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Right.....Puerto Rico has huge legacy of Conservatism both there and in the US mainland.

No, I'm not in Jamaica. It was a joking subterfuge i forgot about . Clemenza knows i'm in Nashville

I lived in Manhattan for 8 years....all I saw were Puerto Rican Democrat party machine politics.

I visited the island for many years bunkering at Mayaguez. I saw conditions oh so ripe for the Democrats...much like the Rio Grande Valley.

I'm sure you're swell and mean right but odds are Puerto Rico would go Dem and stay there and the balance nationally is how too close right now to afford that indulgence.

I'm old. I don't play "what if" emotive reasoning politics. Most rural southern blacks are church going social conservatives too but they still vote Democrat so I see little to tell me PR even if religiously Catholic would be much different if their history is any indication. Which reminds me....I think this past election is the first time Catholics have gone Pubbie since Reagan 1984 anyhow....so that argument doesn't carry well.

The exception does not make the rule....an adage lost on many here.

when i was young and idealistic i was in favor of statehood too before i grasped realpolitk.

I pinged some other NYers for their view....which may indeed be different from mine.

I would have more faith in the politics of Cuban expats if we must have a Caribbean state...but it's a bit early for that.

I have been spending time on the Island for nearly 40 years. I do business there with the film industry (all to the left of Howard Dean - and proudly so - but with few exceptions we get along). I own a parcel out in Rincon that has views of Desecheo where we plan to build next year. In other words, I have a long history with Puerto Rico and I obviously love the place.

My contacts with New Yoricans is nearly as long and covers the financial/class gamut from the projects in Alphabet City to upper-middle class entrepreneurs. I am happy to say that I number a few among my long-time friends.

That said, I offer my opinion, which is this.....Puerto Ricans (again, imo) are just like nearly every other American group that has been here since before the eighties. Their patriotism and willingness to fight for our Flag is beyond reproach. That however is not the issue.

The lower-income, urban segments are dems from cradle to grave. The middle to upper middle class are leaning our way. The movers and shakers are Conservative (with the exception of the self-described communists in the PR film biz). Since the larger percentage of the Island's population falls into the urban/poor category I agree with WD that all statehood would give us is two more socialist senators. For that reason I am against statehood.