The Quickest, Easiest Way to a Democratic Senate......

[displacedyankeedem]

'Twas thinking of how the '04 Senate elections when I came across an obvious route to a GUARANTEED Democratic Senate majority by then:

Make the District of Columbia a State(call it the state of Columbia)

Crazy? Not as much as you might think for the following reasons:
1)Historically:We fought a war of independence over this exact issue: the rallying cry way back then was "taxation without representation"; which is basically DC's current status.
2)Practically: It has a population of 572,059; hardly a small number which is more than Wyoming(494,423) and not that far off from Alaska(640,000), Vermont(613,090), and North Dakota(634,448). If Wyoming can send two GOP morons to the Senate, why can't DC get the same opportunity?

[mitchtv]

1. Time for Puerto Rico too

the thought makes the pukes cringe

[lcordero]

2. lol

[lcordero]

3. I think that it might be kind of strange to have 2 prolife Democrats

[mitchtv]

16. I remember before abortion was legal in the US

Puerto Rico and Denmark were THE places to go.

[valniel]

5. Puerto Rico is different

Puerto Rico has the option of voting for statehood, but has not done so yet!
Puerto Rico also has various Federal tax exemptions.
D.C. has neither!!:mad:

[On the Road]

6. Nah, Puerto Rico Would Vote Republican

Strange as that might sound. But admitting both DC and PR might be a tradeoff like Alaska and Hawaii.

Otherwise, all the "Taxation without Representation" liscence plates in DC won't make a difference.

[mndemocrat_29]

7. Puerto Rico Could Vote Democratic

While it isn't as liberal as DC (which would be more consistent than Hawaii, if that's possible), Puerto Rico would send a couple of Democrats to the capitol. Probably Senator Roberto Vigoreaux or Gov. Sila M. Calderon would both run. I believe they are both Democrats (the party system is different in Puerto Rico)

[GOPBasher]

8. Puerto Rico would be Republican?

That surprises me. Why is that? Is it because of social issues?

[ButterflyBlood]

12. I doubt it

right now most of their elected officials are the Puerto Rican equivalent of the Democratic party (they have different names over there). They'd be socially conservative Democrats probably, but still Democrats.

[goobergunch]

15. PR currently elects a Democratic delegate to the US House (n/t)

[mndemocrat_29]

4. Who would they be?

If the Democrats were allowed to have two senators out there, who would they send?

I assume Eleanor Holmes Norton would be one of them. Possibly Linda Cropp or Tony Williams?

[NewJerseyDem]

9. They have shadow congressmen

I don't know who they are but they already have shadow senators and a shadow congressman. I guess 2 of those and Eleanor Holmes Norton would probably win.

[NewJerseyDem]

10. New Columbia

That would be the name. They already came up with that in past statehood battles.

[meow2u3]

17. I don't know if DC would be named NEW Columbia

But at least, DC would be renamed plain ol' Columbia.

[NewJerseyDem]

11. Not by 2004

It requires a constitutional amendment. That would take a lot longer and couldn't be done by 2004. Also, the Republicans wouldn't let it happen while they are in control.

[goobergunch]

14. A DC Statehood Amdt. was proposed by Congress...

but it fell short of the 3/4ths needed to ratify.

[election_2004]

13. U.S. Senators if D.C. is made a state

Eleanor Holmes Norton and Karenna Gore Schiff