I thought earlier that Tom DeLay had conceded that in fact Texas isn't allowed to secede from the federal union. And he does say that at one point in his talk with Chris Matthews that Texas can't secede. But then he has a reading of the 1845 annexation of Texas in which he claims that Texas can essentially force Congress to kick them out of the Union, thus amounting to a sort grand secessionist bank-shot.

Here's the quote ...

Texas as a Republic joined the Union by treaty. There's a process in the Treaty by which Texas could divide into five states. If we invoke that, the gov ... the United States Senate would kick us out and nullify the Treaty. They're not going to allow ten new Texas senators into the Senate. That's how you secede ...

A few seconds later DeLay seemed to say Texas couldn't secede but then went back to the Treaty double-bank shot idea. I guess you could say he's conflicted.

You can see the video here.