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DFW

(54,405 posts) Thu Dec 18, 2014, 05:53 PM Dec 2014

At least one of my major predictions for Obama's presidency finally came true

When he was elected, I predicted, before he ever took office, that we would re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba before he left office.

I confess that I was starting to lose hope, but sure enough. By the end of 2015, there will again be a Cuban Embassy in Washington and an American Embassy in La Habana. Only about 40 years overdue, to my way of thinking. But Obama did it where all his predecessors did not.

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At least one of my major predictions for Obama's presidency finally came true (Original Post) DFW Dec 2014 OP

It's a very good move on his part, my dear DFW! CaliforniaPeggy Dec 2014 #1

I, for one, would like to explore the interior at some time DFW Dec 2014 #6

Congress has to act before most of it can upaloopa Dec 2014 #2

Agreed, it would have happened sooner or later, but probably later DFW Dec 2014 #3

Wrong frazzled Dec 2014 #4

And anything that requires funding like embassies upaloopa Dec 2014 #5

They've already got the facility frazzled Dec 2014 #7

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,637 posts)

1. It's a very good move on his part, my dear DFW!

Reply to DFW (Original post)

Thu Dec 18, 2014, 05:58 PM

Dec 2014

I could not be more pleased.

DFW

(54,405 posts)

6. I, for one, would like to explore the interior at some time

Reply to CaliforniaPeggy (Reply #1)

Thu Dec 18, 2014, 08:25 PM

Dec 2014

I was led around by the nose by government types when I was there. They "encouraged" me to check out the old town on my own, but I was followed every step of the way, and soon went back to the hotel. I don't like leashes, even if they aren't of the leather kind.

upaloopa

(11,417 posts)

2. Congress has to act before most of it can

Reply to DFW (Original post)

Thu Dec 18, 2014, 06:02 PM

Dec 2014

be done.
The other Presidents were in a different Cuban era.
I think what President Obama did is a great thing but with businesses clambering to do business with Cubans I thing it would have happened sooner or later.

DFW

(54,405 posts)

3. Agreed, it would have happened sooner or later, but probably later

Reply to upaloopa (Reply #2)

Thu Dec 18, 2014, 06:19 PM

Dec 2014

The ironic thing is that Republican interests will cash in like bandits, but they and their bought-and-paid-for Senators' and representatives' "antikommanism" would never have made the move themselves.

And yet, take a Mormon Republican conglomerate like Marriott Hotels, and I'll bet you they will be at the front of the line when it comes time to seek out prime locations for what will no doubt be a very successful resort hotel (or two or three or four!) on the island. The Cubans need to bring Havana's airport int the 21st century, too. That one runway at José Martí won't accommodate all the new traffic to and from the USA. Wanna bet we'll find a couple of hundred million to help them out? The Republicans won't allocate $35.95 to the EPA, but if a modern airport at Havana will help out their donors, you betcha they'll cough up $400,000,000 in foreign aid to build a mini ATL or a DFW where that relic now stands.

frazzled

(18,402 posts)

4. Wrong

Reply to upaloopa (Reply #2)

Thu Dec 18, 2014, 06:19 PM

Dec 2014

Only the embargo is controlled by Congress (the Jesse Helms law, which must be reversed). The rest is completely within the power of the Executive Branch to conduct diplomacy.

upaloopa

(11,417 posts)

5. And anything that requires funding like embassies

Reply to frazzled (Reply #4)

Thu Dec 18, 2014, 06:51 PM

Dec 2014

and ambassadors who must be confirmed.

frazzled

(18,402 posts)

7. They've already got the facility

Reply to upaloopa (Reply #5)

Fri Dec 19, 2014, 11:08 AM

Dec 2014

Congress has for 37 years funded the interests section in Havana and for its staff, who provide vital services to Americans and Cubans, administration officials do not believe Congress will block payments to convert the mission to an embassy. The State Department says it plans to use the building in which the current interests section is located, a six-story structure that served as the embassy from 1953 until 1961, and does not expect the change to cost significantly more than what is currently spent.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/us-cuba-normalcy-steps-27711198

Yes, Marco Rubio alone could block the nomination of an ambassador, but that doesn't mean that the embassy can't function:

The ambassador post could be more problematic. A single senator can block a nomination. Administration officials expect that any nominee will face a difficult confirmation process but note that the functions of an ambassador are often carried out by a deputy chief of mission or charge d'affaires.

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