Jaws_Victim: Why on earth is there a petition to secede in the first place? Shouldn't they be doing some kind of armed revolution instead? Why would the president look at 25k signatures and say "Oh yes, these people should decide what 25 million people in the state want!" And then allow the secession to take place?

Just showing how stupid they are. Again.

Actually what you just pointed out in your comment is showing how stupid everyone here is acting. I think you pretty much just showed why this is not a big deal and really shouldn't even be news.

Sexpun T'Come: Just go then.

I was thinking you were posting the song from Portal 2.

SocraticIrony: Texas seceding would be the greatest thing that's ever happened to the US. Without Texas's Congressmen, the Democrats would take the House and further their control of the Senate. Not to mention that without it's 38 electoral votes the Republicans would never have a chance at the White House ever again.

I think the biggest 'problem' is that if Texas secedes there may be 25 or so states that would gladly joint the new republic it created. Before you laugh, look at a globe from 30 years ago and then one from today, countries do it all the time.

"The White House may decline to address certain procurement, law enforcement, adjudicatory, or similar matters properly within the jurisdiction of federal departments or agencies, federal courts, or state and local government."

So no, don't expect a substantive reply.

heap: sethen320: I live in Texas yet I share none of the views which you are against. Are you saying you're somehow superior to me based on geography alone?

a texan poo-poo-ing somebody else over claims of geographical superiority.

i think we can unplug the internet now, we've now played out every possible scenario.

Did you even attempt to comprehend the question?

Did they ever respond to our petition over SOPA? 4.5 million signatures later?

sethen320: heap: sethen320: I live in Texas yet I share none of the views which you are against. Are you saying you're somehow superior to me based on geography alone?

a texan poo-poo-ing somebody else over claims of geographical superiority.

i think we can unplug the internet now, we've now played out every possible scenario.

Did you even attempt to comprehend the question?

....

that's all you get. it's the internet equivalent of a blank stare.

ModernPrimitive01: If Texas leaves the union where will I, as a liberal Tennesseean, be able to point and laugh at someone who is more backward than my home state?

/Mississippi I'm looking at you

Awwww, come on, we've got Arkansas right next door. It's ripe with backwoods hicks!!

sodomizer: You go be Democrats in the blue states and try out all your new theories. We'll secede, and then clean up when you implode like your inspiration, the Soviet Union.

Because the conservative party's inspiration is totally the Soviet Union.
Enjoy having your secession effort getting invaded by America like your inspiration, Nazi Germany.

sprawl15: Secession is unconstitutional. QED.

However, breaking into New Texas and Good Ol' South Texas in Jesus' Name Amenland IS constitutional. It's also... insanely complicated, but it's constitutional. Sometimes.

Burning_Monk: [s11.postimage.org image 276x164]

"I Am Disinclined To Acquiesce Your Request."

'ere ya go, guv'!

 

_{/the monkey's expression is amazingly appropriate}

Hebalo: Perducci: FirstNationalBastard: Give Texas back to Mexico, wait a couple weeks, watch as they beg to return.

Problem solved.

Or let them try to survive independently. Maybe they can join with Quebec and become some sort of new superpower.

Sure, nothing Texans like better than people who won't speak English, and think they're better than you. They'll get along famously.

They'll be fine - there will be a great trade of potato, cheese, and gravy recipes and much rejoicing.

keylock71: JackieRabbit: Just let them go. Pack them a lunch, give them a nickel for milk and send them on their way to be some other adult's problem. The loss of Texas will not be a loss. We can send Florida and Arizona with them to keep them company.

I disagree... The natural resources, land and everything built in those states is part of the Union.

If these morons are so pissed off about the black guy winning re-election, then they can take their sorry asses to another country more in line with their views.

Sure, they can try to secede by force of arms, but that didn't work out so well for them the last time they tried it.

Their petition only shows what morons they are. One doesn't petition to secede. One simply sends the president a letter of secession and recalls its Congressional delegation (and hope there's no 1860 reprise). In Texas' case, one of their biggest industries is the military, which several bases and major military contractors located there. It's way bigger than oil. All that will, of course, have to be moved to somewhere else, but hey, they won't have the big, mean, spend-happy, boated federal gub'ment telling what they can and can't do anymore. A few kids can go hungry for that cause.

DNRTFA but if I were the guy in charge of the response to this, I'd just respond with this link.

There is no law forbidding or allowing secession. If Texas or any other state decides to secede, the resulting peaceful separation or war will depend not on law, but on the will of whomever happens to be Commander-in-Chief at the time.

Texas ability to secede is easier than most because they were an independent country who decided to join the union. To opt out, according to the Texas Constitution, could be as simple as getting 50.1% on a ballot prop.

Response: We will allow anyone who has signed said petition to revoke their United States Citizenship........GTFO.

heap: sethen320: heap: sethen320: I live in Texas yet I share none of the views which you are against. Are you saying you're somehow superior to me based on geography alone?

a texan poo-poo-ing somebody else over claims of geographical superiority.

i think we can unplug the internet now, we've now played out every possible scenario.

Did you even attempt to comprehend the question?

....

that's all you get. it's the internet equivalent of a blank stare.

Let me go ahead and break this down so that you can fully comprehend what's going on. If I need to use smaller words let me know and I will repost.

My original question was in NO way implying that I was superior based on geography. I was removing the obvious negatives from the original argument and asking if I would still be looked down upon simply because I reside within a given boundary on a map, which seems somewhat silly. There was no malicious intent.

It was an attempt at an actual discussion rather than childish insults and , which apparently is not going to happen here. You read a very simple sentence, wanted it to mean something different, and instead of trying to use even a small amount of reading comprehehnsion, you chose to act like a child.

pxsteel: There is no law forbidding or allowing secession. If Texas or any other state decides to secede, the resulting peaceful separation or war will depend not on law, but on the will of whomever happens to be Commander-in-Chief at the time.

Texas ability to secede is easier than most because they were an independent country who decided to join the union. To opt out, according to the Texas Constitution, could be as simple as getting 50.1% on a ballot prop.

Hey, guess what? You are entirely wrong on all counts.

Only 77,237 signatures. And I thought everything was big in Texas.

Philip Francis Queeg: pxsteel: There is no law forbidding or allowing secession. If Texas or any other state decides to secede, the resulting peaceful separation or war will depend not on law, but on the will of whomever happens to be Commander-in-Chief at the time.

Texas ability to secede is easier than most because they were an independent country who decided to join the union. To opt out, according to the Texas Constitution, could be as simple as getting 50.1% on a ballot prop.

Hey, guess what? You are entirely wrong on all counts.

Well, at least he's consistent.

They have two choices:
1. Become a new country, separate from the United States and Mexico, or;
2. Become part of another country, like Mexico.

The latter option would be impossible for Texans to swallow; they worked so hard to steal that land in the first place, after all. So, it'd have to be the former.

Imagine the fun inherent in that option. We'd have to put up a border fence around Texas, to prevent Texans from illegally immigrating into the United States. They would have to work out a government that couldn't piss off either the United States or Mexico, because they wouldn't have either on which to depend. They would have to figure out a self-sustaining economy. Their cluelessness, both domestically and internationally, would result in some form of conflict - Texas would finally be a whole 'nother country, and in short order, one under embargo. As the only land access to Texas would be through either the United States or Mexico, and without a navy of their own, well, it wouldn't take much to guarantee that such an embargo would make Iraq's decade-long embargo seem like a field day by comparison.

The inevitable result is that either the United States or Mexico would reclaim Texas in a short conflict. If the United States was forced to reclaim Texas, we'd probably treat it as a federal territory, similar to Guam - Texans would lose their right to vote, and would no longer be U.S. citizens.

Texas passports would contain the phrase, "THE BEARER IS A UNITED STATES NATIONAL AND NOT A UNITED STATES CITIZEN." Texans would not be able to destroy public schooling, or screw up elections, or make idiotic proclamations that would be taken seriously by real U.S. citizens. Texas would become as relevant as, well, Puerto Rico - heck, even less so, as we may end up making Puerto Rico a state soon.

Texas out, Puerto Rico in. I could live with that.

This About That: Considering that Texas has not decided to secede, but only a whole lot of jokers and Internet loudmouths, I predict a stony silence from the White House.

The Texas Secession Movement is way more than just a few internet jokers. Even some of the politicians are supporting it. But you are correct. The White House should just ignore this.

Satanic_Hamster: Obama should respond just with internet meme macros. Either Quaker guy "Hah hah no" or Yotsuba "no."

You're a known troll account. Your opinion doesn't matter.

FormlessOne: Texas out, Puerto Rico in. I could live with that.

At least we wouldn't have to change the flag.

DoBeDoBeDo: Why would they respond with a picture of the guy who burned his way EAST from Louisiana?

IIRC, Sherman was Military Governor of Texas during Reconstruction. They probably still remember him, not necessarily with any fondness.

lostcat: How about the 25,648,681 Texans who don't want to secede just give these people a mid-sized town near the border and cut them off from all local, state and federal funds and services.

Heck, let them keep the roads, sewers, water and electric lines, schools, town hall, fire and police station, water treatment facilites, etc. Just no training or funding to keep anything of those things working.

There are some sections of US land, due to legal restrictions and the difficulty of building right on the Rio Grande, that are south of the border wall. They can have that.

Wow. 25k sigs out of 25M in Texas. That's like, an overwhelming majority, about 0.1%.

We should all take this very seriously.

Somebody needs to 'shop a sphincter over the star on a texass flag.

simplicimus: pxsteel: There is no law forbidding or allowing secession. If Texas or any other state decides to secede, the resulting peaceful separation or war will depend not on law, but on the will of whomever happens to be Commander-in-Chief at the time.

Texas ability to secede is easier than most because they were an independent country who decided to join the union. To opt out, according to the Texas Constitution, could be as simple as getting 50.1% on a ballot prop.

I don't if Texas kept that option after joining the CSA and rejoining the Union.

It was not a 'check box' option, the Texas Constitution simply states that the Texas people have the power of will. That is why it could be as simple as a ballot prop. Texas has had a very strong secede lobby for a couple of decades. This could get dicey really fast.

sethen320: Let me go ahead and break this down so that you can fully comprehend what's going on. If I need to use smaller words let me know and I will repost.

My original question was in NO way implying that I was superior based on geography. I was removing the obvious negatives from the original argument and asking if I would still be looked down upon simply because I reside within a given boundary on a map, which seems somewhat silly. There was no malicious intent.

It was an attempt at an actual discussion rather than childish insults and , which apparently is not going to happen here. You read a very simple sentence, wanted it to mean something different, and instead of trying to use even a small amount of reading comprehehnsion, you chose to act like a child.

i'm just going to assume that you're the only texan that has never met another texan, and are blissfully unaware of their proclivity towards proclaiming superiority based on their geographic origin.

because if i assume anything else, i have to wonder what part of the joke you not only didn't get, but decided to overreact to.

pxsteel: This could get dicey really fast.

Not as fast as it would be over.

Wenchmaster: DoBeDoBeDo: Why would they respond with a picture of the guy who burned his way EAST from Louisiana?

IIRC, Sherman was Military Governor of Texas during Reconstruction. They probably still remember him, not necessarily with any fondness.

"My aim, then, was to whip the rebels, to humble their pride, to follow them to their inmost recesses, and make them fear and dread us. Fear is the beginning of wisdom." - Sherman

heap: sethen320: Let me go ahead and break this down so that you can fully comprehend what's going on. If I need to use smaller words let me know and I will repost.

My original question was in NO way implying that I was superior based on geography. I was removing the obvious negatives from the original argument and asking if I would still be looked down upon simply because I reside within a given boundary on a map, which seems somewhat silly. There was no malicious intent.

It was an attempt at an actual discussion rather than childish insults and , which apparently is not going to happen here. You read a very simple sentence, wanted it to mean something different, and instead of trying to use even a small amount of reading comprehehnsion, you chose to act like a child.

i'm just going to assume that you're the only texan that has never met another texan, and are blissfully unaware of their proclivity towards proclaiming superiority based on their geographic origin.

because if i assume anything else, i have to wonder what part of the joke you not only didn't get, but decided to overreact to.

Would it make you feel better if I just agree with you? I was looking for an actual discussion, not this. Never mind.

sodomizer: You go be Democrats in the blue states and try out all your new theories. We'll secede, and then clean up when you implode like your inspiration, the Soviet Union.

2/10 (you did get a few nibbles, after all)

keylock71: Texas isn't going anywhere... Neither are the crybabies who signed these ridiculous petitions.

Give 'em a couple of weeks, these morons will find something else to be righteously indignant about besides a Democrat in the White House.

I agree with your first statement, but not the second. I'm sure they'll still hate the guy in a few weeks. Just sayin... 

/heap, care to misinterpret?

Perducci: FirstNationalBastard: Give Texas back to Mexico, wait a couple weeks, watch as they beg to return.

Problem solved.

Or let them try to survive independently. Maybe they can join with Quebec and become some sort of new superpower.

Thanks. All I can see now are Texans meeting up with French-speaking Quebeckers.

sethen320: Would it make you feel better if I just agree with you?

not really, but i'm always up for a good polka.

will you polka dance with me?

sethen320: keylock71: Texas isn't going anywhere... Neither are the crybabies who signed these ridiculous petitions.

Give 'em a couple of weeks, these morons will find something else to be righteously indignant about besides a Democrat in the White House.

I agree with your first statement, but not the second. I'm sure they'll still hate the guy in a few weeks. Just sayin... 

/heap, care to misinterpret?

sure - so you mean that you hate black people? WHY ARE YOU LIKE THAT?

sodomizer: You go be Democrats in the blue states and try out all your new theories. We'll secede, and then clean up when you implode like your inspiration, the Soviet Union.

I know what you mean. Just look since they elected Obama they only added 5 million jobs, doubled the stock market value and reduced the deficit spending by hundreds of billions, while having no major attacks and winding down a couple of wars.

The country sure did go to hell in a hand basket with Obama's communist works in place.

I'd love it if their response was something along the lines of "Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out. Oh, and if you'd be so kind, take Alabama and Kansas with you."

FirstNationalBastard: Give Texas back to Mexico, wait a couple weeks, watch as they beg to return.

Problem solved.

Texas: The American Quebec

What in the world is wrong with you people? So much ill will to a state of millions of people because seventy thousand people made a petition on a government website that will ultimately do nothing... I just don't understand...

I am from Texas. I do not think secession is a smart idea. But at least debate the topic using your brain instead of hopping to ridiculous conclusions that you pull out of your ass. "Oh the only thing left in Texas will be the dust left behind by the military vehicles leaving." "Can't wait for Sherman to come back and carpet bomb a city of millions of people who harbor no ill will towards me." "The nation will be so much better off without Texas since Democrats (who are totally infallible) can take control of the federal government, and we don't have support such a useless, worthless, and pathetic state that millions of people call home."

It's fine to disagree with the (stupid) idea of states leaving the union. But there is a fine line between disagreeing with a sentiment of <1% of the population and wishing ill upon the whole state of millions because of the <1%. To all who want to see Texas burn or see people die because their ideological perspective is different than your own, you should be ashamed of yourself. Dwell what it means to be an American.

heap: sethen320: Would it make you feel better if I just agree with you?

not really, but i'm always up for a good polka.

will you polka dance with me?

Can't dance. It's a curse, really.

shender: ...But at least debate the topic using your brain instead of hopping to ridiculous conclusions that you pull out of your ass...

I can tell that you're a very ambitious person.