Cuba, spring break 2015

[IrishinSyria]

American Alan Gross freed by Cuba - CNN.com

About time.

 

[chicago51]

To my understanding the travel band is ending but the trade embargo will continue for now.

Edit: travel ban

 

[IrishinSyria]

To my understanding the travel band is ending but the trade embargo will continue for now.

I think congress has to vote to end the embargo, and because congress is congress lol @ that happening, but Obama is going to do everything he can to normalize relations (open an embassy, end the travel ban, etc...)

 

[Irishnuke]

To my understanding the travel band is ending but the trade embargo will continue for now.

The travel band is great live.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Wow. Cuba will explode with tourism.

 

[BobbyMac]

Good job Mr. President. A sentence I haven't written since early 2002.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I read the title as "Cubs" instead of "Cuba." Then I couldn't understand what people were talking about.

Anyway, this is a very good thing.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Over or under 25 years until there is an MLB team in Havana?

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Over or under 25 years until there is an MLB team in Havana?

Over. Supposedly MLB was happy to let the Expos die on the vine in part because Quebec's legal system contained a lot of labor laws which caused uncertainty and angst with how MLB runs its business.

The Cuban legal system seems like it would be ripe for all sorts of uncertainty on a number of issues.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Rubio does not seem very happy about the plan

This is going to do absolutely nothing to further human rights and democracy in Cuba. But it potentially goes a long way in providing the economic lift that the Castro regime needs to become permanent fixtures in Cuba for generations to come.

Apparently being in power for 50 years doesn't get you "permanent fixture" status until blame Obama.

 

[RyCo1983]

Rubio does not seem very happy about the plan



Apparently being in power for 50 years doesn't get you "permanent fixture" status until blame Obama.

marco rubio is a douche T by dbagtees

Enough said.

 

[Huntr]

Never thought I'd see the day.

'Bout time.

 

[phgreek]

marco rubio is a douche T by dbagtees

Enough said.

I disagree...but I bought 10 of the Holder is a douche...great find, thanks.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Marco Rubio calls out the pope.

 

[phgreek]

Rubio does not seem very happy about the plan



Apparently being in power for 50 years doesn't get you "permanent fixture" status until blame Obama.

narrow view of context...Rubio should have said "even longer"

Instead of using the economic trials of Russia and China to allow Castro and his regime to collapse...we show up. Instead of Obama appropriately standing back for once...he jumps in...SMFH.

What good is this doing for Cubans? Any assurances of free press that are enforceable? Literally WHAT good comes out of this...what was the strategic impetus here?

I'm glad another American came home...but its another situation where we put out a big sign that says grab Americans because we deal...Stupid.

 

[pkt77242]

narrow view of context...Rubio should have said "even longer"

Instead of using the economic trials of Russia and China to allow Castro and his regime to collapse...we show up. Instead of Obama appropriately standing back for once...he jumps in...SMFH.

What good is this doing for Cubans? Any assurances of free press that are enforceable? Literally WHAT good comes out of this...what was the strategic impetus here?

I'm glad another American came home...but its another situation where we put out a big sign that says grab Americans because we deal...Stupid.

WTF did the embargo ever do? Did it help the Cubans? There is no good rationale for the embargo. We have normal relations with countries such as China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, etc. We should have had normal relations with them years ago.

 

[IrishinSyria]

narrow view of context...Rubio should have said "even longer"

Instead of using the economic trials of Russia and China to allow Castro and his regime to collapse...we show up. Instead of Obama appropriately standing back for once...he jumps in...SMFH.

What good is this doing for Cubans? Any assurances of free press that are enforceable? Literally WHAT good comes out of this...what was the strategic impetus here?

I'm glad another American came home...but its another situation where we put out a big sign that says grab Americans because we deal...Stupid.

The Castro regime survived the Soviet collapse when China was still an economic backwater. They thrived on maintaining an antagonistic relationship with the US. The more we break down barriers between Cuba and the US, the more they will be overwhelmed by our culture, our values.

Anyway, I thought the US had generally turned its back on the whole "lets try to solve everybody's problems" system of foreign policy. Even if this is bad for the people of Cuba (and I don't think it is) who cares?* It's clearly good for the US. We gained exactly nothing from our relationship with Cuba today.


*let me emphasize how strongly I don't think this. A plan that involved waiting until their economy collapsed and they overthrew their government in an armed revolution, doesn't strike me as very good for the common Cuban.

 

[pkt77242]

The Castro regime survived the Soviet collapse when China was still an economic backwater. They thrived on maintaining an antagonistic relationship with the US. The more we break down barriers between Cuba and the US, the more they will be overwhelmed by our culture, our values.

Anyway, I thought the US had generally turned its back on the whole "lets try to solve everybody's problems" system of foreign policy. Even if this is bad for the people of Cuba (and I don't think it is) who cares?* It's clearly good for the US. We gained exactly nothing from our relationship with Cuba today.


*let me emphasize how strongly I don't think this. A plan that involved waiting until their economy collapsed and they overthrew their government in an armed revolution, doesn't strike me as very good for the common Cuban.

Agreed. We should put a Starbucks and McDonalds on every corner.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Agreed. We should put a Starbucks and McDonalds on every corner.

And a KFC. A Double Down in every hand!

 

[RyCo1983]

I disagree...but I bought 10 of the Holder is a douche...great find, thanks.

Politician and Douche are interchangeable terms.

 

[chicago51]

From what I understand a lot of Cubans still drive classic American cars that where imported before the embargo. Thanks to the great weather along there are 1950s American still running on a regular basis down there. I heard it is kind of surreal.

 

[GoIrish41]

They still have factories left over from when American companies did business in Cuba in which they still build the 1957 model Chevy's. I think they can sell those cars in the United States and make a lot of money. Imagine owning a brand new 57 Chevy built in 2015.

That is trivial compared to how good this is for the Cuban people. Fifty four years of failure to accomplish anything but anguish for these people is finally ending. This is a tremendous thing.

 

[Rhode Irish]

narrow view of context...Rubio should have said "even longer"

Instead of using the economic trials of Russia and China to allow Castro and his regime to collapse...we show up. Instead of Obama appropriately standing back for once...he jumps in...SMFH.

What good is this doing for Cubans? Any assurances of free press that are enforceable? Literally WHAT good comes out of this...what was the strategic impetus here?

I'm glad another American came home...but its another situation where we put out a big sign that says grab Americans because we deal...Stupid.

This is just straight grasping to find some reason - any reason! - to disapprove of everything this President does. I'm not a psychologist so I can't diagnose why you need to do that, but I think you should know that is what you're doing in case you don't realize it.

This is a common sense no-brainer that is 49 years overdue. Better late than never, though.

 

[BobD]

Glad to see that a majority of folks think this is a good thing. What we've been doing was really stupid. There are lots of things to work on and a long way to go, but Russia is arming up big time so the more we can do to make sure they don't have a friend 90 miles off our coast the better.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Over or under 25 years until there is an MLB team in Havana?

Over. No teams but plenty of MLB teams will open academies on the island.

 

[Irish YJ]

Glad to see that a majority of folks think this is a good thing. What we've been doing was really stupid. There are lots of things to work on and a long way to go, but Russia is arming up big time so the more we can do to make sure they don't have a friend 90 miles off our coast the better.

There was a time for all of that, but that time has long passed. Agree on the Russia stuff a zillion times. I'm also really tired of paying crazy ass $$$ for Cuban cigars, or smuggling them back from Belize and MX.

 

[phgreek]

WTF did the embargo ever do? Did it help the Cubans? There is no good rationale for the embargo. We have normal relations with countries such as China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, etc. We should have had normal relations with them years ago.

Well, if you have the mindset that the Castro regime isn't all that bad, I suppose you'd see the embargo as not helping the Cuban people...maybe you ought to talk to some of the ones that are 75 or so, and ask them their opinion? They generally think this is STUPID...but then you know better than those who have first hand knowledge of it....shocked face.

 

[phgreek]

This is just straight grasping to find some reason - any reason! - to disapprove of everything this President does. I'm not a psychologist so I can't diagnose why you need to do that, but I think you should know that is what you're doing in case you don't realize it.

This is a common sense no-brainer that is 49 years overdue. Better late than never, though.

No it isn't...talk to some older Cubans instead of doing the libby presumptive proscription for everything and everyone.. You are so freakin predictable...I can always count on your ass showing up somewhere with the ole' I know what I know, and its just smarter than everyone else...you need a shrink...and did I tell ya I'm smarter?...sure thing counselor...sure thing.

 

[phgreek]

The Castro regime survived the Soviet collapse when China was still an economic backwater. They thrived on maintaining an antagonistic relationship with the US. The more we break down barriers between Cuba and the US, the more they will be overwhelmed by our culture, our values.

Anyway, I thought the US had generally turned its back on the whole "lets try to solve everybody's problems" system of foreign policy. Even if this is bad for the people of Cuba (and I don't think it is) who cares?* It's clearly good for the US. We gained exactly nothing from our relationship with Cuba today.


*let me emphasize how strongly I don't think this. A plan that involved waiting until their economy collapsed and they overthrew their government in an armed revolution, doesn't strike me as very good for the common Cuban.

I understand the notion that the Castros may or may not have folded. The combination of their passing and economic hard times makes for a better platform from which to get free press and a number of other things...maybe even some elections.

By standing these assholes up, you almost guarantee a succession plan that does not include those things...

I do think this is bad in the long term for people who want a different Cuba...

 

[pkt77242]

Well, if you have the mindset that the Castro regime isn't all that bad, I suppose you'd see the embargo as not helping the Cuban people...maybe you ought to talk to some of the ones that are 75 or so, and ask them their opinion? They generally think this is STUPID...but then you know better than those who have first hand knowledge of it....shocked face.

What a shocker that you can't provide a real reason why we shouldn't have normal relations with them. Who gives a shit what a 75 year old Cuban would say, is that what the US should base foreign policy off of? We have normal relations with many countries that are as bad or worse to their citizens (China, Saudia Arabia, etc), but God forbid that we have normal relations with Cuba.

Again, can you give a real reason that we shouldn't have normal relations with Cuba? Can you give any concrete examples of how our previous policies (embargo, no travel, etc) towards them have improved the lives of Cuban's who live there?