Cuba...and not Gooding, or Libre.

[Reverenddel]

(sigh) I know I'm gonna catch hell for this... but Obama's actually correct on this one.

Cuba has been "persona non grata" since the 1950's-1960's.

We have only allowed religious visitation, and family visa's since then. We allow no imports, or exports to Cuba. We don't even have an EMBASSY in Cuba, do we? (I might be wrong, but I think we pulled it after the coup.)

In the past few decades. We have established relationships with Vietnam (with whom we had a WAR), Russia (with whom we had a COLD WAR), China (thanks Nixon), etc, etc.

The entire world visits Cuba as a vacation spot, from the beaches to the mountains for the coffee plantation tours. Including BOTH our neighbors of Canada AND MEXICO!

I understand we don't like the TERMS to which we ended this situation, nor the mediator, but everyone was terrified to piss off the Cuban-Americans in Florida for the sake of losing votes.

And since the Long Legged Liar In Chief is NOT popular, it ain't anything for him to do this, and say "At least I have this as a legacy."

In truth, and in full disclosure. I have always had a soft spot for Cuba. From the movie "Scared Stiff" with Martin n' Lewis, and Carmen Miranda, to "Godfather II" showing how Cuba looked before the fall.

I love the food, the music, and the people (Not to mention the profuse 1950's Chevy Bel-Airs driving around the island)

So... I will say... Obama is correct on this decision. (Braces for impact)

[OakRidgeStars]

I'm inclined to agree with you. If we can have relations with Russia, China and Vietnam then there's no reason we can't tolerate Cuba as well. Besides, we have lots of automotive aftermarket manufacturers that would love to sell the Cubans parts for their 50's cars.

I think I'll send Castro one of my Year One catalogs.

[mamabearCali]

Yeah that one has been long in coming. I have no problem with normalizing relations, however isn't there an act of congress agains that?

Doing the right thing in the he wrong way is still wrong.

If it was just an order That Kennedy signed, then by all means take it back and for heavens sakes resume relations. Perhaps capitalism will take over Cuba and those who want can have Cuban cigars again.

If it was a bill passed by congress and signed by the president.....well now that is a horse of a different color.

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[ShotgunBlast]

It's OK to give credit where credit is due Rev. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then.

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[ShotgunBlast]

Yeah, Congressional action will have to fix this situation completely.

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[WRW]

Fidel was the reason for the animosity throughout the years. The timing may be right, but that is not Obama's legacy. Perhaps Raul's?

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[FiremanBob]

If Obama wanted to do it honestly, he would have brought the issue to the American people and gather support for it before doing anything. But he sprung it on us like just another dirty backroom deal. Even worse, he gave away three terrorists, one of whom was serving a life sentence for murder - for what? What did the United States get from this?

Bubkus.

Cuba is not poor because America will not do business with its regime. The whole rest of the world does. So that is a false premise. Cuba is poor because it is a Communist dictatorship.

We always knew that Zero was and remains a committed Communist. He was a big admirer of Hugo Chavez, even using many of the Venezuelan dictator's slogan in his own campaigns. But there is more than mere ideology to this behind the scenes that will come out eventually. So much for the most "transparent and honest" administration in history. Zero's administration is certainly transparent - there is no exception to the rule that everything they say is a lie and everything they do is corrupt.

[dorminWS]

If Obama wanted to do it honestly, he would have brought the issue to the American people and gather support for it before doing anything. But he sprung it on us like just another dirty backroom deal. Even worse, he gave away three terrorists, one of whom was serving a life sentence for murder - for what? What did the United States get from this?

Bubkus.

Cuba is not poor because America will not do business with its regime. The whole rest of the world does. So that is a false premise. Cuba is poor because it is a Communist dictatorship.

We always knew that Zero was and remains a committed Communist. He was a big admirer of Hugo Chavez, even using many of the Venezuelan dictator's slogan in his own campaigns. But there is more than mere ideology to this behind the scenes that will come out eventually. So much for the most "transparent and honest" administration in history. Zero's administration is certainly transparent - there is no exception to the rule that everything they say is a lie and everything they do is corrupt.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I'm afraid this move is setting the stage for the US to give Guantanamo Bay back to the damned communists in Cuba. The Obamunist regime is entirely capable of it, IMO. I can almost hear him gloating "THAT will stop the republicans from detaining any more terrorists there". But with the Chinese and North Koreans in the missile business now, Jihadist terrorists with global plans, and Putin trying to restore Russia to the former glory the USSR enjoyed as an evil empire, I can't imagine a stupider thing for a POTUS to do or a worse time for him to do it. And, of course, based upon BarryO's prior performance, that is EXACTLY why I'm afraid he'll do it.

[FiremanBob]

Right. It would be a mistake to ascribe this move, or anything they do, to stupidity, where malice is a more logical explanation.

[Reverenddel]

One thing that came to me. With Putin being so weak in Russia, and taking actions in the Ukraine.

Cuba would be a viable candidate for him to put some troops, military muscle, etc, etc.

Opening negotiations with Cuba WOULD remove that "quill in his quiver", but I cannot tell if that's an intended purpose, or not.

[FiremanBob]

Why would Zero's attempt to open relations with Cuba prevent the Russian dictatorship from staging weapons there? In fact, it would be a great thumb in America's eye. Communists and jihadis all over the world would get a huge laugh, and it would remind the Congress that there's nothing exceptional about the United States.

[dorminWS]

Why would Zero's attempt to open relations with Cuba prevent the Russian dictatorship from staging weapons there? In fact, it would be a great thumb in America's eye. Communists and jihadis all over the world would get a huge laugh, and it would remind the Congress that there's nothing exceptional about the United States.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Exactly. Cuban Missile Crisis redux; except this time, the Russians just might win against a spineless POTUS who seems to like and want to appease Communists anyway.

I vividly remember those days back in 1962 when as a kid I watched my Dad (who I thought feared nothing) agonize over whether his family would see another Christmas and hurriedly build a "fallout shelter" under the house. I remember actually seeing some grown women crying in fear of the arrival of doomsday. I remember "duck and cover" drills at school. And my instinct is that Vladimir Putin may be crazier than Nikita Khrushchev was; and I know damned well the Koreans, Iranians and jihadists are. And WHO KNOWS about the Chinese?

I have lived enough history that this scares the hell out of me.

[jeeper46]

Rev, the military muscle is what brought about the mess.( missiles from Russia) as far as Vietnam thank clinton.

[FiremanBob]

Rev, the military muscle is what brought about the mess.( missiles from Russia) as far as Vietnam thank clinton.

I don't know what this means, but I don't think I'm going to agree with the explanation.

[Reverenddel]

The best/worst part? Time will tell what will happen.

I hope it works for the best, but i know if the Long Legged Liar In Chief is involved? It's gonna suck.

[jeeper46]

FiremanBob,sorry if I confused you. The missile crisis was cause of embargo on Cuba. Rev mentioned Nixon established relations with China. clinton established relations Vietnam. Rev made good points.

[AppleaDay]

having a hostile communist country was the cause of the embargo. It's still there
There's a right and wrong way to do things;handing over all of leverage for nothing in return is NOT the right way.Well, individual Americans may be able to buy good cigars and old car parts but that does nothing to either promote democracy, security in our hemisphere, or help the Cuban people getting scrapped by their government. Once again we look weak and stupid to the world

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[AppleaDay]

It does establish that we'll trade
5 terrorists for one army deserter
3 spies for one USAID worker
Absolutely nothing for a marine who accidentally crosses the road into Mexico

When Obama chastised Sony for caving in to North Korea I laughed out loud

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[FiremanBob]

FiremanBob,sorry if I confused you. The missile crisis was cause of embargo on Cuba. Rev mentioned Nixon established relations with China. clinton established relations Vietnam. Rev made good points.

I thought you were about to blame the American military-industrial complex for the embargo. Still, you might brush up on your history. The embargo was declared in February, 1962. The missile crisis occurred in October, 1962.

Whether or not opening relations with hostile, aggressive, Communist foes of the United States is a good thing remains debatable, not least because the full ramifications of those policies have not yet been realized. But my point, which is that if Zero wanted to end the Cuban embargo, he could have lobbied public support first rather than do a suspicious back-room deal, remains as valid as ever.

[jeeper46]

FiremanBob, Again sorry about dates,my history with military affairs, was 1964-1968.