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Rasmussen: Tea Parties "Prompt" Secession Question

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 11:09:59 AM EST
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Conservative pollster Scott Rasmussen writes:

The secession question was prompted by "tea parties" nationwide on April 15 to express frustration about the high level of new federal government spending. But President Obama has maintained solid approval ratings over the past month in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

Yes, the main Tea Party message turned out to be about secession. In case you were wondering, 70% of Texans are not as idiotic as their Governor - they know that Texas does not have a right to secede.

Speaking for me only

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    Rasmussen: Tea Parties "Prompt" Secession Question | 67 comments (67 topical)

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    It's really too perfect (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by andgarden on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 11:15:08 AM EST
    I don't see how the Republicans win anywhere north of Atlanta with a message like that.

    Whether they have a right to secede (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Cream City on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 11:18:30 AM EST
    seems to still be debated by Civil War historians -- but it doesn't really matter.  Whether even thirty percent want to secede doesn't matter, either.

    Perception of the tea parties, not secession, matters more.  And not perception by the antis who dismiss them, predictably.  What will be interesting to watch will be the less predictable impact upon the right -- and especially upon the alienated and more reasonable people in it who seemed to think that they had a chance to take back their party, before this ploy by the extremists.

    Sample of one: I asked my good (none / 0) (#9)
    by oculus on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 11:40:44 AM EST
    friedn, who is a Texan by birth and education, if school kids in TX are taught Texas can split from the US any ole time it wants.  She sd.. yes:  Republic of Texas. Not that she thinks that should happen.

    [ Parent ]
    Well (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by Cream City on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 12:41:02 PM EST
    at least they're learning some history.  

    Of course, Texas is infamous in the history field for controlling the history that the rest of the country's kids are taught.  For that reason alone, to bring reason back into K12 history texts, I'm all for their secession.

    [ Parent ]

    And Texas was the state that didn't (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by oculus on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 12:58:17 PM EST
    let the slaves know they had been emancipated until a couple years after the fact.

    [ Parent ]
    Hey (1.00 / 1) (#21)
    by jbindc on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 01:03:08 PM EST
    Better late than never, right? <snark>

    [ Parent ]
    Not funny. (5.00 / 0) (#29)
    by Thanin on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 02:13:31 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Ah yes... (none / 0) (#22)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 01:11:29 PM EST
    ...Juneteenth.  Always a very lively festival here.

    [ Parent ]
    If we lose Texas, (5.00 / 2) (#23)
    by KeysDan on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 01:46:22 PM EST
    I think the Union can get along just fine with the remaining 56 states.

    [ Parent ]
    This comment (none / 0) (#26)
    by Cream City on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 02:02:17 PM EST
    cracks me up; thanks.  Then again, whadda I know about geography, since I live on the Great Lakes and never thought that Oregon was a neighbor.

    [ Parent ]
    Took a second... (none / 0) (#66)
    by delandjim on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 06:36:21 PM EST
    It took a second to get the 'remaining 56 states' but that is rich. Thanks.

    [ Parent ]
    First heard of Juneteenth when I moved to (none / 0) (#27)
    by easilydistracted on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 02:02:37 PM EST
    Houston. The staff was partying with a regular cornucopia of the usual southern fare brought from home, like fried chicken, greens, moon pies and Big Red Soda. I asked what was up and learned about the tradition of Juneteenth.  

    [ Parent ]
    Now you've gone and done it, ED... (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 02:13:50 PM EST
    ...I got me a hankerin' for some fried chicken.  Not that KFC crap neither--something more like this.  

    [ Parent ]
    I can see I need to change my handle... (none / 0) (#32)
    by easilydistracted on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 02:26:33 PM EST
    "E D", well..it reminds me of a Viagra commercial. Kidding. Anyway, that looks like a rather tasty chicken joint. Rolls, beans, slaw, taters, gravy, cobblers, what more does one need. Is it good? Says the recipe is direct from their "Texas" kitchen. Where in Texas?

    [ Parent ]
    Oh, its good alright. (none / 0) (#33)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 02:38:03 PM EST
    I always stop in at least once during my visits out there.  The rolls are to die for and chicken is too.  

    Not sure about the TX connection though.  But hey, if its good enough for Oprah...

    [ Parent ]

    I christen thee... (none / 0) (#39)
    by kdog on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 03:26:32 PM EST
    Easy D for short...how's that work for ya my brother?  

    [ Parent ]
    Ah, yes, that does work (none / 0) (#40)
    by easilydistracted on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 03:28:39 PM EST
    my good friend. Tks.

    [ Parent ]
    My pleasure... (none / 0) (#43)
    by kdog on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 03:41:16 PM EST
    I think I called you "E D" for short once and didn't feel quite right about it either:)

    [ Parent ]
    As a retired teacher (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by Jjc2008 on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 02:00:02 PM EST
    my frustration with TX control of textbook content has been going on for a long time.  
    I remember some of the best reading series were cancelled out because of the TX religious rights' influence in TX politics.  

    And TX fake glory led us to NCLB.  

    I wish they would try to secede because honestly, the people living there would have to make a choice.... between nutcase right wingers and democracy.

    [ Parent ]

    All Those... (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by santarita on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 11:20:19 AM EST
    who fell for the Tea Party campaign by Fox should be allowed to migrate to Texas and push for secession.  Their migration would instantly increase the average IQ for the other states.

    Translation: (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 11:20:37 AM EST
    Texans know better but they still vote for these idiots.

    The "right to secede"... (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by kdog on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 11:41:00 AM EST
    of course Texas and any other state, county, city, town, you name it has the right to secede...all you have to do is draft a declaration of independence, have the people of the territory in question ratify it in some way, and mail it to Washington DC.

    Oh yeah, and send people with guns to your borders.  Voila! You're a sovereign country provided those around you don't fight it.

    We have any rights we want at our disposable, provided you claim them and defend them.

    All moot since it appears the majority of Texans are against sucession....but if a majority emerged for it, they have the right.  The question is would Washington try and deny the right?

    Rumor has it Texans have the guns. (none / 0) (#12)
    by oculus on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 12:11:07 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    I'd urge my "representation" (lol) (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by kdog on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 12:19:26 PM EST
    to let them secede without a fight...pursue your happiness Texas!

    [ Parent ]
    And, for the rest of the country.... (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 01:48:43 PM EST
    we would never have to worry about another POTUS from Texas.


    [ Parent ]
    Come on now.... (none / 0) (#28)
    by easilydistracted on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 02:09:15 PM EST
    Lyndon Johnson wasn't that bad, regardless of what Oliver Stone would have us believe.

    [ Parent ]
    Or Eisenhower (none / 0) (#38)
    by jbindc on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 03:14:37 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Indeed. How could I overlook Ike. (none / 0) (#42)
    by easilydistracted on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 03:35:17 PM EST
    Perhaps because he spent considerable time in Kansas, (I recall his library is located in Abilene, KS). But yes, a decent repub.

    [ Parent ]
    Trivia question (none / 0) (#44)
    by jbindc on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 03:42:14 PM EST
    Trip up your friends because most will also say Kansas.  

    Pennsylvania also claims Ike.

    You'll wow 'em at cocktail parties this weekend, my friend. ;)

    [ Parent ]

    Ya know...Now that I think about it, (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by easilydistracted on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 03:58:08 PM EST
    the presidents from Texas that posters complain about here are not really native Texans. They are nothing but interlopers from Connecticut (who probably left that state so they could avoid paying state income taxes). Hmm. Sorta puts a whole new light of the matter, doesn't it?

    [ Parent ]
    Really? (none / 0) (#46)
    by bocajeff on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 04:09:40 PM EST
    I saw a bunch of names printed on a black wall in Washington D.C. that might not agree...

    [ Parent ]
    Yes, sadly. But let's not forget the good (none / 0) (#47)
    by easilydistracted on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 04:26:15 PM EST
    social legislation from his watch that remains under constant attack today: civil rights legislation, medicare, medicaid and the war on poverty. A dem today could never get consensus on such an ambitious agenda even within his own party much less get it passed.

    [ Parent ]
    Oh, we can't really know (5.00 / 0) (#49)
    by Cream City on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 05:08:01 PM EST
    until a Dem tries.

    [ Parent ]
    That's right too, Cream... (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by easilydistracted on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 05:31:30 PM EST
    but that sorta underscores my point. Lyndon had the b**ls to not only try but to do it. He didn't take no for an answer, especially from those in his own party. I can't see that from any of the weak knees in our party today.

    [ Parent ]
    Yep. I guess I still can hold (5.00 / 1) (#57)
    by Cream City on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 07:05:33 PM EST
    the audacious hope that this Dem president will turn out to have that level of audacity, too.  But LBJ brought to the job that, um, experience thingy -- an incredible level of experience in Congress, not just 160-some days, and thus LBJ also had a lot of chits to cash in and knew where bodies were buried.  On the other hand, not since then have we seen a Dem enter office with so much political capital.  The circumstances of LBJ's accession gave him some considerable capital . . . but he also needed an RFK and an MLK on his back, and a media to do so.  Nobody fawned over LBJ.  So I guess it's not gonna happen again.

    [ Parent ]
    LBJ vs. Obama (none / 0) (#67)
    by delandjim on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 06:39:36 PM EST
    Now that is a picture.

    [ Parent ]
    According to Dave Barry (none / 0) (#36)
    by Jen M on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 03:08:29 PM EST
    They have the biggest fleet of armed pickup trucks in the world.

    [ Parent ]
    Yep. And on the bumpers of those massive (none / 0) (#37)
    by easilydistracted on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 03:12:17 PM EST
    dualies (I don't know how they spell it, you'll find the bumper stickers that read:
    "American by birth, Texan by the grace of God"
    No kidding.

    [ Parent ]
    I wonder (none / 0) (#19)
    by KeysDan on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 12:49:37 PM EST
    what Justice Clarence Thomas thinks of these rights?

    [ Parent ]
    In law school (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Steve M on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 11:57:36 AM EST
    one of the Con Law professors decided to give a midterm first semester, which none of the other professors were doing, so everyone was keeping a close eye on that class as it was the first preview we would get of what a law school exam looks like.

    The subject matter of the test turned out to be -- secession.  An extraconstitutional question by definition.  Totally unfair, and it freaked out the whole law school!

    Ha! (5.00 / 2) (#14)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 12:24:34 PM EST
    I just got a tea party robo-call.  A call center in Texas.  Talk about a day (or two) late and a dollar short.  

    Grassroot my skinny white behind.

    This is clearly (5.00 / 0) (#16)
    by JamesTX on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 12:28:59 PM EST
    the point where conservative Republicanism in Texas has "jumped the shark". At least now we don't have to take them seriously anymore.

    We shouldn't give them the dignity of seceding (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by MrConservative on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 03:02:43 PM EST
    Kick em out!  Good riddance!  There would be few better things for America.

    But, BTD - think of the practical side. (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 04:42:13 PM EST
    BTD: "70% of Texans are not as idiotic as their Governor - they know that Texas does not have a right to secede."

    However, that should not preclude the rest of us from giving Texas back to Mexico if its voters keep inserting these 25-watt dim bulbs into 100-watt sockets, provided the Mexicans would even want them. I fully realize that the testosterone-oozing denizens of the Lone Star State simply can't help themselves sometimes, but please, 15+ years of low-voltage wingnuttery calling the shots in Austin is quite enough.

    And if Texans ever do secede, we and our British allies can simply invade them for their oil, hire mercenaries to "restore order" by laying waste to the urban areas and countryside, and let them experience first-hand what it's like to be on the receiving end of heavy-handed military aggression and enhanced interrogation techniques. Yee-haw and yippee-kiy-yay.

    Donald, you got me thinking (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by jbindc on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 07:09:02 AM EST
    about a time (when I lived in Texas*) where an acquaintance was spouting off the whole "We were the only state that was a country, so we can secede again...blah, blah, blah."  He shut up when I pointed out that Hawaii, too, used to be its own country, and even had a queen.

    (*And for those who have never been there...while their politics are crazy, I have to admit that during the 6 years I lived in Texas [San Antonio, Houston, Austin, etc.], I met some of the nicest people I've ever met - as friendly, if not friendlier, than people I've met here on the east coast. And Austin is close to San Francisco in its liberalism).

    [ Parent ]

    You said it (none / 0) (#64)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 10:52:23 AM EST
    I've been to Texas only a couple of times for birding trips, and I was blown away by how nice the Texans were that I met-- friendly, open, courteous, and incredibly helpful and willing to go way out of their way to help us northerners out.

    [ Parent ]
    Empty suits.... (none / 0) (#63)
    by Rojas on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 10:33:47 AM EST
    We saw your heavy-handed military aggression and enhanced interrogation techniques. It will be sixteen years to the day come tomorrow morning. Did it for the children as I recall..

    And when Texans (Floridians and Californians) got caught robbing banks, they came and took them away. Sold the assets off to Wall Street for pennys on the dollar for the most part. Contrast to how the gluttons in New York and Conneticut are being shoveled cash for pulling off the big con...

    Blaming the rednecks cause you hate and don't understand them might make you feel better, but we might get better results if we started with the four Democratic Senators who's constituancy just stole the future from a couple generations of Americans.

    [ Parent ]

    Good Mornin all (5.00 / 2) (#61)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 07:19:51 AM EST
    In Yorktown VA today as my daughter moved here.  Kept hearing about the tea parties from time to time on the radio driving across the states.  In New Jersey it seemed to be about taxation and a state Democrat who traveled to some sort of instruction held about new bed bug problems on taxpayer funds.  I didn't know that Fox was inspiring all this.  To me, the tea parties provide an opportunity for parts of our culture that feel best served by authoritarian government to express some frustration because they feel uncared for, unprotected, or unsafe when their government doesn't work to inspire fear and suppression in the citizens.  Why weren't any of these complaints about taxes and budgets acted upon six months ago?  Things were even worse then as our tax dollars funded outrageous projects that in no way, shape, or form were going to improve the quality of our lives.

    DRUDGE says (none / 0) (#2)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 11:17:40 AM EST
    75%

    The bugkiller... (none / 0) (#6)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 11:23:20 AM EST
    ...disagrees with you BTD...

    Q: You can't secede from the Union!

    DeLAY: Texas was a republic. It joined the Union by treaty. There's a process in the treaty by which Texas could divide into five states. If we invoke that, and the last time it was voted on was 1985, the United States Senate would kick us out and nullify the treaty because they're not going to allow 10 new Texas senators into the Senate. That's how you secede.

    link

    Interesting. Much of this country (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Cream City on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 11:30:57 AM EST
    joined it by treaty -- such as the post-Revolution peace treaty with Britain for what became the (Old) North-West Territory (now states adding up to more than 10 Senators).  The point is that Texas treaty was different in its wording.  I'll have to go look it up for fun; thanks.

    For fun because, of course, our history is a long one of ignoring our treaties.

    [ Parent ]

    I think the bug man (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 11:35:09 AM EST
    is playing last years game.  I agree with the poster yesterday who pointed out that the demographics of texas is changing rapidly.  I think by the time the got around to doing this a democratically controlled senate might welcome 10 senators from texas because a good number of them could be democrats.

    but I hope the party keeps listening to him.  and governor goodhair.

    [ Parent ]

    He too (none / 0) (#15)
    by jbindc on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 12:28:09 PM EST
    Has never read Texas v. White

    The 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.


    [ Parent ]
    So a case in point (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by Cream City on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 12:43:00 PM EST
    as to my point that our courts historically have overturned our treaties, anyway.

    Ask Native Americans.

    [ Parent ]

    AmericaBlog contest to name the 5 new TX states (none / 0) (#31)
    by magster on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 02:21:29 PM EST
    I'm not clever enough to come up with 5 funny ones.

    Some already suggested: Alabubba, Hairtease, Dysfunctifornia...

    [ Parent ]

    Texahiway, (none / 0) (#41)
    by KeysDan on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 03:28:55 PM EST
    as in: my way, or texahiway.

    [ Parent ]
    Bubbalonia (none / 0) (#52)
    by desertswine on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 05:11:39 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Something implying (none / 0) (#55)
    by jondee on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 05:29:18 PM EST
    armadillo molestation, contaminated ground water, apocalyptic religious obsessions and their long term
    consequences to the gene pool.

    [ Parent ]
    West Texas (none / 0) (#50)
    by MKS on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 05:10:17 PM EST
    has Democratic bastion El Paso....So, one state could be New Pasico(???) as in next door to New Mexico.

    [ Parent ]
    Ha, reminds me of Tom Jefferson's (none / 0) (#51)
    by Cream City on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 05:10:33 PM EST
    names for the 17 states he planned that would come from the North-West Territory.  I have the map.  It's a hoot.

    He was quite fond of flowery Greek and Roman names, among the oddities.

    Thank heavens that I did not end up as an Assinissipian.  I think we know what our nickname would be.:-)

    [ Parent ]

    New Iraq n/t (none / 0) (#62)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 10:19:23 AM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Texas can't divide into 5 states without permissio (none / 0) (#35)
    by MrConservative on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 03:04:19 PM EST
    from the US senate.  Period.

    [ Parent ]
    I don't quite understand... (none / 0) (#53)
    by Sweet Lou on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 05:16:39 PM EST
    So the tea parties were about Texas' secession? Even the tea parties in Madison, St' Louis, and hundreds of other cities around the nation?

    Seems like there was a bit more to it than that.

    Oh, you understand just fine (none / 0) (#58)
    by Cream City on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 07:06:56 PM EST
    the librul slant on the story.

    [ Parent ]
    And I say that (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by Cream City on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 07:08:01 PM EST
    from nearby Madison, which had a huge turnout, you're correct on that.  Of course, Madison seceded from its state some time ago and just continues to live off the rest of us. :-)

    [ Parent ]
    In any case... (none / 0) (#54)
    by Sweet Lou on Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 05:18:11 PM EST
    Count me as one of the 70%...The REST of the country can secede from US ;-)

    I don't get it (none / 0) (#65)
    by KoolJeffrey on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 01:17:26 PM EST
    What is the logic behind flying American flags at these secession rallies?

    Rasmussen: Tea Parties "Prompt" Secession Question | 67 comments (67 topical)

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