Posted on 11/16/2004 8:55:57 AM PST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
In the wake of George Bush's reelection, we are now getting a sense of just how estranged are the Democratic-party elite from the American public, and the level of contempt that the former group feels for the latter. Liberals who yammer on ceaselessly about "tolerance" and "diversity" don't seem inclined to extend those concepts to many of their fellow citizens, whom they portray as religious bigots, racist rednecks, and generally stupid people. As the Wall Street Journal's "Best of the Web" reported on November 10, an entire thread on BillMaher.com , the website of the HBO talk-show host, was devoted to the issue of "Shooting Republicans, ethical? Discuss."
Of course, we expect such stuff in the fever swamps of internet conspiracy theories. But the rot is more widespread. Blue states have come to believe that they are too good to associate with the peckerwoods who reelected George Bush. For instance, on a recent installment of the McLaughlin Group, Lawrence O'Donnell, a major Democratic operative and alleged "political analyst," suggested that the election will lead to serious consideration of blue-state secession from the Union.
On one hand, I don't think much of the concept of secession. Several years ago I wrote "The Case Against Secession," in which, following Lincoln, I observed that
Secession constitutes a repudiation of republican government as understood by the Founders....When the States ratified the Constitution of 1787, they pledged that they would accept the results of elections conducted according to its rules. In violation of this pledge, the Southern States seceded because they did not like the outcome of the election of 1860. Thus secession is the interruption of the constitutional operation of republican government, substituting the rule of the minority for that of the majority.
As Lincoln said in his First Inaugural Address, "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it."
On the other hand, it might be fun to consider the possibilities that blue-state secession would provide. Red-state Americans who have grown weary of being lectured by their moral and intellectual "betters" from the precincts of the Massachusetts witch-burners and slave-traders might just say: "Go ahead, punks. Make my day."
To begin with, where would the blue-state secessionists get the military force they would need to vindicate their action? After all, to paraphrase Thomas Hobbes, principles, no matter how noble, are mere wind without the sword. Most U.S. servicemen come from the red states, or from the red counties of the blue states. The blue states have made it next to impossible for their citizens to own firearms, so they can't count on "a people, numerous and armed" to vindicate their secession.
Blue-staters frequently dismiss those who serve in the U.S. military as ignorant bumpkins who can't make it in civilian life. One of the big lies of the Vietnam era was that the anti-war protestors didn't blame the soldiers who fought the war. I'm here to tell you that that's a crock. And it doesn't look like it's gotten any better over the years.
So when a red-state soldier or Marine is putting down the blue-state rebellion, what is he going to think of this exchange from the aforementioned Bill Maher website? "You do realize that over 80 percent of our troops support Bush, don't you?" "Yes darling — I do.... That's only fair isn't it? Why should decent people die in your bogus war you murdering hun. I hope the whole lot of them are decapitated...but getting their butts blown off will suffice."
And who would lead this blue-state secession? Martin Sheen? Well, why not? He is already president of a parallel universe. Or maybe it's not so "parallel." After all, on The West Wing, the liberals are all noble and the conservatives are all evil.
Of course, President Sheen wouldn't actually control much territory, and the rebellion probably wouldn't last too long since the unarmed secessionists he would be leading wouldn't be able to feed themselves. The U.S. Navy would detach a frigate or two to blockade New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The Air Force would close down blue-state airports. So an "Anaconda Strategy" might work this time.
The Unionists in the blue states would, of course, create loyal governments recognized in Washington. The red counties of California, New York, and Pennsylvania might even form new states on the model of West Virginia in 1864. Of course, the red states would have to contend with their own nests of "copperheads" — Austin, for instance. But I say a few Aggies could take care of that.
A blue-state rebellion shouldn't take too long to put down. What then? Can we expect continued resistance on the part of Maureen Dowd and Michael Moore? What will the occupiers do?
And, will these seceded blue states have to be "reconstructed?" Now, that might be fun. I say skip the "with malice toward none and with charity for all" stuff and go right to "radical Reconstruction." Treat the rebellious blue states as conquered provinces, disorganized communities without legitimate civil governments that cannot regain statehood until the federal government is ready to give it to them. Take Charles Sumner's position: that the seceded blue states have committed suicide and therefore revert to the condition of federal territories.
Of course this is all crazy talk. I doubt that O'Donnell was being serious when he raised the specter of blue-state secession ( though Geraldine Ferraro has made similar sounds ). Maybe liberals will settle for emigration. But as recent days have shown, the Democrats are becoming more unhinged, so who can say for sure?
Yeah, we don't have to do anything. Just make the blue counties keep their own garbage. I remember a barge coming down to NC a few years past from NYC. If we don't let them dispose of it, they will become overrun by their own waste and die of disease. Isn't that simple?
We'll take New England and then meet you in Ithica!
Wheeeeee!
You owe me a new keyboard.
From my studies of American history, New Jersey was a nest of British sympathizers during the Revolution. We don't need New Jersey. Just saw them off and send them out to sea.
The thing ended when 30,000 workers and revolutionaries were massacred, and some bad things happened too.
That's very good. Anybody have the original?
As far as secession, I nominate myself for Commander In Chief of Hollywood Resistance Team, ("HRT").
I have no military experience per se, but I've played a heck of alot of Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin. Thank you.
:)
Hey!
Nice to know that we're so easilly tossed overboard isn't it?
And I can assure you that the business centers of those blue cities, will want to keep their red state tax cuts.
Gangbangers won't blend in well in, say, Iowa, or West Virginia.
There'd be a general amnesty program. You (and your loved ones) would be allowed to relocate. NO genuine FReeper would be turned away at the door. :)
Hey, the Federal Government did a good job of shooting traitorous Democrats in the War of Southern Rebellion, it can do so again.
I don't plan on relocating. Why should I relocate because 14 of 83 counties vote for a lying liberal idiot?
If there were ever a serious attempt to annex Michigan to Canada I plan to make the Iraqi insurgecy look like a playground scuffle.
Because we'd want you and yours decently fed. We're just decent that way.
If there were ever a serious attempt to annex Michigan to Canada I plan to make the Iraqi insurgecy look like a playground scuffle.
Having heard my wife's horror stories concerning the place (she was born in Canada, and spent her entire childhood there): I wouldn't blame you one bit -- ! :)
There is nothing in the US Constitution that forbids states from seceding. The intent was a voluntary association of states (federation).
See "Hologram of Liberty" by Boston T. Party-excellent read on how the Constitution was deliberately worded in a way that allowed the leviathan we currently have to materialize. Fascinating read.
http://www.javelinpress.com/hologram_of_liberty.html
"What are RATS going to shoot us with, spitballs?
Gangbangers, of course.
Could someone with Photoshop skills please do up a lowrider with the caption, "Blue State Tank"?"
LMMFAO!!!
"If there were ever a serious attempt to annex Michigan to Canada I plan to make the Iraqi insurgecy look like a playground scuffle."
"From my studies of American history, New Jersey was a nest of British sympathizers during the Revolution."
You might want to hit the books a little bit more. New Jersey's population at the time of the American Revolution divided much like the rest of mid-Atlantic region (NJ, Pa, De, Md, Va, NC) about 1/3 of the population were Loyalists, another 1/3 didn't affiliate with either side and the final 1/3 were Patriots.
However, New Jersey's contribution to the cause of the Revolution is second to no other Colony. NJ had more battles, skirmishes and activity than any other state and the region between New York and Philadelphia arguably suffered more than any other locale in the entire US.
New Jersey's militia served with good distinction from 1777 on and were critical in denying the British Army access to the food and forage they so desperately needed. British troops operating in New Jersey were mercilessly attacked whenever they left their secure garrisons. After July 1777, the British were only able to maintain three small posts in the state (Paulus Hook, Sandy Hook, Bulls Ferry) and two of those were attacked.
During the hard winter of 1779-80, Washington himself thanked the people of New Jersey for almost single handedly saving the Main Continental Army from starvation. Even though Washington plead with Congress to get the various states to send food and supplies to his Army, New Jersey was the only state that complied to any large degree.
New Jersey regiments fought in almost every military campaign of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783.
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