Last edited Thu Apr 17, 2014, 02:00 AM - Edit history (1)

This is so obnoxious. When will the normal population get a chance to register a vote on this very important matter, normalizing relations with Cuba, ANYWAY?

There should be movement on Cuba NOW. This IS the time.

The latest news on his equally dirty Miami friend doesn't look as if it will be easy to duck this time, one would hope.

Another interesting area within the article:

The Cuban-born Menendez is a fierce lifetime opponent of any easing of tensions with Havana. As a top fund-raiser and the Democratic chairman of the key foreign relations committee, Menendez is an obstacle to Obama and Senate liberals on a range of national security policies. He favors regime change through military or covert means in Syria, Iran, Venezuela, and of course Cuba. He has the power to set bills, hold hearings, and approve or deny administration nominations. Menendez is becoming Obama’s chief domestic obstacle in normalizing relations with Cuba. Even on an administration priority like immigration reform, Menendez (and Senator Marco Rubio) have pledged their votes only on the condition that their hardline position on Cuba is heeded.

Now that Menendez’s grip on power is weakened, the only question is by how much.

Only a few years ago Menendez, chairing the Senate Democrats’ campaign committee, raised hell when one of the party's biggest fund-raisers, Hollywood’s Andy Spahn, tried raising funds for candidates who supported a new Cuba policy. Spahn, who travels often to Cuba with American politicians and Hollywood producers like Steven Spielberg, was demonized by Menendez and shut down. But Spahn today remains as one of Obama's top fund-raisers, and actively supports lifting the embargo.

This year an even sharper split erupted in the Senate between Menendez and Senator Patrick Leahy who is making a top priority of achieving a new Cuban policy. Leahy, who engages in steady, behind-the-scenes dialogue with Cuban officials, obtained sixty-six Senate signatures on a December 2013 letter to Obama calling on the president to "act expeditiously to take whatever steps are in the national interest" to obtain the release of American citizen Alan Gross. Gross is a contractor for the US Agency for International Development serving a fifteen-year sentence in Cuba for covertly smuggling high-tech communications equipment into the island. A rival letter sent by Menendez and Rubio calling for Gross' "immediate and unconditional release" garnered only fourteen votes, an embarrassing setback for Menendez. In the opaque culture of Washington, the Leahy letter was interpreted as political cover for Obama to negotiate diplomatically for Gross’ release, whereas the Menendez letter was a dud.

Any and all positions he has are strictly ceremonial honoraria.

It's about time. Imagine the benefits to the entire western hemisphere, eliminating a cold war relic of a policy. Maintenance of this policy is perpetrated by a minority of Americans. Granted they may be classed Cuban Americans, but still Americans. Our cessation of "hostility" would be further demonstration of choosing to influence peace. This could lead to eliminating Cuba as a port of call for Russian submarines and a further reduction of any Russian influence. Takes time, but it would be a start. We have to lead.

some time ago.

Very cool seeing he has several installments.

Had no idea Che Guevara or his wife or both named one of their children for Celia Sanchez, after naming one for Camilo Cienfuegos!

Completely interesting, isn't it?

[center]

Celia Guevara, and her father's fellow revolutionary, Celia Sanchez.



Younger Camilo Guevara, and his father's friend, Camilo Cienfuegos.[/center]

So he admits that 50 years of "revolution" aren't gonna hold up in today's world. Guess that's what happens when the country you were sucking the teat from collapses, and the second one you attempt to suck from is on the same path. Of course, they're just gonna go with the excuse that the US embargo is all to blame, even though, you know, that doesn't keep any other country or non-US based company from investing in their economy.

of this embargo, who has never bothered to find out about the embargo's reach, and its effects.

Why bother trying to offer your opinion to people who know more about the subject? There's simply nothing you would be able to say which would interest anyone but other uninformed people.

Its effects have been criminal and it is pretty clear to everyone outside the US that it should be lifted NOW. Call me pessimistic, but I don't think the US mafioso political system is capable of having an honest approach regarding this issue.