U.S. Pacific Territories Enjoy a Little Political Power in Republican Presidential Contest

According to this article, all the leading Republican presidential candidates are sending campaign aides to the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa. The article doesn’t mention Guam specifically, but it is likely that the points in the article apply to Guam also.

The reason is not so much for the presidential candidates to win the small number of delegates that the Pacific territories have. Instead it is because of the rule that says no one can be placed in nomination at the convention unless he or she has a majority in at least eight states or territories. For that purpose, all states and territories are equally important.


Comments

U.S. Pacific Territories Enjoy a Little Political Power in Republican Presidential Contest — 10 Comments

  1. Used against Rep. Ron Paul in 2012 because he won seven state majorities. They’ll increase the number with another candidate they don’t like.

  2. Let’s not forget we have two unorganized incorporated remainders
    of two United States Territories in the Pacific Ocean, viz., Territory of Hawai’i and the Territory of Michigan.

    Sincerely, Mark Seidenberg, Chairman, American Independent Party of California

  3. Excellent point, Michael. Both parties change rules to suit their whims. This is why I argue neither can truly be considered legitimate parties. They operate more like street gangs.

  4. Mark Seidenberg: I am aware that Palmyra Atoll consitutes the unorganized incorporated leftovers of the former Territory of Hawaii, but what area that was part of the Territory of Michigan was not included in the state of michigan or any other state?

  5. Will Fenwick,

    Answer several islands in the Pacific Ocean. The most referenced
    were the Washington Islands. However, the last U. S. government
    reference was dated May 17, 1884.

    That was the date the southern part of the San Carlos Islands,
    viz., to the South of 55 degrees North left the remainder of the
    Territory of Michigan (then unorganized) and entered the District of Alaska (organized but unincorporated). The act was done by Major Ezra Westcote Clark an attorney with the Department of the Treasury who represented an internal board in the United States Department of the Treasury. Major Clark also served as Chief of the United States Revenue Marine (an agency
    of the United States Department of the Treasury). The purpose
    was to give a limited form of civil government to Forrester Island in the North Pacific which prior to May 17, 1884 was
    South of Alaska.

  6. Will Fenwick,

    Answer several islands in the Pacific Ocean. The most referenced
    were the Washington Islands. However, the last U. S. government
    reference was dated May 17, 1884.

    That was the date the southern part of the San Carlos Islands,
    viz., to the South of 55 degrees North left the remainder of the
    Territory of Michigan (then unorganized) and entered the District of Alaska (organized but unincorporated). The act was done by Major Ezra Westcote Clark an attorney with the Department of the Treasury who represented an internal board in the United States Department of the Treasury. Major Clark also served as Chief of the United States Revenue Marine (an agency
    of the United States Department of the Treasury). The purpose
    was to give a limited form of civil government to Forrester Island in the North Pacific which prior to May 17, 1884 was
    South of Alaska.

  7. Mark Seidenberg: Can you point me to any references substantiating this? I’ve done vast research involving the territorial evolution of the United States, and have never come across this anywhere.

  8. The Pacific island of Midway (famous for a WW2 battle) is at the extreme end of the Hawaiian Islands chain but is not part of the State of Hawaii.

  9. Gene,

    Midway is not at the extreme end of the Hawaiian Islands chain.
    The island most distant from the main islands is Stewart Atoll.

    Will Fenwick,

    I suggest you read “Anglo-American Relations and the Russian Ukase: A Reassessment”, by Irby C. Nichos, Jr. & Richard A. Ward, PACIFIC HISTORICAL REVIEW, Vol. 41, No. 4 (Nov. 1972)
    pp. 444 – 459.

    Prior to May 17, 1884, Forrester Island of the San Carlos Islands was in the remainder of the Territory of Michican
    because it was South of 55 degrees North. On May 17, 1884,
    Ezra Westcote Clark placed Forrester Island in the District of
    Alaska.

    Sincerely, Mark Seidenbrg, Chairman, American Independent Party
    of California

  10. Will Fenwich,

    Additionally there is a lot of information about Zebulen Montgomery
    Pike mapping part of the “GAP” om the Western Boundary of Michigan
    Territory to the North of the Mississippi circa 1805. Michigan Territory at the time went into several islands in the Pacific
    Ocean.

    One needs to read the 1799 Ukase of Tsar Paul I and historical
    documents related to the territory to the North of 53 degrees
    North and South of 55 degrees North.

    This is at a time period before the Faden Map of 1825.

    Sincerely, Mark Seidenberg, Chairman, American Independent
    Party of California

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