Current Events > Allen West says Texas could secede; 'We could go back to being our own Republic'

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://twitter.com/CNNPolitics/status/1380629125350756358?s=20

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2021/04/09/politics/allen-west-texas-kfile/index.html

Texas Republican Party chairman Allen West falsely suggested that Texas could secede from the United States and become an independent country, a CNN KFile review of his comments in recent months shows.
In radio interviews after the 2020 presidential election, West suggested Texas could vote to again become a republic, as it was before joining the United States in 1845.
"This is something that was written into the Texas Constitution," the former congressman said in one late December radio broadcast. "Or it was promised to Texas when we became part of the United States of America-- that if we voted and decided, we could go back to being our own republic."
Experts, however, say that Texas cannot legally secede and leave the United States to become its own republic. The annexation resolution West is referring to stipulates that Texas could, in the future, choose to divide itself into five new states, not divide itself from the US and declare independence. West mistook the congressional annexation resolution that made Texas a state for the Texas constitution.
Texas does have a history of secession. In 1861, Texas voted in favor of secession and later left the Union to join the Confederate States of America, setting the stage for the American Civil War. After the Confederacy lost the war, the Supreme Court ruled that Texas had remained a state, despite joining the Confederate States of America in an act of rebellion for four years, and that any acts ratified by the Confederate-era state legislature were "absolutely null." Texas eventually rejoined the Union in 1870.
In the December broadcast, West added that he supported a bill that would soon be introduced in the Texas state house in January, which would create a nonbinding referendum election on whether Texans should secede.
The bill, which has little chance of passing, would allow for a vote on whether the state could form a committee to develop a long-term plan to secede.
"I do support the will of the people to be heard and allow the people to vote on this," said West in the same December interview. "But I will tell you my official position is that I want Texas to lead, not so much secede."
West's comments on secession come as he repeatedly and baselessly questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election and pushed debunked claims of massive voting fraud, including the lie that Dominion Voting Software changed votes. Following President Joe Biden's election, West has claimed the US is in an "ideological Civil War" and agreed with a radio host who suggested that an actual civil war would be "worth it."
He argued Republican states can band together to nullify laws passed by Congress they don't believe are constitutional.
After the Supreme Court rejected a Texas lawsuit to overturn the 2020 election, West suggested that "perhaps law-abiding states should band together and form a Union of states that will abide by the constitution."
While West denied that he called for secession -- and accused his critics of advocating for secession -- he has left the door open to Texas secession beyond supporting a referendum election.
"Truthfully, I would rather Texas lead than secede -- if the moment does come when things have gone so bad -- but I don't think we're going to get to that point," he told an audience in January.
The Texas Republican Party did not return requests for comment.
West said the US is in an 'ideological civil war'
Speaking on the Truth and Liberty broadcast on January 4 --two days before the Capitol insurrection which would leave five people dead--West said the US was already engaged in an "ideological civil war."
"I heard one person say, 'but man, this can cause us a civil war,'" the host, Andrew Wommack, argued. "And the other person says, 'well, we've already fought one. Was it worth it? Was it worth it to free the slaves? "Is it worth it to save our Constitution?' You can't judge what's right. Based on how other people are going to respond. You just have to do what's right. And face the consequences."
"No, you're, you're absolutely right," West responded. "And again, that is the mentality that the left has. The left is banking on the fact that they're afraid to do it. Because they, they know that we'll go into the streets and we'll do all of these different things. But again, we're already in an ideological civil war, whether you want it or not."
"When you look at what has happened out in Portland, guess what, they've been rioting, they've been tearing up neighborhoods," he added. "If you look at Inauguration Day of 2017, they were in Washington, DC burning up cars and rioting. We should have stopped it then. So either we stop it now, or it's going to be like a cancer that meta

Did they forget that they asked for federal money when they dug their own hole and had massive blackouts, at the point where even their senator said fuck this and left for Mexico?

---

IdiotMachine posted...

Did they forget that they asked for federal money when they dug their own hole and had massive blackouts, at the point where even their senator said fuck this and left for Mexico?

That is correct yes.

---

Alright then. Next time your state has a power grid failure and you're without heat or water, you're on your own.

---

Wouldn't states have to take their share of the debt with them if they wanted to secede?

---

i don't understand why countries don't allow their states/etc. to leave. it's so fucking weird to me.

---

JACKBUTTMOMMY posted...

Imagine calling yourself a free country but refusing states right to secede.

states aren't people try again.

---

Don't mess with texas

---

Choco posted...

i don't understand why countries don't allow their states/etc. to leave. it's so fucking weird to me.

Because they'd be leaving every few years because "WAHHH WAHHH MY GUY LOST, THIS PLACE SUX YO" and then they'd do exactly as I said, create and fail to maintain a failed state, the USG would move back in, assume control, probably have to put down roving gangs, crime lords, warlords, etc that popped up as a result of the failed state and then have to go through the whole process of readding what was left of the population to the United States systems.

Its so much easier to tell butthurt shit drain losers to "fuck off you can't leave" than go through that every decade or so

---

JACKBUTTMOMMY posted...

Show me where I said they were.

You implied states have the same rights as its citizens, basically equating that states are people

---

I say let them. Republicans will never have a president again and there will be 2 less Republican senators and a lot less Republican representatives.

---

RenescoStCewl posted...

I say let them. Republicans will never have a president again and there will be 2 less Republican senators and a lot less Republican representatives.

Basically this honestly. At this point after all these years of Republicans constantly threatening to secede I say let them. I'm not so sure we'd actually lose anything crucial though someone can correct me on that.

Just make D.C. a state in their place and problem solved. Then the next time Texas freezes over they can all perish from their incompetence rather than get a bailout from a gov they're constantly sabotaging.

They deserve the worst.

---

wackyteen posted...

Because they'd be leaving every few years because "WAHHH WAHHH MY GUY LOST, THIS PLACE SUX YO"

yeah uh i don't think so

---

Fuck that war criminal. Also if Texas can't even keep their people warm. It would literally be 3rd world (in the way we use that term) within 10 years .

---

cjsdowg posted...

Fuck that war criminal. Also if Texas can't even keep their people warm. It would literally be 3rd world (in the way we use that term) within 10 years .

It's warm today

---

He says this after Texas' disaster with handling cold weather and needing federal assistance

---

I'm ok with that, then I'd vote that because it's a racist country we should ban immigration from there and put their refugees in cages.

---

MaddenDude-- posted...

I'm ok with that, then I'd vote that because it's a racist country we should ban immigration from there and put their refugees in cages.

lol look at the big brain on brad

---

States should be able to secede but I dont see it being a good idea to do so.

I guess it would be an interesting experiment, though. What if America was more like the EU/Europe?

---

Let's explore this as a thought experiment.

They leave. All their votes in the house get distributed, mostly to most populated states and therefore helps Democrats there. It also means 2 less senators and therefore would give a majority even with a certain DINO who refuses to consider changing the filibuster.

All people still in Texas would no longer be Americans. And we would have plenty proof of them commiting human rights violations with all the migrants they have detained. And without our aid, they'd not be able to hold back migrants. Basically, we'd have a perfect excuse to invade and liberate the nation. And again, with support pulled out? They'd be weak.

The rebel factions would crumble in months, the hold outs in a few years tops. Then we install a puppet regime and possibly consider them a territory but refuse to allow them statehood.

It'll cost a lot of money and create a lot of victims and human suffering. But hey, we'd show them what it means to mess with America, then we'd democratize them, and we'd continue using their ports for shipping while leaving them to handle the associated costs and tariffs that would normally apply to Americans.

So yeah, I think this is an okay plan. Let's do it!

---

I'd also build a wall around them and shoot them if those goddamn anti mask ant Vax aliens tried to illegally come across the border and spread disease.

---

Choco posted...

yeah uh i don't think so

They literally call to secede after every election where their guy doesn't win.

Its like an autonomous bodily response for them to threaten secession every time their guy loses

---

MaddenDude-- posted...

I'd also build a wall around them and shoot them if those goddamn anti mask ant Vax aliens tried to illegally come across the border and spread disease.

god DAMN you are tough on immigration!

---

RenescoStCewl posted...

I say let them. Republicans will never have a president again and there will be 2 less Republican senators and a lot less Republican representatives.

hell yes, instead of chewing off their own leg i say they should be handed a saw and even provided help with the cutting.

---

wackyteen posted...

They literally call to secede after every election where their guy doesn't win.

i mean first off i was clearly talking about all states of many countries and not just texas.
but anyway that doesn't mean it would actually happen especially if the requirements are reasonably high.

like, you suggested 75% of the population having to agree to it.

if 75% of the population agrees to it how can you justify just now allowing them to leave? do you actually think 75% would happen out of a knee-jerk reaction because blue president bad?

---

Choco posted...

i mean first off i was clearly talking about all states of many countries and not just texas.

California has done it.

Wyoming said something to the effect during this past election.

Hell. I want to say even someone in New York said it during 2017.

Though I was being a little extreme in my hyperbole

---

wackyteen posted...

California has done it.

Wyoming said something to the effect during this past election.

Hell. I want to say even someone in New York said it during 2017.

Though I was being a little extreme in my hyperbole

and if those "threats" or whatever you wanna call them are just a few people being angry they literally don't matter. that's not an argument as to why something should be illegal. that's absolutely ridiculous.
however if on the other hand they actually represent a high percentage of the population then maybe it should at the very least be considered?

---

IdiotMachine posted...

Did they forget that they asked for federal money when they dug their own hole and had massive blackouts, at the point where even their senator said fuck this and left for Mexico?

Are 'they' who are asking to secede and 'they' who were asking for bailout one in the same? Like a sorta 30 million person hive mind or something?

---

wackyteen posted...

They literally call to secede after every election where their guy doesn't win.

Its like an autonomous bodily response for them to threaten secession every time their guy loses

this, right here.

For supposedly being so tough, they sure as hell whine a lot when they lose.


---

it's a bit strange imo that so many people treat it as some sort of permanent thing, but also as someone who lives fairly close to a border of a part of the country that almost split off in the past, I gotta say you shouldn't think super lightly about this sort of vote

even in cases where they decide to stay, it taints relations both politically and on a personal level for years and years afterward. people still joke about this sometimes



---

Have people posted about Allen West being a war criminal yet?

---

Antifar posted...

Have people posted about Allen West being a war criminal yet?

Pretty sure someone mentioned it

---

Go ahead. Republicans will never win the presidency again.

---

Doesn't sound very fair to the people who wouldn't want to secede

---

Don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya

---

Allen West? Sounds like an alias...is he secretly the flash?

---

what does he mean "we"?

pretty sure he was a florida representative a few years ago

---

Supermajority of that state's population sounds like a good criteria. And yes, they should be allowed.

(Yes, a certain political demographic is going to throw a tantrum at the idea of Texas seceeding in order to have more control over their own laws - I guarantee that crowd would have exactly the opposite reaction if California or New York tried to do the same, and that in turn explains what they actually take issue with.)

---

Didnt Texas just have a huge snowstorm crisis and need other states to bail them out with supplies and donations, not two months ago?

That state is a circus.

---

no point, they'll want to rejoin when they're cut off from everyone else

---

I just watched a Portlandia episode with this same topic. Too funny.

---

Only if a hyper majority says yes with a super majority minimum voter turnout and also their constitution meets basic human right standards, and trade agreements formed to ensure there is not undue disruption to the local/national economy.

---

Trumble posted...

Supermajority of that state's population sounds like a good criteria. And yes, they should be allowed.

(Yes, a certain political demographic is going to throw a tantrum at the idea of Texas seceeding in order to have more control over their own laws - I guarantee that crowd would have exactly the opposite reaction if California or New York tried to do the same, and that in turn explains what they actually take issue with.)

Either say what you actually mean or shut the fuck up.

---

Texas should have at least another fifty years of exemption on making rash decisions on being a nation.

They had to fight to get away from at least three different countries and have actually given being their own country a try.

Points for the effort.

---

Choco posted...

i mean first off i was clearly talking about all states of many countries and not just texas.
but anyway that doesn't mean it would actually happen especially if the requirements are reasonably high.

like, you suggested 75% of the population having to agree to it.

if 75% of the population agrees to it how can you justify just now allowing them to leave? do you actually think 75% would happen out of a knee-jerk reaction because blue president bad?

the problem is that 90% of people wouldnt even do any research on what secession would mean, theyd just vote whatever their party told them to


---

please leave