Star Spangled Staggers

US politics from outside the beltway

Texas judge predicts "civil war" if Obama re-elected

Texan Democrats call for his resignation.

By Martha Gill Published 24 August 2012 17:07

Oh no, not again: the last one. Photograph: Getty Images

A Texan judge who this week predicted that America would descend into civil war if Obama was re-elected has been called on to resign.

Lubbock County Judge Tom Head, speaking to CNN affiliate KJTV earlier this week, said Obama would "try to give the sovereignty of the United States away to the United Nations." He said: "What do you think the public's going to do when that happens? We are talking civil unrest, civil disobedience, possibly, possibly civil war. ... I'm not talking just talking riots here and there. I'm talking Lexington, Concord, take up arms, get rid of the dictator."

He referred to "executive orders" and other documents that Obama and "his minions have filed", and said that "regardless of whether the Republicans take over the Senate, which I hope they do, [Obama] is going to make the United States Congress and he's going to make the Constitution irrelevant. He's got his czars in place that don't answer to anybody."

Texan Democrats have responded by asking for his resignation.

"It's really up to Judge (Tom) Head to do the right thing and resign and stop embarrassing Lubbock County," said Kenny Ketner, Texas' Democratic party chief to CNN.

"I wish we were getting worldwide attention for something better than a crazy county judge," he said. "But what are you going to do?"

More from Martha Gill

View the discussion thread.

26 comments

Tue, 2012-08-28 23:20 — Posh Tosh (not verified)

Yes he is causing civil war in every other Arab country!

Tue, 2012-08-28 11:20 — SeptimusBrope (not verified)

He is right of course.
The American War of Independence was fought to rid the country of a tyrannical, remote, all-powerful Monarch. In the early Republic, among the chief issues was the question of how much power to allow central government. That is still a major issue to this day.
The US Constitution established a federalist government wherein power is shared between the national and state governments , a power-sharing form of governance unlike the centralised all-powerful governments of Europe.
The last two Presidents, Obama in particular, have taken more authoritarian powers than King George would ever have dreamt of, and many Americans are rightly uneasy and deeply concerned about this dramatic and anti-democratic centralisation of powers.
Once again the South is stirring. Only good will come of it. We should wish them well.

Tue, 2012-08-28 13:05 — jankaas (not verified)

funnily enough Septimus, that judge didn't mention all that stuff about centralised government. instead he said Obama will "try to give the sovereignty of the United States away to the United Nations."

so you still agree with him then?

Mon, 2012-08-27 15:55 — Mbrecker (not verified)

Sick.

Mon, 2012-08-27 14:07 — Mal in China (not verified)

"Lubbock County Judge Tom Head, speaking to CNN affiliate KJTV earlier this week, said Obama would "try to give the sovereignty of the United States away to the United Nations."

Hardly! Just a cursory glance at the processes involved in UN resolutions indicates that the US have vetoed more resolutions than any other country. That is of course when the US is not ignoring those resolutions, reinterpreting the wording for its own purposes, or showing where policies will not apply completely to the US - take the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for example.

The US contributes about 22% of the UN budget ( based on a countries ability to pay) and so it expects UN policy to follow US Foreign policy. It also threatens to not pay or defer its contribution to the UN if policy is not in line with superpower hegemony - check US arrears.

That the UN needs reform is without question. But that reform will not come through bully-boy tactics. Judge Tom Head needs to do some more reading.

Mon, 2012-08-27 12:26 — mike cobley (not verified)

Hilarious - where was this guy when Dubya was dancing a tarantella on the Constitution for 8 long, blood-drenched years? Where were the denunciations and stirring calls to defend the soul of the Republic? Where were the solemn and stern words aimed at an administration hellbent on domination and cruelty and torture and bloated megaprofits for cohorts and cronies?

Why, nowhere, because Dubya was their boy and acting in their best interests.

Mon, 2012-08-27 11:57 — hugh markey (not verified)

It looks like a simple case of black on/and white. or vicey versey. JUDGE sure forgot he was wearing his judge's robes and not his Klan Wizard outfit. Easily done, way, way down south. Just you ask folks who won that Civil War.

Santa Anna ( How's about a rematch? )

Mon, 2012-08-27 11:57 — hugh markey (not verified)

Santa Anna ( How's about a rematch? )

Sun, 2012-08-26 17:54 — Mr Bingham (not verified)

A cotton picking Texan wearing a ten gallon hat on a two pint head just about sums it up.

Sun, 2012-08-26 13:52 — Herbert (not verified)

The Soviet Union broke up with little real fuss. Now it's the turn of the United States: it'll certainly happen by the end of the century. China too.

Sun, 2012-08-26 16:28 — Red Rain (not verified)

China would crush any internal dissent and the world would remain silent. America would do likewise and the world would be outraged.

Sun, 2012-08-26 21:27 — Herbert (not verified)

You haven't noticed that the opposite has been the case over the past 50 years?

Mon, 2012-08-27 12:02 — Gerry Tierney (not verified)

Of course not, he has an agenda to push.

Sun, 2012-08-26 11:45 — matthew fox (not verified)

Civil War, another empty threat from the Right.

Sun, 2012-08-26 10:42 — Red Rain (not verified)

Countries have descended into civil wars and bloodletting for lesser reasons.

Sat, 2012-08-25 14:17 — thesteelgeneral (not verified)

Well, enough crazy loons think like this crazy judge does, so a possibility of violence is high.
Sorry, that should be MORE violence:
Republicans and other KKonservatives have already killed a Democratic chairman in 2008, attacked and killed 3 members of a liberal church, assassinated a number people in Texas, when Gifford was shot in the head, and lastly Aurora.
Add this to Sharron Angle promise of "2nd amendment solutions" and the refusal of Rmoney to reign in calls to violence like this one, and we've got ourselves KillFest 2012!
Lock and load, brothers.

Sat, 2012-08-25 14:16 — thesteelgeneral (not verified)

Sat, 2012-08-25 16:19 — John Cheese (not verified)

Trying to link homicides to political persuasion is ignorant at best. Look up Chicago's weekend murder rate, or even Philadephia's. You should have gone to college...

Sat, 2012-08-25 09:43 — jankaas (not verified)

this judge is just another in a long line of Stoopid Yanks in powerful positions. spouting absolute bollox one would expect from an alcoholic tramp having an psychotic episode. on balance there seem to be more who call themselves Republican than Democrat.
though highly entertaining, glad this type is a lot thinner on the ground over here.

Sat, 2012-08-25 16:22 — John Cheese (not verified)

hey, you awoke from your drunken stupor for a comment! It tickles me when a little sideline Dutchman makes a comment about big ole bad USA...Barry's out you know...10 weeks**

Sat, 2012-08-25 18:28 — jankaas (not verified)

Sat, 2012-08-25 19:21 — AlbertTatlock (not verified)

Well done jackass, you've mastered full stops. Now, the caps button is just on the left...

Sun, 2012-08-26 09:44 — jankaas (not verified)

gosh, thanks for the handy tip Alberttitcock. anything on topic, or your deficiencies still bothering you...?

Sat, 2012-08-25 01:48 — John Cheese (not verified)

Why do the Repubs do the right thing & fall on their swords & quickly resign & the Dems fight it out and stay until forced out- ie: Bill Clinton & his rape of J Broderick, while he has earned over $75 million in speaking fees since 2001, Anthony Weiner & his sexting & lying (but forced out), John Edwards & his love child & lying till outed by the Ntl Enquirer & forced out, NY Governor Elliot Sptizer & his prostitutes till outed by the NY Times, now CNN has snapped him up , NY Representative Charlie Rangel who illegally has multiple NY apartments & decided to cheat on taxes for Dominican Republic villa rental income while he is allowed to stay in congress. The Democrats are pros- the GOP is not even in the same league! But then again, "we deserve the government we are willing to put up with"...

Wed, 2012-08-29 07:39 — Jody Morris (not verified)

*vomits into your stupid effing face for no reason*

Wed, 2012-08-29 13:05 — John Cheese (not verified)

jody: the turth hurts, I know it. Not sure how you (and the Occupiers) got into your defensive fetal mode in life, but there is a better, hopeful way. If you are confident in your viewpoints, you make your case & then intelligently point out the inconsistencies in the other view. This obama divide can be healed, but it take at least 8 years. Don't drink too much Boo...