“Free-Trade” Inconsistencies
The latest mantra from the MSM/Cuba-Expert axis has it that the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act will be a tremendous boon for U.S. farmers. A recent study (by Texas Aggies) affirms that if the bill should become law, the flurry of Castroite buying would find U.S. farmers reaping $365 million windfall (!!!)
The trade-boon rationale is often espoused by Congressmen Jerry Moran (Republican of Kansas) and Jeff Flake (Republican of Arizona). (Pictured above.) Note that both proudly co-sponsor the Castro-Bail-Out Bill.
Both have visited Cuba and both are long-time champions of free-trade with Castro, in the interest of the financial welfare of their constituents, of the American farmer in general and as all-around champions of free-trade and human brotherhood.
But neither has seen fit to champion a current free-trade bill with Latin American countries that would generate $ BILLIONS (!) for U.S. farmers and promote trade and brotherhood with vastly more humans in nations vastly friendlier to American principles.
As vocal as they've been regarding Castro-trade, note how these Congressmen's names are conspicuously absent from the letter sent by 16 of their GOP compadres to the President championing Colombia/Panama/Korea trade.
Interesting.
how do we know they don't champion it? There are no Congressmen listed, only the Senate co-sponsors. It's an op-ed focused written by a Senator.
one last thing...this is from CATO circa 2006.
A more extended examination of "career" voting on trade since 1993 finds that the most consistent free traders were Rep. Jeff Flake and Sen. Don Nickles (R-Okla.); the most consistent internationalists were Rep. John Boozman (R-AR) and Sen. Zell Miller (D-GA); the most consistent isolationists were Rep. John Duncan Jr. (R-TN) and Sen. Jon Corzine (D-NJ); and the most consistent interventionists were Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-MO) and Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings (D-SC).
Flake may be wrong on Cuba and even I think he is but he is a libertarian once it comes to most things. For better or worse he is what he is.
All the Ron Paulites I know want to lift the travel restrictions and "embargo". The Republican party is slowly being co-opted by libertarian/non interventionist/pot smoking quasi anarchists - who fail to understand the complexities of the modern world and stick to "ideals" that look good on people - but get people killed and prop up tyrants.
The issue here isn't "free-trade." Ron Paul is excruciatingly consistent in this matter, along with some others. And most don't go out of their way to mug for the press every time Cuba-trade comes up, as do Moran and--especially--Flake. My point is the Moran, Flake inconsistency.
yet, there isn't an inconsistency. the letter was only signed by senators. i am not saying that he is 100% wrong in what he is trying to do, just that he is consistent.
According to his web page, Moran does support all three free trade bills. It took me all of 10 seconds to check that out. Someone else can google the other guy. This ombudsman can only do so much.
http://www.jerrymoran.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1813%3Acongressman-jerry-morans-newsletter-6-28-10&catid=55%3A2010-twic&Itemid=103
Working to Open New Markets for Kansas Wheat Farmers
This week [June 28, 2010], I called for passage of three pending trade agreements to open new markets for Kansas wheat farmers as harvest progresses across the state. New market access is critical for our wheat farmers who are encountering growing wheat supplies and declining prices. Unable to move wheat on the world market, grain elevators are dropping the cash price paid to local farmers. If pending trade agreements were approved, duties on U.S. wheat in these countries would immediately be eliminated, creating new opportunities for wheat exports.
The pending trade agreements include the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement and the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement. I made my support clearly known during debate on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, at a House Agriculture Subcommittee hearing and in a bipartisan letter sent to President Obama.
It looks like Flake also supports FTA's.
Humberto:
Well said!!!
Kindly note the careful wording of my post, amigos. "To champion" (the term in my post) has a different connotation than the term "to support"--(a term carefully ABSENT from my post.)
Both Joe Leiberman and John Kerry, for instance, "supported" the 2002 Iraq War resolution.
I think you'll agree this "support" was given with different degrees of fervor.
Flake has been a FERVENT CHAMPION of Cuba-trade, travel, educational, cultural , medical, etc. etc. exchanges --sponsoring and co-sponsoring every legislative measure-- and prominently posing and preening and babbling in the MSM regarding everything and anything associated with these measures--AS THEY RELATE TO CUBA..
Fine. If his issue is truly "free-trade"--then why hasn't he been one one-millionth as vocal, and active, and fervent on free trade agreements that will bring America $BILLIONS as he has on the one that (might) bring in a few $million?--and of recycled U.S. dollars from a Stalinist regime he visits often?
you are splitting hairs. admit it, you jumped the gun because you read an article about a bunch a Republicans who "championed" FTAs, didn't see Moran or Flake and busted out a blog post.
That is the perils and the beauty of the net. You can pile on Flake for his BS, I respect that, he is wrong on this and as amazing as it may seem I think you are 100% right in your criticism of him.
Flake is consistently recognized as being a free-trader and one of the most reliable people on this issue. For you to belabor this makes no sense. you messed up, anyone with a blog or who has even commented on a blog can understand.
You will survive and blog another day if you actually admit to having jumped the gun once.
Humberto! NEWS FLASH!
the commie press has leaked new information about che's time in guatemala and the red regime their, and it is damning to both che and arbenz in their claims to acting independently
http://www.granma.cu/ingles/ouramerica-i/julio22-29romero.html
and yes, i created an account b/c i'm a HUGE fan of your work - it keeps me sane in class - and i wanted to talk to the legend himself!
Or Cardinal perhaps you will understand why he is "El Cirujano." Splitting hairs? God is the details.
Cardinal, I've changed your nickname to "Pain in the ass Ombudsman" to better reflect your activity here...
funny - I said that I essentially agreed with Humberto 100%, literally for the first time and I get crack back for noting that heaven forbid, he made a mistake.
Did you say something, Cardinal?