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Secession

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 07:40:30 AM EST
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The Family Guy rules our world. Inspired by Petoria, Texas Governor Rick Perry threatens secession:

[A]nswering news reporters' questions, Perry suggested Texans might at some point get so fed up they would want to secede from the union, though he said he sees no reason why Texas should do that. "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." He said when Texas entered the union in 1845 it was with the understanding it could pull out. . . .

What an embarrassment.

Speaking for me only

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    Secession | 60 comments (60 topical)

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    some times I miss Molly Ivins (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:46:51 AM EST
    more than others

    To quote willy wonka (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by connecticut yankee on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:44:57 AM EST
    "No, wait, stop, come back" (checks nails).

    We can also have (none / 0) (#1)
    by ricosuave on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 07:51:29 AM EST
    our own Navy.  Perhaps our state should solve that pesky piracy problem, too.

    Because the leadership of Texans in (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by BobTinKY on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:06:50 AM EST
    implementing military solutions to problems has always worked out so well.

    Parent
    Please don't help. (none / 0) (#4)
    by inclusiveheart on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 07:57:06 AM EST
    Thanks in advance. :)

    Parent
    God (none / 0) (#2)
    by lilburro on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 07:52:48 AM EST
    it's been less than 100 days since the last President of our union flew in and they're already b*tching.  How can so many insane people have so much power?

    Well (none / 0) (#3)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 07:55:54 AM EST
    I say fine. Go back to Mexico. Texas brought us Bush, Delay and a host of crazies that damaged the country.

    There ain't a "back to mexico" (none / 0) (#10)
    by ricosuave on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:32:16 AM EST
    Texas joined the union from being an independent country.

    Besides, don't you watch Lou Dobbs?  He says Mexico is coming to us!

    Parent

    But then there's that (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by Cream City on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:53:07 AM EST
    pesky, pre-1836 decade before the previous Texas war of secession . . . and after all, the next questions are independence from whom?  And why?  That it was the Americans who were the illegal immigrants into Mexico -- by defying its ban against slavery -- is one of the great ironies in our history, considering the Texas border battle against all those awful Mexican illegal immigrants today, isn't it?


    Parent
    History is irony (none / 0) (#58)
    by ricosuave on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 11:01:51 AM EST
    A bunch of Tenesseeans push out a bunch of descendants of Spanish invaders (and some French, lets not forget) who themselves pushed out the Comanches.  I don't remember who was in the area before the Comanches.  I'm sure alot of those Mexican troops were descended from Mexica (aka Aztecs) who pushed some Mayan groups out that had taken over from Olmecs at some point.

    It is all so confusing, but if you just rememebr the rule that whoever was played by John Wayne is the good guy, you can keep it all straight.

    Parent

    I have no doubt that if left to its own politics (5.00 / 3) (#23)
    by BobTinKY on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:53:57 AM EST
    Texas would in no time flat make Mexico look, in contrast, like the very model of an environmetally conscious, socially equitable nirvana.

    Parent
    Pandering to tea baggers (none / 0) (#5)
    by Saul on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:00:47 AM EST
    for his  re election bid.  

    Some guys will do anything for political points.  Time for this guy to go.  I live in Texas and have never liked him.  

    I am afraid what the tea baggers are doing.  Right wing radios is stirring up the emotions of the republican base especially those in dire economic straits  and IMO its doing it in a very dangerous manner.  Perry knows better but he used this  just as an opportunity to seek votes.

    The tea baggers remind me of the movies scenes  where the sheriff rounds up a posse to find someone to lynch.  Anybody to lynch.

    Excuse me (none / 0) (#6)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:04:19 AM EST
    Maybe I just do not see it, but danger? What danger? Of Texas seceding?

    No, the danger is that Texas becomes an embarrassment. I think it already is but this is manifest to anyone with a thought now.

    Rick Perry is the Governor of Texas. Texas should be ashamed of that fact.

    Other than that, it is pretty meaningless.

    Parent

    Well, you have to admit it might (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by inclusiveheart on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:17:01 AM EST
    be an interesting exercise to just move all of the customs, immigration and border patrol on the TX/MX border up and around the perimeter of Texas for a day.

    My problem with secessionists - aside from the obvious - is that they always seem to act like all of the Federal support they receive will just continue uninterupted after they separate themselves from the US.  The Alaskans even have an FAQ on their website assuring people that they'll still get their Social Security checks.

    Parent

    Yes, just like Southern states (none / 0) (#60)
    by sallywally on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:21:10 PM EST
    take much more money from the Feds than they put in with their taxes, whereas the horrid liberal states put more in than they take out....

    oh yes, and which are the states that have the highest divorce rates, the most unwed pregnancies, highest welfare rates, etc., etc., etc....among all those family values folks.

    I'd love to see them gone, and survive on their own without MY taxes!

    Parent

    Already there (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by ricosuave on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:43:07 AM EST
    No, the danger is that Texas becomes an embarrassment. I think it already is but this is manifest to anyone with a thought now.

    A brief list of some of our recent contributions to national politics:

    • Rick Perry

    • Tom Delay

    • Dick Armey

    • Phil Gramm

    • George W. Bush

    • Karl Rove

    • Ron Paul

    • John Cornyn

    • Betty Brown


    Of course, we did produce Ann Richards a while back, so there may be some hope for us in the future.

    Parent
    Oh, how I wish I could hear (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by Cream City on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:55:53 AM EST
    a pithy comment from Ann Richards on this governor, huh?  And how I wish I could read a column about him by your Molly Ivins.  I hope that those two are together now, having a good hoot about this guy.

    Parent
    You forgot KayBay... (none / 0) (#31)
    by inclusiveheart on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:59:06 AM EST
    But you did give us Ann Richards and Molly Ivins - and actually way back when a whole lot of really great Democrats who served in our government.

    One thing is for sure, Texas politicians are always colorful.

    Parent

    I left out Kay Bailey (none / 0) (#40)
    by ricosuave on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:12:44 AM EST
    because she might run against Rick Perry, and that is finally something to praise her for.  I am still pissed off at her for her treatment of DC while I was a resident (subject?) there.

    Other than that, she is annoying but has not reached Tom Delay or John Cornyn levels of embarassment to the state.

    Parent

    and what about Cheney? (none / 0) (#41)
    by BobTinKY on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:16:24 AM EST
    didn't he have to move back to Wyoming from Houston so that picking himself as VP would pass Constitutional muster?

    kind of ironic in retrospect given all the deference he subsequently paid to the Constitution as VP.

    Parent

    Cheney is from Wyoming. (none / 0) (#47)
    by inclusiveheart on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:28:50 AM EST
    I don't think he counts as a Texan and GWB's claim to be a Texan is dubious imo.

    Parent
    GWB (none / 0) (#49)
    by jbindc on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:33:24 AM EST
    Went to elementary school in Midland and Houston, then was sent back east for prep school and college.  He joined the Texas National Guard (ha!) and eventually set up business and settled down in Texas, so his background is different than Cheney. Of course, according to many Texans, you can't be a "true" Texan if you weren't born there.

    Cheney just moved to Texas to run Halliburton.

    Parent

    Not technically (none / 0) (#48)
    by jbindc on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:30:06 AM EST
    He never moved from his home in Dallas.  He just changed his voter registration back to Wyoming, so he was a "citizen" of Wyoming.  

    Still woke up and got his newspaper from his Dallas house, though.

    Parent

    There was a federal building in (5.00 / 2) (#33)
    by inclusiveheart on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:01:22 AM EST
    Oklahoma that suffered huge injury at the hands of the anti-government types.  If I was in OKC, I'd be calling Rick Perry and telling him and all of these other people trying to fan the anti-government flames to shut up.

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#7)
    by jbindc on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:08:00 AM EST
    Apparently the good governor has never heard of Texas v. White 74 U.S. 700 (1869), where the Supreme Court held that "individual states could not unilaterally secede from the Union and that the acts of the insurgent Texas legislature--even if ratified by a majority of Texans--were "absolutely null." Even during the period of rebellion, however, the Court found that Texas continued to be a state."

    Would be a fascinating battle to watch, though - if a state decided to leave and the Supreme Court said "No, you can't."

    Parent

    Don't you recall (none / 0) (#13)
    by BobTinKY on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:40:26 AM EST
    the lead singer of the Dixie Chicks expressing her shame about a another Governor of Texas?

    Parent
    The danger (none / 0) (#16)
    by Saul on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:43:08 AM EST
    I am referring to is not the secession but how the right wing radio host are stirring up hatred toward the government which might make many right extremist who hesitated to act violently who  now interpret the protest to act now especially when it is fueled by this crazy governor.

    Parent
    The term "tea bagger" (none / 0) (#9)
    by itscookin on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:29:40 AM EST
    is offensive. If you don't know its sexual connotation, then look it up.  Tea in bags was not marketed until the early 1900's.  The colonists threw loose tea in crates into Boston Harbor.  Unfortunately, the tide was out. Agree or disagree with the people participating in the protests but know what you are calling them is offensive to some people on either side of the political spectrum.

    Parent
    From this New england Yankee (none / 0) (#11)
    by BobTinKY on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:36:06 AM EST
    good riddance

    That's exactly what this (none / 0) (#14)
    by Slado on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:41:01 AM EST
    Southern Redneck said 4 years ago when New England Yankees like yourself where threatening to move to Canada and Californians where threatening to leave the union as well.

    Funny how things change.

    Parent

    It's beyond unlikely (5.00 / 2) (#20)
    by BobTinKY on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:49:27 AM EST
    but if a peaceful separation could be acheived, I for one would not reflexively dismiss the idea.  The Southern majority (which I doubt includes you if you're reading and commenting ont his site) could have its mideival theocracy and the rest of us could get on with life in the 21st century.  As things are, the Southern majority stands in the way of social progress  and social justice, as it always has.  

    Parent
    I agree (none / 0) (#27)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:57:33 AM EST
    but I know lots of people from Texas who would have to relocate.  they are not all blithering idiots.

    Parent
    I know (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by BobTinKY on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:00:14 AM EST
    some of my best friends are Texans :)

    Parent
    afaiac (none / 0) (#30)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:58:49 AM EST
    they could take Mississippi and Alabama too.
    and most of Georgia and Louisiana

    Parent
    Don't forget (none / 0) (#53)
    by Farmboy on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 10:08:12 AM EST
    Florida and Alaska (while we're voting folks off the island).

    Parent
    Might as well throw in (none / 0) (#59)
    by ricosuave on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 11:06:43 AM EST
    It is probably too early for Obama supporters to start joking about kicking Florida out of the union.

    Parent
    Don't worry (none / 0) (#35)
    by ricosuave on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:06:47 AM EST
    in a few more years, Republican gerrymandering won't be able to keep up with demographics, and this state will be more like Florida in national elections--a swing state.  I think it will be a longer time before we become solid Democratic electoral block, but that is bound to happen.  There is no way that the rural parts of the state and suburban Dallas can keep up with the growth of Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and the Rio Grande Valley.

    Whether we will stop competing with Saudi Arabia and China for executions is another question entirely.

    Parent

    I suspect you;re right (none / 0) (#37)
    by BobTinKY on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:07:45 AM EST
    and eagerly await the day

    Parent
    The magic of an election (none / 0) (#12)
    by Slado on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:39:41 AM EST
    It's only taken 2 months for us all to switch roles.

    BTD it was only a few years ago that the left was threatening to move to Canada, was calling Bush a Nazi (I'm not saying you), polticians where calling Bush a war criminal on and on....

    Now the dems are in charge and this is the plolitical environment we have all created.

    Some on the right are obviously taking full advantage of their new role as the angry minority and I have been nothing but amused at the all but predictable overreaction by the left that is eerily familiar to the ovveraction by the right just a few months ago when it was their guy in the hot seat.

    It's interesting (5.00 / 3) (#17)
    by BobTinKY on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:44:24 AM EST
    the angry left actually has places it would consider moving to, many of them (Canada, Western Europe to name a couple).

    The right threatens secession.  Why?  Because no other country exists where their nonsense would receive the entirely too respectful hearing it is afforded here.

    Parent

    maybe (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by candideinnc on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:57:37 AM EST
    It could be that no one would take them.  I think it is more indicative, though, of how provincial the thinking of the "secessionists" is.  They don't like furriners because fear guides most of their behavior.  People that are different from themselves--have an accent, are a different color, have a different sexual orientation--are a threat.  New ideas are a threat.  Change is a threat.  

    They need guns to protect them from all this scary stuff.  That makes them strong.  They support a massive military because that protects them.  Poor things are afraid someone is going to come and take all their stuff.  Well, surprise.  No one wants their junk.  Secede.

    Parent

    It is surely only through the grace of God (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by BobTinKY on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:10:31 AM EST
    that Texans were spared any hint of an accent.

    Parent
    There is a big difference... (5.00 / 2) (#19)
    by Blue Neponset on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:48:06 AM EST
    ....between a vocal bunch of angry, Lefty bloggers ranting about moving to Canada and the Governor of the second largest state in the Union saying his state may consider succession.  Don't you agree?

    Parent
    Certainly (none / 0) (#21)
    by BobTinKY on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:50:34 AM EST


    Parent
    There is a difference (5.00 / 3) (#25)
    by ricosuave on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:55:05 AM EST
    between some guy on a blog saying that we should kick out the northeast and a governor making a secession comment.  Every schoolkid in Texas learns that we can secede (we don't learn about the Supreme Court ruling mentioned above!).  But governors don't joke about it...that's just tacky.

    To your point, though, I don't see any overreaction to Perry's comment.  Overreaction would be congressional hearings, impeachment proceedings, criminal investigation, boycotts of Texas, renaming Texas Hold-em to "freedom holdem", etc.  What you are seeing is just reaction, not overreaction.

    Parent

    Difference being (5.00 / 2) (#38)
    by Steve M on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:10:07 AM EST
    This kind of stuff has so much mass appeal on the right that a Republican GOVERNOR feels free to toss around this kind of talk.

    I'd be surprised if you could find me an example of a Democratic governor suggesting everyone pack up and move to Canada.

    This kind of exemplifies why the mainstream has shifted over to the Democratic side over the last couple of elections.

    Parent

    The "mainstream" (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:26:02 AM EST
    has shifted over to the right-leaning Democrats side.  This has not been a seismic shift, hence we're still in Iraq, we still have FISA and worse, we'll probably have the most redacted torture memos released in history.

    Parent
    Excuse me (none / 0) (#24)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:54:52 AM EST
    I never threatened to go anywhere and Bush and Co are war criminals.

    It remains to be seen if Obama and Co. will become war criminals. Today is an important day on that score.

    Parent

    I am going to go out on a limb (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:01:43 AM EST
    and say with my fingers crossed that redactions will be minimal.
    god I hope so.  its such an important signal either way.

    Parent
    Are you talking about (none / 0) (#29)
    by ricosuave on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 08:57:46 AM EST
    the release of torture memos?  I look forward to reading about that here later on.

    Parent
    sequential headlines from DRUDGE (none / 0) (#42)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:17:07 AM EST
    GOVERNOR SAYS TEXAS CAN LEAVE THE UNION IF IT WANTS...

    Rick Perry's star rising...

    Well if TX tries (5.00 / 2) (#44)
    by BobTinKY on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:24:43 AM EST
    they're going to have to reinstate the draft in order to stop them.  I think too many of us would fail to see the point of volunteering in an effort to keep Texas in the Union.

    Parent
    the fact that anyone thinks (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:34:31 AM EST
    Gov Goodhairs star is "rising" says more about the state of the republican party than anything else.
    if him, the exorcist and the bane of mooses is the future of the party they are so screwed.


    Parent
    This is just a continuation... (none / 0) (#57)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 10:36:36 AM EST
    ...of the "populist" pap that the Moose Hunter was fermenting at her rallies, IMHO.  

    Parent
    I can relate.... (none / 0) (#43)
    by kdog on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:22:51 AM EST
    I'd like to claim some sovereign territory and opt out of this mess too...though for different reasons than the gov. and his brigade of teabaggers.

    Don't laugh (none / 0) (#46)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:28:18 AM EST
    They'll leave the union and join OPEC out of spite and we oil-loving Americans will be screw'd.

    Gee, maybe (none / 0) (#52)
    by KeysDan on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:45:51 AM EST
    I got it wrong on that FISA thing after all.  Looks like we will need to keep an eye or two on these subversives, starting with the Governor of Texas.

    LOL n/t (none / 0) (#54)
    by MO Blue on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 10:25:58 AM EST


    Parent
    Im tellin ya (none / 0) (#55)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 10:28:46 AM EST


    Parent
    I'm spoiled by California (none / 0) (#56)
    by blogtopus on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 10:34:20 AM EST
    We pretty much could secede and get away with it. Massive Defense Industry, Agriculture, International Sea Ports, Technology Center, etc. Then we'd have a civil war between North and South!

    It is rather funny though, how Canada and Mexico are the equivalents of Heaven / Hell for various people in our country.

    Secession | 60 comments (60 topical)

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