U.S. to shift Cuba policy, normalize relations (1 Viewer)

[msommer]

I'm guessing Tim's first post will be something like. "It's about time, but I'm not sure how I feel about this."

Shortly thereafter Strike52k will follow to blast him for waffling or something

 

[Sammy3469]

From Lindsay Graham:

I will do all in my power to block the use of funds to open an embassy in Cuba. Normalizing relations with Cuba is bad idea at a bad time.

 

[joffer]

From Lindsay Graham:

I will do all in my power to block the use of funds to open an embassy in Cuba. Normalizing relations with Cuba is bad idea at a bad time.

these guys couldn't have an original thought with a gun to their head....unless they were term limited

 

[CBusAlex]

Pretty sure communism would have crumbled if we'd just kept the embargo in place for a few more centuries.

 

[George Jefferson Airplane]

From Lindsay Graham:

I will do all in my power to block the use of funds to open an embassy in Cuba. Normalizing relations with Cuba is bad idea at a bad time.

I love Jon Stewart's Graham impersonation.

 

[The Z Machine]

FINALLY!

 

[Gr00vus]

Boehner: 'This emboldens all state sponsors of terrorism'

House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) issued a statement criticizing President Obama’s move to normalize relations with Cuba.

“Relations with the Castro regime should not be revisited, let alone normalized, until the Cuban people enjoy freedom – and not one second sooner,” Boehner said. “There is no ‘new course’ here, only another in a long line of mindless concessions to a dictatorship that brutalizes its people and schemes with our enemies. If anything, this emboldens all state sponsors of terrorism, as they now have an even better idea of what the president meant when he once told Russian leaders he would have ‘more flexibility’ after his reelection.”

Boehner went on to add that despite these sentiments, “we all feel great joy and relief for Alan Gross and his family.”

Yeah, he's had a lot more flexibility to screw over Russia the past month. Perhaps Boehner should pay attention to what's happening to the ruble.

He doesn't have time - too much partisan hackery to conduct.

Boehner needs to consider the tanning options that Cuba provides.

You're talking leather working here, right?

 

[Swing 51]

Celebrating Hanukkah by returning homeThe timing of Gross’s release, coming as it does on the first full day of Hanukkah, was not lost on Jewish leaders celebrating his return to the United States.

“The headline for the Jewish community is that on the first day of Hanukkah, we are overjoyed with the miracle of Alan Gross being returned to his family,” said William Daroff, senior vice president for public policy, the Jewish Federations of North America, which represents more than 150 Jewish Federations across North America.

Daroff, who said he knows Alan and Judy Gross well, described the five-year imprisonment as an incredibly difficult time for the family. He also said that while he was “overjoyed,” he was not particularly surprised, as there have been talks for five years and stronger indications recently.

“Certainly over the last few months there were indications that there would be movement, and that there would be movement in December,” he said.

Daroff is planning to attend the White House Hanukkah party on Wednesday evening, and he said Gross’s release would add another element to the celebration.

“I think it’ll be very joyous,” he said. “There are few things that unite the Jewish people as much as the freeing of our captives. Whether you’re a Republican or Democrat, a liberal or a conservative, today we are all one people, united in delight over Alan Gross’s freedom.”

— Susan Svrluga

 

[eoMMan]

good cigars and rum

And Cuban gals

And coffee.

 

[Jackstraw]

On Wednesday, shortly after 12 ET, President Obama will announce major changes in U.S. policy towards Cuba. From a White House release, some of the details:

• The President has instructed the Secretary of State to immediately initiate discussions with Cuba on the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba, which were severed in January 1961.
• In the coming months, we will re-establish an embassy in Havana and carry out high-level exchanges and visits between our two governments as part of the normalization process.
• General licenses will be made available for all authorized travelers ... under existing regulations and guidelines.
• Remittance levels will be raised from $500 to $2,000 per quarter for general donative remittances to Cuban nationals ...
• Licensed U.S. travelers to Cuba will be authorized to import $400 worth of goods from Cuba, of which no more than $100 can consist of tobacco products and alcohol combined.

And:

• Gross' "humanitarian" release by Cuba was accompanied by a separate spy swap, the officials said. Cuba also freed a U.S. intelligence source who has been jailed in Cuba for more than 20 years, although authorities did not identify that person for security reasons. The U.S. released three Cuban intelligence agents convicted of espionage in 2001.
• Cuba has agreed to release 53 political prisoners from a list of names provided by the United States.

Condemnation by Marco Rubio is scheduled for 12:30 ET.

 

[NutterButter]

The stock market loves this news

 

[Fennis]

From Lindsay Graham:

I will do all in my power to block the use of funds to open an embassy in Cuba. Normalizing relations with Cuba is bad idea at a bad time.

I love Jon Stewart's Graham impersonation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94VaLGzoPRo

 

[Gary Coal Man]

Rubio is an idiot.

Your state also has an outspoken critic....

The Hill

Sen. Robert Menendez (N.J.), the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is slamming President Obama over the deal to release an American held in Cuba.

“President Obama's actions have vindicated the brutal behavior of the Cuban government," Menendez, known for his tough stance on Cuba, said in a statement.

"There is no equivalence between an international aid worker and convicted spies who were found guilty of conspiracy to commit espionage against our nation."

American aid worker Alan Gross, who was held in Cuba for five years for trying to set up Internet for a small Jewish community, was released on Wednesday as the U.S. released three Cuban agents convicted of spying.

Menendez said the move "sets an extremely dangerous precedent."

"It invites dictatorial and rogue regimes to use Americans serving overseas as bargaining chips. I fear that today’s actions will put at risk the thousands of Americans that work overseas to support civil society, advocate for access to information, provide humanitarian services, and promote democratic reforms."

Obama's move to begin normalizing relations with Cuba is reverberating across the political world, with members of both parties blasting the decision.

Asked about Menendez's statement, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said that although the administration "obviously have tremendous respect" for the senator, they rejected his characterization of the deal.

"We fundamentally disagree, and there's no soft-pedaling that," Earnest said.

Earnest insisted Menendez was wrong to describe the release of the three Cuban spies as a swap for Gross. Earnest argued that Gross was freed humanitarian grounds, while the spies were freed in exchange for a U.S. intelligence asset who had been jailed in Cuba for nearly 20 years.

"There was no concession. Mr. Gross was released on humanitarian grounds."

 

[lod01]

Might have to watch Hannity tonight.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

On Wednesday, shortly after 12 ET, President Obama will announce major changes in U.S. policy towards Cuba. From a White House release, some of the details:

• The President has instructed the Secretary of State to immediately initiate discussions with Cuba on the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba, which were severed in January 1961.
• In the coming months, we will re-establish an embassy in Havana and carry out high-level exchanges and visits between our two governments as part of the normalization process.
• General licenses will be made available for all authorized travelers ... under existing regulations and guidelines.
• Remittance levels will be raised from $500 to $2,000 per quarter for general donative remittances to Cuban nationals ...
• Licensed U.S. travelers to Cuba will be authorized to import $400 worth of goods from Cuba, of which no more than $100 can consist of tobacco products and alcohol combined.

And:

• Gross' "humanitarian" release by Cuba was accompanied by a separate spy swap, the officials said. Cuba also freed a U.S. intelligence source who has been jailed in Cuba for more than 20 years, although authorities did not identify that person for security reasons. The U.S. released three Cuban intelligence agents convicted of espionage in 2001.
• Cuba has agreed to release 53 political prisoners from a list of names provided by the United States.

Condemnation by Marco Rubio is scheduled for 12:30 ET.

Move this up to the front of the 2016 presidential race agenda in Florida.

The big fear for the GOP and Demos has always been the reaction of the Cuban expats in Florida, well we shall see.

 

[msommer]

Timing is interesting with Jeb announcing his candidacy yday

 

[The General]

Might have to watch Hannity tonight.

The faux outrage will be extra thick tonight.

 

[Lutherman2112]

Timing is interesting with Jeb announcing his candidacy yday

This has been months in the making, according to NYT:

In a deal negotiated during 18 months of secret talks hosted largely by Canada and encouraged by Pope Francis, who hosted a final meeting at the Vatican, Mr. Obama and President Raúl Castro of Cuba agreed in a telephone call to put aside decades of hostility to find a new relationship between the United States and the island nation just 90 miles off the American coast.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Rubio is an idiot.

Your state also has an outspoken critic....

The Hill

Sen. Robert Menendez (N.J.), the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is slamming President Obama over the deal to release an American held in Cuba.

“President Obama's actions have vindicated the brutal behavior of the Cuban government," Menendez, known for his tough stance on Cuba, said in a statement.

"There is no equivalence between an international aid worker and convicted spies who were found guilty of conspiracy to commit espionage against our nation."

American aid worker Alan Gross, who was held in Cuba for five years for trying to set up Internet for a small Jewish community, was released on Wednesday as the U.S. released three Cuban agents convicted of spying.

Menendez said the move "sets an extremely dangerous precedent."

"It invites dictatorial and rogue regimes to use Americans serving overseas as bargaining chips. I fear that today’s actions will put at risk the thousands of Americans that work overseas to support civil society, advocate for access to information, provide humanitarian services, and promote democratic reforms."

Obama's move to begin normalizing relations with Cuba is reverberating across the political world, with members of both parties blasting the decision.

Asked about Menendez's statement, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said that although the administration "obviously have tremendous respect" for the senator, they rejected his characterization of the deal.

"We fundamentally disagree, and there's no soft-pedaling that," Earnest said.

Earnest insisted Menendez was wrong to describe the release of the three Cuban spies as a swap for Gross. Earnest argued that Gross was freed humanitarian grounds, while the spies were freed in exchange for a U.S. intelligence asset who had been jailed in Cuba for nearly 20 years.

"There was no concession. Mr. Gross was released on humanitarian grounds."

Menendez is a Democrat, folks.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Menendez is a huge idiot.

 

[Gr00vus]

Menendez is a huge idiot.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

On Wednesday, shortly after 12 ET, President Obama will announce major changes in U.S. policy towards Cuba. From a White House release, some of the details:

• The President has instructed the Secretary of State to immediately initiate discussions with Cuba on the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba, which were severed in January 1961.
• In the coming months, we will re-establish an embassy in Havana and carry out high-level exchanges and visits between our two governments as part of the normalization process.
• General licenses will be made available for all authorized travelers ... under existing regulations and guidelines.
• Remittance levels will be raised from $500 to $2,000 per quarter for general donative remittances to Cuban nationals ...
• Licensed U.S. travelers to Cuba will be authorized to import $400 worth of goods from Cuba, of which no more than $100 can consist of tobacco products and alcohol combined.

And:

• Gross' "humanitarian" release by Cuba was accompanied by a separate spy swap, the officials said. Cuba also freed a U.S. intelligence source who has been jailed in Cuba for more than 20 years, although authorities did not identify that person for security reasons. The U.S. released three Cuban intelligence agents convicted of espionage in 2001.
• Cuba has agreed to release 53 political prisoners from a list of names provided by the United States.

Condemnation by Marco Rubio is scheduled for 12:30 ET.

Ok, I'm just going to ask - what do we get out of this exactly?

I kind of thought we were going to fully restore relations, but to me that means free elections, restoration of property to owners, release of all political prisoners, commercial access to our corporations..... we (and the affected imprisoned and other affected Cubans) are getting these things? Yes?

I could see our wedging a foothold in there and then working our American magic over time, if that's the idea, but these things are our ultimate goal, right, overthrow or replacement of the Fidelistas?

By the way - overall in favor, as I stated above, don't clobber me, tia.

 

[joffer]

Rubio is an idiot.

Your state also has an outspoken critic....

The Hill

Sen. Robert Menendez (N.J.), the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is slamming President Obama over the deal to release an American held in Cuba.

“President Obama's actions have vindicated the brutal behavior of the Cuban government," Menendez, known for his tough stance on Cuba, said in a statement.

"There is no equivalence between an international aid worker and convicted spies who were found guilty of conspiracy to commit espionage against our nation."

American aid worker Alan Gross, who was held in Cuba for five years for trying to set up Internet for a small Jewish community, was released on Wednesday as the U.S. released three Cuban agents convicted of spying.

Menendez said the move "sets an extremely dangerous precedent."

"It invites dictatorial and rogue regimes to use Americans serving overseas as bargaining chips. I fear that today’s actions will put at risk the thousands of Americans that work overseas to support civil society, advocate for access to information, provide humanitarian services, and promote democratic reforms."

Obama's move to begin normalizing relations with Cuba is reverberating across the political world, with members of both parties blasting the decision.

Asked about Menendez's statement, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said that although the administration "obviously have tremendous respect" for the senator, they rejected his characterization of the deal.

"We fundamentally disagree, and there's no soft-pedaling that," Earnest said.

Earnest insisted Menendez was wrong to describe the release of the three Cuban spies as a swap for Gross. Earnest argued that Gross was freed humanitarian grounds, while the spies were freed in exchange for a U.S. intelligence asset who had been jailed in Cuba for nearly 20 years.

"There was no concession. Mr. Gross was released on humanitarian grounds."

Menendez is a Democrat, folks.

pandering is pandering

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Menendez is a huge idiot.

Was he the guy that got busted for prostitutes or something like that?

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Rubio is an idiot.

Your state also has an outspoken critic....

The Hill

Sen. Robert Menendez (N.J.), the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is slamming President Obama over the deal to release an American held in Cuba.

“President Obama's actions have vindicated the brutal behavior of the Cuban government," Menendez, known for his tough stance on Cuba, said in a statement.

"There is no equivalence between an international aid worker and convicted spies who were found guilty of conspiracy to commit espionage against our nation."

American aid worker Alan Gross, who was held in Cuba for five years for trying to set up Internet for a small Jewish community, was released on Wednesday as the U.S. released three Cuban agents convicted of spying.

Menendez said the move "sets an extremely dangerous precedent."

"It invites dictatorial and rogue regimes to use Americans serving overseas as bargaining chips. I fear that today’s actions will put at risk the thousands of Americans that work overseas to support civil society, advocate for access to information, provide humanitarian services, and promote democratic reforms."

Obama's move to begin normalizing relations with Cuba is reverberating across the political world, with members of both parties blasting the decision.

Asked about Menendez's statement, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said that although the administration "obviously have tremendous respect" for the senator, they rejected his characterization of the deal.

"We fundamentally disagree, and there's no soft-pedaling that," Earnest said.

Earnest insisted Menendez was wrong to describe the release of the three Cuban spies as a swap for Gross. Earnest argued that Gross was freed humanitarian grounds, while the spies were freed in exchange for a U.S. intelligence asset who had been jailed in Cuba for nearly 20 years.

"There was no concession. Mr. Gross was released on humanitarian grounds."

Menendez is a Democrat, folks.

pandering is pandering

To Cuban-Americans in his state?

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Menendez is a huge idiot.

Was he the guy that got busted for prostitutes or something like that?

Yeah. And he has more stuff coming down the scandal rails.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

brohans there are a zillion reasons this should happen but one of the best will be that a whole lot of families separated by the embargo will be able to see each other again and that is one hell of a good thing bam right at the holidays to that right there is a great thing take that to the bank brohans

I do like this, but this is going to happen?

So any Cuban can just come to the USA now (or when the deal is complete) and see their family in the US? The Cuban government is cool with this?

 

[Gr00vus]

On Wednesday, shortly after 12 ET, President Obama will announce major changes in U.S. policy towards Cuba. From a White House release, some of the details:

• The President has instructed the Secretary of State to immediately initiate discussions with Cuba on the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba, which were severed in January 1961.
• In the coming months, we will re-establish an embassy in Havana and carry out high-level exchanges and visits between our two governments as part of the normalization process.
• General licenses will be made available for all authorized travelers ... under existing regulations and guidelines.
• Remittance levels will be raised from $500 to $2,000 per quarter for general donative remittances to Cuban nationals ...
• Licensed U.S. travelers to Cuba will be authorized to import $400 worth of goods from Cuba, of which no more than $100 can consist of tobacco products and alcohol combined.

And:

• Gross' "humanitarian" release by Cuba was accompanied by a separate spy swap, the officials said. Cuba also freed a U.S. intelligence source who has been jailed in Cuba for more than 20 years, although authorities did not identify that person for security reasons. The U.S. released three Cuban intelligence agents convicted of espionage in 2001.
• Cuba has agreed to release 53 political prisoners from a list of names provided by the United States.

Condemnation by Marco Rubio is scheduled for 12:30 ET.

Ok, I'm just going to ask - what do we get out of this exactly?

I kind of thought we were going to fully restore relations, but to me that means free elections, restoration of property to owners, release of all political prisoners, commercial access to our corporations..... we (and the affected imprisoned and other affected Cubans) are getting these things? Yes?

I could see our wedging a foothold in there and then working our American magic over time, if that's the idea, but these things are our ultimate goal, right, overthrow or replacement of the Fidelistas?

By the way - overall in favor, as I stated above, don't clobber me, tia.

A more open newish market to sell stuff to, and probably the big prize was likely access to the offshore oil near Cuba.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

On Wednesday, shortly after 12 ET, President Obama will announce major changes in U.S. policy towards Cuba. From a White House release, some of the details:

• The President has instructed the Secretary of State to immediately initiate discussions with Cuba on the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba, which were severed in January 1961.
• In the coming months, we will re-establish an embassy in Havana and carry out high-level exchanges and visits between our two governments as part of the normalization process.
• General licenses will be made available for all authorized travelers ... under existing regulations and guidelines.
• Remittance levels will be raised from $500 to $2,000 per quarter for general donative remittances to Cuban nationals ...
• Licensed U.S. travelers to Cuba will be authorized to import $400 worth of goods from Cuba, of which no more than $100 can consist of tobacco products and alcohol combined.

And:

• Gross' "humanitarian" release by Cuba was accompanied by a separate spy swap, the officials said. Cuba also freed a U.S. intelligence source who has been jailed in Cuba for more than 20 years, although authorities did not identify that person for security reasons. The U.S. released three Cuban intelligence agents convicted of espionage in 2001.
• Cuba has agreed to release 53 political prisoners from a list of names provided by the United States.

Condemnation by Marco Rubio is scheduled for 12:30 ET.

Ok, I'm just going to ask - what do we get out of this exactly?

I kind of thought we were going to fully restore relations, but to me that means free elections, restoration of property to owners, release of all political prisoners, commercial access to our corporations..... we (and the affected imprisoned and other affected Cubans) are getting these things? Yes?

I could see our wedging a foothold in there and then working our American magic over time, if that's the idea, but these things are our ultimate goal, right, overthrow or replacement of the Fidelistas?

By the way - overall in favor, as I stated above, don't clobber me, tia.

A more open newish market to sell stuff to, and probably the big prize was likely access to the offshore oil near Cuba.

Yeah the oil fields, supposedly the Chinese have been moving in there and the Venezuelans have been there for a while.

This would be really good for New Orleans, in my humble opinion, but I hope they are indeed letting us in there.

Because when we're in, we're in.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Been saying for years that Clinton should have done this. Being scared off by Florida being a key election state never made any sense. As soon as these pissed off Cubans can see all their long lost cousins, all will be forgotten.

 

[BustedKnuckles]

brohans there are a zillion reasons this should happen but one of the best will be that a whole lot of families separated by the embargo will be able to see eachother again and that is one hell of a good thing bam right at the holidays to that right there is a great thing take that to the bank brohans

Now THIS is the best shtick on the board.

Still your #1 fan ole swcer.

9,5 for style

 

[BustedKnuckles]

Still not open for general travel & tourism, only for the standard exceptions already allowed, just loosened apparently.

All Americans can now travel legally to
Cuba -- with some limitations.

The longstanding ban on Cuba travel has been amended to allow all Americans to take part in tours to Cuba that encourage “people to people” contact. Previously, only religious, educational, and cultural groups could legally travel to Cuba, and then only with specific permission from the U.S. State Department.

The bad news is that Americans still can't simply book a flight and a hotel and head to Cuba. You'll need to travel with a Cuba travel organization that has an official license from the U.S. State Department, like Insight Cuba and Central Holidays.

 

[Bucky86]

Still not open for general travel & tourism, only for the standard exceptions already allowed, just loosened apparently.

All Americans can now travel legally to
Cuba -- with some limitations.

The longstanding ban on Cuba travel has been amended to allow all Americans to take part in tours to Cuba that encourage “people to people” contact. Previously, only religious, educational, and cultural groups could legally travel to Cuba, and then only with specific permission from the U.S. State Department.

The bad news is that Americans still can't simply book a flight and a hotel and head to Cuba. You'll need to travel with a Cuba travel organization that has an official license from the U.S. State Department, like Insight Cuba and Central Holidays.

Or you just fly down to Grand Cayman. Lay on the beach for a few days, hop on a short flight to Havana...or so I've been told....

 

[krista4]

Still not open for general travel & tourism, only for the standard exceptions already allowed, just loosened apparently.

All Americans can now travel legally to
Cuba -- with some limitations.

The longstanding ban on Cuba travel has been amended to allow all Americans to take part in tours to Cuba that encourage “people to people” contact. Previously, only religious, educational, and cultural groups could legally travel to Cuba, and then only with specific permission from the U.S. State Department.

The bad news is that Americans still can't simply book a flight and a hotel and head to Cuba. You'll need to travel with a Cuba travel organization that has an official license from the U.S. State Department, like Insight Cuba and Central Holidays.

Right, that's been the policy for a few years now.

 

[GrandpaRox]

I can see that there would be some good reasons (family, friends, personal) for some good people to be absolutely against this BUT for those with no vested interested this is a no brainer.

Win, win for Cuba and for America. This should go way above politics.

This would be like being against the Berlin Wall coming down or the end of the Cold War.

 

[msommer]

Still not open for general travel & tourism, only for the standard exceptions already allowed, just loosened apparently.

All Americans can now travel legally to
Cuba -- with some limitations.

The longstanding ban on Cuba travel has been amended to allow all Americans to take part in tours to Cuba that encourage “people to people” contact. Previously, only religious, educational, and cultural groups could legally travel to Cuba, and then only with specific permission from the U.S. State Department.

The bad news is that Americans still can't simply book a flight and a hotel and head to Cuba. You'll need to travel with a Cuba travel organization that has an official license from the U.S. State Department, like Insight Cuba and Central Holidays.

Or you just fly down to Grand Cayman. Lay on the beach for a few days, hop on a short flight to Havana...or so I've been told....

Or Cancun. Seen that. Your passport is not even stamped on entry and exit. Seen it with my own eyes, in '98, so not exactly a new policy either

 

[Lutherman2112]

Menendez is a huge idiot.

Was he the guy that got busted for prostitutes or something like that?

Yeah. And he has more stuff coming down the scandal rails.

The "scandal" was completely fabricated. I can't stand the man, but for cripes sake, at least show a slight bit of intellectual curiosity for the truth.

 

[timschochet]

I'm guessing Tim's first post will be something like. "It's about time, but I'm not sure how I feel about this."

No, I've always been for it.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Menendez is a huge idiot.

Was he the guy that got busted for prostitutes or something like that?

Yeah. And he has more stuff coming down the scandal rails.

The "scandal" was completely fabricated. I can't stand the man, but for cripes sake, at least show a slight bit of intellectual curiosity for the truth.

Huh?

 

[timschochet]

The response here doesn't surprise me. Everybody seems to agree. So why wasn't it done before now? My guess is because Florida is a swing state and nobody wanted to piss off the Miami Cubans. About 17 years ago we recognized Vietnam and opened up trade with them. The entire Vietnamese community here in Orange County (known as "Little Saigon") went ape####. They staged protests, wrote to Congressmen, etc. but California isn't a swing state and the Vietnamese, who vote Republican like the rest of Orange County, don't have any clout. The Miami Cubans had clout, and they hated Fidel. But most of them are dying off now.

 

[Fennis]

Menendez is a huge idiot.

Was he the guy that got busted for prostitutes or something like that?

Yeah. And he has more stuff coming down the scandal rails.

The "scandal" was completely fabricated. I can't stand the man, but for cripes sake, at least show a slight bit of intellectual curiosity for the truth.

Huh?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sen-robert-menendez-seeks-probe-of-alleged-cuban-plot-to-smear-him/2014/07/07/e9ba25a0-efe8-11e3-914c-1fbd0614e2d4_story.html?hpid=z1

 

[Aerial Assault]

The Republican outrage If Obama announced tomorrow that he loves Christmas and wants to expand it to two consecutive days every year, these guys would call press conferences to foam at the mouth about how much they hate the plan. Tee hee.

Pretty much ends Rubio's relevance (and he knows it) in one fell swoop - nice move.

Between this and Ted Cruz stupidly engineering a host of executive branch and judicial confirmations, this has been a nice couple of days. Go Goopers!

 

[Underachievers]

Should have nuked Cuba years ago. But...waste of a good warhead.

 

[The General]

Watching FOX and the theme is that Obama is a bad negotiator because he gave up 3 "Cuban spies" and that he is the "Appeaser in Chief"

Good stuff.

 

[Lutherman2112]

Menendez is a huge idiot.

Was he the guy that got busted for prostitutes or something like that?

Yeah. And he has more stuff coming down the scandal rails.

The "scandal" was completely fabricated. I can't stand the man, but for cripes sake, at least show a slight bit of intellectual curiosity for the truth.

Huh?

You know the scandal, but you don't know the truth.

Repeat a story enough, and anyone will believe it.

 

[lakerstan]

How long before Cuba has a MLB team?

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Menendez is a huge idiot.

Was he the guy that got busted for prostitutes or something like that?

Yeah. And he has more stuff coming down the scandal rails.

The "scandal" was completely fabricated. I can't stand the man, but for cripes sake, at least show a slight bit of intellectual curiosity for the truth.

Huh?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sen-robert-menendez-seeks-probe-of-alleged-cuban-plot-to-smear-him/2014/07/07/e9ba25a0-efe8-11e3-914c-1fbd0614e2d4_story.html?hpid=z1

That sounds worse than the scandal. Cuba setting up and extorting a US Senator?

 

[Doctor Detroit]

I can see that there would be some good reasons (family, friends, personal) for some good people to be absolutely against this BUT for those with no vested interested this is a no brainer.

Win, win for Cuba and for America. This should go way above politics.

This would be like being against the Berlin Wall coming down or the end of the Cold War.

I've never agreed with anything you've ever said, but I agree with all of this.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Menendez is a huge idiot.

Was he the guy that got busted for prostitutes or something like that?

Yeah. And he has more stuff coming down the scandal rails.

The "scandal" was completely fabricated. I can't stand the man, but for cripes sake, at least show a slight bit of intellectual curiosity for the truth.

Huh?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sen-robert-menendez-seeks-probe-of-alleged-cuban-plot-to-smear-him/2014/07/07/e9ba25a0-efe8-11e3-914c-1fbd0614e2d4_story.html?hpid=z1

Ah you assumed. Well you know what happens when you do that. I wasn't talking about that story.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

The response here doesn't surprise me. Everybody seems to agree. So why wasn't it done before now? My guess is because Florida is a swing state and nobody wanted to piss off the Miami Cubans. About 17 years ago we recognized Vietnam and opened up trade with them. The entire Vietnamese community here in Orange County (known as "Little Saigon") went ape####. They staged protests, wrote to Congressmen, etc. but California isn't a swing state and the Vietnamese, who vote Republican like the rest of Orange County, don't have any clout. The Miami Cubans had clout, and they hated Fidel. But most of them are dying off now.

This might remain to be seen, children and grandchildren feel very strongly about it.