsed in the Natural Gas Crisis of 1976, when factories and schools closed for weeks in Ohio and Pennsylvania for lack of gas. Meanwhile Texas was using gas to generate half its electricity. The Carter Administration was appalled to discover these distortions but decided to solve them in typical fashion by extending federal price controls even further into Texas as well. Bumper stickers sprouted all over Texas and Louisiana declaring “Let the Yankees Freeze in the Dark.”

Fortunately, the Reagan Administration came along and solved the problem by appointing new members to the Federal Power Commission who deregulated gas prices within a decade. Prices fell as new supplies gushed forth and for the first time the nation had adequate supplies of natural gas — so much so that we resumed the wasteful practice of burning gas for electricity after environmentalists stymied everything else. When conventional supplies peaked in 2000, however, prices quadrupled and gas-dependent industries such as plastics, chemicals, and fertilizer started fleeing for foreign shores. Once again, Texas came through, this time through a stubborn Fort Worth oil man named George Mitchell who spent ten years experimenting with various techniques of horizontal drilling and fracturing hard rock until he devised a way of “fracking” huge gas deposits out of the Barnett Shale. Once again, Texas had rescued the nation.

The pattern continues today. Offshore drilling is forbidden along the entire East and West Coasts and Florida’s Gulf Coast, but continues only off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana. This exposes residents to disasters like the BP oil spill, yet unproductive portions of the country still refuse to shoulder any share of the burden. California has banned everything but ridiculous solar and wind projects while New York just cut off access to its portion of the Marcellus Shale, the second largest gas deposit in the world. Now the Environmental Protection Administration will attempt to impose this no-growth strategy on the most productive state in the nation.

Last Thursday, EPA Administrator’s Lisa Jackson announced that, in response to the threat of lawsuits from environmental groups, she will impose “new source performance standards” for carbon emissions on utilities and oil refineries across the country during the coming year. Despite the name, “new source” standards apply to old sources as well. Their inevitable impact is to freeze all current technologies while preventing anything new from being built. It was this gridlock that cap-and-trade was supposed to overcome. The next day, Jackson announced that, due to Texas’s stubborn resistance in cooperating with the federal effort, the EPA would take over all authority to issue permits for new facilities beginning January 2.

The stakes could not be higher. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) estimates there are 167 major projects that are shovel-ready and about to begin construction next year. Most are oil refineries and power plants but many are also major industrial facilities. EPA’s permitting process for other traditional air pollutants — sulfur and nitrous oxides, etc. — has already slowed to a crawl. Adding carbon dioxide — an unavoidable by-product of all forms of combustion — will bring permitting to a dead halt. The future of the Texas economy — and the nation as a whole — may be at stake. If Texas stumbles, we could easily slip into a double-dip recession.

When the EPA issues new standards, it has always given the states three years to draw up “implementation programs” to meet them. In the case of carbon emissions, however, Administrator Jackson has concluded that the global warming crisis leaves no room for the traditional development period. Action would have to begin January 2. When Texas responded by going to court to challenge the accelerated schedule, Jackson responded with last week’s federal takeover.

The court fight could take months to reach a resolution but is likely to be overtaken when Congress convenes in January. West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller, one of the most liberal Democrats in Congress, is already spearheading an effort to head off EPA’s headlong rush by overturning its authority to regulate carbon emissions. A resolution sponsored by Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski to postpone the EPA effort came close to a majority last year but would need 60 votes for cloture. With Republicans taking over the House, however, the opportunities for Congressional intervention will be numerous.

Most important, however, is that the EPA action is likely to be the opening salvo in a protracted struggle between the productive red states and the profligate blue states. The unequal burden in developing the nation’s energy resources cannot persist for much longer without reaching the breaking point. In that sense, the new outbreak of hostilities at Fort Sumter could ultimately benefit the nation.  

About the Author

William Tucker is news editor for RealClearEnergy.org.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (196) |

Robbins Mitchell| 12.28.10 @ 6:32AM

Like a lot of Texans,I've got my red battle shorts on for this one....the arrogance and hunger for raw power exhibited by EPA and Lisa Jackson is breathtaking....but she made one big mistake here....she got Texas pissed off at her

Ken (Old Texican)| 12.28.10 @ 8:57AM

Robbins,
Right ONNNNNN!

DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS!

Al Adab| 12.28.10 @ 12:58PM

Thank goodness, "Texas said no". Hee Hee

Dave | 12.28.10 @ 10:24AM

Just a quick observation here. Howcumitz all these lib ladies in positions of Democrat influence and power all tend to look like they've just spent the last six months cruisin' the "drive-thru" line at Burger King, KFC and Taco Bell?

Between Kagen, Sotomayor, Napatalino, Hillary and their media guru - Rose O'Donut -- this collection of mass cellulite could keep Jenny Craig running in the black for decades to come. If not longer.

See, last time I checked, there wasn't a Palin, Bachman or anyone else in the Dems starting lineup who (appeared) to have the ability to push themselves away from the "$5.99 / Eat All You Lunch Buffett" at the local Round Table Pizza.

I guess like the Marines who are always "looking for a few good men" -- apparently the 49ers, Bucs and Bills have yet to check out DNC's taxi squad for a few good starting tackles. OK, maybe a pulling guard, or two. All it takes is a little dedication and ... some extra bulk.

Then again, maybe these ladies just don't adhere to Jerry "Moonbeam" Brown's message when he was governor of California ... the first time: "Less is More."

Apparently that motto just doesn't work. Especially at the buffett line.

chrisfromNY| 12.28.10 @ 11:31AM

Perhaps they should have a consultation with our new Dietary Scold in Chief....Michelle Obama

Seek| 12.28.10 @ 12:05PM

Yes, but...Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is thin as a rail. And White House global warming czarina Carol Browner is pretty slender as well.

Is there some sort of female Mutt n' Jeff equivalent at work here?

Alan Brooks| 12.28.10 @ 6:24PM

"Texas has the strongest economy in the nation, based on its philosophy of limited government."

But such might not mean so much anymore. If someone writes "the EU is the strongest entity in that hemisphere", so what? it is a shadow of the powerhouse Europe was in the 19th century. America is now dissimilar to the collossus it was in 1945.
Gosh if only we COULD turn back the clock!

Alan Brooks| 12.28.10 @ 6:26PM

that is, colossus-- we must always sp. correctly at AS

ChiefC| 12.29.10 @ 2:09PM

Well said, I am originally from Maine, came to Texas by way of the Army. After coming to Texas, I have absolutely zero desire to live in any other state.

TENAC| 1.1.11 @ 12:20PM

Come on Texas. The rest of the nation of Red states are counting on you!

We from Tennessee came once, we'll come again.

Christopher Kelleher| 12.28.10 @ 6:49AM

Speaking as a non-Texan, and thus without a dog in that fight, I would urge its governor to begin proceedings to secede, whether by legislation or plebescite (depending on what its constitution provides). I would remind all concerned that the constitutionality of state secession has never been properly adjudicated. It was decided by force alone some one hundred and fifty years ago.

Ted| 12.28.10 @ 7:29AM

Oh, secession might be a touch harsh here. Gov. Perry should say, "See you in court." If the administration's track record on Obamacare is any guide, Texas should do rather well.....

MikeD| 12.28.10 @ 8:18AM

Why not, Ted? I admit that it might be a tad much, but it might get the attention of the dems and their 'willing lackies' in the media. I can't think of one negative consequence of secession right now. (And I'd really like to get other people's opinions.) The dems are doing things that no rational American ever thought a political party would do, and there appear to be no consequences. We need to get the attention of Americans. There are things going on that are proving more disastrous that secession anyway; like class warfare, epa rule by 'fiat', intentional destruction of our currency and economy, failure to protect our borders, jamming huge entitlement programs through congress in the middle of the night without even reading them, and on and on and on...

Since nancy peloshit and harriet screid have put us deeper in debt than EVERY CONGRESS IN HISTORY COMBINED! What makes secession any more destructive than the cumulative effects of these terrible policies and actions? Besides, it may be the only way to survive as a Country. How's that "hopey changey' thing workin' out barry?? (Dopey strangey?)

Joe| 12.28.10 @ 12:09PM

As a Colorado boy now trying to eke out a living in Florida, all I can say is GO TEXAS! I think you will find a majority of Americans will support your fight against the Feds.

Mike Rogers| 12.28.10 @ 8:24AM

Actually, Perry should say "We won't see you in court - you cannot regulate intrastate activity", and then be prepared to defend the state.
Secession is not yet called for, but Nullification of bad laws and regulations by the states, who are duty bound to protect their citizens, is absolutely called for.
If you haven't read Thomas Woods' book "Nullification", or attended a "Nullify Now" even", please consider it.

Jack| 1.2.11 @ 10:18PM

Nullify the 17th ammendment and the EPA will disappear, along with the Depts of Education, Energy, and most of the other stuff dreamt up by the Progressive (Fabian) Socialists. It may take awhile, but will be worth the effort.

Harry the Horrible| 12.28.10 @ 9:48AM

Perhaps Texas can echo Andrew Jackson saying "The EPA has made its decision. Now lets see them enforce it." Then continue issuing permits...

chrisfromNY| 12.28.10 @ 12:01PM

I think that just as they overreached in the last Congress, they will now overreach with the new bureaucracies recently created to administer all these thousand+ page bills. And this will generate a backlash as we are seeing.

The biggest problem we will have is that there will be way too many targets to engage simultaneously. A rule here, a rule there coming rapid fire will not give us enough time to hold hearings and take votes. We should not approach this tactically and deal with one issue at a time, but rather, engage them strategically. Place a moratorium on ALL new regulations and require them to go through an onerous cost vs. benefit study before they can issue them. Slow them down and defund.

Haul them before Congress and issue contempt citations if any of the bureaucrats want to try and defy the will of the people. Bring in Salazar and ask him why he is defying the court and reimposing the drilling ban. Bring in the FCC chairman and ask him why he is doing the same. Bring in Berwick to explain his new death panel rule.

Finally, Obama is not ten feet tall and his relection is by no means assured. He will continue to "rule" us either by our consent or otherwise because he knows best. But he will need to be defeated in 2012 if we are to have any chance at reversing all this.

MJ| 12.31.10 @ 11:22AM

There ya go!!! Great ideas, Chris!!! As a Tenneseean, I also say, GO TEXAS!!!!

MJ| 12.31.10 @ 11:23AM

Let's move our nation's capital to Texas!

John Navratil| 12.28.10 @ 3:03PM

My own small proposal is to say, we agree you have the right to that 18.4 cent per gallon gasoline tax, but we won't collect it for you. Come on down and set up your own revenue collection system. We won't bite.

bus| 12.30.10 @ 8:50PM

The EPA needs to be on the tea party congress people's chopping block. When an agency has more lawyers than engineers or other experts in the field then they are no longer working for the good of the country. They are working for the justification of their own existence. There are about 6 agencies that need to be deep sixed.

SDN| 12.31.10 @ 9:37AM

Does anyone else remember the "Intolerable Acts" imposed by King George after the first Tea Party? Welcome to "Intolerable Acts 2.0".

David W| 12.28.10 @ 1:51PM

I agree secession would be tough (even as a Texan for 51 of 52 years). I think the cost (not political but having to set up all that border stuff and ambassadors and becoming a member of the UN) would be pretty high. Though I'm sure we would be recognized pretty quickly as indepedent by Mexico.

However, as some suggest, just say "thanks for the offer but no thanks" and go on. Challenge them to enforce it - if they can't enforce border control they can't enforce the EPA rules (border patrol agents have guns, I don't think the EPA does).

If a construction site is visited by EPA officials with writs and summons and injunctions just provide them with an injunction from the TX Supreme Court nullifying any and all EPA ones. If they bring federal marshalls, then bring Texas Rangers (not the baseball players). If they bring bring more, then we just announce that we will be having free beer and target shooting practice for all Texans at the specific site. Will any FBI/ATF/etc agent be crazy enough to stick their neck out for Obama when confronted by 100,000+ drunk and fired up Texans??? I think not.

old white guy| 12.31.10 @ 6:44AM

ted, you still have the second amendment.

Stan Redmond| 12.28.10 @ 9:58AM

You DO have a dog in this fight. The entire nation has a dog in this fight. An Obama short haired angry environmentalist regulator has decided for ALL Americans the economy is to be shut down. She has decided you will pay more for everything you consume. If Texas loses this fight then the long march toward tyranny continues with Obama at the helm. Also what is at play here is the equal spreading of misery that is so popular with the Obamatons. Texas produced 52% of all new jobs? Well, that isn't fair. Rather than allow the other states to grow their economies it's much easier (and more fair) to drag Texas down to the economic misery of the blue states like California.

kurious1| 12.29.10 @ 1:55AM

That "long march toward tyranny" seems to be getting shorter and shorter...

Sheryl Meade| 12.28.10 @ 11:21AM

Texas is going to file the bill for secession on either January 11 or 12th.

Things are about to get really interesting in the Great State of Texas.

Charles Martel| 12.29.10 @ 6:47PM

Really?? I want some of what you're smoking.

The legislature will be devoting those energies to redistricting in order to accommodate our four new Representatives.

This EPA move will be slapped down by the 112th Congress. There are enough directly concerned Democrat senators to get it done. If Obama chooses to veto, then we have a different fight, but that will probably bring the government to a grinding halt, and he's not stupid enough to think the people are behind him on that, is he?

+++

WJ| 12.31.10 @ 10:26AM

So Texas will try to secede? I guess they will then eject the foreign military bases and NASA that provide them with billions of dollars of federal funds. Texas is still a net receiver in terms of federal tax dollars.

There are many inaccuracies in this article. Texas and the Barnett shale didn't cause the current natural gas glut alone, nor did George Mitchell. Horizontal drilling and other shales like the Haynesville and Woodford have had huge impacts.

Regardless of all that, the arrogant EPA has gone crazy with the GHG regulations. Their ultimate agenda is to destroy the carbon based fuels industry in this country.

Charles Martel| 1.3.11 @ 3:27PM

No, we'll be keeping those. After all, we paid for them. Besides, we'll be needing them for our own military and our own space program.

+++

Cigar Smokin Dave| 12.29.10 @ 7:47AM

Secede, and we will move to your state. Living in PA now and have had it with this liberal controlling government. More states should stand up AGAINST DC.

Audax| 12.31.10 @ 5:43AM

Gee Cigar Smokin' Dave....you sound like you'd fit right in....Come on Down! No need to wait! Then you can say" I wasn't born a Texan, but I got here as fast as I could"!

GimmeCoffee| 12.29.10 @ 9:53AM

plebiscite

Ron| 12.30.10 @ 3:21PM

I believe you will find that when Texas was granted statehood it was with a proviso in the Texas constitution that reserved the right to secede at any future date if approved by the Texas legislature. As far as I know, it is the only state that reserved the right of secession when accepted for statehood.

Darin| 12.28.10 @ 7:05AM

In no way does the Constitution grant this kind of legitimate power to the federal government. The Constitution does grant it to the state governments under the Tenth Amendment.

A. C. Santore| 12.28.10 @ 9:52AM

I'll answer for the Obama Progressives:

"What difference does that make?"

Seattlebred| 12.28.10 @ 1:13PM

Darin:
Violates the tenth amendment?
"Are you kidding? Are you kidding?"

curly-fry lightbulb czar| 12.31.10 @ 8:40AM

Haven't you heard? The Constitution is old, outdated and hard to understand (aka, it stands in the way of "progress").

Plus, the EPA's main mission is "environmental justice". They can't administer proper justice if states are making these types of decisions to allow the evil energy industry to operate.

Mike D.| 12.28.10 @ 7:09AM

Hold fast Texans and never give in to this abortion of a Federal Govt. Its either Secession or civil war or both and thats the only thing that will stop this tyranny coming down the pike. Texas will lead the way and other states must follow them to justice and freedom. California is in the future for all of us if we don't stop this wholesale grab for one party rule by the communists and academic utopian wackos now running this so called government. Texas, if you lead many will follow!!!

Redstateboy| 12.28.10 @ 8:37AM

Count the Great State of Tennessee in Boys!!

NavyBrat | 12.28.10 @ 9:14AM

This Tennessee Volunteer is in too!

Joe Oliva| 12.28.10 @ 9:35AM

If the State of Texas secedes, I'll be moving there asap.

danny| 12.28.10 @ 1:40PM

Why wait Joe?
Come on down. We're locked and loaded.

RAMIII| 12.28.10 @ 9:48AM

Hear! Hear! from MN.

This administrations is atrocious and dangerous.

This article reads just like the Novel "Atlas Shrugged". The tyrants' policies will only work as long as we let our virtue be the tool they use to beat us with.

If this administration persists in this insanity -- they will cause the producers to stop producing. Then we will all share the same miserable results -- EXCEPT they think they are immune from the consequences. They are conducting a WAR! Be ready and open your eyes -- no appeasement will be sufficient to stop them.

Publius| 12.28.10 @ 9:51AM

Alabama be with you as well. REMAN THE ALAMO!

David W| 12.28.10 @ 1:57PM

Unfortunately I think the current Alamo building is too small to hold all of those willing to fight. We may have to build a new one.

TennesseeBelle| 12.31.10 @ 11:43AM

I'd bet a large number of Tennessee "Volunteers" stand ready to assist The Republic of Texas if called upon.

That a federal agency expects states to pledge their "fealty" to it, (as the EPA has clearly stated it does), boggles the mind! Their relentless push, if not eased, will leave states with no choice.

Solely FYI - This TnBelle comes by way of Texas .....

Beer (f.m.h.)| 12.28.10 @ 2:42PM

We tea-partiers here in the Commonwealth of PA will stand with you. That 'ol Mason-Dixon line doesn't mean much anymore.

Theresa| 12.28.10 @ 10:09PM

AZ will stand with Texas!

Raynman| 1.17.11 @ 4:50PM

This Wisconsinite will follow Texas if she leaves. I've had enough too!
I'll be moving south as fast as possible.

Clint| 12.28.10 @ 7:24AM

The Federal Government is provoking a Rebellion.

"This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it."
Abraham Lincoln, First Inaugural Address, Washington, D.C., March 4, 1861

daddio| 12.28.10 @ 11:29AM

"The Federal Government is provoking a Rebellion."

Perhaps deliberately? To usher in a totalitarian system all the faster?

Joe| 12.28.10 @ 12:20PM

You may be right, but I think they'll be surprised to find a few more 2nd Amendment patriots willing to fight them than they think.

blackwatch| 12.28.10 @ 8:42PM

As this article points out The Blue States and FEDS don't have the energy manufacture and distribution networks now, they couldn't hold out long if it came to the People exercising control over our government. The People win any stalemate by simply turning off several pipeline valves which happen to be located in Texas and Louisiana. Established choke points on these pipelines could be easily established by the People. I believe that Ken the old Texican brought this topic up about 2 months ago. I defer to his expertise on this one.

Theresa| 12.28.10 @ 10:11PM

Not succession but Convention! Convene the Constitutional Convention and remove the Federal Govt at one chop!

Paul| 12.28.10 @ 7:38AM

"Last Thursday, EPA Administrator's Lisa Jackson announced that, in response to the threat of lawsuits from environmental groups, she will impose "new source performance standards" for carbon emissions ..." In response to the threat of lawsuits? Really? Ms. Lee entirely agrees with those groups threatening lawsuits and is merely using this as an excuse to take power away from states. Her department could certainly fight those suits is they wanted to. They don't.

Bob in Western NY| 12.28.10 @ 7:45AM

One guy says he doesn't have a dog in the fight because he's not from Texas. He's wrong. We all have a dog in the fight. I'm from Western New York, and I sympathize with the Texan's bumper sticker to let the yankees freeze in the dark. That's what we deserve if we find that the purpose of government is to steal from our fellow citizens.

We have gas under our feet here, and a governor who is afraid of our future. He's a "progressive." He's gonna progress us back to cave living - then blame it on greedy businessmen.

RAMIII| 12.28.10 @ 9:50AM

You have nailed it!

Tim the Enchanter| 12.28.10 @ 3:45PM

Bob in Western NY: I guess we're close neighbors (I'm from the Buffalo area), and I couldn't agree more. Yankee by birth, rebel by choice. I've also had the privilege of having the late Jack Kemp as my congressman, and now Chris Lee. We're not all a bunch of whacked-out libs up here, by any means.

owyheewine| 12.28.10 @ 7:49AM

Theres a fairly straightforward solution, if our new Republican congress has a single pair amonth them. Simply zero the EPA budget. Defund the surly SOBs and their power goes away. Not even a pad of paper or a pencil, let alone conputers, faxes, etc.

Mike Rogers| 12.28.10 @ 8:28AM

Defund almost all Federal agencies.
For those which provide specific useful services to the states, block grant the money for a short period, with a firm end date, and then cut taxes by that amount and let the states which wish to continue the services tax their own people.

Joe| 12.28.10 @ 12:23PM

Exactly! Our government as it was meant to be.

JR| 12.28.10 @ 7:59AM

Looks like the buck is really going to stop in Texas. Sitting back and hoping is no longer an option.

MikeD| 12.28.10 @ 8:09AM

Everybody who reads TAS has to order the book "TEXASSAIDNO!" by our own Ken the Texican. I have read it and it should be required reading for every school student from 6th grade through college. It's THAT good, and THAT important! We're running out of time to change the landscape and reinstate some sanity into our government; which is why we have to stay on the GOP like a cheap suit!

This is one area where the epa and other morons in the demoncrap party clearly highlight their complete stupidity. EVERY life form on Earth is Carbon based! Yet these a$$holes want to ban it! This makes the stupidity of the globull warming crowd look positively wise! I gues they don't teach much science in gender studies, homosexual positions to increase the transmission of AIDS, and (F)art history of gaseous emmisions! (That's another pet peeve; getting every cent of federal money out of education and forcing a philosophical balance by evaluating published works and class notes by 'professors'.)

I can't wait to read all the names I'll be called for having the audacity to even mention AIDS and homosexuals in the same sentence; and then to even intimate that they might be related! Oh Dear!

This is NOT business as usual.

martin j smith| 12.28.10 @ 8:11AM

When the new Congress convenes in January the real Civil War will begin. It will be a war against a take over of this country and will be a dooooooooozy!!!!!!!!!!! As I have said in other posts, sparks will fly But in the end the question that voters will have to answer is this: Are you better off or worse off under Obama compared to when he took office ? This is the ultimate question and an addition one should be are you safer or less safe ? All of the media spin,hype and punditry will not work. Its not the message, its the conditions on the ground the really count.
So, all of those guys like Carie K and his Liberal friends like Chris M & fellow travelers at the NYT--Unless Obama serious changes course ( he wont ) and continues as the FCC power grap and the EPA power grab there will be lots of sparks flying and meanwhile voters know what this is all about. Unlike the NYT, they really know what is happening and if the economy continues as it is it is the Obama Economy and by by Obama.

Melvin| 12.28.10 @ 8:24AM

Oh hush now, no one is going to do anything but be good little automatons and pay your five bucks for a gallon of gas like the rest of America.

saleboter| 12.28.10 @ 8:39AM

OMG a successful private sector economy, we've got to kill that.

s/o

Redstateboy| 12.28.10 @ 8:43AM

email, write or call your Congressmen and US Senators (I did!) Ask em' who the F! is in charge in Washington, DC. - the Elected representatives of the People of the United States or the F'n EPA??!!?

JFGalt| 12.28.10 @ 12:36PM

BINGO!
Hold their feet to the fire and find out who they really represent!

WestTexGranny| 12.28.10 @ 9:50PM

I agree and have sent messages to my representatives and as a Texan to my Governor as well.

Purple Lips| 12.28.10 @ 8:45AM

And the price of oil and NG are going through the roof despite weak demand for both. Some analysts are predicting $5/gallon gas by the end of the 2011.

Welcome to the Obama Commodities Bubble. Only a Progressive could create such high commodity prices when demand is so weak.

Blackwatch| 12.28.10 @ 8:53PM

those are abundant commodities. price inflation is due to the falling value of the dollar. Someone once said that gambling is a tax on the stupid. Wait until they have hyperinflation to deal with. That is tax on all driven by the greedy in power.

Looks like a bumpy flight, better buckle up folks. Oh and if you don't have a minimum of 90 days of food in stock in your house now you had better get to it.

WRTolkas| 12.28.10 @ 8:48AM

Dear Texas,

If push comes to shove, you have another volunteer with a 30-30 Winchester.

Regards,
WRTolkas

danny| 12.28.10 @ 1:54PM

Thanks, Tolkas. Come on down and join me with my .30 cal. carbine. We can take care of the short stuff and leave the long shots to the boys with the big guns.

Louis Jenkins| 12.28.10 @ 8:50AM

I cannot understand, in a nation with limitless resources we starve for fuel. Thanks Obama! May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your armpits.

If we get into dire problems, I know who I will team up with.

Penny| 12.28.10 @ 10:50PM

Priceless image Louis - thanks.
I'll always see camel fleas when a glimpse of ozero is for any reason unavoidable.

Sea_Hunter| 12.28.10 @ 9:16AM

In the end we will continue to lose law case after law case in Federal Courts and continue to be under the thumb of the Government so long as the word Commerce can be defined as any Progressive would wish. If we want to keep our freedom, and liberty from the Government we need Congress to redefine the word Commerce within the Constitution. Once Commerce means what it says the all kinds of things go away, like the EPA, OSHA, The Department of Education, etc, etc, etc. We could easily balance our budget by just changing the wording in one clause in the Constitution. Lets try this on for size: "Congress shall be empowered to regulate only material goods as they are in the process of crossing state lines, and shall not be empowered to regulate those goods within any state." Now, that would mean you can't fix gas prices, or put a lid on carbon as it comes from a power plant. It would also kill off as unconstitutional more than half the Governments departments, saving us trillions. The best part of this, nobody needs to get shot. No, let me rephrase that, nobody has to be shot.

Dan| 12.28.10 @ 4:56PM

I'd make one modification to your proposal: Congress and not the courts shall be empowered ... and neither Congress nor court nor federal agency shall be empowered to regulate within any state." Or something like that, to prevent end runs by courts or agencies.

Sea_Hunter| 12.28.10 @ 6:15PM

Dan, excellent point. I have no idea how to word such a thing, but none the less, excellent point.

CP in Minnesota| 12.28.10 @ 9:23AM

The Cowboys are America's team. Well, now Texas is America's state. All freedom loving Americans are looking to you to lead us in this fight against tyranny. By leading your state with honor and courage you also lead all of us who love this country as it was founded. Don't back down. Don't give an inch. And when push comes to shove, you'll find there are patriots from all over the nation who are ready to run to your side. My fellow Americans.....let's roll.

RAMIII| 12.28.10 @ 9:56AM

AGREED!

Phil| 12.31.10 @ 10:29AM

The Cowboys stink. How can a 5 and 10 team be "America's Team"?

Ken (Old Texican)| 12.28.10 @ 9:25AM

Mike,
thanks for the heads up to the folks. "Texas Said NO!" can be found at www.texassaidno.com There is a foreword and chapter One there.

I am now writing the sequel "America Alone Said NO!"
It is the most important project of my life, and it might be the most important book you read in 2011.
The story is so darned likely, and the story is so frightening, that the editors here cannot even review it or mention it for fear of having the TAS literally shut down.

We Texans certainly do NOT want to secede. We want to lead, by pure example...and help other States' people realize that they too can have their prosperity back when they put their foot down.

I have been invited...and spoke...to our own legislature on some of the most important issues facing our State in recent years. Ultimately, our legislature agreed with me.
First, I helped the Legislature understand that health insurance companies simply want a level playing field.
Second, I helped them understand that caps on lawyer fees would encourage medical doctors to move here in droves, and that our health costs would be contained, and our health insurance premiums would be the lowest in the country.

Such is now the case.

Another important "project" for me has been to drop in on major sites and percolate some thinking out there.
PS: American Thinker is on fire today. I hope each of you will visit.

HAHAHA| 12.28.10 @ 11:25AM

How can you go wrong with writing like this:
"August 19, 2010

"Master, our teams are in place and ready to attack at your command."

The Mullah frowned as he pulled at his beard in frustration. "Ah," he growled, "but we must not attack until after the Infidels' elections. We have their present government in the palms of our hands. We must be patient…we must!"

The Mullah had graduated. He now had one of the tiny handful of uncensored internet connections in his country, and he was nearly apoplectic reading an article on a website. www.academia.org "Texas Textbooks Whitewash Sharia." He wrote a: DECLARATION "The Province of Texas is now punished. No longer will Texas steal its fortune by stealing the natural resources of the Muslim Ummah. The Great Satan shall also be punished! The blood and oil of Allah's chosen shall no longer be poured out on the land of infidels without retribution. The Laws of Allah shall be obeyed."

Wow, just wow. I am breathless. Is it Hemmingway reborn?

Ken (Old Texican)| 12.28.10 @ 1:04PM

Ha Ha Ha,
I agree with you. That quote sucks.

The problem is...wait for it...I simply quoted one of the Grand Mullahs of Iran....and he really meant it. You can look it up yourself.
Go figure his world view.???
You are right though, Hemingway he aint.

HAHAHA| 12.28.10 @ 1:43PM

It is not the quote, it is the narrative. Pulling at his beard in frustration? Growling? Nearly apopletic? Junior college freshman comp level writing.

Or how about this : ""Can you believe it?" the professor asked. "I can't quite believe it. I mean I just can't quite get my hands around this." The professor's eyes were popping behind his coke-bottle glasses, but his grim set of jaw said otherwise. He knew. "

Coke bottle glasses? Grins set of jaw?

And this?
"The Mullah abruptly stood and left the room and his assistant read the article that had upset his master so much. Essentially it was a report of Rasmussen Poll of Texas voters. To the question: "Should Sharia Law have any validity or standing in Texas courts?"
The result was 89% Nays…and 11% didn't recognize the term" Really? Really? Come on.

Oh, and by the way, I took your advice. The only place that quotes appears on the internet is on your vanity press site and the American Spectator.

Ken (Old Texican)| 12.28.10 @ 2:36PM

Ha Ha,
Evidently you don't read farsi or arabic. My translator helped me with the quotes.
They really do talk that way. Now, go buy the darned book..." La Buhkra...La Ba-ad Buhkra...Alium!!!!!!!!!!! (Today!)
Heh,
you would have to know the professor I based the character upon. He truly is legally blind without his glasses.
Squirrel,
I am twice over a #1 worldwide bestselling author. I chose a new pen-name here to keep the damned terrorists off my front porch.

...but you just keep nipping at my ankles. It helps encourage folks to buy the book.

HAHAHA| 12.28.10 @ 3:00PM

"I am twice over a #1 worldwide bestselling author. I chose a new pen-name here to keep the damned terrorists off my front porch."

Then dear Sir you are an idiot. Simply put if that was true it would be damn easy to figure out who you were.

The problem is not with your fictional professor's eyesight, it is with the simplistic cliches.

As far as speaking Arabic or Farsi I am semi-fluent inf Farsi, a lingering effect of growing up in Great Neck, NY. If you have a source in Farsi for the above quote I'd love to see it.

You are a very common critter on the internet. Unable to let your arguments stand on their own merits you invent a persona. You appeared before the Texas legislature, you ran a fortune 500 company, you are a two time best selling author, your smile is more powerful than any 3 nuclear power plants. You are afraid of using your own name because the terrorists might get you, or the Feds, or the Martians with their anal probes. You also claim to have copyrighted the monicker "Old Texican". Sheesh, a 11th grader with google could figure out who you were if all those facts are true. The easiest starting spot would be a list of people who spoke before the Texas legislature on health insurance. The a list of 'worldwide best selling authors' of the last 40 years. My bet there would be no names in common. But if there were you'd just filter by past CEOs of large companies.

But the easiest solution would be to get someone on the inside of the copyright office to cough up who owns the copyright to Old Texican.

MikeD| 12.28.10 @ 4:37PM

I guess the lefty moron society decided to assign their "A$$hole of the Day" job to HAHAHA; which is, by the way, a perfect 'moniker'. What an idiot.

Here we have someone who has either not been here before, or who changed his/her name from something equally inane (see "Purbleboy) and shows up with the singular intent to make him/her self look as foolish as possible as fast as possible.

Well, you succeeded, moron. Several regular members of this forum have looked into the frequent 'posters'; and, as clearly illustrated by your assinine comments, you have not. Many of the people who post here specifically do not use their real names because of morons like you. Check out what the demoncraps did the very day Sarah Palin was announced as John McCain's running mate. Forty lawyers and twice as many investigators were instantly dispatched to Alaska to look for any kind of dirt they could find. No wonder intelligent people are careful what they reveal to morons like you.

But then there's our amoral president who won't even release his college transcripts and passport. What IS he hiding? And why is the media letting him get away with it? That sounds like a criminal conspiracy to me. HAHAHA! (How fitting.)

HAHAHA| 12.28.10 @ 4:44PM

Oh please, lefty moron society. Is that the best you can do?

Here is the thing Mike, Old Texican is a liar. Simple? He is neither a 2 time best selling author, former CEO of a fortune 500 company, nor ex-galactic warlord.

He does not claim to keep his name secret because of internet nutjobs he claims to keep it secret for protection from the terrorists or the government. Which is bizarre. If such a critter as Old Texican existed it would be child's play to find out who he is. He does not exist except it his delusional mind.

The simple fact is he is so insecure in his ability to convey cogent arguments that he resorts to lies about his CV to bolster his pedigree. It would be funny if it was not so sad.

Hey Mike, since you are old Tex's biggest fan can you point out a citation for his supposed quotes from the Grand Mullahs of Iran? Thought not.

Ken (Old Texican)| 12.28.10 @ 5:10PM

Ha Ha,
I'll tell you what smartass. You go find who I am since you are so "connected".
Blurt it out here and over at huffpo as well. (Mr. Soros would help you but I already hold his life in my hands.)
The day I go public with my name in the real world, is the day you wimps and me and the rest of real Americans go to war to the knife.
Honestly, child, you do not want to go there.

sigh...and you won't believe me until it is too late.

Type in "Kenneth Texas" on your search engine of choice.
...I'm sorry. I would have enjoyed playing with you.

HAHAHA| 12.28.10 @ 6:25PM

Ohhhhh, cyber threats. Frankly gramps you do not even register on my threat meter but if you get some sort of thrill out of empty threats continue your emotional masturbation. But I do notice you said nothing of substance. I'd still like to see a citation for the Grand Mullah's 'quote'.

I never claimed to be connected. You know why? Because like your 2 best selling books it would be meaningless. I have no need to do so to point out how silly you are.

You have never written a best selling book, you have never been a CEO of anything, you do not own the copyright to Old Texican, and frankly your prose is tepid. I am tempted to buy it for two reasons: you probably need the money to supplement your Walmart greeters pay; and it would be funny to read. I might even do a review of it just so I can quote it for people's amusement.

George True| 12.28.10 @ 8:51PM

You remind me of Lord Haw Haw, the Englishman who became a radio propagandist for the Nazis. Nothing he said was actually true, and most intelligent people knew it immediately. Same as here.

Texican is the real deal. He has accomplished more than most people could do in two lifetimes. The company he currently runs is responsible for making a profound and monumental difference in the quality of life for many pe0ple. He is a genuine force for good in this world.

You would do well to emulate him.

HAHA| 12.28.10 @ 10:19PM

Mr True,
Oh, George says so. My apologies.

Texican is a demonstrated liar. The fact is the quote he attributed to a Grand Mullah in Iran was never uttered; the fact is he does not own the copyright to "Old Texican".

If he is really what he says he is -multitime world best selling author, CEO of 2 fortune 500 companies, and the man who has Soros life in his hands - his reason for keeping his name private and for publishing under a pen name is stupid. Such things would be ineffective if anyone of real power wanted to do him harm. I demonstrated how easy it would be to find out who fills such criteria before. The Texas legislature actually makes it real easy, since they sensibly meet so seldom.

He sprinkles such nonesense because it is the only way he knows of getting someone to listen to him. It is really rather silly. If he has a point to make, make it without relying on an unverifiable CV.

WestTexGranny| 12.28.10 @ 10:15PM

I cannot why it is that you folks from the left chose to be crude and resort to name calling in all things. If you don't like what Old Texican has written then just don't read it. It is just that simple.

HAHA| 12.28.10 @ 10:45PM

Why do you assume I am of the left? I said nothing political.

As far as name calling goes read the posts and count the number of fascist/communists thrown around. And any number of permutations of Obama's name.

I dislike liars. He is a demonstrable liar. If you do not like reading what I have written then just don't read it. It is just that simple.

George True| 12.29.10 @ 4:46AM

He is not a liar, you are.

I repeat: You would do well to emulate him.

HAHA| 12.29.10 @ 6:03AM

George,
I repeat: He is a liar. It is demonstrable. Go to the copyright office and see who owns the rights to Old Texican, I did. Find the alleged quote from the Grand Mullah in Iran, you cannot.

If you wish to emulate a liar it is your choice. If I seek a role model, and I don't, I'll seek one who has a better grasp on reality. Thanks for the advice, though.

George True| 12.29.10 @ 11:41AM

What I wish is for you to quit with your juvenile ranting about Texican. Nobody gives a flying rip if he copyrighted his name or not, or if he accurately quoted some mullah or not. It has nothing to do with anything we are interested in discussing here. All you are doing is clogging up the comments section with your drivel. Besides that you are boring everyone to death.

deltablues| 12.28.10 @ 5:55PM

I'm on your side of the fence, but I think you should stay away from the Arabic, unless I missed your point. One of the few benefits of me having worked in the Middle East for many years is having picked up quite a bit of Arabic.La means - No. Bukhra means- tomorrow. La bukhra means - No tomorrow (or no, tomorrow. Bukhra = manana in Spanish = maybe/whenever); bad bukhra means the day after tomorrow; I presume you mean Alium to mean al yom - which means - today.

BackToBasics| 12.29.10 @ 6:33PM

If Ken (old Texican) sets you off this much, then you muxt be totally incensed that Obam's "Dreams From My Father" was ghostwritten by Bill Ayers by his own admission.

Skippy| 12.28.10 @ 3:44PM

Yo Ken!
Your #2 book title borrows from Mark Steyn's remarkable "America Alone".
This must-read exercise in demography and consequence foreshadows much that is mentioned in this thread.
Mr. Steyn wrote the Culture Vulture column in TAS years back, and is sorely missed today.
His website gets a daily visit from this long-time TAS subscriber.
Speaking of Texas...
Anyone know where Tom Green county is?
I once lived in Christoval, on the banks of the Concho River.
One riot; one Ranger!

russel| 12.28.10 @ 9:26AM

As a native Wyomingite , I DO have a dog in this fight . We have not only produced oil and gas for the last century , but the coal the east coast uses so unthankfully . The blue states produce nothing but welfare cases . I say let them raise their own livestock . A puny worthless state like CONeticut constantly harrassing and butting into our business, let them grow their own grain . Del-unaware? let them manufacture their own building materials . As for Ca. , may you dry up and blow away , we're not sending you any more water or electricity . Nope , you have absolutely nothing to bargain with , you big mouthed buttinsky . You have awakened a sleeping giant .

HAHA| 12.28.10 @ 11:28AM

Ah, a Wyomingite. Another citizen of a state sucking off the teat of the federal government.

George Trie| 12.28.10 @ 8:16PM

So boring. Is that the best you can do, troll?

drB| 1.1.11 @ 12:48AM

Actually TX is getting less from DC that it pays, see: http://www.taxfoundation.org/files/sr139.pdf if ANOTHER citizen of a state sucking off...is meant for TX

Mimi| 12.28.10 @ 9:35AM

The Congressional Law Review...Needs to open up shop ..for a full-time "BIG-JOB". It looks like DECREE & FIAT from the defeated LEFT has just given the United States of America open FIRE. Call Lisa Jackson and Donald Berwick in for a SHARP dress-down in front of the American people....Just who do they think they are?....SHUT THEM DOWN congress!!!

Anthony| 12.28.10 @ 9:42AM

This and the Berwick article tells us that Obozo and his tzars are stepping up their subrosa war on America.
If the new Congress does not take action to stop this rogue, we, the American people, had best be ready to do it ourselves.
America is under assault by this anti-American president.

Dustin| 12.28.10 @ 9:48AM

Hey............Don't count us out here in Arizona.........we are here for the duration....it is time........we need to get back to our roots..........and take our Country back

LeoInTheWoods| 12.28.10 @ 9:54AM

What does it matter? When the Elk Hills Naval Oil Reserve was transferred to Occidental Petroleum, it included gas fields that amount to about 1/3 of all the NG in the continental US, effectively increasing marketable supply by 50%. Did it make my gas prices go down? NO - instead, Oxy is pumping that NG, liquifying it and selling it to Japan and other places in the Pacific Rim. Prices actually went up for US consumers instead.
What difference will it make to a US consumer that is freezing his buttox off if these supplies are regulated locally or federally, if they aren't for US consumers?

A. C. Santore| 12.28.10 @ 9:59AM

The Plan is to destroy the economy, destroy our Constitutional government, destroy our social fabric down to the smallest thread, and then, in the chaos that must follow, take over everything.

Can that be any clearer?

Joe| 12.28.10 @ 12:46PM

Yes, that is the extreme left plan.

It will only happen over my dead body.

Claire W. Solt PhD| 12.28.10 @ 10:09AM

Someone, maybe Jerome Corsi, has reported that Lisa Jackson has said that she is determined to change the American economy and she has 15,ooo people at EPA to help her.

Congress should really look into this rogue agency. I have seen that it was created by executive order which is questionable and its mission is not to change the economy. Would anyone in America nominate Lisa Jackson to manage the economy? NO! Who ever heard of her before Not me.

Narcia Blackburn has a bunch of tricy ways for Congress to fight bawck. I say we do not need it. Every state has itsown EPA and the concept of a national environment is ridiculous.

Defcon1| 12.28.10 @ 10:11AM

Florida's dog is growling and ready to get into the fight.

Kevin in Appalachia| 12.28.10 @ 10:22AM

Count WEST VIRGINIA in as well. We seceded once successfully, we can do it again!

davelnaf| 12.28.10 @ 10:23AM

This is the inevitable result of putting academics—including the Bamster-in-Chief—in charge of the government. As anyone who has ever gone through a university knows only too well these people spend their lives absorbing what other said and wrote and are incapable of original thought. Your typical academic is so intellectually sterile the idea of thinking in an original way actually confuses them. If pressed to come up with something original they persist in regurgitating some other person’s idea, complete with citations and footnotes, if needed. And no matter how much these people study the works of real thinkers and concurrently struggle in the vain pursuit of their own intellectual place in the sun they are never convinced of their perpetual status as second and, sometimes, third rate minds. The blindingly obvious reason why the economy has not yet rebounded is because we have never before had so many of these stunted people in government at one time as we have now.

Seek| 12.28.10 @ 12:08PM

Is all this your way of saying you don't have a college degree?

MikeD| 12.28.10 @ 12:27PM

I have several, and got them even though the academics did their best to shut my mouth and knuckle under to their bullsh*t during the Vietnam era. Since I had already been involved in Vietnam, (up to my eyeballs!) their threats to flunk me out and report me to my local draft board as elegible for physical and induction rang hollow.

As has Ken, I have also begun to get my 'poison pen' out and started to scream our message from the rooftops. It's time for every one of us to do it and scare the living sh*t out of barry the muslim and his fellow thugs. It is our Country and the dems are doing everything they can to destroy it. Remember that during your every waking hour!

Steve A| 12.28.10 @ 10:30AM

If Lisa Jackson had longer sideburns, she would look just like my junior high Gym teacher, Mr. Lee.

MikeD| 12.28.10 @ 12:32PM

Speaker Boehner,

Please call every obama appointeee, secretary, administrator, and 'czar' to testify in front of the House at your earliest convenience. Start with berquist and jackson and grill them until they are very well done; in every possible connotation of the word. We are way beyond any niceties and parliamentary movements. This is a struggle for the survival of our Country. These people need to be exposed, and punished. Please ensure that the rest of the Republican Delegation gets the message and understands the situation.

Clint| 12.28.10 @ 10:40AM

Bluto: What the f*#k happened to the Delta I used to know? Where's the spirit? Where's the guts, huh? This could be the greatest night of our lives, but you're gonna let it be the worst. "Ooh, we're afraid to go with you Bluto, we might get in trouble." Well just kiss my ass from now on! Not me! I'm not gonna take this. Wormer, he's a dead man! Marmalard, dead! Niedermeyer...
Otter: Dead! Bluto's right. Psychotic... but absolutely right. We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons, but that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part!
Bluto: We're just the guys to do it.
D-Day: [stands up] Yeah, I agree. Let's go get 'em.
Boon: Let's do it.
Bluto: [shouting] "Let's do it"!
Pledge Clint: [yelling] " Yeah, let's get these smacked fannies"!
[all of the Deltas stand up and run out with Bluto]

335blues| 12.28.10 @ 10:40AM

Texas should JUST SAY NO obama's epa energy death panel. They should just say they will not comply with this arbitrary, capricious and illegal order to stop energy production. What is obama going to do- send the army in?

Too Many Tims| 12.28.10 @ 10:56AM

It's the ant and the grasshopper all over again.

NOLAboy| 12.28.10 @ 10:58AM

Louisiana stands with Texas - shoulder to shoulder.

Marc Jeric| 12.28.10 @ 11:02AM

I read where the Environmental Protection Agency has undertaken to save the planet from the man-caused global warming catastrophe. That far-left conspiracy started some 40 years ago by the global cooling scam: we should have disarmed our bombers and send them flying over the poles to cover the ice with soot and so prevent huge new glaciers from crushing the New York skyscrapers into dust. When that failed to inspire our ignorant population the same conspiracy continued in the 1990’s with the global warming hoax; we should stop breathing, kill all the cows, nationalize oil & gas companies, coal mines, electric utilities, transportation companies, car companies, etc. After 12 years of substantial cooling this became in the 2000’s the climate change flimflam with the same program of massive communization, whether the earth is cooling or warming. This name-changing sounded fishy, so the government-paid drones lately invented the cap & trade power grab, with the same program of massive nationalizations and general impoverishment. The ultimate aim of this far-left farce in 4 acts is the UN-sponsored world socialist government.

As for the true impact of human-caused global warming let me say that a burp of a lonely wolf in Alaska has more impact on the Florida climate – in other words less than negligible when compared to the sun cycles. In verifying the general import of my statement above please look on the Internet “Global Warming Petition” and “Manhattan Declaration” to read the names of 30,000+ American independent scientists, among them 9,000+ with PhD degrees (I am one of them “deniers”).

The Obama’s program of communizing America has already progressed through massive nationalizations of our automobile companies, mortgage and insurance companies, banks, hospitals and medical services (to arrive shortly), student loan industry – to be followed in the near future by the nationalization of our energy industries led by the EPA. And in the meantime the ethanol boondoggle continues while destroying the environment, increasing the cost of energy, increasing the oil imports, and inflating the prices of food in general. The tax incentives and outright taxpayers’ printed money giveaways to the wind and solar energy projects are as well a huge waste of our resources in exchange for ultra-expensive, unreliable, inefficient, and environmentally destructive swindles.

kurious1| 12.29.10 @ 3:41AM

Exactly so! Thank you for the illuminating post (and the reference with which to check it out). I'm old enough to remember all the global cooling baloney and have often thought of the global-warming/climate-change-gang, "Who the hell are they trying to kid???" As a member of the 'great unwashed' average citizenry, I am often insulted by the elitist assumption of my stupidity.

George S| 12.28.10 @ 11:18AM

We could go a long way in containing the EPA if Congress would simply deny standing to third parties in environmental law suits.

Richard Baker| 12.28.10 @ 11:35AM

Ay, Virginia goes with Texas! Remember, the Federal government is a creature of the states and not the other way around. Maybe we should all fly the Come and Take It banner.

Dr. Dre| 12.28.10 @ 12:07PM

The creepy factor so evident in the picture of EPA Administrator Jackson above is so typical of the Democrats today: a gaseous amalgam of unclear sexual and fuzzy racial identities producing unwholesome and vicious apparatchiks eager to do the Elected Won's bidding without question. This had its start during the Clinton era with the likes of Hillary-approved Janet Reno and Donna Shalala running things while Bill made the Oval Office into a brothel.

tj| 12.28.10 @ 1:10PM

Oh! I like that....the creepy factor

Steve A| 12.28.10 @ 12:43PM

Dr. Dre. You are just so clearly out of line. Let me just go ahead & list for you all of the attractive female liberals in media & politics. Well, let's just start with Hillary, Pelosi, The Babe in the Above Photo (Jackson), Valerie J, Sebellius, Janet Reno (my personal favorite), Napolitano, Rachel Maddow, The View Babes. This is just too easy, shall I continue??

It's clear that the Progressive babes have a leg up (hairy leg) on the likes of Palin, Coulter, Any Random Fox News Babe, M. Bachman, Nikki Hailey.

I won't even use secret weapon Maxine Waters for the Dems. so just give it up already.

hoosier| 12.28.10 @ 4:45PM

Mmm -- kathy griffith. rosa de lauro
michelle my belle

harley| 12.28.10 @ 4:50PM

Oprah
Whoopi
Andrea Mitchell
Barney Fwank's sister Ann Lewis

Dr. Dre| 12.28.10 @ 8:03PM

Steve A, Please understand that I wasn't just referring to the "distaff" side, but to a number of the "Y" chromosome-carrying members of the Obama team, as well. Think of that unburst-pustule Robert Gibbs. Has there ever been a bigger joke of a white guy? How about Tim Geithner, who, whenever I've seen him on the evening news, looks like he's trying to escape from the kids who stole his lunch money. And of course, our Hero, the President "himself," who needed to be married, not just Tiger Woods-style to some jealousy-provoking eye-candy, but to a for-real black woman, so that Black Women would actually vote for him without question. The ploy worked. He won and the rest of us lost.

Beth| 12.28.10 @ 12:51PM

This is NOT JUST A TEXAS ISSUE.

C’MON MEDIA READERS...ESPECIALLY YOU GUYS ON THE “RIGHT.”

EPA Issues Six Greenhouse Gas Rules

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2648035/posts

The “rules” highlighted in the article involve MORE THAN YOU THINK AND MORE THAN TEXAS. Yes, I am shouting...why...because nobody is listening.

Ignore this at your own peril.

Fact Sheet summary issued by the EPA

This involves more than just the state of Texas and the seven states listed in the press release!!!

The 24 States under the SIP rules

AND

33 States involving the Title V Permit Program

Page 3 of the summary:

Alabama, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin

This is bigger than just Texas and Perry. This effects over half the country. The viewpoint on this is way, way too narrow.

Back in July, Texas was just the warning shot. A few weeks ago someone asked me about a takeover in Texas before year’s end or at the beginning of the new year.

It wasn’t just about Texas this whole time. I said if they got away with this in Texas...they would take the nation...

...and so they have.

Steve A| 12.28.10 @ 1:00PM

Hi Beth, I understand but what, exactly, would you have us do about it? Show me where I can vote out those on the EPA who made this decision.

The reality is this: We just absolutely crushed the Left on 11/02 & there are few alternatives between now & 11/2012 other than pressuring & pestering those we just sent up there to jam as much of this as possible until we can clean house in 2 years.

Ken (Old Texican)| 12.28.10 @ 2:19PM

Beth,

No they ain't, and they won't.

JFGalt| 12.28.10 @ 12:52PM

At first I was surprised at Rockerfeller's standing in this but then he may be worried that he may be in their sights next. Still, he bears watching.

Al Adab| 12.28.10 @ 1:04PM

Twenty states are suing the national government over Obamacare. The more the merrier. Several states have joined Arizona's immigration battle with Washington DC. The opening shots have indeed been fired, it only remains to see where the final straw falls.

Should the republic split into several parts- west coast, northeast, Texas, south, mountain west- an entirly different unknown future awaits.

tj| 12.28.10 @ 1:13PM

Come on January 4th.... Virginia will stand with Texas also... our new gov and ag are just wonderful and they both have u kno what of steel.
Cuccinelli and McDonald stand tall
Grandma of one

Sher;mbodius| 12.28.10 @ 1:14PM

This Washingtonian is with you Texas. A shout out from Lewis county, waiting for the call to arms!

Scott| 12.28.10 @ 1:22PM

I am the son of a sixth-generation Texan mom who, if she were still here, be on the frontlines with a shotgun or a pitchfork.

For the sake of all of us, don't back down.

martin j smith| 12.28.10 @ 1:31PM

The Tea Party--- One uniting principle is Over expansion of government. Also the deficit and I think jobs is another among many. The effort to use the FCC to take over aspects of the economy is one element of Obama Marxist agenda. It is a flipping the bird to the people. But this won't stand. I think this is who Obama is. Now you have the Charlie K and his ilk taking the position that Obama is coming back. From where ?I think these people should see a neurologist for getting feelings up their legs. And, they may require hospitalization-sadly because of Obamacare they wont get it. This is the bottom line about the FCC
and related issues. If Obama contiues his expansion of government, the voters will give him another super super tsunami from which he wil never recover. And, I think that is what will happen.

retire05| 12.28.10 @ 1:57PM

Ken, while some who think the Lone Star state will lose in any legal battle against the Feds, the don't see our ace in the hole: Gregg Abbot. The very Attorney General who won the 10 Commandments case in the SCOTUS. The man who has managed to win ever case against the Feds, to date. He is brilliant, and we are fortunate to have him. Read his amicus brief in the Obamacare case. Brillliant.

We also have a governor, and lt. governor, who are both strong 10th Amendment proponents.

But the article doesn't give the whole picture of our Texan economy. As the unemployment rate nationally continues to climb, Texas unemployment rate continues to fall to a state wide 8.% Austin, one of the fastest growing cities in the nation is 7%. In 2009, Texas created 75% of all jobs in the entire nation.

No, we won't secede. But we will stand on our 10th Amendment grounds, and seeing that we are about to gain four more seats in the federal House, while the blue states lose seats, mean that we will be the most powerful block in Congress.

Texas dodged the housing bullet, with housing values staying relatively strong, not seeing much decrease in value. Our job market is strong in a faltering economy because we are creating the jobs other Americans are flocking to. Our energy production is second to none. We sell more cotton that Egypt. Austin has replaced Silicone Valley. We limit the damage politicians can do to us by not letting them sit in session for more than 140 days every two years. And our independent attitude (left over from being our own nation, I am sure) has sustained us in even the hardest times.

The simple fact is that Rick Perry is coming out strong against Obama and his destructive policies and for that, Obama must find a way to punish us. You can add Louisiana, under Bobby Jindal, to that list. But we Texans know how to fight back.

The Commerce Clause has been bastardized starting with Woodrow Wilson and put on steroids by FDR. It has been inevitable that it will eventually be challenged in SCOTUS, and this time FDR is not around to threaten to stack the court. If Obama did that, there would be another revelutionary war, all across the lower 48.

And I say to all of you who are looking at our nation and asking yourself where the hell it is headed: look to Texas. We will lead the way. We will show you what true Constitutional freedom and independence is.

peach| 12.28.10 @ 2:30PM

obama reid pelosi jackson & most democrats=
living proof that ANAL BABIES exist...........

PattyMor| 12.28.10 @ 2:32PM

We are running out of time. Obamamao has taken over Student Loans, Banking, Car Companies, Health Care, Internet, & Food Supply.
Never, never let the federal government come in and regulate your food. American Thinker already ran an article about USDA ruining milk with red dye. They intend to starve us out. But, remember they passed the bill with the help of RepubuRats.

If you leave the Union, I am moving to Texas. The government can have my house, I'll buy a new one. Freedom is too precious.

I think the only hope is a constitutional convention with a Republican, freedom loving President, named Sarah and a whole bunch of Republican governors putting some sanity back.

The RepubuRats in congress have failed us.

John Navratil| 12.28.10 @ 2:56PM

I recall the bumper sticker saying:

"Let the Bastards Freeze in the Dark."

oldfart| 12.28.10 @ 4:22PM

2nd on that one. Cut off the gas, let the North East get their electricity from wind, solar and arab oil. That is - "Let them eat cake".

axbucxdu| 12.30.10 @ 5:20PM

Easy there, oldfart. PA is in the North East, and if this past election cycle is any guide, the bulk of it would agree with Texas. Besides, cutting off the gas won't affect the Commonwealth, since we prefer to produce electricity using our coal with a bit of nukes mixed in.

In any event, we don't need the gas, because the Marcellus formation just put the U.S. at the head of the line in terms of natural gas reserves. PA's on that EPA list along with TX, and our new Republican governor is the former Attorney General that also joined in the lawsuit against Obammy care. I might add, to the very public displeasure of one fast Eddy Spendell. All is not lost up here.

Ken (Old Texican)| 12.28.10 @ 4:37PM

Ms. Obama (sic)
Seems to have forgotten, that other than his dozen or so "political butt kisser Generals and Admirals", the US Army won't attack fellow Americans.
Most of the Generals, Colonels, and troops are from the South...or identify with the oath to the constitution they freely took.

Ms. Obama has screwed the pooch.

He/she doesn't yet know what he/she has done.
Martial Law?
Who is going to enforce it?

Winter time and no gas and oil?

His EPA has just brought down the curtain on his/her presidency.
When his tenement voters are freezing in the dark, and he can't do one thing to alleviate the cold and darkness, they themselves will hang him from a lamp-post....politically of course.

...a "Bridge Too Far".....oops.

www.texassaidno.com

kurious1| 12.29.10 @ 3:12AM

Ken,
"...the US Army won't attack fellow Americans."
Sorry for the skepticism. I wish I could believe that, but they followed orders and forcibly interned thousands of US citizens during WWII, and they also followed orders during the riots of the 60's, as did the civilian police. I think they would eventually balk, but not at first and who knows what atrocities would have to be done before the first soldier said, "No"? I don't believe we can rely on our military to protect us from the feds until far, far into the fight...

vip2020 | 12.28.10 @ 4:54PM

Life grants nothing to us mortals without hard work

Oldefarte| 12.28.10 @ 4:58PM

The most recent example of this administration's DOMESTIC TERRORISM was concerning the BP Gulf oil disaster [which was either directly caused by same or politically used to their advantage]. Their instituting of a oil drilling moratorium after same was insane and extremely detrimental to the Gulf states' economies [but they could care less since same voted Republican and for McCain]. Subsequently, their stalling on permitting for oil drilling was a political maneuver to appease their environmental wacko friends/supporters. As said, this could destroy the econimy of the Gulf region, which heavily depends upon oil development for jobs, revenue, salaries, etc. A huge portion of each state's economy comes from oil development and it revenues/royalties paid to each state. These domestic terrorists must be stopped at the ballot box not only for this reason but for many others as well. It's important that everyone encourage their friends, co-workers, fellow church congregants, family members etc to VOTE REPUBLICAN!!!!!!!!!!

dan| 12.28.10 @ 5:00PM

While you're at it Texas, remove all those federal mandated wind turbines and begin the search for oil and gas where they once stood

Liberty| 12.28.10 @ 5:23PM

Move to Texas! Move to Freedom!
This is Atlas Shrugged in technicolor. Anyone reading this post or comments---MANDATORY reading! What will it take.

From someone in a Blue State run by unions and the communists.

Flee| 12.28.10 @ 6:24PM

May I suggest Texas respectfully decline to oblige the EPA and go on doing what they're doing? I want them to continue their building until the EPA has to come in to physically attempt to shut them down. The news coverage of such events would finally open the eyes of the nation to the contemplated takeover of the means of production being pushed by the President and his minions. The President continues to push a faulty agenda and the people need to see how extreme he can be if we don't make them stop.

Gary| 12.28.10 @ 7:17PM

Is there any possible way to fast forward through 2011 and get to Nov. 2012? Then we can officially throw the bums out and end this dark period on America!

Liberal Reader| 12.28.10 @ 7:48PM

Mr Tucker,

Actually, there is going to be no "war between the states."

We had one. The south lost. Get over it, dude. It was like 150 years ago.

The southern states -- including Texas -- have to abide by the nation's laws. Sorry. No more lynching negroes.

And if there's a federal law on air pollution, Texas has got to follow it, and there's nothing it can do about it. That's what they mean when they call it a "law."

jstwndring| 12.28.10 @ 8:26PM

The only ones lynching blacks in the southern states were democrats who dominated the south at that time. It was Democrat politicians that wrote the Jim Crow laws. It was the Democrat party that opposed every piece of civil rights legislation that came up from the 1860's to the late 1950's. Don't believe me? Look it up yourself--if you've got the guts. They were largely voted along party lines, and guess who opposed civil rights for blacks time and time again? Yup. Democrats. Fine party history you have there.

kurious1| 12.29.10 @ 3:20AM

jstwndring,
You are absolutely correct, but are wasting your keystrokes. He/She will not bother to look up anything that might produce cognitive dissonance and force him/her to actually think and reason the ideas through to arrive at a kernel of truth. Rationality doesn't seem to operate on either extreme of the political spectrum these days. *sigh*

George True| 12.28.10 @ 8:39PM

Hello, program troller! In case you didn't notice, this discussion is about the unconstitutional (ie - illegal) attempt by Obama to pass by executive fiat what could not be passed by legislation. I don't recall anyone talking about lynching liberals, er, I mean negroes. What made you think that's what the issue was??

And by the way, there is NO law prohibiting carbon emission, so no, Texas hasn't got to follow it, because it is NOT the law. Just because an unelected bureaucrat with an agenda says it is the law does not make it so. That is the issue (not lynching).

And by the way, I will tell you something I have told a certain other leftist troll here in recent days. If you want to contribute to the discussion by exchanging ideas and exploring the pros and cons of a given issue, that's what this forum is for. But if you are here to spout talking points and insults, and derail meaningful discussion, you will be called out on such willfully disruptive behavior each and every time you do it.

kurious1| 12.29.10 @ 3:25AM

Actually, George...
"Just because an unelected bureaucrat with an agenda says it is the law does not make it so."

The unelected bureaucrat doesn't even claim it as a 'law'...it's only a regulation. Our 'troll' doesn't even make an accurate argument.

George True| 12.28.10 @ 8:39PM

Hello, program troller! In case you didn't notice, this discussion is about the unconstitutional (ie - illegal) attempt by Obama to pass by executive fiat what could not be passed by legislation. I don't recall anyone talking about lynching liberals, er, I mean negroes. What made you think that's what the issue was??

And by the way, there is NO law prohibiting carbon emission, so no, Texas hasn't got to follow it, because it is NOT the law. Just because an unelected bureaucrat with an agenda says it is the law does not make it so. That is the issue (not lynching).

And by the way, I will tell you something I have told a certain other leftist troll here in recent days. If you want to contribute to the discussion by exchanging ideas and exploring the pros and cons of a given issue, that's what this forum is for. But if you are here to spout talking points and insults, and derail meaningful discussion, you will be called out on such willfully disruptive behavior each and every time you do it.

Oldefarte| 12.31.10 @ 4:46PM

The 'law' as practiced by Hugo Chavez, Vladimir Putin, Fidel Castro, Adolph Hitler perhaps??????

jstwndring| 12.28.10 @ 8:21PM

When Republicans get the chance (whenever that is) they should eliminate the EPA completely. It is obviously being used by DemocRats to get around Congress to implement their centralized government agenda. It hasn't been around that long, and should be done away with asap.

Sonny| 12.28.10 @ 8:42PM

Look, if Texas wants to, it can secede from the Union, and half of the States will follow.
The United States under Obama, is about to be destroyed, economically, politically, and socially, with another Civil War, but this time, for American Freedom, Liberty, Democracy, the US Constitution, and States Rights under the 10th Amendment of the US Constitution.!!

kurious1| 12.29.10 @ 3:27AM

Well, technically, the war between the states was about the 10th Amendment to begin with, wasn't it?

blackwatch| 12.28.10 @ 9:26PM

Civil war? Who is going to actually fight it? The Federal I'm on the dole regiment won't be out of bed before lunch. The actual standing US armed forces will not attack itself regardless of any feckless orders from the Obumbler in Chief. Then they will send in their crack gamer battalions, with Xbox battle skills they will mop up the patriots, assuming the game is plugged in and they have an ample supply of mountain dew.

No America's best are already in uniform and her worst are not up to the task of killing for a living. That requires work and their isn't any over-time.

That leaves O and the unions. They are great at mass formation attacks against lone senior citizens and disabled men.

Hope that evens the odds a little for them. No I can't see a Civil War. I can see an armed rebellion spreading into a general strike and replacement of the existing government.

Albert| 12.28.10 @ 9:49PM

I am constantly amazed at how Federal bureaucrats think they have power that they legally do not have. President Bozo, like Bill Clinton and HIS corrupt "admnistration", has absolutely ZERO respect for the Law, and he "runs" his administration accordingly. Obama is a puppet for global socialists and nothing more. He appoints who he is told to appoint, in the manner he is told to appoint them (e.g. recess appointments.) President Bozo's handlers are all about global rule and global ego for themselves. Nothing else matters to these "people." If people suffer from the cold because there is not enough energy supplies, well, too bad. Sacrifices have to be made. If the economy tanks and people are out of work and looking to the government for help, well, that's too bad. Sacrifices have to be made. President Bozo's handlers and the flacks in his "administration" want nothing less than absolute control over people's lives for PERSONAL political gain. Energy is a key method to accomplish this, as is Federal police powers. Clinton illegally used Federal police and military forces to murder a Church in Texas and export an innocent child to Fidel Castro. Does anyone think President Bozo will hesitate to use Federal police and military forces to violate the Law and quash Texas' legitimate powers? Really? We are living in the time of THX-1138. Bozo's appointments to adminstrative offices, like Lisa Jackson and janet Napolitano, prove that.

Fist of the Fleet| 12.29.10 @ 7:07AM

Good for Texas, they will do what is right for their state. NY cut off access to the shale deposits for one reason, money. Politicians claim it is for environmental reasons when in fact both sides of the issue will have to spend millions in lobbyist fees in Albany to get what they want. Albany politicians love issues like this, they saw this coming years ago and lined up key members of the Democratic party to be on commitees to "study" fracking. Find the members of those committes and see where their donations are coming from. Meanwhile Pennsylvania is enjoying an economic boom right on our border.

Penguins Fan| 12.29.10 @ 8:34AM

Texas needs to stand firm and issue the permits. Lisa Jackson - and the idiots who appointed and confirmed her - can go to hell.

Obumbler's aim is to choke off all domestic energy production. Just a few weeks ago, the left wing Pittsburgh Putz Gazette put out an eight part story about how bad it is to use coal for power generation and steelmaking (coke, and not the stuff you drink or snort).

Jackson has no authority to do what she is doing.
November 2012 and January 20, 2013 can't come soon enough.

dareisay| 12.29.10 @ 10:12AM

China just bought into a south Tx. oil and gas field, just can't see Obama denying China!

His EPA has already cost my area hundreds of jobs. Bans on permits for coal mining in 3 States: W.Va., Pa., and Ky.

We just had a coke plant shut down, by A-K Steel, due to more regulations placed by the EPA. Over 200 people lost their jobs. A-K Steel said it would cost over $50 Million to do what the EPA wanted.

Obama doesn't want the USA to have fuel resources, he loans money to Mexico & Brazil so they can drill for their oil, all while more and more bans are placed on accessing our own resources!

Starting last Nov., in one month, we saw our electric bill triple! Since then, AEP has asked and got another rate increase, stating the costs of coal.

Well, if you ban coal mining in certain areas, coal prices rise!

What I don't understand is why no one in D.C., doesn't usher him out for destroying our economy and our right to our own resources, not to mention all the other areas of our daily lives, where he is dictating what he wants!

Bill from WV| 12.29.10 @ 1:23PM

And we all remember what Fort Sumter led to. I'm very afraid that history will repeat itself if the feds continue to impose themselves in states business.
If the federal government can ever prove that they can keep their own house in order then and only then could they consider trying to impose their will onto the states.
We all know that that day will NEVER come. This , as the FCC attempt to control the internet, is just another way the Obama Administration is attempting to control America through regulation and NOT legislation as the Constitution dictates.
This is the socialists way of doing things. Control through government regulation which has NO legislative controls but can be enforced as law, though NEVER voted on by the representatives elected by the American people!
This is a very DANGEROUS precedent being set by Obama and his minions.
They must be stopped, before this nation dissentegrates into Civil War.

MRD

Bill Adams| 12.29.10 @ 1:37PM

This is the Obama and ther Leftists dream. The EPA given the ability and power to control the "Evil Utility" industry through regulation. They can single handedly kill any economic recovery, by hamstringing the countries ability to be energy self sufficent though unresonable regulations. These people have tried for decades to destroy our nations ability to provide our own energy needs. They could do no less harm if they were our enemies of the past. Just more proof that pens are more dangerous than bullets in the wrong hands!!

MRD

rongordo | 12.30.10 @ 6:42AM

The leftists FIRST dream was to force the most conservative among us to respect homosexuality by law. That nearly accomplished, this is their second dream.

Richard Baker| 12.29.10 @ 3:37PM

Penguins Fan:
We've reached the point where the Federal government has utter contempt for its citizenry on both sides of the aisle. Mr. Jefferson advised us as to our course of action but only as a last resort. Now the ball is in the citizens of the country's court. Do we regain our Liberties as freemen or do we allow slavery/serfhood to be the future? Ultimately, as in the Revolution, a small number of us will take the steps needed to begin the Restoration.

whippet| 12.29.10 @ 4:24PM

Well, the genesis of this should be obvious to all of you. There's only one kind of person that hates white America, and wants to see her fail more than blacks. That would be a gay AND black person appointed by Obama, with the specific instructions to 'make whitey pay'. It's all so clear now. Did Obama appoint ANY white people to positions of authority in his administration? Are ALL of the folks he appointed motivated to get their 'reparations' one way or another?
Just askin'.

David| 12.29.10 @ 4:48PM

I dont think Texas is going to suceed, but I do think Gov Perrry is the type to respond with a drastic and dramatic gesture, in response to this.

Something along the lines of telling the EPA to shove it, and maybe the arrest of a bunch of there agents.

The response by Washington is the one Im interested in, as I doubt they any clue the type of person there dealing with, or the consequences of there actions, especially when counted on top of what the Congressional response will be.

Charles Martel| 12.29.10 @ 6:57PM

What started out a couple of decades ago as a clever slogan for an anti-littering campaign has become this great state's unofficial motto: "Don't Mess with Texas."

The Obamunists view the states as field agencies for their own power, but they are picking fights that only make us angrier. First they came for Arizona, and Texas stood up; then they assaulted the entire Gulf coast with that foolish moratorium, and they pissed off everybody who's paying attention to the fact that their jobs depend on the petroleum industry; now they've come for us, directly and by name. In doing so, they have imperiled the very existence of this federal republic.

OK, Barry, a lesson needs to be taught, and you will not be invited to lecture.

+++

vincenzo spiaggi| 12.29.10 @ 7:53PM

Let me say it one more time:
Obama and his thugs are what you get when you allow imbeciles to vote.

Lew Suders| 12.29.10 @ 10:33PM

If there is to be another Fort Sumpter, let it be in Texas. Bring it on.

Round Rock, Texas

rongordo | 12.30.10 @ 6:38AM

Go ahead, Obama (appointee), tread on Texas. And while you're at it, you ought to start shredding documents and preparing your legal defenses, because the investigations and counter-suits are power-braking. (These aren't the frivolous anti-Palin type, either- you've over-stepped real bounds, and broken numerous laws)

Dale Cord| 12.30.10 @ 10:07AM

2011 a year that will live in Infamy. Future school history books will read: The year the Muslims conquered the United States of America. With not so much as a whimper from its cowardly military leaders, and name calling armchair patriots. Disgraceful,Shameful there are no words to adequately describe her defeat. As the 300 Spartans strength and ingenuity conquered all of those who challenged them, so a small band of renegades conquered the greatest country the world has known. When Davids rock slued Goliath. It also foretold a warning. "The bigger they are,the harder they Fall." Our country lost its battle of survival when it became intoxicated with its deceptive mentality, that it did not need its Creator anymore, and wisdom no longer was apart of its citizens physiology to survive.

Garry Owen| 12.30.10 @ 1:24PM

If these "people" in Washington have their way the economy in the U.S. will be in the toilet. We are on the verge of becoming a third world country. Even the banana republics are in better shape than we are!

George Williams| 12.30.10 @ 5:25PM

Nothing would focus the nation's attention to the onerousness of the federal government's misdeeds more than a formal move for secession. And perhaps Texas could enlist other dissatisfied states in this act as well.

florida eagle| 12.30.10 @ 8:11PM

FLORIDA IS WITH YOU TEXAS. WE'RE NOT ALL 'TOURISTS'........ 5 GEN FLA FARMER & CENTURY PIONEER FARM OWNER.

Susan Grant| 12.30.10 @ 5:33PM

1. The last time I checked, the college degree that Lisa Jackson has does NOT INCLUDE any experience on the Environment, so why is this clown in charge of the EPA????
2. Lisa Jackson awarded a 'security waiver' to Deepwater Horizon that allowed the rig to bypass regular security measurements, which as we know now caused the explosion and eleven deaths on the rig. So why hasn't Ms. Jackson been investigated for her incompetent actions and why hasn't she been questioned for causing eleven people to lose their lives?????

florida eagle| 12.30.10 @ 8:13PM

....cuz, she's a playuh! Top down, bottom up & Inside out!

Tom| 1.1.11 @ 10:52PM

The EPA should be abolished.

Pablo| 1.2.11 @ 4:02AM

But the good little Eloy always get there stuff by "magic" from someone "out there."
Morlocks are bad earth poluters who live in Venezuala ,Texas and Nigeria. Smart ivy league Eloy know how to use Eloy Protection Agency to keep nasty smelly Morlock mess away from clean sustainable Eloy environment.

Rowdy Boots| 1.3.11 @ 10:27AM

Perhaps this advance of Socialist/Marxist Policies on the Great State of Texas will spur many Americans to realize that the disease of this President and his Sick Administration has not waned, even under the close gaze of The Voters who reprimanded this child in November.

It appears this naughty little boy and his minions are dead set on closing the income gap between Americans and the great state of Ethiopia.

Is it clear that this President is a danger to himself and others.

Texas, my check is in the mail.

Rowdy Boots

Progressive Patriot| 1.3.11 @ 2:28PM

Less talk, more action.

Leave - please!

And don't let the door hit you on the way out.

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