Dear people signing secessionist petitions . . .
Stop. Just stop.
If you haven’t heard, a number of pro-secession petitions have cropped up on the White House website’s page for public petitions. When I checked earlier today, there were petitions for “peaceful withdrawal” from the U.S. by 20 states. Not all of them went for Mitt Romney last week, or are in the South: There were also petitions for such states as Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Oregon.
It should go without saying that these petitions a) aren’t going to lead to any kind of action and b) aren’t supported by the vast majority of people who voted against President Obama. If you could cross-check the two groups, I suspect there would be a lot of overlap between the petition signers and birthers.
To those who are signing these petitions out of a sense of anger or exasperation or desperation, let me say this:
Maybe you believe all hope is lost now that we’re getting four more years of Obama. There are a lot of possibilities for his second term that I’m not happy about, either. Quite the opposite, as should be clear from pretty much everything I’ve written on this blog.
But the election, while not all that close in terms of the margin in the Electoral College, was rather close to producing a different outcome. By the count of National Review’s Jim Geraghty, Romney fell short by a combined 407,000 votes in four states that, had he won them, could have pushed him to 275 electoral votes and the White House. I point this out not to engage in wishful “what ifs,” just to observe that it was very much possible to have gotten an outcome that would have had the left in a fit of apoplexy instead.
And when the nation is that closely divided, the conclusion in my view is not to decide it actually needs to divide in two. Rather, it’s that it wouldn’t take much next time to earn a more amenable outcome.
To do that, Republicans have to make some necessary but hardly revolutionary changes. But it does not help them do that when there are people signing petitions that confirm the worst stereotypes the left can dredge up about the right. Let’s face it: In light of the need to appeal to a wider swath of the electorate, comparisons to the Civil War do not aid the cause.
So, please: Find another outlet for whatever energy you’re expending on this kind of junk.
NOTE: The comments thread on this post has long since devolved into mostly personal attacks, so I’m shutting it down. A new post will be up soon, and a number of you may be facing some time away from the blog. I’m not sure yet which will happen first.
– By Kyle Wingfield
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
504 comments Add your comment
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
November 13th, 2012
9:13 am
I prefer Pizza Hut thin crust, but if you take Pillsbury pizza dough, a jar of Kroger’s pizza sauce, some 5 cheese Italian blend and some pepperoni you can make a pretty good one in less time than it takes any of the chains to deliver.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 13th, 2012
9:13 am
The majority of welfare cases live in blue states.
Declan Georgia
November 13th, 2012
9:13 am
We must stay united for our national defense; but…the people have spoken- let’s divide it up per politico: CA for the gays; TX for the latinos(illegal); NY for the blacks(entitled); FL for the cubans(legal); MS for the blacks(employed); CO for the dopers(legal); WA for the junkies(illegal); MA for the rich(taxed); CT for the rich(loop-holed); etc…
will-o-the-wisp
November 13th, 2012
9:16 am
spoiled brats, let them go, and be sure to close all military facilities they may have , appropriate the national guard– forbid interstate commerce, no air traffic , do not issue passports as soon as the big bucks stop rolling in– they will plead to come back
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
November 13th, 2012
9:16 am
Silly Edward doesn’t understand the concept of cause and effect.
iggy
November 13th, 2012
9:28 am
“Papa Obamas” only serves pizza topped with tomato soup, govt cheesy grits on a old leather shoe sole.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
November 13th, 2012
9:37 am
I see my leg humper is back for another day of schooling.
Peadawg
November 13th, 2012
9:41 am
“Dear people signing secessionist petitions . . .”
Let me know where you live and I’ll come help your un-American, idiot ars pack and even take you to the airport. Good riddance!
Pierre Fiore
November 13th, 2012
9:42 am
You are an idiot. Period. Obama’s agenda is to destroy this country – and he is doing a fantastic job of that. He is probably amazed with himself. We the People must return to Our Constitution otherwise this country is lost. In 4 years, provided he doesn’t pull a Chavez, the birth truth will come out – and he will have no place to hide. Why would anyone hide the detaills of a Harvard Education? Why am I arguing with a 2 year old? You’ll see. If I am wrong – I will return to my Country of Origin.
zeke
November 13th, 2012
9:43 am
There is nothing racist about not wanting a socialist, liberal, left wing activist moron as the leader of our country! Not dissing the man after his death, but, that also applied to McGovern and he was Caucasian not black! it is the agenda and policies of this person who has never been more that a scum pro union community organizer that people do not like! The fact that he has basically over ruled law with his executive orders on illegals, birth control mandates of obamacare regardless of the freedom of religion of the Constitution, and, that is only a very very small percentage of the actions we so despise! The federal suits against the states for trying to enforce our immigration laws! The suits against the states for trying to insure the legitimacy of our election process! Not because he is black! The same would have applied to George McGovern, and did!
Anti-South Column Ridicules Secession « The Fire Eater
November 13th, 2012
9:45 am
[...] Self-stylized conservative opinion journalist Kyle Wingfield of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote an opinion piece yesterday criticizing the secessionist petitions. [...]
carlosgvv
November 13th, 2012
9:57 am
Tiberius – 7:59
It usually is many years after a President has left office before historians and pundits can fairly access his performance.
But, YOU already know Obama is a bad President.
I am just sooooooooooooooooh impressed by your brilliance!!!!!!!!!!!
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
November 13th, 2012
9:58 am
7.5% of obozo’s voters from 2008 have already seceded from the liberal world of hate, lies and filth, and this is a good start….
JohnnyReb
November 13th, 2012
10:00 am
The War of Northern Agression was much more than about slavery.
When Obama is introduced, the speaker states – the President of the United States. Read that again – of the United States – not the president of the Federal Government.
Our history is full of progressive moves that take away more and more liberty from the States in favor of Statism which can only be defined as a form of Socialism.
Our citizens are misguided, are historically illeterate and value the warm federal government blanket over their liberty.
Signing petitions is a guranteed freedom. But, you can bet the farm the Obama administration is searching each name for ties to militia groups, etc.
Instead of belittling secession petition signers, there needs to be a thorough look at why they sign.
We have for the first time in our history a president elected on popularity and socialism as there is no way a politically sane person would vote for the guy.
We are in big trouble. Yea, he will be gone in four more, but there are some things that once out of the box can’t be fixed.
iggy
November 13th, 2012
10:05 am
Perhaps Obama will proclaim himsself KING and we can do away with these silly elections.
carlosgvv
November 13th, 2012
10:10 am
iggy
But, if Romney had won and promptly proclaimed himself KING, that would have been just fine, right sporty?
bu2
November 13th, 2012
10:12 am
@Repubs
Maybe you should give your advice to President Obama and Biden, Reid and Schumer. Quit the name calling and denigration. Act like you represent all the people, not just one wing of one party. Its incumbent upon the president to work with Congress, not just sit back and try to blame all of his troubles on them and cast aspersions on any who don’t agree with his approach.
Obama’s approach is to say, “I want to work with the Republicans. They are low life scum trying to steal from the poor and give to the rich who want to see America fail, but I’m willing to work with them if they vote for everything I propose. I’ll even let them in the photograph when I sign MY bill.”
spiker
November 13th, 2012
10:15 am
Don’t despair yet wingnuts; there’s worse to come. And, it’ll keep coming for a long time.
You are the reason that the remains of the Republican party- once a national party- can’t nominate a candidate who can win a national election. The republicans will have to do something about you before they can hope to elect a president. Or control the senate. For the foreseeable future, the only thing they will continue to win a majority of are gerrymandered house seats.
You, the secessionists, the birthers, the tea partiers, those who scream “socialist” but can’t define the word and all the other fruit flies on the GOP’s carcass will push the party further and further into irrelevancy for a long time to come.
Keep up the good work!
iggy
November 13th, 2012
10:16 am
Absolutely Carlos. Elections are time consuming and tedious.
Thomas Heyward Jr
November 13th, 2012
10:24 am
Kyle Wingfeild…………………”take a shirt off boss?”
President obama..sighing……….”take the shirt off”.
Wingfeild grins.
.
lol
md
November 13th, 2012
10:25 am
” those who scream “socialist” but can’t define the word”
For clarity, socialism comes in various forms and to varying degrees…….the proper term when applied to this country should be “socialistic”. And one can look at it on a sliding line graph moving left and right.
Whether one wants to acknowledge it or not, adding another “socialistic” entitlement program to the stable of entitlement programs has moved the pointer on that line to the left……which is closer to socialism and further away from capitalism……….
Matz
November 13th, 2012
10:29 am
WHY would anyone want to secede when our nation’s top-brass sex scandal is just beginning to heat up? Hahaha! Not much of a voyeur myself, and certainly not interested in those horrid little fantasy books all the married women are reading, but jeepers — when the details start falling out, we’re all going to see how truly twisted these buttoned-up rightie militants really are. TOO much fun!
Aquagirl
November 13th, 2012
10:29 am
Instead of belittling secession petition signers, there needs to be a thorough look at why they sign.
Of course they’re doing that….Studying mental illness is the first step to a cure.
Michael Hill
November 13th, 2012
10:34 am
If you can’t leave, your not free. Secession is the founding American political principle and the Declaration of Independence is a Secessionist document. You reject this means to an end at your peril. By the way, there is an active Southern nationalist movement: The League of the South. I suggest you check it out. All you Toby Keith lovin’ heel clickers who just can’t wait for the next war might not feel welcome. But those of you who think we’d be better of without DC weighing us down just might like what you see at the League.
Matz
November 13th, 2012
10:38 am
Anyone else know some “we need to secede” folks who were spouting last week how they wanted to move to Australia because “Their President is a Christian who stands behind his beliefs?” HAHAHAHA!
(FYI for the slow people: Their Prime Minister is an unmarried female atheist who stands for health care and women’s rights. Heh…)
Thanks for the laughs, y’all.
Georgia
November 13th, 2012
10:39 am
Okay. The civil war. Why? Slavery. The most important document in US history is Jeff Davis’s inaugural address. Read it, my fellow Americans. It proves what the war was about. Not states rights. Not taxes without representation. Not border disputes. Not anything but that very peculiar institution. Don’t believe me. Read what Jefferson Davis himself had to say when Secesh elected him The President of the Confederate States of America.
lostinatlanta
November 13th, 2012
10:39 am
I am so sick of my Republican friends crying over this election. I know a few who would sign a pro-secession petition in a minute. However, these are the same people who never got off their butts to do one thing to help their party. Not one of them tried to change my opinion, not one wore a button, attended any rally, offered to take anyone to vote, no yard sign, not even a bumper sticker! So if they aren’t going to put any effort into helping their Republican party then I don’t expect they will do much to help the state secede from the union- other than a signature.
spiker
November 13th, 2012
10:40 am
md;
So “socialist” or “socialistic” is a free-floating pejorative that you can trot out to substitute for having an actual thought?
Since Teddy Roosevelt, the injection of regular doses of what you would call socialism has strengthened and preserved our capitalist economy. The removable of sane regulation (again “socialism”) by the Cheney-Rove regime brought us to the brink of complete collapse. That was an expensive lesson for you to sleep through…
Dusty
November 13th, 2012
10:43 am
My my Aquagirl,
Tell us all about mental illness and the cure. We could send the info to Washington.
The petition signers are not crazy. They are just TIRED of the whole crazy Chicago four year kit’n'kabootles which have all of us $16 trillion in debt. Now that’s a REAL kabootle!
Black Label
November 13th, 2012
10:51 am
Dusty
Those folks are welcome to leave the country……… You know like you have mentioned numerous times about folks here in GA leaving when they will not worship Deal as you do.
md
November 13th, 2012
10:53 am
“So “socialist” or “socialistic” is a free-floating pejorative that you can trot out to substitute for having an actual thought?
Since Teddy Roosevelt, the injection of regular doses of what you would call socialism has strengthened and preserved our capitalist economy.”
No, it’s common sense. Socialism/socialistic refer to ideas of group effort vs individual effort, and all that goes with both.
And the “strengthened and preserved” part is highly debatable when we are in the middle of an economic crisis caused in part by a stable of entitlement programs we are having a hard time paying for………
snoqualmiefalls
November 13th, 2012
10:56 am
More rantings from the adled mind of TBan, AHEM hows that ritilan working TBan. “traitors are Presidents who go to bed while thier ambassadore is pleading for rescue” Uh sure TBan. so tell us with your drug addled mind what was the punshment for VP Dick Cheney, drunk, on a hunting trip and shot his fellow hunter in the face? I’m sure he pleaded for rescue afterthat “accident”
Please enlighten us orical of the Confederacy
sallyjohanna
November 13th, 2012
10:57 am
Dear Mr. Wingfield, Must be easy from your lofty point of view to tell us to sit down and shut up.
I have two sons age 29 and 28. My oldest recently married and they would like to start a family. Both boys are afraid to even considering making career changes.
Four more years of Obama’s disastrous economy and wreckless foreign policy will rob them of the best of their earning years. If we do manage to finally get a fiscally sound POTUS it will take four more years to even hope for a marginal change in the economy and my sons will be close to 40.
You obviously do not live in the real world with the rest of us. Go grocery shopping prices are sky high.
Re-electing Obama does not make it a wise choice…Obama, LMSM and his supporters are turning the highest office in America in to a shameless reality show. The whole world is laughing at us.
Birthers how dare you??? We are suppose to have the power at the state level according to the tenth ammendment. The Feds role under the Constitution is limited and THEY ARE WAY OUT OF THEIR BOUNDARIES. Big changes for big problems. That is if the ME does not try to wipe us of the face of the earth along with Israel.
Ryan Shadburn
November 13th, 2012
10:58 am
“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”
“…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 abolish it, and institute new Government…”
Sick of Y'all
November 13th, 2012
10:59 am
I say go! you knuckleheads – GO! However, leave all, and I mean ALL of your benefits behind! I’m sick of your tantrums anyway! You can’t have your way so (boo, hoo hoo). (LOL). You racist knuckleheads….
Dusty
November 13th, 2012
10:59 am
John Q
Thank you for sending us Jindal’s ideas for Republicans. Too bad he did not think of them until after the election.
Anybody who calls a political party STUPID isn’t the brightest kid on the block, meaning you or Jindal. See your 10:45 If that is intellectualism, give me the average Joe with common sense. .
. .
Ronin
November 13th, 2012
11:01 am
Kyle,
This is more saber rattling than anything else. These people feel that the federal government is too intrusive and their spending is out of control. Thy’re probably right on both cases, Secession is a knee jerk reaction and won’t happen (the exception may be Texas).
fair and balanced
November 13th, 2012
11:06 am
latest insane rant from the head con on this blog:
Tiberius__
“”"”"”"Obama was only vulnerable until his willing minions in the media thought he was. Then they ramped up their playbook.”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"
Yeah that Nate Silver guy on MSNBC who accurately predicted the outcome was a commie plant and Dick Morris got it right until Obama sabotaged the election. And Faux News id truly fair and balanced.
Dusty
November 13th, 2012
11:10 am
Black label
You surely are mixed up. (messed up?)
Worship Gov Deal? Worship? Try going to church and find out what worship means. Deal is a good governor, helping Georgia move ahead in ethical ways using the talent in our state. Good deal!
Fly to Australia? Nope. That would probably mean kangeroo flight attendants. I’m not jumping with them! Besides, I love the USA even with a rising $16 trillion debt. Did I mention that before?
Newt Gingrich
November 13th, 2012
11:10 am
Obama covered up the sex scandal with those generals. I know something about these things. Hell these women were coping a feel under the table trying to cover . I would have done it on the table after getting Boner and Cantor to start articles of impeachment.
spiker
November 13th, 2012
11:11 am
md;
Stripped of all the post-Hayek mythology, socialism is just an economic model that features collective ownership of “the means of production” and allocates goods and resources through central planning. In it’s pure form it doesn’t work. But then, capitalism in its pure form doesn’t work either.
That’s all it is; an economic model. Calm down, it wasn’t invented in Hades to sap the soul of man.
When there are two competing economic models, neither or which works without elements of the other, how can you howl for purity?
By the way, one aspect of both capitalism and socialism is that a government’s revenues must be appropriate for things like- oh I don’t know, maybe two wars and a new giant entitlement program?
Dusty
November 13th, 2012
11:15 am
Nate Silver ?? Who? Is he the guy down the street who buys gold?
If you want a prediction, there’s Madame Rosarita over on Buford Highway. She will give you a prediction (for a small sum).
JamVet
November 13th, 2012
11:16 am
The petition signers are not crazy. They are just
TIREDwould-be traitors.You fake conservatives hate on Uncle Sam and our system of government/laws all you want. Seriously.
THAT is a big reason why you Republicans just got your arses kicked last Tuesday.
Which is the best thing that could have happened…
Black Label
November 13th, 2012
11:17 am
Dusty
You love to revel in your hypocrisy. You have stated several times that if people do not like GA and the way it is run, they are free to leave.
Well those secessionist and even yourself are free to leave if you do not like the outcome of the election.
Guess you will continue to be a hypocrite and not lead by example. Big talk, no walk.
But honestly do not go anywhere unless you will continue to blog. You are funny. Fake but funny. No doubt
Dusty
November 13th, 2012
11:21 am
Johnzy Q
I believe you have been talking to Madame Rosarita on Buford Highway. . Sounds like it.
A Democratic sweep? We are not talking about cleaning floors here. I think the Democrats will continue to meander around and dabble a bit. Four more years ought to do them in. If they last that long. Now get busy sweeping. Yeah!!
Secessionist
November 13th, 2012
11:22 am
I think this thing isn’t a Republicans versus Democrats issue at all, I would personally support secession of any state, city, property, person, etc regardless of who is in office. I say dismantle the U.S. government, it’s corrupt beyond repair. Those in power are stealing your money through the Federal Reserve and sending our children off to die in unnecessary wars while handing the bill to the unborn generation all so some unscrupulous politician will get a popularity boost in the next polls. We should allow each state to determine its own future rather than the national government, because the decentralization will diminish wasteful spending and return more liberty to every individual because the states will to some degree compete amongst each other for land, labor, and capital. This competition benefits society as a whole because the states will have a larger area of possible control or lack thereof in which to affect the economy and social harmony in a community.
republiKKKlanwatcher
November 13th, 2012
11:23 am
Maybe the list of petition signers should be checked to see if any of them are receiving government money (Social Secuity, medicare, medicad, food stamps, etc.) If they are, stop the payments immediately. No free ride for you.
Dusty
November 13th, 2012
11:31 am
Jamvet is HERE! Hot dog! Traitors, he says! He lives right down the street from Madame Rosrita! Buddies, I bet!
—————————
Liberal Lefty
George W. Bush lied about WMDs? R U still living in the Dark Ages or you just forgot to turn on the lights?
You sound just like JamVet, the juggler of facts and facile fabricator!
By the way, did I mention that the USA is $16 TRILLION IN DEBT?? That Obama has been the president for four years?
snoqualmiefalls
November 13th, 2012
11:35 am
Agree with liberallefty… to wit… put up or shut up. States voluntarily joined the Union they can voluntarily leave. As I tell my friends this was Lincons fatal mistake, holding the Union together.
In the 1970’s it was suggested that the Soviet Union would break up… people laughed at the prospect… I think the US is not too far behind the prediction that the Union will break up or least allow the old Confederacy to leave. We Americans outside the old Confederacy just don’t cotton to your world view.
Dusty
November 13th, 2012
11:38 am
Johnzy Q
Did you ever play football and suffer several concussions?
Whatcha mean? Obama won? OH wow. Big news! There goes the 16 TRILLION $$$ DEBT
!!! Up up and away! Oh happiness!!!!
See ya later. Gotta go spend some money!!