NationStates Jolt Archive

Here's a US race that didn't get enough coverage:

111th House Freshmen: Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002982725), I-Northern Marianas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Mariana_Islands) (AL) defeated Pete A. Tenorio, R, to become first N. Marianas delegate to Congress. It would appear that President Bush created this non-voting seat in May of this year, as apparently we in the USA weren't paying enough attention to the needs of 179 sq miles of islands in Micronesia.

Sablan joins Guam's representative Madeleine Z. Bordallo (http://www.house.gov/bordallo/bio.html), adding substantially to the non-voting Pacific Rim representation in the US House of representatives. Sablan received a total of 2,279 votes our of ~9200 in this hotly-contested nine-way race. Clearly, the Northern Marianas are well up the ladder of applying for US Statehood.

Perhaps NSG can lead the path to statehood on their behalf. What the hell, it's something to do, right?

Be weird to have a new tiny little state, but hell why not.

What the hell, it's something to do, right?
This statement has led me to realize that I really need to get a social life. :p

Here's a US race that didn't get enough coverage:

111th House Freshmen: Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002982725), I-Northern Marianas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Mariana_Islands) (AL) defeated Pete A. Tenorio, R, to become first N. Marianas delegate to Congress. It would appear that President Bush created this non-voting seat in May of this year, as apparently we in the USA weren't paying enough attention to the needs of 179 sq miles of islands in Micronesia.

Sablan joins Guam's representative Madeleine Z. Bordallo (http://www.house.gov/bordallo/bio.html), adding substantially to the non-voting Pacific Rim representation in the US House of representatives. Sablan received a total of 2,279 votes our of ~9200 in this hotly-contested nine-way race. Clearly, the Northern Marianas are well up the ladder of applying for US Statehood.

Perhaps NSG can lead the path to statehood on their behalf. What the hell, it's something to do, right?

*Fails to understand American politics*

How can he receive votes if it's nonvoting, and also how can he get in if he only got 2,000 or so out of 9,000.

*Fails to understand American politics*

How can he receive votes if it's nonvoting, and also how can he get in if he only got 2,000 or so out of 9,000.

Nine ways election? Nine candidates?

Of course, for people so used to two guys for two parties, I guess is surprising and awe striking.

Oh yeah, it says 9 way.

How can he receive votes if it's nonvoting.

The position is elected, but he doesn't have a vote on the floor of Congress. Thus, the people of the Northern Marianas elect him, but he joins the other five non-voting members of Congress (http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Non-voting_members_of_Congress) (Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, US Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia) to be present but have no voice.

Both Puerto Rico and DC have made loud noises about statehood, but nobody is rushing to invite them in.

The position is elected, but he doesn't have a vote on the floor of Congress. Thus, the people of the Northern Marianas elect him, but he joins the other five non-voting members of Congress (http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Non-voting_members_of_Congress) (Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, US Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia) to be present but have no voice. Both Puerto Rico and DC have made loud noises about statehood, but nobody is rushing to invite them in.


What's the point in them being there if they can't do anything?

What's the point in them being there if they can't do anything?

They get a salary and a really nice pension plan. Also they can lobby for their interests. Helps tamp down the "No taxation without representation" chants too. We know how that ends.

fun fact: all of the non-voting delegates from our colonies are now affiliated with the dems either officially or unofficially

From the wiki on DC Rep Eleanor Holmes Norton (http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Eleanor_Holmes_Norton)

Unlike a full Representative, the delegate from the District of Columbia is not permitted a legislative vote. Also, she may speak only on behalf of the District and vote only in committee, not on the House floor. The District, which has no Senate member at all, shares its limited form of Congressional representation with Puerto Rico and three (now four) other U.S. territories. Unlike those territories or any other place in the United States, citizens are subject to all federal laws, including taxation, despite not being represented in Congress.
She can also apparently introduce bills, though none have ever made it very far.

Jeez, what a shit job.


No. Wait.

Sweet job. What a sweet job!

They're not going to allow statehood to any of the four un-represented territories without a damn good reason. They'd have to change all the flags.

DC needs statehood, Puerto Rico does not. Puerto Rico has the sweet deal of getting all the benefits of taxation without the taxes.

They'd have to change all the flags.

We'll have to change the flags anyway when we invade Cuba and make it a state. Might as well add a few others to the mix at the same time.

Besides, we used to do a lot more flag changing. Haven't had a new one since 1951. Aren't we overdue?

They're not going to allow statehood to any of the four un-represented territories without a damn good reason. They'd have to change all the flags.

we could rearrange a few of the previous states. i mean, do we really need two dakotas?

We'll have to change the flags anyway when we invade Cuba and make it a state. Might as well add a few others to the mix at the same time.

Besides, we used to do a lot more flag changing. Haven't had a new one since 1951. Aren't we overdue?

IIRC there are minimum population requirements to become a state. Its ridiculous to allow a senate vote to someplace with too few people. I'd rather see them getting stuck to another state than being made their own one.

With the Dakotas merged, we could add the State of Caribbea, adding both the USVI islands and PR. Easy.

DC needs to be reabsorbed into Maryland and Virginia anyway. Limit the District to the Mall and a couple streets on either side. Who'd notice?

Hawaii could be expanded to include the Micronesian districts. You need a plane to reach the different islands already. So flight time is a little longer. Deal with it.

Problem solved, no need for a new flag.

Actually the Northern Marianas Islands need more attention. They've long been a haven for illegal business practices and money laundering. It's a good thing, if this means that the crime bosses there are going to be given more attention in congressional hearings.

With the Dakotas merged, we could add the State of Caribbea, adding both the USVI islands and PR. Easy.

DC needs to be reabsorbed into Maryland and Virginia anyway. Limit the District to the Mall and a couple streets on either side. Who'd notice?

Hawaii could be expanded to include the Micronesian districts. You need a plane to reach the different islands already. So flight time is a little longer. Deal with it.

Problem solved, no need for a new flag.

hmm doesn't sound bad, I don't like very much merging the Dakotas, if a referendum showed that it was favorable, I'd say go for it though. Besides, if we add states and keep the 50-star flag, then we could hold competitions to see who this year's losers would be :D

Actually the Northern Marianas Islands need more attention. They've long been a haven for illegal business practices and money laundering. It's a good thing, if this means that the crime bosses there are going to be given more attention in congressional hearings.

it'll also help that the criminals don't have their former power in congress anymore (mainland republicans, mainly, btw)

And D.C. still doesn't have voting rights in the House or the Senate.

Fuckabuncha that shit.

And D.C. still doesn't have voting rights in the House or the Senate.

Fuckabuncha that shit.

dc should get a real rep now. the vote to give them one last year only failed to break the republican filibuster by 3 votes

it'll also help that the criminals don't have their former power in congress anymore (mainland republicans, mainly, btw)

Yeah... Ish. I wouldn't look to the Dems. to be the heroes on this one. CNMI may well be a primarily Republican zone of corruption, but none of the DC crowd likes to attack the hands that scratch their collective backs.