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The real deal is Puerto Rico gets tons more Federal welfare money of all kinds than it contributes in taxes. Among the most of any state/territory. Yet at the same time Puerto Rico wanted the Navy to get rid of a very valuable bombing range and asset at Vieques. You are US citizens yet you try to hobble our military.

It's outrageous. Gimme gimme gimme and then you evict the US Navy. Where is the gratitude? My guess is your island would go communist if we cut off the welfare and we don't want another Fidel Castro or Hugo Chavez.

Careful with the "you"; "tiredoflurking" is a Republican.

Actually, most of the activists causing trouble at Vieques were leftist mainlanders, not Puerto Ricans. The Puerto Ricans work there, and depend on it for their living. But there are a lot of mainlanders that are turning Vieques into their own private domain, and they tend to be leftists.

And, then there are the leftists and academics on the island, who are as pro-military as any academic anywhere in the US. You have to realize, you are dealing with the same ilk there as here. The left hates the US. Doesn't matter if they are mainlanders or islanders, or Euros or Egyptians.

The governor is, basically, a Democrat. She tried to find some kind of a compromise to satisfy the left, but in the end, she tilted left. Why? She's a Democrat. She is playing to the left, while trying to hang on to the jobs that go with the base. Does that sound irrational? Hypocritical? Of course. She's a Democrat.

The break-down on the island between Repubs and Demos is about the same as on the mainland, and the non-Democrat hardcore left is a distinct minority. Which means that there, like here, if you are a Repub, you have your work cut out for you. My position is you don't back down to the left there, or here, or anywhere. Any small victory only encourages them.

I haven't tried to hobble anything. You don't even know me!

The reason Puerto Ricans (those on the island) aren't contributing much in taxes is that they don't have representation in the government. No taxation without representation, remember? Even Pres. Bush said he wouldn't support taxing PR under its current status, but he would support statehood if they wanted it. Those on the island can't vote for President or have voting members in Congress or the Senate. Therefore they are not taxed on their earnings. If you want to get money from PR, it would have to be made a state. There are plenty of wealthy Puerto Ricans. The island was quite impoverished 100 years ago, but it's a new day.

In '98 only 2% of the people voted for independence (this is what the terrorists support). It doesn't really matter because we don't limit ourselves to the island. I hate to break it to you, but we do live all over this great country now. Just try getting rid of us, although I don't know why you'd want to lose all those votes. As I said, there are a lot of conservatives from PR.

P.S. I've never said "gimme gimme" to anybody, and how dare you suggest Puerto Rico would "go communist." I'm beginning to think I registered for this website way too quickly. I was wrong. A Democrat isn't any worse than an ignorant bigot.