There was a run on several national banks in Texas that immediately adopted Greek-like emergency banking standards, limiting customer withdrawals to no more than five hundred dollars per day.
What began as sporadic shortages of certain items now became full-fledged runs on supplies similar to what Texans and Gulf Coast residents had seen on a limited basis in advance of a large hurricane. This scenario always occurred when an intense rush on supplies, such as bottled water, gasoline, generators, diesel fuel, milk, eggs, batteries, candles and other staples outran the ability of the normal supply chain to keep store shelves stocked. For Texas, these goods were still available in-state and could sustain citizens for months, but the ability to replace it as fast as it was hoarded was a challenge. Many stores in urban areas began to limit customer purchases on certain items.
Riots at grocery stores over food shortages had already broken out in the Parkdale Heights area of south Dallas, not far from the Cotton Bowl, and in the Fifth Ward in Houston. The shortages were isolated, but Texas was sitting on a tinder box in large urban areas if the shortages lingered and became worse.
The Fed had also stopped federal firearms dealers in Texas from conducting background checks for gun purchases in Texas. Gun dealers were in a quandary. Texans were rushing to purchase weapons at a pace even faster than when the administration was pushing its assault weapons ban. The ATF let the dealers know they would be prosecuted if they sold weapons without the check, and now the system was unavailable to them.
Firearms dealers knew the Independence referendum was non-binding and the chances they would still be under ATF scrutiny after the crisis subsided was likely. Other than private gun transactions, which had recently become illegal without government paperwork and a federal background check, guns could not be purchased in Texas for the first time in her rich, gun-loving history.
President Johnson’s order to shut down points of presence (POPs) for major internet providers serving Texas was partly effective but not nearly as effective as hoped. Many Texas-based telecommunications companies had disaster recovery plans that re-routed communications and had the ability to bypass the POPs the president ordered suspended from typical suppliers such as AT&T and Verizon.
To completely cut Texas off from the Internet, Johnson would have to take down the entire U.S. telecommunications network and satellites that provided back-up and remote Internet access. If Texans were lucky enough to use a Texas Internet provider and not a national telecom company, those customers likely still had Internet service, but it was slow and service was sporadic. President Johnson’s effort to isolate Texas’ communication to the outside world was only partially effective.
The administration actions to isolate Texas began to have national implications. Texas shut off all oil, gasoline and natural gas pipelines out of the state, and the blockade in the Gulf of Mexico halted tanker shipments coming out of Houston, Beaumont and Corpus Christi. Texas had the largest refining capacity in the United States, and turning off this supply of energy produced a dramatic and immediate impact. The European Union was also feeling the pinch of the reduced refining capacity and continued to put pressure on the Johnson administration to end the crisis.
It was February, when much of the northeast depended on natural gas and fuel oil. Prices for fuel oil skyrocketed 200 percent to reach all-time highs within days of the Austin skirmish. Gasoline was now over $7.00 per gallon in California and the northeast. Food prices nationwide, especially beef and chicken, also shot upward, as Texas was a prime provider of both.
Texas was fortunate to be the only state with its own electrical grid. Without direct federal military intervention, there wasn’t anything the Johnson administration could do to jeopardize the grid, outside of direct military strikes.
Texas, with the fourteenth largest economy in the world if measured as a country, was intertwined with the global economy on a scale that even President Johnson and his administration underestimated.
* * *
Shortly after his own assessment of Texas affairs, Chuck sat down with almost twenty of his leaders from the Spring Creek Tea Party he and Stan Mumford had set up years before. In the past, a meeting like this would have drawn over two hundred folks. Now, however, people were scared to participate for fear of becoming targets of the IRS or federal agents. They knew Big Brother could monitor all their communications, whether email, cell phone or land line.
“Folks, we have to reorganize like never before,” Chuck said sternly.
“Okay, Chuck, we know you know what’s going on in Austin. Can’t you fill us in?” asked one member.
“I’m not so much in the know as you think. I was there for all the fireworks, but I know the wheels are turning there and in DC. I can’t predict the outcome, and I’m certain they can’t either.”
He paused. “How are your families set for food?” he asked.
“Most of us are okay, as we were storing food anyway,” answered Lansford.
“How many still have Internet?”
About half the group raised their hands.
“Do any of you have short-wave radios?”
Two raised their hands.
“Ammunition?”
The entire group now had a collective look of concern.
“Do you know something we should know?” asked Lansford.
“I’m talking about being prepared for any and all circumstances. I’m not saying armed conflict is coming or is unavoidable, but we would be stupid not to be prepared, for our families’ sake. How are your ammunition supplies?”
Almost to a man, they agreed they had lots of ammunition, but nobody was satisfied that it was enough. They all wanted more, but ammunition was in very short supply due to the administration’s previous actions and the government purposely buying up supply.
“Let’s compare notes to see who has what and if it makes sense to trade ammo or weapons to maximize your arsenals. For instance, if you have a .223 but no ammo and your buddy has 10,000 rounds but doesn’t have a .223, you can trade to maximize firepower.” The group then went into a thirty-five minute discussion about who had what weapons and ammo, and several agreements to trade were made.
There was general concern among a few that this topic was even discussed. It was apparent to the group that Chuck had gone through some sort of transformation. Having his home raided and destroyed by federal agents with military gear and a tank without a warrant, being removed from his wife and child, having his best friend shot and killed by federal agents in front of his family, and being held at a secret location without due process can do that to a person. Being rescued by Texas Rangers compensated somewhat for the imprisonment part but, on balance, it was not nearly enough.
“Due to the circumstances we find ourselves in, I am hereby declaring that we are officially transforming into a Minuteman group. We want to establish a core organizational message you can take back to your neighborhoods to prepare for anything. Contact your local sheriffs to find out their positions on our current crisis. We need the sheriffs, but only if they are like-minded.”
“Chuck, you always said we were a peaceful political grassroots organization. Are we now converting to a militia?” asked an elderly man.
“I think we can all agree the political process is broken. What we become in the future is dependent on the federal government’s actions forward. As a political organization, we were denied our Constitutional rights. They even shot and killed my best friend and a great friend to many of you in Stan Mumford.”
“I’m not sure about all of this,” said a man Chuck recognized from some of the early meetings of the group. “The minute we reorganize into a militia, won’t we become a target?”
“Are you serious?” asked Chuck.
“We were a target before any of this,” yelled an incredulous Lansford. “Hell, the administration pinned the assassination attempt on the Tea Party when they knew damned good and well it was carried out by a Muslim extremist! Chuck was dragged out of hi
s home and had to watch it being destroyed. They raided our homes. They killed Stan. What the hell are you talking about? Jesus…” The man that asked the question dropped his head, realizing any attempt to argue his point would be pathetic. They were right. He knew it. They knew it. The decision he and the others had to make was to acknowledge the fact that the political process they had attempted to fix with the Tea Party was unfixable.
“Let’s make a list of preparedness notes to distribute to the entire group. It’s entirely possible this thing gets worse before it gets better. I don’t see Cooper capitulating to the feds, but I may be wrong. I hope not, but I don’t think so,” Chuck said.
“What happens if the crisis passes?” asked another of the group.
“Then we will go back to being a Tea Party, a political grassroots constitutional organization in the same form. Let’s hope that’s what happens.” Chuck jammed his hands into his jeans pockets. “But let me assure everyone of something. The Independence referendum passed by a 68 percent to 32 percent margin. We are like-minded here with most Texans. The simple fact is that most other Texans and even those in other states are coming to the same conclusion; it likely isn’t fixable.”
“A lot would have to happen to turn the tide. Over 50 percent of the country is on some kind of government dole. We just granted amnesty to fifteen million illegal aliens. We all know how they vote. President Johnson has dictated gun control in Texas through executive order. The Republican Party is in shambles and completely ineffective at the top. Every day that goes by, we have less in common with our fellow Americans. Even the Supreme Court doesn’t know how to interpret the Constitution. We have become a godless society. Should I continue?” asked Lansford.
“Let’s all pray,” said Chuck.
Men removed hats and caps, and they all bowed their heads.
“Dear Heavenly Father,” Chuck prayed fervently, “we ask that you protect our families and all Texans in this time of crisis. We ask that you impart your wisdom to our state leaders so they follow the path that honors your will. I also ask that you shine your light and wisdom on this president and his administration that they diffuse this crisis. We ask this in your holy name, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.”
“Amen.”
Chapter 7
“You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.”
~ Margaret Thatcher
Former Prime Minister of Great Britain
& Conservative Party Leader
Texas Gov. Cooper stood at the podium in the famous rotunda of the Texas state capitol building. He was flanked at the podium by Atty. Gen. Weaver, Lt. Gov. Foster, and U.S. Sen. Perez. Standing off in the background were Pops Younger and five other Texas Rangers.
On the walls of each floor of the rotunda were portraits of former governors and past presidents of the Republic of Texas. It was an appropriate setting for what would be a historical event.
Approximately one hundred fifty reporters and members of the press had gathered in the rotunda area for a press conference. Approximately two hundred more were not granted access and were left to broadcast from the north or south steps of the building. Satellite news vans and trucks took all parking for blocks near the center of downtown Austin. The intrigue generated by the crisis created a media frenzy not seen in modern times. The drama was being played out on the daily news in every country that had access to news feeds.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming,” said Cooper. “This morning we learned the Federal Reserve has confiscated Texas gold that was formerly stored in Federal Reserve facilities. This represents more than two billion dollars in gold reserves at today’s prices owned by the people of Texas.”
Looking sternly into the cameras as if he were speaking directly to President Johnson, Cooper cautioned, “Let me state emphatically that the gold confiscated by this government and the Federal Reserve belongs to Texans. It does not belong to the U.S. government. We hereby demand that this gold be returned to Texas. This is a direct violation of the Tenth Amendment. This administration continues to operate outside the limits of our Constitution and this is one more blatant example of outrageous overreach. Texans won’t stand for it. I won’t stand for it.”
During the next pause, dozens of reporters started yelling questions at the governor.
“Hold on, hold on. We’ll try to get to some of your questions.” Cooper held both hands up as if to stop a car approaching an intersection.
“Please allow me to continue. Please!” insisted Cooper. As the noise stepped down several notches, he continued. “This is more proof that this president has no desire to diffuse this crisis. In fact, this only escalates tensions. We can also report that there have been more military sorties over Texas airspace. These are dangerous and provocative acts by this administration.”
The press seemed about to explode with questions. Murmurs going through the audience were unsettling. To the press in attendance, the stakes were going up and the crisis would not easily be averted.
“Let me state again for the record and for the entire world to see. This administration and this Congress are the only ones who can dispel this situation. We have no other agenda. I will read to all of you what Texas expects for relations to return to normal.”
Cooper pulled out a sheet of paper, then turned and handed it to Atty. Gen. Weaver. Weaver stepped to the podium.
“Here are the steps the federal government must take to normalize relations with the state of Texas,” stated Weaver, reading directly from the paper. “First, the Justice Department must drop all charges against state officials, including Gov. Cooper, the lieutenant governor, all state officials and the Texas Rangers, for recovering Texas citizens detained without due process and for the events initiated by the Johnson administration that resulted in the deaths of eighteen federal agents and members of the U.S. Army Rangers.”
Looking up from the paper briefly, Weaver went on. “Next, the Federal Reserve must return all Texas gold illegally seized and allow it to be shipped back to Texas for safe storing.
“Congress must appoint an independent prosecutor and commission to investigate the Rash Sally assassination task force. It’s become blatantly obvious that the Tea Party had no part in the assassination attempt,” Weaver added sternly.
“Next, Congress shall appoint a separate independent prosecutor to investigate the suspicious deaths of Stan Mumford and federal whistleblower Tim Spilner and his wife.
“This administration must remove the limitations on banking transactions, restore Internet points-of-presence, remove troops at our borders and end the naval blockade in the Gulf. Additionally, the IRS must stand down and immediately cease and desist punitive actions against Texan citizens solely because of their political affiliations.”
Looking extremely agitated with his next point, Weaver stated, “This administration has taken the cowardly action of withholding Social Security benefits from those who have paid into it their entire lives, simply because they live in Texas. This administration has stopped unemployment checks for those who have paid into unemployment insurance. And, most cowardly of all, this administration has refused to pay those who have served this country in the military by withholding VA benefits and retirement checks of those veterans. The benefits earned by Texans must be restored immediately.”
Weaver moved away as Cooper stepped back to the podium.
“Once these actions are completed by the administration, and not one minute before they comply one hundred percent, we will turn control of the military bases back to the federal government. Additionally, we will pardon those under arrest for various crimes committed against Texas and her citizens by members of the FBI, ATF and U.S. military for actions at Ellington Field, raids on Tea Party offices and members’ residences and the assault here in Austin just a few weeks ago, with the exception of any charges brought for the murder of Stan Mumford.”
Cooper finished his demands and then looked to members of the press to tak
e questions. Many were yelling questions at him already.
“Governor, will you allow the feds to take you into custody to avert this crisis and help Texans restore their Social Security benefits?” asked a female reporter from the New York Times.
“No, I just read to you what Texas wants me to do.”
“Governor, are you saying that, if the administration tells you this is what it will take to settle this crisis, that you will allow Texans to continue to have their Social Security and veterans benefits suspended because you don’t want to be arrested?” she asked as a follow-up question.
Cooper said firmly. “Ma’am, I just read to you our terms for normalization of relations with this administration. Nothing more, nothing less. Texans paid into those systems with the guarantee by the good faith and credit of the United States that they would get certain benefits in return. Whether this government reneges on its responsibilities to people who have faithfully served in the military or who have trusted in Social Security, has absolutely nothing to do with this administration’s desire to arrest me on fabricated charges. Pay these people, Mr. President. Do the right thing!” Cooper stated emphatically.
“Governor, will you turn yourself in?” the reporter persisted.
Cooper turned around and looked at his staff in disbelief.
“Next question.”
“Sir, you mentioned sorties being flown over Texas by U.S. military. Can you expand on that?” asked another reporter.
“I can’t be specific for security reasons; however, I will tell you that this administration has authorized provocative flights over Texas by B-2 stealth bombers and by B-52s. Also, they have launched several fighter aircraft from a carrier in the Gulf that has skirted our shoreline.”
“Do you believe these are meant to intimidate or are they responses to your administration taking over U.S. military bases?”
A State of Treason Page 7
