who do not want it. Not that it invalidates the cause but illustrate that a portion of Puerto Ricans may be opposed.

That's a pretty clear vote these days. I realize that many in Puerto Rico will still say they oppose statehood just as many here in the US still say they oppose Barack Obama.

every time statehood is voted upon, it never receives more than 5 or 6 per cent of the total vote. Some times the status quo wins, other times, as in the last election, statehood wins.

During last years GOP Presidential primary campaign, Rick Santorum campaigned down here. When asked about statehood he responded that when Puerto Rico is English only, statehood would be granted. Two of the State Senators who had endorsed him for the Presidency and were on the stage with him when he made his "English only" comment, promptly withdrew their endorsements of him when the campaign trip was over.

If the GOP thinks that Puerto Rico should be English-only, they should go on the record.

there are two major political parties down here, the New Progressive Party, allied with the GOP and the The Popular Democratic Party, allied with the Democrats. The New Progressive Party is pro-statehood, the Popular Democratic Party is for the status quo, "Commonwealth" status. In the last election, resulting in the vote for statehood, the people elected a Governor and a Congressional rep from the Popular Democratic Party (the pro status quo candidates), defeating the incumbents from the New Progressive Party (the Governor, Luis Fortunuo was promoted as Vice Presidential material by Grover Norquist--primarily because Fortunuo laid off 30,000 government employees). The leadership of the NDP and it's Puerto Rican Congressional allies (representing districts in Chicago and NY) are challenging the validity of the statehood election; voters had to vote twice for statehood on the ballot. The question was asked at the top of the paper ballot and then again at the bottom; many, many voters left the question at the bottom of the ballot unanswered. It is the PDP's position that the election victory for statehood is meaningless owing to that failure to vote twice. I doubt the issue will appear on the Congressional agenda any time soon. Yet another election, at least the third in twelve years that I know of, will probably be held.

until another territory likewise gets added, to offset the sudden addition of two (likely) Democratic Senators from PR.

It's crappy, to be sure, but it's all about electoral strategy.

Where do I sign the petition?

Make the Republicans explain to already outraged Latino voters that their rights are being denied over "electoral politics."

Let them go on record with their opposition. That would really derail their efforts to schmooze the Latino vote.

Again, seriously, if it really bothers them that much, they can bust Texas into pieces and get more Senators that way. The treaty that allowed Texas into the Union allows it to be divided into 5 states. One could debate whether that is still in effect since Texas joined the CSA, which was subsequently defeated. So if this really ticks them off that much, we'll do this:

Add Puerto Rico
Add DC
Break Texas into three states

It should even out.

But back to reality.. make them vote. Make them own it. Hell.. make them Filibuster it, and then make Marco Rubio explain why on Univision. But make sure there's plenty of bottled water handy.

It is time to join the 21st century

Let 'em in, I say.

Let me put this another way. If this state voted mostly Republican, and all other things were held equal, FAUX would be broadcasting outrage over their exclusion 24/7. It wold be bigger than Benghazi. It would be bigger than Nancy Grace talking about Jodi Arias.

It's Puerto Rico itself that doesn't have rights. Puerto Ricans can move to any US state and vote in Congressional elections.

The question is whether Puerto Ricans want to get statehood at the expense of paying income taxes and forever surrendering the possibility of independence as well as their identity as their own nation. Once you join this union, you pay dues for life.

They passed a referendum to join as dues payers.

for making an irrevocable decision needs to be more intensive. It has to be something that they not only favor, but are committed to. If it's 40% committed to it and 14% saying "seems like a good idea" not sure that's enough.

I do agree that the fate should be determined by Puerto Ricans, and if they're committed to becoming a state, they should be admitted into the union.

Local, state and national, as well.