1. Excellent news! Bueno!!!

2. DOA in Elephant Congress — since PR is full of more Donkeys

   — waiting to move to and take Donkey Control in Florida (and other States).

   See Bush v Gore 2000 math in FL.

3. No, It doesn’t matter you want Statehood (even it’s pretty outdated for me and others who don’t like Colonization) its never going to happen or soundly improbable, especially not under sadly Trump Administration.

4. I think that a new status could be created for Puerto Rico. Several former trust territories have become what are called “associated states” Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands. But, the residents of these places don’t have US citizenship, unless acquired prior to independence. Puerto Ricans have US citizenship, and are reluctant to become independent for fear of losing that status. What could be done is to create a new status: Associated state with US citizenship. The country would be technically independent, but the residents would have dual US and Puerto Rican citizenship, and could enter the US at will, as they do now.

5. Some of the USA colonies are WAR CONQUEST areas.

   Some of such WCA became regular States —

   SW States — NM, AZ, CA, etc. (from 1846 Mexican American War).
   —
   NO such thing as dual citizen stuff (in rational regimes)–

   what if there is a WAR between the regimes ???

   — each half of a dual citizen person shoots/captures the other half in the war ???

   — gets charged with treason ???

   See Art III, Sec. 2 — regimes and their citizens/subjects.
   —

   P.R. can become a nation-state and liberate the other Carib. Sea islands – esp Cuba —

   become like Canada- a Spanish version.

6. I thought Puerto Rico has a Resident Commissioner not a Delegate.

7. @WZ,

   One issue has been who would have the right to vote in any referendum. If for independence, Puerto Ricans living in the United States would presumably be treated as prospective Puerto Rican citizenship. Someone like Justice Sonia Sotomayor would qualify. On the other hand on a question of statehood, citizens of Illinois or New York might not be able to vote, though some bills would provide that they could.

8. ALLEGIANCE TO WHAT REGIME — STATE OR PR.

   PERMANENT RESIDENCE/INHABITANT OR NOT.

9. @JM:

   Presumably, Congress would have the final say on the status of PR. So, a referendum on status could have different classes of voters, and the results, overall, and by class, could be presented to Congress. Also, given that such referenda in the past have been multiple choice, ranked voting for each status option could be used.

10. @WZ,

    If the people of Puerto Rico are sovereign, then Congress does not have the final say. Congress can make suggestions on what sort of popular support would be required for a change in status that they would accept.

    In the past various sides have attempted to manipulate the questions in order to achieve a particular result. For example, one referendum asked (1) change in status vs. status quo. If approved, then a second question of (1) independent statehood vs. United States statehood. I think this had about 25% turnout, with 97% support for United States statehood. Other times there have been suggestions of reformed commonwealth status, but there has been no indication that Congress would be interested.

11. WZ —

    Perhaps highest majority Approval Vote on PR status ???

    — ie might have NO Condorcet Winner using Number Votes.

12. @DR,

    I suspect that none of the six options:
    (1) Independent statehood;
    (2) Independent statehood in association with USA (e.g. Micronesia, etc.)
    (3) Enhanced status quo;
    (4) Status quo;
    (5) US statehood;
    (6) Incorporated territory.

    Would have majority approval. (2) and (3) might not have congressional support.

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