[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

One question though -- except for the first CW obviously, has this ever happened before after an election?

Has the election of a president ever generated any petitions, let alone this many, in the past?

[Mozilla]

I would say it is rare other than now and in 1861 when the states actually left the union. This re-election of Obama has generated a lot of buzz to leave the union,

[DBrow]

“Has the election of a president ever generated any petitions, let alone this many, in the past? “

These petitions mean nothing. I can sign a petition for a New York secession, for instance. These are not binding and not important. I’d put up one demanding that the UN move to the Falklands, but I don’t want to sign up at the WH.

As for your question, this is the first time the White House put a “create any petition you want” page on their website. Washington’s webpage had nothing like it, nor did Reagan’s!