[Ebenezer]

ping

[Gay State Conservative]

I'm all for Puerto Rican Independence.But they've gotta understand that with Independence goes the loss of US citizenship and the right to live here.

[EagleUSA]

Maybe we should just give Puerto Rico back to Spain. I am not sure why we need another tax-sucking welfare state like PR, and the socialist Spanish government could take care of it.

Give it back. Save the taxes.

[NewJerseyJoe]

This is ridiculous, if I remember my history correctly. I was taught in grade school that Puerto Rico has long had the choice to vote on whether to (A) become independent, (B) apply for statehood, or (C) continue in its present status -- and that, every time this vote has come up, P.R. voters have chosen (C). P.R. doesn't need Spain to speak for it -- if it wants to change its geopolitical status, it's got the means -- it simply needs the will, i.e., has to convince its voters.

(please correct me if I've gotten the facts wrong...)

[Just another Joe]

Father government speaking, "You want independence? I'll GIVE you independence!"

If PR wants to become a separate country, that's fine with me.
They do need to remember that they can no longer be American citizens if that happens.

[Centurion2000]

Understanding that Spain has "a moral debt" to Puerto Rico after ceding the island [to the United States] following the Spanish-American War, Popular Democratic Party (PPD) Senator Eudaldo Báez Galib asked the government of Spain to intervene to help solve the problem of the [island's political] status.

What's the problem? Either become a state or get the hell out. ANY territory should start getting reorganized as states at this point.

[Little Ray]

What is Puerto Rico’s case? We’ve offered them independence, we’ve offered them statehood - just what the heck do they want?

Is is possible to force them to be an independent country?

[Political Junkie Too]

Understanding that Spain has "a moral debt" to Puerto Rico after ceding the island [to the United States] following the Spanish-American War...

Does England have a "moral debt" to the USA? France to Louisiana?

-PJ

[RonF]

The Senator is apparently not satisfied with the democratic process in Puerto Rico and is looking for a court to overrule the will of the island’s people.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Maybe he can schedule another referendum.

[marron]

No need to go before any court, you just hold an election. Its easy.

But, of course, then you’d have to accept the will of the people as determined by the vote, which guys like this most assuredly don’t want to do. He is venue-shopping, he’s looking for a judge to give him what his powers of persuasion and the will of his fellow citizens won’t give him.