Puerto Rico votes for statehood.

[kgbsquirrel]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/11/07/puerto-ricans-opt-for-statehood-in-referendum/


Guess we can expect 2 more D senators and whatever the count should be for congresscritters.

[AZRedhawk44]

Two more D-shaped nails in the coffin of America.

Prep up, and start asserting State Sovereignty.  It's the only defense from Leviathan.

[charby]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/11/07/puerto-ricans-opt-for-statehood-in-referendum/


Guess we can expect 2 more D senators and whatever the count should be for congresscritters.

51 stars would be a little weird looking.

[lupinus]

But gets Obama a little closer to the magical 57

[SADShooter]

President Obama's 57 states comment wasn't strictly wrong. Just prescient.

darn you, lupinus!

[roo_ster]

Independece for PR!

[Fly320s]

It isn't official, yet. The PR government has to sign off, and the US has to approve adding a state.

Assuming PR does become a state, they/we will have to spend an Obama-load of money to come up to US standards on roads, signs, etc.

[brimic]

Assuming PR does become a state, they/we will have to spend an Obama-load of money to come up to US standards on roads, signs, etc.

It will come out of Obama's stash. There is no way the left will turn down a couple of permanent electoral votes, senators, and representatives in their column.

[Balog]

Is PR reliably leftist? I don't know anything about the local politics there, so assuming they're hardline D's seems premature.

[kgbsquirrel]

Is PR reliably leftist? I don't know anything about the local politics there, so assuming they're hardline D's seems premature.

About 50/50, moderate/GOP lite to extreme left.

[roo_ster]

Is PR reliably leftist? I don't know anything about the local politics there, so assuming they're hardline D's seems premature.

Close enough.  DOn;t expect any small-gov't, liberty-friendly policritters to come from PR.

[gunsmith]

Puerto Rico already has statehood, its called NYC.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

Puerto Rico already has statehood, its called NYC.

you beat me to it!  the old joke was "whats puerto ricos biggest city?  nyc"

[red headed stranger]

It isn't official, yet. The PR government has to sign off, and the US has to approve adding a state.

Assuming PR does become a state, they/we will have to spend an Obama-load of money to come up to US standards on roads, signs, etc.

Many of PRs main roads are already mostly funded as part of US interstate system, and the residents already pay U.S. fuel and tire taxes to partially defray the costs. 

[geronimotwo]

fools!   they already have citizen status, as well as support from the USA.  now they will have to give up their sovereignty to get the same.

[DustinD]

fools!   they already have citizen status, as well as support from the USA.  now they will have to give up their sovereignty to get the same.

That's what I am thinking. That, or that some of us pro freedom types should try and achieve their current status with our own islands. We could have the biggest economic powerhouse in the world in no time.

[red headed stranger]

I just thought of a good reason for the Dems to try to push statehood for PR through. After granting PR statehood, it would be easier for them to argue for D.C. statehood as well. Those two entities getting statehood would very likely result in 4 more (D) senators and 5-7 more (D) representatives.

[AZRedhawk44]

I don't think DC can be a State.  It's constitutionally chartered to be a Federal entity alone.

[longeyes]

What constitutes the current US of A is going to be irrelevant soon enough.  Stop counting the enemy, start counting your side.

[RocketMan]

I don't think DC can be a State.  It's constitutionally chartered to be a Federal entity alone.

Sure, if the Constitution mattered this would be true.

[longeyes]

To listen to the Republican hierarchs we should not stop at P. Rico.  Why not embrace all of Central America and beyond?  Let's forget about a big tent and go straight to tent city.  Literally.

[kgbsquirrel]

To listen to the Republican hierarchs we should not stop at P. Rico.  Why not embrace all of Central America and beyond?  Let's forget about a big tent and go straight to tent city.  Literally.

Sure... as long as we uncap the number of representatives and allocate them back to the 1790 populace/rep ratio and repeal the 17th amendment at the same time. Oh, and bomb the piss out of the cartels and the corrupt local governments/police with BLU-82's, then I'm cool with that.

[RevDisk]

To listen to the Republican hierarchs we should not stop at P. Rico.  Why not embrace all of Central America and beyond?  Let's forget about a big tent and go straight to tent city.  Literally.

We've owned PR since 1898, and since 1917, all PR folks are US citizens.

If they become a state, they'll have to pay federal taxes. Now, they sort of do, sort of don't.

[longeyes]

Details.

Let's look at the trend and at the agenda.  It's plain enough, to minimize the political power of the "legacy" population that remembers and believes in the principles of our Founding.

"Invade the world, invite the world."  Thank you, Neo-Cons. If there's a silver lining in Tuesday's unpleasantness it's that the Neo-Cons aren't back in power.  Maybe what we have now is worse but at least its awfulness is out there for all to see.

[Jamisjockey]

I'm fully convinced the republic is in it's death throes. 
That said, the people of PR (and all the territories) have been being *expletive deleted*ed for years.  Yes, they are "citizens", but unless they move from whatever territory they live in, they don't recieve the full benefits of being a citizen.  Not being represented fully in the government being the most agregious.
Let them have statehood.