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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#189426: May 16th 2017 at 8:30:43 PM

[up][up]D.C. residents are similarly disenfranchised as territorial residents (they can vote for President, but that took a constitutional amendment). I would think it would be easier to just give D.C. back to Maryland (it was made from land seceded from both Virginia and Maryland, but the Virginia portion has already been returned), but either way is good for enfranchising the people.

Also, it would basically mean two Democratic Senators and a Democratic Representative. Which is a primary reason it won't happen any time soon, but a lot of Dems love the idea for that alone.

edited 16th May '17 8:32:14 PM by LSBK

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#189427: May 16th 2017 at 8:31:49 PM

[up][up][up]Because the 600,000+ residents of DC currently have no true representation in government.

[up][nja]

edited 16th May '17 8:32:04 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#189428: May 16th 2017 at 8:35:12 PM

@Tactical: Apparently you care since you made a point of mentioning it, and seemingly every other obscure and/or random news article relating to Sanders. Are you sure you aren't secretly Tsundere towards him? tongue

edited 16th May '17 8:38:37 PM by CaptainCapsase

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#189429: May 16th 2017 at 8:40:55 PM

[up] By that logic, all of us are Tsundere for Trump and every other Republican who acts shitty.

I for one don't feel anything but genuine disgust and horror towards Trump.

edited 16th May '17 8:42:02 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#189430: May 16th 2017 at 8:43:19 PM

[up]Eh, I don't think the two are equivalent. Trump, unfortunately, is someone of actual consequence, while Sanders for the most part isn't.

And considering how Fox feels about him it is a bit weird he's constantly bringing him up.

edited 16th May '17 8:43:40 PM by LSBK

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#189431: May 16th 2017 at 8:43:57 PM

It was actually fairly decent, if not boring. Kasich still trying to act like a moderate when he's clearly Evil All Along.

New Survey coming this weekend!
Heatth (X-Troper) Relationship Status: In Spades with myself
#189432: May 16th 2017 at 8:48:17 PM

About DC, I never understood why the US never took the Brazilian route: make DC equivalent to a state for the sake of senate and congress. That way you keep a special district that is not a state, for all good that is, but don't pointlessly disenfranchise people.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#189433: May 16th 2017 at 8:49:48 PM

[up][up] Doesn't Kasich still support schools teaching Intelligent Design and anti-abortion legislation? I also heard that he's been backpedaling on his original acknowledgement of climate change recently.

That this can be considered a moderate Republican says a lot about the GOP these days.

edited 16th May '17 8:50:00 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#189434: May 16th 2017 at 8:50:08 PM

The reason DC isn't a state is because it would never EVER EVER go Republican. You'd basically hand the Democrats two Senate Seats and One (Two?) House Representatives on a silver platter. Only way it happens if you get a D/D/D MASSIVE wave election and the Democrats fast track state status and not give a fuck about the consequences.

New Survey coming this weekend!
Gilphon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#189435: May 16th 2017 at 8:56:01 PM

What exactly the process for stuff getting official State status? I'm gathering that you need congressional approval, but what does that look like? Is it just a majority vote? And what else do you need?

edited 16th May '17 8:56:13 PM by Gilphon

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#189436: May 16th 2017 at 9:02:31 PM

The territory holds a referendum for Statehood, then Congress directs them to create a State Constitution in line with the US Constitution, then when that's voted by the Citizens of the territory, Congress itself votes on admitting that Territory (which it has always done) as a State.

Puerto Rico is most likely going to vote to be a State, but I doubt this Congress will help them create a State Constitution, and if they don't help/give the go ahead, it won't matter...

ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#189437: May 16th 2017 at 9:07:09 PM

[up]The president also has to countersign the simple majority in Congress, and good luck getting the moldy orange to sign away the most abused tax shelter in the Union.

edited 16th May '17 9:07:29 PM by ViperMagnum357

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#189438: May 16th 2017 at 9:08:54 PM

While it's not guaranteed Puerto Ricans will vote "Yes" on statehood, there's a decent chance that will happen. Their current governor included a push for statehood as one of his campaign promises — that he won might have been a sign that a lot of Puerto Ricans want their territory to be the 51st state.

Disgusted, but not surprised
TheAirman Brightness from The vicinity of an area adjacent to a location Since: Feb, 2011 Relationship Status: Historians will say we were good friends.
Brightness
#189439: May 16th 2017 at 9:10:48 PM

On CNN: "Chaffetz asks FBI for Comey/Trump docs by May 24th"

PSN ID: FateSeraph | Switch friendcode: SW-0145-8835-0610 Congratulations! She/They
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#189440: May 16th 2017 at 9:14:35 PM

There are three ways: by amending the Constitution (LOL), by having Congress pass a bill granting the city statehood or by formally petitioning Congress to admit D.C. into the union as the 51st state.

While the latter two might seem like the same, it's not quite, as one is on Congress' end, and the other is on DC's end in terms of proactivity.

However, that being said, there are some legal arguments of whether statehood is even Constitutional, and most scholars are mixed. And as far as I know, none of the SC justices have given any opinion on DC statehood that we can reasonably assert as to how they'd rule in the, inevitable, Supreme Court battle.

""The Congress shall have Power To ...exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States."

So to a traditionalist like Gorsuch, they could, with some genuine credibility mind you, say that DC doesn't have the constitutional right to be a state.

edited 16th May '17 9:16:36 PM by TacticalFox88

New Survey coming this weekend!
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#189441: May 16th 2017 at 9:32:46 PM

New Rep. Labrador bill targets sanctuary cities, would allow crime victims to sue them

http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article150891042.html

Idaho U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador introduced an immigration bill Tuesday that would target sanctuary city policies, presenting it as a “robust immigration enforcement bill” in an emailed statement.

Such cities limit their cooperation with federal authorities who enforce immigration law, including possibly not honoring immigration detainers placed on people in jail who commit unrelated offenses. Among other policies, the bill would allow residents of a sanctuary city to sue that city if they are the victim of a crime committed by someone illegally in the country, according to highlights provided by the House Judiciary Committee.

Labrador, Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee vice chairman, and House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., introduced the bill.

The bill would also withhold federal grants from jurisdictions that “refuse to honor” detainers and that prohibit local law enforcement from communicating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to a news release from Labrador’s office.

It calls for the hiring of another 12,500 immigration officers and would allow those deportation officers to carry firearms while providing them with body armor.

Members of criminal gangs who are illegally in the U.S. could be deported.

Labrador’s office stated that the bill is also meant to focus on the visa issuance process, screening foreign nationals.

The bill, named the Davis-Oliver Act, is named in honor of two California sheriff’s deputies. Placer County Detective Michael Davis Jr. and Sacramento County Deputy Sheriff Danny Oliver were murdered in October 2014 by a man illegally in the U.S.

The House Judiciary Committee will consider the bill Thursday.

“One of the most important aspects of immigration reform is bolstering enforcement of existing immigration law,” Labrador said in a statement to the media. “We need to give law enforcement at all levels the tools and resources they need to keep America safe and secure. The previous administration was ideologically driven to shut down immigration enforcement. Our new president, however, owes his position to the promise he made to the American people to get serious about enforcing our laws. This bill helps him do that.”

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#189442: May 16th 2017 at 9:39:51 PM

The previous administration was ideologically driven to shut down immigration enforcement. Our new president, however, owes his position to the promise he made to the American people to get serious about enforcing our laws. This bill helps him do that.”

Pfft.

edited 16th May '17 9:40:07 PM by LSBK

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#189443: May 16th 2017 at 9:44:03 PM

At this point I'm starting to wonder if some Republicans are knowingly spouting bullshit or if they are Believing Their Own Lies.

edited 16th May '17 9:44:14 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#189445: May 16th 2017 at 10:05:00 PM

It's tough being a conservative-leaning individual in the USA who puts reality above ideology these days.

Disgusted, but not surprised
ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#189446: May 16th 2017 at 10:12:33 PM

[up]Same, though I take heart that the core of conservatism-preserving what works and steadily, methodically incorporating improvements without trashing the system is still present in a good chunk of the Democratic Party. I suppose a result of my scientific background, but I usually take a long, incremental view that left me supporting the Republicans through high school, combined with a sheltered upbringing and having virtually no political knowledge outside my own experiences. That would have changed eventually when the GOP went Teapublican in 2010, but I shifted a few years earlier due to college opening my eyes.

edited 16th May '17 10:13:28 PM by ViperMagnum357

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#189447: May 16th 2017 at 10:14:53 PM

Well, that's the kind of issue because a lot of "conservatives" are more like reactionaries, really.

Conservatives who just believe in small, incremental and measured change don't really have a party to represent them.

edited 16th May '17 10:15:47 PM by Draghinazzo

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#189448: May 16th 2017 at 10:17:24 PM

[up] Yeah, they do. The Democrats.

New Survey coming this weekend!
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#189449: May 16th 2017 at 10:19:26 PM

Oh right of course.

I've actually said that before, that Obama was more of a "conservative" than the average GOP politician.

AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#189450: May 16th 2017 at 10:26:01 PM

In right-wing media BS, various right-wing outlets have spent the last couple days revolving the "Clinton had Seth Rich killed during the campaign" conspiracy theory. It's been picked up in a couple of places on the fringe left as well, including TYT's Jordan Chariton. Last I checked he's also the member of TYT who is most opposed to the notion that Russia had anything to do with the election. Doubt that's a coincidence.

Anyway, I hope that if any of their viewers and fans buy it, that it's only a minority. I'd say the same thing about the right-wing outlets, but there's no hope there—Breitbart's readers will always believe what Bannon's successors tell them to.


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