2009, April 21: Commenting on a Huffington Post piece sparked by Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s remarks on secession, reader DavidF07 posted the following brusque dismissal:
Dear Red States: Since you brought it up, we’ve decided we’re leaving. We intend to form our own country, and we’re taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren’t aware, that includes California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New California. To sum up briefly: You get Texas , Oklahoma and all the slave states. We get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood. We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom. We get Harvard. You get Ole’ Miss. We get 85% of America ‘s venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama . We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get to make the red states pay their fair share. Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22% lower than the Christian Coalition’s, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch of single moms.
I note that DavidF07, who comments frequently on Texas politics, has chosen as his icon/avatar a cartoon hand holding a red rose – an apparent allusion to Socialism. 
Mahockney 