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U.S., Cuba to restore diplomatic relations after 50 years

“Is there no tyrant or anti-American center in the world that Obama will not appease for nothing in return?” - Charles Krauthammer on Cuba
 
Rubio doesn't know what he's talking about. We imposed an embargo that no one else participated in and basically ignored Cuba for 50 years in the hope that social and political change would spontaneously occur. Its achieved exactly squat. The offer of normalizing diplomatic relations has allowed us to achieve unprecedented results in Burma/Myanmar under this President. Cuba is indicating that they may be willing to take a similar path of gradual but meaningful change. We shouldn't ignore it and restoring diplomatic lines of communication is hardly a burdensome price to pay for the opportunity to influence the process of reforming a nation.



So Rubio doesn't know what he is talking about. Probably due to him being Republican Right?

Now what about Menendez? Are you going to say he doesn't know what he is talking about when BO peep went around his back on this issue too? Did you note that part about Menendez the Democrat telling Corker the Republican to hold Hearings on this matter.

You are making more out of Burma than whats actually there.
 
This "outrage" from Menendez sounds rather hollow and false to me for the following reasons. 1) He voted in lockstep with the other Dems in forcing Obamacare on us. 2) He voted nay on the Obamacare repeal. 3) He voted nay on the amendment to deny access to healthcare for illegal immigrants. Where is his outrage for the American people on those items? Sounds like all he cares about is illegals and what perks they should have.

His outrage now seems to be that it's Cuba that's being discussed here. What's his problem with the US establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba? I don't hear him speaking on behalf of the Cuban people who have suffered from an economic embargo for 50 years. Why does he resent Cubans having the chance for a better life if sanctions are lifted?

And why is he upset about trading spies for Gross? Obama traded five terrorist leaders for Bergdahl. Maybe I missed it, but I didn't hear any outrage from him on that.


I don't think it so false Lady P. The outrage. BO peep did go behind his back.

Plus the Demo Chris Smith came out and said the same as Rubio. That BO was playing enabler.

All should be good now.....as BO said he was going to go and take his Vacation in Hawaii. This means he will be back out on the golf course.

Where he can't do to much damage to the country.

So, see there was some good to come out of it.
 
He hasn't nullified any laws.



That you don't care about about changing our stupid policy with Cuba doesn't make it 'childish.'

What's childish is Obama's way of governing. If you can't see his petulance or choose to ignore it, that's on you not me.
 
On a practical front, anything that would make fine Cuban cigars more available in the US is all the reason to restore some level of cooperation. :cool:

I have always liked Boston Legal arguments.
 
Probably the smartest thing Obama has yet done in office...which is pretty sad, actually.
 
“Is there no tyrant or anti-American center in the world that Obama will not appease for nothing in return?” - Charles Krauthammer on Cuba

Oh my God! The sky is falling!!!

Better grab another glass of Kool-Aid.
 
“Is there no tyrant or anti-American center in the world that Obama will not appease for nothing in return?” - Charles Krauthammer on Cuba

What makes you think that warming relations with Cuba has no benefit?
 
I got an Irish dual citizenship about 10 years ago, nice to have, EU citizenship, I can also go to Brazil without paying $170 and waiting for a visa. Quite legal, even got hired with the State dept with dual citizenship...though I didn't take the job ultimately (offered 1 year after interviews and background checks). For Irish citizenship, you need a parent, or grandparent born in Ireland.

Damn. My great grandparents (on my mother's side) were born in Ireland, but my grandparents were born here. That would have been cool to have an Irish dual citizenship.

Is it normal to have to go through a year's worth of background checks and interviews for the State Department, or was that because of the dual citizenship?
 
I was watching French News, and they had a live report from Cuba: the reporter said that the communist party is very well entrenched there; word was getting out, but like you said, some like it, some don't. I must say that one thing occurred to me while watching el heffe' make his statement this morning from the White House: this could be Obama's way of really overthrowing the Castro regime all together...

Where do you get a French news feed? Is it on your television or the internet?

I was watching different networks last night and can't believe how all over the place people are on this. It's one of those issues that seems to be NOT cut and dry. I don't think it's got a real partisan split either.
 
Damn. My great grandparents (on my mother's side) were born in Ireland, but my grandparents were born here. That would have been cool to have an Irish dual citizenship.

Is it normal to have to go through a year's worth of background checks and interviews for the State Department, or was that because of the dual citizenship?

The background checks take about 3 months, then you wait for an opening. Thing is, you don't know where you will be sent, and there is a chance you end up in DC. I had been hired before, about 12 years ago, but no openings came open. This last time, just bad timing...
 
The background checks take about 3 months, then you wait for an opening. Thing is, you don't know where you will be sent, and there is a chance you end up in DC. I had been hired before, about 12 years ago, but no openings came open. This last time, just bad timing...

I'd love to work in the State Department. In fact I think it's the only part of government I would want to work in.
 
What makes you think that warming relations with Cuba has no benefit?

See, this is the world stage we are playing on. Policy effects our country and our people. These actions are important. We have an absolute fool doing this. He is such an idiot, he decides to go it alone. He doesn't even know how incompetent he is. Imagine him playing poker for you with a full house, and he decides to fold when the other guy has nothing. Then he thinks he did something brilliant. That's what this moron is doing to us.
 
See, this is the world stage we are playing on. Policy effects our country and our people. These actions are important. We have an absolute fool doing this. He is such an idiot, he decides to go it alone. He doesn't even know how incompetent he is. Imagine him playing poker for you with a full house, and he decides to fold when the other guy has nothing. Then he thinks he did something brilliant. That's what this moron is doing to us.

You avoided the question with your anti-Obama rant.

The question still stands. What makes you think that better relations with Cuba has no benefit to us?

You do realize that Cuba trades with plenty of nations around the globe, we are one of the last nations to try to isolate them. And to be frank, it did not work. They have neither changed their regime, their habits, their style of government, their role in trade relations with even our allies. Perhaps we need a new direction here.
 
U.S., Cuba to restore diplomatic relations after 50 years | Reuters

I'm actually cautiously optimistic about this. We've had a rather odd relationship with Cuba ever since their fight for independence 100+ years ago but simple proximity makes some kind of normalization a matter of practicality.

I'm very happy about this. Credit where credit is due department, Obama has finally done something right and good.

That does not absolve him of his many crimes, but this is a good step. They say the Pope had something to do with it.
 
U.S., Cuba to restore diplomatic relations after 50 years | Reuters

I'm actually cautiously optimistic about this. We've had a rather odd relationship with Cuba ever since their fight for independence 100+ years ago but simple proximity makes some kind of normalization a matter of practicality.

I can see both sides of the argument on this. On the one hand opening up relations might have the same effect on Cuba as it did on China with increased commerce resulting in greater freedoms for Cubans. On the other hand it might not work out that way at all. Increased trade might only strengthen the Castro regime and do nothing for the liberty and prosperity of ordinary Cubans at all. After all, Cuba has been able to trade with most nations for many years and it has not resulted in any improvement of the lot of ordinary Cubans.

I don't know how this will turn out. However, we've made no progress from our current policy toward Cuba, so maybe it's time to change that.

One thing is certain. Cuban Americans will never get what they want. They will never get their lands and properties in Cuba back. That's never going to happen. That justice is never going to be realized. They need to be content with what they have.
 
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On a practical front, anything that would make fine Cuban cigars more available in the US is all the reason to restore some level of cooperation. :cool:
With 95% of the profits going to the Castro regime.
 
I'm very happy about this. Credit where credit is due department, Obama has finally done something right and good.

That does not absolve him of his many crimes, but this is a good step. They say the Pope had something to do with it.

Well, he needed a win. Even a bad one.
 
What's childish is Obama's way of governing. If you can't see his petulance or choose to ignore it, that's on you not me.

I don't see how you can make the leap that the decision about Cuba, agree or not, is a reflection of his "petulance," or childish, which implies that there was no serious reason to change a 50 year failed policy with Cuba. It's a big deal, the biggest change in Cuban relations in most of our lifetimes, will ultimately affect 11 million or so in Cuba and millions more exiles in this country, involved many months of negotiations that involved your country and the Vatican. Was the Pope "childish and petulant" for getting involved? If not, then explain how the Pope can have serious reasons to insert himself, but those same reasons don't apply to Obama.
 
I'm very happy about this. Credit where credit is due department, Obama has finally done something right and good.

That does not absolve him of his many crimes, but this is a good step. They say the Pope had something to do with it.

I don't know how good this actually is. It seems to be another case where we offer something they want while getting nothing in return. That being said, if this ends up resulting in a Cuba where people are free to express their political opinions without fear of imprisonment then great. We'll just have to see how things play out.
 
I'm very happy about this. Credit where credit is due department, Obama has finally done something right and good.

That does not absolve him of his many crimes, but this is a good step. They say the Pope had something to do with it.

The Pope? In what way?
 
You avoided the question with your anti-Obama rant.

The question still stands. What makes you think that better relations with Cuba has no benefit to us?

You do realize that Cuba trades with plenty of nations around the globe, we are one of the last nations to try to isolate them. And to be frank, it did not work. They have neither changed their regime, their habits, their style of government, their role in trade relations with even our allies. Perhaps we need a new direction here.

Don't hold your breath for a pro Obama rant, he is the one perpetrating this mistake.

They are a totalitarian regime. Political prisoners. State sponsor of terrorism. Oppressive, communist dictatorship. And we should ignore that and just open an embassy in Havana? Are you kidding? I see no upside. What upside are you seeing? And don't tell me that if we are nice to them they will change. And we get what in return?
 
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