Oh, please. Texas is not going anywhere!

And as for King George, last time I studied history, King George wasn't voted in by the people. How ludicrous is the notion that all this somehow happened TO us, that we are the victims? WE voted for the free-spending Democrats and Republicans. The poltiicians who have spent 30 years spending us into oblivion did exactly what they said they would do in their campaigns. WE gluttonously accepted the tax cuts that left us with $12 trillion in federal debt.

We were not betrayed; we got exactly what we asked for. We stupidly allowed ourselves to believe the federal government could simultaneously spend more and more and more, and tax less and less and less, and the party would never end.

http://thecentersquare.wordpress.com/

We didn't "secede" from Great Britain. Not enough space to explain how ignorant that usage is. Would expect better from Ron Paul.

How come when Bush was in the White House no one talked of succession? If there ever was a time that I was not proud or happy to be ruled as we were that was it, yet I never thought of puling out of the country. It's kind of like "if I don't get my way I'm not playing with you:. That's five year old talk, not rational adult thinking!

If Democrats had spoken about secession in the Bush years there would have been outcries of "Traitors" and "Hang them."

What makes you GOP people think you can do this?

Divided we fall. Seditious actions in time of war is a capital crime.

Hang them.

Good riddance, if you ask me. They can take their high and mighty attitude and play in their own sandbox.

Funny how "treason" in 2000-2008 suddenly becomes "American" in 2009!

This dude is nuts to ever say such a thing. I think Washington should teabag him and those that agree with the succession of any of our American states.

PLEASE PLEASE !!! Texas, go away please leave,!!!

If this were Sean Penn, talking about California seceding, the conservatives would be vilifying him. Where's the outrage for this un-American discussion?

WHERE WERE THESE MORONS WHEN THEIR FRIEND, BUSH, WAS RUNNING UP THE NATIONAL DEBT.

Kinda wish Texas would secede! And Honestly Ron Paul make s a lot of sense. Yes WE voted for these democrats and republicans, but as for the average moron in America, do you think hes going to research third party politics when Libertarians and the like aren't even allowed in the major debates. We as a country vote for who has the most money to campaign. That in itself is the crime. We are not the victims, We will take action when the average man sees through the bullSh@t. That is what he is saying.

This conversation is simply NUTS.
We're in the midst of several crises that were the result of policies that allowed certain people huge amounts of proft at the expense of this country's overall well-being–and now that the people have spoken, we hear this kind of crazy talk and inflammatory nonsense.

Let's call it what it is: crazy, un American garbage.

And the news media would be serving us better by choosing other stories to share or not privileging these lunatics.

Check out the latest Economist for a salient critique on the 24/7 news media.

your "vote" is meaningless.
your "vote" is for a bank sponsored political derivative choice of coke over pepsi.

obama / bush = two sides of the same coin.

I agree: nonsense. But, should secession re-occur, I would invite Sen. Paul to re-examine what happened the last time, in case he actually believes a desired outcome would be possible.

The state the spawned W, oh sweet Jesus, please go! Can we expedite the secession?

You express outrage by voting. That is why the Republicans are out.

The Republicans express outrage by talking of secession. It is the most cowardly, anti-patriotic expression of outrage possible.

Shame on you Republicans – your party is toast!

As a state that was responsible with it's budget, and with net outflows feeding the increasingly socialist, soft fascist state, I think Texas would do far better than it is currently were it to leave. For one thing, all the workers there would immediately get a 30% pay raise, as federal taxes disappear. We would no longer be subjected to the foolish bailouts and perverse incentives that Washington has created for banks (ie take the maximum amount of risk, and we'll bail you out if you fail), and would shield her citizens from the inevitable collapse of the dollar.

Remember, Obama cut taxes, but he's spending at an all time high. How is this possible? The answer is simple, he's printing money. At this point, if the banks start lending their reserves again, fractional reserve banking will kick in, and those dollars will be multiplied (at least) tenfold, meaning the ten trillion or so of bailouts will become 100 trillion dollars in the economy. Our current monetary base is about $300 billion. You do the math. Zimbabwe, here we come. Texas should take the first opportunity to escape that fate, as should any other net payer of Federal taxes.

seems the previous administration of 8 years, a man from the state of Texas neglected the infrastructure of this nation. Now the governor of that same state is not happy with the conditions. Well, look in their own back yard to the town of Crawford for their answer.

Ron Paul is a nut. I'm so glad I didn't hop on that band wagon that a lot of people did in 2008. Secession is not American. The colonies did not succeed from England. We declared independence. The colonies had no representation. Texas does. Get over the fact that Obama's in office. We the American people voted for him.

Comparing a monarchy to a democratic election...Every time I remember a Republican with a "Sore/Loserman" bumper sticker after the 2000 elections I can't help but think about how ironic it all is now.

Please, oh please – let Texas Secede! Think how much better the rest of the country would be!

How can you have a reasonable discussion about secession without mentioning the Civil War?

And to think Ron Paul seemed to be the only republican candidate running for president with at least half a brain.... We now know differently.

Aim high!

There was no constitution when the colonies seceded from England! The North was pretty violently opposed to secession when the South wanted to secede. Secession is treasonous you dolt. Is this guy from planet Earth?

It sounds to me the Liberals are the angry ones in the country. They're angry when Bush was President, and they're still angry with Obama. They accuse others of hatred, yet their words speak to their character.

Texans would be far better served if they exercised their (clearly documented) right to split into five states than to keep talking about their (ambiguous) right to secede. Texans could then form their own political party and play Dems and Repubs off each other as small parties in other countries do – brokering which main party would run the government as a whole.

And AMEN on the bank bailouts, Ron! We gave them a ton of money and suddenly they are doing better? Is this seriously a surprise to anyone? Give me just $1Billion and I'll so better, too.

I think it's a scary thing to openly discuss, but we can't forget about freedom of speech. I wonder what kind of a country we would be if the state and federal government were equal partners? We could call it "seperate but equal." Wait a minute; isn't that what's supposed to be happening now?

To my view, this talk of secession is nothing but crowd-baiting populist rhetoric, meant to endear Gov. Perry to a fringe of his base.

It would be more valuable for Rep. Paul and Gov. Perry to consider the lessons of the Civil War, rather than to ramble on about oppression under the British Monarchy. I believe that the Civil War still represents the greatest loss of life in any conflict in our history. The entire war was centered on the notion that a freely elected representative federal government does have the right to steer the direction of the country. While Texas could choose to divide itself into 5 separate states within the U.S., it has no right to secede.

I believe it is irresponsible incitement for elected state and federal officials to give any credence to the notion that any state can secede from the Union. Both the Governor and Rep. Paul ought to be voted out of office for their ridiculous stance and their lack of appreciation of the role of the federal government in history.

To those that believe that our 'nation' will continue as it is today, you are deceiving yourselves. We are a seriously divided nation. Secession is untimately the only answer.

Keep talking seccession Texas! Does the Governor of Texas and Ron Paul consider the consequences? Left alone as independent from the US, those Txas folks talking seccession will be at the mercy of Mexicans! Oh my God. Imagine, all those white Texans, at the mercy of Mexicans? Do these people relaize that they will be a small minority in State that is largely Mexican?
Forget defense from the US, the current border issues will be meaningless Texas will become its own third world country.

I say keep talking seccession and why your at it, why dont you talk to the folks in Florida, who secession would be equally pleasing.

sheeple

Let Texas secede – then we can invade them and take their oil.

It's like Tom Tomorrow says:
The (wrong) Right will vilify Obama no matter what. If he takes decisive action, he's oppressing us. If he stands back, he's a wimp.

Down with Obama! "He's a wuss and/or tyrant!"

So sad, and so scary. I'm deeply worried for the future of this country.

Put this guy in jail.....what he is talking about is war, war between americans....lol, what a line of crap. Not only did we move to a whole new continent when we seceded from England, but it caused war even then. This guy ought secede to the moon please.

Did Ron Paul and Kiran Chetry forget that there was a little issue about secession that caused the Civil War. We as Americans haven't "endorsed secession all along" as Ron Paul claims. We had a MAJOR war about a state's ability to secede from the union when it disagrees. Of course in the 1860s, about half of the states did endorse the idea but the other half went to war over the idea. I think we have a very mixed history on secession.

The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution forbids elected officials who have sworn an oath to serve the United States from holding any office when they engaged in insurrection or rebellion. Succession is treason against the state. A second civil war is not what this country needs and anyone who supports is is supporting treason. Frankly, under the constitution, Gov. Perry, congressman Paul, and ever member of the TX state legislature who is seriously proposing secession should be stripped from office unless pardoned by a two thirds vote from each house of congress.

"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. "

For all you UBER democrats (Don't yell im not a republican) Texas has been talking about succeeding for years...even when bush was in office. I ts just chic for the liberal media to make fun of republicans now that they have a reason to b!t@h and complain like the usual democrat. You just happened to notice it for the first time today on CNN. Republicans AND Democrats created this problem, not one or the other

Just remember, if we leave we take part of Oklahoma and Colorado, all of New Mexico and the state of Chihuahua.

Its always great to see Ron on CNN– but no one was talking about secession in the first place. Lets talk stay focused on our fleecing by the federal governement over the last 30 years and the loss of civil liberties we have incurred in the name of safety.

Texas talks tough but you better learn from history. You did not defeat Mexico (A weak adversary compared to the USA) on your own without the help of the USA and you know what happened to the South during the Civil War. So be warned.

Texas – please go and create your evangelical country. Give Rush an office.

And just a history lesson for Mr. Paul - didn't the U.S. Civil War establish that the policy of our federal government is not exactly pro-secession?

Doesnt matter when Pelosi/Obama bankrupt the nation the country will most likely be broken up anyway.

1) Does Mr. Paul then think that the Southern States were correct in their attempts to secede from the Union in 1860-61? That Lincoln was wrong for going to war to save the Union?

2) No one challenged New England's attempts at secession as unconstitutional because, when New England was seceding from Mother England, a monarchy, the Constitution, of course, did not exist.

I do hope that people are not duped by such mindless rhetoric. Mr. Paul is a scary, scary man.

Gosh, from the party that gave us Freedom Fries and "if you're not with us you're agin us" rhetoric for 8 freaking years, can you wait at least one year before you secede?

Is this really Ron Paul?? I always liked alot of what he had to say but this is just stupid. No one raised any constitutional concerns when New England seceded?? Really ??? Maybe because we didnt have a constitution yet !! Sorry but a governor talking about secession should be removed from office and imprisoned as a traitor. If you're not happy with the curretn government, the constitution (something i always thought RP loved) provides a "constitutional" manner to replace the government. Thats what RP needs to be talking about.

Bush is not a friend of people who support the views of Dr. Paul. He was leaning in the same misguided direction. Think about other people's views with an open mind and stop spouting the same rhetoric over and over.

It IS time we divide up the United States. I want to live in a country that celebrates Judeo-Christian values. I want to live in a country where people must pull their own weight...I'm tired of paying for generational sloth. I want my borders respected. I want to live in a country that controls its spending. I don't want to live in the United States, I want to live in AMERICA.

Maybe you'd be happier if they just burned the flag?

Can't we hang both Perry and Paul for making comments like that during war time?

I have voted in every election since I returned home after WW2. Sometimes my candidte won and sometimes he lost . I might not agree with every thing the elected president did or said but I am very sure that I would be against breaking up this United States. There has never been a time that i have had any desire to live in any other country in this world . not even when George Bush was President. We elected Obama for what he is .and I stand behind him all the way

Secession? Here they go again. Ran out of ideas so let's talk secession and tea parties

I agree with mr. paul. If the federal government keeps violating the 10th amendment rigth of the states they have every right to suceed. I take great offense to "the center squares" statement that it is the American citizens fault that we are in this mess.Its not like "we" have much of a choice when it comes to polotics in a 2 party system and considering Obama is just perpetuating most the Bush's policy's including the patriot act there dosn't seem to be much of a difference between these two "foes".

Even in monarchies the royalty rules at the consent of the populous, even though they are not voted in.
There have been several revolutions to back that up.
What form of head the snake has doesn't matter so much as how much bite he has left.
As Franklyn said "Might shites on the back of right" or "might makes right".
The Federal government though pretty much bined still carries a very large stick and has a propensity to use it.
Not that a civil war is looming but I could imagine national gaurd troop sent out to stop so called rioting and looting, even though the constitution has provisions against using federal troops within our boarders. The loop hole is National gaurd is state based and states are allowed to maintain a militia. But who will be giving the orders our governors or the president?

Everyone in this room needs a history lesson. WOW! How dumb are you people?

Secession should have been on the table a long time ago. As for the guy who said "we" did this to ourselves, please speak for yourself. I am not a part of your "we". I never voted for these people over the last 30 years. The Free State Project has been talking about this for a very long time. freestateproject.org. Check out Free Talk Live. Check out FreeKeene.org. Dont be a slave all your life. Fight for your liberty.

Ron Paul states the colonies essentially seceded from Great Britain and that's OK. Using his logic then, it's OK to tar-and-feather our public officials and cause general anarchy, which was also prevalent prior to the revolution. If I remember my history correctly, the colonies were protesting that they had no representation and therefore cannot be taxed and similarly oppressed.

Well, the nut-jobs protesting at the tea parties need to realize that they are now and have been represented all along. They were protesting tax increases (and other things) simply because they don't want to pay more taxes. It's fine to protest, but to secede? C'mon... Get real.

Once again: Aim high!

The difference between Bush debt of 459 Billion Dollars and Obama debt is that Obama will spend double the money that all the presidents from Geo Washington to present day......people need to research.
I'm not from Texas, but can see them making it on their own. First, they would absolutely seal the border.
Yesterday Obama ADM denied Arizona troops to stop Drug Cartels from crossing the border, etc. WHY? Because the Gov't, politicians are involved in kickbacks and payoffs from drug dealers......yes they are involved; and per person involved in that aspect of it on TV last week. My Bro has always said that – now right from the horses' mouth.
Somehow our protests must continue and we must kick the Congress and Present ADM out of Office ASAP or we will be a third world Country. Obama is about Control/Socialism/Fascism, and not about America and Democracy. Look at the record of his appointees and those that were acutally caught in their fraud and stopped from becoming a cabinet appointeee (unbelievable folks).
Obama is a world citizen and not an American. He has six siblings and they all live in Kenya, and so why would he not want to soft soap the terrorists. Americans should be embarrassed at what they have done to America insofar as ADM this time.
Joan B
Wi

The talk is just that......talk......yet Texans expect Washington to take notice, as we are saying "we aren't happy with how things are going".

There are plenty of other places, that aren't happy as well.

Even Europe is nicknaming Obama "Jimmy Jr." to point out his propensity for wasteful spending, and lack of fiscal responsibility. (Jimmy Carter, that is.)

Perhaps my memory fails me but I thought the U.S. fought a four-year war to prevent the secession of several Southern States–including Texas–in the 1860s.

Ron Paul shows his true colors as an anti-Union secessionist who would reopen the Civil War. Traitor!

im moving to texas.

For goodness sake, let's stop talking about it and draw up the paper work. Bye bye, Texas.

If they only did long ago and George Bush would have been President of Texas instead

Tallk of secession in Texas when we have first black president...hmmmm.

Wes
Atlanta

Spare me the Bush comments. That copout can't be used in all political discussions regardless of the topic or speaker.

This country was founded on the idea of self-government, which is what secession is all about. Does anybody want to refute that basic point instead of attacking the messenger or going into Bush hysterics?

You guys do know that Ron Paul was not a supporter of the Bush Administration, right? He was among its staunchest critics... so speaking of ignorant!

Everybody equates people at the tea parties and those against irresponsible spending right now as Republicans only and where were you when Bush was in there. I said the same thing then. We've been spending irresponsibly for years and years. We're against BOTH parties spending that way. Do I have to be on one side or the other? I'm against reckless spending regardless of which party is doing it.

Hello All-

All secession talk aside for one moment. I need to clarify that George Bush (dad and son) are not FROM Texas. They may live here now but they are not a product of this state and never will be. George W Bush's cowboy act was exactly that -an act.

Whether you want to use the word secession or not, we did break away from England which is the point he is making.

And this is something worth discussing just to point out the overreaching of the federal government, even if it's unlikely to happen. Saying someone is nuts without backup or argument doesn't carry much weight with thinking people.

Also to point out the history, unlike the other Republicans, Ron Paul's message has been the same when the Republicans were in power as it is now. In fact, the Republicans black-listed him. They are hypocrites, he isn't.

For those of us who are not represented by those that the majority elects, the threat of succession is a desperate attempt to find a tool to reign in a federal government that is operating well outside the constitution. A better tool is just to move to a better run country and let the remaining citizens that voted for these politicians repay the deficit and live with higher inflation.

GOD bless you @ Bill Hamlin! My sentiments exactly.

This is not my government. I did not vote for it and it lacks for the most part any resemblence to the founding institution of the U.S., and has nothing to do with the Constitution, hence, this is not my government.

This is like King George, taxation without true representation. 70% of the population opposed the bailout, but our money squandering congress voted them in.. I will leave some quotes of a true Amercian, Thomas Jefferson:

"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debt as it goes. A priniciple which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world"

" I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the govenment form wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them"

"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in the government."

"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."

we are proud to be texans and americans. we are not going any where.. remeber the most successfull stratagy... devide and conquer. we know very well that if we devide we will surly fall. secession is bunch of bully talk thats all that is. GOP is mad that a republicans are not in the office right now, and they cant take it. bunch of idiots. insted of crying about the situation.. bring a better solution to the table and lets pick our contry back up and show the world that when america puts its might in to it. we can beat any odds. .. after all we are americans dam it. and dam proud to be one.

Highly amusing. Good luck producing anything in that arid of an area. They'd be begging on their hands and knees the first moment they needed food or aid. What a bunch of morons.

I want to know when this type of talk stopped being treasonous? Last time I checked session was against the law. Andrew Jackson had the right idea when it came to secessionists.

Wow, I used to think Ron Paul had a little something on the ball. WOW....

can i help them pack?

Wasn't there an experiment in secession already – we called it the civil war? The federal government's response was pretty clear about the possibility of seceding from the union.

Texas can should secede; every Texan I've ever met always talks about how the rest of the country wouldn't matter to them. If Texas left the union, the average of education standards, air pollution standards and the ratio of natural blondes to bottled ones will sky rocket. They can have Bush, they can have Tom Delay...it's what they want and what they deserve. If they secede we can keep their nuts contained within their boarder...which would have to be patrolled by an armed militia. We wouldn't want any Rogue Texans breaking through the line...smuggling things in like Taylor Swift cd's. Yes sir, I believe we should let them secede and shoot anyone that tries to come over.

I'm a Ron Paul supporter, and yes, I think the comparison to King George is absurd. A better comparison would have been the freaking Civil War.

But I want to address you people who are calling Dr. Paul nuts. He's not nuts. Neither am I. Yes, some of his supporters are insane, but there are many of us out there who are perfectly "sane." For any of you to say that Ron Paul represents a sore loser of the Republican party is absolutely stupid. First, Ron Paul was the only Republican during the nomination process who actually advocated REPUBLICAN values and traditions, not these bastardized, religion-fueled neo-conservative policies expressed by many who claim to be Republican. Second, maybe you should open your ears. Ron Paul has been chastising the Republican party for YEARS because of its abandonment of some of its core principles.

Yes, the comparison to King George was wrong. However, I think the comments by the viewers on this site is more wrong and much more indicative of how absolutely ignorant the people of this country are. Maybe you should do some research YOURSELF before you criticize others for making a mistake.

-Cole

Ron Paul states "We used secession, we seceded from England. So it’s a very good principle. It’s a principle of a free society. It’s a shame we don’t have it anymore. " Maybe Ron Paul forgot that we had a small war called the American Revolution for us to secede. Texas did secede once before and fought for that right and lost, it was called the Civil War.

You Obama lovers are insane. Bush running up the National Debt? We were at WAR you idiots! President Bush had to make hard decisions to keep us safe. Apparently you didn't appreciate the last Eight years of no attacks in our country? How does President Bush's 489 Billion Budget even come close to the 9.3 TRILLION ...(That is 999 Billion nearly four times over for those of you that don't understand the difference between a Billion and a Trillion) that Obama is bringing down on us? Not to mention the laws that are taking away your freedoms of speech (hate crime bill) and gives the Homosexuals in this country the power to run around and sue you anytime you don't agree with them. All you people that voted for Obama need to wake up. We are becoming a Socialist Nation and soon after that follows a COMMUNIST nation. Read your history books!

I'm sorry how are we neglecting the Civil War when we discuss seccession. 6 million Americans died deciding this – states may attempt seccession but it is an act of war, an act of treason. It is not treasonous to discuss it because of the 1st Amendment but action absolutely is treason.

Excellent idea, Texas. I'm certain you will be much better off without us. Why, you even have your own little dictator ready to pick up where he left off.

Texas secedes, we will move there until the traitor is out of the Whitehouse.
Obama releases memos on waterboarding and blacks out, and won't release facts on waterboarding thwarted 30 ATTACKS ON GOOD DECENT AMERICANS. Guess whose side Obama is on folks ! He likes the terrorists/barbarians.
Jack C
WA

Center Square, I agree that the American people are getting what they asked for all these years. The current state of affairs is the predictable outcome of decades of deficit spending and increasing debt in the economy. The question is how do we reform this government? It looks less likely every year that it can be done peacefully through the electoral system.

People are still calling Ron Paul a crank for predicting the collapse of the dollar, but that is exactly what's going to happen. The federal government cannot keep the entitlement promises it has made, and it will not be pretty when rank and file Americans wake up to that reality.

Hey center square

I didnt vote! Dont tell me my vote could have made the difference either "free-spending Democrats and Republicans". Secession was always supposed to be an option. Its what are founding fathers wanted and new we needed to keep the govt from turning into a bunch of gangsters in the pocket of the bankers.

Why are people so into what the government can do for the people. Everyone needs to stand back and figure this whole thing out. Okay, irregardless of the republicans and democrats, the government is messed up. So, if one state wants to seceed from the Union in order to save themselves from what is happening to this country, so be it. They might be better off governing themselves, that way the people of that state can then decide what is best for themselves, in this case Texas. What is wrong with taking our country back and saying no to government, republicans and democrats alike. Everyone needs to stop saying republicans this and democrats that, gather together as a United front and say "NO". To me, that is what it boils down to.

Saying that "secession is very American", and that we should welcome such expression of independence by the states is complete nonsense. I was surprised that Kiran did not mention that many Americans died during the civil war on both sides of the secession argument. That's a blatant historical fact that was totally ignored in this interview. Comparing the Federal Government to King George is ridiculous. What bothers me very much is to observe how dysfunctional and negative (to use a mild word) are the Republicans and conservatives when they are out of power. It's one thing to oppose the policies of the elected government, another to spread nonsense and promote disorder (even going as far as using the term revolution). In a democracy, the opposing party(ies) should learn how to operate within the system in a civil manner, without resorting to illogical and desperate tactics.

Being Texan myself and voting for Obama, people need to realize every major city in Texas...Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio all voted for Obama. i believe the final tally was roughly 55% for Mccain and 45% for Obama across the state ...its not like 90% of the state went for JM. To think our governor and some right wing nut speak for all of Texas is insane. The state would never secede and hopefully people don't believe that all of Texas stands for this nonsense.

We as a Americans can fix this but it would not be politically correct.We need to take care of americans,legal and naturltized citizens. Any other do not get any , none , no benifits from the local state or federal goverment that would save according to washington post and homeland security the illegal aliens,not un documentated workers, have taken more then 500 million per year from the americans and some is sent back to the countries which they originate from we need to take a lesson from denmark. the persons in prison which are getting socal security,fedral benifts there familys getting SSI make a prison a place not to go to not to . I have a few questions for the president if he reads this, and for the rest o americans What happens to the social security money that the aliens pay in . where is the records on the money from bail outs bail out the banks and not the people who make the jobs. where are the brains. we should impeach all of the politations and send them to prison and take all of there money and use it to fix our ecomony. i have talked to some neighbors which are going back mexico and keep there unemployment by using phone in registeration.

You can't get more UNAmerican than secession. I had to put up with Bush nonsense for 8 years, he didn't cut spending AND destroyed our foreign policy. spineless turncoat.

Has the Republican party forgotten that they were the ones that called for an over the top stimulous package in the fall of 2008 while Bush was still in office? They were also the ones who wanted to start bailing out AIG and the banking system during that period of time. How is it that they are now blaming President Obama, a man that was voted in by the people? It is irresponsible for Representative Paul to compare the seceding of Texas to those countries who became independent of the Soviet Union following its collapse. Under one, you have a dictatorship that took over that country and provided little for the people and gave them little freedom. Is that what is going on in Texas?

*are more wrong

I don't know what Center Square's diatribe was about–Texas secession and Democrats? Fragile thread, there. Obviously venting. But, okay, go ahead, secede. I wonder how many class action suits will follow, or legal methods used to get returned to the national coffers the millions that go to disaster relief or Texas pork projects–or those on the books or disasters to come. Are Texans able to cover such costs along the coast–or would they even want to? Secession is good only because U. S. citizens won't have to pay for guarding the border anymore. Are there enough Texans to use the products of all those refineries? Gulf oil will flow through another state to where the money is–i.e., everywhere else in the U. S. Secession didn't work during the Civil War, and it won't now. It's goofy to consider having to use a passport to get into Texas–but it would also necessitate using one to get out, too. Secession is a bad idea, and secessionist Texans have a very narrow view of it.

Mr. Paul doesn't necessarily believe the southern states were CORRECT to secede, just that they had the right to do so. Lincoln overstepped his bounds by going to war with people who thought we screwed up so badly as a nation that it was irreconcilable. States' rights were a cornerstone of the original union, and those were thrown in the garbage within a few decades...

Ron Paul, like most libertartians, is out of touch with reality. His comments sound plausible in theory, but he never works out the practical implications. We need libertarian philosophy for the power of its critique but not as a prescription for how to actually run a government, because it does not have such a prescription...never will.

I don't think the democrats realize the resentment there is over the "you earn it , we'll spend it" attitude they have. If Texas goes, they won't be alone. Why don't they get away from the cities for a minute and come talk to the hard working Americans. They would get a better idea of what people really think.

We (including Texas) tried secession in 1861 and the bloodiest war this nation has ever seen was the result. The more things change, the more they stay the same.......

In that interview with Kiran Chetry, I never heard Ron Paul ONCE give any instance that he agreed that Texas should secede.

Where are all you dopes getting this anger toward Mr. Paul?

Kiran Chetry brought up the good king George and asked a stupid question. Vilify her!

Ron and not eve the Governor ever said they'd secede. They only said it is a possibility that, by Texas rights, they could do and gave some instances where it could 'possibly' happen.

You internet posters are as dumb as the keys you're typing on. Jeez.

What if individuals were allowed to secede from the union? I mean I HATE paying ATM fees and late-charges; I hate paying charges nebulously outlined on my utility bills; I hate it when gas goes up to $4.50 a gallon when the price of oil had decreased significantly... On and on.

So, can I secede now!?

hmmm.... Americans have always supported secession? As in the Civil War? I seem to recall a lot of Americans fighting and dying to prevent secession. Of course, if Texas and the rest of the South had succeeded with that, people in the North wouldn't have to continue to support them with their federal tax money, even to this day.

Let Texas go and than Mexico will invade them and take over As a ciudad. LOL. Enjoy that, you arrogant Texicans

I cannot believe some politicans are thinking it's okay to go about talking about secession. That is ridiculous. I'm actually too enraged to even argue. Ron Paul – you are an idiot.

I say we let Texas succeed under one condition... take Bush and the nutty christian conservatives with him. We could even make a holiday to celebrate it

I for one would glady go to a state as great as Texas to get away from our corrupt political system. Go for it Texas and God Bless

Texas, try it and you'll see Sherman March to the Sea II and you'll have nothing left. What a stupid and what an Anti-American comment. Now if you lose politically you threaten succession? Come on, the only thing this shows is how stupid the Republican Party is right now and why I won't return to vote for them until they give up the rhetoric and actually try to solve some problems working with others. What a joke the gov. of Texas is and for that matter, I don't need to vacation there anymore.

If the United States abandons the principals that it was founded upon then it becomes the United States in name only. At that point you really can't secede or you could say that all 50 states have collectively seceded and are now part of a new country that just happens to be called the United States.

I personally think that CA should secede from the union. They pay $1.25 in federal taxes for every $1.00 they receive in federal spending. And this is a state who's economy would be the 7th largest in the world so we're not talking about a trivial amount.

Karl Rove, Fox News, Dick Cheney, Rick Perry, et. al.,

Stop to this secession talk. You make the Republican Party sound even more desperate and out of touch.

David -

Ron Paul was constantly voting against the Bush agenda. To call him a moron in this regard only shows that you know nothing about his message or fail to comprehend it.

Ron Paul is defending the notion of secession as it is a noble idea when Federal Government infringes upon state's rights.

If you want to know where these "morons" were during the Bush years, just look into all of the states who have filed "10 amendment bills" during his presidency.

Interesting article–keep in mind that in Canada we have lived with this issue for several generations (Quebec constantly talks this way)–so never say never.

However, the fabric that is the US would likely not allow this to occur I have to believe. Not by rule of law-but I just do not believe Texan's would ever actually go this far as a key characteristic of American's seems to be love of country (regardless of political stripes). Culturally–I just cannot see this happening.

In Canada, provinces are surprisingly autonomous vs states in the US as well.

As mentioned, interesting talk–but I believe just that.

Along w/Texas seceding we should give California to Mexico.
New York can become a World State – paid for by the UN.
Jane J
Co

The Civil War changed us from "these United States" to "THE United States". The was was costly to both sides. Let's not throw away all that the country has gained by being uselessly divisive.

Ron Paul is right that no criminal penalties or harm should come to Rick Perry for talking secession. He has the right to say what he wants, although he might skate dangerously close to advocating violent overthrow of the United States government, which is a crime. Nevertheless, all those who hear what he says have the right to form judgments about him because he said it. They have the right to THINK what they want.

Hey JD, NO we can't wait a year. BO is well on his way to destroying this country. Take a look at well the state of Illinois is doing under his outstanding leadership as a senator and also his community organizing. That state is decaying and nobody who wants to start a business will do so in that city. No business, no jobs. Go figure!

If Texas secedes, I'm moving there.

Everyone here who thinks Ron Paul is "nuts" is just blind. None of you who say this even know what Liberty is. Saying that this is "unconstitutional." You dont even know what the constituion is. It doesn't exist anymore. It's been destroyed. The beurocrats in this country have enslaved you all to the point of complete ignorance and blindness. Your all happy little slaves and don't even care about LIBERTY because YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. Don't say this is "un american" and "hang him"...Your all fools. Ron Paul tries to give you a glimpse of what liberty is all about and you just spit in his face and call him a fool...now THAT's american.

Texas needs to succeed immediately, before it is swallowed up along with the rest of this ridiculous nation into obama's black hole of debt!

I think it is a valid point. All politics aside, isn't the very foundation of our government based on the will of the people? If a majority of voters in any state feel betrayed or not represented, then they should be able to vote any way they wish. Rest assured they will lose priviledges of being a member of the union if they decide to leave, but who are we in the rest of this country to tell Texas or any other state what they can or can't do? Freedom!! It's a beautiful thing. I don't really care what you do with it, just don't try to take it away!

Like the federal government will just "let" Texas leave with all of the military bases located there. How many Air Force bases and Army bases are in Texas? Enough so that they're not going to just leave the union and keep all that hardware. The citizens of Texas would be forced to pay an enourmous fee back to the US to cover the costs of losing those assets, and then be taxed again to build and maintain their own armed services.

Any liberation Texans would have would be short, short lived.

Isn't it time we put the United States first, and not Texas or any other state first?

If we don't get that kook out of the Whitehouse it will be more than Texas wanting to secede.
Jack J
Nevada

Those that keep attempting to point out the difference between succession and a "declaration of independence" forget that the only difference is if you are successful or not. Most seem to forget which states have the hunters, guns and a majority of the military personnel this time around too.

You may all go to Hell, and I will go to Texas.
-Davy Crockett

This type of cesession talk is just meant to confuse and distract gullible people (who can't think for themselves) into believing there is a "problem" in Washington when there is not. Classical propaganda at it's very finest.

I think every one missed the sentance when he said "I don’t think it’s very serious. I don’t think anybody called for secession, and I don’t think the governor called for it." People need to stop making stuff up, and pulling wrong meaning out of statements to support their arguements.

If at first you don't secede, try, try again. What could possibly be more American than declaring independence from the Leviathan?

Funny how no one is mentioning the Civil War which was fought over the issue of secession and slavery. Are we going to go down that road again? Sam Houston, the governor of Texas at the time, did not support secession. Neither did Robert E. Lee, though he later fought for the South once Virginia did secede. President Buchanan thought it was unconstitutional but did nothing to stop it. Lincoln of course agreed that it was unconstitutional.

WE NEED TO STOP ALL THIS TEARING THE COUNTRY APART!!! THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE FOREIGN COUNTRIES ARE WANT IS FOR US TO SELF DESTRUCT... WE NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK, TAKE A DEEP BREATH, THEN GET STARTED FIXING THIS MESS WE GOT OURSELVES INTO.. iF THAT MEANS REPALCING ALL OF WASHINGTON THEN LET'S GET STARTED!!!!

Texas has every right to succede and if they do I will be moving my family and I to Texas and would be wiling to fight with anybody, Americans, Mexicans, for Texas's independence.

I'm surprised at all of the comments so far.

Last time I checked American history, we did declare independence from Great Britain. Why? A number of reasons, such as taxation without representation, but the biggest being that King George was moving to disarm the militias

Regardless of why, I don't think it is wrong to describe it as succession. Same principle really as declaring independence. The point is that there is social contract between the government and the governed, that the governed believe that the government has breached the social contract, and thus the governed are free to abolish the old government and start a new one.

Some people find it crazy to believe that would happen in the U.S. But it is possible. Why? Same reason as every other empire in human history fell apart. The U.S. has something like 250 military bases in countries around the world.

We spend approx. $1,000,000,000,000.00 a year on our military, and have been for a while. Both the Democrats and the Republicans have allowed this to go on since the end of WWII, using the excuse of the Cold War, and the War on Terror to justify this kind of spending, even though we can't afford it.

So yeah, if the dollar becomes worthless because the only way government can continue is by printing money, people are going to be pissed and some states might try to break away.

Secession is a messy alternative. Preservation of the union means civil war, plain and simple. Other countries would take advantage of the situation as we have have done to other countries. Yes, we can vote out the government officers very 2 or 4 years, but the majority of their term is spent getting re-elected. Incumbents have the bully pulpit which means it will take a swell of change to sway public opinion. We elected Obama not because we liked him, but because we didn't like the alternative. Now, people are angry and looking for an alternative because they don't want to wait for the election. Talk of secession can never occur without also talking about consequences. That said, if it REALLY gets bad enough (like rights taken away, government imposition on personal liberty) I'm all for secession, revolution, or whatever. However, it just ain't that bad right now.

if you want texas to be an own country for criminals (LBJohnson, HwBush, etc)'sake, go ahead to tell texas to leave USA.
enjoy !

Treasonous moron!

SUCESSION AND DECLEARING INDEPENDENCE ARE THE SAME THING YOU UNEDUCATED LIBERAL! All you idiots that voted for Mr. Hussien and want to say that bush ran up the national debt are about the most retarded people ever to speak. Bush did run up the debt, less than 1 trillion. Thats alot better than the 13-15 trillion that is being spent now! I hope you people are happy that your mistakes and debt will be paid by your children and their children.

Wow Texas is full of very sore losers. And comparing a democratically elected government with state representation to a monarchy where colonies were basically subject to England's whims is ridiculous. If Texas wants to succeed and save on federal taxes, let them. Hopefully, they'll realize that by doing so they'll lose federal aid for the next hurricane that blows into the gulf and wipes out their coastal communities and businesses.

The simple fact is that secession does remain a valid, if extreme, tool in the hands of the states. Texas v. White is a token gesture, it has no real weight because if a state truly attempts to secede, it will do so through force of arms, not litigation.

I'd like to see the United States split into about 5-7 countries with capitals in the cities currently hosting the reserve banks.

What Ron Paul and the rest of these folks conveniently want to forget is that in between 1776 and 2009 we also had 1861. If you want to make a ringing endorsement for the right of secession, you also have to acknowledge that the Southern states had the right to secede back then and that Lincoln acted outside the law to force them back into the Union. Can't really have it both ways now.

Texas should excercise her treaty rights with the USA and split into five states, thereby sending 10 Senators to Washington.

RE Pete: "States’ rights were a cornerstone of the original union, and those were thrown in the garbage within a few decades…"

Pity they can't have slaves any more. Human rights trumped state's rights. What a horrible shame!

Typical liberal drivel; if someone doesn't agree with you and you can't find an educated way to rebut the argument, you simply call people names.

From the comments I just read – at least 3/4 of you only read the headline.

I'm sick and tired of being called all sorts of names because I don't agree with our current president. I didn't agree with our last president, either. We need some new blood in this government – and anyone foolish enough to believe that BHO is new politics, well, there's nothing I can say to that other than you need to read a little. Shut your mouth for 2 minutes, stop calling people racists, and actually read what is going on. Then, maybe you'll get it.

I see people talking lamenting, "if this was a Democrat, people would be calling it treason; but now it's called 'American' because it's a Republican!" I hate to break it to the folks who see things only from the "left" side, but people are calling it "treason" and "un-American." The are screaming "hang them!" It's ironic isn't it? You point the finger at the "right" and point out how unbalanced their perspective is; and yet you're guilty of the same. Dissent is always American. It's what made this country; and it is what preserves it. The only problem with dissent is that it is most publicized when it comes from the two opposite ends of the political spectrum; and those good Americans in the middle are left without a voice. The middle is where all dialog takes place; and we further and further apart because we're drowning out that middle. If you're on the far right or far left, recognize it and pipe down. You're shouting over the dialog. Listen to the other side; come together in the middle. All this "treason" talk wasn't productive when it was the liberals' dissention; and it isn't productive now when the conservatives are dissenting.

The last time one of our so called "sovereign states" seceeded, it started a violent war between our states. If Texas did seceed, what makes them think the US Government wouldn't go and take the state back? The Texas governer claims to be an American? I call shenanigans. I think we should replace him with a Californian, that should fix the state some.

This is nothing new. I visited Texas back in 2000 and the general consensus among all the people I talked was they believed they were their own country.

Stupid people don't understand what Obama has done to the next two generations ! Too bad you don't bother to do your research.
I say, get rid of the nuts in Washington first, and if that cannot be done – let move on.
Tim J
ND

I truly wish we would secede. I believe that Texas would be better off without the rest of the United States.

Hey idiots who think that it is un-American to talk succession. The states entered into a contract with the federal govt. If the terms of the contract are violated then they can pull away if they want. The terms of the contract have been violated numerous times by Republicans and Democrats alike. Most specifically the 10th amendment. So, states are free to leave if they wish according to the contract – also known as the U.S. Constitution, which the government really doesn't care anything about these days. The imperial federal government of the United States has used our education system to create a population of moronic followers. Now they are using the fact that the avg. voter has absolutely no idea what is going in the country to gain all-intrusive power over the people.

"was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" "Who's with me?"

This is treason.
Its only been four months give the administration a chance. Hypocrites.

What would thease same people have said if I don't know Ohio or Hawaii said they wanted to leave the Union when George W and his Gang were thumbing there nose at the Bill Of Rights and breaking treatys that the United states sighned. This is Hog Wash the GOP is pissed becasue the people in large have rejected there ways and policies. Obama was elected ( Not by the Supreme Court) has not broke any laws and is attempting to lead us in a better direction. GOP if your not going to help get out of The way and stop with thease silly stunts.

Amercain no matter who the Pres. Is

"SECEED" – "SECESSION"

Please, people, it's NOT 'succeed' or 'succession'

This is driving me nutz!!

Its treason no matter how you dress it up Ron Paul.

"The colonies did not succeed from England. We declared independence."

What exactly do you think the act of seceding is? It's a sub-region within a larger power declaring it is an independent state and no longer subject to that larger power.

I do think that the majority of posters on this article have completely missed the point of what Ron Paul was saying. Essentially, he's arguing freedom of choice and personal liberty. If the population of a state gets fed up with the federal government, he's arguing it should be the choice of that population whether or not to go off on their own. If they choose to leave, we should respect it.

He's not saying they should secede. He's saying they should have the right to if the majority of the population chooses to.

PLEASE GET OUT OF THE UNION

I seem to remember not long ago it was "treasonous" to stand up against the patriot act, and now it "isn't " to talk about succession. How does that work? And how is Texas being "thumbed at?" It seems that the Republican minority are acting like a bunch of tantrum-throwing 2 yr-olds who've lost all logic and reason because they can't get over their loss of power. If they are being "thumbed at" I still haven't heard a viable option on their side for what to do with this economic situation, aside from what they are doing right now, which is buying a lot of guns and ammo while living in fear and paranoia.

Yes,
True;George Bush with some help from a Democratic Congress were able to dig a deep hole in our national budget. But, I have to give President Obama credit, he was able to do the same in 90 days. Let's face it, neither Republicans, nor Democrats have done a very good job at controlling reckless spending. However, the people are beginning to speak and the deaf politicians better take notice. If the press and our political leaders ignore the people, history has told us where that will take us. The people in our great country are not just going to sit around and watch the country destroy itself (regardless of party); that is how this country and this whole thing started 200 years ago.

In 1994, Newt Gingrich and the newly Republican majority in Congress stood on the steps of the Capital. The "Contract with America" was read and then he gave this warning; "If we forget why the American people sent us here–they will take retribution on us." That statement proved prophetic. We are here right now for a single reason; the Republicans we sent forth failed miserably to do the work of the people–and we Republicans kept sending them back hoping against hope that they would do better.

I have voted for my last person simply because they have an "R" after their name. I'm with "thecentersquare"–we got what we asked for. Its our chickens coming home to roost.

God Help America

Fine Rick Perry, then YOU deal with the Juarez Drug Cartel.

Hmm... The state that gave us Bush wants to talk secession? Let's have them form a union with Alaska, and we can rid ourselves of Palin at the same time.

They can start their own wars. They can base their debt on borrowing instead of spending. They can fund their own pork. They can legitimately start saying that they don't take federal dollars.

It's interesting to watch wealthy politicians prancing around, stirring up discontent among those who really are affected by the recession. By contrast, I think stirring up hope or proposing solutions is true patriotic behavior. Shame on you, governor, and shame on you, Ron Paul. This is not about secession rights - it's about bruised political egos after 8 years of complete and utter failure, brought on by another wealthy Texan.

No Tommy, just follow everyone off the cliff. Don't stop, don't look around, just keep walking right off the cliff. YOU MORONS!!!

Ron Paul for President of Texas !!!

(maybe that will shut him up)

If Texas secedes from the union, we must move Houston Space Center from Texas to the United States. We don't want to have a foreign power in charge of our space missions. The question is, which state will be awarded all the jobs and the honor associated with being our country's space mission control center?

It astonishes me that anyone who plans to run for national office would talk positively about secession. What will happen to them in the first debate, when they get skewered for being a seditionist? Honestly, politicians have had their careers ruined for far more innocent reasons.
I guess Paul and Perry have decided that they don't have any shot at the presidency. And, every single day it seems, the Republican party does something that tears itself apart even more.
Well, good.

Ha ! secede (sorry, typo)

LOL at me!

Wow, and I used to like Ron Paul in a guilty pleasure kind of way. Who is angry with Obama? Right wing brainwashed idiots listening to AM radio, racists (the South will rise again), and very very wealthy people who hate to see anyone without a trust fund getting ahead in the great Country. Bush (King George) got us into a needless war and needless debt and a ruined economy. Obama is getting us out. What's to be angry at? : Bush.

The government administration is simply lending money to the people that they took from the people, of course after they have taken the lions share. In this case, the lender enslaves the borrower with their own money and resources. Our children may be enslaved for the promise of something free or because someone else did the same bad thing?

Texas couldn't make it as its own nation in the 19th century, and I doubt we'd have any better luck in the 21st. This is just a publicity stunt for a desparate governer that can't get elected on his own record.
Rick Perry isn't going anywhere, and neither is this great state.

Quit bashing Texans in general. W was not a Texan, he's from somewhere out east (Conn?) read as NOT A TEXAN. Perry, i have no idea what hole he crawled out of. Ron Paul.. i expected more from him. if anything, Austin should seceed from Texas and become it's own state since this is the only progressive city worth mentioning... WE'RE SURROUNDED BY OSTRICHES WITH THEIR HEADS IN THE GROUND!!!

Gov. Perry an Ron Paul has lost their minds completely. Texas has no more right to Secede than does any other state. The Supreme Court decided this issue after the Civil war. The answer is NO. Texas has no special standing as a state. And Texas has already been broken up from the original size it was when we entered the union. I'm a fifth generation Texan. Texas will secede over my dead body. Again I remind Perry of his Oaths:Protect and defend the Constitution" and "One Nation, under God, INDIVISIBLE, with liberty and justice for all." Texas v. White (74 U.S. 700). Chief Justice Chase, writing for the court in its 1869 decision, said: "The Constitution, in all its provisions, looks to an indestructible Union, composed of indestructible States. ... Considered, therefore, as transactions under the Constitution, the Ordinance of Secession, adopted by the convention and ratified by a majority of the citizens of Texas, and all the Acts of her Legislature intended to give effect to that ordinance, were absolutely null. They were utterly without operation in law. ... Our conclusion, therefore, is, that Texas continued to be a State, and a State of the Union, notwithstanding the transactions to which we have referred."

They wave the flag and proclaim "United We Stand" when their party is in power, but when it's not, certain Republicans advocate treason against the same Union instead. Patriotism is indeed the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings!

This kind of talk comes from this new administration's abuse of what the public wants. They totally ignore that most people don't want to work, so the poor and lazy can continue to be just that. Most people don't want to see the new president break almost every promise made during the campaign. Most people see the pok barrel, reckless spending already occuring in the first three months. Most people do not want a president acting like a lap dog around the world, trying to make more "friends". Most people want to see him stand up and defend this country. We are on a seriously wrong path, but with so many wanting the government to take care of them and a willing dolt in the White House to accomodate them, we are screwed for a very very long time. None of those nit wits in Washington represent me, so I would love to secede just to get away from them. They are all the true traitors in this debacle.

First the people in the area, now known as Texas, steal it from the Mexicans and call it Texas.

I say let them secede. We'll see how well they do by themselves.

Texas has to be the most un-patriotic state in the union. They act like they're the only true Americans, but when things don't go their way, they want to secede.

That is about as unpatriotic as you can get. Talk about anti-american.

What a bunch of babies.

Just think how much better off we all would be if TEXAS was out of the picture

Ron Paul is an idiot. In fact he is somewhat dangerous! I am glad he never had a chance in the Presidential race, he is way to extreme. This talk of Texas becoming its own country is stupid. If it did, their economy would really suck and it would be ripped apart from the inside by the people still faithful to the USA, actually i think most people in the state would remain faithful. Its very not American to not want to be apart of America!! Him suggesting that this is somehow patriotic is stupid! I think the taxes Governor just lost his position as Governor. Next election he is out. This is embarrassing for the great state of Texas. Also the only people that are mad about what Obama did are the rich Republicans and they are mad because their time is over. Their were voted out and don't really have a chance of recovering, in fact the party must change so it doesn't cater to them in order to move forward.

fools all of you. Ron Paul is hated by the rest of the GOP and he openly criticized bush from day one. shut your mouths.

who cares if Texas secedes? Go ahead .... I'm for the Union, but I'm sick of Republican wackos and their obstructionism ...good riddance ...

As a 7th generation Texan whose family history dates back to the Republic of Texas days, I do not appreciate a the radical opinion of a Pennsylvania born carpet bagger like Ron Paul.

He's just another hypocrite would had his medical degree and early career sponsored by the US Air Force (government paid education), but takes every opportunity to cater to the whims of rich tax dodging "less/anti-government" greed mongers who want to control every aspect of the lives of good working people ie...whether or not they have a job, whether or not they have health care, whether or not if their children can afford higher education...control it all!

Rick Perry and Ron Paul have the UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION quarantee of freedom of the speech. I would not trust these same crackpots to ensure the same for good Texans and good people. Their statements are UNAMERICAN and treasonous.

Ron Paul needs to rememeber he is a UNITED STATES congressman...his feeble attempts to down play and justify his statements are a lie and mask his real goal to destroy government FOR and BY the the people – ALL OF THE PEOPLE – ALL OF THE STATES....the VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN -LISTEN AND HELP...not derail and obstruct EVERYTHING.

I'm not going to weigh-in on the merits of secession (not "succession") nor the ridiculous idea that discussing it is seditious or traitorous (free speech, people!), but I will say that anyone with basic knowledge of the US economy and taxes should realize that the US would be screwed without Texas. and Texas would be facing many new problems too w/o the resources of the other states, but I think the big loser here is clearly the US economy.

I wish ANY state would suceed so I could move there and be done with 30% in Federal Taxes, 7% in State taxes, social security being taken from me of which clearly I WILL NEVER SEE.

BOTH parties are a joke and yet people argue/discuss like one is better than the other. Please, from top to bottom, the Federal Goverment is BROKEN, it is beyond fixing, it has been and always will be swimming in debt and in the not so distant future (regardless of who is running Washington) our money will be worthless.

So, enjoy arguing over Obama being the savior, Ron Paul being a traitor and Bush supposedly having caused all of this....it won't matter.

We Texans love y'all, but we'll probably have to take action since B. Hussein Obama won the election. We'll miss you too.

So what does Texas have to do to survive as a Republic?

1. NASA is just south of Houston , Texas . We will control the space industry.

2. We refine over 85% of the gasoline in the United States

3. Defense Industry–we have over 65% of it. The term "Don't mess with Texas ," will take on a whole new meaning.

4. Oil – we can supply all the oil that the Republic of Texas will need for the next 300 years. Yankee states?
Sorry about that.

5. Natural Gas – again we have all we need and it's too bad about those Northern States. John Kerry will have to figure out a way to keep them warm....

6. Computer Industry – we currently lead the nation in producing computer chips and communications–small companies like Texas Instruments, Dell Computer, EDS, Raytheon, National Semiconductor, Motorola, Intel, AMD, Atmel, Applied Materials, Ball Miconductor, Dallas Semiconductor, Delphi, Nortel, Alcatel, etc, etc. The list goes on and on.

7. Medical Care – We have the largest research centers for cancer research, the best burn centers and the top trauma units in the world, as well as other large health centers. Dallas has some of the best hospitals in the United States .

8. We have enough colleges to keep us going: University of Texas , Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Rice, SMU, University of Houston , Baylor, UNT ( University of North Texas ), Texas Women's University, etc. Ivy grows better in the South anyway.

9. We have a ready supply of workers. We could just open the border when we need some more.

10. We have essential control of the paper industry, plastics, insurance, etc.

11. In case of a foreign invasion, we have the Texas National Guard and the Texas Air National Guard. We don't have an Army, but since everybody down here has at least six rifles and a pile of ammo, we can raise an Army in 24 hours if we need one. If the situation really gets bad, we can always call the Department of Public Safety and ask them to send over a couple of Texas Rangers. We're a state that has a legal right to go heeled and concealed too.

12. We are totally self-sufficient in beef, poultry, hogs, and several types of grain, fruit and vegetables, and let's not forget seafood from the Gulf. Also, everybody down here knows how to cook them so that they taste good. Don't need any food. This just names a few of the items that will keep the Republic of Texas in good shape. There isn't a thing out there that we need and don't have. Now to the rest of the United States under President Obama:

Since you won't have the refineries to get gas for your cars, only President Obama will be able to drive around in his big 9 mpg SUV. The rest of the United States will have to walk or ride bikes. You won't have any TV as the Space Center in Houston will cut off satellite communications. You won't have any natural gas to heat your homes, but since Mr. Obama has predicted global warming, you will not need the gas as long as you survive the 2000 years it will take to get enough heat from Global Warming.

Signed, The People of Texas

P.S. This is not a threatening letter – just a note to give you something to think about!
SLEEP WELL TONIGHT – THE EYES OF TEXAS ARE UPON YOU!!
That's One Nation Under God, y'all!

Bob more people live In the City. So we are the Majority. By the way just becasue you don't live In the city doesn't mean you work harder. If Im not mistaken the majority of Welfare receipants are not in the City.

Why do Repubs keep saying that Obama is raising our taxes? What language does it have to be said in for you people to understand?! 95% of the nation's taxpayers will NOT have taxes go up AT ALL!!
The remaining 5% will have taxes go up in the near future not immediate future. PLUS that tax hike for (I REPEAT 5% of people) is not to some new level, its to what it was BEFORE Bush lowered it for them (who didnt lower it for the 95%). You people are living in la-la land if you keep thinking backwards on this.

You dems are ridiculous... here is a guy speaking plain English speaking about the most fundamental of our rights. Free Speech!! Anyone who says that Obama is doing something wrong, is persecuted as a Republican, its almost like liberalism is now a religion. You’re all hypocrites. You don’t want what’s good for the country; you just want to see this President be successful, no matter what the outcome. Your grandkids will suffer, but who cares, liberalism is alive and well!!!

Maybe Ron Paul and his friends should read this:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation under God, INDIVISIBLE, with Liberty and Justice for all.

Remember the Pledge you fought so hard for. Now, live up to it!

I personally would not miss Texas or Alaska
Nor any other whiners that believe that Freedom is free.
I hate paying taxes too, but, spending what we are on 2 wars, plus multiple natural disasters, who exactly is going to pick up the bill if we don't?
Dont get me wrong, I am totally against bailouts, but there are things that we must address – crumbling roads and bridges, bringing jobs back home, health and public safety to name a few. So, if they have an answer for how to pay for all of this WITHOUT raising taxes, I for one would love to hear it.
All I hear is complaining – with no real solutions.
Plus, isn't Texas one of the states that doesn't have a state income tax (please correct me if I'm wrong)? If so, seceding will change that won't it?

As always, most of your are ignorantly missing the point of them mentioning seceeding from the Union. The point being that the Federal government gets its power from the States, for without a Union and the States supporting it, the Federal government ceases to exist.
States rights are an important foundation in our country and we need to remember that nationlizing everything into central points of control yields less power to the people, states and local governments.
Centralized government means a slower reaction time, and a more nationalized policy...which fails to react to the ever changing markets and local problems.
Try to think of it like a large business trying to help 1 single customer that wants to spend $100 when their average transaction is $100,000. Ever try to call a large company and buy something when you don't have an account with them? The service stinks. Call a small business and you are out the door in 5 minutes with your sale.
Both companies are probably good companies, but the model is not set up for handling localized/small sales, etc.
In the same manner, an overly centralized government will fail, same as an overly decentralized government can fail to unite the States.
Right now, we have a large swing toward an overly centralized government.

I'm going to have to agree with the Center Square on this one. Just because Texas voted for the other guy doesn't mean that they have to act alike a spoiled kid on the playground who's threatening to "take his ball and go home." And, to back up Center Square, it's not like the Republicans don't spend our tax dollars as freely as the Dems.

Mr. Paul and all like him are fanning a flame that gets us into trouble each and every time it flares up. I will only say that those like him and Mr Perry are not really American they are all about their own personal space IN America. They are not team players and they are self serving to boot. This election cycle will be followed by another and they can vote and try to get others like themselves elected. THAT is American.

WOW! This is a little crazy. Obama has been is office 100 days and Bush was in office for 8 years and because of some different policies,
none so far that have taken away some of our rights, Texas wants to secede from AMERICA (by the way, only Republican conservatives are AMERICAN). Get real. Please leave and take the Dallas Cowboys with you!

The Argument is not about the Central Goverment but about the illegal Central Bank. Congress needs to get back its Constitutional power to coin our currency and get back to the Gold and Silver standard. END THE FED and the debt that is inslaving us all.

The left chides us conservatives for liking tax cuts and therefore causing the big deficits.

Let me be clear. True conservatives believe in tax cuts with a corresponding drop in federal spending. I would cut out whole federal departments if it were left to me. I would eliminate the useless but intrusive Dept. of Education. Education is primarily a local and state matter. Health and Human Services can go. There is much federal spending that does little for the people actually paying federal taxes.

The real problem is we now have 43% of working Americans that pay no federal income taxes. They don't care about federal spending as they may benefit without having skin in the game.

Also don't start railing about defense spending. Defense of the nation is one of the few legitimate functions of the federal government.

fter Perry, and on Paul, and Texas form their own country, they will "discover" other little things about the United Counties of Texas, then some of those Counties will seccede from Texas, so on and so on, and eventully RonPaul will have his own country that will do his bidding, then he can call himself King Paul. He will be lonely however because each other person will be their own country and their own King.
Come on, we have been through all this. The USA was formed and still works because we believe that some things are best done colletively for all our citizens. We get a chance to change things a little, for better or worse every two years when we vote for some old or new politicos, and then every four years for the big Administrative Chief.
Get BACK IN THE PROGRAM . IT WORKS ! Not perfect, but it works.

I think, perhaps, we are all forgetting that free speech is American. Even if a comment is ignorant, to allow the comment to be made IS American.

I will take this opportunity to make another comment; Anyone that BLINDLY follows the republican or democrat party and actually defends them is insane.

Both parties are rediculously corrupt! I have been upset since Bush started spending money and I will contiinue to be upset until Obama stops. I think Obama deserves as much criticism as Bush. Please open your eyes and understand that Washington is filled with criminals. BOTH BUSH AND OBAMA ARE GUILTY OF APPOINTING CRIMINALS! Our govenrment was elected by the people, but who else was there to vote for? We need a third party.

So, if someone want to talk succession, maybe they have a point. They have the right to say it as Americans. I, however, believe that walking away from things never solves the problem.

Let's get away from succession and start thinking about putting responsible people (elected only with public funds) in office.

And what exactly is wrong with secession and self-government?

I'm not sure if the comments expressed here are more ignorant or malevolent.

Let them go! And take all the entire idiot Bush family with them! We get Willie Nelson though.

Don't like what Washington is doing? Welcome to the club. Yet we the people keep reelecting the same people. Expecting a different outcome, it seems.

I ran across a comment the other day that the problem with our elected representatives (and I’m not so foolish as to think that it’s only Washington) is not that they aren’t listening to us, but that they listen all too well and give us exactly what we want: trying to please everyone without exercising any judgment beyond pleasing the special interest group de jour.

The “we’ll show them and take our toys and go home” is expected in the kindergarten sandbox. Coming from self proclaimed “public servants” it’s disappointing.

As a veteran and son of a veteran and brother of another, may I assure Mr. Paul that one of the things we fought and fight for was a United America and not for its dissolution because things aren’t going exactly the way we want. Work to make it better, not tear it down.

Only an idiot would make such a jumble of rationalizations to argue the validity of succesion. Obviously they choose to ignore our history since the civil war. Why do we even give a platform to such screw balls?

These comments are just further proof that CNN is biased, not that we didn't already know. Well over 90% of you are overt liberals. Thanks for the evidence idiots.

Bush kept us safe for 7 1/2 yrs – how did he do it? Most Americans have never taken the time to find out.
Why was 9/11 not detected – here in MPls FBI caught Moussaui and wanted to take his computer and review – but Washington said "no" that's not legal and it was stopped (reviewing his computer would of stopped 9/11)....WHO IS THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR STOPPING THE REVIEW OF MOUSSAUI COMPUTER – OH MY IT WAS A MAN BY THE NAME OF ERIC HOLDER, our Attorney General now. Wonder why Texas wants out of this mess that America has voted in.
If they are unqualified they are in the Gov't in Washington now, and that Inc Mr. Obama.
Jack J
Mn

The problem isn't tax cuts or traditional federal spending (wise spending). The problem is that you can't do both at the same time. History proves, and Dr Arthur Laffer proved, tax cuts work. You cannot spend your way into prosperity. We also know we live in an advanced society because of responsible federal tax spending. However, you cannot fight the war on terror and cut taxes simultaneously. That was the mistake. Now, instead of recognizing the problem, Obama is increasing federal spending and increasing taxes, further burdening the American taxpayer at precisely the wrong time in the economic cycle. Spending should be cut, not increased. Taxes can be left at current levels, or slightly increased, but Dr. Laffer proved that the US Treasury will reach a point of "diminishing returns" in their attempt to continually raise taxes. Think of it this way – you cannot tax people at a rate of 100% and expect them to continue to work. So where is the saturation point? 40%? 50%? We're close to the saturation point right now. Texas succession talk, Tea Party protests and general outrage is not a coincidence.

If they secede and we go back and take them over, can we use torture methods? Maybe some waterboarding on our past leaders?

I encourage Texas to secede. they can eliminate taxes, pay their military in yellow ribbons and crayon colored cartoons supplied by kindergartners who support the troops, go back to the gold standard, eliminate fiat currency of the dollar, install pay per use toilets or whatever, hire cops paid per call, and live the Libertarian utopia that exists in Ron Paul's mind.

and we don't have to hear about Texas anymore.

win-win.

Ron Paul, what a load of crap! Let's just face it. Some people are still bitter about losing a not-even-close election. If you think leaving the union is ok, why in the world would you run for the president of the UNITED states in the first place??
Last I checked, when our forefathers left England and eventually formed this country, they actually LEFT England. So if you want to find your better place, please do us a favor, go find yourself a piece of land and LEAVE with the rest of bitter people who can't get over a loss! No one is holding you back and the Red Coats won't be coming.

I believe all this talk is simply racism at it worst. There are those Americans who just can't accept having a black President. Most of the things with the Banks that make this racist group angry were already in place by a Texan President long before Obama became President.

Secession in the 13 colonies was primarily about an external power imposing taxes without any representatives, and then using troops to enforce those laws.

Secession in the period before the Civil war was about some states insisting that they had the right to deprive other human beings of the rights of freedom and fair treatment guaranteed others in the US Constitution. These secessionists did have representation and used it to the best of their ability to perpetuate the "peculiar institution" of slavery. When they didn't get their way, they attempted to secede.

Secession talk today appears to be based on objection to taxation even in the presence of having representatives (many, actually) tasked with the development of taxation practices. Moreover, there seemed to be little talk of secession during the "good times" when government policy supported practices that got us into the crisis. Secessionists today simply want to have the party and leave the bill to others. They enjoyed the benefits of an overspending society undercautious, and now they want to run from responsibility for their part of the bill. Hardly the goals of honorable men or women. I would think most true Texans would be ashamed to run from responsibility like that.

Kiran Chetry erred here. She notes that the bailout seems to be working, in part because Wells Fargo is able to pay back their portion of the bailout. But Wells Fargo was never struggling financially, like Bank of America. Many banks were forced to take the bailout money, regardless if they needed it or not. The Feds did not think it wise to single out just the struggling banks, as that might cause a panic. So concluding that the bailout is working because some major banks are posting profits even though they were never struggling is just irresponsible journalism.

I've believed in secession for more than 20 years now. As a native Texan... I realize that Texas and it's people may well be better off on their own... especially when Washington ignores the needs of states like Texas in favor of other states who's interests are completely different. Texas can easily be self-supporting. It's sad that our elected officials in Austin won't seriously consider such a move.

When the colonies split from England it resulted in a 7 year war. When the south ceded from the union it was a 4 year war. Do the politicians in Texas really want to incite an armed conflict with the United States?

Liberals love to talk about free speech – so long as the speech is in line with their beliefs.

And now here comes the wave of whining liberal remarks about Bush did this or Bush did that....wauuggh!! So predictable our Dumbocratic counterparts are.... Good for Texas.

While I'll agree that the colonies did not secede from Britain, I do belevieve (if I'm not mistaken) that our colonies did secede from the federal government under the Articles of Confederation. Secession is not something to be villified. Our colonies seceded from the Articles of Confederation in order to adopt our current constitution. Had they not, we'd still be under the A.O.C. Now, arguably, the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional and illegal to secede shortly after the Civil-War; however, many people believe it to be a political play to villify the South afterwards...which makes one wonder why no southern Generals were tried for treason...possibly because they didn't do anything illegal?
I also see alot of partisan BS on these boards which, frankly, is the main source of our problem. Many of you who urge Texas to secede also forget the ENORMOUS amount of oil reserves and refineries in Texas. Could you all imagine the blow to the economy? And as far as the law and Constitution is concerned, it's not illegal to talk of secession. It kind of goes along with that whole "Freedom of Speech" thing....

varangianguard April 21st, 2009 10:56 am ET

We didn’t “secede” from Great Britain. Not enough space to explain how ignorant that usage is. Would expect better from Ron Paul.

Yes, in fact we did, by virtue of the Declaration of Independence, that's exactly what we did, the revolution was merely a by product of the secession.

TX, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE SECEDE? My friends and I will help you build a fence along your northern border. No more Enron, Bushes, Cowboys (the football team and the regular kind), no more Texans in the voting/gene pool. This is like Christmas in April! I was promoting the sale of Texas to China (think about how much we could get for Texas!) but this might be better. Though the Peoples Republic of Texas does have a nice ring.

Just remember, once you're out you can't come back!

Is Ron Paul confusing recession with secession ?

Does he want Texas to secede or recede? I am not sure...

I live in Texas and the ones talking of secession are a group of sore Republicans. They seem to appeal to uneducated groups. Unless they get smart and quit criticizing everything President Obama does, they aren't going anywhere. He had a big mess to contend with and he is doing the best he can. Just get over it. You lost.

he was asked if he was likening our current situation to living under King George, and he essentially said he was. Which is totally absurd. Just as the 'tea party ' protests were absurd in that historically the comparison they are trying to do here makes no sense. And this talk of secession is just over the top rhetoric from a party that if failing to see how out of touch with reality it is.

I disagree with all our money being shelled out for congress and the administrations' paychecks and all their perks. Most of them get kickbacks from one thing or another and Americans are sick of it! It's been going on for years and is just getting worse. The only reason they're bailing out banks, big business, etc., is because they won't have a job if they don't. They all owe favors. Stop siding with the billionaires who own the dems and the repubs. Get a mind of your own people! We have the power, let's use it to really change things, not to attack other Americans!

All of you people on here screaming to let Texas leave you know nothing about the flow of money in this country. If Texas leaves the consequences would be dire. Besides all of you people on here bashing Texas when your all moving here 1000's at a time. Stay there no one is asking your to come.

The Texans are late to the party. Secession has been a serious topic of conversation in the Southeast for years. I'm talking about conversations among educated people. Given the opportunity to vote out of the union, many would be stunned at the percentage of Southerners that would vote out. We've felt disenfranchised for years. Has nothing to do with the current president. Someone should do a poll.

Secession is sounding better and better to me. I HATE where our country is headed. The very things that individuals have done to get us in this mess are now the very things Congress is doing to get us out. It won't work!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ron Paul is addicted to the limelight -what will he think of next to get in the news- he supports legalizing cocaine, commiting treason, what 's next Paul? How about term limits for members of Congress?

Republicans are two-faced and duciplitous (oh, and sore losers).

Luckily, anyone who's got a couple of brain cells to rub together agrees they are bumbling idiots who can only justify their position to their close-minded cronies.

Any media who gives credence to their statements put themselves at risk of losing their own credibility.

Why can't we talk about seccession?

Are any of you liberals going to stop anyone? I didn't think so.

Stick to watching your American Idol, and driving your hybrid's.

Ron Paul stated that New England seceeded, and no-one challenged New England that it was unconstitutuinal early in our history. I would like to respectfully point out that there was this little dust-up as a result of New England's actions. Historians call it the American Revolution. It happened as a result of New England's actions, and I would think it qualifies as 'challenging' those actions. There was also another war, called the Civil War, in which states fought to determine, among other things, whether final say rests with the state or with the federal government. The end result was that the federal government, as elected by the people, is the final arbiter of the law–which Texas submitted to.

To all of those who left comments such as let Texas play in their own sand box, the rest of the country would be better with out us, go away, please leave and other nonsense – you might want to know that Texas is a major contributor to resources Americans depend on everyday. We not only have oil and gas but the necessary refineries, chemical plants, ports, agriculture and livestock, among other things After we secede and your cost of living increases as a result, maybe you'll rethink your position on telling my state to get lost.

Has it not become apparent that the President of the United States does not control this country? Who runs this place are those that give, take, and fritter away jobs.

And to the person speaking about England, well, just proof that we all spend 12 years in a government screw up. Secession was not a part of our vernacular then, but yes: we seceded from England to form our own Union.

This is also a pointless conversation as words and clever articles are great, but why would the government CARE if we as a people were mad?

They don't, they never will, will remain the opulent, tricked into thinking we are the majority, and we will always live by the damn motto "You are born, you pay taxes, you die" until we get off our fat, lazy asses and exercise one of the most beautiful pieces of the constitution: to change government itself.

Mr. Madison, I am sorry, but the experiment you had Jefferson draw up has run on too long.

LOOKS LIKE ALOT OF DEMOCRATS ARE SIPPING THE SAME SAUCE BARRY IS DRINKING..... RON PAUL IS THE MAN

I think the GOP needs to get their foot out of their mouths – if they can stop shooting it first.

I love how everyone keeps bringing up Bush (im not a lib or conserv) when bush was a neo-con witch essentially is a liberal in conservative clothing. Its sad that it takes money to make people stand up for themselves. When the patriot act was enacted we should have had a full blown revolution but the American public is to sycophantic to even notice. This country is so far from what it is founded on its a complete joke. We live (by defenition) in a facist government. Facism is state controlled capitalism and with the bank bailouts and fireing of ceo's we have officailly become a facist government and the public is too stupid to even see it.

And so Ron Paul's basic right-wing hypocrisy shines through the thin veneer of his libertarian populism. He's just another politician who thinks it's oh so important to have "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance and then conveniently ignores the word which directly follows that religious phrase, when it suits his politics.

You guys aren't really getting it...mainly because you're speaking along Republican/Democratic lines. First off, Ron Paul is for all practical purposes a Libertarian. He simply has to run as a Republican b/c that's what our "democracy" requires...the two party system where each party plays a charade to keep the American public distracted from what the government is..."an unfair system to penalize average people."

Ron Paul is against the American government having too much power, that's why he's saying that succession should still be a threat to the national government.

All of the bickering about Democrats and Republicans on here proves that the government's charade is working too. If people would wake up and actually research and listen about what is going on instead of reacting to what is being said they would probably realize certain things like:

Legislation is being passed to create an European-Union like state in North America (if you have any knowledge of the steps taken to form the EU this would be obvious), our government keeps it's citizens ignorant and sick (the supposedly most advanced society lags significantly in education and has chronic illness rates approaching 50%), the Fed and IRS are cartels that keep Americans in debt and virtually slaves to a banker class (hint bailout).

Unfortunately intelligent and impartial people like Ron Paul often point these things out but Americans can't grasp what's going on because most are either: too distracted by the theater of politics and the 24 hour information blitz telling us what Britney Spears did last night, or too dumb and tired because where undereducated, fattened up (30% obesity rate) and drugged (over 40% on Rx drugs).

GET A CLUE AMERICA!

I thought it was "Patriotic" to dissent.....oh well, I guess the Dems were wrong unless, of course, they are in power then it's baaaaaad !

Just another ploy by the Republican Party trying to regain a lost foothold in what they once enjoyed in Washington D.C. So quit your pouting Rick Perry and Ron Paul, the world will still be here when you fade into this country's history. Too bad, this is the best the Republican Party has to offer. I don't agree with all the Obama Administration is offering, but my faith lies in the will of this country, and we will again prevail against all adversities as always.

The last time a state tried to secede, my family fought on the wrong side of that war. They were simple farmers who did not understand that the Confederate leaders were taking them down the wrong path. They were too poor to own slaves, but they defended the right of slaveowners to force adult men and women to work without pay or decent living conditions, to be bought and sold, and to own the children of slaves.

The next time a state tries to secede from the United States, I will be fighting on the right side, on the side of the Constitution and democracy. Let those traitors who talk secession be warned. I have never owned a gun, but I will avail myself of my second amendment rights to preserve this nation.

To "T", I agree wholeheartedly. But what if our country doesn't survive the Obama power grab?

Ted G " Democratic Congress " Are you kidding me are you really saying George Bush got help from Democratic Congress ? That was the last 2 yrs of 8. Can you Count or are you just another GOP talking Head. Get your Fact before you talk please. Oh Wait you belong to the FOX party oops GOP party you don't deal in Facts

I personally hope that the bailout works, but in my heart I fear that Ron Paul may be correct. If we do face additional economic issues while other nations prosper, I'm not just worried about succession but also about how many Americans will become expatriates? That will just make it worse for all of us who stay...

http://www.auditknowledgebase.org

Ron Paul is right.
They are pulling the wool over a majority of our eyes.
Once the shell game has been revealed, the gig will be up, and almost everyone will be irate and will demands answers. When the answers don't come, or make sense, people will loose all remaining faith in the Federal Gov't. Then what are they supposed to do, continue with the charade of a Union and Federal Gov't where the will of the people is ignored? Anyone who thinks we live in a Democracy is dead wrong. We're supposed to live in a Republic, not a democracy...and the Federal Gov't gets all of their power and legitimacy from We The People. When we doubt their legitimacy and refuse to give them powers anymore what will they have?
Either we will start over again, or we will be living in a facist dictatorship...there's no other option...

This is expected from Perry, who only mustered 39% of the vote for re-election. Clearly, he doesn't speak for the majority of Texans. Even Republicans don't want him in office any more. As for Paul, I expected more even though I am a Democrat. He just sounds stupid here, for example, Texas didn't "secede from England." This is yet another instance of the Republicans hating everyone that doesn't think exactly like they do. Sad.

Bush added $6 Trillion in debt over 8 years, this is obscene. However, Obama is going to add $3 Trillion in debt in 1 year and is on pace to add $12 Trillion in 4 years. Think about that. It took 230 years to rack up our current debt of $12 Trillion, and Obama will double that in only 4 years. If you don't want to secede from Washinton D.C. then you are too blind to see the brick wall we are about to smash in to. This is not a Republican or Democrat issue, both are to blame. Our only hope of salvation is to immediately dissolve our federal government and start from scratch. Seriously people, in 4 years we will be $24 Trillion in debt and the dollar will be worth about $0.10. We must act immediately.

Texas would be a Third World Country. It is the #1 State in the Union for Drunk Drivers, very low education level among it's citizens, low per capita earnings, a high murder rate, high amount of people with no medical insurance & is among the highest states grabbing Federal Aid Dollars. Rick Perry needs to brush up on his Federal Law, Texas has no 'right' to even talk about leaving the Union. Perry really needs to get a life, he's just another grandstanding Texan in the mold of GW Bush, all talk, no brains.

Here's another comment that won't get posted.

It's pretty sad to see this issue become so distorted, on Perrys' part and alot of people here.

It's American to stand together, yet here we go with GOP this, Dem that – get a clue – it's not about parties, it's about freedom. For all. When you stay in this mindset of R v. D – you miss out on the real story. Stay distracted by the movie, I guess that's easier and less time consuming.

When the dollar does collapse, and fiat currencies do, the lack of unity will rip the country to pieces. Too much bickering without looking into the core reasons of how we got to this point.

Call it what you will, America was formed from leaving the oppressive tax gods across the pond. The government works for the STATES, not themselves. When the government is no longer listening to the STATES, they are well within their rights to leave.

How about we talk about the MIAC report? I'm sure Ron Paul would have some comments on that – and it is very relevant to this article.

GO RON PAUL! AUDIT THE FED!

Never forget who works for who.

I cannot believe Rick Perry's quote or stories like this in reaction to it! The notion that Texas has the right to secession is a MYTH. Texas has the unique right to divide itself into 5 different states...but not the right to secession. The fact that our own governor and these media types don't take the time to read a little history (not to mention the Texas constitution) is appalling. For the record: TEXAS DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO SECESSION. Look what happened when they tried it last time...

Republicans these days!

If you think that these ideas weren't around and being discussed during the W years then you obviously weren't paying attention, or maybe you were only getting your news from CNN. The only difference is that now the neo-cons have jumped on board and they're using this platform as a way to bash Obama, e.g. the tea parties.

Also, everyone if you don't know, please go and find out what teabagging (t-bagging) means before you start using it in sentences.

ironic that you think Succession would be good sense economically for Texas. for every dollar Texas sends to the federal government they get back $1.02. So no, no one in texas would get a 30% tax cut, that is a shear fantasy.
And of course never mind the fact that Succession is NOT a right enumerated to any of the states in our constitution, or the fact that the treaty that brought Texas INTO the union required texas to WAIVE the right to ever succeed in the future.
Texas has no right to leave, and even indulging in such a fantasy is treasonous and just demonstrates what Colossally bad Loosers Conservatives really are.

If Texas left the union other states would quickly follow. It would be great to see the two different parties run their own countries. The left would have high unemployment due to welfare people not wishing to work and live off the taxpayers, business would suffer because of high taxes and regulations on the environment, health care and everything from banks to newspaper would be run by the government. Sounds a lot like Russia.
The downside is that Texas and the other states would have a communist country as a neighbor.

It is not "American" to talk about secession, it is anti-American. No state has the right to secede...that was settled by the Civil War. The only way out of this union is by armed insurection. The 14th Amendment extended federal jurisdiction into all the states and overrode the 10th Amendment (Lincoln, a Republican, did not believe in states' rights).

Democrats who were against the policies of President Bush were branded traitors for their opposition. Power has changed hands, as it has throughout this country's history. It is remarkable that the Republicans simply cannot deal with the inevitable swing of the pendulum, and the solution is to secede.

The model for economic recover that the current administration is using is the exact same as the one Japan and Sweden used, successfully. When we bailed out the savings and loan system under the first Bush, we recovered from the huge debt. Yes, thing will have to change. Past presidents raised taxes during wartime...Bush cut taxes. We now have the lowest personal tax rate of any western country. The slashing of taxes has destroyed our educational system, caused massive debt, and allowed our infrastructure to crumble. It has become a country with no conscience. You can't have your cake, and eat it too.

OK leave already!!

To all the liberals out there crying 'we didn't want to secede during the Bush years!' trust me, conservatives would LOVE the idea of you people doing your own thing. Without CA, MA, NY we wouldn't have to be dealing with the idiocy of your 'stimulus plans,' socialization of health care, and other ideas that economists agree are terrible. And honestly, stop the reactionary blaming Bush for all your problems. Try to fit some logic in your arguments. WE THE PEOPLE caused the current economic crisis through our own greed, not democrats or republicans.

You people are ridiculous...read and research new other than our liberal corporate media. We did secede from England because of what we consider abuse, tyranny, and taxes. It is un American to not stand up for our rights and hold our government accountable. If they are not working in the interest of this nation and its people and only interested in appeasing wealthy bankers, then it is justified for people to feel its time to replace the government or secede. BTW every president is a puppet of the central bankers. WAKE UP.

This is just another temper tantrum the GOP is displaying. Obama is president; we put up with your idiot for 8 years, cut the rest of some slack. The GOP acts like they didn't have anything to do with the corruption of Wall Street, Banks and Oil speculation. This mess happened while Bush was asleep at the wheel (black out of Calfornia, 911, waterboarding etc.,). We have lost over 4,000 young men in women in a war that was trumped up for personal greed and the same people that are belly aching now where supportive of the Bush Doctrine (did anyone explain that one to Sarah Palin or is she still blissfully ignorant)? Leave Texas alone and the people who want to succeed move out of USA and leave the rest of us to get on with building our great country back up to the way it was before the Bush/Cheney dynasty. I have family in Texas and I can assure you they think the Governor and Ron Paul are nuts.

I am a Texan and proud of it, I have never even considered all this talk of secession to be serious until I read some of the immature comments on this board regarding Texans.

Keep up your rhetoric, and you will only anger the Texans that do not agree with this stance. In doing so you are making the situation worse.

In denying that secession is treasonous and un-American, Mr. Paul reveals his total ignorance of the difference between revolution by a subservient colony and secession by a state of the Union. As others have noted, wasn't the legitimacy and legality of the latter resolved by a little historical event callent the Civil War. He needs to re-take a fifth grade U.S. history and Constitution course.

Let me start by saying all those that think secession is un-american or stupid apparently doesn't know American history. What happened to free speech and thinking. if the federal governement is not doing it job and the state is why does that make it wrong to want to separate. we fire people everyday here for just that, not holding up your end of the deal. there is one important thing ppl seem to miss in this conversation. if a state seceded what stops the state from to much power. that's the key problem to secession. I think the true problem is the way we elect officials. why are only 2 parties allowed to debate? why cant i vote in a primary, ohh yea cause i am not registered in any particular party. If we want to fix the current tax problems, why is no one talking about fair taxation. http://www.fairtax.org this is a system that is not perfect but it is a far cry from our current problems. our government is suppose to protect us from double taxation. do you realize how many taxes are imposed on any given item prior to you buying it and paying those taxes. what gives the government the right to have taxes almost 100% of what the item cost. did they forget all the taxes the company paid to produce the product. THE NUMBER 1 PROBLEM IN AMERICA IS OUR TAX LAWS. if we change the way we think and act we can change our country to better suit our children. AMERICANS FOR FAIR TAXATION. http://www.fairtax.org

If you want to leave the Union, don't forget to take your state's share of the national debt. I'm sure we can credit you for Social Security and Medicare accordingly – the Union will still come out ahead anyway.

Also, if you're going to use it, please learn how to spell it. It's secession, not succession.

I'd be curious to see how many people who are in favor of a state's "right" to secede are also against gay marriage. I would argue that secession is bigger threat to our society (you know, breaking up our country and all), than guys marrying guys could ever be.

One more nail in the GOP coffin. How can anyone take this party seriously when they talk like this? I have yet to see any positive move by the GOP to help bring about improvements to the US economy, foreign relations, energy dependence, health care, ANYTHING! They have become the party of "NO" and the party of "you are not allowed to smile when you are the president (per Newt G.) and now the party of "secession." The GOP has very quickly become a bunch of whining old white guys, yearning for the days of old. As a result, they are just as quickly becoming irrelevant. It's a shame.

These are scary comments. We have a room full of enraged experts here apparently. Most of you are taking general language from an interview and creating technical faults by Mr. Paul out of nowhere. Does this make you feel smart? Read the article and take what you may from it. Personally, I will be moving to Texas if they secede.

Here in New Mexico we have a saying- "Poor, poor, New Mexico. So far from heaven, so close to Texas".

We live all the time having to put up with Texans' alternating between bragging about being better and bigger than anyone else and whining about how much people don't respect them.

If they want to secede, let'm go. The country would probably be a better place without them.

Come on guys, it's "SECEDE" not "succeed"!

As biased as I am against the "tea parties" anyways, Ron Paul further alienates himself from the saninty of moderate America by supporting these comments. The colonists rebelled because they were taxed WITHOUT being represented in Parliament. It would be like if Texas had no Senators or Representatives. It's not like America is the first or last nation to pay taxes.

A better comparison is the Civil War since states, you know, actually seceded. Hell, they even claimed they were seceding because of unfair taxes, which is an argument Southern apologists still use to this day.

Of course the arguments are treasonous. Republicans lost a fair election. They're not being denied any freedom or voice – their voice is the minority. Welcome to democracy.

I remember there were several other states that thought they had the right to secede from a union they had only joined fourscore and 4 years before, but they found it wasn't all that easy!!

"Texas can survive without the United States but the United States can not survive without Texas."
–Sam Houston.

The Republic of California.

Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

I moved to Texas 6 years ago and not once did anyone protest Bush's actions. You were whiny and a sore loser if you even doubted the great George W. I got to experience the last election from this side of the fence and the ignorance and hate that was spouted off from the Texas right was amazing. But with all the garbage they spewed down here in Fox New's biggest market, the counties that contain Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio all voted blue. Maybe these crazy right wing politicians need to wake up and realize that Texas isn't just about the right anymore and spouting off this garbage is pushing more and more to the left.

Britain was a monarchy when the colonies formed the US. We have a constitution now. The constitution doesn't have any provisions for secession as far as I know. The last time someone had a notion to secede it resulted in the bloodiest war we've ever experienced. It seems as if there are problems now, rather than seceding it would make better sense to try an amend the constitution to deal with whatever difficulties that are causing people to talk about leaving the union.

I didn't realize the new Republican thing to do was "cut and run". But since the divorce rate in this so called "Christian" society is 50%, could we expect anything less? Where is the respect for President Lincoln and those who gave their lives to keep this nation together? If you don't like the way things are headed right now, you can speak up in 2010 and again in 2012.

In denying that secession is treasonous and un-American, Mr. Paul reveals his total ignorance of the difference between revolution by a subservient colony and secession by a state of the Union. As others have noted, wasn’t the legitimacy and legality of the latter resolved by a little historical event called the Civil War. He needs to re-take a fifth grade U.S. history and Constitution course.

I talked with Dr. Paul about 20 minutes after that interview, and we discussed the interview a little more in depth. Escaping the monarchy of King George may not have been a secession by definition, but it was the same principal of freedom. If you're confused about the legality of secession, you should consult the constitution. The states entered the union under conditions that allow them to leave if their rights are violated. The 10th amendment has been violated in so many ways that every state now has the right to secede from the union. It's not anti-American; it's the only way to ensure that we remain free. It's the only way to ensure the government doesn't become too powerful (which it's definitely doing). If people don't want to stay in the union because the government is overly invasive, the solution is for the government to let the states be more free. And for those of you who are upset with Texas right now, perhaps you should check to see if you're living in one of the 19 other states that have declared state sovereignty and the right of the 10th amendment in the last year. That's right, 20 states have declared that they have the right to make or break any law not expressly granted to the federal government by the constitution.

WE as a Union are far from total congeniality. The theme of states rights is counterproductive for the good of all our citizens. There are many laws that apply in only certain states. They encompass vehicle traffic, rights to protect family, home and property, what you watch on TV, where and what you consume in certain commodities, to mention a few. Bottom line, from coast to coast we as American citizens are connected by our way of life and there should be NO DIFFERENCE on how the connections are made. What's good in Texas should be likewise in Ohio, Oregon, etc. Laws are written to protect the rights of our citizens, those rights should be equal everywhere in the good ole USA. There will always be a need for some small differences in state or local munincipal laws as applicable to those small differences. Where we connect the dots, is where we need to stand united.

Nothing but a bunch of hypocritical liberals on this site...as a fellow Texan I would gladly remove myself from any sort of association with borderline socialism.....let me guess, you guys think Hugo Chavez is a good guy?

Jack Jones from Nevada is right. The notion of the south rising again is not that far off if we continue down this path. And I'm not talking slavery so don't twist the words. I'm talking about the working man taking back his lands and his country and not allowing the politicians to tell us what we have to do and when. Texas has one of the highest GDP's in the world. So if you think Texas can't make it on it's own then you need to do some research. We have the oil, refineries, industry, farming, and enough production to be perfectly fine. As for the troops that some of you have spoken of, Texas also provides more troops for the US Army than any other state. Who do you think they will side with? Home or defunct country? Hmmm....hard to decide....duh!

I feel they may secede from the union only after they repay all the money that their state lost during the S & L scandal. I heard they were responsible for 3/4 of all the loses. Remind them that is plus interest!

Many cities in Texas are blue, and are just as outraged about this idea of secession. The republican idealogues are following along, and sane Texans fear seeing the makings of another Dubbya in Gov Perry.

"New England wanted to secede. No one challenged New England that it was unconstitutional in our early history."– Ron Paul

What is that? There was not a US Constitution when the 13 colonies signed the Declaration of Independence. The US did not exist at that time...

To top it off, Jefferson and Hancock wanted to declare independence after England passed laws that lowered taxes but made the smuggling of sugar and other commodities more difficult. Texas wants to secede because the government is trying to make up for the deficit created by the previous administration.

And, let us face it. The desire in Texas to secede is really being driven by its fear that what is left of its socially conservative, rather bigoted, laws will be destroyed by the power of the federal government. But taxation is a better guise to hide behind because superficially, it makes Texans look like they are holding true to 'American values.'

C'mon Texas! Where are your American values? Real Americans (in Ron Paul's words) 'secede' or create new nations based on economic issues and policy. REAL countries don't secede over social issues–they just ask for a colony in which to escape persecution and then later hijack it when economic policy does not go their way. So Texas, to paraphrase your own racially driven words, "if you don't like it, get out!"

So Texas, appeal to Federal government for a colony of your own, preferably as far away from the mainland as possible. The rest of us Texans, the socially open-minded ones, that is, will convert all of your oil rigs and refineries into alternative fuel factories...

Texas should be able to leave, no questions asked. I think a North United States and A Southern United States should be allowed. Lets let States governern accordingly. Lets just see if the Texas model on less taxes, less government is a better model the the Northern States policy of tax and spend.

I'm betting a majority of the populations will move South.

Secession may be the only thing Washington will understand. Its bloated and out of control. States are being held hostage to the federal government and its supposed to be the other way around. Who gave Washinton the right to confiscate the money they take spend it on usless crap and then call the taxpayer greedy or unpatriotic if we dont like it. Washington needs to be brought to its knees and the only way to do it is threats of leaving the Union or better, financially starve the beast.

Fred, the male version of Garafalo.

Those of you who spue the racist card time and again are showing your true ignorance of the issues.

Garafalo states that the tea party crowd doe not understand history. Give me a break. Based on the infamous television interviews during the campaign, it is clear a good portion of the Obama voters were abysmally ignorant about everything.

Racism is a card you play when you do not have anythign substantive and intelligent to say.

It is sad that there are so many people posting here that are getting themselves worked up over this.

Yes, Texas is a great state that can be self-sustaining. We also house the largest military base in the United States. No, most Texans do not wish to secede. Yes, we are larger than France and can take care of ourselves. We would be happy to let the United States import our oil, cotton, and produce. No, Mexico would not become a threat because nothing would change. Mexico would still be the country directly below us. No, most Texans do not drive pickup trucks and wear cowboy boots.

Yes, I am a native Texan who is proud of my family history and that we are in the Texas history books. I am also proud of my family's history in United States history.

No, I have never owned a pickup. I don't want one. I still have the same pair of boots from when I was in high school. In fact, that was probably the last time I wore them. I can only wish that I owned a few oil wells so that I could reap the rewards of the oil money. I like cattle because I enjoy having steak once or twice a month. I like fish better. We can catch them off our coast or off your coast...does not matter to me. They all taste good.

Contrary to what many people here are posting, we do have a pretty well-educated bunch of people in our state. Just like the rest of the states in the US. No matter where you go, you will have people who speak before they think and who get upset over things they have zero control over. That is just human nature. Unfortunately, they are the ones who are never wrong and can never admit or realize that they tend to be the ones who look bad after making crass statements without putting thought in to what they are saying.

Now, back to my job so I can drive my regular car back to my regular house, with my regular mortgage, and my regular family. Just like everyone else...

Why do people who complain and whine that they want small, non-
intrusive government, work for the government most of their working life?

I've never seen so many uneducated comments in my life, but what would i expect from people who trust CNN to give them their daily news. These are likely the same people who think we live in a "democracy" and that the Federal Government has the answer for all their needs. Grow a pair people! Both parties have been flushing your money down the toilet by accepting a Federal Reserve that is NOT FEDERAL! At what point do you lame brains wake up and look at the bigger picture? I would proudly stand with a state that would uphold it's Constitutional Right over a state that lays down and takes the raping they've been getting over and over again from the two party power players.

If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servatude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not for your councils or arms. Crouch down & lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, & may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.................... ..-Samuel Adams

To clarify an earlier point. Texas at the time it joined the Union had the right to divide into up to five States. Then in 1861 it seceded from the Union. When Texas was admitted back in the Union it lost the ability to divide into five States. As far as certain Texans wishing to secede today that is poppycock. If anything, Mexico should get Texas back as it was stolen from our southern neighbors in 1836. I say lets forget the "Alamo" and give Texas back!

I'm a TEXAN for SECESSION. Let me tell you, the so-called "Anglos" of Texas are ANGRY, and we have MORE AND BETTER GUNS THAN ALL BUT 4 NATIONS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. We have the MEANS and we have the WILL to leave a false and non-representing federal government.

The Consititution is NOT THE BIBLE and carries no weight other than the weight people give it. I ANSWER ONLY TO GOD and GOD is sending the message: GET YOUR GUNS READY, YE OF THE ELECT.

If Texas decides to leave the union, then we should pull every federal dollar from the state. We should close every military base in the state and close every VA hospital in the state. No more highway dollars, no more federal unemployment insurance dollars and no more money for the National Guard. Nothing, that's right absolutely no more federal money for the state of TX.

When the stupid neocons consider all this then lets see what they have to say. Basically, TX isn't going anywhere, and neither are any other state of the defeated southern confederacy....stupid rednecks!!!

Sid
Great Comment....

It's funny how Bush gets a pass on everything that he did and now everything is all Obama's fault. None of these idiots are talking about the 1st stimulus that Bush sent out that went unaccounted for.

There's no way Obama could have gotten away with approving a 500 million dollar embassy in Iraq, how absurd is that.

What a bunch of morons. Appears every other commenter is a yellow dog democrat, probably working for some media outlet. We did seceed from England by declaring our independence. By treaty, Texas does have the right to seceed by a vote of the people. Stay bent over people, you seem to like it.

Actually Clark we have one of the highest per capita education costs in the entire world, and our primary education is terrible. Yet people come from all over the world to attend college (highly privatized relative to K-12). Coincidence? Yeah, throwing more money at problems is clearly a solution.

NO MORE REPUBLICANS! PLEASE REPUBLICAN STATES LEAVE THE COUNTRY ONCE KNOWN AS THE USA

I GET THE FEELING THE REPUGNANTS ARE GONNA HANG AROUND BECAUSE THEY NEED THE LIBERALS AND THE BLUE STATES TO SURVIVE

BUT PLEASE REPUBLICAN AND RED STATES LEAVE THE USA, YOU ARE NOT WANTED HERE!!!!!!!!!!!

And further more I had to live thru Bushes years in office and I had to stay in the Union and I had to pay taxes for wars I did not approve of, and I had to see all those cheesy yellow magnets on the back of all the Right wing Mini vans. And I made it thru OK and I lived to vote those guys out. It makes me believe they can exercise their voting rights also. So far the tax guy hasn't broken your voting arm. Vote your brains out but do shut up.

The notion of succession is a very scary thought; I think Old King George of England had that same thought when some folks over in the colonies were griping about no taxation without representation. I would also wager to say that the folks in merry old England had the same comments back in the 1770’s like “Treason”, “Go Ahead we are better off without you”, and “See how well you do without the protection of the British crown and the Union Jack”. The fact of the matter is that anything can happen, like a group of farmers, slaves, and outcast’s dead set on making a statement that says we will not back down and ultimately routing the most powerful military force of the time. Sound familiar? We did it back in the late 1770’s. So the moral of the story the passage of time does not change monarchial or governmental tyrannical rule any way you look at it is wrong and people have the right to speak out.

It is not “American” to talk about secession, it is anti-American. No state has the right to secede…

We cheared when the Baltic states seceeded from the Soviet Union, but we don't have the same right?

Oh please just go then. And take the Dallas cowboys with you. 44-6.hehe

Ron Paul is an idiot, he appeals to the idiot Republicans who know there is a problem but arent sure what the solution is

AND BY THE BYE, no one heaped ABUSE and HATRED and CATCALLS on the little LIBERAL state of VERMONT when all they did was TALK about seceding from the U.S.A. all during G.W.B.'s PRESIDENCY.

You people are just p*ss-poor people and we in Texas hardly fear you and your liberal double-standards.

Its amazing how many of you people are so willing to get rid of Texas.

That's really American of you.

Bye, and good riddance. We can bring in Gwam, the American Samoans, for statehood.

Secession is treason, which is the only crime listed in the constitution.

Not really inclined to comment on what Sen. Paul had to say but I do want to comment made by "Aneta", "The state the spawned W, oh sweet Jesus, please go! Can we expedite the secession?"

Hey genius, your hated GWB is a Yankee-carpetbagging-old money-dandee from New Haven Conn. so now what? Perhaps you should put a helmet on before your high horse throws you into oncoming traffic...or then again don't bother.

If you will study your history, Texas was not properly annexed in the first place. The US Constitution does not give the US the right to annex another country and Texas was a country at the time. Also a proper quorum was not present when the Texas annexation was voted on. As a Texan, the sooner we escape from the Obama Borg the better.

Please, secceed. Nobody in the other 49 would miss you, I guarantee. In fact, we could all ship our useless Republicans to Texas as a way of giving them "refuge". Now THAT would give us a union worth living in, and the wall we would build around Texas would insure no immigrants could cross over.

I like Ron Paul. I agree with a lot of his Libertarian principles. And in this case i think he's right – there's no harm in talking about anything.

So RP is a traitor AND and idiot... what a shocker!

Secession is NOT American, it is treasonous. Secesion was tried once in this country and failed on the battlefeld; over 600,000 died to prove it wrong. Why would anyone in their right mind want to do it again?

Jeff, and poopship destroyer are correct. We need to get a clue, and think for ourselves. It is pointless to be a Democrat or a Republican. I can't wait until these parties BOTH dissolve. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one in here with core beliefs that are above those of 2 parties with the same underlying agenda. Yet, if Texas was to undergo a secession, I'm glad that I will be within her borders.

All of y'all that are getting hysterical over the secession issue are against everything principle behind the Declaration of Independence. I bet you are against a wife leaving her husband even when he is beating the tar out of her.

The Republican thing to do is definitely cut and run when a bunch of dolts are running Washington. Intelligent people need to look out for their own self-interest. The problems you create by voting an ultra-liberal president into office with not even a basic understanding of economics are your own.

The far rights' reaction to everything Obama reminds me of babies throwing tantrums. Here's some constructive advice for them: GROW UP!
Cast your votes in the elections and in the meantime, try to make things work.
You guys are like some kind of spoiled kid who takes his ball home because the other kids don' want to play by all his rules.

For each and every person that considers succession silly, I have two words: Bite me. You are clearly ignorant of your own governmental framework.

Here in Massachusetts, both the birth- and resting-place of American liberties, the government routinely, and as a matter of course, violates the constitutional rights of its citizens.

Its constitution clearly calls out that participation is both voluntary, and can be terminated.

The Federal Government has done no better.

As a citizen who has lost close to $2m due to the illegal activity of our government, I give you two choices: Pay the damages in full, as required by the constitution, or I will fully utilize my right to "alter the government, and to take measures necessary for their safety, prosperity and happiness." (from the preamble of the Massachusetts Constitution), including ignoring the government.

Succession is not only reasonable when a government ignores its responsibilities, it is a right, regardless of which moronic idiot is in the White House.

"Texas... it's like a whole other country". – Texas tourism ad

If only! Not only wouldn't Texas be missed by the rest of us, it would greatly lower the number of illegal immigrants, high-school dropouts, crystal meth labs, and executions of mentally-handicapped prisoners in the United States. I say let them do it! Thanks for all of your oil, Texas, now go have fun being the newest member of Latin America!

Seriously, though, Ron Paul is showing the typical American lack of historical perspective. The 13 colonies didn't "secede", they revolted. You have to an actual member of some kind of union or alliance to secede, which the colonies were not. And New England did talk of secession during the War of 1812, because they realized a war with Britain would've (and did) destroy New England's mercantile economy. Obviously, Mr. Paul didn't pay much attention in history or English class.

See ya later Texas. Have fun. Just one thing, next time a Hurricane hits you, you can't ask us for help. Good luck.

Once again you all let the ignorance of big media totally distract you from the fact that the good ole US of A is about a millisecond away from completely imploding on itself.

Did any of you even read the article? NO ONE is proposing sessesion, just remarking that it is a common feeling amongst Texans. Everyone of you people should be ashamed of yourself for TRAMPLING the Constitution you claim to be defending. First Ammendment- FREEDOM OF SPEECH...

Its ok though... keep cowtowing to the idiots printing more money and writing checks you will never be able to cash. The United States of Complacency will always be YOUR home.

So when Galvestan is covered over in water again.....do they still want to be separate?

What these people are really saying is that they do not believe in Democracy. They do not believe in the Constitution. They are only "good" Americans when their party is in office.

According to the US Census report on domestic spending, the US spent 2.45 trillion on domestic spending with Texas receiving 6.8% of that in 2006. These are old figures but a good base to start with. That would mean a budget cut of at least 166.6 billion to the US government and a budget debt to the new Texas government. Do you think their taxes will be less? All seniors would lose the Social Security checks and medicare, so all the things that seniors receive due to the US government would disappear. That would impact their tax base since many seniors would have to leave the country of Texas. Defense spending would disappear so again taxes would have to be raised to accommodate loss of those funds. Businesses would probably have to choose since it would probably not be allowed to have joint business with a foreign country hostile to the US. Do you think Texas Instruments would move or stay? What about Dell? They would go where their bigger market would be. All said and done, the cost to the Texan would far outweigh the cost to staying in the US so realistically, it would be better for the people of Texas to stay within the US. Having a country is expensive.

Neuro...you forgot this one from Thomas Jefferson (how true it is)

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
-Thomas Jefferson

As a native New Yorker and now a Texan, I say we should leave. Our capitol building dome is taller than that of the US, our national guard would be the 5th largest army in the world, we have all the natural gas, oil, wind power, and other resources to be self-sufficiant. The battleship Texas is parked in Galveston, the USS Lexington is parked in Corpus Christi so we got a Navy. Bud is made in Houston, Miller beer in Ft Worth. GM plant in Arlington, Toyota plant in San Antonio. Dell Computers and AMD in Austin. We will export more than we import.. We all carry guns so we can defend our borders without a fence. We don't need or want bail out money. Our economy is fine here in the Lone Star State. This is a no brainer.

Texas should be divided up into 5 different states. It is big and dusty with to many cowboys who think they are high and mighty. Of course, no one else thinks this but them. .

Many comments like this-

"Jim April 21st, 2009 11:12 am ET

Ron Paul shows his true colors as an anti-Union secessionist who would reopen the Civil War. Traitor!
"

Wait until severe weather hits Texas again and they have a "state of emergency" situation, then they'll be crying where are our federal emergency funds?

The word is "SECESSION", not "SUCCESSION". Idiots. And you wonder why this country is in the sorry state that it is in. The dumbing down of Uh-merica continues. Keep outsourcing and keep printing fake money. Maybe we'll get lucky and global warming will swallow up Washington DC, New York City, and LA.

The question of Texas secession was determined in the Civil War. Texas lost, the Republican party came about because of the causes for the Civil War and placed States Rights where they belong, under the Federal Government. There are no provisions in the Consitution of the United States for a State to remove itself from the Union. Talk of this nature is treason, and should be handled as such.

Give Texas back to Mexico !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amen, Jeff... Well stated.

I went to one of those "tea parties" the other day and it was great, there were men and women from across the aisle, Republican and Democrats protesting the bailout which remind you both Bush, McCain and Obama supported. One would think that Obama would be a better salesman that the general public would be content with every word he says, possibly, but fortunately some know better, only 2 months into his presidency and we see his approval rating shrinking, with Obama who was an anti-war candidate sending more troops into Afghanistan, a war that might spill over to Pakistan creating a Cold War II. A president who won on a ticket as a champion of the people, "to spread the wealth" and seemingly more like a champion of wall st., and a president who has decided to keep the infamous "patriot act" his predecessor signed in. I think the man ran off with your change! Succession is unreal today, it's unreal because most people go about their lives 9-5 without knowing what's going on in government and without thinking they can do much to begin with and because so, government no longer work for the people. While we may ask for more government to save us and provide for us, by giving all that authority and money to government, we saw how they spent it: bonuses for the rich. By generating a stimulus in the economy through inflation is not a wise decision, neither is backing a bounced check with another bounced check, in fact it is criminal, Paul is certainly not the most eloquent speaker, but he says it like it is, at times the ugly truth we so don't want to hear. If you want change, it must begin with the people and "power to the people"!

It's amusing that we're even talking about this! Or a few people are holding "tea parties." Or talking secession. This is not even remotely like the 1700s. Why? Because then, we were fighting over taxation w/o representation. Here... we have taxation WITH representation. The majority of Americans voted for Obama... and the majority of "state citizens" elected democrat senators and congressmen(/women). People chose our elected officials, largely in response to the previous set of elected officials (i.e. Republicans). If people truly don't like what's going on... you don't have to seceed... you have to go to the ballot box. Wow... what a concept... democracy.

If Texas does secede, how many of you are going to join the army to fight and stop her? I'd like to see you people put your money where your mouth is.

"No one challenged New England that it was unconstitutional in our early history."

Well, that's because we didn't have a constitution yet.

Texas may want to secede

The outlook for the commoner is looking VERY grim.

Whats even more hilarious is the collection on bad loans.

Even though the goverment paid the banks bad loans the banks and creditors will STILL come after you for the amount owed at huge percentage rates and penalties.

By the time it is all over with they will get paid DOUBLE.

I will guarentee you if you didn't pay your credit card the banks would call it bad debt and get the money from the taxpayers.

Then come after you in a year or so to get paid yet AGAIN for the amount owed even though it was paid off by the goverment.

This whole thing stinks

Please go! Can the rest of the country take a vote to toss them out?

I understand that liberals want the government to provide for the people, but it hasn’t done a good job of utilizing our tax dollars up to this point. It isn’t an issue of President Bush vs. President Obama – They both spent/spend our tax dollars too liberally.

We need smaller government – less intrusion into our lives, not more. People need to be able to work hard, keep the money they earn, and provide for their families.

What Ron Paul is saying is that the people have the right and obligation to declare that the government has grown out of control and we need change. Right now the checks and balances of our three party system is broken.

I wish President Obama all the luck and fortune during his term/s. I want him to succeed as I know he’s trying to put the country on the right course. My opinion is that his path only leads to more spending, and increased national debt, and a financial burden for our children.

Ron Paul may not verbalize things correctly. He may take historical liberties. Nevertheless, his message is correct – if the majority of the citizen’s of a state don’t have faith in the federal government, the threat of succession should be an option to open up a dialog for change.

Back when Bush got elected, I was a far left liberal, and would proudly entertain the idea of people moving to Canada. As much as this Texas matter infuriates me, I remember how I felt when I didn't get my way. As I have aged a bit, I realize how pathetic both views are. We live in America! We might bicker and fuss, but we have it great here! If we all agreed on everything there would be no moderate agreements. (and for those of you who say it's not moderate here, please. everyone knows we could swing much more right/left as a nation). Let's work together and come up with ideas that benefit our country, not destroy it!
United We Stand

Texas is not leaving and for the most part the citizens here wish that Perry had not said that word in the media, I include myself in that list.

However, the notion that we voted for free spending Democrats and Republicans is somewhat disingenious if you take a moment to reflect on it. What other choice does the American voter have but to vote Republican or Democratic? Third party candidates don't have the money to be competitive and voters are disuaded by the chant of "throwing their vote away" if they even consider not voting republican or democrat.

I personally have not had a meaningful Presidential vote in my voting lifetime because Texas is strongly republican and I have disagreed with every Republican Presidential candidate. However, the electoral college doesn't look at percentages, just the state, so through default, my vote for president is republican regardless of which box I chose.

If Governor Perry wants Texas to secede, so be it.
Who needs a state that executes people at the rate most of us change underwear.

I doubt that Ron Paul is bitter or is incompetent as many people are trying to characterize him. Anyone who has actually read what he has said over the last 10 years or followed his carrier for more than this 10 second interview would know ...

If you are capable of reading more than 40 characters that were not tweeter-ed to you, dig up his voting record in congress and see for yourself ... He is one of the only politicians who will say his mind ... and get this ... stick with his opinion even when public opinion is not favorible.

Anyone can say whatever they want. The first amendment guarentees that right. It's just a shame that the first amendment did not apply when some republicans, the same ones now talikng of secession, criticized those who opposed the war for speaping their mind. They went so far as to tell those who opposed the war to shut up or leave the country. The bottom line to all this talk is simple. The majority of Americans still support the president and his policies, which is why they elected him. To talk secession is to do what the republicans did to the American people for 8 years....try to scare them. They should simply take a page from theirown book...if you don't like it, shut up and leave.

Remove all of our military assets from Texas and let them secede. Give them to Mexico, they deserve each other.

Mr Paul is using an analogy to relate what we as a people did to our governining stewards during the American Revolution. We broke our ties with that governing body, which was in effect a union/political affiliation. The definition of secede is to withdraw formally from an alliance, federation, or association, as from a political union, a religious organization, etc. Ron is spot on. We DO have a history considering secession; it IS an option at the ultimate end of the political spectrum. When democracy fails, or simply can't undo a travesty of corruption in a timely manner, responsible people act as they must. Don't fool yourselves, government spending IS quickly becoming a disaster that makes any prior administration's agenda look like strong fiscal policy.

With all the comparison between Obama and Lincoln right after he won the election does Texas really want another thing we can compare them with.

I am sorry but anyone that thinks this country should be split up in anyway should never be allowed to hold any office in said government.

Ron Paul is a nerdy, geek. He couldn't make it to first base to be President, how is he going to be convincing to get people to seceed Texas.

What is really upsetting to me as a Texan when I read these posts is all the Hate and ignorance pointed towards my state. I read the post above and am blown away by all the stereotyping going on. The ultimate form of ignorance here is to think that this one or the other parties fault. It is the American peoples fault . And the funny thing is we think we have it soooooo bad. Try living in Columbia or somewhere of the like. They're are not a bunch of ignorant hillbilly christians sittin on thier the front porch with thier shotguns in Texas sayin get Obama. This is the Hatefully ignorant perception of alot of the people posting here unfortunatley. Honestly we in Texas don't want to Secede most people talk about California breaking off and floating away. LOL thats was a joke.

We really just need Texas as a large penal colony site for the tens of millions of republicans that are slated to be rounded up and deported to Texas for long term incarceration.

Wow...... I'm speechless. Everyone saying, "leave Texas, go away". Please explain to me why half the nation is moving to Texas because their state economies are falling apart?! I do know that Texans are armed and ready for the riots that will begin when it all falls down.

It amazes me that Ron Paul sites history as a defense of Governor Rick Perry’s secession talk. He is quick to run back to the revolutionary war while foregoing the Civil war, which was started with just that line of reasoning. Southern politicians who made those claims and tried to carry through on them have the blood of more Americans on their hands than a whole room full of Osama bin ladens! I know Gitmo is supposed to be closing within a year, but maybe we could send Perry and Paul down just for the summer.

@Joan – Get your facts straight. Bush ran up 5 trillion in debt not 459 billion.

Ron Paul has more sense than anyone on this entire website and network. Keep voting to expand the federal government and much of what he's saying will come true. As for wanting Texas to "go away"–it's one of the few places where business is still flourishing a there is a government that has money left over in its budget. You don't want Texas to leave–you'll want the loans and taxes from its very large and productive economy.

Talk of secession is good, acting upon it, not so much. Dr. Paul hit the nail on the head when he said "I argue that if you had the principle of secession, our federal government wouldn’t be as intrusive into state affairs and to me that would be very good." The Federal Government is TOO INTRUSIVE and Dr. Paul is 100% correct. The Fed need to fear its people, and talk of secession is a good tactic.

Thomas Jefferson: Where the people fear the government you have tyranny. Where the government fears the people you have liberty.

Please everyone...

It's SECESSION.

Not SUCCESSION.

Can't believe how many people get it wrong.

It pains me to read how stupid many Americans really are, spewing hate filled comments like "Let Texas secede" and "WHERE WERE THESE MORONS WHEN THEIR FRIEND, BUSH, WAS RUNNING UP THE NATIONAL DEBT."

Ok, first off the American economy would absolutely cave if Texas seceded. The talk of secession is by a Republican governor up for re-election who's playing a political game. Second, Bush is from New Haven, Connecticut you dolts. Texas didn't put Bush into the executive office, so if you HAVE to blame someone, let it be Florida.

It's junk like this that makes me question democracy, if there are so many idiots out there that are willing to state falsehoods as facts, imagine how they vote. I don't blame Congress, how can I? That's like blaming a special ed teacher for your kid being retarded.

I read an article not that long ago that most red states take in more federal money than they pay out in taxes. For many blue states, including New England it is the reverse. It's the great irony of today's political culture.

I thought democrats were poor losers at times, but the GOP is getting just silly. It has not even been a year. Everyone needs to calm down.

So much for the UNITED States of America, this great UNION we have. The last 8 years under Bush/Cheney proved that we are no longer a union; must be part of the Republican platfrom.

Great - let them go. Then we can occupy them and steal their oil.

How ironic that the state that gave us the Republican President who was elected without a majority, required loyalty oaths be signed just to serve in his administration and lead us as a nation into this messed up economy and war, are now saying their mad and don't want to play in the sandbbox anymore. Stop your griping and pitch in to help fix the problem your native son left with the rest of us.

You know if we had been listening to Ron Paul for the last 20 years instead of ridiculing, we wouldnt' be in this mess to begin with. You really think either of your corporate-sponsored parties gives a **** about you? Keep dreaming until the dream collapses...

Hey Chicago Jerry, in 1814, New England made a lot of noise about seceding from the United States.

"...this is treasonous and this was un-American," yes it's about the oath assorted Public Officials have taken to..."Protect and Defend the Constitution against all enemies..."

Support for secession will, of necessity, violate that Oath. It's not technically "Treason," until it actually occurs. Then the secessionists become enemies of the United States.

Good luck with this nonsense!

Texas is in be with the Arabs, and the Bushes are in cohusts with them. Send the Bushes to Saudi Arabia to live and get rid of Texas.

Secession sabre rattling has been going on for a while. Several states beginning with California in '93 have passed Senate Bills warning the Federal Government that they will seceed if they (the Fed) don't stop interfering with States' Rights. Obviously California is still a part of the Union.

And whether or not a state will actually make good on their threats, I think it's a useful exercise in keeping the Federal Gov't on alert that rights are granted to the People, the state, and THEN the Union. This is a fundamental truth to the founding of America that seems to have been forgotten over the years.

I can't think of anyone who would have a problem with California seceding.

How do we discuss the legality of secession in the United States and not even mention the Civil War? One of the bloodiest wars in American history was fought primarily to determine the issue of whether states could leave the Union. The answer was no. It's still no. Freedom of speech gives people the right to talk about it. I can talk about committing murder. However, if I plot murder or treason, I'm moving beyond freedom of speech into criminal activity.

What would be the advantages for Texas if it did secede from the union? How much would it cost the state and residents? Would this benefit Texans at all?

I think this is just a political ploy to get attention. There is a marketing idea that publicity, ANY publicity is good, as it keeps you in the minds of consumers (or constituents). But, it is a flawed concept. Being known for being an idiot is not the same as being known for being a genius.

The Gov. of Texas is making himself look foolish, as is the GOP. They need to come up with meaningful discourse and alternatives instead of empty threats and name calling.

People will remember the foolishness in the voting booth. They aren't so stupid (well, many of them) they'd vote for a name because they remember it from some insane proposal and inflammatory remarks.

I may be naive, but I believe the majority of Americans actually DO think. The GOP is out of line and producing the most amazing soap opera ever produced. If this were a movie, it would be labeled a comedy.

I believe that Texas is wanting to secede because they vehemently oppose the movement toward socialism going on in our government with this current Administration. I don't blame them. It would be a grand experiment, right? - of how much better free-trade and capitalism fares against controlled-socialist government. Oh, but wait - that's been done already in North and South Korea ... and we already know those results!

why is it that Obama is the one to bankrupt America? Bush started and passed the 700 billion TARP funds...not Obama. That is the money that is going to the banks.....so how is Obama to blame for that? Where was all the talk when Bush was pres and giving out billions in no bid contracts to Holoburton, spending billions on weapons we will never use, degregulating the banking industry, giving tax breaks to the wealthy, buring through the surplus we had and racking up the deficit to record levels, going to war with Iraq on lies of WMD's that were never found....Obama has not even been in office for 100 days and yet he is already destroyed the country so Texas needs to leave? Not sure how people can stand behind half the stuff they say....You want to blame anyone, the man who ran the country for the last 8 years would be a good start.....blame Obama in 4/8 years when he has done something. Till that time....SHUT UP

I respect and admire the people of Texas who are considering seccession.

They've opted their taxes into a bailout which, though it may have trickled down from the recovery of Citigroup et al, was largely spent in the mahogany corridors of offices in places like NYC and Boston than on other important things like, oh, border security.

NAFTA was not appreciated either.

So I can't agree that Texas is a brat state. I doubt it would happen but if Texans decide to secede then let's celebrate such independence. If it doesn't let's celebrate their loyalty and wherewithall.

Wow! The people who comment here are all a bunch of brainwashed fools.

States joined the union voluntarily; they weren't conquered. Since they joined voluntarily, then why can't they leave on their own volition?

Also, the "Civil War" was NOT a civil war. The south just wanted to leave the union, not control the union. In a true civil war, both sides fight to become the central authority.

Sorry, people, your government schools told you exactly what the government wants you to think.

The federal system was devised so states would want to stay in the union because they benefit, not because they're forced.

Oh, I'm a Yankee. This isn't a southerner thing. This is about the Constitution, which we might as well burn at this point since no one seems to understand it anymore.

Sure, let's secede. The United States considers secession unconstitutional and therefore historically considers the secession of the southern states never to have actually happened. Nevertheless, if Texas can pull it off, more power to us.

Since we don't pay state income taxes, we don't have that deduction from our federal taxes and hence must pay more to the federal government. I'm ignorant of the statistics, but I'm fairly sure Texas doesn't get its fair share of federal money, which apparently isn't a problem as demonstrated by Governor Rick Perry when he denied the stimulus money. If I have to pay taxes anyway, I'd rather pay it to Texas instead.

Wow, I thought Bush got the first stimulus for banks and large firms. Obama did the second one. Why is there so much rhetoric over Republican this or Democrat that. If you ask me the real issue is that republicans help allow our trade deficit to convert to foreign dependence (less industrial jobs) while the democrats help our national debt to reach alarming levels. What we really need is a grass roots movement that finds the right balance between the two. Texas secession would not be a good thing for anyone in the country. 85% of the nations oil/petroleum comes from this state. Those crying out hurry leave, would be the first to cry like babies after they did. Stop whining and start doing. " The only way to make a difference in the world is to be the difference."

Ron Paul, I supported you last year. When did you drink the noe-con coolaide?

Let's stop condemning Republicans for running up the national debt. Compared to the leftists now running the country, the Republicans look like pikers.

I'm from the South. The concept of secession from the union plays pretty large in our history down here. Back in the 19th century a bunch of our people thought it would be a peachy idea. A bunch of folks from the other side of the Mason-Dixon line disagreed. As best I recall, the issue was pretty well settled back then! News Flash to Ron Paul and any other of these new age secessionists: The secessionists lost! "These United States" became "The United States" and we've never looked back. If these new-age secessionists were trying half as hard to come up with solutions to our problems as they are in having tantrums, the Union would be much better off. Barring that, the sane portion of the citizenry should just ignore or ridicule them for the idiots they are.

To make this a race issue is shows just how little substance you have on making such a statement. The bottom line is the government is out of touch with the people that’s the point they are trying to make. When you are made out to be the enemy because you are not living off of the government that’s a problem. There has been nothing but clowns running this country on all three levels of government for a good 20 years. No one trusted the previous administration and if anything the past and current or one in the same. A dimwit is still a dimwit whether they are from Illinois or Texas, democrat or republican. Yes the previous did his best to run up spending and this one will finish us off. Regardless of who is running the show the path to ruin is our destiny and so be it.

The last time states tried to seceed, we had a Civil War because Lincoln said' I'm going to be President of all of the United States, not half of them. Texas, are you ready to go to war with 49 states of America. Mexico won't help you. Guess why?

What an idiot. I think the Civil War settled the issue of secession by states from the Union.

One of the fundamental differences of conservatives and liberals is how they view federalism. Conservatives, such as myself, have built our thought on the foundation of a smaller federal government and allowing the states to freely govern themselves where laws weren't extended from the federal constitution (a.k.a. anti-federalism).

Thus it isn't a case of "in the Bush era if liberals would have wanted to secede, conservatives would have called them traitors" as earlier posters have indicated, since a major component of the conservative platform is rooted in these ideals. While we certainly want our union to be a effectively functioning unit, the threat/notion of secession is something that we consider empowerment of the states, which we are clearly a proponent of.

I’m a recent US Citizen and an Immigrant, and to her prominent people of the Republican Party wanting Obama to fail and now about secession of Texas is sickening.
The great strength of our country “The United States Of America” is that we are united. The republicans lost the elections fair and square, meaning the people voted for change. Stop been childish and start thinking, how you can help our president and our country.

It is plausible to compare apples and oranges, but irrational and stupid to compare secession with the declaratin of independence from a ruthless, and corrupt English dictator.

Every state in the union thinks it will be better off if it secedes but only one or two elected morons who believe and express such opinions.

Yeah, talk about secession is fine, unless you're a Democrat, in which case you're an unpatriotic traitor and should be charged with treason.

Shoe's on the other foot now, Repugs.

Let Texas secede. I am sure they do not need the FAA, FDA, National Guard, Coast guard, FCC, Medicare, Social Security, NOAA, DOT, Military or other government services. Good luck!! It is amazing, everyone from Texas, by chance of being born in Texas, believe they are the only ones who work hard....Please...

I am a native Texan. I love my country and place allegiance to it way above the state of Texas. Only an ignorant few talk of sucession. Texas is a great location to live in, but there are more that a few right wing nut cases throughout the state. They tend to be a very small minortiy, but with a large population comes a larger number of fringe thinkers living among the rational thinkers. These are difficult times in Texas to "live and let live" because of the sense of panic the radical right seems to feel since they did not get their way in the election.
More than 3 1/2 million Texans voted in support of Barack Obama. Millions of Texans support the Obama administration and are getting drowned out by the chorus of radicals, but we are a strong and determind force and proud to be helping bring about reforms to our great country.

Can we please stop using the Bush era labels of unpatriotic and unAmerican? They mean absolutely nothing.

Perry and Paul can talk all they want. They are free to do so. Differences of opinion are necessary in a democratic society. Judge for yourself whether a State that shares so much of its border with Mexico would not end up as a welfare state if it stood alone. Plus, the drug cartels would rip Texas to pieces.

In the end, if Texas secedes, their no tax attitude and "rugged individualism" will leave them totally defenseless against an organized military force. The US could simply push the current inhabitants into Mexico and resettle the area with Americans. It has happened before...

In the context of this debate, "secede" and "declare independence" mean the same thing. Its all semantics. If you think a specific region or populous has a legal right to leave a political union, then its called secession. If you don't think they have that right, but they're doing it anyways, then its called declaring independence.

The arguement that secession under a monarchy is ok, while under a democracy its wrong, takes a twisted view of democracy and ignores some of the founding principles of the United States. This country was founded on the idea of freedom, not democracy. Democracy was seen only as a means to ensure that freedom, but freedom itself was always to be paramount. The Bill of Rights itself is a testement to the fact that the founding fathers knew that democracy was not infallible when it came to maintaining freedom. In the context of the United States, secession, or the threat of it, in order to assert freedom, is perfectly inline with this countries most fundamental principals, regardless of the overlaying political structure.

That being said, secession at this time is meaningless. The Republicans had six years to establish the freedom they now claim to be losing, but they dropped the ball on every front. They're now just angry that the other "team" is driving the gravy train. The only people who see the Republicans as victims are their own hardcore base, and that's not enough to found a secessionist movement on. Also, as evidenced in this thread, there's still a lot of people who are strongly, and quite emotionaly, opposed to any idea of secession, as long as they feel that they still have a voice.

Even though the ruling party has switched, its still essentially business as usual in Washington. Secession carries huge risks... a civil war being the most disasterous outcome, followed by a secessionist government founded not on freedom but instead on its own brand of tyranny. People are only willing to take those kind of risks if they think they don't have much to lose. Either the percieved tyranny needs to grow substantially, or the economic situation needs to deteriorate drastically, before the middle class would start to think about secession as a viable alternative to federal authority.

King Obama is a Wall Street representative so what can we expect from him, having delegated all the banksters representatives to his cabinet, Geithner, Volcker and on and on. This administration is in full force backed up by the elite of the world to usher in the New World Order look at what Kissinger had to say about him, google the word Obama and Kissinger New World Order. America sheeple is blind when all is set and done there won't be a flag or national currency or country. Start saying goodbye to the US Dollar and prepare for the Amero, and the North American Union I have sources in the FBI that can assert that.

The secession talk is funny for the time being. Of course, it will be less humorous when someone starts to talk about violence against the federal government. For the past 3 months, the survivalists and freepers have been loading up on weapons. It is just a matter of time before they start getting busy. Another generation of McVeighs is out there and it will be extremely scary when they pounce.

I love how everyone is so insistant on calling Paul and the residents of Texans unamerican, and then posting comments like HANG THEM!
Hanging fellow Americans, even if they are unamerican, is unamerican in itself, and in violation of American Ideals. By suggesting we hang everyone who is "unamerican", you likewise suggest (by my logic) that you yourself should be hanged. Hypocrisy? A bit.

Texas was a penal colony at its origin, we only kept it because we didn't want the mexicans to have it.

I think it's about time we talk about session. I'm sick of seeing my tax dollars going to welfare and bailouts. The socialist state that we are moving towards needs to stop. Socialism doesn't work in large scale societies.

If a second round of states secede from the Union, I seriously doubt that a second civil war will end the same way.

Oh yeah...declaring independence from England was a form of secession. It was the forceful breaking away from the rule of the English monarchy.

Divided we fall. That's exactly what's happening now. We are divided I don't think there's ever been a time that the reds and blues have been more different. Yet they are both corrupt to extremes. The federal government has been screwing the people around for to many years. I'm not sure about anyone else but I'm tired of bailing out bad companies and bad people that can't pay their own mortgages. To every one that thinks Texas is doing this because of Obama or just that crazy to think Obama is the savior of this country. Clinton, Bush, and now Obama have screwed the American people and have got this country into a mess. Now is as good of time as any to just cut the ties and be done with the feds. I foresee Montana following Texas if it starts going that way.

I'm from Texas and I was never a supporter of Bush. The talk of seccession is stupid. If you look at the election results, not everyone in Texas voted for McCain.

What really blows me away is that people keep talking about the money we 'gave' the banks. It isn't free money, they have to pay it back and some are already moving to do so.

If McCain has been elected what would have happened? The banks would have failed and we would be in the midst of another great depression.

Apparently republicans don't read history.

Texas belongs to Mexico.

I agree with Ron Paul. I think the United States is becoming more and more divided along political lines. People no longer unite behind a new President, they immediately splinter along ideological lines. This article for the Economist talks about this: http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13496418&source=most_commented

I say why should we have to be subject to 4 years or more of one or the others views? I hated living under George W. Bush and it's my understanding that people already hate living under Barack Obama. So why not split? Obviously it would take debate over borders and which states go to which side, but compromise should be made so we can go our separate ways peacefully. I do think it's realistic and potentially possible in my life time (I'm 23 years old).

Scotland is considering leaving the UK and they've been one country for a lot longer than we've been one country. So, there's no backbone behind an argument that it can't done. Believe it or not neither side secretly wants to be on the other, as both seem to believe. So let's stop taking turns forcing each other to live by principles half the country doesn't agree with.

Texan4secession is off his meds again.....someone hurry up and refill his Rx

First of all this is political grand standing. It is nothing more than the TX gov being nothing more than a political shock jock!!! Now though as a vetran with two purple hearts I am ticked off that a gov would do this. He is a little spoiled brat!!!! One I say we need to start taking all of our active duty military bases out of TX. The state enjoys the paychecks of 70,000 active duty military people. Then add all the federal civilian employees that are employeed at those bases!!!!! On top of that we need to also take away at one of the air national guard wings and reduce the army national guard by at least one regiment. Then TX will be inline with what states like Ohio and PA have military wise. In fact we should give those military jobs to those states!!! Considering it was corp raiders from TX that took away 10's of thousands of jobs away from those states. After all if they want to leave the US then they do not need those military jobs any way!!!!!

Texas: Please keep us posted. When you seceed, I'll happily move to Texas and bring my company with me.

Plenty of talk by these two but in reality, they are both wussys.

Who is this guy? I spent a year in Texas and understand the desert cowboy mentality going on here... He seems to be unaware that secessions occur through WAR. A vote doesn't end it, a War does. Unless he wants Texas to go to war for its "freedom" from a free state... well, I think he'll need a vote for that too. And Texas doesn't have any weapons that do not belonging to and provided from the United States. This guy is an idiot, almost on par with another Texas governor that comes to mind . . .

Do you realize why this great country is on the wrong way?
Because of the ignorance of the people about their history, their rights and their civil responsibilities.
How do I know that? Read the comments above, it is all about Rep & Dem, they still don't understand that this is a one party system, they still don't understand that this country is not run by the people for the people, they still don't understand the causes of the financial crisis, they still don't understand that the federal reserve no more federal than the federal express, they still don't understand what economical faschism is all about, .... They just don't understand what FREEDOM IS ALL ABOUT.

And YOU allow yourself to stupidly critisize the most honorable, law abiding, freedom lover and truth teller, the brilliat economist and great Dr. Ron Paul? YOU call HIM nuts? You the SHEEP call the leader of the Revolution a moron? YOU who believe everything you hear on the media and never bother research it or contact your representative, protest or even critisize the Obama administration even after they continue earsdropping on YOU? YOU the lazy B*, the worst citizen this country ever had, the best sheep the establishment can have, YOU call yourself AMERICAN and call the REAL PATRIOTS UN AMERICAN? YOU are a hypocrite and you'll come to this same result one day, on your own.

sure.. WE THE PEOPLE caused the current crisis, but yet YOU THE DEMOCRATS (or at least the LIBERALS IN CA, MA, NY) are responsible for the stimulus plan.

Texas, if you ever need help when you become a separate country, ask Mexico, not America.

Texas tried to secede once before with the other states forming the Confederacy. My recollection is that it didn't turn out very well. Any talk of secession in our modern USA displays a level of ignorance of our national history that is mind-boggling.

Do the Texas Republicans truly understand the cost of what they are proposing? If they secede they lose all Federal support. They lose access to Federal dollars and all Federal programs that are propping up their base. And I'm not going to be in any hurry to come charging to their rescue if something happens.

I have sane family in Texas who voted for O...too bad it's the crazies you always hear from.

What Ron Paul said was " I don’t think it’s very serious. I don’t think anybody called for secession, and I don’t think the governor called for it." It was remark that was made by the Governor nothing else. Loud bark but no bite. And he also said "I argue that if you had the principle of secession, our federal government wouldn’t be as intrusive into state affairs and to me that would be very good." He did not say lets break off and leave. All he suggested was if all states had the right to break away from the Union it would make Federal Gov. to think twice before just blatantly passing laws or bailouts

United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is a Right Wing Extremist
http://www.thehopeforamerica.com/play.php?id=897

“…the framers …understood that for liberty to exist the populace needed to be educated enough to understand liberty and to be able to defend liberty. They also understood that liberty was not on automatic pilot, that liberty would not exist simply because it was once started, and that having won it it was very delicate and had to be protected…”

Wow, let's look back on the last eight years shall we?
Bush caused a huge amount of problems that now the whole country has to deal with, and by the way he came from Texas, and what's the first thing on Republican minds when we get a democrat in the white house? Secession, what are we, back in the 1860s? Democrat states dealt with a president they absolutely hated for eight whole years. In those eight years, I don't think any president has failed so miserably, but we held firm having faith in a new upcoming democrat possibility. We dealt with your problems like civilized individuals, having differing opinions and letting things go through our court and government system, which he did a good job butchering as it is. So, now that the republicans no longer have their handicap in Congress, they decide that the tables have turned enough for them to leave? Sorry, that's not how the game goes. Just because your ideas are no 100% represented in our government anymore doesn't give you a right to decide that suddenly you want to be on your own, you had eight years and quite frankly, you screwed up. So please, do us a favor and act like a civilized union, we've moved past the 1860s.

Why delay the inevitable? Let's just quit and let America collapse and let the other countries like Russia, China and the lot split us up and claim the remaining mineral rights and territory to make the one world government a reality. We already have socialized government in part with social security and entitlment programs, and now the government current is taking ownership of banks, businesses and wants to tax the portion of the population it considers wealthy to spread the wealth around. Good day Comrade!

Go ahead and let Texas seceed. All Obama has to do is pull all U.S. military assets and federal resources out of Texas. How great does Texas think it will be without a means to defend itself; from Mexico, the drug cartels...

For Christ sake it's secession not sucession, Bush was born in Connecticut and every Texan I've ever met doesn't want to secede.

Texas should leave and teach the fed govt what will happen. Native Americans should also take back their land.

I know it's just a lot of hot are, but wouldn't it be nice if they took their oil, their right wing politics and, above all George Bush, Mark Cuban and Jerry Jones and said Hasta La Vista USA.

Without their oil we could get on with the business of alternate energy and fuel independence. Without their politics we could form a more perfect union and treat the poor and middle class as well as we treat the rich.

And without Cuban and Jones, well if you know that a ball is round and meant to play with then you know why Bush can take these other two fellas with him.

Michael

Ron Paul is, as is almost always the case, right about secession.

Due to the reckless spending of Obama, Bush, and every president of the past 40 years, this country has no stable future. We've been spending money we don't have for generations, and someday soon the bill will come due!

Finally, a great thought coming out of Texas. The government needs states a lot more than states need the government. The government should stay out of states' affairs, or they will eventually pay the price.

If Texas seceded, they would probably end up invading and taking over the US. Which side is better armed?

It is obvious Ron Paul hasn't read history. The 13 original states were colonies of England, not states - the United Kingdom doesn't have states.

Neither our Constitution nor the articles of statehood for Texas allows for the seccession of states - we fought a bloody civil war about that point. The articles of statehood for Texas allows the state to divide into 5 separate states, but not to secede from the Union. The fact that we have a member of our government (unfortunately from my state, although I've never voted for him) saying it is OK is more dangerous to the U.S. than any handshake our President could give!

Does US Constitution explicitly forbids "secession?" If not, by the 10th ammendment, the power of seceding from the union rests with the state ...

"Anti-american", "treason" ... sounds like – you know who – is trolling this forum ...

Holy S... This guy is certifiable. I can't believe he was a fairly serious consideration for President. Obama and his administration didn't get us into this mess. He and his team are very bright are only doing what they think is the right thing for the country. The Republicans have been a catastrophe on so many levels it is hard to keep track. Since their approaches have obviously not worked, why don't they at least give the new team one term before passing judgment. They might be pleasantly surprised.

Texas is not going to secede. I suggest the Governor change his tune if he wants to stay in politics. Texans are some of the most patriotic Americans in this country.

The definition of Secede: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/secede?qsrc=2888

WE DID secede from England, we were colonized and under British rule, we seceded 'from the association or political union" we were under. After all how in the world do you think they could tax us?

Furthermore, Ron Paul is one of the only sound voices left on the political forefront of our country. He's got it right, "when the dollar bill collapses," what will you do with 'play' money? Burn it to keep yourself warm I guess.

And one more thing, I read alot of comments about yeah we'll cut all the money off to Texas and they will be in trouble haha!!!! How sad. Don't you realize that this is our money. Not the Governments. Let me explain The federal Government Taxes us that is ow they get that highway money and the money to fund the VA. Why is it that we have to end our money to the federal government just to beg to get it back? I mean we need the money for the roads anyway? IT IS ABOUT CONTROL. THEY TAKE OUR MONEY AND THEN ASK US TO COMPROMISE OUR BELIEFS TO GET IT BACK!!!!! THE MONEY IS NOT THE GOVERNMENTS TO GIVE YOU FOOLS IT'S ALREADY OURS!!!

I think all this is a bunch of hog wash, i would love too see texas try that, without government backing c'mon really this is all precedated threw the eyes of republicans that hate the fact they lost the election and while president obama is trying to get this back where we were before mr bush damm i hate mentioning his name and the republicans messed up get a life you people this is just another stunt for them to have something to say negative about the brother in the WHITE HOUSE yeah boy"""""

The idiots are you people that like to stereotype Texans. We dont all ride horses, wear cowboy hats, and scream yeehaw....and we dont all agree with Rick Perry and Ron Paul about secession. So before you insult an entire state why dont you analyse your own states problems.

Bush shifted some military units out of the North and into Texas and the South. It's time to reverse that process. These bases have amounted to huge US taxpayer subsidies for Texas and other states. Let them show they can survive and prosper without these government subsidies.

Can you imagine the shouts of treason if Governors Paterson or Corzine suggested that NY or NJ succeed? They'd be hoisted on pitch forks by the Fox mob.

Um, as so many have already said...

Dissent IS American! Free speech IS American!

And, in all fairness, accusing someone of being "un-American" because they spout whatever inflamatory rhetoric they feel like, IS American.

You may not agree with what someone says but you HAVE to love the fact that they (and you) have the right to say it.

That said, having been to Texas, and dated far too many women from Texas, I say let them go.

Instead of allowing the whole state of Texas to seceed, how about just allowing Crawford town seceed and then we can take it over militarily and place you know "who" under house arrest for high crimes and misdemeaners.

suddenly people are so to polictics and this admin polices, but during the last eight years seems everyt stuck their heads in the sand, i'm no political scholar, but the Bush admin dictator style seem to excite the same folk that is talking secession and tea parties sounds like unpatriotic folk, short of covert racism, Bush stumble and fumble his whole reign, the oposition didn't even raise cain

Anybody who espouses their state constitution as allowing them to secede from the Union is an idiot. The Constitution clearly forbids States from leaving the Union (Perpetual Union). Your State is bound by the Constitution (Your State is a signatory). If State and Federal law conflict, Federal law wins. (Supremacy Clause).

Hang them.

Lincoln's Gettysburg address may be appropriate to read for all those politicians talking about secession. While the address by Lincoln was for the internment of Civil War soldiers killed at Gettysburg, it also perfectly lays out the reason Lincoln wanted the Union to remain and the grand experiment with self government to continue. If everyone who doesn't agree with government wanted to secede, none of who pay taxes would still be part of America. But, the idea was to change government for the better, not disregard it in favor of the prevailing popular opinion or because of the current unpopular opinion.

That would be great if Texas, along with Oklahoma and Arkansas, seceded to form the Republic of Dumfukistan. They could have their very own royal family, with King W and Chuck Norris as prime minister. All the fools that still have "W" and "Bush 04" stickers on their SUVs could pump up the tires on their houses and hitch them up. Everyone would be happier!

The South Will Rise Again!

Really though, if Texas Suceeded, over half their population is Latino. The whites would get overthrown. Either that and/or revolutionaries and military forces from Central and South America would start operating in independent Texas in order for the present white government to be overthrown, a new Che Guevara. So, I don't think Texas is going anywhere anytime soon. They'd be fools if they did. Remember the Alamo!

People were not happy with Bush. People were not happy with Clinton. And, now people aren't happy with Obama. When was the last time Washington did anything for anybody but themselves?

America is a mess. Until everyone takes personal responsibility for their own actions, it won't matter who is in office.

Ron Paul may have his historical facts backwards, but he makes a valid point that the people have a voice. That voice should be heard.

I don't recall getting to vote on whether a trillion dollars was going to be given to a group of businesses that are failing because they are poorly managed. Maybe I missed the memo.

I love how so many people want to dismiss it and say "go ahead and Go Texas!"

50% of all Jobs created in the US in 2008 were in Texas.

1/5th of the nations GDP comes from, gasp, Texas.

Texas would immediately become the 4th largest economy in the world, the 3rd largest military power, not to mention Nuclear armed.

With the releasing of petrol producing regulations Texas would quickly become the #1 Oil processing country in the Western Hemisphere.

Not to mention our already business friendly government that has dramatically lessened the blow of this recession, imagine what companies will do when they can just go to Texas instead of Asia or Europe to avoid the collapse of the US economy? You can see it now with businesses fleeing California for Austin and Dallas.

I don't think we should do it, but if push comes to shove, we can do it and be very successful. Plus we already know Obama has no stomach for combat, he'd rather talk. You can see the orders to the SEALs for a measure of his lack of spine.

This is for you, Thomas, because you are clearly out of touch. A 30% pay raise because of no federal taxes? You are clearly lacking in any knowledge. 40% of American workers pay NO Federal tax. That percentage likely applies to Texas too. Anyone with an average family income of $60k or less likely pays less than 10% of total gross income in income taxes. But tell me, Thomas, how will you replace the Federal farm subsidies? Cattle subsidies? Federal highway dollars? Education dollars? And a long list of other Federal monies that now flow to Texas? Seems to me that Texas will need to pick up the slack and as a result tax Texans probably more than the federal government does. But you don’t see that. Of course border patrol will also become the sole responsibility of Texas, at their expense.

And while were at it, secession in my book means surrendering your American citizenship. Bye bye passport. All Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid payments should stop, because, after all, you surrendered your citizenship. Why should other Americans be forced to pay for those benefits if you secede? They shouldn’t. And then, of course, being a sovereign country and all, anyone who actually works across the border in another state would need to stop doing so. Of course they could apply for a work authorization through USCIS, but I say the hell with them. While we are at it, it seems, as with any other “foreign country” on our border, we would establish customs and immigration stations on every road out of Texas.

Seriously, Thomas, you need a better insight into reality. Secessionist talk is the talk of losers, poor sports, political hacks and right wing two bit, no talent TV stars who were kicked in the head a few too many times. Yes, Chuck, I mean you. Now if you don’t mind, I’ll continue being rational, unlike you. Oh, and since you want protection against the decline of the U.S. dollar, shall we assume that Texas will have its own currency? I bet the world is waiting patiently to get their hands on some Texas dollars, backed by nothing and which will be practically worthless on the currency market. Except, of course, as monopoly money.

I heard plenty of talk about blue states seceding when George Bush was elected. I thought it was stupid then, and I think it's stupid now.

That still doesn't change the fact that our currency will soon be worthless. We'll need to do something. Maybe we we could stop trying to postpone the inevidible recession/depression with futile government intervention. The bail-outs are just making things worse.

I am totally in favor of Texas seceeding. We can use a buffer country between us and Central America. Think also of the increased income from expensive trips and tours to USA when the Texans need to buy things. It could be a win-win situation.

Threaten to close those military (Air Force) bases in Texas. That will finally shut them fools up !!!!!!!!!!!!

If Texans wants to leave the Union - GO! In fact, HURRY - take your bigotry and flatulence and LEAVE NOW! We do NOT need you.

Just one question:

Where the heck was this moron when Bush was killing our country and spending billions ? I do not remember Ron Paul talking them... so his comments now are useless as well...

I say let Texas secede. I am sure they'll be more than willing to give all that FEMA money back while their at it. Oh and we'll pull out NASA and all the jobs/icome that generates. If it weren't for some "government intrusion" they'd be having to foot the bill to clean up all the Hurricane damage. Durr!

Ron Paul is living proof of what makes American great! Even the mentally handicap can succeed! Succeed Mr. Paul, not secede.

If all the Republicans leave, who is going to pay your taxes for you?

A country full of democrats would fall apart.

And Quarterback, get a clue, Democrats wanted to hang Bush when he was in office. Republicans are acting twice as patriotic as Democrats did for those 8 years and are being treated twice as bad.

I say forget you all, you need us waaaaay more than we need you but you will never know until we leave.

Off topic, as someone who used to support gay marriage, after seeing the way Miss California was treated for SIMPLY STATING HER BELIEFS, I have decided to be officially against gay marriage again...I just don't want to be on the same side as you guys. I don't find any of you to be respectable individuals, just angry self-rightous hypocritical bafoons.

The comments by all sides on this issue illustrate how deep the divide has become between those who accept the Welfate State's embrace and those who prefer Constitutional government and individual freedom.

Good-Bye, good luck, who cares. Nothing good ever came from texas anyway. If the rest of America pulled their companies, assets, and so on out of texas, it would quickly crumble into a 3rd world country. At that point, the Peso would be more valuable than the rocks texas would be using for currency. So go out on you own and stuff your own ballot boxes instead of the ones in Florida and Ohio. Don't let the door hit you in the A*S.

I have no problem with Texas seceeding.....as long as they take all the federal debt that the two Presidents they gave us – George H. W. Bush and his son – placed on the American people. That would amount to what, $7.5 Trillion. Yep, they can seceed and take that with them....since they're responsible for it.

So what else is new? Texas seems chronically confused regarding true loyalty to the U.S.

As for the Mexico comments, right on: Seceed and "Hello Mexas."

OK Texas, leave the Union. Now you will be a separate country with no cash as the U.S. would withdraw all U.S dollars from the banks, – you would need you own currency., U.S. would not provide defenses unless treaties were created, establish and close borders, close bases/relocate. Texas would need a military for defense, people would have to declare citizenship, consider infrastructure support from the outside, Texas would have to establish a tax base to off-set the loss of U.S. dollars, and there are probably 1000 or more impacts that Texas would have to suffer as an isolated land mass.

The Govenor is an idiot asa well as those who support this idea.

Do people understand that the only reason that the major Texas cities voted Obama is since theose cities are filled with transplants from liberal areas since Texas created 70% of all new US job in 2007 and 2008. how did Obama's state do...let's say it is negative growth. People need to keep in mind that Texas produced almost 50% of US agriculture and has much of the countries energy supply. Most importantly, if one states tries to secede, there will be some others joining which are ironically the ones that could best stand one their own. Just imagine a US without, Lousiana (nothing major), Texas (oil, wind, solar, and farming), Arizona (wind and solar), Alaska (oil and gold), Oklahoma (oil and farming), Wyoming (oil, corn, and coal), Montana (oil and corn)....see a little trend here

quarterback:

we haven't been in a state of war since WWII

What if Texas didn't secede, but just decided to split into several states? (not unprecedented, Virginia/W. Vir. did it, so did NY and Vermont)

I think they could become 5 different ones, and assuming they still have the same number of Representatives, they still gain 8 senators froma predominantly Conservative area. Would the liberals be claiming that was "Un-American" too?

(and for the record, I am a proud member of the GOP, and I can't agree with any state that wants to secede purely from political disagreement)

OK I got it. The GOP Stance Small non intrusive Goverment as long as it can : Be In your Bed room tell you who you can love, What God you can worship, How to worship, What to put in your body did I forget something Oh wait that'ts right The rich get richer and everyone else well too bad . Oh I forgot you can own a Uzi .

Before you start I have a pistol Permit so don't start with the taken my guns away.

Not all of Texas thinks like this fortunately so don't clump me in with those quitters.

Also, I wonder how many of the Texans yelling "secession" are the same people that called Obama unpatriotic via pins and preachers?

90% of the commenters still need to read the article. Ron Paul is not saying that he wants to succeed.

You can't possibly compare the circumstances the Colonies were in with regards to British rule and today's circumstances where you have Congress and the Senate with fair representation, etc. There is no comparison whatsoever. And the last time there was an attempt at secession – a philosophy Paul believes the nation endorse – it was a bloody Civil War, the echoes of which are still ringing a century later. Texans (or at least those Texans spouting this nonsense) just have their noses out of joint because THEIR political party of choice isn't currently in power. Advocating perpetual Republican rule is just as un-American as discussing the idea of breaking up the union so many people have died to protect.

The comments from Ron Paul and the Governor of Texas is very worrisome and it has some strong racial overtones. The way a UNION works is that a majority wins and everyone works together after the vote is finished. There was no talk of secession after the vote for IRAQ war, and the majority of Americans were against the war. Talking of secession = TREASON and any local, state or federal worker needs to be dealt with accordingly.

Wish she would have asked him about the history of Texas seceeding from Mexico (remeber the Alamo) and the Civil War.....didn't work out so well

Adios, Tejas! But before you go, there's a small matter of billions upon billions of oil company subsidies that you need to pay back.

Texas, where everything is big except IQs.

This is the political version of, "... oh yeah, well I'll just take my ball and go home."

Edmund Burke said:
Let Texas secede – then we can invade them and take their oil.

Edmund: Bring it on!!! I think the only state that has its own Army, (not national guard) and Navy, can take care of its oil and itself. Geoff

"1) Does Mr. Paul then think that the Southern States were correct in their attempts to secede from the Union in 1860-61? That Lincoln was wrong for going to war to save the Union?"

I certainly think that Lincoln was wrong to go to war to undemocratically impose the views of the North upon the South.

The USA was established as a decentralised federation of states. Each state was given great latitude in how to govern itself. Lincoln ignored that latitude when he started the Civil War. The massive centralisation of government power Lincoln caused through the Civil War was absolutely unconstitutional.

All Ron Paul is trying to say is secessions in this case are mechanisms to salvage the American ideal when it is being tarnished and all together forgotten. Before you "ramble on" about how nuts Ron Paul is, i would first research what America was set out to be and compare that with what it is today and where it is headed. Our path to ruin started in the early 1900's and Obama is just adding to the fire. Ron Paul is what America needs.

Sounds like most of the comments come from people who hate Texas (jealous perhaps?). If you go to any civilized country in the world, they know of Texas and are mesmerized by the legend of the state, the people and the history. Not so of other states of the US.

I am sickened when I watch the news or even reflect on what is happening to this country. I want to work hard, love my family and country, trust in God and pay taxes to support infrastucture, education and defense. If it takes kicking out all the liberal p*****s, and seceeding, then so be it.

Both my wife and myself are from families that date back to the Republic of Texas and have the original land grants given to our ancestors and signed by the President of the Republic of Texas.

We are proud to be American, but more proud to be TEXAN!

Secession is the most un-American idea there is! Ron Paul is not a libertarian by any measure of the word. He's just an anti-abortion Christian radical trying to paint himself as something else.

To Thomas:
"For one thing, all the workers there would immediately get a 30% pay raise,"

Really? So where would your national defense come from? Who would build your highways? Think a little bit. You seem to imply Texas citizens do not benefit from federal funds. Wrong!

Awesome–I hope they take Texas, the whole south and everything between the coasts and secede–they could call it "Jesus Land". That would allow the rest of us to finally move forward with the rest of the civilized world.

Ron Paul thinks a lot of people are equating this to life under King George?! Is he out of his mind? Let's see, we have a FREELY ELECTED government, chosen by the people, to serve the people. Sorry it doesn't fit with the minorities views, but it's shocking all this furry is coming to a head now when the problems we're facing are a result of the prior administration's lack of responsibility.

Ron Paul believes whole heartedly in the constitution, and I respect that – but under his logic here, we should have let the South seceed (maybe that wouldn't have been such a bad idea...last I checked, the southern states are tax drainers, the northern states are tax producers, maybe the northern states would be even better off) – actually, screw it – let Texas seceed – if they don't want to be a part of the greatest country on Earth, then good riddance.

People keep throwing out there that we the people voted for Obama. I certainly did not. He is going to do far worse to this country than ol GW ever dreamed of he is a communist and he is dangerous! If texas Seceeds i would love to move there !!

Dear Texas,
Good riddance!!

Sincerely,
Oklahoma

I expect better from Ron Paul: "if you had the principle of secession, our federal government wouldn’t be as intrusive into state affairs"

He's basically saying that States should be able to threaten secession, in order to do what ever they want... That's classy.

The only way a threat works is if the threatened actually thinks tou'll follow through... Texas, I call your bluff.

I am all for Texas seceeding but only if the power struggle and resulting chaos is filmed and broadcast live. Now THAT would be reality TV worth watching! I wonder how long it would take before there would be a mass "run for the border" back into the good ole' USA? Who is an "illegal alien" now, Tex?

its a shame how the republicans screwed mr paul out of pres. nomination much like the dems did to hillary. We are living in an age where common sense is becoming outlawed. THis is why TX wants secession.

If Texas wants to secede, let'em and good riddance.

The secession discussion was resolved and ended with the Civil War. No state has the 'right' to secede from the union. As A. Lincoln said paraphrasing ' we have a union in order to form a more perfect union. anything less is less perfect.' I'd be interesting in knowing how the future Texas president of the great republic of Texas defend itself against Russia, alQueda and others and at the same time provide social security, infrastructure, school funding, and welfare benefits to Texas nationals.

I can't understand why people vote for people this foolish and I can't understand why an organization dedicated to 'quality' journalism such as CNN would give the microphone to people like this.

If texas was to secede I expect that Mexico would make a play to take it back. Dont come running to us to protect you. And you may like to think of yourself as tough guys but you have no army, and mexico does. Your idea of texas as an independent country is a fantasy.

Read the article, Ron Paul is not saying that Texas should leave the Union and he doesn't believe it will happen anyway. He is saying that people should be allowed to bring up the option if they believe thier government is not acting in thier best interests.

The point is that a government that has no fear of concequenses that can be brought on by the people it governs will do whatever it wants. Which is what happened with Bush and is now happening with Obama.

Of course it wasn't brought up when Bush was in office, because the Republicans were in power then. But you did hear plenty of talk of impeaching Bush and making him a villian. Same concept.

When has the other side not tried to vilify whoever was in power at that moment? It's called politics.

Good citizens...I don't mind the discussion of something that in all reality is not very likely to happen. Not everyone voted for Bush, nor Obama for that matter. We are a democracy. While it is true that the one with the most money wins it does not offer a true assessment of the nation's choice. So stop with the talk that I/we elected our presidents. Thank the electoral college for them.
I am a Texan by choice. I didn't grow up here, but I choose to live in the wonderful state that has many American citizens, down home culture & the best Bar-B-Que that ever graced your palate.
I am angry. Everyone I know is angry. I bet you are angry as well. It wouldn't matter where I live at this point, I would still be angry. The state of our union is not good. I want to fix it, and can't. But there is nothing wrong with a good debate, and instead of attacking the debaters... speak up!
We need to let our elected officials know we are angry & demand action to fix this mess.
American by birth, Texan by choice, a taxpayer just like you. I don't care what party you join.

"He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people." -Declaration of Independence

Yup, this sounds like our current government... Oh wait, no it doesn't.

Does Mr. Paul even know why we sat at defiance of King George?? Maybe he should read the list of grievances again and see how good we have it.

i hope texas leaves cause ill move down there and be part of something worthwhile. I live in ny so i know tyranny firsthand. It goes like this people, if your democrat then you are homosexual, if you are republican then you are a closet homosexual. If you like the government, then you are my enemy.

OK, here's my plan.

Texas goes their own way, becomes a territory, trust, whatever. The Upper Penninsula of Michigan has wanted their own statehood for decades, as has Guam. We give it to either one or the other. We in the United States don't have to change the flag from 50 stars, Texas can elect Bush as their President, and can become a territory of Saudi Arabia! It puts a buffer zone between Mexico and the "Real" U.S. and we close the border. How's that for a piece of sliced gold!

Just so you idiots know, succession is neither a Democratic nor Republican idea. Many of us realize that the threat of succession should always be on the table. Its part of the checks and balances of this great nation.

Querterback is correct! In time of war treason is a capitol offence. We must hang every demacrat in the house and senate..Quarterback calls for it, let it be done!

I never liked Texas anyway, let them be an independent country and be invaded by Spain or South America

Wow, so many of you don't even understand this stance that is afforded in our very own Constitution. When you think that the federal government knows best and is the final authority then you are truly sheeple.

i dot care at all if texas leaves if the majority in that state so desire thats fine with me. those born in texas will automatically become illegal iliens in the USA. let TX governor rick perry apologise for this stupid idea and move on. i however pray for his defeat at the hands of more sensible KAY bailey hutchison. as for ron paul he has some good ideas about the end of war but overall he is a radical for calling for the abolition of the cia, irs and gov,t institutions for the sake of reducing gov,t.

Why did no one heap abuse on the state of Vermont when, throughout most of the G.W. Bush presidency, they rattled their one saber and declared they wanted to secede from the Union?

Where was the hysteria and abuse then?

Oh, it's okay and enlightened, because it was a LIBERAL AGENDA, a LIBERAL thought? That made it okay?

Texas has every right to secede. The Consitution does not hold when elected representatives no longer represent the people. And the Constitution is not some sacred document.

Secession needs to remain an option. The Federal government no longer represents the people of this nation. The left-wing zealots have hi-jacked the media and now control the White House. States need to step up to the plate and declare they will no longer tolerate a non-representative government. I'd gladly elect Ron Paul as president of a new republic.

I am shocked at the hatred over the idea of secession. It is no different than a divorce and can be undertaken for the same reasons. If a man beat his wife, every liberal on here would be screaming in favor of divorce, despite the fact they made an oath until "death do us part". And yet, when the federal government financially rapes and enslaves the states, these same liberals decry the idea of a divorce. Human beings, whether in a marriage or in a union of states, have the right not be be abused and to leave that relationship when it becomes harmful.

"..that whenever ANY form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the RIGHT of the people to alter or abolish it..." – DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

In a way, we did secede from Britain. we said we've had enough, we're not a part of your country anymore. how is that not like secession?

and as for the argument that we vote for our officials, its not exactly that simple. we don't get to nominate people who are qualified, the parties present us with people who they think we'll vote for. That's why our country is so screwed up. the two major parties quash any party competition and know that they just need someone who people will vote for, no matter how good of a leader he or she is, because if the other party gets elected, eventually people will get fed up and vote for their party. the fact that we stand for it is insane.

The US government could sell Texas to Mexico, cheap. I bet those Texans would sure be a lot happier being part of the US than being part of Mexico! Then, who would be racing back over the border? Hmmm.

You know, I want to know where all these fiscal conservatives were during the Bush era??? You want to talk about tax cuts and out of control spending what do you call 2 wars in 8 years that had nothing to do with anything at all besides expanding the war industrial complex and securing that Bush and his oil cronies maintain their status quo.
Thomas: You obviously don't understand market structure. What makes you think Texas would have been safe from the banks collapsing if it were to secede? Your state was just as much part of this as any other and would stand to lose just as much even if it were no longer part of the union. This argument that Texas would be better off is ridiculous! If you want to break away go ahead, but don't coming running for help when mexican cartels over run your territory.

Funny, all these liberal commentators can bash Bush all they want for 8 years; but when someone expresses discontent towards their beloved Barack... look out.

Such talk is pathetic and irresponsible. I hope that the people of Texas will listen to these fools only in so much as they secede from their column in the voting booth. Both men need to be turfed from office at the next opportunity. Shame on them!!! The fools.

If Texas wants to secede, I say good riddance.

It was treason in the 1860s and it is treason now. If they want to live in a third world country run by an oligarchy of the rich & privileged they have many to choose from. We Americans who happen to live in Texas would be happy to see them go. Please, don't judge all Texans by the addle brained loud mouths that we have running around here. They may be more concentrated here than in other parts of the country, but they don't speak for all of us.

I live in Texas and I am embarassed of our Gov. Rick Perry is an idiot trying to get re-elected.

I agree with the posts. When Dems questioned the war in 2001-02 righ wing nut jobs cried "UnAmerican and Move to France!". Yet as soon as these crybabies don't get their way, "Lets leave the Union". Frankly they are traitors to this country and should be treated as such.

The Rebulican party has become a joke and a blight upon our contry. Just hurry up and split into the "Fiscally Conservative Party" and the "I'm a crazy fanatic who can't see anything that isn't white...I mean right"

What is being lost here is that the anger people are experiencing is due to Obama's policies. Talk about a horrible leader. He is the wrong man for the wrong time. What we needed was a Ronald Reagan what we have is a Barack Hussein Obama. I think he is embarassed to be an American (why else would he be apologizing so much) and likes to bring down its people. He first televised address was not to the American people but to a muslim network? What is up with this guy? Bowing to foreign leaders, shaking hands with Hugo Chavez? This guy is NUTS! He's just in over his head and I think most moderate democrats realize this now. Only the hardcore Obamamaniacs are still in his corner.

Mr. Paul, perhaps now you realize how much of the civilized parts of this country felt for the past 8 years! But perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad idea after all. Perhaps you can take a couple of your neighboring states with you, while you're at it!

Why do people support these "representatives' who, since 1935 have ignored the supreme courts ruling that said " congress CAN NOT pass their powers to another ( the FED ), meaning they have never had congressional authority but have been allowed to become the money cartel of the world!? Same reason the IRS has never, and never will, show chapter and verse, the law that we must pay taxes on our labor! they only obey the law of the land when it serves their purpose. "we can't not pay these bonuses because it breaks the law.... but we can fight all these wars without congress being involved, never mind the constitution.tony blair was just quoted that we don't need a constitution in this 'new world order"...so, got ahead and "vote" .. its worked great so far......

The U.S. revolted against England because the colonies were very anti-British as far as governance goes. Isn't seceding from the U.S. anti-American by the same logic? Ron Paul makes no sense! He's clearly not as bright as he's given credit for being.

Ron Paul clearly said nobody is calling for sucession. Its clear that he's saying that nobody is seriously saying Texas should sucede. He's saying the same sorts of things that he always has – the federal gov't isnt doing a good job and we're headed for a monetary disaster. It is logical that people who recognize that the federal gov't is performing unwisely but cannot get it to change would become frustrated as the though of it bring us all down. This isnt a Republican or Democrat issue – they're both equally as culpable.

There's no reason to be so nasty and attack Texas. That isnt the crux of the issue. In fact, it sounds ignorant when weirdos attack an entire State based upon their stereotypes while at the same time claiming to be open minded.

I changed my facebook profile from Libertarian to slightly liberal after hearing what Rick Perry and Ron Paul said. Way too radical.

Texas wants to secede?
Well, in the words of Fidel Castro when he opened the jails in Cuba and sent their criminals and wastoids here in 1980,
"LET THE SCUM LEAVE!!"

And it's a doubly sad comment on this whole thing that Castro is who I wind up quoting here to make my point.
Anyone who talks of secceeding from the union is a traitor and a potential criminal.
Or I guess nobody remembers The Civil War, or as some southerners laughingly call it, "The War of Northern Aggression".
Let Texas try.
Just like the "teabaggers", they didn't learn their history.

So if Texas really, really wants to secede, then can we please first encourage as many Republicans as possible to go there?

When the going gets tough, the wienies start running. Who lives in Texas, the French?

Actually if it were Sean Penn talking about California leaving I would welcome it : ) Just be sure to take Hollywood with you.

This is SOOOO funny!! I mean, here in Quebec we went through TWO referendum on secession from Canada in barely 15 years. Yup, that Texas governor of yours really lit up the match into the powder keg! When the US dollar falls into oblivion because of the massive bailouts, when hyperinflation takes over and RUIN what's left of the middle class, I suppose secession will become a plausible option for Texans. And for those illiterates, it is spelled secession, not succession!

Being a Texan and a democrat, I'm disappointed to see people saying Texas should secede. That is unamerican to treat your neighbor that way. Maybe RP has a point. I guess when you aren't welcome, maybe it's time to leave. Just know that we will control most of the oil gas. US imported crude and products will be be at roughly 90% then. Get ready to pay through the nose b/c we have no problem holding your feet to the fire. Especially if we aren't "one of you". Oh... We also have a ton of military installations and not to mention 4 major cities that are integral to the US economy. Losing Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin would be devastating. Then again, you can always keep rebuilding New Orleans.

We are very close to the 13 colonies in that monied interests have effectively disenfranchised the responsible citizenry. Certainly the courts offer no redress. Do not forget that the Declaration of Independence preceeds the Constitution in our law, and it guaranties us the right of secession if no other avenue of change is open.

I think we shoudl allow all of the unhappy little baby-children people from the tea party and the Sarah Palin worshipers to secede. Then we won't have to deal with them anymore.

Why couldn't they have seceded ten years ago? Then W wouldn't have been a citizen and we'd all be better off.

SECEDE.

SECESSION.

Not "succeed" or "succession." I'm not trying to make fun of anyone here, but if you can't spell it, you make yourself look uneducated and your otherwise intelligent argument loses its lustre.

Anyway...

My two cents:

It has been argued above that this whole country – including Texas – voted Obama to the Presidency. Perhaps those who argue that this is not the case would care to comment on voting reform, something which is grossly overdue in this country. I'm not saying I have the answers, but certainly the election debacles of the past ten or so years would point to the need for change.

Secondly – Ron Paul's opinion is the opinion of one guy who happens to have a very, very vocal following. I think it was Napoleon Bonaparte that said "the voices of 10 people are louder than 10,000 people who are silent." Just something to consider.

I am not agreeing or disagreeing with President Obama's decisions as he is merely four months into his Presidency and I want to give him a chance, but I do think that those who are so vocally and diametrically opposed to Obama just because they have "sour grapes" over their party losing the election are doing a disservice to this country and are responsible for hindering any progress whatsoever. It's one thing to disagree and dig your heels into the ground; it's another thing entirely to disagree and work together to come to a solution which can strike a compromise. Those who serve this country in politics and claim to do so with this country's best interests at heart need to take into account EVERYONE'S opinions/thoughts/concerns, not just whether or not a particular thought or idea is "Republican" or "Libertarian" or "Democratic."

Anyway – all that being said, if Texas wants to secede, why fight it? Seriously, I know all about my Civil War history and everything, and you can all scream "treason!!" and sound very patriotic indeed, but just supposing ALL of Texas wants to secede... why on earth keep people in the Union who don't want to be there?

Let Texas secede. THEY can then deal with the border issues however they see fit. THEY can rebuild their hurricane-battered coastal areas and tornado-torn towns with their own money.

Maybe Mexico will take them.

the situation discussed here is different than the situation democrats seem to be expounding on, when they claim they would have seceded under the Bush regime. Here we are discussing the likelihood of the state seceding, there are individuals in other who i am sure share the opinion of the Texans who wish to make this move, but their ability to make the move doesn't exist.
The likelihood of Texas seceding is pretty small, Even though it ability to exist on its own and prosper seems quite promising, the legality of such a move i debatable. Texas does have the legal right to split into five seperate states and gain 8 seats in the senate, this I could see happening long before secession.
I think the majority of the comments on this board solidify the view ron paul takes, They are direct evidence that society has begun to conform to this idea that states must accept federal dominance and have no real defense, because , to quote a previous commentator " we voted for the administration". Well, just voting for someone doesn't grant license to any action that they take in office and require submission to those policies by the electorate. A state should not fear or hesitate to discuss possible actions taken in response to federal action. I think that it is important for texas to consider every possible option here.

Are these people serious!!? First of all, the "will of the people" which Governor Perry seems to have such a problem with was clearly expressed in November, not even six months ago. Second, it is rediculous to say that the United States has a "tradition of seccession". Apparently Representitive Paul forgot about the hundreds of thousands who died in the civil war. How many times in the last eight years did we hear repulicans tell democrats "America, love it or leave it"? Apparently we now know how these two feel about America, and it's clearly not love.

Bye, who cares about Texas anyways. If that what they want great, they can pay to patrol their own borders and deal with the cartels on their own.

I'm sure that most people not from the state of Texas have no idea that the Gov. has no real power. When the TX const. was written they made it clear that the Gov would have no real power. The biggest power Perry has is that of popularity. He can talk all he wants about pretty much anything but the real power is with the people and who the people have to represent them.

I live in Texas and have lived not only all around the U.S. but the world. I think if you ask the majority of Texans if they want to leave the Union they would say no.

I think people are making a big deal of nothing. And for those hoping that Texas is going to leave the Union, get over yourselves.

Even if we did leave you know you would miss the one of the greatest states. I mean no other state has as many songs written about it or hard-core patriots.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

cant be treason if we have free speech

"Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness"

If we have the RIGHT to abolish our government, how can it be treason to talk of leaving the Government

Let them secede, then pass a law eliminating their access to satellites and Internet servers. No cell phones, no Internet, no GPS, no American TV; heh, see how long they last before the beg to come back.

Ron Paul is the ONLY independent congressman left!

That sounds good to me congressman, as long as you understand that it is not a revolving door, once you are out, there will be no crawling back like a scolded dog , crying that "you didn't mean it". We'll let you know , once you leave (and don't let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya), where to send the money you owe us, since you've been REVENUE NEGATIVE for decades.

this guy is an idiot and a joke........ ron paul revolution..... yeah OK.

It's Texas' incompetent ex-governor that got us into this predicament in the first place!

It's spelled "secession" .

se⋅ces⋅sion
   /sɪˈsɛʃən/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [si-sesh-uhn] Show IPA
–noun
1. an act or instance of seceding.
2. (often initial capital letter) U.S. History. the withdrawal from the Union of 11 Southern states in the period 1860–61, which brought on the Civil War.
3. (usually initial capital letter) Fine Arts. a style of art in Germany and Austria concurrent with and related to Art Nouveau.
Origin:
1525–35; < L sēcessiōn- (s. of sēcessiō) withdrawal, equiv. to sēcess(us) (ptp. of sēcēdere to secede; see cession ) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms:
se⋅ces⋅sion⋅al, adjective

One thing i like about Ron Paul is he forces dialogue....

He's right about the succession issue...it's as American as pie..
He's also right about the bail outs...it was the wrong thing to do to avoid a temporary dent in the economy...now when things dip it will be very deep...maybe a few years away..not too many...but it will be harder. Yet, through all this ..the American spirit is one of faith..so we will prevail and all is not hopeless. God is just cleaning house.

We'll see just how much better off is the Nation of Texas as soon as it's struck by its first hurricane or the drug lords attempt to move the border northward. Who you gonna call?

Rick – I can only assume you are from Texas and are probably a "bagger" Your comments lead me to believe that you are a right wing republican. obama is doing a great job in improving our relationship with the rest of the world – If you don't like him – fine but your comments are hysterical and racist. You really need to try harder and stop listening to talk radio.

Ta

“Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government...”
-Thomas Jefferson

Let them seceed from the US. They will dissappear into Mexico in a matter of days without the military.

An oppressive Government is why we seceded from England, not because he is a king.

I'm not sure everyone is so upset by this. There are a few people in Vermont who bring up sucession every few years when they don't agree with the federal government. I don't see the liberal press vilifying this guys when it happens. But I'd hate to lose Texas. Something like 90% of our oil refineries are there, NASA is there, and for the envirnomentalists, the largest or second largest wind turbine facility in the country.

I say LET EM GO.

I live in Georgia, and as poorly managed as this state already is, I shudder to think of what it might be like if taken from beneath the protective umbrella of a relatively more competent federal government. This place would fall to shambles, I've no doubt at all. And in no time we'd be back in the antebellum south, which, despite a bunch of rednecks' fiercely loyal opinings, was a highly stratified society with only two classes: very rich, or very, very, very very poor. And god forbid you get stuck in the latter of the two, cos you were gonna be there for the rest of your life, along with your children and your grandchildren. Trusting the states is NOT always a good idea!

Don't any of you have jobs to do? What a bunch of cry-babies just looking for drama.

Ron Paul really does a good job of making himself look ignorant. The constitution wasn't even created yet when the colonies declared independence. Typical ignorant righty.

I can't believe what I'm hearing. What i want to know is where do you peolpe find all this time to hate Texas. You say it's Un- American to talk about secession from the Union but so many of you are ready to see it happen. Just remember there are fifty stars on the flag and Texas is one of them.You are the Un-American's.

And what would they do with Austin? That bastion of liberal ideals in Texas? Put up a wall around it? Sounds like history repeating itself.

Ron Paul is the man,Rack him

Let Texas sucede back to Mexico and see how they feel then. At the same time can we give Flordia back to Spain?? I don't think anyone will miss it either.

I'm from South Carolina and we tried secession about 145 years ago. If you know a thing or two about American history, you can quickly acertain that the secession plan did not work out too well for our state or for the country as a whole. In fact, it was probably the greatest disaster in the state's history and the implications are still being felt to this day...

Go ahead, Tex. Hope you get along with Mexico. . .build your own border fence/patrol, airports, highways, hurricane levy, army, etc.

What makes me so angry about this is that when liberals are against war or don't wear red, white, and, blue on every national holiday we are called "un-American". It's freedom of expression! But some how deserting the country is ok, and totally American? I just don't see how you can justify that. It backwards reasoning like this that makes me confident men like Ron Paul should never be up election.

How about if the entire population of this country seceeds from the two-party politcal system and actually gets some candidates who care about the PEOPLE? How about some TERM LIMITS? How about a constitutional amendment that requires our government to spend only the money it has? With things going the way they are Im suprised more states arent exploring this option. And in closing I have to say, Obamas spend-a-thon is NOT justified by anything Bush did. Get that idea of of your heads. Two overspending idiots, not just one.

Did Ron Paul fall asleep after the second week of American history class?

Has he forgotten that about 80 years after the "Good" secession. Texas did secede from the United States. Lincoln, Grant, and Sherman explained why it was a bad idea and that was when the Pledge of Allegiance was made.

That same pledge that the liberals want kicked out of our schools that the conservatives try to defend and enshrine.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands: one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

These are more than words people. They stand for the sacrifices of all men and women who died to bring about this nation.

First and foremost, the state of Texas along with it constituents have the right to leave the Union if they please. That's their decision, but hope they understand that if they change their minds getting reinstated into the Union would be quite difficult. Rationally, the odds of Texas dropping out of the Union is small.
What Ron Paul and the Governor of Texas wanted to debate was the concept/reason behind succession and how it pertains to the current situation of the federal government.
Yes it is true King George was not voted into office, but the reason for the 13 colonies to sucede from England was due to many reasons but mainly high/unfair taxes and no representation. If King George was fair and did not treat the colonies as second class citizens then there would have been no need to part ways with England. Currently, many citizens feel that they are taxed too high and that their representatives in the House or Senate do not reflect their concerns. Nor due they take significant actions to fix problems. One must look at our federal government with its' three branches similar to King George. The government ala King George abusing their powers for greater control over the people. Whether it is a single King or a body of govrnment those with power tend to abuse power. I believe the citizens of Texas are fed up with holding the short end of the stick. The word "democracy" never appears in our constitution. Our country was not based upon democracy, it was based upon individual rights, liberty, and freedom. For example, if 26 states support the federal bailout money and 24 states are opposed. Should the minority, in this case the 24 states be subjected and forced to follow the 26 states because majority rules? NO! Each state, each citizen has a right and freedom to decide their fate. Texas is tired of being forced and told what to do by the federal government. The state of Texas has different agendas than let's say the state of Maine. Each state is different and unique, so we should let the constituents of each state decide their own future as long as they follow the constitution. PEOPLE LETS FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTION PLEASE!!!

It's SECEDE not SUCCEED you numbskulls. How do some of you people actually manage to get yourself out of bed in the morning let alone discuss politics? Go ahead and flame away you dolts, I could care less (and that applies to Texas as well).

I think the point here is not succession but that people are angry with the state of national affairs. Everyone that supports Obama wants to blame Bush for the debt. Some of which should be placed squarely on the shoulders of the republicans but Obama's spending is going to new heights. He WILL bankrupt this country!!!!

Not all of us voted for these big government Republicans and Democrats This is NOT a partisan issue. I am sick and tired of out of control deficit spending, bailouts of private industries, our deteriorating civil liberties, and the complete lack of respect for the Constitution that DC has demonstrated. US citizens need to look past the two party system if they want results. No matter who the people elect, all we get is more debt and more powerful government.

Ron Paul 2012, "Common sense and constitutional government"

I'm so excited that Texas is leaving!!

Also, talking about secession is NOT treason. The constitution clearly defines what treason is. There are only two things that count as treason... they are 'levying war agains the United States", and giving "aid and comfort to her enemies". The supreme court has also ruled that "levying war", as far as treason is concerned, requires an actual gathing of beligerents, plus an actual overt act of warfare is required.

Most interesting though, is at the time the constitution was written, British common law included additional acts that were defined as treason. Specifically, in Britain, even imagining the overthrow of the government was considered an act of treason. The founding fathers intentionally left this definition out of the constitution.

On top of all that, though, is that secession, as its defined, does not imply making war or any sort of treasonous act. Secession, is simply the formal withdrawl from a political union. At the time of the civil war, the confederate states believed that all they needed was a vote for secession in their own state legislatures to make it legally binding. In retrospect, the rest of the country decided not to accept that arguement, however that's not to say that other, non-unilateral, methods of secession can't exist. For example, what if a bill was introduced into the federal house and senate as to weather or not Texas should be allowed to formally break away from the union? If such a bill were to pass, it would meet the definition of secession, and at the same time would clearly not be treasonous.

Anyone who calls for people who talk about secession to be rounded up and treated like traitors simply doesn't understand what treason (in the United States) or secession really is.

While I don't think secession is likely, or reasonable at this time, I do think that it has a place in the checks and balances. We have three branches of government, we have a free press, we have separation of church and state, we have states rights. I think that secession is one of those 'sticks' that states can use in order to have some leverage over the federal government, and other states. If people care about keeping the Union intact, they will make concessions. If they don't, the 'oppressed' should be able to withdraw from the Union. We support it for other countries. Power corrupts, and anything that spreads power around is a good thing...

Lets see... Not that we (Texans) have the right to secede, but if we did...

Lets note that Texas has historically been one of the last states in the union to enter a recession and one of the first to pull out. Not to mention we have an 11 Billion dollar surplus...

I am not proud of the Bush years either.... I Find it funny though that so many ignorant people would be ready to just give Texas away. Especially since it seems to be a popular destination for a lot of out of work citizens of other states.

I think I'm starting to understand some of this Texas hate going on. Alot of these people aren't proud of where they are from. In stark contrast Texans have a strong sense of community and history in our State. We are raised to be proud of our heritage. I know this sounds concieted, but I believe alot of people are just jealous!!! Do you really hate us so much because Bush used to be our Govenor. I don't think so. I mean is i was from alot of these other states I might have the same feelings. Thankgod I'm not From Another State though.

I think Texas should secede. The Federal Government should remove the space program from Houston, stop funding their universities, stop subsidizing their farmers, remove all federal troops, pack up everything they provide and leave them to be annexed by Mexico, because that's exactly what would happen.
The Republicans are the biggest bunch of cry babies in America. WHen they have all the power, everyone else can go f*ck themselves if they don't like it, but as soon as they have to do stuff like compromise, they have their toddler tantrums and want to take their ball and go home. The level of whining on the right is unbelievable.

I say, let 'em go.......the output of oil and natural gas is far outweighed be their as$hole output, which is unbelievable.

Its seems alot of you posters are misinformed of your history, and what our Constitution and the Declaration of Independance ( the foundation of our Constitution) stated. first, we did secede from England. You can call it any thing you want, but we had representation, but our representatives were being ignored. If you know your history, you would know that all the colonies had houses of representatives. the problem was that the king ignored them. Second, our constitution gives the people the right to abolish an abusive form of government. to paraphrase, "the government shouldn't be brought down for light or transient cause, but when a long train of abusives and ursupations exist, then it is the right of the people, and thier obligation to abolish that government, and form a new one".

They should let them secede..I don't think Mexico would want to have them either..

What no body here seams to admit or know is that Texas statehood was never ratified by the other states. This was due to the debate on slavery before the civil war.
Texas should leave as they would be much better off with their oil and other assets. They would no longer be controlled by the stupid government regulation which are going to kill the United States anyway.
The blame game being played between both the left and right is proof of how far the present generation has degenerated too.
Remember San Jacinto

Of course Texas wouldn't be talking about secession when Dubya the self proclaimed Texan was in office, no matter how much of a retard he is. Obama did it again I guess..

I'd like to think we can be a bit more creative here. We are America, the capital of capitalism. Since we purchased Alaska, and Louisana... Texas goes to the highest bidder! And with the drug war (that has been IGNORED for the past 8 yrs), we should be able to unload for a very nice price.

We need someone in office with some tighter purse strings and respect for the money us Americans work so hard for. I'm sick and tired of it going to social programs and bailing out those who have been financially irresponsible. What do I get for being a responsible taxpayer for all these years? Where did the land of opportunity go for my children and their children? It went to bailout a bunch of idiots. I'm all for succession and Ron Paul so I can get my opportunity back. Give the working class our money back so we can invest in our futures.

I, frankly, would be able to continue my life normally if Texas vanished tomorrow. Yes. I would.

Texans should be thinking of secession. Their state can be its own country, so why carry the rest of us on its shoulders. We are all being taken to the cleaners by the Federal government. If Texans can get out from under the blood sucking Federal government, I say they should.

Terry

We fought a grueling war to 'secede' from Great Britain.

The truth is that if some Texan's don't want to be Americans, they can move.

I mean is there really this level of ignorance that you can just take your state and leave the Union? Is the Civil-War really forgotten?

Oy.

Does this mean The Cowboys will no longer be "America's Team"? BOOHOO.

Wow! I'm sorry – I hate when political discussions to devolve into name calling – but judging by the comments I am reading here many of you are truly ignorant of history and political principles. Dr. Paul in no way said Texas SHOULD secede, only that secession is a legitimate political principle. A lot of people say "New England was seceding from England" not from America under the constitution. Dr. Paul is referring to the New England secession movement that preceded the war of 1812 – not the secession movement that led to our own independence. And as to the assertion by one commenter that the U.S. didn't secede from England – what would you call it then? As for the Civil War – yes, the South was justified in seceding, the reason they wanted to secede (maintaining a system based on human bondage) was not justified, but that does not mean secession is an illegitimate concept. Political bonds are voluntary, that is one of the founding principles of our nation.

There were also several comments stating that Fox News-types would have called anyone who said this over the past eight years unpatriotic and treasonous – you are 100% right, so why does that make it acceptable for liberals to do it now to others? The answer is that it wasn't right then and isn't right now. And to those who asked, where was Ron Paul while Bush was destroying the country? He was speaking out against gross abuses of the constitution by the administration and warning against the impending economic collapse – just as he is doing right now.

Finally, to those who make the claim that it is different seceding from a democratically elected government than from an unelected king, let me leave you with this quote from Enlightenment thinker Immanuel Kant, "Of the three forms of sovereignty, democracy, in the truest sense of the word, is necessarily a despotism, because it establishes an executive power through which all the citizens may make decisions about (and indeed against) the single individual without his consent, so that decisions are made by all the people and yet not by all the people; and this means that the general will is in contradiction with itself, and thus also with freedom."

This is why the United States is a republic, based on the rule of law, and not a democracy based on the simple will of the majority. I understand where many of you are coming from, but please check your facts next time.

First of all I am laughing at some of these ridiculous comments. Texas isn't going anywhere!! It's the governor who will be making an exit. You should watch what you say when you are coming up for re-election within a year!!! And secondly, do you really think secession would actually be that easy. I think not!!! Washington D.C. would not let us go without a fight. So, do you people actually agree to sending your sons and daughters down here to fight another civil war...come on!! I am a NATIVE Texan proud of the state and country I live in, not always proud of the persons running it. We need to send the Perrys and the Palins to an abandoned island so they can have their own little country to run. If you remember, the Palins were making the same comments in Alaska.

Hope TX secedes from the union immediately. That way we don't have to endure another "Mentally Challenged" "Religious Fanatic" Texan as President! Perhaps Alaska could also leave the union.

Nothing would please me more than to get rid of Texas.

I think I'm starting to understand some of this Texas hate going on. Alot of these people aren't proud of where they are from. In stark contrast Texans have a strong sense of community and history in our State. We are raised to be proud of our heritage. I know this sounds concieted, but I believe alot of people are just jealous!!! Do you really hate us so much because Bush used to be our Govenor. I don't think so. I mean If I was from alot of these other states I might have the same feelings. Thankgod I'm not From Another State though. BORN AND RAISED TEXAN AND DANG PROUD OF IT.

Texas has Oil, thats it.

Its not hard to imagine how fast a state, that is currently half desert and has limited natural resourses, would fall apart without US federal aid to not only support Texas' own programs, but to hold off the drug cartels in Mexico.

These idiots talking 'secession' have no clue what reality would really be like if Texas, or any other state tried to stand on its own.

Ron Paul Certified fruit cake of 2009. Why the under 25 kids love him beats me.

Give Texas back to Mexico. It was stolen in 1836 by a bunch of slave owners. The US then went to war illegally ( if you thought Iraq was a fraud) to create even more slave States. That is why Texas was given the right to divide into 5 States. ( A right taken away when Texas was re-admitted to the Union in 1865.) Lets make Texans illegal immigrants and close the borders in Oklahoma!!!!

We'll trump your secession and beat you to the punch.
Texas–you're fired! (Pun intended)

Wouldn't it be great if Texas did secede? I can just read the future news.
"Former President George W. Bush was arrested at the U.S. border crossing in Oklahoma today. The ex-president, wanted for war crimes, was taken without resistance.
He joins Karl Rove and Alberto Gonzales in jail awaiting their trials for crimes against humanity and starting a war of aggression back in the early 21st century.
Still no word on the whereabouts of Dick Cheney, who is considered one of the masterminds..."
Really, Texas, take your inflated attitude and leave if you dare.

Texas would be better off if they seceded, because like people have said everyone in the state would receive instant pay raises, and on top of that Texas has the worlds 8th strongest economy. So if Texas leaves the US, that would cripple the US economy, as well as take away many military bases.

All this talk about Texas having NASA, that is a federal agency of the U.S. government. It will be gone. Defense industry? Why would the U.S. keep a defense industry in a foreign nation? Not likely. Gas refineries? Those are owned by American companies and, secede or not, still need to sell that gas or go broke. Oil? Same situation. By the way, all oil drilling is licensed and controlled by the Federal Government. Leases. Doubt they would be transferred to a secessionist state. And all those tech industries? Some just might think it is better to operate in another state if secession comes to pass. Someone mentioned not having to pay 30% federal tax anymore, already dealt with in my last post. But then the statement that there would be no more 7% state tax to pay either. Hmmm, if Texas has 7% tax now, hard to imagine they are going to say they don't need it anymore in the wake of no more federal dollar transfers to the state. It is after all a state tax, not imposed by the Federal government.

This country is being torn apart by right wing Republicans who think they have some right to be a permanent dictatorship in this country. Their way, or no way. Makes me sick.

I discounted Ron Paul long ago. Texas is not going anywhere. When the next hurricane wipes out Galveston or floods Houston, watch how quickly the Governor of Texas calls the President and FEMA for help. This is all political "wind jamming". The problem is, these folks are talking to the minority of Americans, not the majority who now recognize a "talking head" when they see and hear one.

To secede means to break apart from. Wikipedia definition of Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity.
When Governor Perry and Congressman Ron Paul ran for and were sworn into office, they promised to uphold the United States Constitution and act in the best interest of the United States. To threaten secession is to threaten to do harm to the very entities they swore an oath to protect. Disabled and minorities in Texas should fear for their very lives. Unfunded or partially funded mandates are all that stand between them and harm.
Wikepedia's definition of treason is the crime that covers some of the more serious acts of disloyalty to one's sovereign or nation. .. A person who commits treason is known in law as a traitor. Both Governor Perry and Congressman Ron Paul are threatening harm to the United States as it stands. It is TREASON by any name or definition you assign it. They no longer want to work within the system they are suppose to serve because they are in the minority. Shame on them both. We have a system to deal with dissent. It is called voting.
See http://www.SissCoKids.blogspot.com

Well if someone from The Nation of Texas had every studied US History, they would have found a little thing called a ruling from the US Supreme Court written in 1868 – Texas v. White – which says:

“The Constitution, in all its provisions, looks to an indestructible Union composed of indestructible States. [p726]

When, therefore, Texas became one of the United States, she entered into an indissoluble relation.

All the obligations of perpetual union, and all the guaranties of republican government in the Union, attached at once to the State. The act which consummated her admission into the Union was something more than a compact; it was the incorporation of a new member into the political body. And it was final. The union between Texas and the other States was as complete, as perpetual, and as indissoluble as the union between the original States. There was no place for reconsideration or revocation, except through revolution or through consent of the States.”

Maybe if Texans were loyal, patriotic Americans rather than radical revolutionaries from "a whole 'nother country" they'd be aware of US history and our laws.

Do you people not realize that by CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT, any state may lawfully secede from the union if the majority of that state's populous sees fit... incredible I know... We also have the CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT to overthrow our federal government in favor of the formation of a new one if the majority of the American people deem it necessary... now these two circumstances are improbable to the point of impossibility, but we do have the right! To denounce such talk as "TREASON" is the product of an ignorant and mindless sense of nationalism, and is, quite literally, crapping on your rights as an AMERICAN CITIZEN. Put simply, our founding fathers fought and died so that we may be free from ANY AND ALL PERSECUTION, be it from a foreign threat, or the threat of our own government. They were intelligent enough to know that even our great nation can err, and accordingly, provided the American citizen with protections against his own protector. This, to me, is an example of supreme wisdom; wisdom that our fathers fought and died for. We should never forget what it means to be an American... but it would be an even greater tragedy to forget what it means to be human.
much love

Rep. Paul needs to brush up on his history. No one raised a constitutional challenge when New England seceded? Really? That's because there was NO constitution at the time, Doc. Hey, I'm a Texan first kind of guy and suffer under the same delusion as most native Texans that Texas is the center of the universe, but this talk about seceding or breaking up into 5 states is a load of horse maneur. Rick Perry is worried about Kay Bailey challenging him in the GOP primary and he's trying to grab headlines because no one pays attention to him otherwise. That's why he said what he did. Texas has not been a sovereign nation for 164 years and lacks the economic and political infrastructure to make it as an independent sovereign. Besides that, do you really think the Federal government would let the second most populous state in the union quietly slip away? Do you think Texans would seriously consider fighting the U.S. military for independence? It's complete nonsense, and Perry and Paul should be talking about the real issues that face our state and our nation.

This is Ron Paul, not exactly the biggest supporter of Bush. No he wasn't saying anything about secession during the Bush years, because no one brought it up. He didn't bring it up this time, he is responding to a governor mentioning secession. Why does everything have to be Republican vs Democrats?

Some Moron yelled out:
sure.. WE THE PEOPLE caused the current crisis, but yet YOU THE DEMOCRATS (or at least the LIBERALS IN CA, MA, NY) are responsible for the stimulus plan.

Thats the First time I ever Heard GWB a Liberal...

All this talk about Texas having NASA, that is a federal agency of the U.S. government. It will be gone. Defense industry? Why would the U.S. keep a defense industry in a foreign nation? Not likely. Gas refineries? Those are owned by American companies and, secede or not, still need to sell that gas or go broke. Oil? Same situation. By the way, all oil drilling is licensed and controlled by the Federal Government. Leases. Doubt they would be transferred to a secessionist state. And all those tech industries? Some just might think it is better to operate in another state if secession comes to pass. Someone mentioned not having to pay 30% federal tax anymore, already dealt with in my last post. But then the statement that there would be no more 7% state tax to pay either. Hmmm, if Texas has 7% tax now, hard to imagine they are going to say they don't need it anymore in the wake of no more federal dollar transfers to the state. It is after all a state tax, not imposed by the Federal government.

This country is being torn apart by right wing Republicans who think they have some right to be a permanent dictatorship in this country. Their way, or no way. Makes me sick.

Why is succession a bad thing again, exactly? People keep saying, "Divided we fall", which was a great rallying cry back in the day - but we have to ask the questions now....."Really? Why exactly would we fall?" Heck, if we had divided along North / South lines in the Civil war, Europe probably would have swept in and carved us up further and we'd look a lot like Europe now. Why would that be so bad?

Let sell Texas back to Mexico and see how the good old boys like that!

"I don’t think it’s very serious. I don’t think anybody called for secession"

If texas did sucede they would be more powereful than the US in 10 years, who would fight for obamanation the Liberals...good one. Not a bad plan to get America back up and running actually.

[...] [...]

Ok.... so lets have some peace for a change! Let the red states go and the US will be blue and a much happier place!

Ridiculous Right Wing Crapt! Thats why they arent in power now and will have a hard time getting elected again. I live in TX, this is stupid. We were a colony under King George not a nation we have reps and senators and votes. Your Idiot Right wing philosopht crapt lost. Get over it. Deal with it, and have a better candidate next time with actual ideas.

The level of illiteracy in our country is portrayed, vividly, by the bulk of responses to what Ron Paul said. Instead of it being an either/or situation, it is BOTH simultaneously.

In the first place, Governor Perry is an idiot Republican who allowed a Fascist President to do whatever he wanted without one single objection between 2000 and 2008. The same is true for the rest of the GOP and the morons who actually believe ANYTHING they say other than they intend to steal all the money for the benefit of multinational corporations and wealthy individuals in the Top 5%.

In the second place, there are a lot of people in Texas who, regardless of which side of the political aisle they are one (including those in the middle, such as myself), feel that Texas SHOULD once again become an independent republic.

Lost on most of you is the fact that Texas has EVERYTHING necessary to succeed without the rest of you, and for that you are jealous, so you slam Texas. We have seaports, major airports, NASA, major cities that are headquarters to many of the largest businesses in all existence, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Texas Instruments, an abundance of farming, cattle, oil, natural gas, almost all the world's supply of helium, natural resources and major infrastructure to support independence from a nation that thrives on cheating the average person.

The idea of secession is not one of Republicans or Democrats. There are MANY Texans on all sides who feel this would be in our best interest, and if it happens, then someday the rest of you will start to realize that we are the glue that holds this land together.

Now, in closing, I want to offer you a short history and geography lesson – George W. Bush is NOT a Texan! George W. Bush is a carpetbagging Yankee from Connecticut who moved to Texas. Now, ask yourselves why Connecticut never claims Bush as their own native son.

To those who wish us gone, we don't need YOU, either! We can make it without you, but I doubt the reverse is true! It surely would be fun to find out.

Oh, and one more point – Governor Perry needs to study history because Texas does NOT have the "right" to secede. That was something that was discussed when we came into the Union, but it was never codified in writing. But, Perry would not know that because he is, well, a REPUBLICAN, and Republicans do not believe in education!

Jeff,

Your claim that the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution sactions seccession is a pretty "liberal" interpretation since neither the word nor even the concept of secession as an appropriate remedy is mentioned there. I guess the simplistic conservative mantra of literal or strict interpretation of the Constitution only applies when convenient.

You also continue to ignore that Texas, Virginia and the rest of the South forwarded these same quasi-legal arguments in 1860 becase the federal goverbnment was too intrusive regarding the "peculiar institution" of slavery. If your grievances are so reasonable, why not try
discussing them in our current democratic framework.

Even if the US didn't fight a break from the union, the people of Texas would when they realized that they could no longer travel easily to the other states, lose medicare/medicade/foodstamps/FEMA after a hurricane. Other countries would probably turn their back on them, or use it like an Afganistan (staging ground for strikes).

They would hate it, and would be cut off from pretty much everything they've known. Within about 5 years, portions of Texas would probably be begging to go back to the US, and it would slowly implode.

In the US, no conservative would probably win a majority again (Texas has a lot of seats and electoral votes), and I'm sure a few morons like Lindsay Graham would head down there, but eventually come back with their tails between their legs.

GO TEXAS. DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU ON THE WAY OUT!

Joan: You are also an idiot. Fascism and Socialism are on completely opposite ends of the political spectrum! Also exactly what is your source to say that ALL politicians are taking kick backs from drug cartels????
Republicans act like children kicking and screaming on the floor of the grocery store b/c they can't get what they want. It's pathetic. If you think Bush wasn't a fascist, I suggest you look again.

Yes, please let Ron Paul, and any texan who wants to, seceede from the union. We can just move that border fence out around their perimeter. Yes, I think that's a fine idea.

According to the constitution you may talk about secession but not during time of war. Last time I checked we are at war. The same constitution that does guarantee free speech also says that the Gov and Ron Paul are to be executed for treason and crimes against the US. I know this is nothing more than political grand standing but they both picked the wrong time (the US being at war) to make comments like this.

One comment suggested that Texans would get an immediate 30% raise, not having to pay Federal Income Taxes. Sure, Why not? – but would Texas have an army, navy or air force? Would they seek to become UN members or become Isolationists? Would they be our allies or our foes? Perhaps we should reconsider the placement of the new border fence. Secession of any state, just because times are tough, is an bad idea from a reactionary politician who doesn't have a real plan, and apparently doesn't have a clue what it takes to build a strong America. I waited eight long years for change, and IF it doesn't come, we will have another opportunity to elect someone else in 3-1/2 years. I will wait to pass judgement, but I remain optimistic about our future. Our problems did not materialize overnight, nor will they be solved as fast as the pundits can spin.

If I remember my history, you Texans are actually Mexican traitors. And now you want to be American traitors. Go to hell Texas.

Several reasons why liberals have not talked secession anytime in recent memory.

First and foremost, because the nation, over the last 100 years, has grown progressively more and more liberal, a process which has severely accelerated since the 60's. They need only wait and all their political and social dreams are likely to come true.

Even "conservatives" like Bush look more liberal than they ever have. Entitlement spending went up under Buch even from what it was even under Clinton.

Secondly, liberals won't ever talk about secession cause they just don't have the stones to imagine something other than the status quo.

To a conservative, the fabric of this nation is growing more and more against everything we believe in and hold dear. And most doubt the trend will stop anytime soon. So why wouldn't the conservatives of the nation start talking about secession? We would rather live in a nation that truly espouses and holds dear the same things we do. Especially when most of us believe things like abortion bring down a curse of blood guilt on the nation. Not to mention you cannot possibly spend your way out of a hole when it is wreckless borrowing and spending that got you there.

If they do it, I'm moving to Texas. It's a good solution. Liberals would like to see conservatives out of power. Conservatives would like to see liberals out of power. A new Texas could write a constitution that would carry, embedded in it's language, greater protections against liberal insanity.

Hey, Paul, if you want a precedent for secession, look to the Civil War, not the Revolutionary War. As I recall, that didn't work out real well for those seceding.

And tell me again, we're listening to you because ...

Governer Perry talking secession after 90 days of Obama? Crazy, unprofessional, irresponsible. He and the rest of the paranoid right-wingers, like those hosting Fox News, need to come to terms with post-Bush era. I really hope they use their influence in a more contructive way. If they can maintain some sense of legitamacy, they can help steer Obama down the middle. But as it is, they are falling hard and end up looking like cartoon characters. Except no one is laughing.

The Tax Day Tea Party rallies held across the U.S.A. were all about average citizens being fed up with the Federal Government. Washington, D.C. is home to the Ruling Political Class and their feeling toward the rest of the nation is "let them eat cake." Talk of secession stokes the flames of patriotic sentiment, and hopefully wakes up the B.O. zombies.

I don't get what's un-American about this. He didn't call for succession, just that the threat of it might keep our enormous, out of control federal government in line.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

FYI: Perpetual Union was a part of the Articles of Confederation, not the Constitution.

34 Republicn Electoral votes. Please Texas, get right to work on this. Secede please!

I just lost a lot of respect for Ron Paul. I knew he was crazy but to agree with Perry on secession is a new level of crazy.

If I recall history correctly, Texas was on its own state because the U.S. at the time had not agreed to bring them into the Union.

Why would any American talk about secession, I just don't get it. Childish!

Hope sad is it when a group of politicians mention what is being talked about by the people of the state. If you read and understand the comments from Mr. Paul and GOV Perry, they are not advocating succession. My question is simple, where is all the uproar of the Cap-in-Trade proposal, the Fan and Freddie bonouses that are being paid (which is from bail out money), for Mrs Pelosis calling immigration official, who are doing their jobs, un American? When is our Government going to stand up to the North Korea's and Iran's? Why should I have to give my tax dollars to pay for someone else house? Even when the coverage was over the tea parties, those who partcipate were called un American by Democrat leaders; yet ACORN can block home forclosures, and that is fine!! Who is the real hypocrits?

Your claim that the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution sactions seccession is a pretty “liberal” interpretation since neither the word nor even the concept of secession as an appropriate remedy is mentioned there. I guess the simplistic conservative mantra of literal or strict interpretation of the Constitution only applies when convenient.

You also continue to ignore that Texas, Virginia and the rest of the South forwarded these same quasi-legal arguments in 1860 becase the federal government was too intrusive regarding the “peculiar institution” of slavery. If your grievances are so reasonable, why not try
discussing them in our current democratic framework.

Think ahead to what may happen with a mixture of economic realities, human nature and Right-wing politics...ask yourself the question what might happen?

Texas can't support itself in its current status as an independent state. The loss of military and federal money will put an untenable burden on the populace, who will not be able to make up the difference. Simply Texas would have to revert and become a Republican party mecca of everyone for themselves and under continued pressure have to become a local from which to do nefarious business practices aimed at the U.S. The only way for it to survive would be to become a parasitic state with a strongly tied business/military government. Ironically, since it once was Mexico, it may become more politically alike to Mexico than the U.S.

Think its far fetched...really...?

Every Right-Wing nut job would try to implement their own ideal, and as we saw the utter failure of these policies under Bush, the same would happen in Texas. The same free wheeling policies and short term sight can't sustain themselves, the result would be greater collapse with the result would have to be war, as the Right would, as it always does, blame an outside entity for its own failures.

Unchecked ideology not based on real world facts always collapses...

The disregard the Right shows for or the constitution and representative government with their talk of succession, shows a party and philosophy crumbling away. This is a most dangerous time because the Right believes they are absolutely right, believes they have god on their side, and will stop at nothing to show they are right, even when they are clearly wrong!

The world is truly on the brink of major disasters (yes plural). While most of the world is busy trying to shore up the dikes the Right is busy undermining its foundations with no care for the consequences and with the only goal of trying to regain power.

Mr. Paul hits the nail squarely on the head again.

Perhaps all 50 states should get together and seceed from the Federal Gov't and we can all start over (together no less).

Personally, I wish Calfornia would secede and take they commie lovin' left-wingers with them. Texas could survive, even thrive without the USA. On the other hand, Californians would be a basket case.

If a state wants to break away and govern itself I say go ahead. But while the paper work is being processed, go without federal money. All that money you "save" in federal taxes would have to go to the state or no one would have water to drink or roads to drive on. I can't give an exact number but at one point, 25% of the state of Florida's entire budget federal money given to them for projects. What percentage is Texas'?

Bravo Ron Paul for once again saying what needs to be said that few want to hear, and judging from most of the comments here, even fewer understand.

His comparison of American independence to secession is correct. So what that the word "secession" wasn't used to describe that. It's the same concept. So if Texas or Alaska or whomever declared their "independence" instead of using the "s" word, that silly argument goes away. Focus on the concept folks. That's what this is about.

I'm amazed at how much the status quo is ingrained in people. Why can't you allow yourself to think about secession rationally? Almost every comment on here is emotional with little/no thought.

The only two organizations I know of that allow you to join but will kill you if you want to quit are the mafia and the United States. A state that was allowed to freely request admission to the United States should be allowed to leave if its people want that. Congressman Paul is so right that even the threat of this would make the authoritarians in Washington more respectful of our federal system that was intended to have a much smaller, less intrusive federal government and preserve much autonomy and indepence for the states.

The idea of seceding is ridiculous, however its is not the American people's fault the the banks provided loans to individuals that couldn't possibly repay them in the event of an economic downturn. The banks shouldn't be bailed out for making horrible decision making. Let them collapse this is a country founded on the idea of capitalistic economies, which we have vehemently defended around the globe, give that money to the people.

1.I HATE the argument that people blame Bush for everything wrong with the world when WE voted for him for two terms while simultaneously passing judgement on those that disagree with the way our government is being ran for the same reason (that WE all voted for Obama so we can't complain).
2.Stop associating Bush with all things Texas and chalking up every comment made by our elective representatives as another 'Bushism'. I don't blame Arkansas for every thing Clinton did during his 8 years.....
3.I think if you will be a little more open minded to the subject at hand you would understand that no one is actually calling for a vote for Texas to secede from the union. The concern is the federal government's actions and involvment in the state/local governments and the secession comments are an indication of how serious some analysts/representatives/etc. take the infringement on that sovereignty.
4."Secession is not American" – while I agree that the country should not go its seperate ways at the drop of a hat; I would like to suggest that the term 'secession' being compared to how the US was formed when we 'fought for our independance' is really just a matter of symantics. Somehow its "ok" that the colonists 'fought for their independance' from England because it was "right". It was "ok" for the residents of the USSR to 'fight for their independance' because it was "right". The term "right" is kind of subjective (depending on which side you are on) and arrogant when you think about it. Not considering all of the details of the Civil War – a group of citizens all felt strongly enough about issues at the time to attempt to do what they thought was "right" and leave the US to try and govern themselves. Whether they were "right" or not, it doesn't matter. The second that we as a people fail to take action or speak out when we do not agree is the day that we fail to be independant and that's what I personally think is what makes the USA great.

Didn't they try this once. As I recall, it didn't work out so well the first time

No it's not OK to talk seriously about sucession. Close to a million soldiers died in the Civil War to settle that issue. Ron remember that?

It's called treason.

One can't help but wonder if the conservative right wing wants our country to fail and collapse purely out of spite. These problems weren't created in the last 4 months, try the last 28 years.

LEARN HOW TO FREAKING READ. I am just amazed at the lack of reading comprehension ability of many of the people posting. Ron Paul is saying that we need to pay attention to this succession talk because it is basically a sign of how angry people are becoming at the government. He is not saying Texas should succeed, only that people are discussing it. He clearly states that he does not think it is very serious. He also states that it is not un-American to discuss succession. America is a free society, which means people have the right to talk about anything, even things you don't agree with. If you want to know what is really going on with our economy, you need to actually do some research on the subject. Don't just tune to the news outlet that mirrors your view, watch the ones that you don't agree with as well. I don't like Hannity and only tolerate O'Reilly, but I watch them to understand their view point and I learn things from them. In addition, look for other news sources on the web besides CNN, FOX, MSNBC etc. They are owned by corporations who are controlled by the banks. The news you are getting from them is very slanted either Democrat or Republican, so you need to watch both. Then when a question arises in your mind, go do some research on the subject. Their is no excuse for not researching these days, information is far to easy to access on the web. Geeez- it is no wonder America is in the shape it is in today.

I just wonder what Rick was thinking when he made that comment. Did he realize what would happen to Texas if it seceded.

- Perhaps a Poland between Mexico and US?
- Perhaps an Afganistan with love for guns and drugs supplier on one border and consumer on the other?

I am a Texan but I believe the dumbness of the region is growing exponentially here.

In what way is Ron Paul a "friend" of George Bush.

They disagreed on alomost everything!

First, let me say that I am PROUD to be a Texan. My g-g-g-g-g-grandfather was one of the original colonists who came here with Stephen F. Austin (the group of people known now as the "Old 300"). I love this state with everything I've got. So it honestly hurts me to hear people who have NO IDEA about Texas other than the cr*p they hear in the media telling us to leave and they won't miss us.

Second ... if you ain't Texan, you don't get it. Texans have been talking about secession (notice I spelled it right - guess I'm not so "ignert" after all) since the day they we joined the union. It's just "a Texas thang" to do that. We're people who value our independence, both as human beings and politically. We don't sit here and take it when governments of any kind (local, state, federal) push our buttons. It's just one of those things that gets discussed - 99% of the time tongue-in-cheek. Only a minority of people really take it seriously. It's "Texas bluster."

Third - so George W. Bush is "from" Texas. That doesn't mean that every single citizen of Texas is just like him. We are a state of vastly different human beings - liberal and conservative, religious and atheist, uneducated and highly educated, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Baptist, Muslim, rich and poor. Pretty much like all the other states, I would guess, at least in that sense. I am NOT like George W. Bush, nor is anyone else I know, so I really resent being compared to him.

So ... while the discussion about secession in general is interesting and good in an academic sort of way, I think very few of us Texans (except the few who've weighed in here) even take this remotely seriously. In fact, I'm downright AMAZED at how ridiculously serious this had gotten! Keep talking about this if you want to, but I'd really appreciate it if we could keep the insults about Texas out of it, and vice versa.

God bless Texas - and God bless the rest of y'all, too.

Ok, so the US military will no longer defend the Texas border. Mexico has 100 million people, Texas has just shy of 25 million.

Good luck!

There's a lot of emotion in talk like this, but certainly not a lot of logic.

I recall Alaskan secessionists talking about how they expected to secede and that the US military would still somehow protect them from Russia. They really didn't put a lot of thought into their goals.

I think that this talk of a Texas secession from the Union is the most unpatriotic motion ever made.

Gov. Rick Perry should be removed from office on general principles.

It is irresponsible sword rattling and sews the seeds of a deeper distrust of what our great nation is...and strives to be.
Maybe Perry secession commnet echoes the belief of others in his state that think that same thing. It must be a broader phemonon, occuring out there. He didnt just say it casually and not think he was going to get comments from eveyone in the country on this topic.
Trial balloon...is the political phrase I believe.

I think if the state was able to seced (through whatever means and timeline) it would really be great for the rest of the country.
We'd loose some good mexican food resturants however, but with all the money were saving in Federal funding, maybe we could build some new ones.

Personally, I love it if all the states were to secede–and then start all over again with a newly-created, tiny little federal government that actually paid attention to the Constitution.

It's SECESSION, not SUCCESSION.

Please, secede and take all the self-righteous, intolerant, hypocritical blowhards with you.

Form your own country, where everyone has a gun and they regularly use them on one another, there are no taxes (or public services funded by them), you regularly start wars based on complete fabrication, and all the unwanted babies are forcibly adopted.

I hope you succeed.

It would be ok for Texas to leave, IF they agree to take George W. with them!! It would go a long way to helping the U.S. balance the budget, since Texas is one of the biggest welfare mooching states we have!

Adios! (that's goodbye, in your new official language once Mexico takes you over)

We seriously need a history and Constitutional law refresher. The South was not the first part of the country to attempt secession (not succession). That would be the New England states during the War of 1812, not as one responder said earlier when New England was under the English Crown. During said war, NE was under the US Constitution. They attempted, or threatened to secede from the Union because the British blockade was hurting their trade. Several states, among them Virginia and New York in their ratifications of the Constitution in 1789 had provisions in those ratifications, such as I quote, I think is New York's " the rights of the states to resume the powers delegated to the Federal Government, if it becomes abusive of such powers, shall not be infringed." If secession is illegal and treasonous, why was the treason charges against Jefferson Davis dropped by the Chief Justice of the Sup. Court? If states cannot secede, how was it the southern states were READMITTED to the Union from a period of 1866-1870? Abraham Lincoln himself made an international law gaffe when he declared a blockade. A nation at war with another nation declares a blockade, a nation at war with itself closes its ports. I'm not trying to make a moral issue about secession, but a legal one. Technically, the New England states and the South had a legal right to secede, if not a good reason to. The Governor of Texas is not outright calling for secession, but calling it the absolutely last resort. If the Federal Gov't keeps on the path of getting way beyond the power delegated to it (at the expense of the states or the people) then secession might actually have in the long run a viable excuse. Lets hope it doesn't come to that, we the American People must get this "duopoly" party system back under control. Socialism has never succeded at making the poor rich, only the rich poor. If equality is the measure of its success that would be it. Remember the Govt's job is to "promote the general welfare", not provide it-the first steps toward a socialist dictatorship.

After 8 years of tyranny by the republican party and irrational and failed economic and international decisions that left this country in ruins....the least the Republicans can do is give the new president the right to govern as he was duly chosen and elected. Washington ignored us Americans for the last eight years. Talk about 'not listening.

Limbaugh-talk of "wanting the president to fail" and the Perry/Paul talk of secession and overt and constant criticims of Obamas every waking moment – are outright un-american, un-patriotic and give the rest of the world the worst example of a strong nation. These people are radicals who cause nothing but harm in this great country!

We have enough people overseas blasting the USA for their failed policies of the past than to have our very own so-called Americans bringing us down all on their own. They open the door for attacks on us.

The Republicans should honor us ordinary Americans by just shutting up and waiting until 2012 to get their next turn at bat! And if they keep up their un-american talk, they might not get that next turn!

What stupidity that these people offer. Have all the Right wingnuts congregated in Texas? Have they all become delusional?

The Republican President and the Republican congress put us in this financial crisis and now they want to run away from it because they "can't handle the truth". Oh, poor babies, don't like a President of color making progressive decisions. Maybe they should all click their "Ruby Slippers" and get back to their OZ.

Rush for emperor of Texas!!!!

There is not longer a need for Texas to secede. We, the Voters, have already throw off the yke of the dictatorial control of King George the Bush. Finally, we have a true leader who listens, thinks logically and makes well reasoned decisions.

WHOA WHOA WHOA, N, do you really think Conservatives would miss California? Talk about guaranteeing electoral college success for Republicans