Perry Declares Disaster, Asks Obama To Do the Same

[Beau_Ouiville]

This is now:

"In response to the wildfires that have ravaged over 700,000 acres of Texas, Governor Rick Perry sent a 10-page letter to President Obama on Saturday, requesting that the state be issued a “major disaster declaration.”

Perry noted that 252 of Texas’ 254 counties (including Travis, Williamson and Hays) have been affected or are threatened by the fires. A major disaster declaration would allocate federal resources to “respond to the extreme fire danger” and “makes the state eligible for response and recovery assistance from the federal government.” Basically, it would give Texas more money to fight the fires. "

austinist.com/2011/04/19/wildfire_update_perry_declares_disa.php

but two years ago Rick Perry just about said that Texas could go it alone:

"Texas Gov. Rick Perry fired up an anti-tax “tea party” Wednesday with his stance against the federal government and for states’ rights as some in his U.S. flag-waving audience shouted, “Secede!” …

“There’s a lot of different scenarios,” Perry said. “We’ve got a great union. There’s absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that. But Texas is a very unique place, and we’re a pretty independent lot to boot.”

foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/15/governor-says-texans-want-secede-union-probably-wont#ixzz1K4T7l1OF

What a difference two years make. (and I’m not belittling Texas’ current problems). It seems the ‘pretty independent’ tea party folks want to be free of tax burden … but take part in tax revenue largess. Maybe they can ask the UT Republican senator if FEMA is unconstitutional.

 

[ChadS]

I’m not sure now is really the time to bring up their rhetoric when so much property and lives are in jeopardy. Sure they have just been hoisted by their own petard, but millions of Texans shouldn’t be held hostage because Rick Perry says things and people cheer.

What would any number of decent folks say if Obama’s response was “sorry you said something about being against taxes and the Federal government, we can’t help.” People of all stripes would be outraged and rightfully so.

ChadS

 

[Orogeny]

I’m not sure now is really the time to bring up their rhetoric when so much property and lives are in jeopardy. Sure they have just been hoisted by their own petard, but millions of Texans shouldn’t be held hostage because Rick Perry says things and people cheer.

What would any number of decent folks say if Obama’s response was “sorry you said something about being against taxes and the Federal government, we can’t help.” People of all stripes would be outraged and rightfully so.

ChadS

Wow. That is at least 3 times in the last week that I agree with you Chad. One or both of us must be slipping!

Peace

Tim

 

[Orogeny]

What a difference two years make. (and I’m not belittling Texas’ current problems).

No, you just want to make a political point out of them.

It seems the ‘pretty independent’ tea party folks want to be free of tax burden … but take part in tax revenue largess. Maybe they can ask the UT Republican senator if FEMA is unconstitutional.

You are right, Beau. Maybe the president should decline the funds just to show those American citizens that they shouldn’t question government taxing and spending. I’m sure you would be tickled pink just thinking about the effect that would have on Texas. It might even help if the president also notes that he doesn’t take agressive questioning from a local television reporter lightly.

Peace

Tim

 

[Beau_Ouiville]

Maybe the president should decline the funds just to show those American citizens that they shouldn’t question government taxing and spending.

That sounds childish and petulant and would not be something I could support.

I’m sure you would be tickled pink just thinking about the effect that would have on Texas.

Well, you are wrong. Let’s de-personalize this, OK?

I

 

[DawnInTexas]

That sounds childish and petulant and would not be something I could support.

Well, you are wrong. Let’s de-personalize this, OK?

I

Your post-you started it.

Lol! How are those prices at your supermarket lately?
Honestly-I don’t know how the poor are making it.

Do you realize how much of your food comes from Texas?

Soon, you-or anyone else won’t think this is an “Aha!” moment.

Pray.

God Bless you.
+Jesus, I Trust In You!
Love, Dawn

 

[Corki]

What a difference two years make. (and I’m not belittling Texas’ current problems). It seems the ‘pretty independent’ tea party folks want to be free of tax burden … but take part in tax revenue largess. Maybe they can ask the UT Republican senator if FEMA is unconstitutional.

That’s not a fair comparison. Were we free of the tax burden, we would be more able to take care of our own. But as long as we are still subject to federal programs, it is not inconsistent to participate in them.

 

[Orogeny]

That sounds childish and petulant and would not be something I could support.

That’s good to hear. Maybe you should make that clear in your initial posts when you attack those who don’t agree with your political views.

Well, you are wrong. Let’s de-personalize this, OK?

I

Why? You don’t seem to have a difficult time making derogatory comments against tea partiers. Goose=Gander?

Peace

Tim

 

[DawnInTexas]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Beau Ouiville

What a difference two years make. (and I’m not belittling Texas’ current problems). It seems the ‘pretty independent’ tea party folks want to be free of tax burden … but take part in tax revenue largess. Maybe they can ask the UT Republican senator if FEMA is unconstitutional.

That’s not a fair comparison. Were we free of the tax burden, we would be more able to take care of our own. But as long as we are still subject to federal programs, it is not inconsistent to participate in them.

You are so right. He’s really stretching the truth-by saying the Tea Party wanted to be free of tax burden.

God Bless you.
+Jesus, I Trust In You!
Love, Dawn

 

[Beau_Ouiville]

That’s not a fair comparison. Were we free of the tax burden, we would be more able to take care of our own. But as long as we are still subject to federal programs, it is not inconsistent to participate in them.

I’m not sure. Texas gets back $0.94 for every dollar sent to the feds. That’s lower than many (it ranks 35th) but not outlandish.

taxfoundation.org/taxdata/show/22685.html

Just think what TX tax revenue would be like without federal funds for Lackland AFB if TX was taking care of itself.

How did Texas balance its budget? Using the oft tea party decried stimulus funds!

"NEW YORK (CNNMoney) – Texas Gov. Rick Perry likes to tell Washington to stop meddling in state affairs. He vocally opposed the Obama administration’s 2009 stimulus program to spur the economy and assist cash-strapped states.

Perry also likes to trumpet that his state balanced its budget in 2009, while keeping billions in its rainy day fund.

But he couldn’t have done that without a lot of help from … guess where? Washington.

Turns out Texas was the state that depended the most on those very stimulus funds to plug nearly 97% of its shortfall for fiscal 2010, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures."

money.cnn.com/2011/01/23/news/economy/texas_perry_budget_stimulus/index.htm

Nice work for tax protesters!

 

[DawnInTexas]

…Nice work for tax protesters!

Tax protesters who don’t want Taxation without Representation.

You forgot the most important part!

There. I fixed it for ya.

God Bless you.
+Jesus, I Trust In You!
Love, Dawn

 

[ChadS]

Wow. That is at least 3 times in the last week that I agree with you Chad. One or both of us must be slipping!

Peace

Tim

Well I haven’t really been feeling well lately, so maybe that’s it. Anyhow, I just try to be fair and reasonable in my posts (but please don’t remind me of any of the times where I wasn’t fair or reasonable). I at least believe there are issues where people of all political stripes can agree and I would hope this is one of them.

ChadS

 

[Monte_RCMS]

I actually read Governor Perry’s letter.

The key paragraph is right down near the end of the letter … that owing to Texas State assets having been deployed overseas to fight, other assets are needed back home to fight the fires.

It’s a pdf file so I couldn’t copy and paste it.

But perhaps one of you all could find and read it and paste it here.

It is not at all what some people have characterized it as being.

 

[kimmielittle]

I actually read Governor Perry’s letter.

The key paragraph is right down near the end of the letter … that owing to Texas State assets having been deployed overseas to fight, other assets are needed back home to fight the fires.

It’s a pdf file so I couldn’t copy and paste it.

But perhaps one of you all could find and read it and paste it here.

It is not at all what some people have characterized it as being.

Here you go

http://forums.catholic-questions.org/picture.php?albumid=1281&pictureid=8928

From the PDF

governor.state.tx.us/files/press-office/O-ObamaBarack20110416.pdf

 

[Monte_RCMS]

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

I actually read Governor Perry’s letter.

The key paragraph is right down near the end of the letter … that owing to Texas State assets having been deployed overseas to fight, other assets are needed back home to fight the fires.

It’s a pdf file so I couldn’t copy and paste it.

But perhaps one of you all could find and read it and paste it here.

It is not at all what some people have characterized it as being.

So, basically Governor Perry needs federal help because the assets he would have used within the state of Texas are overseas fighting in a war at the behest of the federal government…hmmmmm. Maybe if they would stop deploying reservists and national guardsmen to fight these two pointless wars, then they could be at home to help do what they are actually tasked with doing.