Puerto Rico

[CTguy]

This would benefit democrats, clearly.

[dunn]

Free Puerto Rico

[Brambila]

I think Puerto Rico should become a state, because they're taking our money. Start paying taxes bi*chzes!!

[Kghadial]

I know what you mean. They better become a state, they've freeloading for two generations too many. Either free them or tax them ....

Puerto Rico wouldn't benefit democrats that much.  Practically every Republican thinks Bush has made serious inroads into the Hispanic population. They should have nothing to fear

And we should combine the Dakotas while we are at it so we can still have 50 states

[Platypus]

At a state level it would probably be very republican, actually, because it is very religious, although federally it probably would be Democrat.

I would like it to become a state, but it is up to the people of PR. They recentlyu had a vote to stay as the status quo, so, thats the way it will be.

Either way, I doubt that any Republican president, house or senate is going to put it forward.

[minionofmidas]

In Puerto Rican politics, the Popular Democrats oppose statehood while the New Progressives (formerly Statehood Republicans) want it. Both parties are loosely affiliated with the US Democrats these days...

[CTguy]

The democrats would clean sweep... even though Bush is making inroads with Mexicans (while losing Cubans)... Puerto Ricans remain the most loyal hispanic constituent to the democratic party...  Gore won over 80% of the Puerto Rican vote in the NY metro area.

I'm too tired to give a real response to this but I will tomorrow.

And yes they should pay their ing taxes.

[Brambila]

New York is very liberal, so every ethnicity in NYC is going to vote left. Although I know Puerto Ricans are weird, (very different from any other hispanic culture), they probably will swing both ways.

I seriously like the idea of taking over Mexico. "The United States of America and Mexico". We should wait till they integrate a little more though.

[??????????]

Just because Puerto Ricans in New York vote heavily Democratic that doesn't mean Puerto Rico as a state will go democrat. Most of the Puerto Ricans in NYC have lived there a generation and aren't "fresh off the boat". That would be like saying if we made Liberia a state it would go all Democrat because black people in the U.S. go for the Democrats mostly.

[dunn]

I seriously like the idea of taking over Mexico. "The United States of America and Mexico". We should wait till they integrate a little more though.

Mexico name is Estadas Unidas De Mexido (united states of Mexico) and historiclly maybe they should take the south-west USA

[Brambila]

I know. Sure, historically southwest USA is part of Mexico, but we took over that... why not finish it? btw I am mexican and lived in mexico.

[dunn]

I know. Sure, historically southwest USA is part of Mexico, but we took over that... why not finish it? btw I am mexican and lived in mexico.

A la vivo
A la vavo
A la vi vo va
Mexico Mexico ra ra ra!!

[CTguy]

BS.  I believe PR has a democratic "governor."  It will go dem because it is poor and the people are extremely liberal on issues like abortion and gun control.  

[JohnFKennedy]

BS.  I believe PR has a democratic "governor."  It will go dem because it is poor and the people are extremely liberal on issues like abortion and gun control.  

it WILL go democrat? it isn't a state yet ya know

[CTguy]

We should re-open the Puerto Rico statehood debate that was so big in the 90's.  The economy is even worse in PR now...  it is high time it became a state and they paid their fair share of taxes and got voting rights in Congress.

[© tweed]

Stop starting polls

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

I support PR statehood as I believe that it would actually be quite competitive politically, unlike DC.  The PNP would eventually fold into the GOP and the PPD with the Democrats and you'd probably see either a 50-50 split or perhaps a slight Democratic advantage.  I could see the language barrier becoming a huge issue though.

[Gustaf]

I support PR statehood as I believe that it would actually be quite competitive politically, unlike DC.  The PNP would eventually fold into the GOP and the PPD with the Democrats and you'd probably see either a 50-50 split or perhaps a slight Democratic advantage.  I could see the language barrier becoming a huge issue though.

You support it BECAUSE it would be competitive? You Americans really are cynical when it comes to politics...

[opebo]

No way!  Surely the GOP would block such a travesty.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

We have to be... otherwise we'd end up with the political diversity of Sweden

I support PR statehood as I believe that it would actually be quite competitive politically, unlike DC.  The PNP would eventually fold into the GOP and the PPD with the Democrats and you'd probably see either a 50-50 split or perhaps a slight Democratic advantage.  I could see the language barrier becoming a huge issue though.

You support it BECAUSE it would be competitive? You Americans really are cynical when it comes to politics...

[12th Doctor]

We should re-open the Puerto Rico statehood debate that was so big in the 90's.  The economy is even worse in PR now...  it is high time it became a state and they paid their fair share of taxes and got voting rights in Congress.

I agree with you here.  I have no problem with Puerto Rican statehood politically, because once they start having to pay taxes, chances are they will become more Republican.  

If they refuse, then let them survive on their own.

[zachman]

They aren't going to become a state anytime soon. They are useful to us as a tourist destination without customs. Those are a pain throughout the rest of the Carribean.

[ncjake]

BS.  I believe PR has a democratic "governor."  It will go dem because it is poor and the people are extremely liberal on issues like abortion and gun control.  

No, it doesn't have a Democratic governor because there aren't Democrats and Republicans there. And the people there are not extremely liberal on issues like gun control and abortion. Have you ever been there? I practically lived there for a time when my uncle was stationed on the island. They are about as socially liberal as Idaho.

[Brambila]

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Abortion? Puerto Rico is definately liberal on a lot of issues, but I doubt that's one of them.

[CTguy]

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Abortion? Puerto Rico is definately liberal on a lot of issues, but I doubt that's one of them.

If it's not liberal on abortion, how come women used to flock to Puerto Rico to get abortions done?