Doesn't mean we have to take the field with the same team.

There was substantial controversy in the conservative blogosphere about Clint Eastwood's ad for Chrysler in which the actor/director claims it's halftime in America. Many feel that it's a not so subliminal endorsement of the Obama administration. Critics of the ad point to the half-time metaphor as a plea for a second term to "win the game." I think there's a degree of hypersensitivity going on here. First of all, one ad in February, no matter how good, is not going to get Obama reelected 10 months from now.

But more importantly, if one examines the ad with a less narrow focus it's not about the present administration, halftime being 4 years into a potential 8 year period. Perhaps it's about being 236 years into a 500 year period. Just yesterday Marco Rubio addressed CPAC and reprised his message from his maiden speech: the 20th Century was undoubtedly the American century and we need to make decisions to ensure that the 21st is an American century as well.

So I'm in total agreement with Newt Gingrich about this Chrysler ad. It is halftime in America and we need to make some strategic adjustments before we continue the game. And that means a new quarterback.

Val and I are having a great time at CPAC 2012 in Washington D.C. We are meeting plenty of wonderful folks and fellow bloggers trying our best to help them understand the miserable situation in Cuba. We are still amazed how many well-meaning people are out there who are not aware of the atrocities that take place in Cuba and have no idea what a threat the Castro dictatorship is to America and our way of life. This is a product, of course, of the MSM's concerted effort to hide the crimes taking place in Cuba and glorify the murderous and criminal Castro government. However, we are happy that so far, we have had a great response and support from everyone we have spoken to.

We would also like to thank our friends who have stood by us and given our cause for a free Cuba unlimited support. These friends include Ed Morrisey, Fausta Wertz. Peter Da Tech Guy, Jimmie at Sundries Shack, and many more.

The Obama administration's latest overreach regarding health care has been the cause of a lot wrenching of hair and gnashing of teeth. At the root of the kerfuffle is the announcement by the administration's Health and Human Services department that employer-sponsored health plans will have to provide birth control with no co-pay. The outrage has centered around the Catholic Church which doctrinally opposes anything but natural birth control. The debate thus far has focused on the religious liberty aspect of the policy. Many are saying this is an infringement on the first amendment of the constitution which guarantees religious liberty.

I'm here to tell you that this issue is not about religious liberty. This is about liberty. Period. Where the hell did the President or the federal government get the power to mandate that ANYTHING must be covered by employer health plans? I would argue that if this new mandate were about bunions instead of contraception it would be every bit as grotesque an abuse of power by the federal government.

The state have always had differing approaches to regulating the health insurance industry. In some states certain basic procedures and tests are mandated to be covered free of charge to the insured person. But now we have blanket mandates coming from Washington DC. Anyone that says that ObamaCare is not a top-down one-size-fits-all federal takeover of the health industry is lying through his teeth or simply doesn't understand the ramifications.

Literally since the day ObamaCare was jammed through the congress with no bipartisan support we've been discovering unsavory aspects of the law. It stinks more today than it did then. Let's not make this a religious liberty issue. It affects every American, not just the minority who think artificial contraception isn't moral. The real question is are we are subjects of this government or is the government subject to us, its citizens?

I guess yelling and screaming does work:

"With the White House under fire for its new rule requiring employers including religious organizations to offer health insurance that fully covers birth control coverage, ABC News has learned that later today the White House — possibly President Obama himself — will likely announce an attempt to accommodate these religious groups."

Earlier this week Alberto posted a story on the upcoming primaries in Venezuela. You can gather the people of that country are hoping for change in their next presidential election. I believe many of us can sympathize with them. For over three years some of us have made the comparisons between Obama and Hugo Chavez. However, I found myself easily able to substitute Chavez's name with Obama's as I read this article...

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan opposition supporters vote on Sunday in a primary likely to anoint youthful governor Henrique Capriles as the candidate to face socialist President Hugo Chavez in an October election that is already shaping up as a fierce fight.

Outwitted by Chavez since 1998, opposition leaders hope the nationwide ballot will galvanize their ranks, produce a unity candidate and help them finally unseat Chavez, whose mix of social spending and hostility to business has split the OPEC member nation's people.

Obviously I was able to ignore the "OPEC member" reference amid the blinding parallels because, under Obama, our nation is not only NOT an OPEC member, but cannot even enter into the Keystone Pipeline agreement with our neighbor and ally Canada. Quite the contrary, Obama seems content with our country being at the mercy of OPEC members who regard the U.S. as an enemy, even if Obama believes he's won them over with his unclenched fist.

Strong voter turnout on Sunday would help give the opposition momentum for a campaign where it hopes to portray Chavez, 57, as a Cold War-era ideologue who has lost focus on day-to-day problems such as crime and unemployment.

I know ... Weird, isn't it?

"I'm not an imperialist. Those are debates from 50 years ago when I wasn't even born," Miranda state governor Capriles recently told reporters, referring to Chavez's epithet for foes.

"This is a debate between stagnation and progress."

Here I was struck by the similarities of the liberal/leftist democrats' (and the media's) constant depiction of conservatives/republicans running in this country's election cycle. Among other scare rhetoric, the race card has been thrown down so many times by these people that it has become so transparent you can see straight through to their lunacy in using it, and the choruses of things like "Jim Crow", in order to obfuscate the real and critical issues. Obama and democrats warn republicans will pull the country back decades away from the progress that they have made. Yeah, that is pretty much the plan. The real progress we need is exactly the same progress Venezuela needs.

Drawing derision from Chavez, the five candidates in the primary have crisscrossed Venezuela, from Andean foothills to Amazon jungle hamlets, attacking his record and promising to stay united behind whoever wins on Sunday.

Well, I hope they are successful at that because our guys have spent more time and energy beating each other to a pulp and barely landing a glove on Obama's failed record ... and I am having a hard time envisioning unity in the GOP at this point of our long campaign.

Read the article in full here.

Raul Castro and Che Guevara availing themselves of state-of-the-art U.S. communications equiptment provided them by CIA operatives in Santiago Cuba, Robert Weicha and Park Wollam (1957-58)

I refer to the tens of thousands of dollars delivered by the CIA's Robert Weicha to the Julio 26 Movement, along with the state of the art communications equipt. that became Radio Rebelde, from where Fidel, Raul and Che broadcast their utterly bogus “guerrilla" victories island-wide, along with their plans to uplift Cuba into a Caribbean Shangri-La inspired by the principles of Adam Smith, John Stuart Mill and Thomas Jefferson.

Furthermore, these CIA operatives working undercover as "U.S. Consuls" in Santiago tried repeatedly to meet with Castro himself to better coordinate their clandestine financial aid. In July 1957 Frank Pais wrote Castro to say that U.S. diplomat (CIA officer Robert Weicha) craved to meet with him. "We do not raise the slightest objection to the U.S. diplomat's visit!" replied an eager Castro. "We can receive any U.S. diplomat here!"

“Me and my staff were all Fidelistas,” Robert Reynolds, CIA’s Caribbean Desk Chief 1957-60)

"Everyone in the CIA and everyone at State were pro-Castro, except ambassador Earl T. Smith. (Robert Weicha, CIA operative in Santiago de Cuba 1957-59)

Robert Hill, then responsible for the US State Department's relations with Congress, told the newly-appointed US Ambassador to Cuba, Earl Smith: "You are assigned to Cuba to preside over the downfall of Batista. The decision has been made that Batista has to go." (Hugh Thomas: p. 165)

So when Cuba "Experts" claim that U.S. officials have a history of plotting with Cuban dissidents to secretly slip money into their palms and plot "regime-change"--THEY'RE RIGHT!

Unreal

Via Fellowship of the Minds: Oh yes, they can. And if you let them, they will...

Sen. Rubio had a half hour meeting with conservative bloggers this morning before addressing CPAC with another wonderful speech. Here is part of that meeting:

Not seeing an embed as yet for Sen. Marco Rubio's CPAC speech, but Right Scoop has their own video of it (I'll update this post when I find an embed).

HT and more @ HotAir

Via Notes from the Cuban Exile Quarter:

Don't end economic sanctions on Castro regime

The 50th anniversary of the establishment of US sanctions by President John F. Kennedy on the Castro regime in Cuba is an excellent moment to reflect on whether they should be maintained, changed, strengthened or abolished. The argument made below in 2003 holds true today but unfortunately the trade embargo on Cuba for all practical purposes was ended in 2000. Economic sanctions remain but since 2001 there has been over $3.5 billion dollars in trade between American businesses and the Cuban dictatorship. The human rights situation on the island has not improved.

President John F. Kennedy signed a decree broadening trade restrictions with Cuba on February 7, 1962

FLORIDA TODAY

Feb 13, 2003

Don't end embargo on Cuba trade

By John J. Suarez Guest Columnist

There is a tragic sham that harms Americans, but it is not the trade embargo on communist Cuba. Rather, it is the cliche that "to pull down barriers," by ending trade sanctions on a ruthless communist dictatorship and provide it with subsidies would bring political reforms.

The sham seen today in China is proof that such a policy would also be a disaster in Cuba, and only serve multinational interests and Cuba's communist regime.

America normalized relations with Beijing in 1979. The belief then was that normal relations would lead to more human rights and a peaceful transition to democracy. The opposite has been the case.

In the Soviet Union, confrontation and economic isolation led to a relatively peaceful implosion of the regime. In China, the policy of trade and political engagement has led to a thriving economic system under communist control, and modernization and expansion of the military and state security apparatus.

In Cuba today, political opposition is growing, and human-rights abuses although systematic and pervasive have in practice declined in numbers. This is not due to the good will of Fidel Castro's regime, but a lack of resources.

Continue reading HERE.

At least the Castro regime was able to copy something we have correctly: Ecured, the Castro dictatorship's version of Wikipedia, is just as useless and filled with leftist propaganda as our own Wikipedia.

Via AFP:

Cuban 'Wikipedia' includes entry for dissident blogger

HAVANA — Cuba's EcuRed digital encyclopedia, inspired by Wikipedia and operated by the island's Communist Youth, has added an entry for award-winning dissident blogger Yoani Sanchez.

The unusual turn of events in the Communist country, where information is tightly controlled and dissent is barely tolerated, comes with a price: Sanchez, 36, is described as a "cybermercenary."

Sanchez has been speaking her mind on the "Generation Y" blog since 2007 and has long traded barbs with a regime.

The humor of Garrincha:

Translation:

"There he goes reflecting again..."

Looking for some bang-up entertainment? Cuban-American actor, filmaker and defender of freedom, Orestis Matacena has a new film, Two de Force. It's an action packed view of what might be going on behind the officially presented view of US - China relations. The cast includes Luke Steward as President Obama, Jesse Wang as Chinese Chairman, and Patty Kelly as Hillary Clinton.

From the films official website: It is 2012. The US delegation and the Chinese delegation meet in Beijing to discuss the US debt to China and all hell gets lose in a clash between these two super powers.

Enjoy the trailer!

Emilio T. Gonzalez at Univision:

Opinion: Illusions of Cuba clash with reality

The Castro brothers are as bad as ever, but some U.S. politicians and government institutions want to give them a free pass. (Flickr: fotoscubahoy)

Of the four remaining Republican presidential candidates, Ron Paul’s foreign policy views really stand out. His libertarian “we love everybody” mentality is naïve at best and dangerous at worst. His Cuba policy is a perfect example.

Rep. Paul easily dismisses serious threats posed by Cuba’s communist dictatorship, which just hosted a meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

“It’s time to change. The Cold War is over. They’re not going to invade us and I just think that a better relationship and trade relationship,” he said at a recent presidential debate in Florida. “I think the people have changed their mind … I don’t think they see a Jihadist under the bed every night.”

Sadly, he is not alone.

A few weeks ago I received invitations to travel to Cuba by two venerable institutions; the National Geographic Society and the Smithsonian Institution. Both offered friendly “People-to-People” tours in accordance with U.S. Department of the Treasury regulations. One tour even offered to take their participants to the site of the 1961 Bay of Pigs debacle.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Relations was outraged and rightfully condemned these trips. Chairman Daniel Lungren (R-Calif.) of the House Committee on Administration promised an investigation to find out why the Smithsonian Institution, a tax-payer funded organization, would schedule tours of a country listed as a state sponsor of terrorism by the Department of State.

But my dilemma clearly served to highlight that after 50-plus years of dictatorial rule in Cuba, some of our more prestigious institutions and politicians continue to see Cuba as something it’s not.

There is nothing that can be said about the Castro dictatorship that they cannot explain away or ignore outright. Somehow, when it comes to Cuba, normal rational and well-educated people tend to give this particular dictatorship a pass. People who are otherwise horrified at what the Kim’s totalitarian rule has done to North Korea or how China has ravaged and occupied Tibet, think that it is trendy to be seen in Castro’s Cuba.

The saddest part about all of this is that few nations in the past 50 years have been as virulently anti-U.S. and anti-democracy as Cuba. The gerontocracy ruling the island today is, with few exceptions, the same people that came to power in January 1959.

Continue reading HERE.

Via the Herald's Naked Politics blog:

Miami-based Cuban lawyers slam American Bar Association for trips to Cuba

The Cuban American Bar Association is mad at its national sister organization, the American Bar Association, for planning to send two groups to learn about the justice system in Cuba.

In a press release issued Wednesday, the Miami-based Cuban lawyers group said it persuaded the ABA's Criminal Law section from visiting the island. But its Family Law and Health Law sections "have refused to engage" in conversations regarding the trips, CABA says.

"As it has done in the past, the Cuban government will undoubtedly use these visits by the world's largest voluntary professional lawyers association to bolster their shameful justice system," the release says. "The ABA should not be used in this way."

American lawyers should set up meetings with independent jurists on the island, the group added.

Read CABA's letter to the ABA here.

If you'd like to see Marco Rubio be the GOP nominee that emerges from a brokered convention vote for him in this poll.

Forget about Betty White's resurgence. actor and former game show host Chuck Woolery has spent the last year putting some very funny political commentary to video. Here he offers a survival manual for the "zombie apocalypse"...

Val and I are both in Washington D.C. today attending CPAC 2012 and we are looking forward to the Cuba panel scheduled for today.

Via Capitol Hill Cubans:

Cuba Panel at CPAC 2012

Thursday, February 9th, 2011
Marshall Ballroom
Marriott Wardman Park, Washington, D.C.

12:00 pm - From Fidel to Chavez: How Do We Stop the Resurgence of Socialism in Latin America

- The Honorable Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), United States Representative
- The Honorable Otto Reich, President, Otto Reich Associates, LLC, Former Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Former United States Ambassador to Venezuela
- The Honorable David Rivera (R-FL), United States Representative

Moderator: Mauricio Claver-Carone, Executive Director, Cuba Democracy Public Advocacy

About the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC)

Taking place in Washington, DC each year, CPAC brings together nearly 10,000 attendees and all of the leading conservative organizations and speakers who impact conservative thought in the nation. Regularly seen on C-SPAN and other national news networks, CPAC has been the premiere event for any major elected official or public personality seeking to discuss issues of the day with conservatives. From Presidents of the United States to college student leaders, CPAC has become the place to find our nation's current and future leaders.

See the complete agenda here.

Orlando Gutierrez-Boronat in the Miami Herald:

Setting record straight on a program to help Cuba

Totalitarian regimes and their apologists have turned the manipulation of facts and the distortion of reality into a science. Dictatorships believe that political power flows from moral power, therefore character assassination of their opponents is imperative.

That’s why the Castro regime has launched diverse campaigns to taint those who stand up for the rights of the Cuban people. Regrettably, some in the pro-democracy movement echo these regime “lines,” focusing on the supposed ineffectiveness of federal aid to the Cuban resistance.

Let’s set the facts straight:

A nonviolent grassroots pro-democracy movement with the potential to transform the tragedy of Cuban politics has risen to challenge the most repressive, brutal and media-savvy tyranny in the history of Latin America. In this, the Cuban resistance is no different from other liberation movements, such as Washington’s Continental Army, De Gaulle’s Free French or Walesa’s Solidarity, all of which needed foreign assistance to confront dictatorships that far surpassed them in material power.

The truth is that the Cuban people are up against a totalitarian state that cannot run an economy and improve the livelihood of the nation but is excruciatingly adept at holding on to power. American aid — from the world’s foremost democracy — has been indispensable in allowing the Cuban resistance to have a permanent support infrastructure.

This support is indispensable in empowering the Cuban people to counter, even in a limited manner, the enormous resources channeled by the Castro-Chávez axis to perpetuate their oppression.

The historical experience of freedom struggles has demonstrated that foreign assistance is essential in three key areas: providing captive populations with uncensored and objective information, enabling international solidarity that provides dissidents with a network of associations that elevate the political cost of repression, and channeling direct logistical aid to resistance activists.

Continue reading HERE.

Via Pedazos de la Isla:

Agent of the Regime to Ladies in White: “You Will Not Be Allowed to Go to Church”

Marta Diaz Rondon being beaten/dragged by Cuban regime mobs. Havana, 2010

When 6 Ladies in White were violently arrested this past Sunday February 5th in the city of Holguin, they were also warned that they could not continue trying to assist mass in church, according to Marta Díaz Rondón, one of the activists who was attacked.

After a brutal detention which consisted of “twisted arms and aggressive shoves against the police vehicles“, Diaz Rondon denounces that once inside the dungeons of the Pedernales Unit, an official (whom she does not know the name of) violently threatened her, telling her that they would not be allowed to carry out their activities.  “He told me that he would not allow us, the Ladies in White and other dissidents, to continue doing what we were doing“.  Rondon’s response was a question: “Not allow what? That we go to Church?“, to which the regime official aggressively responded, “that was what he had said and he did not have to talk about anything else with us“.

After this confrontation and 6 hours in sealed off dark and damp cells, the women were released.  In the case of Rondon and Gertrudis Ojeda Suarez- both from Banes- they were taken to their municipality but abandoned miles from their homes.

Marta Díaz explains that her home has been under “total vigilance“, as have the homes of “all the Ladies in White in the Cuban East“.  The dissident adds that “they do not let us move from one place to another, but we are going to continue marching and taking to the streets, despite the threats“.

Continue reading HERE.

Janine Mendes-Franco at Global Voices:

Cuba: Bloggers Say Pope Should Postpone Trip

Cuban bloggers have been making their feelings known about the impending papal visit to Cuba, their main concern being that the Vatican is putting its stamp of approval on the Castro regime despite regular reports of human rights violations coming out of the island.

In light of new reports of state-sanctioned actions against members of Las Damas de Blanco Last weekend, diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense suggested that:

Pope Benedict XVI should postpone his planned visit in late March to Cuba. The visit was part of a quid pro quo between the regime and the church, but continued repression of women trying to go to Mass should not have been part of the deal.

The blogger also posted a link to an e-Petition soliciting signatures from people who agreed with the postponement of the pontiff's visit “until human rights conditions improve in Cuba”.

Pedazos de la Isla echoed this concern, as he reported on “another Sunday of repression”:

Just weeks before Pope Benedict’s visit to Cuba in March, another Sunday on the island- February 5th 2012- was marked by an excessive level of violence on behalf of the dictatorship against the peaceful Resistance, for simply trying to attend church.

In the city of Holguin, 5 Ladies in White were brutally arrested around 9 in the morning as they tried to reach the Jesus Christ Redeemer of Men Church.

Continue reading HERE.