I am Simon Jester

The Texas Question

Posted by Prof | Filed under Take A Stand

So, there is quite a bit of blow harding going on in the country about Gov. Perry’s statements. So, intellectual curiosity got the better of me and I had to poke in the actual history of Texas and how it became it state.

A quick precis, Texas declared independence and became their own country in 1836. In the first elections held in this new country, the citizens of the Republic voted to become a member state of the United States, but backbiting and backstabbing and political infighting between Texas and DC prevented it from happening until 1845. The annexation of Texas to the US was so divisive (including late-night, quorum-free votes in DC to annex the independent nation whether they wanted it or not and using military force if required) that eventually TX and DC decided the only way it could be accomplished was for the Joint Resolution for Annexing Texas to the United States to be passed. Unfortunately for Gov. Perry, not once in this agreement, nor any subsequent or supplanting documentation, is the right of Texas to secede and become and independent Republic again ever mentioned.

However:

New States of convenient size not exceeding four in number, in addition to said State of Texas and having sufficient population, may, hereafter by the consent of said State, be formed out of the territory thereof, which shall be entitled to admission under the provisions of the Federal Constitution

Nowhere does it say that what these four additional states will be called, where they will be located within the territory of the Republic, how large these states must be, or, and here is the kicker, that they MUST treat to become states of the United States. That’s right folks, we have ourselves a loophole. Now, let us look at a map:

An argument could be made, not a good one mind you, that Texas already did this when the State of Texas sold off the chunk of land to the US that eventually was incorporated into several other states. But you would be wrong. At best, it only means that Texas has divided itself ONCE and the Federal government did the dividing. That still leaves three more states that can be added into the current borders of the State of Texas. (Really it is still four, but I’m trying to throw a bone here since the State of West Texas was later dissolved.)

Nowhere, in any of the eight constitutions that the State of Texas has been under since it first declared independence, seceded from the US and joined the Confederacy, rejoined the Union under Reconstruction, no where, has anything ever been written to disallow the division of Texas into several smaller States. Further, nowhere does it say that those states have to join the Union if they do separate.

Gov. Perry, your duty seems clear. You have the power, never once retracted, to divide your State into five States. You can leave the borders of “Texas” as the city limits of El Paso if you want to do so and divvy up the rest into New Texas, South Texas, Panhandle Texas, and East Texas. These four new Texan States would be free to join the Union dependent upon the will of the voters in each area. Or, you know, to not join. Personally, I just want to know you are doing for the right reasons. Your Bill Of Rights has remained more full bodied and well enumerated since the inception of the Republic. (Your current hash of amendments to the Constitution of 1876 is worse than here in FL, and that’s saying something; but that’s another show.) If you are ready to follow the letter of the law, to stand up to what you see as an over-reaching, over-taxing, power hungry Federal government, do it the right way. Use the Law correctly: not as a sword to thrust at your political opponents, but as a shield to protect your citizens. You have a moral obligation, sir, to do what is right for your people.

And I will stand with you.

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Link | Comments (52) | April 21, 2009

Let’s Keep the Party Going!

Posted by Prof | Filed under Promotion, Propaganda Supplies

Since we are not yet done telling our government that they work for us, we are going to keep having Tea Parties, rallies, protests, shindigs, and possibly even a ho-down or two. Gear up, folks!

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Link | Comments (3) | April 18, 2009

Week in Review

Posted by Prof | Filed under Promotion, Take A Stand

This week, American citizens were subjected to the DHS report about ‘the Right’ and how authorities should be on the lookout for folks who fit the profile, just in case. This of course, timed to come out on the same week as the Tea Parties. And just how exactly can any president distance himself from an official report made by his administration? He can’t. Ithink it is safe to say that 44 didn’t agree with the report, it would never have seen the light of day. Guess that trial balloon in MO was exactly that, a trial balloon to see how the public reacted. I guess the administration felt that what some might see as overstepping for a mere State was perfectly alright if the Fed does it.

This week we have been called racists, bigots, revolutionaries, and sore losers. That is just what the news broadcasters have called us. Short sighted celebs have had to go out and make sure that their own vapid excuses for thoughts were heard. The blogs have been worse, trying to incite, to intimidate, and following blindly a course that I can’t even begin to understand, let alone consider even remotely intelligent. But when asked to explain themselves, they go off on tangents, attack the questioner rather than answer the question, and act like the logical answers we are asking for are just too complex for us little people. We are the chattering masses after all. Our politicians, the ones who are supposed to have the ENTIRE country’s future in mind, jump right down in the gutter with the blogs and the press. And isn’t it just wonderful that 44’s staff say the Man isn’t even aware of these Tea Parties?

So you know, as far as a week in review goes, there ain’t nothing new here.

We knew before Wednesday that the press wouldn’t get it. We knew that J9 Gaff-o-tron would react the way she did. We knew that certain members of our legislature would downtalk it.

Ain’t nothing new here.

Well, here’s something you might not have known. At the Tampa Tea Party, a woman, a black, and a Cuban, were the speakers. And they were cheered by the crowd for what they had to say, not because it was politically correct to be polite to minority figures.

Here’s something you might not have known…that CNN reporter who made an ass of herself in the Land of Lincoln is now on an unscheduled vacation.

Here’s something you might not have known… parks and downtowns and courthouses where the Tea Parties were held around the country, were actually cleaner when we left than when we got there. The crowd was as polite as any you could ask for. “Pardon me, thank you, let me help you with that, please” were the rule, kinda like at a crowded gun show.

One more thing you might not have known: This Party Is Not Over.

Plans are in the works around the country for more rallies. Statehouse steps are going to be filled by patriots and malcontents alike. We are going to keep reminding our hirelings that we are in charge. We are going to keep voicing our concerns. We are going to keep writing, emailing, and calling our representatives, to give them the chance to actually represent US. This time, we had somewhere between 200,000 and 300,000 people show up. Next time it will larger. This time, some of our speakers wandered a bit in their message. Next time we are going to focus tighter. This time, we had Republicans, Democrats, Green Party, Ron Paulers, Constitutioners, and Libertarians all standing together with folks who were none of those things. Next time, we will have the same thing, only larger.

This. Party. Is. Not. Over.

And now, pictures of the Tampa Tea Party:

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Link | Comments (4) | April 18, 2009

Follow Up (Updated)

Posted by Prof | Filed under Promotion, Propaganda Supplies, Take A Stand

Yet more photos from Tea Parties both here in Tampa and around the country.

First off, to show CNN that it wasn’t just Republicans, the following two:

Next, this sign might be hard to read, but it says a little something about the DHS report:

And reader Jarrod sent us this pic by didn’t tell us where it happened. He says the sign was the give away, but he couldn’t get a shot of the “I aim to Misbehave” shirts.