Say Texas actually followed through with its whining and seceded. Which other states would follow Texas's example to form the new CSA, and who would they make their President? The states don't necessarily have to touch, either
I think if Texas was successful, then many states would follow suit. Perhaps a majority. California would likely have seceded in 2002 over George Bush's war if there were precedent for it. Alaska has a small and heavily-armed population and would probably give it a try if Texas was successful. Those wanting to legalize marijuana consumption might as well.
I do not think that any new CSA would form, though. The states would find little common ground. Each would have grievances with Uncle Sam which it considered more important than those of the others. (Who would be the new president? It's rather like asking who would be president of the New Scotland and Catalonia Confederation after each secedes from their respective nations. The answer is "no one." Also, after a messy divorce, it is never a good idea to get remarried immediately.) Probably some small ones would unite under a Tea Party-like platform of government, although likely they would be economic failures. Ultimately, after a few decades, those which would prove economically successful (TX and CA, for example) would probably be recognized by many UN member states as independent nations, although Washington DC would still hold veto power in the UN security council so they might have a hard time being admitted as UN member states.
Judging from polling data, the urge to secede is less than 25% in many of the Eastern and Upper Midwest states. New England is the least supportive, with the exception of Vermont. Even in Texas and the Southwest, support for secession is only about 33%, so it's not a likely scenario.
Just FYI, Here's a graphic that was posted on this forum a few months ago:
http://blogs.reuters.com/jamesrgaines/2014/09/19/one-in-four-americans-want-their-state-to-secede-from-the-u-s-but-why/It gets interesting if you apply the age filter. Note that support for secession is highest among the youngest (~40% for 18-29) and it falls off rapidly with each age group, becoming less than 10% for those over 60. An upcoming trend? Or maybe just misguided youth? I rather think it is the latter.
