Bush to Cubans: Let Them Eat Cell Phones

[It must be a presidential election year is politicians are talking about Cuba.] From Reuters: "President George W. Bush announced an easing of restrictions on Wednesday to allow Americans to send cell phones to their families in Cuba..." Another well thought out plan by the Bush administration. "...It was unclear how Bush's plan might work... If we had a dime for everytime we've heard that...we could pay back China all the money we owe them. ...Potential obstacles include whether Cuba will allow the phones in, if they will work there, and how the expensive bills will be paid." As the next step in his plan to help the Cuban people, Bush will air drop American flag lapel pins on the island. George W. Bush, ladies and gentlemen.

McCain No Maverick on Cuba, Iran

John McCain took the brave step yesterday of reversing yet another of his formerly principled positions in favor of the popular Republican general-election position. He said the United States should continue the embargo against Cuba until democracy breaks out. [He had previously said that we should move to normalize relations with Cuba ala Vietnam.] This policy has served both the U.S. and the Cuban citizenry well over the last almost 50 years it has been in place - you can tell by all the democracy and freedom that has blossomed in Cuba during that time. As if to underscore his political bravery, McCain made this bold affirmation of the status quo in Miami where he was sure to face whithering criticism for his visionary position. [Now that's sarcasm.] Seriously, though; this is his plan? Do the same old nothing? I've said it before and I'll say it again, drown the island with dollars and see what happens. What could Cubans do if they could actually afford some of those cell phones and computers that they are now being allowed to buy? They would be better able to organize and fund an opposition - a grassroots opposition formed from the ground up and without the taint (in the eyes of many Cubans) of being directly funded by the U.S. government. Would it be so horrible to talk to a Castro? We talk to Muammar Qaddafi, Kim Jong Il - hell, Hosni Mubarak and the House of Saud are considered friends! Any policy that isn't the same old presidential politics pandering to the hard-line Cuban voting bloc in Florida will be an improvement. The Cuban people (both in Cuba and here in America) have been the victims of this failed policy and anyone who has the guts to challenge it deserves credit. Barack Obama has the guts. McCain, ironically, thinks it makes sense to have normal relations with Vietnam, a country we fought a long and bloody war with and who kept him as a POW, but not Cuba. Both countries have similar (terrible) human rights records. I hate to reduce someone with as distinguished a record of service to our country as Senator McCain toa stupid nickname, but "John McSame" really does seem to sum him up nowadays. [The fact that Bush is going to give a speech on Cuba today to back up McCain puts another nail in that coffin.] [And, oh BTW, it also seems that McCain doesn't really know much about Iran - other than that we should attack it. Once again, Bush agrees. In fact, apparently he agrees so much that he may beat McCain to the punch and leave the next occupant of the White House with THREE wars as a housewarming gift.]

Evening Chuckle: Fun with Castro

Hilarious. [H/T Kill Castro]

Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss

[Sorry, that was trite.] It looks like Fidel is "out", and Raul is in. Don't hold your breath for the change. Not until Fidel FINALLY kicks off. Again, I say, lift the embargo and spend, spend, spend. Communism simply can't go head-to-head with capitalism. History has confirmed that. Let's steamroll the regime with dollars. If it is good enough for China and Vietnam (with whom, unlike Cuba, we've actually fought a war) than why isn't it good enough for Cuba.

Castro Resigns

For real. Of course, this means Raul is in charge, but probably only nominally more than he was already. As long as he is still alive, Fidel will continue to pull the strings. None of this means a better life for actual Cubans but, hopefully, it is a start.

Finally! Something We Agree On!

"One day the good Lord will take Fidel Castro away." Why, oh why, can't it be today?

He's Still Alive

Very funny. You win again Satan! For now. (Tick tick tick.)

Bi-Partisan Appeal for a Sensible Cuba Policy

In an op-ed in today's Washington Post, Congressmen Charlie Rangel (D-NY) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) take on the idiotic, entirely political, failed American policy toward Cuba. They call for opening up political and economic co-operation with Cuba to help support positive change on the island for the Cuban people. I agree. I like Flake. I'd feel a lot better if I thought people like him (i.e., sensible people) were the future of the Republican party.

Castro to Run for Re-"Election" in 2008

Apparently, he is making that "good" of a recovery. He'll be President ten-years after he's dead. If he ever dies. Of course, there won't be anything/one left in Cuba to be President of...

Fidel Castro: Most. Hilarious. Death. Ever.

If there was ever a situation that the word schadenfreude was tailor made for, it is this. The story this time is that Castro has had several failed intestinal surgeries which have resulted in him, and this is a bit technical, pooping inside himself. Well...that's just a cryin' shame. I guess the brilliant Cuban health care system that is always held up to distract from the atrocities of the Castro regime isn't so hot after all. Huh. Who ever would have guessed? However hilariously tragic this may be, it doesn't mean anything until the Cuban government announces that Castro has died. But the guy is on his way out. (Just so you know, if you've pooped IN yourself, you're gone. Probably gladly so.) Can we please stop the idiotic embargo now? We've had this policy in place for almost one-fifth of the history of our country and all it has done is help guarantee crushing poverty for millions of people and give a brutal dictator an excuse for the God-awful living conditions he created. Oh and it drove an old man to poop in himself. (I apologize, but I can't get enough of that. BTW, guess how I'm gonna die now.) Funny? Yes. But hardly efficient. [PS: God forgive me.]

US Lawmakers in Cuba

A Congressional delegation is in Havana looking to expand relations between the US and Cuba. It's nice to see the Congress taking a hand in foreign policy (especially with Cuba) rather than just taking whatever the Bush Administration says (The same with Bill Nelson going to Syria - which John Kerry is now copying). This is great news for the Cuban people. (Not as good as Fidel kicking off will be.) Tags: Fidel Castro, Cuba, Castro