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

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#243826: May 29th 2018 at 4:51:38 PM

Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and Guam should be added as US States immediately.

And yes, that would fuck the Republicans up good.

edited 29th May '18 4:52:02 PM by CharlesPhipps

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
DrunkenNordmann from Exile Since: May, 2015
#243827: May 29th 2018 at 4:54:02 PM

[up] What about American Samoa?

We learn from history that we do not learn from history
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#243828: May 29th 2018 at 4:57:38 PM

[up][up]. D.C. would be pretty easy, I think, but the other two might be harder. You can't force them to become states, and at least in the case of Puerto Rico, there's never been a really legitimate vote, and the only time they voted for it, less then twenty five percent of eligible voters participated.

edited 29th May '18 5:01:41 PM by megaeliz

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#243829: May 29th 2018 at 5:00:18 PM

American Samoa too.

But yes, the territory system is an outdated and exploitative government model that benefits no one and certainly undermines democracy.

edited 29th May '18 5:00:31 PM by CharlesPhipps

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#243830: May 29th 2018 at 5:08:10 PM

[up] here's a really good article discussing Puerto Rico statehood.

I would suggest reading the whole thing, but here's the main takeaways about what would actually need to happen to actually acchive this.

On another note, we cannot force Puerto Ricans to become a U.S. state, nor would we likely want to. Five times in Puerto Rico’s history, its citizens have voted to declare statehood, the first four times the vote was close but still failed, routed in the confusion of the wording or options that could be chosen on the ballot. The fifth vote, last summer, resulted in 97 percent approval for statehood, but the vote was largely discredited due to the fact that less than a quarter of the territory voted.

Puerto Rico’s major political parties are divided on the issue of whether to pursue statehood or maintain the status quo, while a small minority supports full independence. It’s somewhat unclear if an agreed upon question would pass, and Congress can’t act until there’s Puerto Rican support, but what is certain is that there are significant procedural hurdles in the way of getting a fair vote. One way or another, the U.S. should pledge itself to holding a legitimate vote on the issue. If under fair rules the vote fails, at least then we will know that Puerto Rico hopes to maintain its current status.

A passed vote on Statehood could pose a real change for the U.S. electoral map. Puerto Rico would get four to five congressional representatives as well as the standard two senators, resulting in between six and seven electoral votes, as many as Iowa, Nevada or Connecticut. The new state would more than likely vote Democratic across the board. President Trump holds a 22 percent approval rating amongst Hispanic voters as of Feb. 4, and Puerto Ricans on the U.S. mainland sway left.

Regardless, both U.S. political parties support Puerto Rican statehood if the island votes on it. But there’s a real difference between putting full resources behind holding a referendum and simply saying you’ll support it and allowing the vote to fizzle along the process. We don’t know for sure if the measure would pass, but doing nothing to establish certainty only hurts the Puerto Rican people. If it’s residents—who are also U.S. citizens—can be helped and support the vote, it’s our job to put our financial resources behind, allowing them to have a voice.

Ignore that bit about how both parties support it. The Republicans say they do, but they really don't.

edited 29th May '18 5:09:42 PM by megaeliz

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#243831: May 29th 2018 at 5:32:36 PM

DC being a state seems to defeat the point.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#243832: May 29th 2018 at 5:41:56 PM

Give DC residents a full Rep in Congress, and allow them to vote in Virginian Presidential and Senatorial races?

Also, CNN was breaking that Trump asked Sessions to retain control over the Mueller probe, well after he recused himself. Could be that Trump doesn't know what recusal is, but if its true... NYT apparently has an article but I'm out of free views there.

Separately, one of Cohen's partners in the taxi scam has gotten a better plea deal after Cohen's offices were raided? Perhaps he was given a reduced sentence if he agreed to testify to the validity of any evidence they found? Cause whatever they wanted him to do, it was worth sparing him any person time.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/29/politics/taxi-king-gene-freidman-plea-deal-michael-cohen/index.html

edited 29th May '18 5:52:32 PM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#243833: May 29th 2018 at 5:47:41 PM

Roseanne was canceled due to her bigotry?

This...this pleases me.

Disgusted, but not surprised
AngelusNox Warder of the damned from The guard of the gates of oblivion Since: Dec, 2014 Relationship Status: Married to the job
Warder of the damned
#243834: May 29th 2018 at 5:50:34 PM

Well, serves her right for that.

Inter arma enim silent leges
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#243835: May 29th 2018 at 5:51:19 PM

I think D.C. was originally partitioned from Virginia and Maryland, but the Virginia part was returned. They could just make it a city of Maryland, it solves most of the issues.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#243836: May 29th 2018 at 5:52:09 PM

Even Fox News (well, it was just Shep Smith IIRC) has joined the backlash, her own agents quit, and the entire entertainment world made her a pariah in the span of hours. Even if a right-wing company managed to buy the rights to the show, much of the cast has already bailed out.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#243837: May 29th 2018 at 5:53:04 PM

Not that this doesn't sound good, but why the reaction to this specific remark? Hasn't she already been spewing similar bile?

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#243838: May 29th 2018 at 5:54:50 PM

I think it was more a Trump length Twitter rant that called an Muslim Obama aide a monkey and going after Chelsea Clinton.

Short version: For whatever reason this was just one step too far

edited 29th May '18 5:55:13 PM by sgamer82

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#243839: May 29th 2018 at 5:54:59 PM

Yes, and many aren't giving ABC points for this because they gave her a platform. I guess comparing a black woman to apes crossed their line. If that's the case, I think their line needs to be readjusted to account for the shit she's been spewing at groups and individuals for years.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#243840: May 29th 2018 at 5:56:21 PM

In her apology to Chelsie Clinton, she also called a Holocaust survivor a Nazi.

RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#243841: May 29th 2018 at 5:56:41 PM

Yeah, they were perfectly willing to give her show a platform while she said things that were adjacent to this and only different in terms of level of blatantness. No praise for the network.

It's been fun.
TrashJack Confirmed Doomer from beyond the Despair Event Horizon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Confirmed Doomer
#243842: May 29th 2018 at 5:57:38 PM

It's the straw that broke the camel's back. One of the stars and producers finally got fed up with Roseanne's racist crap and quit the show over it, and it snowballed from there into Disney/ABC deciding to nip the problem in the bud by cancelling the show before their advertisers inevitably abandoned them en masse.

edited 29th May '18 5:58:21 PM by TrashJack

"Cynic, n. — A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be." - The Devil's Dictionary
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#243843: May 29th 2018 at 5:58:56 PM

[up][up]Yeah, they knew who she was. They should have known better.

edited 29th May '18 5:59:35 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
fruitpork Since: Oct, 2010
#243844: May 29th 2018 at 5:59:58 PM

Ironically Barr herself is Jewish.

CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#243845: May 29th 2018 at 6:00:10 PM

I'm impressed Roseanne managed to convey a facade of respectability long enough for nine whole episodes to air.

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#243846: May 29th 2018 at 6:01:05 PM

People were way too willing to give her the benefit of the doubt for some reason.

Disgusted, but not surprised
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#243847: May 29th 2018 at 6:02:14 PM

Probably because in many regards she seems to be the exact opposite of her old show. Who knows what happened with her.

PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#243848: May 29th 2018 at 6:11:23 PM

This is your brain on Fox News.

i'm tired, my friend
Steven (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
#243849: May 29th 2018 at 6:15:11 PM

Kind of reminds me of that cartoon Allen Gregory where it only lasted for a few episodes because the premise of the show was simply too appalling.

Remember, these idiots drive, fuck, and vote. Not always in that order.
Cream Creamier~ from Planet NTR Since: Jul, 2010 Relationship Status: I like big bots and I can not lie
Creamier~
#243850: May 29th 2018 at 6:17:48 PM

Guys please don’t ever compare a black person to apes.

That’s kind of Don’t Be Racist 101.

Rawr.

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