Department of Corrections

Politico’s Andy Barr says Texas Governor Rick Perry’s “star is rising” in the wake of his speeches for yesterday’s Tea Party protests:

Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s star is rising among a new constituency — the anti-tax “tea party” crowd — in the wake of his recent endorsement of a Texas state House resolution affirming the state’s sovereignty.

The resolution urges that “all compulsory federal legislation that directs states to comply under threat of civil or criminal penalties or sanctions or that requires states to pass legislation or lose federal funding be prohibited or repealed.”

Which is great, so far as it goes. But then there’s this:

Speaking to an energetic and angry tea party crowd in Austin Wednesday evening, the Lone Star State governor suggested secession may happen in the future should the federal government not change its fiscal polices.

“There’s a lot of different scenarios,” Perry said. “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.”

Perry might one day make it to the Senate, but otherwise, this statement is — and should be — the end of any White House ambitions he might have entertained. The secession issue was settled, quite forcefully, in 1865 at a little place called Appomattox. And a good thing, too.

UPDATE: Doug Mataconis agrees.