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

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504 comments Add your comment

Kennesaw David

November 12th, 2012
9:00 pm

Goodnight all. Fred, you are amusing, if nothing else. And you are just that. Nothing else. The rest of your left wing buddies on here are a riot as well. Again, I have been enlightened. I now understand how Obama could get elected to not only one, but 2 terms. But that one is not so amusing.

Glenn Beck

November 12th, 2012
9:03 pm

Fred

He is still on the air. I catch him once or twice a week. I think it was Savage who had an issue. Now he is really out there. Nothing but an act.

Beck is the best laugh on the radio.

When Romney pulled ahead after the 1st debate he said that “God wanted Romney behind, so he could really have an impact on the electorate as he went on the victory” or something along those lines.

His excuse after the election was that while he didn’t mention it on the air last Tuesday, he had a “bad feeling” when he woke up that Romney would lose and it was God telling him that.

:-)

That guy is whack.

I think he owns or runs that “blaze.com”. You can see the same crap on that site that he “preaches” about on the radio.

Funny stuff if you like that kind of humor.

Del

November 12th, 2012
9:04 pm

Dusty,

Fred only insults himself. He can’t touch conservative bloggers well not most conservative bloggers.

Glenn Beck

November 12th, 2012
9:05 pm

And to all the veterans; Happy Veteran’s Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for your service.

Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!

November 12th, 2012
9:08 pm

Fredo has a Fredo complex, and if you don’t know what I mean, you’ve never seen The Godfather!

“Y’ever think of that, Mike?”

Fred ™

November 12th, 2012
9:10 pm

Dusty

November 12th, 2012
9:00 pm

Fred,

I do believe you have insulted just about every conservative blogger here. Are you satisfied?

Obviously, that is the only reason you come here. .
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Are you completely oblivious to your hypocrisy? Can you one time have enough character to admit it? Below is your FIRST post tonight…………. it is nothing BUT insulting. I wasn’t going to respond to you or read you, but I remember a time when you actually were nice and seemed to have redeeming qualities.

Here is your post. Please explain how it is nice and sweet, not insulting, condescending, and hateful:

Dusty

November 12th, 2012
8:44 pm

Good grief! This blog is turning into another fiasco just like the weekend. Did Bookman expel all his weakminded members and send them over here? Or did they open the doors at some institution?

If you grew up in a back alley, you don’t have to demonstrate it here. We don’t care. We just want you to act like Americans, That would be a nice change from the attitude exhibitied here.

Dems may have won the election but they surely do act like losers.

Fred ™

November 12th, 2012
9:11 pm

Lil’ Barry Bailout – OBAMAPHONE!!!

November 12th, 2012
9:08 pm

Fredo has a Fredo complex, and if you don’t know what I mean, you’ve never seen The Godfather!

“Y’ever think of that, Mike?”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So does your lack of the name of the private school you attended mean that you are in fact a victim of public school LiL Barry?

Glenn Beck

November 12th, 2012
9:12 pm

“Are you completely oblivious to your hypocrisy? Can you one time have enough character to admit it”

Yes she is.

No she doesn’t.

Fred ™

November 12th, 2012
9:19 pm

I fear so Mr. Beck. I think I’ll get an answer out of her right after I get the name of the Private School LiL barry attended………

SisterSarah

November 12th, 2012
9:19 pm

@md ok, so I got a reply out of you. It was what I expected (and really the point I tried to make in the beginning), but I respect that you actually provided a response…and not something that was out there in lala land. So, thank you.

Georgia , The "New Mississippi"

November 12th, 2012
9:22 pm

Third and Fourth generation “Johnny Rebs” continuing to carry the torch of ignorance and hate passed down from father to son.

Glenn Beck

November 12th, 2012
9:22 pm

Fred

Only thing “private” about the school LB went to is the “privacy” he is invoking by not telling you the public school name.

Dusty

November 12th, 2012
9:22 pm

Dear Fred

,I’m glad you can remember when there was no need to mention specific problems here.That was before you came and tried to insult ever conservative that posts.

You can repeat my posts any time you want. I tried not to be specific but you have been so rude and disruptive I called it to your attention.

I’m sorry you can’t get along with anyone. One of these days, you will realize who causes the problems in your behavior..

Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right

November 12th, 2012
9:27 pm

The only one who thinks his posts have merit is Fred.

Otherwise they’re just insults and complaints.

Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!

November 12th, 2012
9:28 pm

You keep writing those checks to “Vanderbuilt” and Woodward Academy, little buddy, and maybe the women in your life can get you where you want to be!

Glenn Beck

November 12th, 2012
9:31 pm

If someone is simultaneously writing checks for Vanderbilt and Woodward tuition, they are probably already where they want to be or well on their way at least from a financial perspective.

Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right

November 12th, 2012
9:32 pm

Fred, a challenge for you:

Please write a substantial post on this subject without insulting anyone or calling them names.

yuzeyurbrane

November 12th, 2012
9:34 pm

Kyle, I commend you for speaking the truth to some pretty extreme folks. It is a profile in courage to speak so honestly to a group who would obviously would prefer you to be a demagogue.

Dusty

November 12th, 2012
9:34 pm

Tiberius

So true!

Charles Douglas Edwards

November 12th, 2012
9:38 pm

The United States of America is one nation, indivisible with liberty and justice for all !!!!!

We pray and HOPE for all our citizens.

May God Bless The United States of America !!!!!

Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!

November 12th, 2012
9:39 pm

I don’t know, Glen, Fredo only pays 9% federal tax and still qualifies for all kinds of tax breaks…can’t be doing all that well.

Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right

November 12th, 2012
9:43 pm

If Fred were running for president on the GOP ticket, he’d be branded a felon and a tax cheat.

Dusty

November 12th, 2012
9:44 pm

Charles Douglas Edwards

Good words to read before I close out my evening here. We are blessed.

Goodnight…

Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right

November 12th, 2012
9:48 pm

Im out too.

Goodnight all.

Fred ™

November 12th, 2012
9:48 pm

Lil’ Barry Bailout – OBAMAPHONE!!!

November 12th, 2012
9:28 pm

You keep writing those checks to “Vanderbuilt” and Woodward Academy, little buddy, and maybe the women in your life can get you where you want to be!
++++++++++++++

I’ve been where I want to be for a while little man. I’ll take your silence to mean that while you repeat that “public school victim” as an insult to others, the truth is that you went to public schools too.

Don’t worry. I’m more than a match for the gang bang tactics of you T%ibey, Dusty and little Dellie.

Fred ™

November 12th, 2012
9:49 pm

Tiberius – pulling the tail of the left AND right

November 12th, 2012
9:32 pm

Fred, a challenge for you:

Please write a substantial post on this subject without insulting anyone or calling them names.
+++++++++++++++

I did. Your lies otherwise don’t change that fact.

md

November 12th, 2012
9:50 pm

“So, thank you.”

You are welcome.

Fred ™

November 12th, 2012
9:51 pm

You notice Dusty never acknowledged her hypocrisy when she came on insulting others and calling them names and Lil Barry never provided the name of his private school. But both of them along with Tibey DID however provide plenty of name calling and insulting.

Fred ™

November 12th, 2012
9:53 pm

Tiberius – pulling the tail of the left AND right

November 12th, 2012
9:43 pm

If Fred were running for president on the GOP ticket, he’d be branded a felon and a tax cheat.
++++++++++++++

Why? What laws have I broken. I don’t appreciate you calling me a criminal. I can’t believe that Kyle allows that type of behavior here.

Have you anything to offer to back up your vicious lie?

Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!

November 12th, 2012
9:53 pm

Fredo: I’ve been where I want to be for a white little man.
———————-

Um, OK.

MrLiberty

November 12th, 2012
9:59 pm

In this country we have hosts and parasites. Throughout all of these states there are both hosts and parasites as we all live next door to each other. The problem is that the Federal and state governments create the relationship whereby the parasites are able to feed off the hosts. The government does the stealing of resources from the hosts so that the parasites don’t have to get their hands dirty. And by parasites I am referring to everyone who gets their paycheck via the actions of the government. That not only includes those who receive a direct check straight out of the bank accounts of the productive, but also those whose companies have government contracts, work for the government, etc. In a truly free society, all income would have to be earned through voluntary exchange of goods/services for money – or through charitable (voluntary) giving.

If you are not prepared to end this relationship with your fellow citizens and cast your lot into the free marketplace, then there is no point in signing a secession petition. It is the perpetuation of this relationship that has destroyed this country, and freedom from the oppressive regime in Washington (whether run by republicans or democrats – or both) will not be gained by recreating it again at the state level.

Seceed from the idea that it is government’s place to tell others how to live their lives, spend their money, run their business, what to put into their bodies, what to do with their bodies or their property, so long as they are not hurting anyone or violating anyone else’s rights.

We can have freedom once again in this country if everyone would reject the idea that government exists to do everything to everyone else that you would not be allowed to do on your own. We only need to seceed from that tragically well-ingrained idea.

Fred ™

November 12th, 2012
9:59 pm

Lil’ Barry Bailout – OBAMAPHONE!!!

November 12th, 2012
9:53 pm

Fredo: I’ve been where I want to be for a white little man.
———————-

Um, OK.
++++++++++++++++

Wow. Really? You have to lie and change quotes too? You are pathetic.

bluecoat

November 12th, 2012
10:00 pm

If Texas should be allowed to secede.It should be contingent upon taking all the Bush clan with the secession.

Fred ™

November 12th, 2012
10:03 pm

Mr. Liberty: Could you direct me to a time in the history of this Country where a situation such as you described has ever happened?

In a truly free society, all income would have to be earned through voluntary exchange of goods/services for money – or through charitable (voluntary) giving.

According to your definition, no one in the WORLD has ever been truly “free.”

JDW

November 12th, 2012
10:12 pm

@tiberius…you really should do d modercrum of research before repeating trash. Below is the link to the St lucie County official results…

http://www.slcelections.com/Pdf%20Docs/2012%20General/GEMS%20SOVC%20REPORT.pdf

Anyone that had the good sense to check the races would have found that about 125k voted out of 175k registered. I guess the good sense part relieves you of the obligation.

Kamchak - You cons said Elmer Fudd could defeat Obama, so why didn't you nominate him?

November 12th, 2012
10:15 pm

In this country we have hosts and parasites.

There’s your sign.

JDW

November 12th, 2012
10:24 pm

@md…if you had bothered to READ the document you linked in you 5:18 you would have found the vote count for President was about 125k out of 175k registered voters…get past the screwy summary page and READ the actual totals before playing your partin the next Internet legend.

Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right

November 12th, 2012
10:29 pm

Fred. Really: your 9:53?

Pay attention to the Obama campaign, moron.

And thanks for another stunning failure on my challenge to you.

lefty_316

November 12th, 2012
10:30 pm

There’s an article on Politico that details the partisan hackery undertaken by the fair and balanced Fox “News” and MSNBC leading up to the election. In the 8 weeks leading up to last Tuesday Fox “News” made 8 negative mentions for Obama for every positive mention. They report, I decide…..umm…..Obama is bad? Gosh I sure am glad they do thinking for me because I’m an just an American mushroom.

BUT…….and a big but at that…..the Fox hackery paled in comparison to that engaged in by flaming libs over at MSNBC. They laid waste to Fox with 32 negative mentions about Romney for every positive mention. That had to be a tiring process, digging that much mud, they must be all tuckered out. I should have watched because then I would have known Romney is bad, really bad, much worse than Obama bad. Thanks for deciding for me MSNBC, it saves me the trouble of trying to think for myself.

JDW

November 12th, 2012
10:31 pm

@MD..”THEN, I did my homework and actually found the County Website…….AND READ THE NUMBERS OFF THE PAGE”

No you read the first page of a 170 page document and jumped to a conclusion that is false. Out of a 170 page document you picked the only two pages that don’t provide official results.

Fred ™

November 12th, 2012
10:33 pm

Tiberius – pulling the tail of the left AND right

November 12th, 2012
10:29 pm

Fred. Really: your 9:53?

Pay attention to the Obama campaign, moron.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hmmmm. Pretty interesting. You folks abuse the hell out of others and then claim to be victims. You have called me among many other things tonight, a felon, a moron, and a tax cheat.

I see Kyle regulates his board really well.

Beth

November 12th, 2012
10:40 pm

Hi Kyle –

Given all the absurd and nasty things extreme conservatives have said and done in the last few months, these petitions seem a bit of harmless fun to me. Disappointed and frustrated people are blowing off steam, why make a big deal of it? In terms of getting anything accomplished, sure it’s a waste of time, since the President does not have the power to grant secession.

Serious secessionists would do best to press for a constitutional amendment creating a detailed secession process. The Texas vs. White SCOTUS case seemed to deny that secession was even possible and see also the remarks of jconservative at 6:04 pm regarding Justice Scalia’s more recent thoughts on the subject, which appear to echo the same sentiment.

md

November 12th, 2012
10:45 pm

“No you read the first page of a 170 page document and jumped to a conclusion that is false. Out of a 170 page document you picked the only two pages that don’t provide official results.”

Actually, I was going off the comment made by the supervisor of elections where she herself stated she had never seen anything like that in prior elections. And yes, there is some confusion in terminology with number of voters and cards cast, which is also screwy because even with a 2 page ballot the numbers do not add up. And I also qualified the entire post when I made it by stating it may or may not be anything at all.

After READING further on the subject though, one would be able to see the mess that it really is as the 2 different recounts have produced two different tallies and there are votes that suddenly just appeared out of nowhere.

So I stand by my original post that something very well may be fishy…..

Glenn Beck

November 12th, 2012
10:51 pm

Md

Wrong. You clarified after your post was called out and facts were presented, not one post before.

You have passed the intellectual dishonest threshold into just being a petty partisan liar.
Plain and simple.

No integrity

getalife

November 12th, 2012
10:56 pm

They can self deport.

md

November 12th, 2012
10:59 pm

“Wrong. You clarified after your post was called out and facts were presented, not one post before. ”

I clarified after you said they were allegations……and you presented zero facts at the time……you may want to go back and visit your intellectual honesty……

Glenn Beck

November 12th, 2012
11:03 pm

md

Let me know when the story breaks otherwise you can continue to be the gullible little guy surfing wako right wing websites….

Same ones that convinced you of an Obama defeat last week…

Alex

November 12th, 2012
11:05 pm

Dear ignorant person who wrote this article,

Stop. Just stop.

It was my understanding that one of the things that was beautiful about our country is how we have the right to protest and petition. It is not your place to tell those people what they should or shouldn’t do. You are contributing to the corruption of our country by attempting to silence those who have an opinion that differs from yours.

md

November 12th, 2012
11:07 pm

Why is it that some folks always have to resort to name calling and insults? ……is name calling and insults in the playbook somewhere?

What does that do for you exactly??

Glenn Beck

November 12th, 2012
11:08 pm

md

Along with praying to your God for a higher propensity to tell the truth and not being so gullible, you must work at. It will not just come on its own. Good habits and character take work and courage.

You can do it, but it will take effort on your part. It is a “choice”.