A few words about the Diaz-Balarts endorsing Crist
By now you probably know that Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart have endorsed Charlie Crist for Senator and not our preferred candidate, Marco Rubio. While we disagree with their decision, what you won't get from this blog is venom toward the Diaz-Balarts.
First of all we agree 100% with them on the issue of Cuba, and this blog is first and foremost about that issue. But we are also a conservative blog when it comes to U.S. politics. And that's why we support Marco Rubio. Let's face it, when the voting records of the Diaz-Balarts are scrutinized closely they aren't that conservative. That's why it was uproariously funny that their opponents in the last election tried to paint them as ultra-right wing.
The Republican party has lost its conservative vision and needs candidates like Marco not 'poll-watching everything-for-everybody' candidates like Crist. I told someone who supports Crist recently, "you may be backing the winning horse, but you're backing the wrong horse." By the way, I've changed my mind since I made that statement. I think Marco Rubio is not only the right horse, but he's going to win.
Just remember we are a family and like all families there are going to be disagreements.
I'm in Texas, the armpit of the country, so I'm not acquainted or interested in Florida politics, I'm only interested in news/views about Cuba, but a point is raised ("this is also a conservative blog") which I've wanted to comment on for years, but I knew there was not going to be any rational discussion and I was going to get rained on with venom. Here it goes:
For years there has been a saying being kicked around to the effect that, "Liberals are evil and conservatives are stupid." Now to me there is nothing more loathsome than a totalitarian-worshipping liberal; and there is nothing more stupid than a conservative. Look at what happened in the elections. For the first time in decades the Republicans lost control of both Congress and the White House and nobody in the Republican (much less in this blog) is seriously studying why this happened. In 2006, they lost Congress; many of the people who voted Democrat were Independents and Republicans! Did they stop and ask and htink about why it happened? Nah. Then they lost the White House. And nobody in this blog has stopped to examine why the population turned its back on the Republican Party. Everyone's too busy, instead, snarling at Obama. So what's going to happen? They're probably going to lose the elections in 2010 and 2012.
So why did they lose? Stupidity: by blindly following The Pied Piper from Crawford. That imbecile increased the government bureaucracy, made liberals, anti-Americanism and Marxism seem fashionable again, got us into a war in Iraq for purely personal reasons, alienated all our allies, backstabbed our staunchest ally (Britain), laughed at global warming, almost destroyed the Republican Party, officially introduced torture in America thereby wrecking America's impeccable reputation, prevented Cuban-Americans from visiting their families, was a laughingstock every time that he opened his mouth . . . do I really have to go on?
Let's bring it back to Cuba, shall we? Me, I would try anything to brind down the Commie sonofabitches in Cuba, even if it was standing on my head, naked, on top of a building (trust me, that's a sight that you don't want to see). But here in this blog the attitude is: our policies haven't worked in over fifty years?? Why, we need to continue following those policies for another half century!! Stuuuupid. Tell me, why do you think that the Soviet Empire collapsed? Do you think it was because of the Olympic Boycott, or the B-1 bombers or the Star Wars initiative? Nope. It was because of Levi's, Coca-Cola, MacDonalds, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones. Why do you think that North Korea is still an Orwellian nightmare? Because they don't let anything "decadent" come in, that's why. So I say, yeah, let's talk with the sonofabitches---what can it possibly hurt? Answer that! (I was in the legal system for years and talked with countless murderers, rapists, thieves and litterbugs, so what?) And I say, yeah, end the embargo. How can things possibly get worse? The Castro thugs and their foreign admirers use the embargo as an excuse, anyway. I would love to see hordes of well-fed, well-dressed, wealthy American tourists swarm all over the island, asking their usual awkward questions and serving as a contrast to the miserable inhabitants of the island. Hell, yeah!
Look, I know it's painful, but for a change, try to think instead of talk.
OK, let the venom rain down!
Counyt Nomis,
What's the weather like in Lala Land today?
"Then they lost the White House. And nobody in this blog has stopped to examine why the population turned its back on the Republican Party." County, I disagree with you. If you read this blog regularly you would see that the general consensus here is that Republicans lose elections because they stray from conservative values. You may disagree with that analysis--as I do--but it has been bandied about on this blog for a while now.
JESUS H CHRIST ON A POGO STICK!
HAVENT YOU GUYS BEEN PAYING ATTENTION? DO YOU NEED TO HAVE REALITY SPOON FED?
Here's your cucharada:
The Republicans lost the White House, and Congress, because THAT'S WHAT THE MEDIA WANTED.
It really is that fucking simple.
CountNomis,
You sure could've fooled me. A Coonservative, you said?
CountNomis,
For someone who wrote such a long post you seem to know very little about what goes on in Cuba and it's people and how to bring freedom to that island.
By the way there are plenty of tourists in Cuba from Canada and European counties (and some American tourist too for that matter) that visited there for the last 20 plus years and plenty of American products get into the hands of regular Cubans because of the money remittances sent by their relatives outside the island.
Yet all this tourism and influx of American products in Cuba has done nothing to bring freedom to the people.
You sponsor your mistaken material values thinking that they will liberate people raised without religious values, brainwashed and oppressed by Communism for so long when in reality what the people in Cuba need is the religious values, the dignity and the courage to stand-up to the Castro tyranny and overthrow it once and for all.
The truth is that the courage and dignity that I mention cannot be bought with Levi's, Coca-Cola, MacDonald, the Beatles or the Rolling Stones.
Like I said, you think that you know a lot about Cuba and it's people but in reality you know jack shit about it.
So please don't come to preach us your distorted values to us Cuban-Americans that lived the Castro experience and experience on a daily basis the dynamics that take place here in South Florida to which you are so foreign about.
Henry - Where the hell have you been? Being totally sincere, but I missed your posts. As a conservative and I venture to say that you are more conservative than me I cannot believe how you could possibly surprised by the D-B bros giving the cause the finger. Have you seen their ACU ratings? In 2008 they garnered a 52 - that's Crist-like moderate. It is also tied for second place in terms of conservative-sellouts in Florida. Ros-Lehtinen took the crown with a 32...32! With Republicans like that, who needs Dems? It should be noted that the much maligned Mel managed to get a 60. Welcome back.
As for the dude who kinda agrees with me on the embargo I will only say the following. The embargo was not a failure - it was never meant to be used as a tool to force FC from power. It isolated the Cuban regime during the Cold War just as it was meant to do. The rest of his argument makes no sense. The only questions American tourist ask are "Where is the nearest whorehouse?" and "Where can I get a beer?" How many friggin' tourists were in Romania, East Berlin or Red Square? This is why it's so hard for me to argue against the embargo - cuz idiots like this don't have a clue of what went down and is going down in Cuba.
The Diaz-Balarts have always struck me as "opportunistic" above everything else.
They have continually betrayed the vision of José Martí on domestic issues, while yes backing Martí's vision within Cuba.
Rubio Siempre !
"cuz idiots like this don't have a clue of what went down and is going down in Cuba."
Cardinal,
You exactly made my point with the sentence above regarding CountNomis because he does not understand at all what's going on in Cuba today.
Plus he does not understands how the people's character in the island have been changed by living indoctrinated for fifty years under the Castro tyranny's boot.
Let me tell you that there are so many clueless Americans regarding the Cuban issue that you would think that Castro got to power yesterday instead of 1959.
F4Cuba - I know I'm not alone in saying this but sometimes when I am out of town I dread the moment people figure out I'm Cuban because they feel compelled to say something...and it's usually pretty darned ignorant.
Mr. Mojito - Well said...many forget that Lincoln started of as Democrat until he figured out he could not get elected as such. I have no problem with changes of heart but it's not as if he suddenly had a philosophical epiphany.
Are you guys really that senile? I never claimed to "know what is going on in Cuba today." But I am delighted that some of you seem to think that you know everything that is going on in that dictatorship. So tell us: how do we get rid of the Commie sonofabitches?
And to restate what I stated: since what we've done in the past hasn't worked in bringing down the Communists, how about doing something DIFFERENT? Anything! LET'S TRY ANYTHING THAT MIGHT WORK!
CountNomis,
The majority of us on this blog lived the Castro dictatorship for a number of years (some more than others).
Others like Henry Luis Gomez (this post’s author) were born here in the good old USA from Cuban-American parents that migrated many years ago, but they share our burning passion for Cuba’s freedom in ways that you could not ever imagine.
Believe me, we’re far more qualified than you’ll ever be on this subject. And we have the experience of living under a Communist tyranny (something than you never had or could ever imagined).
South Florida is full of recent arrivals that keep us here aware of the latest developments in Cuba plus plenty of Cuban-Americans in South Florida travel to Cuba at least on a yearly basis. Therefore plenty of ongoing traffic takes place between here and Cuba on a daily basis, but I guess you’re not aware of this fact there in Texas were you live (that somehow does not surprise me).
I don’t understand your statements since you claim that you’re not interested in South Florida politics and that’s fine with me. But, if you’re not interested in the politics here them you are not privy to the information that is common knowledge among the members of this community and then you go and make statements that don’t make much sense to us living the reality here.
Trust me, we know what’s going on in Cuba far more than you could ever imagined.
So if you’re going to continue attacking us and telling us that we’re irrational, senile and all that mambo-jambo Texan jargon of yours you can keep you thoughts to yourself and stay the heck out of this blog because we don’t need your prejudiced comments here.
If you have been following this blog for years you must have read by now plenty of our previous posts on how we feel the Cuban issue should be resolved (heck that’s what Babalu is all about). So please don’t come to any of us with this bullshit regarding we should explain to you how the Cuban issue should be resolved,
So before you continue with your stupid attacks on us follow this blog older posts and educate yourself (that's the key word, EDUCATION) as you have plenty to learn on this subject matter or if not stay the heck out.
Believe me we won’t miss your attendance
"And we have the experience of living under a Communist tyranny (something that you never had or could ever imagined)."
Boy, you sure know me pretty good. You must be a genius. Gee, I guessed I dreamed having been born in Habana and seen the Reds take over the country.
As for discussion, it's apparent that the only discussion and exchange of views that you like are with echoes.
Goodnight.
"As for discussion, it's apparent that the only discussion and exchange of views that you like are with echoes."
There is a reason why the first syllable in 'babalu' is baa.
Editor's Note (Val): Guess what, Charley cheese, this coment just got you baaaaanned.
CountNomis - if you read closely you will note that I am in fact opposed to the embargo. You're whining won't cut it for me - trust me, I get knocked around a bit but for the most part I am treated fairly even when I start ranting. My issue with your justification for dropping the embargo was that it was a)weak and knee-jerk and b)violates Foreign Policy 101 - you don't give away anything for free.
1. Read up on how the embargo was implemented - it was not a failure for 50 years. It did it's job during the Cold War and served our national interest. There is no need to apologize for its implementation.
2. I live in Miami and have been in the travel/tourism trade for over 20 years. Trust me - everyone appreciates tourists, theoretically but they are almost universally resented by locals...especially if you are talking about Americans in the Caribbean. We're loud, arrogant and think we own the stinking place. What are American tourists going to do differently than Canadian and European ones? Do you think that the Cubans are going to just allow anyone to visit the Socialist Paradise? Ask a pesky question and you go home, or don't even get a visa.
3.I'm a libertarian - I LOVE capitalism but capitalism alone is not going to knock down the Castro Regime. The strength of the American and western economy not it's ability to penetrate East European Markets tore down the wall. No former Eastern Bloc country had the fraction of the investment that the US has put into China and China is still commie while the rest faded away. By the way it is spelled McDonald's.
3. I have no problem talking, we are actually talking already even if it is not advertised. Talk to your hearts content but don't expect much till Fidel dies. Raul said he would talk about ANYTHING but Fidel quickly noted that Raul had been misinterpreted which is ridiculous since Raul literally said "ANYTHING." So don't expect anything too productive for a bit.
4. As much as I believe that the embargo is contrary to our national interest and even the interests of the Cuban-American community (I'm definitely in the minority on that one)- I don't think we can just drop the embargo unilaterally. First of all you cant, it requires congressional action thanks to Helms-Burton. Second of all you need to get something, anything for even lifting a piece of the embargo. Finally, for all the whining and carping done by embargo opponents let us be clear that the US is still one of Cuba's largest trading partners. There are even regular shipments leaving from Ft. Lauderdale.
CountNomis - they have no problem with debates here, trust me. You get two Cubans in a room and you will end up with three opposing points of view. The issue with your post was that it was simplistic. You know that 99% of the folks here are not going to agree with your embargo talk. So if you are going to start it - get your facts straight and grow a pair. You will get rocked - but if you're a man you can handle it. No one's going to shut you out because of an unpopular opinion just a poorly argued one.
Cardinal,
You made a very good point with your last post.
CountNomis,
You started attacking us from the first moment you posted on this blog; so if you think that we're going to stay silent to your venom you're living in fantasy island.
You tell us that we don't think, that we rain venom on opposing views, that we're senile and yet you're guilty of all those same issues that you're attacking us with (how ironic).
As Cardinal very clearly explained your argument on the embargo is poor, simplistic and full of holes that we can easily debunked plus it is completely out of touch with the Cuban reality that you just don't understand and worst of it, unwilling to learn.
This is my sincere suggestion to you; try to make an effort to educate yourself on the Cuban issue. By doing so it will enable you to understand our reasons for supporting the embargo.
So if you can't take the heat that come from us in return, stay the hell out of the kitchen.
Wow!---some very good reading on this CountNormis exchange. But the Cardinal hit the nail right on the head when he labled CountNormis as 'SIMPLISTIC"
Hang in there CountNormis....keep reading Babalu and also TheRealCuba... you will gain understanding and experience a wonderful range of information.
Freedom, as much as I think that the regular arrival of new Cuban exiles to Miami provides a treasure trove of info on what is happening in current-day Cuba, the city can also becomes something of an echo chamber on Cuba policy. The debates about Cuba, while more open than 20 years ago, haven't changed much. And while Miami operates as a capital in exile, an anti-Habana almost, that isn't probably the best way of having a meaningful dialogue (I use that word cautiously) over US policy toward Cuba. I actually think the debates are much more wide-ranging and less charged in places in Northern New Jersey like Union City/North Bergen/Elizabeth than in Miami.
Cardinal--
I found the points that you made interesting, though I do disagree with them to one degree or another. Still, it's good to have an intelligent exchange. BTW, I, too, used to be a Libertarian, until I met many Libertarians whose arguments ran along the line of: Russia has concentration camps and censorship and the KGB while the US has income tax; therefore, there is no difference between these two countries. O...K.
Anyway, my take on an embargo of any kind is to either stop a regime from either carrying out a policy (e.g., Mussolini's invasion of Ethiopia) or overthrowing that regime (Castro, Sadam, etc.), or witholding certain strategic items from acquisition by that regime. As such, I feel that your first point is therefore, flawed. History shows us that in an embargo the ruling elite always has plenty to eat and toys to play with.
On your second point is that American tourists won't really make all that much difference since there are already Eurotrash and Canadatrash tourists there. That may be true, but I don't think so for these reasons: one, it's easier to hate an unseen enemy and the fact that Americans would be scurrying around (and may take messages to relatives abroad) would change perception to some degree. However, more importantly is the fact that, like the tourists from other countries, they would serve as a visual reminder of the good life, or, rather, the normal life.
Your third point is off the mark. It's not the fact that capitalism was, or was not, able to "penetrate Eastern Bloc markets." It's the fact that the Eastern European population could see with their own eyes that Westerners did not have to wear rags, or stand in line for toilet paper, or only listen to music glorifying the Glorious Rodina. They KNEW that there was a better world out there---and that their fearless leaders were denying them a decent life.
Fourth (actually it's three again), as for talking with the sobs, like I said, what can it hurt?
Fifth, as for ending the embargo, it can be eliminated legally. You know that. It's not like it's a Constitutional Amendment. However, if anything, I would make it illegal for any corporation/bank to lend credits or buy stuff on credit.
But, again, my point is: let's try something different! Anything! Anything that might work in bringing down those cocksuckers! Some of the Cubans that I have met, or read, their arguments are as follows: What we've been doing for the past fifty years hasn't worked?! Well! We simply have to keep doing the same thing for another fifty years!!
And you know what? I have a sneaking suspicion that the Castro bastards (literally) do not want the embargo to be lifted.
caballerodeparis1,
What do you mean about meaningful dialog?
Open debate about what? The legitimacy of the Castro regime?
Bullshit...Please give me a brake.
Read your post as you sound like you support the Castro line the way you express yourself.
Of course this city is very anti-Habana and nothing is wrong with that.
What do you expect from a city full of victims of the Castro tyranny.
No wonder the Pitbull gets on your case the way you express yourself at times.
Let me tell you as I lived up north for many years and believe me you don't get a clue what's going on in Cuba when you live up there as the press up there rarely publishes any Cuba news. And when it does, is along the MSM's Cuba format that we all know.
You may want to dump all you want on the people of this city and the way we do things here but Cuban-Americans learn very fast how much prejudice is against them once you get outside of South Florida (I can attest to that fact).
By the way, the majority of Cuban-Americans have left the Northern New Jersey areas like Union City/North Bergen/Elizabeth.
Today there is a fraction left of the many Cuban-Americans that lived there over thirty plus years ago.
For the last time,
The only embargo that needs lifting in Cuba is the one the Castro brothers have imposed on their people for the last fifty years.
There is no embargo on Cuba today, period.
During the sixties and seventies they imported goods from western countries like England, Japan and Spain to name a few.
Currently Cuba buys millions of dollars in products from the USA.
The Cuba embargo line is only meant to request credit from American banks (money which the Castro brothers have no intention of ever repaying, look how much money they owe to other western countries) and to use that borrowed money to continue oppressing their people, financing the Castro revolution around the world and enriching their Swiss bank accounts.
Cuba has one the the worst (if not the worst) credit ratings around the world when it comes to repaying foreign debt.
Any American President in this time an age would be totally insane to lend money to a country that will never repay us.
Freedom,
For all the talk about your willingness to debate issues it's incredible how absolutely exagerrated your responses are to posts that merely raise questions or offer observations.
"What do you mean about meaningful dialog? Open debate about what? The legitimacy of the Castro regime? Bullshit...Please give me a brake. Read your post as you sound like you support the Castro line the way you express yourself.". First of all it's "break" not "brake." By dialogue I mean a conversation between Cubans in exile about the future of Cuba and the best way that the U.S. can promote freedom on the island without one of the debaters resorting to saying that any person who disagrees with him is a stooge for Castro. That tactic is boring, stupid, and does nothing to help the Cuban cause.
" Of course this city is very anti-Habana and nothing is wrong with that. What do you expect from a city full of victims of the Castro tyranny.". I never said that there was anything wrong with being the anti-Habana. I said that Miami is often a political echo chamber when it comes to Cuba policy. I dont think that a staid conversation on Cuba is good for Cuba or for Cubans.
"No wonder the Pitbull gets on your case the way you express yourself at times.". Guataca. Don't be such a lambeculo. (George, that was for you, man. It's not "fucktard" but it's close).
"Let me tell you as I lived up north for many years and believe me you don't get a clue what's going on in Cuba when you live up there as the press up there rarely publishes any Cuba news." Back in the day when La Tribuna was the go-to semanario on Cuba that might have been the case. But we have this new-fangled contraption called the Internet which allows us to get information from all over the world. Unless you get some DGI reports that only you have access to (wink, wink), I think the information we have access to up here in the sticks is pretty good.
"You may want to dump all you want on the people of this city and the way we do things here but Cuban-Americans learn very fast how much prejudice is against them once you get outside of South Florida (I can attest to that fact).". Are those violins I hear in the background? Have the Crackers made you cry? Grow a pair. I have lived in the New York metro area for most of my life and I have never felt discriminated against. Then again no soy ni elemento, ni acomplejado. That might be the difference between you and me. BTW, I love a lot about Miami.
"By the way, the majority of Cuban-Americans have left the Northern New Jersey areas like Union City/North Bergen/Elizabeth. Today there is a fraction left of the many Cuban-Americans that lived there over thirty plus years ago.". This is a slippery slope for you since the same is true for the Cuban population of South Florida, specifically, and Florida, generally. Having lots of Cubans in one place doesn't in and of itself give you any better insight on how we might move Cuba toward Marti's vision of Cuba Libre. Christ, you have 11 million Cubans living in Cuba and they haven't figured it out in fifty years. What makes you think that the million of you that live in South Florida can do any better. Incidentally, there are thousands of Cubans in the New York metro area who have suffered because of Castro and Co. Just because they live far away from Versailles and La Torre de la Libertad doesn't make them any less qualified to offer an opinion about Cuba.
In the immortal words of Cyberdyne Systems Model 101, "Fuck you, asshole."
BTW, you're getting very close to my tolerance limit. Very, very close.
CountNorris: "Let's try something different! Anything!" You're a real intellectual giant. Yes sir.
How eloquent.
caballero,
Where do I start?
1. You post here on Babalu a regular basis and cause yourself enough trouble with the ambiguity in your comments and your remarks. This is number one reason you get you clash with others.
2. I know George personally and agree with what he stands for and his effort in promoting Babalu with Henry and Val. If that bothers or hurts you, or insults you, tough shit COMEMIERDA (check if I spelled that one right).
3. I stand by my comment about the North (again don’t attack what you have not experienced with your comemierda remarks), as I lived up there many years and dealt with enough prejudice.
The New York metro area is way different in that regard because it has always been far more tolerant when it comes to race relations (that is why you have not encountered this problem there).
Reality is that the NY metro area is only a small part of the north. Go and live in the suburbs and you will notice the difference.
Just because you live in NYC it does not mean that the prejudice does not exists, once you leave the city.
4. Regardless of the advent of the Internet, South Florida is where the fresh news about Cuba first surface, where all the local TV stations address the Cuban issue on almost a weekly basis (and I’m not talking about the local Spanish stations, those address it on a daily basis). The area in the USA where the strongest ties to the Cuban issue are more prevalent, the Cuban culture is most and best represented and widely reflected in the political arena landscape.
5. Why do you think so many Cuban-Americans (and the number are very high, as I witness that fact) that lived up north thirty plus years ago moved down here? Because the warm sun, the beaches, the sand and the Cuban culture flavor of the area that has evolved into a Hispanic culture flavor because of all the new arrivals from Central and South America during the eighties and beyond.
6. Other than Bob Menendez from NJ where do you see more Cuban-Americans elected to political office outside of South Florida and addressing the Cuba issue?
One last thing caballero, since now you're in the business of finding faults in other people's writing.
What "exagerrated" means? (read your previous post).
Suenas como el burro diciendole al caballo que tiene las orejas largas.
“"Let's try something different! Anything!"
The American people followed a similar approach last November by electing Barack Hussein Obama to the Presidency and look where we’re now.
CountN- Going to be brief (for me) - have to work. So here I go.
-yes, the embargo can be lifted but it will definitely require 60 votes - not impossible but difficult.
-American tourists won't really affect the perception of Americans on the island - if anything it will sour them. Cubans - in my experience - have a positive view of their neighbors to the north.
-Cubans already know there is a better world out there - it's just easier to maintain control on an island than actually sitting on a continent bordered by free nations.
-I should clarify, I am more of a classically liberal than a full-throated libertarian. As you noted libertarians are weak on Foreign Policy - always have been.
-We can't just throw up our hands in desperation and try anything. Let's face it, time and time again our adversaries have counted on the fact that we don't have the guts to see things through. We've had this policy in place 50 years - holding out a bit more till we can actually deal with at least a semi-honest partner won't kill us. Try something...fine, but think it through and be deliberate about it.
Cardinal,
Even thought I fully support the embargo as a tool to keep the Castro brothers on check I agree that the Castro brothers need to make concessions (in my view significant political concessions) in order to have the embargo lifted by the US.
We both know (and the Castro brothers know it better than us) that if they make those significant political concessions the Cuban genie gets out of the bottle and they won't be able to put it back in.
The Castro brothers learned that lesson extremely well from the Soviet Union's collapse. That's why they'll cling to power until their last breath.
I think that is the issue. As much as I say that I don't want an embargo I don't see them making the concessions to allow it to fly. I do think it doesn't have to be an all or nothing prospect however. If they give up something we can give something too. My obsession is with those that have been granted visas by the US but are not allowed to leave - the unknown "Elians" seperated from their families here because the Castros are ticked off at them for some reason.