I'm guess'n easier to hid'em up under dem'dar skirts:shucks:

South has cooler songs so you have my sympathy.:D

Dixie to arms!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vPVTqWJd28

I don't even really disagree with you. I'm just saying that, in all fairness, the Democratic legislature is equally, if not more to blame (and even some Republicans), and Obama hasn't really damaged much yet.
Once the economy is asked to actually absorb the effects of the "stimulus", most of which has not yet been implemented, things will really start to fall apart.


Not even the "5 presidents" part? Well, in any case I think you are partially correct about the 3rd party part. Historically, though, when third parties begin to gain influence, the main parties shift paradigms to incorporate them and they disappear. I doubt one will come to power, but they might be able to shift mainline party policy significantly.

That is true, but the nation is still pretty clearly divided along economic-policy lines. It could very well be a case of red states versus blue states, though, as you mention, there will indubitably be cases of localized conflict, whatever happens.

Im one of those that support Huntingtons wiews that it is the cultural differences and boundaries that will result in conflicts. Within US the only clear boundary still goes between the North and South.
California could be defined a Latin culture tough.

Texas v White says that Texas can't secede. I wonder if it will be challenged

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/htm...4_0700_ZO.html

The division lines aren't that clear. Here's the 2008 election map by county, with shades of purple instead of red/blue: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2008/countymappurpler1024.png

Now try drawing a clear cut line on that map....

Here's the 2004 map, which is very similar: http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/JAVA/election2004/purple_america_2004.gif

For more stuff like that (including the wacky population distorted maps), check out http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2008/. We're not as divided as some would like to think.

This isnt an Democratic vs Republican issue. There is an distinct culture in the South still, North is more heterogeneous. In historical perspective the Civil War isnt that far, it and the Reconstruction live in the collective memory.

You're right about it not being a dem vs repub issue but the old south is a lot more heterogeneous than you think.

But Illonois politics is so much more interesting.

I wont start to pretend to be an expert over the Atlantic.:D

I understand there are big black and latino communities but are they integrated or separate? From here it looks communities mostly dont mix down there.

Perhaps a southerner could speak with more authority but I don't think they are any more or less integrated than other parts of the country.

It's funny. When liberals point to record debts under a Republican president, the first thing the hardcore conservatives scream is "It takes years for these things to have an effect! It's all the last guy's fault!"

A sentiment with which I agree, by the way. In every case. And in this case how much money has actually been spent yet? Or borrowed?

It's funny how the wind blows in different directions depending, not on who's in office, but on how he is percieved by people who claim to have no bias.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...em/deficit.jpg

Dont get me wrong guys.... I love America with all my heart. but im sure there was also a time when George Washington loved Britain ;)

But i HATE what she has become, and that is a "socialist / welfare state"

the only problem with socialist welfare states... you eventually run out of everyone else's money.

I for one despise having s lot of the money i work hard for stolen from me and handed to the ghetto trash across the tracks.

I hate walking into a grocery store and some thug has $150 worth of food stamps and two grocery carts.

one of which contains $150 worth of groceries, the other contains $150 worth of beer and wine... its ridiculous.

the numbers Bush and Obama have put up are unsustainable.

Bush started it with his costly warlord agenda... and Obama is going to finish it with his gazillion dollar socialist agenda.

We the people are stuck in the middle of a 50/50 divide in America.

every poll out there that has anything to do with politics is 50/50 or 49/51 and that is a bad thing.

a house divided will surely fall, and thats all there is to it.

its my humble and albeit worthless opinion *as far as most of you are concerned* that Texas should cut its losses and set up shop for its self.

we dont have to be an uber-right wing state of God and Guns... but we wont be paying 15% of our income for crack heads to sit at home either.

i know a lot of you joke about Texas or have nothing good to say about Texas - that we are all gun toting cowboys who live in a state which is predominately desert climate with tumble weeds and we marry our cousins.

im sorry some of you feel that way... perhaps if Texas is no longer welcome in your America- which so obviously belongs to you and only you- we should form our own America?

God Bless America. :salute:

Long Live the Republic of Texas. :salute:

Hehe. Dito.

Also: When a discussion comes up where people would rather live if they emigrated, most say things like Spain, Italy, Cuba (?!), South America.
Then I'm like "Well yes, I would probably take the US."
"Uh, really? Ok."
"Yeah, I'm thinking Arizona, or Texas."
*Pause*
"WHAT?"

I LOVE stupid faces. ;)

If this Texas thing would really happen...not, i could move also.:D
Im mostly a value conservative, love outdoors, farms, guns and everything considered hillbilly.:shucks:

Any state has the right to secede from the union. And the union has the right to B-slap them back in place. :D

So these Tea Parties are gathering hundreds of thousands of people that are even demanding secession?
This has really not gotten much attention in Europe, it should.

I very much doubt this is serious. I think it's more like a "Don't f*ck with us" in political neon lights, fueled by the economy crisis, but I don't really see the United States breaking up tomorrow or anytime soon. That nation was divided over several presidents already and in today's world with all the interconnected economy / relationships etc. you don't just "secede".

Otherwise Bavaria would have done so since long. ;) :D

The proposed constitution for EU doesnt allow member states secession without union approval, the legislators have been silent about this towards the people. The way these federal "animals" are born seems similar.

The original US constitution and the men that wrote it seem more enlightened than ever. It would have been a good basis for Europe also.