It wasn’t so long ago that Gov. Rick Perry threatened to secede from the Union. Now he’s appealing directly to the White House for federal aid? So maybe the federal government isn’t always bad? Gosh darn it, what’s a Tea Partier to think? –YL

Reuters:

Texas Gov. Rick Perry sought additional federal help in battling wildfires across his drought-parched state as a woodland blaze gutted at least six homes on Sunday and threatened hundreds more in Austin, the state capital.

An estimated 1.5 million acres of tinder-like brush and grasslands have gone up in flames in Texas since January 1, about half of that during the past week alone under some of the driest conditions in Texas history.

Some 220 homes in all have been lost, according to a letter released on Sunday from Perry to President Barack Obama requesting a federal disaster declaration.

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