Back when Kerry lost to Dubya in 2004 I briefly thought maybe it would be better to take a chance and move to Canada. But it wasn’t just because of the election outcome, there was also the benefit of mostly polite and helpful people and decent healthcare for all. When conservatives experience the sting of democratic defeat, they react differently. In this case some of them are expressing their patriotism for America by demanding to be allowed to start another civil war and/or leave the nation:
Slate — But it’s the petition from Texas that has garnered the most attention: With 60,000 names attached, it’s well past the 25,000-signature threshold that usually warrants an official response from the Obama administration. Texas Gov. Rick Perry has weighed in, saying he doesn’t support the petition, even though he erroneously suggested in 2009 that Texas can leave the union if it chooses.
Since I live in Texas, with no small amount of shame, seceding sounds like a pretty bad idea. But it wouldn’t work out real well for the redneck fundy neo-confederate populace either. Texas would become a latino state within a generation or two, assuming democracy prevails and ethnic cleansing and genocide are held at bay. Some of the tea party wingnuts signing these petitions are Kentucky and Tennessee; which begs the question of how well the petitioners are versed in basic domestic geography.
But what’s most instructive here is how the right just can’t help itself. GOP leaders understand the demographics and a refreshing few are even voicing challenge to the near Orwellian stranglehold conservative grifters have on the base. The movers and shakers on the political side understand they have a serious, serious image problem (I and others would argue it’s far more than an image issue, it’s a core policy dilemma), but the nutcases can’t keep their yaps shut any better than the assorted nutball who feels oddly compelled to share his views on rape despite the electoral lesson of very recent history. After years in the Bush-era calling non conservative traitors and terrorists whenever a whisper of criticism was raised against neocon policies, they’re now so moved by love of their country that they want to … flee it or burn it to the ground.
They can’t rule the playground so they want to take their state and go home.
I think some of them really do believe the apocalyptic vision that they have been peddling. I guess they have been listening to themselves for too long, and have forgotten how to do a reality check.
America, love it or leave it.
Don’t secede, wingnuts, just go away.
Problem is, where they gonna go? Most countries where English is a common language are socialist. Maybe they can move to Uganda, where the government exercises Biblical methods of dealing with teh gays.
“…assuming democracy prevails and ethnic cleansing and genocide are held at bay.”
I had assumed that ethnic cleansing and genocide were among the primary motivators of the People’s Front of Redneck Fundy Neo-Con to split off. I’m vastly relieved to learn that I might be wrong about this.
If Texas seceded, I suspect Latino immigration would drop off substantially. What then?
I agree with you here: I’ve been pretty … bemused … at how much bloviating has been about the presentation of the message rather than the policies themselves. They failed because they didn’t polish the turd enough.
What then?
We’d soft-heartedly take them back in five years–but only if they accepted a ten-year moratorium on voting in national elections.
Somewhat OT: Wanna skew a poll at “Unskewedpolls?”
http://www.unskewedpolls.com/pepoll/
I’ve been saying this for years.
The Tea Party/GOP/fundie xian axis really hates the USA, the US government, democracy, and will destroy us if they can.
They don’t even try to hide it either. They say so often.
You would think the fundies would be leaving for the utopian xian libertarian utopias elsewhere. Of course, none such exist or can exist. Somalia is the closest thing and it is strictly BYOG, bring your own gun, and lifespans are 30 years shorter than American.
Who you calling polite and helpful, darn you!
LOL! Peacefully grant the city of Austin Texas to withdraw from the state of Texas & remain part of the United States.
I think the question is pretty well answered by the popularity of Confederate flags, “rebel” paraphernalia , and the phrase “The South will rise again” at my Northern Wisconsin high school. I doubt that the movement has smartened up much since I left.
Conservative bantustan! Let the arid, useless parts secede, and only allow the inhabitants to enter USA on short-term visas sponsored by Macdonalds, or other minimum-wage companies.
@8 – The reason why the South will rise again is that scum always floats to the top …
The Civil War pretty definitively established that states cannot secede from the United States. This is a matter of basic democratic principles. Once a sovereign entity has voluntarily entered a democratic federation, just being on the losing side in an election is not a justification for secession. If there were a special persecution imposed on residents of a particular state, i.e. at the level of ethnic cleansing, not merely being forced to offer health insurance, then secession might be justified. As long as the rights of electoral minorities are not abridged there is no legitimate grievance.
Of course, given Christian persecution fantasies, perhaps those inside the “bubble” actually think they are going to be cleansed. BTW, always remember that there is tremendous prestige in being persecuted if you are a Christian. After all, the alleged founder was persecuted by the Man. He also reputedly said, “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesars.” This would seem to indicate that they ought to be loyal to their country even when they lost an election.
It’s also not really fair to compare an individual decision to flee for bluer pastures to a political campaign for secession just because you lost an election. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the former. People ought to be able to choose where they live. The latter, however, suggest sour grapes of the highest magnitude.
Couldn’t Austin just link with south Texas and west Texas around El Paso and secede from Texas? It looks blue/purple enough on a county map. You wouldn’t have to root for the Cowboys anymore, and Texans could forget the Alamo. (Plus, they wouldn’t have to touch Mexico anymore).