DUers from TX, exactly how popular is this secessionist movement(? ) there?

[Skidmore]

Martin Bashir just ran a video of some guy from TX whining about how their rights and culture have been stripped from them and that they are going to quit playing nice with the rest of us and leave.

I see these statements being made periodically on national shows but am wondering about what the average Texan says when someone makes those statements in --say-- your average social event. How much traction do they have?

[ChisolmTrailDem]

1. I live in red Texas hell but I have no idea because I

do everything I can to avoid wasting any time on these idiot's bullshit. Most of the people I come into contact with here are stupid as a tree stump.

[im1013]

28. I can totally relate.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

33. Yup, they are really ignorant and proud of it here in East Texas.

Lady that works at one of the banks has a math degree and also studied Latin, but said she doesn't believe in evolution and "doesn't want to talk about it".

[Downwinder]

2. I hope Bashir told him good bye. Read a good post a week or two

ago on the origin of "cowboy".

[RussBLib]

3. who knows?

I don't consort with anyone stupid or naive enough to actually think that Texas should secede. It's just Texas swagger, esp on the part of the real wackos. If any of them actually think it could happen, they should be committed.

[Downwinder]

4. Do you need more than this? Even Perry quit talking about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Texas_%28group%29

[Paladin]

5. I Don't Think There's Much To It.

And I say that as a life-long Texan with a good number of conservative friends (sorry folks, I don't administer purity tests, unless somebody's really gotten obnoxious). There doesn't seem to be be anything in the way of organized efforts to make it happen---no public rallies, no angry emails, no newspaper call-to-arms announcements, no politicos making demands, nothing. Every once in a while I see a faded "Secede!" bumper sticker on a pickup, and that's about it.

Keep in mind that 3.3 million Texans cast votes for Obama, and Obama prevailed in most of the big cities: Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio. And state demographics really are trending away from the lilly-white Republican power structure we've been burdened with for so long. I remain hopeful for the future.

[kentauros]

39. I remain hopeful about my home, too :)

I also remain hopeful that our DU-enemies will get a clue and shut up about it already!

[blogslut]

6. Texas is home to over 25 million Americans

That stupid petition has a bout 125,000 signatures.

The secessionist thing has always been a fringe thing.

[TeamPooka]

12. yeah but which way would the state go if they could vote on it? Seriously

[blogslut]

14. It's not going to happen because it can't be done.

There is no clause or law or special rule that allows Texas to secede. Our state legislature may be insane but they're not yet barking mad.

[TeamPooka]

15. it's a hypothetical question

[blogslut]

17. I don't much care for hypotheticals.

Sorry.

[Bjornsdotter]

7. Not from Texas...

....but a few of my friends are and every one of them belongs to some type of group promoting the idea of leaving the union on Facebook. However they are all very conservative and scary religious.

[snooper2]

8. Oh it's fucking everywhere...the checkers at Krogers have pins calling to secede

Every other car has a bumper sticker with it..

Local radio and tv talk about it on a daily basis-

Shit, some DJ's are even starting to sponsor events to cover costs with starting our own nation!


We don't really want to keep Brownsville though so the thought is we will give that to Mexico to get some favorable items in our new treaties that are being drafted. You should come on down while the gettin' is good!!!

[Paladin]

24. Did You Forget A Sarcasm Notice?

I think if the seccession thing were as prevalent as you claim, I would have heard about it, by now.

If you were blowing smoke, come clean about it, OK? The Texas-haters here at DU don't need any additional encouragement.....

[narnian60]

29. Good grief! What part of Texas is this??

I live in SE Texas & have not seen this bumper sticker ever.

[kentauros]

41. I know you're being facetious

but do understand we have some members here that will be taking you seriously, and your kidding around just encourages them to be even more dickish.

[snooper2]

47. amazing but looking at the two other replies you are right

people fucking crack me up

[newfie11]

9. Damn if Texas seceded I would be an illegal alien

[Lone_Star_Dem]

10. I only ever had one person mention it to me in the past several years.

Due to the nature of my work I'm around a very large and diverse amount of people, I'm in no way sheltered from the masses out there. I've only had one person bring it up, I pointed out several reasons why Texas would be totally screwed if we lost our federal monies and I've never heard a peep out of them about it again.

I think there's a group called the 'Texas Nationalist Movement' holding some kind of rally in Austin today. I only heard about it because I read it on DU. There's nothing in the news about it at all down here. We try and pretend those nuts don't exist. Kind of like the rogue uncle the family never invites to weddings sort of scenario.

[Gothmog]

11. It is mainly the nut cases who are talking about this concept

IRL, I have not heard anyone seriously discussed this concept. It appears that it is mainly the nut cases who are pushing this concept and these people are not taken seriously.

[TeamPooka]

13. forget seccession: Let's sell it back to Mexico.

[Paladin]

30. And The 3.3 Million Texans Who Just Voted For Obama Can Just Go Fuck Themselves, Right?

Texas isn't going to secede, and there's no sale happening with Mexico. Throw another log on your fire up there in New England, bask in your superiority complex, and spare us such drivel.

[TeamPooka]

31. We'll keep the 3.3 million and give Mexico half off.....

[nadinbrzezinski]

34. I keep telling this

But Mexico does not want it. The border fence would be completed on both ends.

[Paladin]

38. Transform Texas Democrats Into Political Refugees?

How big-hearted of you.....

[kentauros]

46. I'll back you up,

if and only if the entire north east (your beloved home of New England) is given in its entirety, part and parcel, back to the Native Americans. Mind you, that's given, not sold. Y'all don't even get to make one red cent on it. Think the rest of the north east will go for that, like in the same way you want to divest yourself of Texas?

[TeamPooka]

49. okay

[kentauros]

50. All right then, get started!

Of course, it means you'll have to shut up about selling off Texas and/or supporting their secession until you fully accomplish giving away New England.

[hughee99]

16. From what I understand (relatives in Texas), it's as popular there as it is in Vermont.

Which is to say, "not very".

[hobbit709]

18. About as popular as a case of poison ivy in the nether regions.

[tanyev]

19. The topic never even comes up with any of the average Texans I talk to.

[johnsolaris]

20. trends & truth

Hi,

Texas has a population as of last census of over 25,600,000. Maybe 100, 000 idiots have signed the secession petition, so shall we do the math. Over 25 million Texans do not want to Secede.

Texas like the rest of the country is trending away from the Republicans. As "Paladin" noted in his post, all the major cities voted Democratic & Dallas county has a elected Sheriff that is Lesbian & Hispanic. How is that for a trend.

The Major population cities in the country Voted for Obama & most of the Rural counties voted Republican. That holds True in most States, even Liberal ones like California & New York. The cities have the most voters.

The Secessionist & Republicans have learned the old Business cliche, The Squeaky wheel gets the most oil. In Plain English, They are just a bunch of loudmouths. Listen at your own Risk.

[juajen]

21. I have a very good conservative friend in Texas.

He send me a text after I asked him to elucidate on a remark, that simply said "secede". I texted back thusly. A large portion of your Texans are democrats. Where ya gonna put em? He sorta checked out.

Not only where ya gonna put em?, but, a large number of them have guns also. So, civil war in Texas? He really couldn't wrap himself around this discussion. The facts are just not on his side and he knows it. Bless his heart!

[Rex]

22. Around these parts it is an urban legend, I never hear it

and I live in a very red part of south Texas.

[AgainsttheCrown]

23. Anecdotally speaking....

*A majority of Texas voters re-elected Rick Perry after he dodged debating a pretty damn good candidate. In fact I recall Bill White technically being endorsed by the Midland Reporter Telegram in their endorsement of Rick Perry (because he's on Team R).

*I had these discussions a few years ago and I had a looooooong argument with two co-workers about secession about a week after this last election.

*And I've seen a few of the secede bumper stickers on co-worker's personal vehicles. (I'm a cop)

So my thinking is that if a majority can repeatedly elect a dumbass by a healthy margin anything is possible.

And if people in a profession such as policing, in which the professionals are supposedly impartial arbiters of facts (yes I know ) , can arrive at the conclusion that we should secede..then I think it's certainly a possibility and not that far out of the mainstream. I really think they just need a charismatic leader to give them a shove in that direction.

[LeftInTX]

25. It's fringe group, just as every state have their fringe groups

Now you will get some mainstream types who put "SECEDE" bumper stickers on their car and rowdy types that will shout it out in rallies, but its nothing serious.

Texas has a had a secession movement for a very long time, but it's about as mainstream as Warren Jeffs and David Koresh. Usually there is a criminal element involved.

[Texasgal]

26. Most people think it's stupid ...

Including Republicans. An really, it *is* stupid.

Seems the people that are even remotely interested are people that do not even live in this state.

[justabob]

27. I see the bumper stickers, but

I rarely interact with anyone that mentions it as anything but foolishness, even the republicans. The secessionists are just noisy.

[TeamPooka]

32. just like in Alaska. nt

[Ter]

35. Not popular enough

n/t

[onestepforward]

36. On my glaring red local message board,

it was only lightly mentioned by less than a handful. It's not a serious topic and was dropped.

[quakerboy]

37. Less popular than the one in Quebec.

Likely less so than in Ireland, Cyprus, Sicily, Catalonia, Basque country, flemish Belgium, and a few others, I expect.

[MineralMan]

40. Maybe we could just let the county that holds Waco, Texas secede.

They could form a new country called Moronia. Then, they could get foreign aid from the US to keep themselves afloat.

[Burma Jones]

42. You have to remember that there's a LOT of weird in Texas

I've lived there and still have a lot of family there....Texas is big and a place of extremes.

Amongst my Texas relatives, most of them GOP, this sort of stuff makes them chuckle.

[dembotoz]

43. may i suggest we put them on the nra list of folks too crazy to own a gun?????

125,000 is a good round number to start the list with.

make the nra happy--crazy people with no guns

make rest of the county happy--crazy people with no guns

as for the folks on the list--who cares--they are crazy

[derby378]

44. WHAT secessionist movement?

I don't see any evidence of it anywhere in Dallas. Heck, I went out west at least as far as Seymour last month, and I still didn't run across any breakaway sentiments.

[ellie]

45. How I feel about states seceding: Well, 'bye.

[Javaman]

48. Checking in from Austin...

It's not.

It's limited to the fringe morons that have always existed in Texas in one form or another.

It's virtually non-existent in the cities and is more popular with the libertarians living in the sticks.

This kind of things pops up for one reason or another every few years.

Mostly it has to do with some moron in the Texas house, having been recently elected, paying lip service to one of these groups by allowing them to push whatever half wit agenda they feel is "important" and the house member feels will garner him or her the most votes in their district.

After it's floated, it usually vanishes off the radar after a few months.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying these people aren't certifiably crazy and aren't dangerous, but they are very vary far (like living on pluto) from having any "ground swell" type support for their crazy-ass inanity.

[LanternWaste]

51. Even my most sub-literate and knuckle-dragging conservative neighbors

Even my most sub-literate and knuckle-dragging conservative neighbors, family and co-workers chuckle at it, as we all do such fringe movements The Aztlan crowd, the gaggle of Birchers, the LaRouche club, etc. are fodder for chuckles and "bless-your-little-hearts" from the Dallas suburbs to the dusty plains of San Angelo.

[ceile]

52. I've never heard anyone mention it.

Not even my right wing in-laws in east TX.

[Richardo]

53. I'm in Houston and I never hear any talk of it - not even in the Letters to the Editor.

...and those can be very right wing.

[PurpleEngineer]

54. No Secession, but

I wouldn't be at all surprised if some group would start to support the creation of an additional state (or states) per the joint resolution to annex Texas. While Article 4, Sec 3 of the Constitution clearly states that any new state created out of an existing state can only proceed with the consent of congress, Texas' Annexation in 1845, it could be argued, (not by me, mind you) supersedes Art 4.

[budkin]

55. I'm in Austin so very low

But in the adjacent counties I see more secede bumper stickers