what the heck? "We the people of the state of WI", I live in this state too! If these goof balls want to leave , then go to mexico or something. Dont try and FORCE your crazy ideas on ME. What do these people really expected the 5.7 million other Wisconsin residents to go along with this?

Now just humoring them ..... what are they going to do for basic things like security, heathcare, retirement and the list goes on and on ... would would happen if a "Sandy" type storm hit WI and we need money to rebuild .... well.. its already happened .... how soon they forget

this is a joke , a bad one .....

I think it's hilarious! I think all the folks who support this idea around the country should sign up for a secession test run. 25,000 people per state, or 1,250,000 people? Create a few desert camps or perhaps our friends in Canada would let us send them to one of the sparse/unpopulated areas in the north (if we allow them to make a reality show of it!). No federal highways, no fly zone, no internet/phone signal, no food other than what they could catch on their own, none of the little luxuries that living in the U.S. offers these unappreciative citizens.

A few weeks and I'm sure they'd be begging to come home.

This could be the funniest reality show ever. The ideas are brimming forth. Each episode could contain a different challenge. We could even have Switzerland invade one week. Please let this happen. Please.

As far as petitioning the government, I'm all for banning lobbyists from Washington D.C. But the special interest groups would never let that happen.

It disgusts me.

There is a saying, United we stand, divided we fall. Do the people of this country want more of a disaster than the civil war? We are, foremost, and always, AMERICANS!!! We have heard of other states doing this, and it is sad that no one seems to have the courage to stay together, and fight this evil, if necessary.Where is, IN GOD WE TRUST? Have we forgotten that, too? Come on, America!!! Stand strong!!! Pray for our country!!! God has not left us alone. He is here, and waiting to hear from all of us.

morn, you have totally lost it if you can't see that your friend Jake is a total propagandist.

Maybe a more neutral source would be better:
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-11-16/new-data-shows-1-dot-5-percent-job-growth-in-wisconsin

Don't worry- the Gvt will weed out all the out of state signatures just like the GAB did with the recall Walker effort.
Oh., wait...maybe that was a bad example.
Anyway it is just a symbolic gesture, kind of like giving Obama the finger.

morninmist wrote "Sure are a lot of out of state folks signing this WI petition--so not just residents!"

morn, your are confusing the Walker recall petition with this one!

Using the words of wisdom from the rethugs to the recallers, "Get over it whiners, you lost."

Were you asleep for the 18 month Democratic temper tantrum that started with Democrats in the state senate running away to Illinois and resulted in two pointless recall elections?

Bush did not crap on the Country like Obama has.

You may want to Google Lawrence O'Donnell and the secession movement he tried to start in 2004...

And don't forget all the lefty/liberal/Democrats that threatened and actually did move to Canada and Mexico solely because of Bush's election victories. Hell, they even made a movie about it staring Breckin Meyer and Anna Paquin titled 'Blue State' (2007).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg0otW2rikk

@Taoist

While this is a silly action, it pales to the drum beating and trashing of the state capital done by the democrats. Those were the actions of some really sore losers.

No argument there. By which I mean that I don't disagree, but also that you're not making an argument.

@Taoist -

Kinda like those sore loser Senators from this state that fled to IL instead of doing their jobs and wore goofy t-shirts while shouting down their GOP co-legislators for actually doing their jobs, or all the blue fisters that staged fraudulent sick-outs in our public schools, marched around and occupied our Capitol with signs depicting our duly elected Governor as Adolf Hitler, poured a beer over the head of a Republican law maker, filed a multitude of frivolous litigation in front of Dane County judges, insisted upon a frivolous state wide recount in the Kloppy v Prosser election that cost taxpayers millions, launched two rounds of frivolous recall elections that cost taxpayers millions, followed and shouted down our duly elected Governor where ever he went including the State Special Olympic Games, State Fair Park, new rest area openings, etc, stalked and harassed our duly elected Governor's wife and children at their Wauwatosa home, made numerous death threats against our duly elected Governor and his family, boycotted local businesses, etc

So, let Hoffa get this straight - all the 'secetioners' are doing is signing and submitting a basically worthless petition in an effort to send a message, and you consider them to be "a bunch of sore losers venting their frustration."

And yet, you openly supported as being righteous all of the above referenced shenanigans from the lefty/liberal/Democrats in this state over the last two years.

Yeah...

Hoffa, it's too early for you to be drunk. Go ahead and find postings where I expressed support, of any kind, for the recall movement. I'm not a fan of Walker, no question about that, but I didn't support the recall concept or the actions of those in the recall movement. That's a far cry from "openly supported as being righteous all of the above referenced shenanigans from the lefty/liberal/Democrats in this state over the last two years," which I imagine is just a stock phrase that you trot out whenever you feel like being a hysterical twerp.

Of course, I don't expect you to be convinced of that, and I couldn't care less whether you are or not, because, again, you're a hysterical twerp.

At most, the movement acts as a vote of 'no confidence', and a reminder to Obama that he may not have the mandate that he thinks he has. I don't think that anyone (including those signing the petitions) expects the movement to actually succeed (or is it secede?).

I won't sign the petition because of fear of retribution. If you notice, you are required to 'sign up' in order to view and sign the petition.
Who do you think they will come for first?
Take my guns, take my ammo, take my freedom, no way will I sign!

I don't think a petition signed by 25K residents of Wisconsin is going to change any notions Obama may hold about a "mandate".

You are probably correct, Bob. That's why I put in the 'at most' disclaimer. It's pretty doubtful that they would get even close to the 25k signatures they are shooting for...

Well, they might. I'm just not sure Obama worries about mandates at this point. He got re-elected. I'm guessing that's all the reassurance he needs that he can proceed as he so chooses. The Dems think they're gonna solve things by making a filibuster actually involve talking. That seems to be the extent of the strategy for the 2nd term so far. I'd imagine that, were they candid about the whole secession issue, they'd thank those who are involved in it for making them look less inept by comparison.

@Catherine -

Hoffa doesn't specialize in constitutional law, but from a legal standpoint, Hoffa can tell you that it's possible, but EXTREMELY difficult and not very likely.

KHD
What do you mean? As I understand it we will all be affected by it.

Greg, I agree that at this time, secession is a side issue, and one that obscures other more important items that liberty minded folks need to support. Agree with both the issues you mention, although the first one has to be presented on a "personal ownership" basis. Who owns your life? And does the state have a right to tell you what you can put into your own body? This would also apply obviously to marijuana, and hopefully we get an amendment passed here to allow for legal pot for adult personal use(like Colorado). The second issue you mention is a matter of deregulating markets, and not using the law to prohibit private "home" brewers from selling their stuff at local shops.This is the kind of nanny state and corporate welfare restrictions on free enterprise that true conservatives and libertarians alike should champion. Better to focus on "nullification", which means that Wisconsin does not have to enforce laws that are a clear violation of their state sovereignty, as per the 10th Amendment to the Bill of Rights. ObamaCare is clearly one of those laws., and should be dealt with on a state by state basis, not this "one size fits all" federal mandate mania.

Takes a lot less than that for the GOP states to look ignorant. Nine out of the ten least educated states voted for Romney.

@Keith
I knew one of you elitist liberals would take that bait. Thank you for proving once again how willing liberals are to look down their nose at those they don't feel worthy. I just can't image why that would divide a country.

Thanks for playing.

@ Keith
You continue to baffle us with your constant Ignorance. Do you want to talk Voter fraud too . You support fraud and your party of sheep represent the the highly uneducated inner cities which your party continues to fail. Than you have the clueless elites in the world of complete educated ignorance of people who actually think they have a clue .Try again.
What next you going to try to tell us Global Warming is Real ? Your clueless !

I'm not sure that helping one's neighbor has caused our nation's most recent financial woes. But I agree that secessionism is no answer at all. For example, a Northern Civil War ancestor suffered as a result of a serious injury his entire life after joining the army at a very young age. Not only were there horrendous personell casualties because of the Civil War, including the virtual wipe-out an entire cohort of young men from the U.S. population, the repercussions of this war continue to plague our country. Egregious/criminal profiteerism, exploitation, resentment against freed slaves, the North, the South, etc. Why would we want to return, even in pouting frivolity, to thoughts of this.

How much money is this really costing? It isn't as if this will result in special elections or anything like that...

How is this costing the taxpayers any money at all, that they aren't already spending?

Contrast to the frivolous Kloppy v Prosser state-wide recount or two rounds of frivolous recall elections that cost Wisconsin taxpayers millions of dollars.

And of course we paid Prosser while he took his "medical leave," attributed to the defensive strangling incident--when we could have had a working justice on the payroll. As far as I know, Kloppenburg has never defensively strangled anyone...

What does Prosser being paid while on medical leave have to do with secession petitions?

Cow, Mr. Hoffa dragged in Wisconsin's own defensive strangler Prosser. Don't look at me! ; )

@Bren -

Apparently, you have a problem with context and staying on point.

Hoffa introduced the Kloppy v Prosser recount as an example of real waste of the taxpayers dollars, because Betty Fields-Mueller called engaged citizens signing a petition "a huge waste of time and money," without properly identifying how exactly such an activity costs anyone other than the petition signers themselves any time or money.

Did Hoffa honestly need to explain this to you?

BTW - Kloppy was a horrible candidate. She affirmatively admitted during her debates with Prosser that everything that was posted by others (her supporters) on her campaign's Facebook page was true. At the time, such comments included "a vote for Kloppenburg is a vote against Walker," "a vote for Kloppenburg kills the bill," etc. And yet, during the same debate, she claimed to be impartial, unbiased, and would not judge Act 10 or the way it was passed until she was able to examine all the facts that had been duly brought before the Court.

How could both of these assertions be simultaneously true?

If she was honestly that stupid that she couldn't see how contradictory and hypocritical she was being, then she had no business even running for Supreme Court justice in the first place.

Anyone that voted for her was obviously not paying very close attention!

Mr. Hoffa, I didn't vote for a guy who already had demonstrated anger management issues. You know me, always hoping for the best and brightest in office. Kloppenburg seemed like someone who would be professional to staff and colleagues. I also thought she would provide political balance. And I'm certain I would have been right on both counts.

Weird ducks all over the US.

TPM Livewire ‏@TPMLiveWire

Arizona Gun Store: No Obama Voters Allowed http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/arizona-gun-store-no-obama-voters-allowed … via @tomkludt

Why do people think the 2nd amendment is about hunting?

@Eileen
Can we assume that when Walker signs mining legislation, card check, doesn't establish state healthcare exchanges and ect., that you will follow along willingly and be excited for the future?

Jim - this is exactly what I've been thinking all day and could not string the words together properly to post here. Thank you!

Honestly, I think your reaction this is almost as over-the-top as the action itself. Let's try and get a grip here. Do you have any idea how easy it is to sign on online petition? People get fired up, they sign the thing. 3 weeks from now, nobody's even talking about it anymore. I don't think we'll be seeing renegade militias being raised to do battle with the National Guard anytime soon.

Relax already. Some people got caught up in the 24/7 sky-is-falling election nonsense that got pumped at all of us for months. It's gonna take some of them awhile to come back down to earth.

Well then, Bob, it seems to me you have wasted your breath in four previous comments on this same thread, and this makes five.

So you honestly think this is something worth getting upset about, Jim?

Jim:

Truly eloquent words.

However, although I myself would not sign the petition, I nonetheless view its signing by others as nothing more than mere symbolic protest, or perhaps an informal referendum.

It’s too bad that our U.S. Constitution provides no means for enabling a presidential recall election. Perchance you would prefer such a means of “protest” over secessionism?

I'm not so much upset, Bob, as I am disgusted. I think it ridiculous that any number of people – no matter how few, and no matter how futile their cause, no matter how on-the-fringe they may be – could have so little grasp of the goals of this nation that they would suggest separating it. The subject came up. Those are my thoughts. I had ancestors on each side of my family who died on both sides of the same battle in the Civil War. Maybe I'm a little touchy about that. I had relatives who died in both Europe and the Pacific in WWII. One of my earliest memories, at 5 years old, is of my parents' fear during the Cuban missile crisis. So, yes, I'm a little disturbed by the crap even a marginalized few people seem to think is important as a matter of discourse after having seen their side lose an election. I think we agree entirely. I was suggesting that anyone who can't accept that this is the course of a democratic republic to which we have sworn fealty – should, themselves, get a freakin' grip.

I felt the same way about the recall, Jim. Thankfully, this has little chance of becoming the enormous waste of resources and time that that did.

We've got a lot of serious, real stuff going on right now. A powder keg in the Middle East. Our "intelligence services" coming apart at the seams, once again. People in Washington now thinking we can go over the "fiscal cliff" in a wooden barrel and survive the ride with one side being in a stronger bargaining position if we do so. Some folks acting out their disappointment over an election loss by signing online petitions supporting secession seems not only like something that shouldn't really even be on the radar screen, but something we shouldn't be distracting ourselves with at this point in time.

I'll worry when there is a call to muster at Cushing Park.

http://chamber.visitdelafield.org/list/member/cushing-memorial-park-delafield-597.htm

They'll have to overpower a bunch of 4 year olds to capture the fortress.

Meanwhile, here's another worrisome misuse of our ability to petition the government...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/16/nationalize-twinkie-petition_n_2147058.html?ref=topbar

"This reunited nation survived the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, the upheaval of the '60s over Civil Rights and the Vietnam War, the burning of our inner cities, the assassination of our political and moral leaders, all without becoming so unglued as to suggest dissolution of this Union."

Without the Federal Government, those things you mention above would have never happened. They were all unnecessary.

Today the Federal Government funds a program of flying Drones and killing people and destroying property in nations such as Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Iraq, Libya and others. It also exports military equipment for others to use to kill and maim and supports "regime change" wherever it sees fit. Vietnam was a fabrication from a false flag incident that never happened. 140 military bases overseas.

America is an Evil Empire that is a danger to any nation with oil.

"The Constitution has no inherent authority or obligation. It has no authority or obligation at all, unless as a contract between man and man. And it does not so much as even purport to be a contract between persons now existing. "

Lysander Spooner - NO TREASON: http://www.fourmilab.ch/etexts/www/NoTreason/NoTreason.html

-- BREAKING NEWS -- President responds to Twinkie petition -- BREAKING NEWS --

...... Let them eat cake!!

Them's eatin...er...fightin' words. It's on like Donkey Kong, Ding Dong! The Battle of Cushing Park commences! Freedom fighters, report to the monkey bars!

Just like people not fully thinking through the secession petition, a nationalization of the Twinkie industry would in no doubt come with plenty of input from Michelle. Not unlike the eco-friendly route GM took, the new Twinkie would be a gluten free chickpea cake with a creamy tofu center. It will be called the Fwinkie and we would need to subsidize its purchase because its flavor will fall somewhere between wet cardboard and styrofoam with a hint of vanilla.

Done and done...

http://www.elanaspantry.com/gluten-free-twinkies/

http://www.elanaspantry.com/gluten-free-twinkies/

That is so very wrong. LOL Now I'm reminded of the movie Zombieland and that guy with the very last Twinkie truck EVER.

Healthy Twinkie ?? FuWinkie ???

Michelle Antoinette -- Let then eat FuWinkie !!

Sorry Bob, unless my Twinkie has polysorbate 60, it just isn't natural.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twinkie

Why don't you people get constructive and go see real history. The Lincoln movie was great and about the Civil War, secession from the Union, and abolition of slavery, and our great Mr Lincoln. I also read the book, A Team of Rivals, which the movie is based on. All you guys do on here is be radical with ridiculous statements. Walker has destroyed a lot here in less than two years.1st,refused the railroad money,(now train co.is suing him and us),hired some rummy to work for the commercial loans dept.,got over $100,000/yr to not work to get the loan money paid back to taxpayers,nil (crooked walker people in milw. cty.and now Madison.School children suffering with less help in education,less jobs(where are the 250,000?),and now no hlth exchange! I am glad he is not doing it because he could care less about it.I trust the federal govt.more than that jerk!

Mary Ann you're all over the map there. I'd suggest a Twinkie to help you focus, but at the going rate...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hostess-Twinkies-5-Boxes-of-10-Individually-Packaged-Sponge-Cakes-/190755863128?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c69ef7a58

*secession that is

We have a winner! That is the stupidest thing I've read yet on any Patch thread, and that's saying something.

I dunno Jim. Depending on how this Benghazi/Petreas/CIA coverup thing works out, impeachment might end up being appropriate...

Come on Jim - Hoffa has seen far stupider comments on the Patch!

Jim: I think your comment ranks higher on the stupidity scale than Nuitari's.

Yeah, um, Craig... so you also think a president re-elected by a comfortable margin less than two weeks ago, with an increased and confident majority in the Senate, could and should be... impeached? While the nation faces so many important tasks?

On this one, I'm saying I'm rubber and you're glue.

Jim if he can't be trusted to protect the lives of Americans and truely told our Military to. "Stand down", how can we expect him to work on any 'important tasks'?
He has had four years and hasn't accomplished anything important.
Now if he had not been stonewalling the Benghazi truth, and the attack on the US drone, that may have changed the results of the election.

Once again the patch editors, such as Jim Price, show their liberal bias in their postings.

Great job being "impartial media". You are all just a bunch of newsroom wannabes with no real abilities.

There has to be justification for impeachment. Secession talk is the result of short-sighted ignorance.

Benghazi is a non-starter. How annoying to read and listen to armchair diplomats who have no clue of what went on other than the factoids spoon-fed from Fox. It's frankly embarrassing. If one hasn't been to the region, if one has never spoken to foreign diplomats or staff, if one have never even visited a U.S. embassy/consulate why even weigh in. Ignorance.

Bren: If you do not like what Fox has to say then please share what the other media outlets are saying about Benghazi????

Bren I posted a pic of them above. Just for you. ;)

So what does Nuitari win ... the Big Banana ?

Jealous???

Why are you denigrating the United States? I believe it is the greatest country in the world. There are places were seditious words like yours would get you in a lot of trouble with the authorities. Here you have free speech, you are fortunate.

@Bren I am sure he would not be denigrating the United States if Lyle left the country for good.

So Keith, you are saying that the United States isn't the greatest country in the world?

Quite radical talk from someone who is on the executive board of the Waukesha GOP.

Now that the country has elected Barack Hussein Obama TWICE, I know something is wrong with it. Since the new normal seems to be 8% unemployment and a 1 to 2% GDP growth under Obama, I know America can and will do better. I am prepared to see that happen AFTER the next 4 years.

Keith - Playing the "Hussein" card? Did you run out of talking points that quickly?

By the way, I didn't see your apology to everyone here for implying that America isn't the greatest country in the world.

Really morn, you need to stop reading the propagandists. Use more credible sources like Newsweek, jsonline, or maybe a government source. Even the occasional youtube video provided it hasn't been edited to misrepresent to intent.

Benghazi-gate is just getting started. It may end up being nothing, but their are ALOT of questions still unanswered. AND, if it's as bad as it maybe, it would be the worst scandal in US history. At least nobody died in the Watergate scandal.

Then Wi would be left with nothing but welfare moms, union thugs, and pseudo-intellectuals like you.

@Koven -

What a truly enlightened thing to say - especially considering that Hoffa never signed a secession petition.

Yeah, Hoffa sees that Wisconsin taxpayers are definitely getting the best possible bang for the their buck from you!

Time to start evaluating our public school teachers a little better!

@Joana -

Are you for real?

Save the few bucks you have for Obama's tax hikes effective 1/1/13!

@Robert
Thank you for pointing out the depth of analytical thinking the left is capable of. Please explain how the Tea Party people commenting on this blog would fail a literacy test if they 1) read the article and other comments and 2) wrote a response. Most importantly, since your comment was written, if we were illiterate what was the point in writing your statement to us?

@Robert
Can you post that as a mp3 for those of us in the Tea Party that are illiterate? Because as I'm sure you know, all illiterate Tea Party types focus on the Patch website as they fumble through the mess of letters on the internet.

@Robert
Just in case, I listened to the Christmas list I had recorded on my computer (since I am an illiterate Tea Party type) and I never asked for that to be repealed.

I was able to locate the Texas GOP platform, which is what I am assuming you are referencing. The story was broke by MSNBC and they forgot 2 main points that some wishing to approach the situation analytically might have included.

1) MSNBC forgot to include the following statement that appeared directly prior to the repeal statement:
"We support equal suffrage for all U.S. Citizens of voting age who are not felons. We
oppose any identification of citizens by race, origin, or creed and oppose use of any such identification for purposes of creating voting districts." You can find it on page 5.

http://www.tfn.org/site/DocServer/2012-Platform-Final.pdf?docID=3201

2) They also neglected to mention that Texas is one of 9 states (and a couple of random counties) that require preclearance from the DOJ prior to any changes to voting laws.

As with most GOP platforms, it obviously comes down to this being a states rights issue and not racist.

@ O'Neill Sr.
Please provide documentation from the GOP platform that states it is pro-rape and anti-contraception.

If you wish to mention a few wing-nuts making dumb comments, fine. Let me dig up lefty wing-nuts making stupid comments and say they represent the party platform.

" lawmakers told the Campaign for Liberty they would back legislation to declare the Affordable Care Act illegal and allow police to arrest federal officials who take steps to implement it in Wisconsin."

It was only a survey! By the nut job Ron Paul. The biggest mistake was replying at all.
http://www.campaignforliberty.org/surveys/wisconsin-state-legislative-candidates-2/

Lots of "L"s and "I"s replied with a "Y", no problem with them?