Potential 51st State

[Tyyr]

This is getting swallowed up by the presidential election vote.

..SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A slim majority of Puerto Ricans sought to change their ties with the United States and become the 51st U.S. state in a non-binding referendum that would require final approval from Congress.

The two-part referendum asked whether the island wanted to change its 114-year relationship with the United States. Nearly 54 percent, or 922,374 people, sought to change it, while 46 percent, or 786,749 people, favored the status quo. Ninety-six percent of 1,643 precincts were reporting as of early Wednesday.

The second question asked voters to choose from three options, with statehood by far the favorite, garnering 61 percent. Sovereign free association, which would have allowed for more autonomy, received 33 percent, while independence got 5 percent.

President Barack Obama earlier expressed support for the referendum and pledged to respect the will of the people in the event of a clear majority.

It is unclear whether U.S. Congress will debate the referendum results or if Obama will consider the results to be a clear enough majority.

Puerto Rico's resident commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, who has championed statehood, did not return calls for comment. He received 48 percent or 874,914 votes, while his opponent, Rafael Cox Alomar, received 47 percent or 855,732 votes with 96 percent of precincts reporting.

The island is currently a U.S. territory whose inhabitants are U.S. citizens but are prohibited from voting in presidential elections. Its resident commissioner in the U.S. House also has limited voting powers.

The future of the island's political status, however, also is dependent on who governs the island.

According to partial election results, pro-statehood Gov. Luis Fortuno was ousted by a razor thin margin by an opponent who supports the island's current political status.

With 96 percent of precincts reporting, challenger Alejandro Garcia Padilla with the Popular Democratic Party received 48 percent or 870,005 votes. Fortuno, a Republican and leader of the New Progressive Party, received 47 percent or 855,325 votes.

Fortuno has not issued comment, while Garcia celebrated what he called a victory.

"I can assure you we have rescued Puerto Rico," Garcia said. "This is a lesson to those who think that the well-being of Puerto Ricans should be subjected to ideologies."

Election results also pointed to a major upset for Jorge Santini, who has been mayor of the capital of San Juan for 12 years. His opponent, Carmen Yulin Cruz, received 71,736 votes compared with Santini's 66,945 votes with 96 percent of precincts reporting.

The island's elections commission said it would resume counting votes late Wednesday morning.

[Deepcrush]

I would hope that they can build to more then a 54% desire to join the Union. However if that's their wish and the votes support it I hope that the US moves quickly to support their needs that are no doubt to come from such an event.

[Mikey]

It's about time. This "commonwealth" shit is a one-way benefit chute... that's pointing the wrong way.

[Deepcrush]

To be honest, anything that is only a one way chute for benefits is always going to be the wrong way.

[Mikey]

Very true. This has, still, been a long time coming.

[Lt. Staplic]

but, think about how much it's going to cost to replace all the flags...

[Tyyr]

It's nice to see some growth in the star count. Now Canada just needs to come to its senses.

[McAvoy]

It's nice to see some growth in the star count. Now Canada just needs to come to its senses.

I don't think the world would like the US nearly doubling its population and territory. Not to mention Quebec.

[Tyyr]

1) Fuck Quebec, they're not invited.
2) The world already doesn't like us so who cares?

[Jim]

West Side Story!!!

[Deepcrush]

I don't think the world would like the US nearly doubling its population and territory. Not to mention Quebec.

Is Canada's population really that large? I'd have guessed them only around the 100m mark.

1) Fuck Quebec, they're not invited.

Why not? Its the perfect place to build a wall around and dump our criminals.

2) The world already doesn't like us so who cares?

Amen.

[Tinadrin Chelnor]

Is Canada's population really that large? I'd have guessed them only around the 100m mark.

Canada's population is around only 32-35 million, so the US could add Canada and grow by about 12%.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Hey, the more the merrier.

[Tyyr]

Why not? Its the perfect place to build a wall around and dump our criminals.

Yeah but once we absorb the rest of Canada we can do that anyways without making them a state and having to pretend we care what the wannabe frogs think.

[Deepcrush]

Who said care about them? I sure didn't, I fully plan to leave the frogs there when we wall them in and dump the crooks in. I figured we'd treat them much the same as the south treats Alabama.