SAN ANTONIO – A new movement of old-school Texas mavericks hope history can repeat itself.
They want Texas to secede from the United States and have taken their message to the White House.
An online petition on the White House website, by all accounts, was spurred by people who think President Obama’s reelection means it’s time for Texas to go its own way again.
It started with one person known only as Micah H. from Arlington.
Now, more than 70,000 people have agreed these boots are made for walkin’ away from the U.S.
"If I could vote for it, I'd vote for Texas to be its own country,” supporter Jamie Judge said. “I'd move here in a heartbeat."
So why are so many people ready to party like it’s 1845, Texas’ last year as its own country?
"People have been very concerned about the differing paths that are being taken between Texas and the rest of the country,” Daniel Miller with the Texas Nationalist Movement said.
But is secession even possible?
News 4 WOAI checked with someone whose ancestors knew a thing or two about Texas independence: Trinity University political science professor David Crockett, distant relative to Davy.
"He is a first cousin five times removed,” Prof. Crockett said.
He said neither Texas nor U.S. laws support it – the annexation agreement gave Texas the right to divide into as many as five states, but it said nothing about secession.
And then there’s the complicated task of giving back federal property.
"Military forces, tanks, jets, property on military bases – all of that would have to be disposed with somehow,” Prof. Crockett used as an example.
The Obama administration has until early December to respond to the petition but Miller says he doesn’t expect a serious response.
"Their reaction could be something as simple as ‘Guys, go get stuffed,’” Miller says.
Texas Governor Rick Perry said Tuesday he does not support efforts to break away from the union.
