I was mad at Texas for their politics until I saw this:

[Snoutport]

A running wildfire threatens a home on April 19, 2011 in Strawn, Texas. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images) #

The people of Texas are probably going to need some help. I doubt their Republican government is going to lend them a hand.

from

[shraby]

1. Here's a bunch more pics of the fires.

<http://m.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/04/texas-wildfires/100050/>

[MineralMan]

2. No, their Governor will be pleading for Federal money.

Watch....

[Horse with no Name]

5. Well...that and faith based initiatives

http://governor.state.tx.us/news/proclamation/16038/

>>>snip
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:

WHEREAS, the state of Texas is in the midst of an exceptional drought, with some parts of the state receiving no significant rainfall for almost three months, matching rainfall deficit records dating back to the 1930s; and

WHEREAS, a combination of higher than normal temperatures, low precipitation and low relative humidity has caused an extreme fire danger over most of the State, sparking more than 8,000 wildfires which have cost several lives, engulfed more than 1.8 million acres of land and destroyed almost 400 homes, causing me to issue an ongoing disaster declaration since December of last year; and

WHEREAS, these dire conditions have caused agricultural crops to fail, lake and reservoir levels to fall and cattle and livestock to struggle under intense stress, imposing a tremendous financial and emotional toll on our land and our people; and

WHEREAS, throughout our history, both as a state and as individuals, Texans have been strengthened, assured and lifted up through prayer; it seems right and fitting that the people of Texas should join together in prayer to humbly seek an end to this devastating drought and these dangerous wildfires;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICK PERRY, Governor of Texas, under the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of Texas, do hereby proclaim the three-day period from Friday, April 22, 2011, to Sunday, April 24, 2011, as Days of Prayer for Rain in the State of Texas. I urge Texans of all faiths and traditions to offer prayers on that day for the healing of our land, the rebuilding of our communities and the restoration of our normal way of life.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my Office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 21st day of April, 2011.

RICK PERRY
Governor of Texas

[wizstars]

13. that'll fix it, uh-huh, yeah,surething, yep!.......

that and my rain dance.....

[CTyankee]

40. I grew up in Texas in the 50s and there were ALWAYS prayers for rain.

Usually outside churches.

Guess they're still at it down there...

[immoderate]

15. God hates those fuckers!

But they live for that.

--imm

[Maraya1969]

30. Is this a joke? And why aren't the fire fighters fighting these fires? Does it

have to do with payments or are they just out of control?

[reggie the dog]

33. plenty of fire fighters are there

they are overwelmed

[Solly Mack]

36. Damn

[annabanana]

6. Already has, no? Asking to be declared disaster zone to be made eligible

for aid?

[Liberal_in_LA]

7. Their Gov was taking the religious route - praying for fires to stop

[RKP5637]

8. Well that ought to fix up everything just peachy for him. n/t

[Old and In the Way]

10. I think it would be sacriligeous for the Feds to get in the way of God's work.

I say we wait until we know whether God answers the prayers first. And if no miracles should occur (perhaps God isn't taking Rick's prayers?), supply the necessary aid only if Rick is willing to publicly recant his anti-federal rhetoric.

[RKP5637]

38. It would be a significant cost savings for Texas if god just handled it for them. Yep, no

need to get the Fed involved, he's doing cost savings.

[Snoutport]

42. cutting his own firefighter's pay probably but knowing the feds will come save them

i wonder how many cuts the fire dept has taken in texas in the past years. i'm sure their union is at least under fire.

[Drale]

11. He already is

[reggie the dog]

32. I doubt it, he wants texas to be an independent country

he campaigned on succession and texas independence, wouldnt asking for federal money be contradictory to an independence stance?

[Terra Alta]

3. some great Democrats came from Texas.

Ann Richards, for one. And Molly Ivins was a national treasure.

The people affected by the wildfires are in my thoughts and prayers.

[RKP5637]

9. And LBJ. n/t

[RufusTFirefly]

26. And don't forget Henry B. González! (D-San Antonio)

González chaired the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations that investigated the deaths of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. He introduced legislation calling for the impeachment of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. González also blocked hearings into Whitewater until finally agreeing to hold hearings in 1994.

[freshwest]

27. And Jim Hightower. There are many more. It once had a strong progressive base.

[juajen]

45. Same here. I have beloved relatives and friends in Texas. God bless all of them!

[annabanana]

4. The people of Texas are subject to the same kind of dumbed down

public discourse that has put our whole Country in it's current state.

Knowing how even the most authoritarian personality can "see the light" when their ox is gored, I expect that there may be a little reassessment here and there.

[justabob]

23. Texas is the test kitchen for all the crazy shit they cook up

(or one of them) Over the years, I have noticed that crazy stuff going on here ends up bigger and better on the national level. The S&L crisis springs to mind first as an easy example. BushCo also. Lately Texas has been held up as an example by the GOP, despite the fact that Texas is at the top of all the Bad Things lists, and at the bottom of all the Good Things lists. There's a lot of good stuff about living here, but quality of life really isn't an option unless you have a fair amount of money.

[RagAss]

12. Jeeez, the photos look like the Bowels of Hell.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tammywammy]

16. Disaster in Texas always brings out the sympathetic side of DU

:sarcasm:

Not this OP in particular, but in general. I always love hurricane season, when there's a big one heading to where my family lives, and people cheering it on, hoping it does a lot of damage. At least DU is predictable.

[WolverineDG]

43. Don't forget cheering & applauding the tornado that hit Cowboys training camp

Yeah, that was definitely one of DU's finest hours.

:sarcasm:

dg

[MilesColtrane]

17. Thanks for your compassion.

The Texas state government no more represents the will of the people than the United States government does.

Some here don't understand that.

[onestepforward]

20. +1

Thank you.

[grillo7]

24. +1000

[Lorien]

25. Same with Flori-duh, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Maine

everywhere a teabagger took office, and at this point it's hard to know which elections are cooked.

[RKP5637]

39. Yep, there's a lot of truth in what you said!!! n/t

[Drew Richards]

18. Youre Right

My reply was snarky and unsympathetic,

Sorry about that.

I do feel for all the people of Texas and realize that politics and political pundits do not a people or a nation make.

I hope that it can be contained.

[Historic NY]

19. Why no fire bombers or supression activities?

[MicaelS]

21. There are... go the link posted in Post #1 n/t

[crickets]

22. Compassion for all living things.

Those pictures are horrifying. My heart goes out to Texas.

[freshwest]

29. +100,000

[Paradoxical]

28. This OP is completely unnecessary.

[reggie the dog]

31. their governor wanted independence for texas

he talked of succession during his campaign, now he is asking for federal money and help from other states with these fires. he should refuse help and let texas take care of this on their own to prepare them for when they are their own independent country overrun by drug lords importing weed and cocaine from south american up through texas to the usa.

does their governor want independence or not?

at the same time we would be free to help, through charity, like we helped people in haiti.

[BlueCollar]

34. secession...n/t

[reggie the dog]

35. thanks, easter morning brain fart

i cant belive i made that mistake about 4 times this morning, secession, not being next in succession.... holy shit i have had too much chocolate this morning

by the way is their a relief fund for these fires? i am poor but would give 10 or 20 dollars to an aid fund for the people of texas

[Jumping John]

37. Texas has a $9.4 billion rainy day fund separate from the general revenues for emergencies. n/t

[Taverner]

41. As much as I dislike Texas Republicans, I wouldn't want the fires to happen to my worst enemy

[Odin2005]

44. I feel for folks down there, but...

It is hypocritical for folks to spew hate towards "evil Gummit" and then expect that same government to help them. Such an attitude may seem callous, but I think it is necessary.