Nullification...

Now that the dust has settled after the 2012 election, the tantrums of the right have ended and the calls for succession have ended exactly where they began:  nowhere.

There does seem to be a movement, however, that is leading some States to pick up the tired old chestnut of Nullification again.  CO and WA have both de-criminalized the possession and use of "pot" within their borders, and four more States have legalized medical marijuana (including ME, of all places).  Some States, including my own PA, have all but officially declared that the NDAA of 2012 will NOT be enforced or (presumably) be allowed to be enforced, within their borders.

I've always been a fan of States Rights... its why I never beefed about Romney-care, even once.  I'm troubled, though...

Has it ever worked?  Even once?

Jefferson and Madison both contributed to the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions in 1798-99... but all were rejected by the other States completely.  Thus, I think the argument for Constitutional Nullification is starting on shaky ground.

From 1807 through the end of the War of 1812, New England went almost bankrupt from the embargoes handed down by the Fed, without consideration (according to the Yankees) to the hardships that would result.  This attempt at nullification damn near led to succession, and (again) failed utterly.

Nullification reached a crisis (literally) when John Calhoun went head-to-head with Andy Jackson over tariffs that Calhoun said favored the North over the South.  Heavy-hand Andy wins, and nullification again takes a back seat to the Feds.

We'll skip the Civil War... everyone here knows how that turned out.

Jump ahead to the 1950's... and school desegregation laws that so inflamed the South.  Ike wins, nullification loses.

I'm not saying that CO and WA attempts can't win in the end... the Fed can only win the fight if the fight it, right?  But the precedent isn't there, or am I wrong?