Well, if the Russkies think it...

It can't be that bad, right? This report certainly has lots of folks talking about Texas independence. Here's the whole of the report, in case something happens to it at Drudge:

RUSSIAN ANALYST PREDICTS DECLINE AND BREAKUP OF USA
Tue Nov 25 2008 09:04:22 ET

A leading Russian political analyst has said the economic turmoil in the United States has confirmed his long-held view that the country is heading for collapse, and will divide into separate parts.

Professor Igor Panarin said in an interview with the respected daily IZVESTIA published on Monday: "The dollar is not secured by anything. The country's foreign debt has grown like an avalanche, even though in the early 1980s there was no debt. By 1998, when I first made my prediction, it had exceeded $2 trillion. Now it is more than 11 trillion. This is a pyramid that can only collapse."

The paper said Panarin's dire predictions for the U.S. economy, initially made at an international conference in Australia 10 years ago at a time when the economy appeared strong, have been given more credence by this year's events.

When asked when the U.S. economy would collapse, Panarin said: "It is already collapsing. Due to the financial crisis, three of the largest and oldest five banks on Wall Street have already ceased to exist, and two are barely surviving. Their losses are the biggest in history. Now what we will see is a change in the regulatory system on a global financial scale: America will no longer be the world's financial regulator."

When asked who would replace the U.S. in regulating world markets, he said: "Two countries could assume this role: China, with its vast reserves, and Russia, which could play the role of a regulator in Eurasia."

Asked why he expected the U.S. to break up into separate parts, he said: "A whole range of reasons. Firstly, the financial problems in the U.S. will get worse. Millions of citizens there have lost their savings. Prices and unemployment are on the rise. General Motors and Ford are on the verge of collapse, and this means that whole cities will be left without work. Governors are already insistently demanding money from the federal center. Dissatisfaction is growing, and at the moment it is only being held back by the elections and the hope that Obama can work miracles. But by spring, it will be clear that there are no miracles."

He also cited the "vulnerable political setup", "lack of unified national laws", and "divisions among the elite, which have become clear in these crisis conditions."

He predicted that the U.S. will break up into six parts - the Pacific coast, with its growing Chinese population; the South, with its Hispanics; Texas, where independence movements are on the rise(emphasis mine); the Atlantic coast, with its distinct and separate mentality; five of the poorer central states with their large Native American populations; and the northern states, where the influence from Canada is strong.

He even suggested that "we could claim Alaska - it was only granted on lease, after all." Panarin, 60, is a professor at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and has authored several books on information warfare.

Developing...

Pondering...

Ok, the Obamamessiah has said that he's bringing the troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan ASAP. He's also said he'll create a national civil security force as powerful as the military. Is he planning on using those newly unemployed troops to fill the ranks of his new security force? Are these troops gonna be happy about being "drafted" into this new national police? What will become of these former troopers if they aren't shanghai'd into service and, as I've speculated before, that the national police will be filled with "previously underrepresented minorities"? I'm thinking that a bunch of folks comfortable with small arms handling and no jobs when the national economy is in the crapper is a very bad idea. Especially if one of the first edicts of the new administration is to ban further sales of "assault weapons" (NewSpeak of the Libs for "scary looking guns that are very suitable for hunting, defense, and militia service) especially when the full-auto military versions of these weapons are what the above unemployed soldiers are already familiar with!

I've been puzzling over how Texans would get fed up enough with the "new and improved" status quo, to finally throw in enough popular support for renewed Texas independence. The best scenario I can come up with, is that the new US administration stirs up too much trouble at once (bringing home the troops, driving up unemployment, which in a bad economy makes it worse; raising taxes to pay for the near-universal welfare because of the unemployment and bad economy), while things here in Texas aren't that bad (oil sales & exploration up, construction up, employment good) except where it's tied more directly into the US economy (Starbucks and Circuit City closing stores). Somebody called Texas Overnight just before signoff on Monday morning, to remark that the Republic of Texas folks (ok, the caller said "kooks") were a few years too early to have the popular support they needed, things are looking better now for the people of Texas to support the movement if things turn bad for the US. And another thing that would help is if things do turn for the worst, the Texas Independence group comes forward to say, "We have a better way, to stabilize the economy, to protect Texans and Texas from terrorism and international crime; we will be the lighthouse that the people of the US will look to, for assurance that things will get better; however, we must not allow ourselves to be dragged down with the US as she sinks from her own overburdened, bloated, leviathan-like military-industrial complex whatchamacallit." (Ok, my speaking skills petered out there, insert your own weighty, witticism.) If the people of Texas are convinced that returning to gold and silver for currency (or at least stopping free credit for everyone, especially the gubmint, which essentially invents money out of thin air every day!) will end the nearly out-of-control inflation and price swings; if they believe a smaller, unobtrusive government will preserve their retirements and health insurance instead of that monster in Wash., DC dipping into the "Social Security Trust Fund" to pay for every little pork project; if they think being Texas, Independent, will refresh their freedoms, instead of subservience to the US Federal Government which demands those freedoms be traded for security; then I believe the people will support it wholeheartedly. The Independence group has already planned these things out at a basic level, but is unable to begin anything since the officials in State and Federal govt. don't want to surrender their power, dismissing it as a "fringe anti-gubmint, militia nut movement", refusing to even allow any type of referendum vote on Texas independence, in spite of petitions showing adequate popular support, especially for that referendum.

BTW, you can listen to El Presidente and the VP of the Texas Nationalist Movement via Texas Independence Radio, live on Wednesdays at 9 PM Texas Standard Time (Central Time Zone) and by podcast if you miss the live show thru the Downloads area of the website. Since they've started this weekly program in the last month, they've discussed Texas and its relation to the US, with regards to the economy, the election, and everything else, and how we can again be independent, why we should be independent. Even without the Interim government, if Texas broke away tomorrow, we already have most of the systems in place to keep operating as we are, without the US gubmint's help! The DPS is a Texas-wide police force (altho they mainly operate along the highways and keep track of drivers' licenses); the Texas Rangers are our special investigation force, not just Chuck Norris kicking people (even tho some in Austin want to retire the group as redundant to the FBI); Texas Cable News is our own version of CNN Headline News; we can buy back Texas State Bank from Compass Bank (owned by Spaniards!).

It's (almost) all over but the shoutin'

In just a few more hours the polls will close, the votes will be counted, and then, we can start bickering about who cheated more for the next few months. (I reckon all the way up til January 20th!) Then, if That One loses, he can begin his 2012 campaign. (I head Rush say the Obamamessiah spent 15 minutes voting today-- apparently He couldn't figure out how to vote "present.")

My predictions on the results: for Jefferson County, Obama 55%, McCain 43%, "other" 2%.
Nationwide, Obama 45%, McCain 50%, "other" 5%, with the Electoral College going for McCain. These are just my gut feelings, please don't get mad at me if you use these figures to bet with your coworkers. BTW, go get your free small Starbucks coffee and Ben and Jerry's ice cream.

We will have Peace in our time

How do you say Schutzstaffel in Ebonics? However you do, this would certainly be a "work-around" for that archaic Posse Commitatus law, forbidding the use of the military for police work within the US. One of Texas Fred's commentors suggested using that pre-existing force "necessary to the security of a free state" if there's any problems with insurrection or civil disorder, but I think those anti-gubmint militia nut types are nuthin' but a bunch of racist good ol' boys, whereas the Obamaessiah's "special security force" would be filled with "reformed" ghetto gangbangers, who were denied their chance to make something productive of themselves and forced by "The Man" to turn to a life of crime! (NOT!!!)

BTW, if anybody thinks I'm being racist with the above post, piss off, I'm in good company; there's plenty of folks who also think That One is the WRONG ONE for the US. Note, I said "the US," not "the USSR!" You want a Socialist country, move to one! Don't try to change the US into one!