reach out to the cuban people, and they will take care of their government overseers, just like we do!!!!!! We're doing business with a lot of other criminals...
Submitted by gordon pumphrey (not verified) : Dec 18, 2014 4:39pm
This is true. We have open trade with China, Russia, Vietnam and even relations with IRAN. The trade embargo with Cuba has done nothing but hurt the Cuban citizens.
Submitted by adredge (not verified) : Dec 18, 2014 6:31pm
We shouldn't be adding to all of our other mistakes such as relations with China, Viet Nam, etc. Having made these mistakes doesn't mean we should continue the communist trend.
Submitted by Shirley (not verified) : Dec 31, 2014 5:38pm
Cuba is RIGHT ON OUR DOORSTEP! that's the reason....turn them loose and you will have rockets there pointing at the US....just like what Kennedy stopped!!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) : Jan 2, 2015 6:13pm
I honestly didn't understand how we could have "normal" relations with the Communist governments of China, the USSR, and all the other former East Bloc countries behind the "Iron Wall", but not a small island right next door.
I think China began it's momentous economic change soon after the first KFC restaurant opened in Beijing. Same thing in USSR after the first Pizza Hut opened in Moscow I believe. Coincidence? Probably, but they're examples of change that happens when communications opens up.
Essentially, just because we don't like somebody doesn't mean we can't talk with them. This "thaw" just makes it a lot easier to communicate. With greater communication hopefully comes greater understanding and hopefully a greater chance for change for the better.
Submitted by Puna01 (not verified) : Dec 18, 2014 5:19pm
"normal" was not defined here, do not think that relations with any of those could be considered, by any definition, 'normal'.
Agree that talk with them can only be helpful if we are listening but our Cuban/Americans should have been given a heads up!
Submitted by berto13 (not verified) : Dec 19, 2014 1:17am
It is long overdue. I just wish the killings of an american journalist and his driver by the Cuban Secret Police could have been admitted by the Cuban Government.
Submitted by Tom Whitd (not verified) : Dec 18, 2014 5:28pm
DETAILS: I am waiting for Congress to repeal the law that allows ALL Cubans arriving on our soil legal residency. If this does not occur, or if the law allowing family members of legal residents special permission to enter the USA is not repealed, we can expect to get a large tax increase for social services needed as most of the island migrates here. The only people left of the Island will be Castro and all those who love communism. In the near future Cubans will come for a visit and never leave. We will not round them up and send them back because we just do not keep track of most people who enter this country anymore. So sad for all citizens who want all laws enforced equally and without prejudice---we are made to pay for them---and we have too many non productive people who do not pay federal taxes in the USA already.
Submitted by k2 (not verified) : Dec 18, 2014 9:24pm
The last sentence says it all. That number will only get bigger as the baby boomers retire, my friend. The "welfare queen" archetype is long gone. She is wheeled out now to rile up "the base." Immigration reform is needed.
Submitted by Doug Madrid (not verified) : Dec 22, 2014 2:22pm
I say if they come here get a job pay taxes just like I do no getting foodstamps or Government Aide family supports till they work and get a place and PAY TAXES
Submitted by Jackie deRiesthal (not verified) : Dec 25, 2014 5:59pm
The weakening of America continues under the present administration. Unfortunately we voted for a President who hates American values, laws, ethics, military, veterans needs, etc. He continues to give many benefits and social status to non-citizen, illegal residents, rather than to legal citizens. Whatever he does now is just not a surprise. Our President just does not understand how to be a strong leader as evidenced by the overwhelming number of poor choices he has made for the USA. We are a weak country now and the world is taking advantage of us and laughing at us. Cuba is not our friend--how soon we forget the missile aggression and what Countries Castro is in bed with. We should be careful who we hand out with and call a FRIEND. We are going down the same path--wake up---Americans!! It soon may be too late to recover!!
It is even worse that we voted for members of Congress who do not have the gonads to impeach him.
Submitted by k2 (not verified) : Dec 18, 2014 5:57pm
absolutely perfect assessment K2 !!!!! I think we are past the tipping point, as a veteran , veteran advocate , absolute Constitutional supporter !!!!! America weakens every minute with the current non thinking , push through crap they call legislation and absurd politics played with our lives . As they push for de-education ,emotional based thinking as the norm and government control of every single part of your life !! we are not going to make it , what we fought so hard to protect will be a one liner in a altered history book.
Submitted by warrenvet (not verified) : Dec 18, 2014 11:58pm
If Congress can be satisfied that they no longer sponser state terrorism the its a go. We have diplomatic relations with Communist Vietnam and we lost a war to them!!
Submitted by Fred Ruhlemann (not verified) : Dec 18, 2014 6:11pm
Seems like the Embargo did not work. Why not try another way.
He acted as a leader.
We already support China, protect Vietnam and other oppressors so why not one more.
Submitted by Ken Conley (not verified) : Dec 18, 2014 6:40pm
Think the president did overstep but I think the whole situation warrants a review of what is trying to be accomplished. It could be time to change things.
This is exactly the hope and change we can believe in. Present Obama's leadership has surpassed all the Presidents of the past 50 years, both in restoring the economy, Is the only one to have the balls to make change happen with the Executive Order on immigration. The Cuban immigrants need to get in line with the Mexicans is the real message here. I hope this happens before we have more Cubans in Florida than Texas has Mexicans.
Submitted by Army mba (not verified) : Dec 18, 2014 7:09pm
The United States tried to attack Cuba on the cheap and failed. We flaunt the Guantanamo Bay military base in their face. We act as if the previous Cuban government was a bastion of democracy instead of an arm of the Mafia. We deal with other Communist countries that impose severe restrictions on their populations, even though their exiles (e.g, Chinese, Russians, and Vietnamese) object. I think we've been hypocrites in the case of Cuba, and it's time to grow up. We're neighbors, for crying out loud!
Submitted by Richard Hofacker (not verified) : Dec 18, 2014 7:40pm
No harm in having diplomatic representation with any other country as long as both entities are not in a stat of war with each other. Best part about it that staffing the embassy in La Habana will get some of the useless State Department louts out of Washington!
Submitted by Emilio Aerjorn (not verified) : Dec 18, 2014 8:21pm
L G
It is about time. Why punish a whole country and it people for over 50-years, just because the leaders of one country does not see eye-to-eye with the leaders of another country? We have many Cubans in the U.S. who find it impossible to visit family in Cuba. There IS NOT one country that we do not say WE ARE DOING THIS FOR HUMANITARIAN AID / REASONS. The U.S. have countries that we are (or has been) fighting wars with; and at the same time, we were sending aid to it’s citizens. If we do not normalize relations with them, someone else will.
Submitted by L G (not verified) : Dec 18, 2014 11:25pm
The effort to resume diplomatic relations with Cuba would make some sense if some concessions had been wrung out of Cuba, but it was an exercise that gained nothing for the U.S. and everything for the Castro regime. Possibly something could be made out of trade negotiations to help the Cuban people gain some freedom from that Stalinist style tyrannical government.
Submitted by JayR (not verified) : Dec 19, 2014 1:31am
The move is perhaps designed to help extend the life of our faulty international banking system. I think that it will do just that. However, that system will eventually fail, because it is a corrupted system. It is a system where boarder don't matter so business with any country is just fine. Russia, North Korea, Cuba, Europe; Money is Money to them, right and wrong isn't important. It is the system that excluded Cuba in the first place and is now allowing them back in. Perhaps the exclusion of Russia hurt their pocket book so it was time. It is something to think about. In the scheme of things it isn't important. What is important is that you know right from wrong. Good Luck.
Submitted by dave48195 (not verified) : Dec 19, 2014 4:10pm
The Castro brothers are billionaires thru their administration of Cuba
I have relatives in Florida who have seen the reaction on tv in a very NEGATIVE manner from Cubans to this issue. Do they get their property returned to them?
Submitted by Dale Schorr (not verified) : Dec 26, 2014 9:19pm
Normalization should be a process that helps the individual people of a country not the bureaucrats or politicians. Before the Castro regime started Cuba was the playground of the elite of the world. The common people of the country did not benefit from the casinos and resorts of the country except in isolated cases and even then only to a small degree. Normalization that supports a country which still believes in suppression of free speech, thought and act is not normalization. You can put a dress on a pig and call it a doll,but inside it is still a pig.
Submitted by Joe Adair (not verified) : Dec 29, 2014 10:53am
Comments
Just another Communist
Just another Communist Country to support.
reach out to the cuban people
reach out to the cuban people, and they will take care of their government overseers, just like we do!!!!!! We're doing business with a lot of other criminals...
Refusing to have relations
Refusing to have relations with Cuba makes no sense when compared to the reality of China and Vietnam. After 55 years, what's there to prove?
This is true. We have open
This is true. We have open trade with China, Russia, Vietnam and even relations with IRAN. The trade embargo with Cuba has done nothing but hurt the Cuban citizens.
Well said.
Well said.
We shouldn't be adding to all
We shouldn't be adding to all of our other mistakes such as relations with China, Viet Nam, etc. Having made these mistakes doesn't mean we should continue the communist trend.
Cuba is RIGHT ON OUR DOORSTEP
Cuba is RIGHT ON OUR DOORSTEP! that's the reason....turn them loose and you will have rockets there pointing at the US....just like what Kennedy stopped!!
I`m torn because we got
I`m torn because we got nothing from this negotiation. Is there a tyrant left that this administration won`t appease.
Yeah! Dick Cheney
Yeah! Dick Cheney
Thanks for pointing out the
Thanks for pointing out the plank in our own eye. Death for death, Cheney has a record Fidel or Raoul Castro can only dream of.
I honestly didn't understand
I honestly didn't understand how we could have "normal" relations with the Communist governments of China, the USSR, and all the other former East Bloc countries behind the "Iron Wall", but not a small island right next door.
I think China began it's momentous economic change soon after the first KFC restaurant opened in Beijing. Same thing in USSR after the first Pizza Hut opened in Moscow I believe. Coincidence? Probably, but they're examples of change that happens when communications opens up.
Essentially, just because we don't like somebody doesn't mean we can't talk with them. This "thaw" just makes it a lot easier to communicate. With greater communication hopefully comes greater understanding and hopefully a greater chance for change for the better.
"normal" was not defined here
"normal" was not defined here, do not think that relations with any of those could be considered, by any definition, 'normal'.
Agree that talk with them can only be helpful if we are listening but our Cuban/Americans should have been given a heads up!
Heads up...Why? What
Heads up...Why? What difference would it have made one way or the other on the decision to pursue normalization?
It is long overdue. I just
It is long overdue. I just wish the killings of an american journalist and his driver by the Cuban Secret Police could have been admitted by the Cuban Government.
I think it's time for
I think it's time for relations; I'm just waiting for details. USA is in the driver's seat. I hope our govt. acts accordingly.
DETAILS: I am waiting for
DETAILS: I am waiting for Congress to repeal the law that allows ALL Cubans arriving on our soil legal residency. If this does not occur, or if the law allowing family members of legal residents special permission to enter the USA is not repealed, we can expect to get a large tax increase for social services needed as most of the island migrates here. The only people left of the Island will be Castro and all those who love communism. In the near future Cubans will come for a visit and never leave. We will not round them up and send them back because we just do not keep track of most people who enter this country anymore. So sad for all citizens who want all laws enforced equally and without prejudice---we are made to pay for them---and we have too many non productive people who do not pay federal taxes in the USA already.
The last sentence says it all
The last sentence says it all. That number will only get bigger as the baby boomers retire, my friend. The "welfare queen" archetype is long gone. She is wheeled out now to rile up "the base." Immigration reform is needed.
I say if they come here get a
I say if they come here get a job pay taxes just like I do no getting foodstamps or Government Aide family supports till they work and get a place and PAY TAXES
The weakening of America
The weakening of America continues under the present administration. Unfortunately we voted for a President who hates American values, laws, ethics, military, veterans needs, etc. He continues to give many benefits and social status to non-citizen, illegal residents, rather than to legal citizens. Whatever he does now is just not a surprise. Our President just does not understand how to be a strong leader as evidenced by the overwhelming number of poor choices he has made for the USA. We are a weak country now and the world is taking advantage of us and laughing at us. Cuba is not our friend--how soon we forget the missile aggression and what Countries Castro is in bed with. We should be careful who we hand out with and call a FRIEND. We are going down the same path--wake up---Americans!! It soon may be too late to recover!!
It is even worse that we voted for members of Congress who do not have the gonads to impeach him.
absolutely perfect assessment
absolutely perfect assessment K2 !!!!! I think we are past the tipping point, as a veteran , veteran advocate , absolute Constitutional supporter !!!!! America weakens every minute with the current non thinking , push through crap they call legislation and absurd politics played with our lives . As they push for de-education ,emotional based thinking as the norm and government control of every single part of your life !! we are not going to make it , what we fought so hard to protect will be a one liner in a altered history book.
Ebola has nothing on the ODS
Ebola has nothing on the ODS epidemic (Obama Derangement Syndrome)!
Have you been watching Faux
Have you been watching Faux News?
If Congress can be satisfied
If Congress can be satisfied that they no longer sponser state terrorism the its a go. We have diplomatic relations with Communist Vietnam and we lost a war to them!!
Seems like the Embargo did
Seems like the Embargo did not work. Why not try another way.
He acted as a leader.
We already support China, protect Vietnam and other oppressors so why not one more.
Think the president did
Think the president did overstep but I think the whole situation warrants a review of what is trying to be accomplished. It could be time to change things.
This is exactly the hope and
This is exactly the hope and change we can believe in. Present Obama's leadership has surpassed all the Presidents of the past 50 years, both in restoring the economy, Is the only one to have the balls to make change happen with the Executive Order on immigration. The Cuban immigrants need to get in line with the Mexicans is the real message here. I hope this happens before we have more Cubans in Florida than Texas has Mexicans.
It takes balls to enforce all
It takes balls to enforce all laws equally-not the other way, as you espouse. Not enforcing laws is fair and just for whom--the law breakers??
Truth hurts?
Truth hurts?
What world are you living in.
What world are you living in. Why do we need a congress when we have a King. You need to wake up!
The United States tried to
The United States tried to attack Cuba on the cheap and failed. We flaunt the Guantanamo Bay military base in their face. We act as if the previous Cuban government was a bastion of democracy instead of an arm of the Mafia. We deal with other Communist countries that impose severe restrictions on their populations, even though their exiles (e.g, Chinese, Russians, and Vietnamese) object. I think we've been hypocrites in the case of Cuba, and it's time to grow up. We're neighbors, for crying out loud!
HEAR! HEAR! Well said,
HEAR! HEAR! Well said, Richard.
I call it politics, this
I call it politics, this could have been done a long time ago if the USA thought it was the right thing to do.
No harm in having diplomatic
No harm in having diplomatic representation with any other country as long as both entities are not in a stat of war with each other. Best part about it that staffing the embassy in La Habana will get some of the useless State Department louts out of Washington!
L G
L G
It is about time. Why punish a whole country and it people for over 50-years, just because the leaders of one country does not see eye-to-eye with the leaders of another country? We have many Cubans in the U.S. who find it impossible to visit family in Cuba. There IS NOT one country that we do not say WE ARE DOING THIS FOR HUMANITARIAN AID / REASONS. The U.S. have countries that we are (or has been) fighting wars with; and at the same time, we were sending aid to it’s citizens. If we do not normalize relations with them, someone else will.
The effort to resume
The effort to resume diplomatic relations with Cuba would make some sense if some concessions had been wrung out of Cuba, but it was an exercise that gained nothing for the U.S. and everything for the Castro regime. Possibly something could be made out of trade negotiations to help the Cuban people gain some freedom from that Stalinist style tyrannical government.
The move is perhaps designed
The move is perhaps designed to help extend the life of our faulty international banking system. I think that it will do just that. However, that system will eventually fail, because it is a corrupted system. It is a system where boarder don't matter so business with any country is just fine. Russia, North Korea, Cuba, Europe; Money is Money to them, right and wrong isn't important. It is the system that excluded Cuba in the first place and is now allowing them back in. Perhaps the exclusion of Russia hurt their pocket book so it was time. It is something to think about. In the scheme of things it isn't important. What is important is that you know right from wrong. Good Luck.
It'll probably have its "Ups
It'll probably have its "Ups and Downs", so lets hope the future will be progressive and peaceful.
The best way to keep Cuba
The best way to keep Cuba from being a forward base for our enemies is to normalize relations. From that perspective, I think the move makes sense.
Democrat yes, No Jack Kennedy
Democrat yes, No Jack Kennedy, just sayin'
The Castro brothers are billionaires thru their administration of Cuba
I have relatives in Florida who have seen the reaction on tv in a very NEGATIVE manner from Cubans to this issue. Do they get their property returned to them?
Normalization should be a
Normalization should be a process that helps the individual people of a country not the bureaucrats or politicians. Before the Castro regime started Cuba was the playground of the elite of the world. The common people of the country did not benefit from the casinos and resorts of the country except in isolated cases and even then only to a small degree. Normalization that supports a country which still believes in suppression of free speech, thought and act is not normalization. You can put a dress on a pig and call it a doll,but inside it is still a pig.
WE need to take care of our
WE need to take care of our own FIRST !
We should tell Raul to go
We should tell Raul to go pound sand......