Newt Gingrich - I'm not a Citizen of the World

[ghettopalmetto]

I am not a fan of Newt Gingrich. He is a neocon. No need to say more about him.

CITIZEN [[Merriam-Webster online dictionary definition)
1: an inhabitant of a city or town ; especially : one entitled to the rights and privileges of a freeman
2 a: a member of a state b: a native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it
3: a civilian as distinguished from a specialized servant of the state

Much of this argument has to do with semantics. Sure, everyone is a citizen of the world in the very vague rhetorical and colloquiel definition Obama chose. I suppose its useful to distinguish us from space aliens. Given concerns about Obama's birth held by some, perhaps the citizen of the world definition works especially well for him. However, Gingrich used a more correct dictionary definition. I voted for a US presidential candidate not the president of the UN so I hope that President Obama doesn't enroll us in some international tax scheme proposal for taxation without representation.

WTF??? I think you just *made* this a discussion on semantics.

If you're so concerned about Taxation Without Representation, start here:

http://www.dcvote.org/

[oladub]

WTF??? I think you just *made* this a discussion on semantics.

If you're so concerned about Taxation Without Representation, start here:

http://www.dcvote.org/

ghetopatmetto, I am with you 100% about taxation without representation. DC residents should be allowed to vote as residents of Virginia which donated DC to the Federal government. I don't know how they could have given away the voting rights of DC citizens though.

I realize that for some people assigning meaning to words takes the fun and versatility out of them. Politicians hate such limitations too. Sorry. Yo! As one citizen of this galaxy to another, here is an apropo and inspirational quote.-


"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less." "The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things." "The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master—that's all.""

~ Lewis Carroll [[1832-1898)
English mathematician & author of "Adventures of Alice in Wonderland"
from Through the Looking Glass.

[ghettopalmetto]

ghetopatmetto, I am with you 100% about taxation without representation. DC residents should be allowed to vote as residents of Virginia which donated DC to the Federal government. I don't know how they could have given away the voting rights of DC citizens though.

Congress returned that part of the District of Columbia ceded by Fairfax County back to Virginia in 1846. It is now known as Arlington County. The remainder of the District is on land that was ceded by the State of Maryland.

DC residents never had representation in the Congress. Denizens of the District are NOT residents of Virginia, just as they are NOT residents of Maryland, New Mexico, Alaska, New Hampshire, or any other state. They deserve their own voice in Congress, especially given the unique legal and fiscal limitations that Congress imposes upon them.

I digress.

[oladub]

Aargh. You beat me back to the computer about Maryland. I stand corrected. Revise that to " DC residents should be allowed to vote as residents of MARYLAND which donated DC to the Federal government. "

With appropriate amendments to the US constitution, if necessary, and agreements with Maryland, the world citizens of Washington DC could and should be voting for Reps, Senators, and Presidents like the rest of us. Residents of Indian Reservations vote in elections in their states although reservations have special federal ties. DC residents, not already residents of states, should be able to do the same. If, like armed service personel, DC residents have a residence in another state, they should be allowed to vote in those states like armed service personel. I would be suprised if they can't already do that.

[ghettopalmetto]

Aargh. You beat me back to the computer about Maryland. I stand corrected. Revise that to " DC residents should be allowed to vote as residents of MARYLAND which donated DC to the Federal government. "

With appropriate amendments to the US constitution, if necessary, and agreements with Maryland, the world citizens of Washington DC could and should be voting for Reps, Senators, and Presidents like the rest of us. Residents of Indian Reservations vote in elections in their states although reservations have special federal ties. DC residents, not already residents of states, should be able to do the same. If, like armed service personel, DC residents have a residence in another state, they should be allowed to vote in those states like armed service personel. I would be suprised if they can't already do that.

Why Maryland? Why not Michigan? Why not Florida? Why not Kansas?

Think about what you're writing. How can you be a resident of Washington, DC and have residency in another state at the same time?

[Bobl]

Why does anyone care what he says? He is yesterday's news.

Here is a guy who served his wife divorce papers while she lay near death from cancer in a hospital bed, then claimed the moral high ground criticizing Bill Clinton for his stupid affair with Monica Lewinski.

[ghettopalmetto]

Why does anyone care what he says? He is yesterday's news.

Here is a guy who served his wife divorce papers while she lay near death from cancer in a hospital bed, then claimed the moral high ground criticizing Bill Clinton for his stupid affair with Monica Lewinski.

Oh boy oh boy! I can't wait to get my hands on "Five Principles for a Successful Life". I wonder what the chapter on dating and marriage has to say.

[oladub]

Why Maryland? Why not Michigan? Why not Florida? Why not Kansas?

Think about what you're writing. How can you be a resident of Washington, DC and have residency in another state at the same time?

DC was carved out of Maryland rather than Michigan, Florida, or Kansas.

Senator Stabenow, by way of example, has a residence in Michigan. Judge Sotomayer has a Greenwich Village pad into which she has sunk the bulk of her wealth. Both will also reside in Washington DC while carrying out their duties. Without having any count, I suspect that many Washington DC residents reside there temporarily attending to government or lobbying activities.

I know you don't like semantic definitions but "legal residence", "domicile", and "home of record" are related legal terms. This is a good article on these terms although it needs to be updated for the citizens of this world who have business with intergalactic beings.

http://definitions.uslegal.com/r/residence/

[ghettopalmetto]

DC was carved out of Maryland rather than Michigan, Florida, or Kansas.

Senator Stabenow, by way of example, has a residence in Michigan. Judge Sotomayer has a Greenwich Village pad into which she has sunk the bulk of her wealth. Both will also reside in Washington DC while carrying out their duties. Without having any count, I suspect that many Washington DC residents reside there temporarily attending to government or lobbying activities.

I know you don't like semantic definitions but "legal residence", "domicile", and "home of record" are related legal terms. This is a good article on these terms although it needs to be updated for the citizens of this world who have business with intergalactic beings.

http://definitions.uslegal.com/r/residence/

Let's put it this way. Just as you wouldn't want to be represented by someone from Ohio, DC residents don't want to be represented by someone that lives in Maryland. Likewise, Maryland doesn't want to have to concern itself with another large city. What you propose is not politically tenable.

Political appointees are not considered "residents" of the District of Columbia. This includes even low-level Hill staffers. Debbie Stabenow is a resident of Michigan [[and must be to hold her office, per Article I of the Constitution). So, suspect all you want. There are 600,000 legal residents of the capital of our nation who don't have any representation in the national legislature--an anomaly in democratic republics of the world.