Bear Pit: now the sole domicile of politics at LuLa

[Alan Klein]

Nope, you are still lying by omission. 

There have been exactly five referendums.  Three of the five referendums voted against status.  It was only the 2012 and 2017 referendums that voted in favor of status.  However, these were non-binding and the voter turn out was not nearly large enough for the vote to be considered valid. 

If those in PR who want status really want it, they will need to get 51% or more voter turnout to be taken seriously, regardless of who is in congress. 

Apologies; I was not aware of that sixth vote.   

If that is the case, then they should get it. 

I believe status only require simple majorities in both the Senate and the House.  So, if they don't, then we know what party to blame. 

The new Senate Leader Schumer, who's been working all his life to become leader, will assuredly make PR a state so he can keep his position in 2022.  No one really cares about the Puerto Ricans, only about power.

[digitaldog]

Regarding building codes, I'm still upset with those who mandated 1.2 gpf toilets and low-flow showerheads. 

I can understand from many of your posts why you'd need several times that amount to flush all that bull💩.... 😂
Funny, Trump felt the same way.
Trump administration rolls back 'low flow' water conservation rules
Trump’s low-flow gripe has been rooted in conservative thinking for several decades who decry regulations and energy standards.
https://www.wrcbtv.com/story/42838626/trump-administration-rolls-back-low-flow-water-conservation-rules

[JoeKitchen]

The new Senate Leader Schumer, who's been working all his life to become leader, will assuredly make PR a state so he can keep his position in 2022.  No one really cares about the Puerto Ricans, only about power.

If Schumer had a 52+ majority, I would agree with you and would expect it to make it to the floor. 

But with a 50 plus the VP majority only, it is quite the risk considering those Puerto Ricans who choose to remain on the island are very conservative and religious compared to their mainland counterparts. 

It would be the roll of the dice for Schumer's majority with a good chance of hitting snake eyes. 

Don't hold your breadth.  Schumer may be a blowhard with severe instances of foot in mouth decease, but he is no idiot. 

[TechTalk]

Apologies; I was not aware of that sixth vote.   

Not a problem. But thanks.

If that is the case, then they should get it. 

I agree. Every referendum prior to 2020 was a mess of a multiple choice quiz. 2020 was the first time Puerto Rico had a straight simple Yes/No vote on statehood.

I believe status only require simple majorities in both the Senate and the House.  So, if they don't, then we know what party to blame.

There is overwhelming support among Democrats for Puerto Rico statehood. Republican support is around 35%. Mitch McConnell has been adamant about not allowing a vote on statehood in the Senate, but now that obstacle is out of the way—but with a bare majority. It will be interesting to watch how it plays out.

Mitch McConnell on statehood - 2019: "They plan to make the District of Columbia a state — that would give them two new Democratic senators — Puerto Rico a state, [that] would give them two more new Democratic senators," McConnell said. "This is full bore socialism on the march in the House."

But McConnell emphasized that as along as Republicans — and he — controls the Senate, the measure is going nowhere. "As along as I am the majority leader in the U.S. Senate, none of that is going anywhere," McConnell said on Fox.

[faberryman]

If those in PR who want status really want it, they will need to get 51% or more voter turnout to be taken seriously, regardless of who is in congress.  The Dems controlled the Senate in 2012, and this did not even come up for a vote.

From which magic hat did you pull 51% or more voter turnout to be taken seriously?

[Alan Klein]

Seems like to me that ought to be left up to the Puerto Ricans to decide. Of course, Congress could take voter participation into consideration if they wanted to, but that has nothing to do with the validity of the vote.

Maybe we should ask them if they want to rejoin Spain.  After all, most speak Spanish. 

[Alan Klein]

If Schumer had a 52+ majority, I would agree with you and would expect it to make it to the floor. 

But with a 50 plus the VP majority only, it is quite the risk considering those Puerto Ricans who choose to remain on the island are very conservative and religious compared to their mainland counterparts. 

It would be the roll of the dice for Schumer's majority with a good chance of hitting snake eyes. 

Don't hold your breadth.  Schumer may be a blowhard with severe instances of foot in mouth decease, but he is no idiot. 

I believe he already said he wanted to make them a state. 

[JoeKitchen]

From which magic hat did you pull 51% or more voter turnout to be taken seriously?

It's the majority of voters.  Bare majority turnout.  Kind of obvious where I was coming from here. 

[JoeKitchen]

I believe he already said he wanted to make them a state.

So you're telling me we should take all the promises of all politicians seriously, especially those given to his base?   

If AOC primaries him, this will make it to the floor, but not until 2022 and only if it looks like the Republicans will be taking back the house.  If not, and against my personal preference, this will get delayed and delayed and delayed. 

[TechTalk]

No one really cares about the Puerto Ricans, only about power.

Please speak for yourself regarding what people care about; or believe; or the arguments they make and their motivation for them. It's become a bad habit.

[faberryman]

The Democrats will ignore the 23% and make them a state anyway.  The biased press will ignore that statistic and promote the idea because they're in the tank with them.

Fortunately, the fair and balanced conservative news media will there to call out the Democrats and disapprove of the idea because they are in the tank with the Republicans. Anything new here?

[Alan Klein]

Please speak for yourself regarding what people care about; or believe; or the arguments they make and their motivation for them. It's become a bad habit.

You express your opinions and I'll express mine. 

[Alan Klein]

Fortunately, the fair and balanced conservative news media will there to call out the Democrats and disapprove of the idea because they are in the tank with the Republicans. Anything new here?

Absolutely.  Like I said no one cares about the Puerto Ricans.  It's all about power.  If the senate balance wasn't 50/50, we wouldn't even be discussing this. 

[faberryman]

It's the majority of voters.  Bare majority turnout.  Kind of obvious where I was coming from here.

Maybe it's different for you in Pennsylvania, but around here there are any number of elections and votes of various kinds where less than 50% of the electorate participates. Sometimes people talk about it being a shame that more of the electorate didn't participate, but I haven't ever heard anyone suggest that the vote wasn't valid or that it shouldn't be taken seriously. Perhaps Congress will take voter participation into consideration when voting for statehood for Puerto Rico. Assuming the issue comes up for a vote, I suspect the decision will be based on a number of factors, with voter participation being one of them. Perhaps it will be the controlling factor; perhaps not.

[TechTalk]

You express your opinions and I'll express mine.

I did and you do. I made a polite request regarding expressing opinions and concerns for people other than yourself. I even said please.

Like I said no one cares about the Puerto Ricans.

Well... so much for polite requests.

[faberryman]

I like Puerto Ricans.

Like I said no one cares about the Puerto Ricans.

[faberryman]

Maybe we should ask them if they want to rejoin Spain.  After all, most speak Spanish.

That was certainly a non-sequitur.

[faberryman]

Please speak for yourself regarding what people care about; or believe; or the arguments they make and their motivation for them. It's become a bad habit.

Alan frequently makes errors in logic, one of which is reliance on a false premise. In this case, the false premise is that everyone shares his opinion.

[Alan Klein]

I did and you do. I made a polite request regarding expressing opinions and concerns for people other than yourself. I even said please.

Well... so much for polite requests.

I didn't see you concerned when people here were expressing opinions about me.  Why is that allowed?

[Alan Klein]

Alan frequently makes errors in logic, one of which is reliance on a false premise. In this case, the false premise is that everyone shares his opinion.

There you go again with a personal cheap shot.  Why don't you attack the facts I present?  You only seem to know how to call people names.