We find that the best place to find the most accurate news on state politics is the local paper.
Kyrie O'Connor, deputy managing editor over at the Houston Chronicle, writes "An Open Letter to the National Media. Subject: Texas," and compiles a list of rules for the national media to keep in mind when covering their great state in the wake of Governor Rick Perry's announcement of his presidential intentions. It's kinda like a study guide, so Ms. O'Connor, we heed your advice!
Among the items we need to keep in mind are pronunciations of different towns -- and we take pronunciations seriously, what with being on TV and all.
3. Learn to pronounce: Boerne, Pedernales, San Jacinto, Bexar, Mexia, Palacios.
Luckily, Ms. O'Connor provides a handy-dandy instructional video to make sure we've got them right. (This totally beats learning the words from the fairly-creepy, quasi-female computer voice over at Dictionary.com)
Also, we should consider this:
5. If you spend any time on our highways, you will see a vehicle with a bumper sticker that says “Secede”. Shocking, I know. But some Texans think of secession the way you think of a threeway: interesting idea, but it probably won’t happen in this lifetime.
Like this one?
Cafe Press
In other words, take these bumper stickers with a grain of salt!
And finally, we are reminded that which is true in pretty much every other state,
6. There are people in Texas who don’t play into any of your stereotypes. They are also Texans.
7. There are people who play into all your stereotypes.
A Jersey girl born and raised, I empathize.
You can see columnist Kyrie O'Connor's full list here.
Leave a Comment:
Rick Perry says he loves America so much he'd marry it!
www.thebatparty.blogspot.com
whilst upholding the sanctity of marriage...no doubt. Good thing America is female...
Yep, Perry who loves Amercia so much he wants his state to secede, and then has the nerve to question Obama's love of America?
Here's a Countdown clip from May of 2009 on Texas's financial cost if the state seceded.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJvlzbU2GTU&feature=related
Let's just hope that American respectfully declines Rick Perry's proposal!!!
And the James Richard Perry "passing straight" rumbles of years? How long shall that remain under wraps?
Make that: "Kyrie O'Connor, deputy managing editor /AND FREQUENT NPR WAIT WAIT. . . PANELIST/, . . . .
monsieur...I don't think that will be a factor. If there were hard (no pun) evidence it would be out...(pun intended)
If only Kinky Friedman had won the election for Texas governor; now he'd be a great presidential candidate. Hey Rachel....why don't you see if you can get him to do your show. He'd be an excellent guest.
Kinky Friedman Quotes
1 - 2 - 3
A happy childhood... is the worst possible preparation for life.
Kinky Friedman
And I think musicians can better run this state than politicians. And, hell, beauticians can better run the state than politicians.
Kinky Friedman
Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.
Kinky Friedman
How can you look at the Texas legislature and still believe in intelligent design?
Kinky Friedman
I admit I was drinking a Guinness... but I did not swallow.
Kinky Friedman
I admit to drinking it, but I did not swallow.
Kinky Friedman
I don't remember the first half of my life. All I say is a happy childhood is the worst possible preparation for life.
Kinky Friedman
I even went so far as to become a Southern Baptist for a while, until I realized that they didn't hold 'em under long enough.
Kinky Friedman
I have a better head of hair than Rick Perry; it's just not in a place I can show you.
Kinky Friedman
I just want Texas to be number one in something other than executions, toll roads and property taxes.
Kinky Friedman
Capital! Let's draft him.
I really liked this! Good humored and informative. I'm hoping that we won't have to quarter much more of Perry though. Bachman should suffice if they're going for the crazyer-than-thou votes.
The secession bit reminds me of one of my favorite passages from John Steinbeck, where he describes dealing with his cantankerous Texan in-laws. It comes from Travels With Charley:
My favorite author , and I had forgotten that quote!!
I'm all for Texas' secession. The best thing? No more Texans would ever again be eligible to be POTUS. That's a win-win by anybody's standards.
I'll join any organization that supports Texas secession, as long as we put a wall around it so illegal aliens from Texas don't sneak into the USA.
@Josh Braun BRILLIANT! One of the many reasons to love Steinbeck.
Thanks. If you and Linda Thomas are fans of Travels With Charley, I highly recommend William Least Heat-Moon's book, Blue Highways. It's very much in the spirit of Steinbeck and one of my favorite books of all time.
Thanks Josh! I'll check it out.
Out of curiosity, how many red states are self-supporting? Meaning; how many red states don't accept federal funds obtained from the blue east or west coast states?
As Marc Reisner, has pointed out, most of the red states in the western U.S. are inhospitable desert country, and are only inhabitable through the use of the massive federal funding packages necessary for the development of gargantuan water projects. In this sense, they're fairly significant "welfare state."
*sigh* My last comment had too many commas and not enough 's's. I should probably fetch more coffee.
There isn't a state in the entire union, as best to my knowledge, that is self-sustaining. I don't think that has existed in the 24 years I've been alive if not longer. States are and have been broke for quite some time (meaning decades here). They rely exclusively on federal funds to keep them going. It's an irony, of course, because politicos who argue for secession or for "state's rights" don't seem to realize that the states don't have the capabilities those very same politicos are ascribing them. Ron Paul is a perfect example of this. He often advocates handing over more Medicare control to the states. The problem? None of the states would like that, tyvm. Why? Because they cannot afford it. Plain and simple. Remember Gov. Chris Christi? He complained a while back that NJ had been passed up for I believe 450million (thereabouts) in federal education funding aid. Well for such a "small government" "get the feds off my back" kind've guy why would he complain about being passed by for that funding? Because his state cannot afford to educate it's students w/o the federal government getting involved. He is smart enough to know "hey I need that cash!" as is the deal with all the other 49 states in existence. Of course states *could* become self-sustaining any time they'd like to choose, but that would require things like a massive increase in state wage taxes, state sales taxes, state property taxes, and a huge uptick in things like speeding tickets, parking tickets, etc. The states won't do this, however, because no resident wants to pay 23$ for a 0.02$ pack of gum.
I'd like a bumper sticker like the one shown, only with a slightly different wording: "Secede. Please."
Ditto
I have been advocating for years - tongue firmly in cheek - that we build a bullet-proof dome over TX and allow it to go its own way. In other words...turning the phrase "don't mess with Texas" into an ironic statement. We could, alternatively, sell it to the Kock Brothers...
Screw secession. Expel!
You may be right, DonQ.
Nods
Where can I get one of those "Secede Texas" bumper stickers? I live in CT. It describes my sentiments exactly.
above image provides a link to the Café Press store.
I am a very strong supporter of an Independent Texas. Go. Away.
Texans are Texans first and Americans second. They do not see their state as co-equals with the other 49. Read through the comments to the linked article. It will make your teeth hurt. My only reservation I have to their secession is how much of a bats**t crazy, violent neighbor they'd be to the real United States.
I seem to remember that Texas is one of the only states that can fly its flag at the same height as the US flag.... just another sense of the ingrown pride of Lone Star State residents.
We could take them. I'D volunteer for that! We could then defray the cost by laying claim to their mineral rights and their oil. We would also be in a position to force them to pay for all the fresh water that flows into their state and make them pay to treat all of the pollution that comes from out of the state.
Texas and all of her residents who consider themselves Texans first can go pound sand. However, if secession ever happens then we get to keep Austin, kinda like we kept Gitmo in Cuba.
Hey Texas, go ahead and secede. Let's see how far you get without a dime of federal money, no social security, no medicare, no medicaid, no military, no federal border guards.
They would have a *huge* military. Make no mistake about that. And an extremely well-equipped border guard. There might also be a 100 foot tall fence, probably built on the south side of the Rio Grande, just to start an international incident.
Texas goodbye, adios, and bon voyage. Maybe the Mexicans will take you back- ever think of that?????
see the next one
Yeah I do think people need to cool it a bit on insulting Texans as a people. Texas is as diverse a state as any other and deserves to be treated with that same consideration. There are people in Texas who are just as patriotic and annoyed with Perry's stupidities as anywhere else and we'd do well to remember that.
I feel compassion and empathy for the intelligent Texans who know Perry is an asshat buffoon and would never want to see him as POTUS.
DavidRL says,
To those who believe he will be our next president and that we should get down on our knees...go *blank* yourself.
It's a disturbingly Texas attitude that we "need to cool it on insulting Texans." We all know that not everyone there is an insane, anti-governmental Fundamentalist, but until you guys win an election or two, you are just all hat. And I'll feel free to mock the whole "we're bigger and better than everyone else" d-bags of your state all I want. Your state is a POX on our national politics.
Then again, Matt (and-- fair disclosure-- having lived in Texas but not being "one of them"), describing all Texans as you did is about like going overseas and hearing how some people describe Americans generally. It makes me cringe because I know that it is accurate about SOME people there, but I also can reel off countless examples of people who are not "like that."
When I lived in Texas, I encountered people who:
-labeled themselves as Christian, but at least said they supported equal treatment of LGBT people.
- resented the gun-totin' arrogance of some who want to hunt down "illegals" and instead suggested productive ways of a gradual road to citizenship
- educated Texans about the Mexican/Hispanic side of the Mexican-American War and continuing civil rights/ethnicity/race issues
- were (and are!) active supporters of the Democratic party, and who do great work online to expand the membership and information about the issues
- like me, faced harassment and threats from Neo-Nazis for hiring "nonwhite" people and for being a "n*****-loving, b%^#$, dyke, leftist" in the way they taught, but continued to do so in the hopes that more would join the ranks of the sane who consider the facts rather than the pop culture mantras.
In short, while I try not to use absolutes, it is NEVER a good idea to act like if you've seen one Texan you've seen them all. It is safe to say that the state will likely remain a Republican majority for a long time. It is not, however, fair to say that others are not trying to melt that resistant glacier of hindsight.
Having said the above...I have no empathy for our own little Texas troll.
I am 43 and a native born Texan. I was born in West Texas and live now in Dallas. This Secession thing is not just off the cuff. I was taught in Texas History, American History and in Government classes that Texas is still retains the right to divide into 5 states and secede from that Union at anytime the voters wish. That is also why our state song is still titled "The National Anthem of Texas" also known as "Texas, Our Texas". I think that is also from where the sense of superiority stems. "We're the Biggest and the Best and gosh darnit, we'll secede if we don't get our way!" Not all of us, though, still believe the South won the war. There are sane Texans, they just don't seem to run for office!
The thing about the "Texas retains the right to secede" story is that it's not true. There not only was no such provision in the agreement admitting Texas to the Union, but that agreement was sort of superseded when they were admitted to the Union the second time.
It's not exactly surprising that a Texas school would teach you something that is not true, of course.
pardon me but I do believe Alaska is quite a bit BIGGER and the last time I looked we were still considered part of the 50 States.
Exactly, AKGal-2802668, by something like two and one half times, I believe. I lived in El Paso for three years in the early 80's, and still remember how silly that "Texas swagger" always looked to me.
It's nearly impossible to penetrate the reality-proof bubble "real" Texans seem to exist in. But, then again, they also seem to think the rest of the US would just wither up and die of broken hearts if they miraculously vanished some dark and stormy night. To those I say, "try us - please!!!!"
Dear Texas,
If you want so badly to secede, remember, Mexico would LOVE to have you back.
I'd be thrilled if Texas would secede. As long as they take Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and a couple of other southern states with them.
'if at first you don't succeed, secede again.'
actually i think i'd get one of those bumper stickers as a sort of encouragement. i mean, what would it say to Texans to see for people in Florida, New York, California, etc. to want Texas out of the union? what they see as a matter of pride and independence, the rest of the country sees as separating the chaff from the wheat.
May Texas have a successful secession, ten times fast.
George Bush- Dumb George W Bush- Dumber Rick Perry- Dumbest Son-Of-A-Bitch I have ever seen or heard tell of. Texas sure has produced some real geniuses in the last few decades,maybe they will take Rick Perry and the Bushes with them when they secede.
How can we get one of those bumper stickers?
I want a Puck Ferry bumper sticker.
mpguy: click on the picture of the bumper sticker to go to the page where you can buy one.
Rick Perry needs a new slogan, in the worst way:
"Because you can never have too many ex-Governors of Texas in the White House" just ain't gettin' it.
Texas Trib: Perry balances state budgets on federal stimulus
Rachael,
Why is no one comparing Rick Perry's comment and threat on Chairman Bernanke to those that resulted in the shooting of Gabby Gifford? It was very a unresponsible act and someone could get hurt. Hopefully it's not the Chairman.
Here's what I posted on Google+ about this (apparently I can't link to it, which is fine I guess):
With this bumper sticker, you can let everyone know just how you feel about Texas! And, by extension, Rick Perry, and George W. Bush, etc.
A lot of people in Texas will tell you that Texas, uniquely among the Several States, retains the right to secede from the Union. I'm told they actually teach this in schools there. Rick Perry has even said it, and he's the governor of the state.
The problem is, it's not true. There is no such provision in the agreement to admit Texas to the Union. And, even if there were, Texas was admitted to the Union a second time, so the agreement might not even still be valid.
It is true that Texas was given the right to divide itself into up to five new states “of convenient size.” It is not true that it ever retained the right to secede.
Still, sometimes it seems like not such a bad idea.
Here's my proposal. Divide Texas into two states: the Panhandle, and the rest. The Panhandle is the good part: it has Route 66; it has one of the main east-west corridors for truck and train shipping; it has that restaurant where if you can eat the 72-ounce steak in an hour, it's free; it has the largest cross in the Western Hemisphere; it has Cadillac Ranch; it has one-third of the world's helium supply.
The Panhandle, we keep. The rest, go forth and be prosperous, or whatever it is you want to do. If you want to leave so badly, well, good riddance.
i40west
Does your moniker refer to Interstate 40? Oh I am familiar with I 40. ;-) Also I thought the largest cross in the world(not just the Western Hemisphere)was in Effingham IL.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/4116
I have seen that cross. A friend who took me there (an ex-CIA spook) told me that there were FBI communications relay devices on top of it.
Yeah, I'm a road-tripper.
And, thus, I've been to both crosses; the one in Groom, Texas, claims to be the largest in the hemisphere, and the one in Effingham claims to be larger. Standing in front of both of them, the one in Texas just looks bigger to me.
The Texas one doesn't explain why they specify Western Hemisphere, or where the cross is in the other hemisphere that is bigger.
I'm leery of Perry, but I found this thoughtful analysis of the truths and lies about Rick Perry. I still don't know where I stand with him, but please read before you parrot the lies that the media tells you. It gets updated every so often. BTW, my vote is with Ron Paul.
http://peskytruth.wordpress.com/2011/07/19/rick-perrys-negatives/