2012 Election Center: The Main Event - Obama Wins

[Dodece]

@Puerto Rico

Technically speaking a clear majority isn't required, and technically speaking a majority isn't required at all. The act of democratic self determination isn't guaranteed. Though the United States has a tradition of accepting the verdict of the local population. They are not legally speaking of a right to dictate anything. This is simply put the purview of the federal government and the Congress. They have every right to force statehood, grant statehood, or even cast out a territory.

That said Congress can accept these results as a clear mandate if they so choose. Which logically speaking both parties have a great deal of incentive to do. Republicans need to recuperate the image their party portrays with Hispanic voting blocks, and voting for expanding the Union to incorporate a new Spanish speaking state would be a strong move towards inclusiveness. While Democrats would need to be in favor of statehood to maintain their current image, and to reward as they see it one of their strongest voting blocks.

Basically voting for admission would be a mutually beneficial vote. Both parties stand to gain politically, and it is just plain popular with the public when the nation expands. Congress desperately needs a popularity boost. So as it stands I can't see how Puerto Rico doesn't end up becoming a state. There are too many pluses, and just far too few minuses. Anyway it seems to be almost inevitable. If you believe the narrative that has been perpetuated about the American Revolution. Such a situation shouldn't be able to stand indefinitely.

Anyway I wouldn't be shocked if this moved forward in the lame duck session. The members going out might well see this as a accomplishment to hang their hats on. Just like don't ask don't tell in 2010, or Somalia was for the first Bush. When members go out they want to leave on a high note, and this looks like something they wouldn't even have to fight hard for.