While Texas may not appeal to everybody (I would not recommend it to avid downhill skiers), only a small mind would be unable to see that it has much to offer.

Perhaps a wiser perspective would note that different people value different things, and among the advantages of a federal republic — especially one with a less intrusive central government — is variety of geography and culture.

I am a proud resident of Texas, an educated and informed American, a proud father of four, and a veteran of this nation’s fine Air Force. I have read and listened to Rick Perry (as I feel it is the civil duty of all residents to stay apprised of their government’s activities), and while I often find him to be a boor and uninspiring man, I also find that he rarely is guilty of 150+ years of state history. He did not create the conditions that you report “plague” my fine state, nor will he resolve them all during his tenure. Where were you when Bill Clinton (whose 12 YEARS as AR governor never pulled his state above 45th in any national metric), was attaining national stature and committing acts of open moral and legal concern? Where were you when Harry Reid was forcible removed from office in the US House of Representatives for fraud and criminal acts? Sure, you love him now … but let’s not forget our past shall we?

Speaking of the past, let’s go back to a week ago when Governor Perry made these outrageous “threats” against the stability of the Union. What he actually said was, “We’ve got a great union. There’s absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that. But Texas is a very unique place, and we’re a pretty independent lot to boot.” He was speaking on behalf of voter sentiment in Texas, but I realize that doesn’t nearly bolster your perspective as well as you would like. But go ahead, keep writing … maybe if you say it enough times you can get Americans at large to overlook the truth and believe what you like (gee we just had an election like that didn’t we?). The truth is, modern statism is the defining wedge that is separating the nation. Republicans had their chance and blew it … in a spectacularly craptastic show of leadership … and now a decade worth of spite and bitterness is driving Washington’s policies, not the truth or rule of Law. Pelosi and Reid are about settling scores, not progress. Obama is an unknown, untested, inexperienced enigma who has never had a real job. I don’t have anything against him, if you read his books, nothing he’s doing should be surprising. However, what he is DOING is not what he CAMPAIGNED for, and that is what is steadily eroding his support from moderate Republicans, independents, and moderate Democrats … not Rick Perry relating a sentiment he had picked up on at the tax protests.