The Complicated Path to DC Statehood. ANALYSIS(you must be kidding!)

REALCLEAR ^

[DIRTYSECRET]

*Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17 of the Constitution, “The Congress shall have Power …To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases over such District*

*A new amendment could be added to the Constitution to make D.C. a state. This would require Congress to propose an amendment and three-fourths of the nation’s state legislatures to ratify it.*

---

TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS:

[DIRTYSECRET]

Getting sick of this subject because it won't go away. Could 51 democrat senators do it? Doubt it. Would the courts affirm the need for a(impassible) constitutional amendment? Depends on the judges.

Our leadership needs to play hardball with the race-baiting element. Statehood is not an issue outside D.C and our candidates need to bring it up-it's good politics to bring up teachable history.

[escapefromboston]

Or just let the residents vote in Maryland elections and keep the federal buildings/property its own separate entity

[Dilbert San Diego]

I think that’s a good idea. That would take care of the argument that residents in DC do not have congressional representation. Make most of the District of Columbia, a part of Maryland again, and that takes care of that.

[Jamestown1630]

I think it IS an issue outside of DC. It would give the state two senators.

[Socon-Econ]

DC statehood: unconstitutional.

[DIRTYSECRET]

The racism charges are bunk but they’ve been able to get away for it too long. That’s why I say teachable. Newt’s was a history professor. His speeches gave listeners the feeling they were back at the university while working stiffs could easily understand and think they could have made it to college.

The threat of D.C. statehood is not there now. We should be proactive and welcome the discussion outside D.C. Think university campuses where high profile political leaders can challenge each other. Noteworthy comments would go viral and disturb the left, keeping them on defense.

D.C.’s original borders. Advocate them and watch the left explode. The strategy is to keep throwing them curves.

[escapefromboston]

Republicans could promote this idea and then the entire statehood “question” becomes moot

[TangoLimaSierra]

Yep. Just tell Thune that the majority of Republicans want it.

[DIRTYSECRET]

**Or just let the residents vote in Maryland elections and keep the federal buildings/property its own separate entity**
**Make most of the District of Columbia, a part of Maryland again, and that takes care of that.**
Those were my thoughts in my RINO days-compromise. Now we see how the left plays and I say don’t give an inch. I’d tell them if they don’t like it they can move.

**DC statehood: unconstitutional.**
That term and the constitution itself means nothin to the left. If we’re proactive bringing it up we won’t have to defend a document that too many people don’t understand when it comes to the details.

[DIRTYSECRET]

**I think it IS an issue outside of DC. It would give the state two senators.**

Very good. The 2 senators issue would need no explanation and there are plenty of red states that could nip it in the bud. The left will then resort to other nefarious ways.

[shelterguy]

“””Yep. Just tell Thune that the majority of Republicans want it.””””

And it would be named Trumpville.

[Jonty30]

Liberals like to act like irritants until they get what they want.

[hanamizu]

Then there’s the 23rd Amendment. It too would have to be repealed via Constitutional Amendment. Giving MD back its donation minus government buildings would mean that anyone who might live in a government building would have the right to vote for three Electors.

But we need to go back to the reason that Congress has exclusive legislative control over the District. It was to prevent a hostile state government from holding government workers and officials hostage. I know that it’s hard to imagine a hostile state government targeting Federal office holders (cough, cough, Letitia James!!) but the Founders wisely foresaw such a possibility.

[Jim Noble]

DC was created by the Constitution, Congress did not have the authority to return 1/3 of it to Virginia in 1846 so that the slave trade could continue in Alexandria, and Congress positively does not have the authority to admit the remaining 2/3 of the original District as a State.

It is possible that Congress could admit Puerto Rico as a State under certain circumstances.

[dfwgator]

If DC becomes the 51st state, that means the flag will need to be changed.

And guess what? They will propose a total redesign of the flag, instead of just adding an additional star.

[DIRTYSECRET]

You are so right but then you are confusing the issue with logic. Not much of it these days and everything illogical works in favor of the rats.

[verum ago]

you are confusing the issue with logic. Not much of it these days and everything illogical works in favor of the rats.

I find myself struck by this statement. It's so true. And I guess it lends a little insight into why they tear everything down and avoid consistent, long-term principles at all costs: all they're after is power. And if the rules and goals of the political game are never fixed, then they're at liberty to constantly manipulate them to their advantage, imposing restrictions on their opponents and instilling built-in advantages for themselves.

[electricjack]

You can’t the Constitution makes DC a separate entity. Period,,,

[arthurus]

If the Democrats hold both Houses and the presidency in 2029 I expect rule may begin b y having Congress pass the DC amendment without further process. or even to just declare DC a state. The major political fight will be between the old time Democrats and DSA. If DSA holds more than three of four seats in Congress, the chance that DSA will prevail is high and the DSA program of eliminating the Court and Senate will prevail or nearly prevail by decree. Supreme Court Justices will be retired or jailed if they refuse to leave the bench. Ditto the Senators. If there is not a strong, perhaps even military reaction, that will be the final spike. Everything past that will be manicuring and eyebrow plucking. A successful military reaction, of course, presents a whole new can of worms.

Turkiye was protected for more than half a century by the Constitutional provision that the Army is the Protector of the Republic. The army took over twice during that time and cleaned out the would be communists and then stepped out of the picture. That ceased to work when Erdogan gradually removed the entire command structure of the army and replaced all of the Constitutionally minded judges. After that the dictatorship is in power for the forseeable future.

[arthurus]

That does not accomplish the desired end. DC then would not add two Democrat Senators.