Texas Republicans endorse legislation to allow vote on secession from US

[riversedge]

Source: the guardian





State’s part chairman, Allen West, is latest Republican to come out in support of declaring Texas an independent nation


Last modified on Fri 5 Feb 2021 13.42 EST



The Texas Republican party has endorsed legislation that would allow state residents to vote whether to secede from the United States.

In a talkshow interview, the party chair, Allen West, argued that: “Texans have a right to voice their opinions on [this] critical issue.

“I don’t understand why anyone would feel that they need to prevent people from having a voice in something that is part of the Texas constitution,” the former Florida congressman said of the Texas Referendum Independence Act. “You cannot prevent the people from having a voice.”

West is the latest Republican to come out in support of declaring Texas an independent nation. Last month, thestate representative Kyle Biedermann confirmed that he will introduce the bill for a referendum as early as this week........................

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/05/texas-republicans-endorse-legislation-vote-secession

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Each day gets crazier with Repugs!!

Link to tweet

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Allen West, Texas Republican party chairman, speaks at a Trump rally in Dallas on 14 November 2020. Photograph: LM Otero/AP
Kenya Evelyn in Washington

Link to tweet

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[underpants]

1. Texit

Well they do have their own power system.

I wonder where Ft.’s Hood, Bliss, and Sam Houston might go.

[ret5hd]

3. GD it! You beat me!

[MurrayDelph]

47. Power, water, border protection,

Immigration (passports), currency, Post Office, Military, currency, highway maintenance, rail systems.

I would say that I don't think they have thought it through, but they are Republicans; of course they haven't thought of the consequences of their actions.

[Grokenstein]

53. All about riling up the morons.

I mean, there's even an example, just across the pond, of such nonsense blowing up in secessionists' faces in real time, but it's not like the morons pay serious attention to anything outside of rightwank media.

[orangecrush]

102. Exactly.

[Lock him up.]

82. Hurricanes, Cat 4 & 5s

You're on your own cowboys... buh-bye.

[AZ8theist]

107. GO TEXAS!!!!!

And take Alabama and fucking Mississippi with ya....

[roamer65]

123. We will give it back to Mexico.

The cartels will then deal with the secessionists. My money will be on the cartels.

[FraDon]

2. hmm, getting a jump on South Carolina this time?

I say: they are welcome to succeed; but they must give up our land.

[bullimiami]

4. See ya! Take your congressfolk and senators with you. Won't miss you much.

Btw. Tolls going up on all roads crossing into USA.

[OldBaldy1701E]

40. Tolls?

More like what you see at the Mexican border. They want to be independent of the US, they get the same treatment as any other nation bordering ours. They will need a passport to get in. They can have that passport revoked for the slightest infraction, which means all those Texans who have family outside their borders may never be able to see them again. They can be deported from the US at any time, regardless of the reason for their visit. By all means, secede. Just know that the first time the loonies in Texas start making threats against the US government (as they usually do) they will not have the protection of the 1st amendment and will find that the US is both not amused and not willing to let things 'slide'. The Texas legislature has a very large mouth... let's see if they want to keep using it once they face a diplomatic incident and can't claim freedom of speech.

[tclambert]

111. Maybe there's room to negotiate here. Let them have West Texas,

you know, the desert part, for their new nation. All the secessionists can move there, and the loyal Americans can move to the eastern part of the state.

[Desert grandma]

5. YOU WILL NOT BE MISSED ALLEN WEST

Except for the Blue areas. They and the Rio Grande Valley can vote to stay part of the US. Regarding the rest of that state, not sure I have any use for any of it.

[Clash City Rocker]

6. Such proud American patriots

Reminds me of a song...

“By God we're so darn proud to be from Texas - yahoo!
Even of our pride we're proud and we're proud of that pride, too!
Our pride about our home state is the proudest pride indeed
And we're proud to be Americans, until we can secede.”

[louis-t]

7. Door.....ass.....

You get the idea.

[11 Bravo]

28. Doorknob strategically aimed.

[Talitha]

52. Spiked - like a mace...

[nature-lover]

8. West is not even a Texan. Was a Rep. from Florida. Came to TX in 2020. Please leave.

A member of the Republican Party, West represented Florida's 22nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013 and has served as Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas since 2020. Wikipedia

[KatyMan]

45. Yes- Please leave

And as a lifelong Texan (Mrs. KatyMan) this will not even be a close vote.

[Turbineguy]

9. They can do that because

they believe the military bases, NASA, and defense contractors will stay.

[SheltieLover]

20. Don't forget all "them gubmint checks!"

[NCjack]

59. USA will cut off your SS, Medicare, farm subsidities. Adios, Dummies.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

67. Texas is a "taker" state, getting more from the Federal government than it pays in.

The first thing we do is cut of foreign aid to the new nation. And close our military bases. And terminate government contracts with Texas firms. And move the Johnson Space Center out of Houston.

And bar entry to the U.S. from Texas because of COVID, just like we do other countries.

[SheltieLover]

109. I think most southern states are taker states

Love your idea, but we'd need to help Dems gtf out first!

[SheltieLover]

108. Yuppers!

[nykym]

10. I don't think so Alan

Current Supreme Court precedent, in Texas v. White, holds that the states cannot secede from the union by an act of the state.[4] More recently, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia stated, "If there was any constitutional issue resolved by the Civil War, it is that there is no right to secede."[5]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_secession_movements#:~:text=Current%20Supreme%20Court%20precedent%2C%20in,is%20no%20right%20to%20secede.%22

[CaptainTruth]

32. I was just going to post this! You would think someone from Texas would know Texas v White.

[KatyMan]

49. Except he is not from Texas. n/t

[Thekaspervote]

36. Thx for posting the official legal stance...so this nonsense is all for show and raising money!

[dalton99a]

113. +1

[Budi]

11. Mexico would move in to take their territory back..

If those RED counties think they hate Hispanics now...Gohmert would scream himself into a coronary.
Hey BETO speaks perfect Spanish.
The white Texas racists don't.

Actually, isn't it in the Constitution that a State cannot just vote themselves off the island?
Correct me if I'm wrong on this. The subject was argued down another time the Reds wre suggesting this.

See post #10
Thank you

[Stallion]

16. Supreme Court Decision

"The Union of the States never was a purely artificial and arbitrary relation. It began among the Colonies, and grew out of common origin, mutual sympathies, kindred principles, similar interests, and geographical relations. It was confirmed and strengthened by the necessities of war, and received definite form, and character, and sanction from the Articles of Confederation. By these the Union was solemnly declared to 'be perpetual.' And when these Articles were found to be inadequate to the exigencies of the country, the Constitution was ordained 'to form a more perfect Union.' It is difficult to convey the idea of indissoluble unity more clearly than by these words. What can be indissoluble if a perpetual Union, made more perfect, is not?"

https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/74/700

[EarnestPutz]

19. You've got to love how perfect the English language can be.

[roamer65]

126. There is no specific secession formula in the Constitution.

Via the 10th Amendment, all powers not specifically declared in the Constitution are left to the states and to the people.

So, any secession referendum that may pass, will immediately be pushed to the Supreme Court.

[SheltieLover]

22. Putin's wet dream for sure

Can't we just send them one-way forever to russia? (Chumpers, not normal Texans.)

[TryLogic]

63. Putin is loving it. His goal ever since the Soviet Union broke up.

[bdamomma]

90. Putin

yes I agree this is his goal. But Repigs/Q's are crazy they don't have brains in their heads to "secede".

[SheltieLover]

104. Yup

And they've been grooming chump & other repukes all the while.

[keithbvadu2]

46. Does Rafael Cruz speak Spanish?

[COL Mustard]

70. It's Cruz

Gotta spell it right!!!

[bronxiteforever]

12. Now a big flashing sign is up. Texas is bad for business

Good luck getting professionals to move to your state. Who would want to start a business there. Incredible market instability.

[PirateRo]

13. This is Russian bullshit

Missed a major point of the civil war. There is no succession. You can legislate until your ass falls off.

[stillcool]

14. Steve Bannon has a wall to sell

[robbob]

39. And another yacht to buy,

I’m sure.

[gfwzig]

15. We'll take DC and drop Texass temporarily.. then show the Meal Team 6 members what the military is

[3Hotdogs]

17. Don't let the door hit wiz.....

[OAITW r.2.0]

18. Sounds like a Party that knows it is on it's last legs.

The only way Republicans can stay in power is if they secede. Good luck with that when 50% of the population doesn't agree with your plan.

[randr]

21. How long before Mexico takes it back?

And who will come to their defense now that the Alamo heroes are long dead?

[DFW]

24. What if they don't want us?

Then what?

[DFW]

23. A Florida Congressman wants to lead Texas in Secession.

The only legal foods after secession will be New York strip steak, California roll, Rhode Island style calamari, Maryland crab cakes and Boston Cream Pie.

[PatSeg]

25. Allen West is in Texas now?

Oh jeez!

[dalton99a]

114. Yep, he's now 1,000% native Texan

[PatSeg]

115. So transferring a little Florida crazy to Texas crazy

I hadn't heard anything about him in a long time. It was as if the Trump/MAGA crazy drown out his voice.

[NRaleighLiberal]

26. please proceed!

[dobleremolque]

27. Wait a minute, wait a minute! That Texas flag

in the photo HAS GOLD BRAID AROUND THE EDGES!

Isn't that a sign that they're secretly pledged to the Corporations??!!?? At least that's what my wife's beautician whose daughter-in-law is married to a Oath Keeper who is also a preacher says. /snark

Jeez. These guys are so far down the rabbit hole I bet all they can see is Victorian wallpaper.

[CaptainTruth]

34. I thought the gold fringe meant that maritime law applied?

Yea, I go down those rabbit holes occasionally, just for entertainment.

[Liberty Belle]

29. Sell Texas to Mexico, problem solved.

[nykym]

33. Maybe we can tade it for

Greenland!

[Jon King]

30. One problem...Texas is turning blue...

ALl the tech companies that moved there, the suburbs, demographics....Texas will be blue within 10 years so not sure how that helps them.

[Dustlawyer]

85. Another problem is that me and my family are there and have been for generations.

Kind of disheartening to have worked with others to turn Texas blue and many here are still quick to blow us off due to our outspoken idiots. We are beating them and yet I see comments like “good riddance” and “Don’t let the door hit you...”

Would be nice to see comments like “enjoy it while you can before Democrats take over...” or some such.

I am an American born and bred. Those of you who would so easily let us go, please don’t be so quick to write us off (not aimed at Jon King).

[Normanart]

95. As long as the idiots hold political office

Texas Democrats will be working to remove them. Keep up the good work and turn Texas BLUE! And every other RED state!

[jtb653]

106. Agree.

I think almost half of the state must be Blue by now.

Let West and the rest of them move to another country if they don't like this one.

We're keeping Texas.

[area51]

118. Thank you from a fellow Texan.

[AirmensMom]

31. How'd that work out for them last time?

Asking for a friend.

[CaptainTruth]

35. They can secede individually by packing up & moving to another country. It's a win-win.

[kellytore]

37. This is only a ploy to raise money.

The Rethugs have seen how easy it is to pick the pockets of their supporters by coming up with some conspiracy or whacky idea. Mr. West is just trying to get his share of the pot.

[slumcamper]

38. b-BYE! n/t

[LiberalFighter]

41. Surely as a retired career military veteran he can be charged with something.

[PatrickforO]

42. THE UNION MUST AND WILL BE PRESERVED.

To secede means war.

[modrepub]

43. Don't Forget to Pay Your Share of The Bar Tab On The Way Out

Republicans have been so focused on the Federal deficit (when not in power). Let's see if secession means they'll pay their fair share on the way out the door. More likely they'll try and stiff us.

[Sancho]

44. Can the panhandle succeed from Texas?

[LongtimeAZDem]

48. Revoke their Statehood, and install a Territorial Governor

[alphafemale]

50. Tell them they'd have to give their scooters back NT

[TwilightZone]

51. There's no support.

Polls have shown for years that the public has no interest. The pro side rarely breaks about 25%.

[Deuxcents]

54. Really?!

Did the good people of Texas realize they’d have to fund their Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines? Did these fund their own FEMA as hurricanes happen a lot there? SS, healthcare, education, etc. they get more in Federal funds than they give.. hope they know that.

[farmbo]

55. It's a deal...If we can keep the Republic of Austin...

We’ll pay to give the rest back to Mexico!

[3825-87867]

56. That gasp you just heard was from the rest of the Republicans

Kiss off a LOT of automatic Republican Electoral Votes not to mention the loss of all those Texass House CRitters.

Why shucks, Gomer. That could hand the Dems a 50 year control of all three branches!

Yippee Ki-yay

[olddad65]

58. I don't live in Texas, but I'm a big fan of this idea.

Texas isn’t really part of the US anyway.

[badboy67]

60. Here they go again!

Last time these turd blossoms flew their Don’t tread on me BS “flags” and slapped SECEDE bumper stickers on their pickup trucks was 2008.

With Texass gone, the GOP can’t ever get back into the Oval Office ...

[Yeehah]

61. You ran home crying to your mommies the last time you tried this

dumbasses.

[MissMillie]

62. Wait til they figure out

that the services people want from their government actually cost money... and that taxes will be involved.

[Nocturnowl]

64. Secession? No. Expulsion!

Of every state that is a) Below the Ohio River and b) East of the Mountain Time Zone. Let 'em have their freakin Theocracy, with Jeeeeeeesus as Head of State and Trump as President for Life! And maybe Death, too. Remember how the Soviets preserved Lenin's corpse for public display? Well, we all know that Donnie luuuuuvs him them Russians!

[AllaN01Bear]

65. then you should loose your seats in the senate and house .

every thing that belongs to us , should be shutdown. loose all your aid to help everything gone . all military bases shutdown. you are only hurting yourself . ps we did this quite a while back and they lost too.

[Maxheader]

66. bu bye..

[Jay25]

71. Well done, and endorsed.

[Tarc]

68. "Oh, way down South in the land of traitors, rattlesnakes and alligators, run away, run away"

Apparently the Rebs didn't learn the lesson back in 1861-1865, and need to be taught again to mind his Uncle Sam.

[LeftInTX]

73. LOL - Never heard that before

[COL Mustard]

69. If They Wanna Go, Let Them

As long as they never, ever, want to come back again.

They want to starve? Let 'em. Good luck....but not too good.

[jmowreader]

72. Second verse, same as the first

Republicans are nothing if not predictable. Every time we get a Democratic president, Texas always talks about seceding from the Union. They can't actually do it - the state is way too dependent on those massive military bases, for one thing - but it sure must be fun to dream about being an independent nation again.

[Gore1FL]

74. Does this make Alan west ineligible for his military pension? nt

[TomSlick]

75. Secession worked so well last time.

I'm betting that every session of the Texas legislature starts with the Pledge of Allegiance - "on nation, under God, indivisible...."

[LeftInTX]

76. Not gonna happen...sorry DU

The bill's author only got 2 committee assignments - normally these red blood types would get good assignments on powerful committees and be awarded as chair. .He's on veterans and land resource management committees. (Kinda like when McCain was on Indian Affairs all those years)

[Galraedia]

77. Well I guess that's one way to remove Ted Cruz from the US Senate.

[weissmam]

78. Think about it

all the people in TX would loose there
Medicare
Medicaid
Social Security
Pull all the Military out
Cancel their passports
lets not forget the mail

They wouldn't last week

[electric_blue68]

79. Besides there are genuine Liberals & Progressives in Tx.

I know a few. ❤️

[catrose]

84. Like me. I wonder if I could sell my property and buy something elsewhere.

[electric_blue68]

86. One is really a friend, others are newer acquaintances...

and two new acquaintances moved from Tx to Fla ?x years ago.

The friend in Tx still loves being Texan despite the
crazee conservatives. And I don't think she and her husband who's pretty disabled could afford to move anyway.

[catrose]

87. That's pretty much our situation. I don't say I'm happy here though.

The crazies are closing in.

Good luck to your friend.

[electric_blue68]

88. :( Sorry to hear that! Stay safe.

[catrose]

91. Trying! Of course, we hardly go out at all, which is its own protection

[electric_blue68]

97. That makes sense.

I, too, usually just make quick runs a block plus away for regular type shopping every 2-3 days. Fully double masked, 6 ft distance now (but I'm blessed to.live in generally more liberal city!). A monthly run to the drugstore out of my nabe but about 3/4 mile away. If I wasn't near the top of a hill in pleasent weather I might even walk one way... The pharmacy is partly up a hill in the opposite direction than my hill. The Bronx is the hilliest in general of NYC's 5 Burroughs.

Maybe once or twice in a 4 - 9 week period I fairly travel to really go out of my area for special food, or prepped meals, home good supplies, art or craft supplies. Less in out in colder weather.
I was feeling both excited and surreal when I visited one of my favorite parks last ?early Sept '20 for the first time since Oct '19. That one I usually visit a few times a year.

I've met my only sibling only 3 times since cv19 shut down in early March '20. We usually get together once every ?4-6 weeks. Occasionally a little sooner than 4 wks for extra special stuff - cool events in the city.

Ok enuff talk!

You live a city, the burbs, or further out?
My people are generally in cities, medium size towns, a few in more spaced out suburbia out side of their towns.

[Rebl2]

80. Fine with

me. You do this then you should lose all social security, Medicare. Hurricane damage you will have to take care of that on your own now. No help from US. Lose all your military bases and that will hurt your workforce. Yep. Sounds like a good move to me-not.

[C Moon]

81. They did this with Obama too.

They're a bunch of sore loser babies, who need to be spanked.

[moose65]

83. These people are such dimwits

What? They love America so much that they’re willing to tear the country apart, not to mention handing the Democrats the Presidency for the foreseeable future? They ain’t the brightest bulbs in the chandelier 😆😆

[twin_ghost]

89. That is fine. If they vote to succed then they lose SSI, Medicare & Medicaid.

They also will have to negoiate trade deals to get food from the USA.

All the retirees can fend for themselves.

[ellie]

92. Well, bye

[EndlessWire]

93. What a waste of money.

I guess Trump can be their President.

I sure would make them pay to rejoin, once they come to their senses. Do they think this will be business as usual?

[W T F]

94. Well, that's one way of getting Ted Cruz out of Congress, and take 2 Senate seats from Republicans 😎

[Scalded Nun]

96. That fucking West is just a piece of shit

Let them do it. I'm leaving the state anyway for bluer pastures. Too old and cannot wait any longer. Personally, I'd like to see the faces on the assholes in this state when the DoD pulls everything out. Texas cannot survive without DoD. Sad thing is this state used to be something you could be proud of. Now there remains only shame, and hate.

[usajumpedtheshark]

98. That should make Elon Musk happy

[BradBo]

99. A black man...

... is spearheading a drive to allow Texas to succeed. The first law they would pass if successful is to allow slavery of blacks. Fucking hilarious!!!!!

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

100. And the week after secession Mexico takes it back.

[The Jungle 1]

116. yup

[roamer65]

124. ...and then the Mexican cartels move in and the secessionists will be finished.

[thenelm1]

101. The Republican party must be shaking in their boots at this prospect.

Losing 2 R senators and 20+ house members? Boom!! While we wait on hopes that the state MIGHT go blue in the future?

You gotta know that many Texans might love the idea on it's face. But will they actually stop and think of the total consequences of such an action, like the removal of federal facilities or the stoppage of federal funds?

Move that wall!!

[Mr.Bill]

103. They should not be allowed to take ZZ Top with them. n/t

[NBachers]

105. I have an immigrant friend from Shanghai. She likes to keep me posted on the news items she

receives from her China-centric news sources- I get to see the slant that's coming from that part of the world. This story is getting pushed from those sources.

[tclambert]

110. Can't they be removed from office under the 14th Amendment?

Section 3 says, "No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability."

[MySideOfTown]

112. LOL

About half or more of Texans aren't going to want to secede: Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso. So where are the secceners going to go? Amarillo?

[The Jungle 1]

117. Hope they hurry up and make up their mind cause we have to move the fence.

Yo there are plenty of boats and airplanes. You don't like America then get the fuck out.
Just imagine how great we can make America without all those texass electoral votes.
It is an ugly ass state anyway.

[artemisia1]

119. He is now MISTER West and no longer Lieutenant Colonel West (Retired). As far as I am concerned,

he has violated his oath and shredded the officer's code of conduct. Some of us took our oaths seriously... some, despite their combat experience, apparently don't.

[RussBLib]

120. cannabis? NO! secession? Yes! n/t

[penbo]

121. Hmmmm.....Will their industry that employs them stay or go? ooops?

the chain reaction that will follow them to the end.
Who would want to buy products made in Texas?

[SpankMe]

122. Why is this such a big deal?

Why do people want to keep "the union" together so badly? Why do so many object to deep red crackpot states leaving the country? Or bright blue and awesome states leaving, for that matter?

I say, let them go. Let's do it by some kind of treaty. We don't need guns or violence or insurrection. We need the will and innovative spirit to get it done.

We'll never be unified again. We should stop trying.

[roamer65]

125. If they vote for secession, throw the border wide open with Mexico.

Re-establish the border in NM, OK, AR and LA.

[maxrandb]

127. If the vote to secede fails

Can we vote to expel Texas?

[EndlessWire]

128. LOL! n/t

[EndlessWire]

129. They're pouting because

they lost the Battle of Lake Travis!

[CRK7376]

130. How did that secession thing work out for you last time?

Go for it you stupid assclowns and be crushed. You will lose. Good riddance otherwise!

[BlueWavePsych]

131. Too late. With Stacey Abrams and Beto we can ...