The STATES have vastly more power than they either recognize or are willing to even try to assert.
By the way, in the early to mid 1860's the United Sates did NOT
repeat NOT
answer any question of whether or not a State can legally withdraw from the Union.
It did purport to answer that question. True enough. But whether it is a precedent setting answer is another matter entirely. Ask yourselves the obvious question:
Is there anything even remotely akin between President Abraham Lincoln and President Barry Hussein Soetoro Obumbler?
No, they really dont have anything in common but I dont see how that relates to the assertion. I think it is clear that the government at that time removed the right for any state to succeed. Do you really think that there would not be a war if one tried? I am sure that a refusal to accept the federal governments authority would lead to war. The federal government could not take that kind of challenge to its power. I think that it is rather blind to think otherwise as a FAR less powerful government with FAR less control did that very same thing under Lincoln. Now we are facing a government that views the states as mere extensions of itself and such a challenge would be met with force.
The president has already declared that he can kill American citizens anywhere on the planet without due process and detain anyone that he chooses without recognition of their rights what makes you think the government would allow a state to walk away from the table?
No, he hasnt.
With regard to the former, those targeted are afforded administrative due process by the Executive Branch, the disagreement concerns whether administrative due process is sufficient. And with regard to the latter, the president has made no such claim.
As to the topic, the states have the power and authority to do all manner of things, thats not at issue.
The issue is when the states act in a manner offensive to the Constitution, such as attempting to deny same-sex couples equal access to marriage law, or violating the privacy rights of women by attempting to ban abortion.
Theres a simple, straightforward way for the states to avoid being dragged into court by their residents per a civil rights violation complaint: obey the Constitution and its case law, stop enacting measures clearly un-Constitutional, and respect the inalienable rights of
all your residents.