“Puerto Rico” on The Daily Caller

Rum and politics have made a fiery mix since America’s earliest days, when a young politician named George Washington won election to the House of Burgesses in colonial Virginia with the help of spiked punch at the polls. (more)

NEW YORK — Angel Roldan has plenty of Puerto Rican pride, even though he moved away from the island at age 2. His street vendor’s stall on E. 116th Street, the heart of the Puerto Rican neighborhood of East Harlem, was filled with red, white and blue merchandise for the city’s annual Puerto Rican Day parade Sunday, the day-long party honoring the heritage of nearly 800,000 New York residents. (more)

LIMA, Peru – A Dutch man long suspected in the disappearance of an Alabama teen in Aruba was arrested Thursday in the murder of a young woman in Peru. (more)

Everything about Debrahlee Lorenzana is hot. Even her name sizzles. At five-foot-six and 125 pounds, with soft eyes and flawless bronze skin, she is J.Lo curves meets Jessica Simpson rack meets Audrey Hepburn elegance—a head-turning beauty. (more)

For the time being, it seems the hype and brouhaha over Arizona’s simple legislation recognizing federal immigration laws has subsided: The Reverend Al “Don’t Get Between Me and the Camera” Sharpton has marched (again and again), boycotts have been threatened, though failed for MLB’s All Star Game, and somehow, no reports to date of a family out for ice cream being thrown in the local gulag for not having their “papers.” (more)

“We shall continue to encourage the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in its political growth and economic development in accordance with the wishes of its people and the fundamental principle of self-determination.” So said the Republican party platform in August 20, 1956. (more)

“Eat it and hush.” That’s what grandma used to say before force-feeding the young children collard greens and skim milk. And it seems Pelosi et al. are using that tactic at The Capitol’s cafeteria. (more)

Embattled Bronx politico Pedro Espada Jr. looted a whopping $14 million over the past five years from a non-profit that he runs — including giving himself a $9 million severance package, paying for family vacations to Puerto Rico and hefty bills at sushi restaurants, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s office revealed today. (more)

Dead people were claiming tax refunds and the children of strangers were listed as dependents. (more)

NEW YORK (AP) — Ricky Martin is no longer denying the rumors: He’s gay. (more)

NEW YORK – A U.S. citizen accused of hijacking a plane and forcing it to go to Cuba more than four decades ago pleaded guilty Thursday to kidnapping, conspiracy to commit air piracy and interfering with a flight crew. (more)

Republicans are upping the pressure on Obama diplomatic nominee Mari Carmen Aponte, demanding to see details of her background investigation conducted by the Administration. (more)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Fans look down from their seats onto the baseball field, see dark-colored skin and might assume they are African-American players. (more)