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DEL.ICIO.USClout of Cuban community is not enough
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Republican who wins the Florida primary will likely win the Republican presidential nomination, Rudy Giuliani told a group of Cuban-Americans last week in Hialeah, Fla.
“You’re going to have a big, big impact on who the nominee is going to be,” Giuliani said, promising not to support lifting a trade embargo against Cuba until democracy has come to that island nation.
Such promises, most likely sincere, are to be expected from both parties’ presidential candidates. But the day will come when such expressions of support will be followed by betrayal, as supporters of the Republic of China, also known as Taiwan, can testify. Cuban-Americans should steel themselves for that eventuality.
It’s reasonably certain that the embargo won’t be lifted during Fidel Castro’s lifetime. But it won’t endure until democracy comes to Cuba, either. U.S. Reps. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) have introduced legislation to lift barriers to travel and to ease trade restrictions.
“Why is our government telling us where we can and can’t go?” asked Flake in a joint appearance with Rangel before the libertarian Cato Institute. Rangel said trade and travel restrictions are “bordering on sophomoric.”
In Congress, meanwhile, the Bush administration last week managed a five-fold spending increase, to $47 million, on efforts to support dissidents in bringing democracy to Cuba. Democrats on the appropriations panel chaired by Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) had cut that spending to $9 million, but Cuban-American Reps. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) and Albio Sires (D-N.J.) restored funding to the level Bush wanted. Supporting the Cuban-Americans were 66 Democrats and 188 Republicans.
Without question, Cuban-Americans are the prime reason, and perhaps the sole reason, the embargo remains. It has been effective. But it’s also true that the Cuban regime can survive for decades more with the embargo. While Cubans cannot import nonagricultural goods from the United States, and while foreign suppliers can’t sell equipment, such as airplanes, that have a defined percentage of American parts, Cuba is free to trade with the rest of the world.
American agricultural interests argue uniformly against the embargo, pointing out that the United States routinely trades with Communist countries, including Vietnam and China. The dollar has no conscience or ideology, and while Cuba — with a population of 11.4 million, less than a third the size of California — is not a major potential market and certainly not as a noncapitalist state, it does have potential interest to energy companies.
Reserves estimated at 6 billion barrels of oil have been discovered in an area of the Gulf of Mexico that Cuba divided into 59 deep-water blocks and started leasing seven years ago. About 20 have been leased. The oil could add to business interest in Cuba.
Cubans are working, too, to influence American public opinion, recognizing from the debate over Iraq that this nation lacks the will to sustain confrontation and that public opinion will change U.S. foreign policy. Cubans also understand that globalization and the Internet have turned most reasonably educated Americans into freelance diplomats, meaning that the U.S. government is severely limited in its ability to make a restrictive policy stick.
The embargo can be lifted after Castro’s passing, but slowly, in a way that induces economic and political reform while respecting Cuban sovereignty. Both American businesses and Cuban-Americans are due compensation for expropriated property, though they may not get the compensation they deserve, or any at all.
Businesses should get full value. Cuban-Americans should get something, a negotiated share of future oil royalties, perhaps.
The post-Castro world will force a lot of change on Cuba. Now it’s a country in a time capsule, stuck in 1959 with flashes of ’70s Soviet architectural atrocities. Its people live in a kind of harmonic balance with a world that no longer exists elsewhere. A government that tries to parcel out liberties while allowing a few new ideas and a little free enterprise will find itself overwhelmed. It can handle the embargo. It can’t handle freedom.
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Comments
By jbmlaw
June 26, 2007 8:04 AM | Link to this
Good morning all. The only hole I can poke into any of Jim’s excellent arguments this morning – you could almost break this column into six different essays - is reciprocity of trade: I cannot see politically-active Louisiana sugar farmers tolerating sale of sugar at world prices in the US. I anticipate that the anti-free trade lobby will continue to punish American consumers to protect the de facto subsidies of the American corporate sugar cartel. Of course, if we did terminate the statutorily-enforced corporate welfare to the sugar industry, Cuba would benefit almost as much as the American consumer. Prosperous Cubans might even buy American cars, at least until they know better. The presently-dispirited Cuban populace is capable of so much more. Until there is a potentiality of a better life, they will remain frozen in a socialist 1959.By Van
June 26, 2007 8:19 AM | Link to this
Why does the US allow trade with communist China and not Cuba?By Jim Wooten
June 26, 2007 8:20 AM | Link to this
Morning jbmlaw and others to come. We are in complete agreement on sugar, which is supported here at twice the world price. The Soviets kept an inefficient Cuban sugar industry propped up the same way that politicians keep the American sugar industry propped up. When Soviet support was pulled, sugar production plummeted as inefficient producers went under. The same thing would happen here.
By Dusty
June 26, 2007 8:27 AM | Link to this
Jim Wooten, Some of your essay is truthful but sad. As you mentioned “(Cubans)recognizing from debate over Iraq that this nation lacks the will to sustain confrontation”. That’s a nice way of saying Americans don’t support the war in Iraq. Obviously, it is also an indication of the support given to our troops who are doing the fighting. Our liberal friends demonize those of us who mention the obvious fact that you cannot give and take at the same time. Free speech is their weapon of choice instead of using it as a tool for progress and support. I do have a “bone” to pick with you over your excellent piece. I LOVE my American car as it serves me faithfully, without repairs and many miles to the gallon. Cubans would be very lucky to get their hands on new AMERICAN cars.By Carbon Footprint
June 26, 2007 8:30 AM | Link to this
It seems that a certain conservative journalist has been sampling Cuba’s nightlife. Wooten must have finally met Johnny Ola and Fredo Corleone and he must have been escorted to some of the more atrocious soviet era archetectural atrocities, (stuck in 1959) that only Johnny O would know about. Johnny Ola. Now we know that the Ola is Cuban for oil. Oil? Expect big changes in US foreign policy with Cuba. There is one more stop I’d like Wooten to make: to see if those Soviet Missiles are still there, from 1961. There was a Chicago Sun Times report in the mid seventies that claimed they were. Not armed, but present, and who knows what would happen if Castro launched one as a gag, what would NORAD do? Good Morning Jim. Your mission, should you decide to accept, is to find the 1961 Soviet Missiles, and turn them into tin cans, (take them out). This message will turn to salsa in five seconds. Can you do the can-can or not? You could if you were paying attention last night…..Ole!By Curious Observer
June 26, 2007 8:30 AM | Link to this
Balderdash! The continuing embargo has nothing to do with installing “freedom” in Cuba. Rather, the embargo exists because of the influence of Cuban-Americans in Florida, most of whom are linked to families with wealth expropriated during the Castro revolution. These Cuban-Americans hold the swing vote in Florida elections, and neither party is willing to cede that vote by lifting the embargo. For these Cuban-Americans, nothing less than a restoration of their political and economic power in Cuba will earn their support for lifting the embargo. It’s about the money, Wooten, as it usually is for conservatives. Until Cuba returns to imposing utter poverty on the lower classes and rids itself of “socialized medicine” and other hallmarks of egalitarianism, Cuban-Americans and their conservative supporters will continue to ensure maintenance of the embargo. The “potentiality of a better life” for Cubans comes with a steep price—the surrender of necessities for major segments of the population and the acceptance of a plutocracy that “might even buy American cars” because its fortunate members will be able, once again, to profit from others’ misfortune, like their American counterparts.By Dusty
June 26, 2007 8:35 AM | Link to this
I’m sorry, Jim. That was jbmlaw vs American cars. I should have set Mr. jbm straight about AMERICAN cars. Yep!By jbmlaw
June 26, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this
Dear Dusty @ 8:35, I will acknowledge that American cars are superior to German vehicles, and I apologize for being a little too clever before 9 AM. I think the Leno line goes, “the Benz-Chrysler marriage proved the Germans can build a crappy car.”By Dusty
June 26, 2007 8:47 AM | Link to this
Curious Observer,8:30 Since you have made your profession of the socialist creed and your indictment of anyone who has made a profit, I do hope you do not have any money in the bank or any investments. Is your money where your mouth is? Are you homeless and do not own any personal property? I would hate to find that we have a hypocrit among us who does not live up to what he preaches.By Jim's a Cherry Picker
June 26, 2007 8:50 AM | Link to this
Still on Cuba Jim? This is probably the least important topic, aside from Paris getting out of jail, that you could possibly address. Grady is getting ready to go under. The supreme court said yesterday that corporate free speech was more important than students’. Dick Lugar decided to cut-n-run. Dick Cheney thinks he’s a Tsar. We’re about to shut down gitmo. No…wait…no we’re not. Palestine is coming apart. Tony Blair is stepping down. And you want to talk about a country that, as a foregone conclusion, will be annexed by Disney about 10 minutes after Castro dies. That’s some good journalism there big guy.By Jorge
June 26, 2007 8:51 AM | Link to this
I am Cuban and I have to say: Let’s drop the trade embargo. It hurts the people, not the government. My dad had to endure 2 years of cutting sugar can so that we could leave for freedom in 910. Enough is enough. Lift the travel ban and the embargo.By Jorge
June 26, 2007 8:52 AM | Link to this
I am Cuban and I have to say: Let’s drop the trade embargo. It hurts the people, not the government. My dad had to endure 2 years of cutting sugar cane so that we could leave for freedom in 1970. Enough is enough. Lift the travel ban and the embargo.By Jorge
June 26, 2007 8:52 AM | Link to this
I am Cuban and I have to say: Let’s drop the trade embargo. It hurts the people, not the government. My dad had to endure 2 years of cutting sugar cane so that we could leave for freedom in 1970. Enough is enough. Lift the travel ban and the embargo.By DebbieDoRight
June 26, 2007 8:57 AM | Link to this
The embargo can be lifted after Castro’s passing, but slowly, in a way that induces economic and political reform while respecting Cuban sovereignty. Both American businesses and Cuban-Americans are due compensation for expropriated property, though they may not get the compensation they deserve, or any at all. Your recent visit to Cuba, probably paid for by the “American Business” with interests there, is now making sense!! Question, “Has there ever in history been an American Business that has been compensated on foreign soil when their companies have been expropriated by the ruling and/or overthrowing government?” WHY would you think they’d need compensation now? SIDEBAR: This same question also applies to Cuban dissidents. Businesses should get full value. Cuban-Americans should get something, a negotiated share of future oil royalties, perhaps Hmm, come to think of it, maybe your trip was paid for by the Cuban American Foundation or something. What you’re saying is ridiculous, historically this has never happened, and NEVER WILL. Has China, Russia, Yugoslavia, etc. reimbursed anyone or any businesses lately? To demand that CUBA do so, speaks very highly of your skewered, money influenced, “comments”. Good luck trying to sell this latest delusion.By Van
June 26, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this
Okay, will the tag hijacker please cease and desist. The “By Van at June 26, 2007 8:19 AM” is not mine and those thoughts are like comparing apples to oranges. The China trade is a two way street. With Cuba, it will only fill the pockets of Castro and not help the people, at least China has awakening capitalist market.By Carbon Footprint
June 26, 2007 9:00 AM | Link to this
Okay, did any of you actually read Wooten’s article? I warned you neobloggers to read Jim’s writing carefully. Read it twice. Read it again. Read it in the bathroom with your morning constitutional. (I’ll let you write that pun). But read it. Jim clearly wrote that the embargo still lives because of the Cuban-Americans. The problem is that neobloggers like Dusty just cant wait to blog something, no matter how off topic it is, because all she’s (and I use the feminine pronoun loosely here), interested in is hate speak, and she cant wait to turn her own cleaving cleavage into a clever cleave of a new phrase about liberals being terrorists, like the clef introducing the score of a funeral dirge. You know, Dusty, you are only human, and, like your bellowing, big-bellied belicosities Rush and Hannity, your own belles lettres are not appreciated nor welcomed. There’s no more time or room for the haters. Recede, rescind, and recidivize you overprobationed, yet strangely underperforming truants.By GodHatesTrash
June 26, 2007 9:03 AM | Link to this
I knew the German car cachet would get into trouble when Mercedes opened their plant in Aladamnbama and BMW opened their facility in amidst the pekkkkerwoods of South Carolina. It’s not a wise idea to build precision machinery with stumpbroke illiterates. A colony of chimpanzees in the Congo would provide a better workforce. Trash builds trash.By JH
June 26, 2007 9:08 AM | Link to this
…recognizing from the debate over Iraq that this nation lacks the will to sustain confrontation… Mr. Wooten. I respectfully submit that you left out one enormous word between sustain and confrontation - that. It is convenient and politically expedient for the neo-conservatives to depict this nation, particularly their opponents, as vacillating and cowardly on ALL matters of national security. As it is for the liberals to depict those that they politically oppose as ALL being irrational and bloodthirsty madmen with a hair-trigger mentality. As usual, the truth is somewhere in between. Yes, Viet Nam and now Iraq have been complete blunders, and for many, many American families a nightmare, notwithstanding the fact that both “wars” were apparently well intentioned. But IF you believe, solely because of those two debacles, the rhetoric that the men and women of this country “lack the will” to ever again stand up and fight as one, as we did in the 1940’s, then I both disagree and am amazed that you would disparage the American people so easily. And though I realize that it does not sell nearly as well to your “constituents”, I would welcome you to the “reasoned and reasonable” center. BTW, sugar is 7 times more effective than corn for the production of ethanol.By Redneck Convert
June 26, 2007 9:08 AM | Link to this
Well, I see they are trying to get us to start trading with Cuba again. We should not be having anything to do with that bunch of commies in a country that don’t even know one group of people is not as good as another group. If we had Cuban guvmint in America, people wouldn’t even know that us rednecks are better than Those People. We would have everybody going to a doctor for free and Those People would live till they were 150 and pretty soon they would outnumber us at the polls. One of Those People would be driving my beer truck and I would be out picking up trash or mowing yards. I would still like for the Cubans to be able to buy American cars made by us good rednecks because pretty soon there would be auto repair shops springing up all over Cuba to fix all the problems. Like Coke bottles put in door panels and such. And the people that fix the problems would need lots of beer on the job, and that’s where I come in. I could work in Cuba in the winter and come back to the states to work in the nice weather. They would need lawyers like jbmlaw to jaw in court about suits against people that sue the auto makers and people like Van could start businesses to kind of take advantage of people. We could have people like tftt or The Only Good Liberal Is a Dead Liberal or whatever he calls hisself these days move to Cuba and hate everybody there. Instead of us. And I would like to be able to buy Cuban C-gars to sellabrate things like the birth of my grandson little Sonny Zell George. Anyway, I’m tired of columns about Cuba. Its bad enough Wooten betrayed his country by going to that commie country. Now he’s trying to make up for it by boring us with long columns about Cuba this and Cuba that. Maybe if Wooten moved to Cuba we all could be a little happier.By Carbon Footprint
June 26, 2007 9:13 AM | Link to this
“I vow to support the Cuban Embargo until democracy itself comes to Cuba”. Thank you, Rudi. What if they elected Castro, like the Iraqis elected the bad guy shias? We invaded Iraq. We provided the opportunity for a country wide election. The Iraqis elected the murdering scum terrorists Islamic fanatics that even Winston Churchill tried to exterminate. You ignorant, unreasoned visionaries are still roosting on rotten neo-con eggs. I dont mind partisanship. It’s ignorance I deplore. You know, there is a gay inflection in some gay mens voices. I think it’s an affectation, but it’s real and it’s always there, even if that gay man is a radio announcer. That’s why I cant listen to Public Radio anymore. I really find the gay lilt annoying. HOWEVER, there is also unilluminated ignorami’s inflection. Listen to any dittohead caller on Rush or Hannity. It’s there as clear as the gay lilt…only this time I dont think it’s an affectation. Ignorance will stop America cold. Amnesty. There, now Dusty thinks I’m on the far right. “He wrote Amnesty, didn’t he, duhhhhhh” Hear the dullard down beat in the inflection? bwaBy harold
June 26, 2007 9:17 AM | Link to this
What is the obsession with Cuba? Was the latest Girls Gone Wild video the Cuba edition?By DebbieDoRight
June 26, 2007 9:17 AM | Link to this
By Dusty: Since you have made your profession of the socialist creed and your indictment of anyone who has made a profit, I do hope you do not have any money in the bank or any investments. Bad Dusty, BAD. Why are you always so upset when someone uses logic to dispute one of Jim’s paid for rants? If the Cuban Government could’ve afforded Jim’s fee, this entire column wuold’ve been pro-Castro, Viva la Revolucion!! From Van: The China trade is a two way street. With Cuba, it will only fill the pockets of Castro and not help the people, at least China has awakening capitalist market. WOW!! Read any history books, or watch anything other than Fox News much? ALL markets are “capitalistic” in nature; in the sense that you are in business to make money, however, it’s distribution of its assets that determines its political leanings. To say that “it will only fill the pockets of Castro and not help the people” shows a decidedly lack of knowledge about world events.By Dennis
June 26, 2007 9:28 AM | Link to this
Mr. Wooten says; “Cubans are working, too, to influence American public opinion, recognizing from the debate over Iraq that this nation lacks the will to sustain confrontation and that public opinion will change U.S. foreign policy.” Mr. Wooten knows that long, long before Iraq, the American people learned the truth and the history of Cuba; that in the past it WAS controlled by the U.S. because the U.S. supported a dictator by the name of Batista (who also was a Communist). Likewise, the American people now know the truth about Iraq. How many American soldiers must die in Iraq to satisfy the blood thrist and oil thrist of people Mr. Wooten? But in order to support his brand of “Rah, rah, support your corporate controlled government” propaganda, Mr. Wooten conveniently leaves that out. Mr. Wooten writes, “Cubans also understand that globalization and the Internet have turned most reasonably educated Americans into freelance diplomats, meaning that the U.S. government is severely limited in its ability to make a restrictive policy stick.” Ah, get this one, “…the Internet [has] turned most reasonably educated Americans into freelance diplomats, meaning that the U.S. government is severely limited in its ability to make a restrictive policy stick.” In short, the American government’s propaganda, via the mainstream press and “reporters” like Mr. Wooten, can’t control the free thinking and the free access to accurate world news and information like it used to do. Money aside, that is why U.S. mainstream media and communications corporations are trying so damned hard to get control of the U.S. internet - which presently belongs to the American people. You don’t have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.By Carbon Footprint
June 26, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this
Okay, I’m disappointed in Luckovich today. The satan comparison was already made about Bush by that horrible south american jackass at the UN a while ago. That is almost hackery. It’s like the Hitler analogies. It’s so overused that it has lost it’s power to move anyone. In fact, it says more about the speaker than the target. Cheney is the new Castro. The Veto Bandito. HE eschews the Presidential Seal. “I dont need no stinking seal.” Dusty is the new Andy. Her unreality has invaded her mind to the extent that she’s become so emotionally entangled in blogging that she can only spew the cacophony of her own clitocrappy. bwaBy THE ONLY GOOD LIBERAL IS A DEAD LIBERAL
June 26, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this
I see the VT based child molestor Mrs JM Karr is still @ 9.03 puking up its embittered psychotic yanKKKee bile against southerners. We all owe the GBI a huge debt for running this human scum out of GA and the south. And other worthless leftists dogturds like crackpipe debbie, jim’s an arselicker and curious peeping tom robotically puke up more witless leftist bile vilifying Mr Wooten for no actual valid reason other than they are mentally sick liberals. Day after day these knuckle dragging lefty vermin soil this forum with their unremitting hate and unremitting intolerance of ANY opposing views. GOOD LITTLE PINKO EICHMANS ALL. New Orleans desperately needs a pragmatic new theme tune. I suggest Led Zep’s When The Levee Breaks. And Barak the worthless cut and run big eared magic negro could do worse than adopt a Led Zep theme too. One is naturally torn between either Black Dog and Gallows Pole. “Hangman hangman wait a little while …”By GodHatesTrash
June 26, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this
Looks like tft-tranny is advocating the lynching of a presidential candidate. FBI duly informed. I wonder if Mr. Brown will take his homicidal a**e back?By KR
June 26, 2007 9:38 AM | Link to this
Drop the embargo now. It hasn’t done what we thought it would do and it seems that the only ones still interested in it are the Cubans who chose to leave their homeland. What exactly constitutes an American car these days? I’ve owned a Honda that was built in Kentucky, a GMC truck that was built in Canada, a BMW that was built in South Carolina and a Mercedes that was built in Alabama. With all due respect to Jay Leno, who probably owns more cars than everyone on this blog combined, I would say that Chrysler brought the “crappy” to the table. Which is why Daimler is now in the process of selling off the Chrysler brands.By Carbon Footprint
June 26, 2007 9:39 AM | Link to this
Good morning, Jim. The Cuban Government has divided it’s oil fields into 59 parcels. 20 have been leased by dummy corporations obviously covering the real principles who are no doubt Bush and Cheney cronies if not Bush and Cheney themselves. (or the saudis, but then I repeat myself). Your mission, should you decide to accept, is to follow the money, and find out who leases all 20 parcels of deep water oil. This blog will self detox in five seconds……..phttfffffffthzzBy KR
June 26, 2007 9:40 AM | Link to this
Drop the embargo now. It hasn’t done what we thought it would do and it seems that the only ones still interested in it are the Cubans who chose to leave their homeland. What exactly constitutes an American car these days? I’ve owned a Honda that was built in Kentucky, a GMC truck that was built in Canada, a BMW that was built in South Carolina and a Mercedes that was built in Alabama. With all due respect to Jay Leno, who probably owns more cars than everyone on this blog combined, I would say that Chrysler brought the “crappy” to the table. Which is why Daimler is now in the process of selling off the Chrysler brands.By deegee
June 26, 2007 9:43 AM | Link to this
Oil could add business interest in Cuba? What an understatement. The clout of the Cuban community is swiftly eroding as oil rigs from Spain, Vietnam, China, Canada and Norway sprout up 90 miles from our coastline. The sight of oil barges carrying Saudia Arabian oil destined for the US passing oil barges carrying Cuban oil destined for Canada will be enough to make the US look even more ridiculous and marginally important in the global market. Is the condescending Wooten blaming the internet for turning American political patsies into independent thinkers?By @@
June 26, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this
O.K., here’s my suggestion for bringing the “free enterprising” spirit directly to Cuba’s populace. A little taste of the rewards of entrepeneurialship. Open up the door for classic car enthusiasts. The money goes directly to the owner driving the old rust bucket. Don’t tell them what they’re worth though until the husband and I get in to get ours. They’re sitting on a freakin goldmine is classic automobiles. I want one. When is the old Castro coot gonna kick the rusty bucket?By DebbieDoRight
June 26, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this
What the republican party REALLY thinks about “non-europeans”, (which is code for “non-whites”), is expressed so eloquently by one of its most faithful followers. Observe below: One is naturally torn between either Black Dog and Gallows Pole This however, has created an unforseen backlash, which, being repuglican, they were too dumb to see coming; as referenced below: Number of Black recruits dwindling because of Republican/Bush rhetoric. All in all this couldn’t make me happier!!! So now, all the good young European background republicans, will have to either sign up or wait around for the draft!! Keep up the good work repuglicans!!By Van
June 26, 2007 9:49 AM | Link to this
When I look at what Castro has done over the last almost 50 years, and I see how well off the Cuban people are, I say to myself, what a waste. Yes, Cubans can buy US cars through Canada, with whom they have trade agreements and the EU. Except, the only folks that can buy a new car are government officials and, of course, the Castro family. Recently, there was an article about new Chinese refrigerators being distributed to the Cuban people, with a ten year note to pay for it. They were in the $200 range. What amazing progress they have made. Why, the poor in America have it so much better than the average Cuban.By THE ONLY GOOD LIBERAL IS A DEAD LIBERAL
June 26, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this
Mrs JM Karr-NAMBLA is obviously suffering from chronic paedophile PMS this morning. Wassssamattta rednekkks? Did Bwarney Fwank refuse to pay you again last night? Having seen the general shoddiness and crappiness of American cars from GMC, Ford, Chrysler et al we now buy Toyotas. The average US cars I’ve driven at US garages are mostly pretty clunky and handle poorly and (generally) do NOT last as well as Toyotas or have the same quality - obviously there are exceptions. We like the Jap produced cars, kind of a (personal) tiny bit of reparations for the essential massive US casualty saving bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima if you like. Our Toyotas are made/assembled here, get pretty good petrol consumption and my Tundra is perfect for dragging cut and run perfidious liberals 50 feet or so behind on a quiet country road!!By Dusty
June 26, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this
Carbon foorprint aka as Stick’n’mud @9:00am, Until Jim Wooten appoints you as monitor of this blog, I will express my opinion on raging liberals like you as long as I feel like it. By the way, only yesterday I mentioned that I do not listen to radio except for music, no commentators. Try to remember from one day to the next. JH 9:08 Jim Wooten is only partially correct in saying that Americans “lack the will” to stand and fight as one. He should have said “LIBERALS do not have the will”. Have you not read these blogs lately? Have you not listened to Democratic members of Congress trying to worm us out of Iraq? Have you ever heard of Pelosi, Durban, Murtha and all the cut’n’ruuners trying to get us to retreat by any means possible? Have you not noticed who did not want to fund the war but voted for it in the beginning? Have you not read two thirds of the editorials in AJC? Where have YOU been? DebbieDoRight@9:17, Please use your logic and name all the rich people in Cuba besides Castro, his brother and and few communist cronies there. Thank you. RedNeck Convert @9:08, I say keep Jim Wooten and send you to Cuba. And take “Trash” with you. But be careful. They don’t take much to imposters who talk one way and act another.By deegee
June 26, 2007 10:06 AM | Link to this
Dusty places her hands on her ears and screams “I CAN’T HEAR YOU, I CAN’T HEAR YOU” until Richard Lugar, senior Republican leader, finishes his speech imploring the President to downsize the military’s role in Iraq.By JK
June 26, 2007 10:16 AM | Link to this
Yes, Dusty, why don’t you direct your outrage to GOP Senator Luger (R-Ind) for not wanting the troops to keep dying for no good g-dd-mn reason the way you do, you hypocritical, Bush licking traitor who hates freedom of speech and thought and anyone who actually thinks? Oh, I forgot.. you’re too busy hating your fellow Americans to give a d-mn about the blood, brains, and limbs spilled daily by our brave soldiers for no good g-dd-mn reason, you sick b-tch. Every one of those soldiers is loved by somebody, but not by you.By DebbieDoRight
June 26, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this
DebbieDoRight@9:17, Please use your logic and name all the rich people in Cuba besides Castro, his brother and and few communist cronies there. Thank you. O.k.; let’s try to use logic with you. Castro has been sick for the past 4 years now, if he had the “personal fortune” that you are intimating here, why didn’t he fly to Switzerland or Germany and have the new advanced surgery that he needed If Castro is so rich? If he’s so rich he could’ve flown the latest medical supplies, medicines that he needed into Cuba as well as the best surgeons/doctors in the world. Why does he continue to use Cuba’s substandard hospital system? Could it be that, gasp, Castro isn’t as “rich” as you think he is? It seems to me, if I was that rich, I’d rather use my money to save myself than to buy a new “car”.By getalife
June 26, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this
Today, they vote on Amnesty.By Van
June 26, 2007 10:30 AM | Link to this
DebbieDoRight, Kind of blows a hole in the lefties arguments that the military is full of the poor and black. Seems that the young, conservatives have not lost the vision and the desire to serve.By getalife
June 26, 2007 10:30 AM | Link to this
Its time for the wingnuts to admit the Iraq occupation is a loser and bring our troops for rest. They will be needed later.By Truths Sister
June 26, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this
We like the Jap produced cars, kind of a (personal) tiny bit of reparations for the essential massive US casualty saving bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima if you like. Tell it like it is Big Brother, tell it like it is!!! Why who would DARE call you a homophobic, barely literate, racist!!! Those words alone, “We like Jap produced cars” says more than anything how very open you are!! Hopefully, one of those Japs won’t do that bit#h slap thing to you because of what you said. Some people are just so sensitive!!By THE ONLY GOOD LIBERAL IS A DEAD LIBERAL
June 26, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this
I see the racebaiting whoralicious crackpipe debbie is as easy to superbly wind up as ever. Doubtless the ever hypocritical crackpipe is at least as CONTEMPTUOUS of ACTUAL (gedditt??) blatant virulent anti-white, anti-cop, anti-jewish, anti-Korean etc black racism in hippety hop musack and afrocentric/black kulture!! A superb article as long ago as 1994 shows us how this increasingly corrosive BLACK FILTH has poisoned tens of millions of what passes for yoof kulture minds!! http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=2891 Funny how the blacks Bush appointed have NOT, unlike the Arkansas rapists’ “duskier” appointments (virtually) all vanished in a blizzard of indictments, corruption, incompetence and mysteriously crashed aeroplanes (note correct spelling harold) this is one for the best, exhaustively researched sites I’ve ever seen on Arkansas rapist sleaze!!! http://prorev.com/missingclinton.htmBy RCH
June 26, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this
DebbieDORight Forbes list his fortune at 900 million. I guess that’s why he had Dr’s. flown in, I would not like to leave that wealth behind with my ambitious brother either.By THE ONLY GOOD LIBERAL IS A DEAD LIBERAL
June 26, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this
THIS IS THE RIGHT BLACK RACISM IN MUSIC LINK!! I posted the wrong link … but even that liberal link (above) shows some of the poisonous attitudes of the hippety hop crowd. http://www.city-journal.org/html/133howhiphop.htmlBy getalife
June 26, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this
“The big question right now among Republicans is how to remove Vice President Cheney from office. As long as he remains vice president, according to this thinking, he has the potential to drag down every member of the party — including the presidential nominee — in next year’s elections.” There is an election coming and the gop are running scared. From amnesty to Iraq the gop are losers.By RCH
June 26, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this
getalife That bill is DEAD. Let it go! The people have spoken. The ones that can legally vote!By THE ONLY GOOD LIBERAL IS A DEAD LIBERAL
June 26, 2007 10:48 AM | Link to this
@ truth’s sluttish slapper sistah HA HA HA HA HA HA HA … LMFAO!!! The use of “Jap” ALWAYS gets an unhinged lefty fulminating and foaming!! GOTCHA B -ITCH!!By JH
June 26, 2007 10:52 AM | Link to this
Dusty as is your prerogative to speak in absolutist slogans and faux patriotism, it is my prerogative, especially as veteran, to dismiss you as, what at least three other writers this morning have already correctly noted - illogically extremist. As to where have I been lately, I do not live at this blog, like you apparently do. You see, I own a small business that provides goods and services to paying customers and so, stop by here very infrequently. In other words, I have a real job and a real career that contributes to the good fortune of America. An America that has provided me with everything I cherish, including my life an dmy liberty. Therefore, my life as a sometimes LIBERAL, sometimes conservative has infinitely more meaning than can be derived from trashing EVERYBODY that disagrees with me on a blog! I’ll leave it up to you to be an angry uncharitable neo-con who disrespects himself so. You seem very qualified. So as the kids say, “It must suck to be you”. Have a nice life Dusty.By getalife
June 26, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this
Not dead yet RCH. I will watch C-Span and let you know if it passes cloture for more debate.By Dusty
June 26, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this
Deegee,10:06. I hear Sen. Luger. He has every right to express his opinion just like every other American. He does not represent the majority of Republicans in Congress. In fact, he may be contributing to the American low regard of Congress these days. President Bush shows leadership. Congress does not. JK@10:16, I don’t usually respond to posters who ooze profanity, name-calling, salacious references and other signs of ignorance like you do. But I do have a question. Are you covered with tatoos like the cop killer pictured by AJC yesterday?By Dennis
June 26, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this
By Carbon Footprint June 26, 2007 9:39 AM “Good morning, Jim. The Cuban Government has divided it’s oil fields into 59 parcels. 20 have been leased by dummy corporations obviously covering the real principles who are no doubt Bush and Cheney cronies if not Bush and Cheney themselves. (or the saudis, but then I repeat myself). “Your mission, should you decide to accept, is to follow the money, and find out who leases all 20 parcels of deep water oil.” Wooten’s not about to snich on any American corporations doing that. UNLESS…it can be reported in such a way as to vindicate the participants. You don’t have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.By RCH
June 26, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this
Getalife This bill has drawn to much negative criticism from the general populus. ( including me)70% are against it. Congressman and Senators have been swamped with votes against it. Forget it. Lets secure the border first, secure the interior second, and then write a bill that makes sense.By deegee
June 26, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this
Sure, RCH. Let’s write a bill that will ensure that you will be able to pick and choose all of the technology immigrants you want now and into the future. Make sure that we continue to allow them to bring in their extended families. No point system for you. Stop being such a phony on the border and the interior. You could care less.By getalife
June 26, 2007 11:13 AM | Link to this
RCH, Hahahaha, like they listen to the people. We spoke to get our troops out of Iraq too RCH. w said it best, money trumps security.By alan
June 26, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this
Conservatives always like to holler about the original intent of the founding fathers as if they had a direct line to George, Thomas, et al. What would the founding fathers think about the current law prohibiting travel to Cuba by US citizens? The embargo is not about freedome because if freedom was really the bottom line, we wouldn’t be doing business with Russia and China. The embargo is pandering by the Republican party. They are like prostitutes who will sell their conscience just for the sakes of winning votes. Moreover, if anyone thinks that the Cuban people will welcome Cuban Americans with open arms after Castro dies needs to wake up and smell the cafe Cubano. Bottom line—the government has no business telling me where I can travel.By DebbieDoRight
June 26, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this
Castro, who says his net worth is nil, is likely the beneficiary of up to $900 million, based on his control of state-owned companies, the U.S. financial magazine said in its annual tally of “Kings, Queens & Dictators” fortunes Thursday. How much exactly are those state owned companies worth? Forbes is doing an guestimate, no one outside of Cuba knows how much those business are worth and/or if Castro profits directly from them. Also Forbes has admitted that its estimate of Castro’s wealth is “more art than science”.By Dusty
June 26, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this
Oh dear, JH, My patriotism is not faux. Quite genuine, thank you. And I’m glad you have a shop and contribute. I have a profession and contribute. And as you post here on a blog produced by Conservative Jim Wooten, you really should not be surprised to find conservative contributors. You will have to discuss with AmVet as to your extra merits as a veteran to post. I appreciate your military service just like I appreciate the service of my father, husband and son. (Amvet refuses to believe that truth about my family. That’s because he, too, is a liberal who doesn’t like conservatives.) Thank you for wishing me a nice life. Fortunately, I already have one. Born in American into a great family!! It doesn’t get better than that.By RCH
June 26, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this
Deegee Why not brain drain the best and brightest from every country that we can? It can give us the technological superiority that we have lost. It appears to me some don’t mind those who come here for the low paying jobs, they are not feared. It is those who may compete for your jobs who are not wanted. Hippocrates! Of course we also need those who can perform other functions in this society. Like the above , we need to monitor those who come here. We do have that right.By RCH
June 26, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this
Debbie We can agree on one thing; he is not poor.By Game Show Host
June 26, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this
Todays contestants will vie for fabulous prizes, including a wonderful vacation, by correctly answering questions form todays topic: How would you characterize the Vice President? (much background applause!) And remember to qualify for the winning prizes you must be sure to cite specific examples. Here are a few examples to get you started! Characterization: The VP is brilliant and insightful (some would even say prescient!). Example: “We will be viewed as liberators”. Characterization: Dick Cheney is courageous. Example: “I had priorities other than military service as a young man” Characterization: Our second in command believes in an open, transparent government. Example: There are too many to list, but you get the idea! Now get busy and win that all expenses paid trip along with the lovely second lady, Lynn Cheney, to the beautiful, and now completely safe Baghdad neighborhoods!By deegee
June 26, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
RCH, are you assuming that I am a doctor or something?By Dennis
June 26, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
By alan June 26, 2007 11:16 AM “The embargo is not about freedome because if freedom was really the bottom line, we wouldn’t be doing business with Russia and China.” Neocons can never explain this dichotomy. Because, nothing is going to get in the way of THEIR making money that ordinary Americans are not allowed to make. “The embargo is pandering by the Republican party. They are like prostitutes who will sell their conscience just for the sakes of winning votes.” I hate to tell you, but Democrats are no better. Americans are a great people, but their government is corrupt to the core - right on up to the Supreme Court. You don’t have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.By DebbieDoRight
June 26, 2007 11:32 AM | Link to this
Kind of blows a hole in the lefties arguments that the military is full of the poor and black. Seems that the young, conservatives have not lost the vision and the desire to serve. Van as usual, you only read what you want to read and see what you want to see, how republican of you. The article stated NEW BLACK RECRUITS are down, NOT the current total of blacks in the military. In the Persian Gulf War, the first major test of the all-volunteer force, 23 percent of service members were black. Also, here’s another tidbit for you, the majority of COMBAT WEARY SOLDIERS who’ve seen action these past few years are not RE-ENLISTING. Black, White, Green, Brown, Purple, Orange, And Hyacinth; no one wants to go back into the military to fight an insane war. What about yout status Van? Been to a recruiter lately?By Jackie
June 26, 2007 11:37 AM | Link to this
Sen. Lugar (R-IN) has spoken out about the Iraq fiasco and given the Repubs cover to back away from their determination that American troops will be used for target practice in a civil war that has no winner. Watch the rats start jumping off the ship! Secondly, Dick Cheney and Alberto Gonzalez are stalwarts of truth, freedom and the American way??? Discussion about Fidel Castro and Cuba just points out the lack of substance to the lies the neo-cons have used to further their arguments. Is Max Cleland still unpatriotic?By RCH
June 26, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this
Deegee I thought you owned a Dairy Queen. LOL. Sorry couldn’t resist the temptation.By BS Aplenty (Soldier of Fortune)
June 26, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this
Re: DebbieDoneRight Debutante Deb, take another hit from the crackpipe sweetie - and it’ll all go away…oh, that’s right…the fog is coming… What you’re trying to conclude my lesbian nemesis is that “non-European” military recruits are chicken-sh!ts. Did I parse your illogic correctly? Idiot.By DebbieDoRight
June 26, 2007 11:59 AM | Link to this
BS (Aplenty). Your name SURE does fit you!!By Van
June 26, 2007 12:11 PM | Link to this
DebbieDoRight, I did that back in 1967, served my time and got out to start a family, what branch did you serve in? BTW, my college educated conservative son is enlisting this fall.By deegee
June 26, 2007 12:11 PM | Link to this
That was cute, RCH. I was just wondering about your reference to Hippocrates. Did you mean hypocrites? BTW, I am very pro-immigrant and appreciate the contribution that immigrants have made and continue to make to this country. What I don’t appreciate is people with a hidden agenda that want to kill progress on the passage of the bill to demogogue the issue. That’s hypocrisy.By Dusty
June 26, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this
This is getting tiresome. Jackie, rats leaving the ship? Are you referring to DemocRATS? They left the ship of state a long time ago. Dick Cheney and Alberto Gonzalez are only guilty of causing liberals to tell big lies. That is not a crime for Dick and Al, just something that always happens. Fidel Castro has converted Cuba into a everybody-poor but him communist country. We decided we didn’t like that a long time ago. Didn’t you notice? Georgians have not said that Max Cleland is unpatriotic. They said they didn’t want him elected to Congress because his Democratic policies were not consistent with those of most Georgia voters. Get it?By BS Aplenty (Reflections)
June 26, 2007 12:15 PM | Link to this
You know one day I’m going to get a real job and quit playing in this sandbox. But, until that day comes, the Wooten blog has the nicest accomodations around. Nice mix of argument, rhetoric, humor, put-down, with just a touch of lunacy & insight. I think I’ll stay awhile - carry on.By RCH
June 26, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this
Deegee Thanks for the grammatical correction. If we ever meet the first peanut- buster parfait is on me. All 650 calories. Yikes. BTW Fool me once, shame on you ( Regan amnesty. What happened to border control) Fool me twice , shame on me. Not again!By Jackie
June 26, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this
@Dusty Do you believe that the neo-cons will not try to parse their language in a manner that will try to blame the liberals and the press for the abject failure of the Bush policy, domestic and foreign? Yes, they will jump off that sinking ship to try and save their political careers. Dick and Alberto and beyond discussion as their exploits and memories are legendary. As for Georgians saying that Max Cleland was unpatriotic, you have bolstered my argument about that sinking ship. Did Georgians not elect Saxby Chambliss who morphed Osama Bin Laden in Max Cleland and who flew the confederate flag on stage in his acceptance speech. Did Saxby Chambliss not get a deferment from the Viet Nam draft because of “bad knees”, yet, he still runs today. Max Cleland is a TRIPLE amputee from his service in Viet Nam; certainly did not get in that condition by running away from his responsibilities! Now, I want you to get the point about the rats and the ship that is sinking. Read carefully.By Ted P
June 26, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this
If we can enforce an embargo on Cuba because of there type of government then what about the Saudis; then we should embargo ALL governments that are that way, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iraq our good friends in Pakistan. Come on get real we deal with the scum of the earth for a dollar, since when is a dictator’s money not good?By River Rat
June 26, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this
OIL & GREED will end the Cuban Embargo, as soon as the the Canadian oil company Sherrit or China ,the only two lease holders at the moment extract the first barrel of oil from Cuban waters. Good old American GREED and our incureable thirst for oil will kill the embargo faster than Capt Kirk can say warpspeed Scottie.The embargo has not accomplished anything other than to punish the innocent Cuban people it’s had no effect on Castro period, he’s lived the life he has chosen as king of Cuba. I have visited Cuba 3 times since the 70s, each visit has reenforced my opinion that the embargo has supported Castros reign as king of Cuba, and kept the Cuban People in absolute poverty. Had the embargo ended years ago they could have rejected Castro and forced him from power, It’s hard to guess what will take place upon Castros death it’s obvious that Raul Castro will attempt to take over, maybe the people will have enough clout to overthrow him and select or elect a new Government.If they are pumping oil at that time, it’s a safe bet the US will help.By Carbon Footprint
June 26, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this
Bush just gaffed again, like the loose cannon with loose canons that he really is! Bush used “Amnesty” talking about the bill…..ON PURPOSE! He knows he’s a lame duck, but he’s bent on hobbling the democrats with him, like some sort of deranged suicide stumper. Bush knows he has no political capital to lose, so he used the word “Amnesty” because he knows the democrats are on the same side of this bill that he’s on. Amnesty is a magic word that makes Iraq disappear. What’s happening is the slow motion dissolution of our republic. With nixon, then clinton and now bush, the respect americans once had for the institution of the presidency has eroded to this point where a dangerous vacuum of authority exists. Is no one in charge, but Cheney?By JK
June 26, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this
Yes, Dusty, tell us how much you luuuuuv Saxby Chambliss who maligned veteran Max Cleland with lies about him supporting our enemies. You & Saxby hate the troops, past and present. You traitors demonstrate everyday that politics is more important to you than America, the American people, or the brave, honorable men and women who serve in uniform.By Edmund A.
June 26, 2007 12:46 PM | Link to this
Mr. Wooten wrote, “Cuban-Americans should get something, a negotiated share of future oil royalties, perhaps.” First we need to work on getting our share — The Bush Administration has either ignored or remained unacceptably blind to a leasing mistake that, left unchanged, would let oil companies escape as much as $10 billion in royalties over the next five years. The error occurred when the Clinton Interior Department signed 1,100 offshore leases in 1998 and 1999 that let deepwater drillers escape royalties regardless of how high oil and gas prices might climb. The incentives were supposed to stop if oil prices climbed above a ”threshold price” of $34 a barrel, but leasing officials omitted the escape clause for two years. In 2006, Republicans and Democrats alike castigated the White House for only belatedly acknowledging this leasing blunder and then insisting that there was little the government could do to fix the problem. In addition, the White House offered lucrative new royalty incentives to gas producers that drill very deep wells in shallow waters in 2004. Contrary to evidence indicating otherwise, the Bush administration claims that they were unaware of the loophole in the previous leases at the time. Democratic lawmakers, now in control of Congressional oversight committees, have vowed to step up their own investigations and overhaul the entire program. House Democrats hope to pass a bill that would pressure companies to change the leases. Companies that refuse to give up the loophole would either be prohibited from acquiring any additional federal leases or would have to pay a “conservation fee” of $9 for each barrel they produce. The White House has opposed the measure and said it undermined the “sanctity of contracts.” But lawmakers in both parties say the measure is all but certain to pass with strong bipartisan support. The White House faces other related problems. A former auditor at the Department of Interior’s Minerals Management Service is alleging that the Kerr-McGee Corporation cheated the government out of at least $12 million in royalties — and that senior agency officials in Washington ordered him to drop the case. The allegations are part of a lawsuit by Bobby L. Maxwell, a former auditing supervisor in Denver, who is now suing as a private citizen under a law that rewards whistle blowers for recovering money from companies that defraud the government. Kerr-McGee has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing, and the White House has insisted that Mr. Maxwell’s case has no merit.By getalife
June 26, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this
64-35 to allow debate on amnesty. w cheers. Still alive RCH.By harold
June 26, 2007 1:02 PM | Link to this
SINCE CHENEY DECLARED HIMSELF TO BE IN THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH DOESNT THAT MEAN HE HAS NO EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE? HOW DAMN MANY TIMES HAS CHENEY INVOKED EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE? WELL NOW THAT HE HAS GIVEN IT UP VOLUNTARILY, CHENEY MUST BE RE-ASKED ABOUT ALL SORTS OF THINGS. SORRY CHENEY, THERE IS NO LEGISLATIVE PRIVILEGE! YOU MUST ANSWER THE QUESTION!By Carbon Footprint
June 26, 2007 1:07 PM | Link to this
Hillary in ‘08. That would be great! I cant wait 4.. Hillary in ‘08!!By getalife
June 26, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this
“Coulter herself said, “if I’m going to say anything about John Edwards in the future, I’ll just wish he had been killed in a terrorist assassination plot.” I am glad it is not on my side and think the right should speak out against this thing. Pathetic.By RCH
June 26, 2007 1:12 PM | Link to this
Getalife When this bill came up before, you wanted no debate. You wanted it pushed through. I want debate on this bill. The more people see its true meaning, the angrier they get letting their elected official know. Its dead!By RCH
June 26, 2007 1:18 PM | Link to this
Carbon Footprint Unless she has your FBI file in her possession.By JCT
June 26, 2007 1:20 PM | Link to this
By alan June 26, 2007 11:16 AM Conservatives always like to holler about the original intent of the founding fathers as if they had a direct line to George, Thomas, et al. “Conservatives” and the founding fathers actually have very little in common. James Madison and Thomas Jefferson had a healthy distaste for the marriage of religion and politics. And who was it that said “he who gives up his liberty for security, deserves neither”? Neo-conservatism especially clashes with the ideas of our founding fathers.By deegee
June 26, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this
Carbon Footprint, The fourth estate is in charge. The first, second and third estate traded their power for money. They threw their reputation and credibility with America into the deal. Trent Lott was right. Talk radio runs the country. At least for now.By Dusty
June 26, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this
Well JK, is that J for Jackie? Why don’t you “can” the stupid stuff? No political campaign is purely “clean” on either side. Chambless won against Cleland because Cleland had turned solid Democrat and the voters did not want that. And what is this trash about me not supporting the troops? Do you think I am a liberal Democrat? No way, “Hosea”, JK, Jackie and other misfits. I am a conservative Republican American and proud to be one. That also means I support the troops, in case you didn’t get it. I was just going out the door. See ya later, maybe….By Carbon Footprint
June 26, 2007 1:22 PM | Link to this
Cheney is a BUM!By BS Aplenty (Anti-Fungal Version)
June 26, 2007 1:24 PM | Link to this
Re: Carbon Fool-print I know we should be modern just like the other industrialized nations and move toward socialized medicine. But then I think of the words of my hero, Newt Gingrich, who said “If you like public housing, you’ll love public medicine.”By Katharine
June 26, 2007 1:26 PM | Link to this
Commerce recognizes no political boundaries. The American asset plunderers and money churners are chomping at the bit to get into Cuba. They just haven’t figured out how to spin it to the Cuban-Americans as long as Castro is alive. I commend Castro for standing up to the US for as long as he has. He has made Cuba virtually self-sufficient, out of necessity. Now, the Americans see the value of what he has done but don’t want to give him any credit. Castro may be the world’s best capitalist, in the true sense of the word. He appreciated human capital enough to stress education, especially agricultural and medical education, so that his people could be more self-reliant. This is far more capitalistic than the pseudo-capitalism of American corporations and other government gimmee grubbers, who could not survive without the artificial supports granted by the American government.By catlady
June 26, 2007 1:31 PM | Link to this
“like some sort of deranged suicide stumper.” Carbon Footprint, that is a classic! Harold is very smart and witty!By RCH
June 26, 2007 1:31 PM | Link to this
Carbon Footprint Better watch out. He is pretty handy with a shotgun. Duck!! LOL.By Redneck Convert
June 26, 2007 1:31 PM | Link to this
I bet Sister Dusty was a real fierce warrior back in her days in the military. I can just see her with the machine gun, blasting away at the enemas. She talks about her father, husband, and son in the military, but I reckon she is just too shy to mention her own service. Me, I didn’t make a high enough score on the military IQ test to be a infantry man, so they put me to work passing out supplies in a tent on Guam. I reckon Sister Dusty was bright enough to make it. She sure does like having people fighting. That just proves what a fine Southren woman she is. I bet she visits the vetrans semetaries and hospitles every chance she gets just to show her thanks or cheer the fighters on. All I want is this war to be over before Sonny Zell George gets old enough to serve. Other people can die and get mangled up and its OK because I don’t know them, but I sure don’t want one of my own ending up in a casket or a hospitle bed.By jbmlaw
June 26, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this
Dear Jackie @ 12:26, my friend Southern Democrat and I have an ongoing discussion of Mad Max and the election of 2002. Southern is certain he heard allegations of “unpatriotic” also, but I think that is simply a leftist reaction anytime there is any criticism. If Max had not insisted on government unions for the department of homeland security, he would still be senator today. Can you imagine how bad the DHS would be if it were unionized? It was a case of incompetence and lack of vision, not lack of patriotism. Dear JK @ 12:43, I think Saxbe has proven far more competent than Max. Max is not a bad guy, he was just not a good senator – carried too much water for the left. Dear getalife @ 1:09, I missed that “quote.” Where can I find it? I know she used the six-letter “f” word to describe the tonsorially-conscious one, but I never heard her advocate for death for anyone, not even fetuses.By RCH
June 26, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this
Katherine He has made Cuba virtually self-sufficient, out of necessity. Now, the Americans see the value of what he has done but don’t want to give him any credit. With billions of dollars from the former Soviet Union and other communist countries throughout his 50 years of control. 92% live in poverty. I don’t see many individuals building rafts in the U.S and attempting a harrowing journey to Cuba. You want to try?By Truths Sister
June 26, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this
Dusty supports war and death. Not once in all of her posts have I ever read where she’s done anything but “blog” about the troops. She hasn’t even sent them an email card. With support like that, who needs enemies?By jbmlaw
June 26, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this
Dear Getalife, maybe you are thinking of Bill Maher, talking about the vice president.By Truths Sister
June 26, 2007 1:44 PM | Link to this
Big Bro!! Good Job, not only do you malign blacks, japaneese, americans AND democrats, you now are maligning women!!! Our mother/sister/aunt would be so proud of you!! Inbreds Rule!!By jbmlaw
June 26, 2007 1:47 PM | Link to this
Dear Katherine @ 1:26, do you also root for the slave-holders in civil war movies, or for the Romans in Biblical flicks? What is it with leftists and their affection for dictators?By Truths Sister
June 26, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this
Other people can die and get mangled up and its OK because I don’t know them, but I sure don’t want one of my own ending up in a casket or a hospitle bed. That is the “Battle Hymn Of The Republicans”. Let others’ children die, so mine won’t. Good post. Even though you keep picking on my Big Bro/Sister/Cousin.By jbmlaw
June 26, 2007 1:53 PM | Link to this
Dear Truths Sister @ 1:42, I am father of a young Naval officer. I am comfortable that my son would hold great affection for Dusty, but he has expressed doubts about many of our leftist friends – he does not perceive support, save from those who express it in a personal way, as has Southern Democrat (to cite a nonexclusive example.)By Confused
June 26, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this
I would love to know what you all do for a living that you have time to sit and argue on this blog all day. Ironic thing is, I won’t have time to read your responses (pity), given that I have to get back to work.By GodHatesTrash
June 26, 2007 2:04 PM | Link to this
Wow - jbm, Dusty, and now Van have sent their offspring off to Dumbya’s War on Tare. Throwing your poor benighted sons on a bloody pyre for the debbil Dumbya’s ego trip… even I don’t have such low regard for your children. Sick. Stupid. Trash.By Jackie
June 26, 2007 2:10 PM | Link to this
@Dusty I find your words to be reprehensible. You call those of us who disagree with your extreme views “misfits”, yet, you can not defend your position about the words you wrote. I sounds to me that you are fully in control of your cognitive processes. As for being a conservative Republican, are you a constitutional, social, fiscal conservative? You claim to support the troops, yet, you support them being in that shooting-gallery of Iraq. If you support them, why don’t you stand up and ask them to be taken out. I will wager you that the Repubs are getting their talking points (lies) together so that they can blame someone else for their decisions. Oh yes, I think you are lower than “whale gravy.”By GodHatesTrash
June 26, 2007 2:10 PM | Link to this
It looks like Rudy is reaching out towards the southern vote again - he hired a child molester priest for his campaign. Maybe you Woo-ten Klanners can get on with the campaign. Sick. Stupid. Trash.By JC Libre
June 26, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this
Just a reminder! Cuba’s Bloody Iron Curtain May 3, 2007, Summit, New Jersey. In the wake of the most recent escape attempts from Cuba, foiled or successful, we note the systematic murder of civilians by the Castro regime for their mere attempt to flee the island. These crimes illustrate a profound disregard for human life and stem from the egregious violation of the fundamental right of Cubans to leave their country. Article 215 of Cuba’s Penal Code punishes attempts to leave the national territory without government authorization with up to eight years in prison. In fact, if a citizen tries to take an able vessel or aircraft to do so -a necessity because all are state property and strictly controlled- the punishment is up to twenty years in prison or death. Over the course of decades thousands have served prison, under dire conditions, for these so-called crimes. Still today, a number of political prisoners are serving very long sentences for attempting to escape the country. But what is even more shocking is what Cuba’s Penal Code does not say. The Castro regime has, in fact, for decades systematically murdered civilians for trying to escape their country. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, are estimated to have been killed by government authorities for attempting to escape by sea, for seeking asylum in foreign embassies, or trying to cross into the U.S. Naval Base at Guantánamo. That Guantánamo, largely ignored by the media and world public opinion, is sealed off by barbed wire, separated by a mine field, and under the shadow of watchtowers manned round-the-clock by Cuban border guards with orders to shoot to kill. Cuba Archive’s incipient documentation effort has already revealed 247 victims of assassinations and executions for attempted escapes from Cuba. This is a partial number that grows consistently as research progresses, yet it already exceeds the 227 killings at the Berlin Wall. See a summary of selected documented cases at . An account in English of the massacre of 37 civilians in 1994 is available at . Contact: Maria C. Werlau Cuba Archive Tel. 973.701-0520 info@CubaArchive.org www.CubaArchive.orgBy JC Libre
June 26, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this
Just a reminder! Cuba’s Bloody Iron Curtain May 3, 2007, Summit, New Jersey. In the wake of the most recent escape attempts from Cuba, foiled or successful, we note the systematic murder of civilians by the Castro regime for their mere attempt to flee the island. These crimes illustrate a profound disregard for human life and stem from the egregious violation of the fundamental right of Cubans to leave their country. Article 215 of Cuba’s Penal Code punishes attempts to leave the national territory without government authorization with up to eight years in prison. In fact, if a citizen tries to take an able vessel or aircraft to do so -a necessity because all are state property and strictly controlled- the punishment is up to twenty years in prison or death. Over the course of decades thousands have served prison, under dire conditions, for these so-called crimes. Still today, a number of political prisoners are serving very long sentences for attempting to escape the country. But what is even more shocking is what Cuba’s Penal Code does not say. The Castro regime has, in fact, for decades systematically murdered civilians for trying to escape their country. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, are estimated to have been killed by government authorities for attempting to escape by sea, for seeking asylum in foreign embassies, or trying to cross into the U.S. Naval Base at Guantánamo. That Guantánamo, largely ignored by the media and world public opinion, is sealed off by barbed wire, separated by a mine field, and under the shadow of watchtowers manned round-the-clock by Cuban border guards with orders to shoot to kill. Cuba Archive’s incipient documentation effort has already revealed 247 victims of assassinations and executions for attempted escapes from Cuba. This is a partial number that grows consistently as research progresses, yet it already exceeds the 227 killings at the Berlin Wall. See a summary of selected documented cases at . An account in English of the massacre of 37 civilians in 1994 is available at . Contact: Maria C. Werlau Cuba Archive Tel. 973.701-0520 info@CubaArchive.org www.CubaArchive.orgBy JC Libre
June 26, 2007 2:17 PM | Link to this
Just a reminder!…… Cuba’s Bloody Iron Curtain May 3, 2007, Summit, New Jersey. In the wake of the most recent escape attempts from Cuba, foiled or successful, we note the systematic murder of civilians by the Castro regime for their mere attempt to flee the island. These crimes illustrate a profound disregard for human life and stem from the egregious violation of the fundamental right of Cubans to leave their country. Article 215 of Cuba’s Penal Code punishes attempts to leave the national territory without government authorization with up to eight years in prison. In fact, if a citizen tries to take an able vessel or aircraft to do so -a necessity because all are state property and strictly controlled- the punishment is up to twenty years in prison or death. Over the course of decades thousands have served prison, under dire conditions, for these so-called crimes. Still today, a number of political prisoners are serving very long sentences for attempting to escape the country. But what is even more shocking is what Cuba’s Penal Code does not say. The Castro regime has, in fact, for decades systematically murdered civilians for trying to escape their country. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, are estimated to have been killed by government authorities for attempting to escape by sea, for seeking asylum in foreign embassies, or trying to cross into the U.S. Naval Base at Guantánamo. That Guantánamo, largely ignored by the media and world public opinion, is sealed off by barbed wire, separated by a mine field, and under the shadow of watchtowers manned round-the-clock by Cuban border guards with orders to shoot to kill. Cuba Archive’s incipient documentation effort has already revealed 247 victims of assassinations and executions for attempted escapes from Cuba. This is a partial number that grows consistently as research progresses, yet it already exceeds the 227 killings at the Berlin Wall. See a summary of selected documented cases at http://www.CubaArchive.org/english_version/articles/89/1/ Cubans -killed-for-attempting-to-flee-Cuba>. An account in English of the massacre of 37 civilians in 1994 is available at . Contact: Maria C. Werlau Cuba Archive Tel. 973.701-0520 info@CubaArchive.org www.CubaArchive.orgBy RCH
June 26, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this
Jbm,Van, and Dusty Thank you for raising such brave sons. I respect their decision and will give monetarily and vote to support them. Jackie Supporting the troops does not always mean taking them out of harms way. That is what the military does. Why don’t we just defeat the enemy and then go home. Or don’t you want to win?By Jackie
June 26, 2007 2:30 PM | Link to this
@RCH I don’t agree with your logical conclusion. My comrades were placed there by the Commander-in-Chief. The military has not choice to but salute and go forward with the orders being given. What enemy are you speaking of? How did the Iraqis’ become our enemy? What do you consider victory? How many lives and how much treasure do we have to yield to claim victory? What timeline do you propose to use to claim victory? Sounds to me that a lot of unanswered questions are in the path of a logical conclusion.By JCT
June 26, 2007 2:32 PM | Link to this
RCH I see where the immigration bill is going forward 64-35. Thought it was dead bonehead.By JcLibre
June 26, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this
Just a reminder!… FEMALE VICTIMS OF CUBA’S COMMUNIST REGIME: 1959-2003 Update of March 2004 216 DOCUMENTED DEATHS firing squad executions: 11 extrajudicial assassinations: 20 disappearances: 13 assasinations in prison: 2 suicides in prison or under arrest: 6 other deaths in prison: 5 medical negligence in prison: 4 assassinations in exit attempts: 29 identified deaths in exit attempts: 96 civilian deaths in internationalist missions: 30 UNIDENTIFIED DEATHS IN EXIT ATTEMPTS 17,664 to 20,876 (formula estimate) Averages 1.3 females per day since the start of the Revolution See Full Report with selected cases by clicking on link below www.CubaArchive.orgBy RCH
June 26, 2007 2:37 PM | Link to this
Jackie Wish I had all the time to answer. But I could. All the points you make are valid will address them at some time.By jbmlaw
June 26, 2007 2:38 PM | Link to this
Dear GodHatesTrash @ 2:04 and Jackie @ 2:10, strange how differently you and my son look at the world. He holds you in such high esteem that he places himself at risk for you, a stranger. You offer him only epithets.By jbmlaw
June 26, 2007 2:40 PM | Link to this
Dear RCH @ 2:19, thanks, I wish I could claim credit, but he is a self-made man.By Fair and Balanced
June 26, 2007 2:42 PM | Link to this
VICTIMS OF AMERICA’s BUSH/CHENEY REGIME: 2001-PRESENT 66,500 DOCUMENTED DEATHSBy RCH
June 26, 2007 2:43 PM | Link to this
JCT They can debate until the cows come home. Its dead.By RCH
June 26, 2007 2:48 PM | Link to this
Katherine Still want me get that raft ready?By jbmlaw
June 26, 2007 2:56 PM | Link to this
Dear Jackie @ 2:30, I’ll try. “I don’t agree with your logical conclusion. My comrades were placed there by the Commander-in-Chief. The military has not choice to but salute and go forward with the orders being given.” Disagree with your precatory statement, agree with the factual observations thereafter. “What enemy are you speaking of?” The Islamists. “How did the Iraqis’ become our enemy?” They did not and are not. “What do you consider victory?” Death or surrender of all Islamists. Change their minds, or blow a hole in them. “How many lives and how much treasure do we have to yield to claim victory?” As many as it takes. “What timeline do you propose to use to claim victory?” I have previously said 50 years, approximately the same time we have been in Germany. “Sounds to me that a lot of unanswered questions are in the path of a logical conclusion.” Agree, but that sounds like your self-indictment to me.By Jackie
June 26, 2007 2:57 PM | Link to this
@RCH Take your time in coming up with a logical dissertation.By JCT
June 26, 2007 2:58 PM | Link to this
You’ll get an immigration bill RCH. Only the dumbest of the dumb doesn’t see it coming. Be it now…or later. You will get a bill.By Southern Democrat
June 26, 2007 3:02 PM | Link to this
I’m busy at work today and it seems that the personal venom in the Commentary section is as hot as the weather. I hope y’all have better afternoons and evenings. Just to respond briefly, I think we would all agree that The Ensign is a hero. Let’s all keep him in our prayers. Regarding the Chambliss v. Cleland issue, the WaPo did a great piece a while back on it: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A1464-2003Jul2¬Found=true WaPo also has an interesting series titled “The Angler” regarding Cheney’s vice presidency. A warning to my conservative friends, it is biased against the article’s subject. It does offer, however, a fascinating look at the machinations of the White House (any White House) and some of the personalities of the players in this Administration. As one who has had a keen interest in international law for years and years, I found parts of it to be particularly disturbing. The Cuban issue is simple: so long as Castro (Fidel or Raul) is in power and the exile community keeps donating big, the embargo will continue.By RCH
June 26, 2007 3:03 PM | Link to this
Jackie I believe jbmlaw beat me to it and did a better job than I could have. I wounder if they ask the same kinds of questions at the beginning of WWII. No. All that was said is that we would do what it takes to win.By Lynn
June 26, 2007 3:05 PM | Link to this
jbmlaw, You’ve expressed concern several times that you’d like to find a non-offensive word that could apply to most on the other side of the political spectrum. Yesterday, a self-described “liberal” wrote that “progressive” would be acceptable to most. Yet you continue to compare liberals, Democrats, progressives, etc. to militant extremists like Stalin with your bizarre affection for the term “leftists”. If you were genuine about disagreeing without being disagreeable, then you would drop that silly “leftist” accusation — but you’re not and you won’t. Most regulars who post and most who lurk know what a fraud you are. Sadly, you seem to enjoy your deceit. I would honestly be thrilled if you would prove me wrong, but I have little hope. Many have tried to get you to stop referring to your fellow Americans as “leftists” and all have failed.By RCH
June 26, 2007 3:20 PM | Link to this
Lynn Not speaking for jbmlaw, when will progressives( And I use that term loosely ) learn other terms than wingnut, racist, homophobes, xenophobe, nationalist……( fill in the blank) when they disagree? Try JCT @ 2:32. Called me a bonehead. I’m crying.By Jackie
June 26, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this
@RCH We are not fighting a war like that of WWII, therefore, our tactics and expected outcomes will be unlike that of WWII. To compare this war to WWII is an invalid comparison and does not bring a valid point of argument to this discussion. There appears to be no credible answer to your statement of “doing what it takes to win.” My questions still stand!By harold
June 26, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this
if you think a pit bull is a normal dog like any other breed just go to the google news and look up pit bull. then look up any other breed.By jbm fan
June 26, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this
jbmlaw @1:53, “I am father of a young Naval officer. I am comfortable that my son would hold great affection for Dusty, but he has expressed doubts about many of our leftist friends” jbmlaw @2:38, “…strange how differently you and my son look at the world. He holds you in such high esteem that he places himself at risk for you, a stranger.” Give it up, Lynn. jbmlaw is entirely full of $hit — which might explain why he craps on this blog so much.By JCT
June 26, 2007 3:43 PM | Link to this
By RCH June 26, 2007 3:20 PM Lynn Not speaking for jbmlaw, when will progressives( And I use that term loosely ) learn other terms than wingnut, racist, homophobes, xenophobe, nationalist……( fill in the blank) when they disagree? Try JCT @ 2:32. Called me a bonehead. I’m crying When you “conservatives” sto p being all those things bonehead! That’s when.By Curious Observer
June 26, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this
If I am going to express sympathy for troops in training, it will go to the young men and women laboring in the hell-hole of Parris Island, not to those pampered young officers in Pensacola, FL.By RCH
June 26, 2007 3:50 PM | Link to this
Jackie Neither was Korea. It was not a total victory, but it was one we could live with. The enemy still stares at our troops from a distance. I am sure you can admit a huge difference in the standard of living between North and South. After 50 years we still have troops there. As a start, I would say the definition of victory in Iraq would be the ability of a duly elected government to govern without the interference of outside antagonists.By RCH
June 26, 2007 4:01 PM | Link to this
JCT Thanks for making my point. Intellectually I would say that type of rhetoric is a sign of a weak mind. Curious Observer I respect and soldier of any rank that performs his/her duty overseas. I would be glad to take you to Ft. Benning cemetery where my father rests and point out the graves of officers that have fallen in many wars including Iraq.By Jackie
June 26, 2007 4:03 PM | Link to this
@RCH We still look at our all the other countries of the world that we have had conflicts with. Can we claim victory in any conflict with our purported enemies? Your claim about victory in Iraq does not have merit. There is always interference from outside sources in any governmental action. I think it is called foreign relations. Secondly, when did the USA become the world’s policeman? Was the initial pronouncement about our invasion of Iraq about weapons of mass destruction? I do not accept your definition of victory in Iraq and I do not believe we have the right to dictate to other countries of the world about our desires. In my opinion, this Iraq war is about Oil, Israel and Land.By RCH
June 26, 2007 4:10 PM | Link to this
Jackie Do you believe Japan, Germany, Italy, Korea, Panama, were not victories. If not give me your definition. We seem to be the Worlds policeman only when it suites the world: Croatia, Somalia, etc.By GodHatesTrash
June 26, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this
With malice towards none, and charity for all, Lincoln and his drunken nincompoop redneck trash VP Andy Johnson, set a dangerous precedent when the traitors that started a criminal insurrection in defense of inhumanity and depravity were allowed to surrender and return to their prior lives scot free. But remember, rednecks, that criminals that wage war on innocent people may be dealt with differently here in the 21st century. “I was only following orders” was not an excuse for the followers of Hitler, many of whom had their necks stretched or faced firing squads. Maybe, just maybe, the followers of Dumbya’s stupidity and arrogance will face the same fate… Follow a craven crazed “leader” and you put your soul in jeopardy for sure.By Curious Observer
June 26, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this
As a start, I would say the definition of victory in Iraq would be the ability of a duly elected government to govern without the interference of outside antagonists. What a cruel joke! The observers who are in Baghdad know that al Maliki is merely a puppet who has no control over the Shiite militia who exercise the real power. He conciliates these groups by such actions as carrying out the executions of Saddam and other Sunnis, but he and the Iraqi parliament are powerless to exert any real governmental control. Witness yesterday’s brazen suicide bombing of Sunni tribal chiefs meeting in a hotel to try to work out a proposal for oil revenue sharing. If the supporters of the war are waiting for the Iraqi government to govern Iraq, with or without outside antagonists, those supporters will be very, very old before it happens. The Shiite militia groups aren’t about to stand by and watch their oil riches be distributed to their hated enemies. All we accomplished by our invasion of Iraq was supplanting one tyrannical form of government with another—all in the childish belief that a country that has known nothing but tyranny for thousands of years would suddenly embrace the notion of representative democracy.By Jackie
June 26, 2007 4:31 PM | Link to this
@RCH We continue on this circular logic; those countries that we fought against during WWII were defeated and we are able to articulate victory in that conflict because they signed a document stating they no longer wished to fight. Explain what we will do in Iraq to obtain that goal of victory? As a side, you mentioned Panama. Who was the enemy there and does it not appear the model used there is the same model employed in Iraq. Manuel Noriega was a friend of President Bush until something happened. Do you know what caused the rift between the two?By deegee
June 26, 2007 4:38 PM | Link to this
Getting back to Cuba, does anyone remember the Cuban-American Adjustment Act passed by Congress in 1966? The Cuban Refugee Program provided more than $1.2 billion of direct financial assistance. Cuban refugees were eligible for public assistance, Medicare, free English courses, scholarships, and low interest college loans. Some banks even pioneered loans for exiles who did not have collateral or credit but received help in getting a business loan simply because they were of Cuban descent. These loans enabled many Cuban Americans to secure funds and create their own businesses. I am all for giving a hand up to those in need but what entitlement do Cuban exiles have after living in the US for 40 some years? Cubans have received the benefit of being possibly the most privileged class of immigrant ever to arrive in the US.By BS Aplenty (Playground Bullies)
June 26, 2007 4:46 PM | Link to this
Re: Bi-Curious Observer Sometimes you just have to put a beat-down on the world’s playground bullies. Can’t get ‘em all but look at what happened with Libya and Gaddafi - Regan didn’t flinch. Still doesn’t keep ‘em from being bullies, just keeps it relatively peaceful on the playground. And someone’s gonna rule the playground - who do you want it to be?By Jackie
June 26, 2007 4:57 PM | Link to this
My, oh my! It appears the Repubs Iraqi ship is sinking faster than believed. Sen. Voinovich (R-OH) has just followed Sen. Lugar (R-IN) in a call for US tropps to leave the Iraq shooting-gallery. What is the plan the neo-cons have to mitigate this diasaster?By catlady
June 26, 2007 5:22 PM | Link to this
“What is the plan the neo-cons have to mitigate this diasaster?” Jackie, they plan to send in Dick “Bam Bam” Cheney. First he will go ofter Voinovich, then Lugar. He is “too busy” to fight overseas—other priorities!By Carbon Footprint
June 26, 2007 5:24 PM | Link to this
Jackie Jackie Jackie As the right aligns with the left on Iraq, the smoke will dissipate. And America will be left holding the great big bag of sh*t that bush/cheney gave us. What bag is that? WHy Jackie, it’s the fear and consternation and mob rule that will visit us when we all realize at once what bush/cheney has done: WE AINT EVER GONNA GIT OUT OF IRAQ. It’s impossible. Try to think of a scenario where we could leave in the next 100 years? Know what? You cant.By zippy
June 26, 2007 5:25 PM | Link to this
Jackie@ 4:31 - Manuel Noriega was a friend of President Bush until something happened. Do you know what caused the rift between the two? Noriega was a friend of the CIA since the late 1950s, not just Bush in the 1980s. What happened? To be brief, drugs, a rigged election that even Jimmy Carter said was rampant with fraud, and a US Marine that was shot in the back by Noriega’s corrupt henchmen.By Tip
June 26, 2007 5:29 PM | Link to this
Wow Jackie. Two Republicans in the senate out of how many there, 49? That’s a major coup, isn’t it?! I’ll bet you never even heard of them until now. I’m just curious, does Joe Lieberman’s support cancel one of those two?By Maria
June 26, 2007 5:40 PM | Link to this
American businesses who were expropriated should get NOTHING. All should go to the Cubans here and there. Enough of this American imperialism in Latin America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!By Tip for Tip
June 26, 2007 5:45 PM | Link to this
Tip doesn’t appear to understand the significance of the info posted at 4:57. Lieberman is no longer a Democrat, and was an anomaly when he was (which is the reason he lost his party’s primary last year). Lugar is the begining of a trend within the GOP.By RamblinLonghorn
June 26, 2007 5:49 PM | Link to this
It’s like trying to save the toolshed while the house burns down…By Jackie
June 26, 2007 5:49 PM | Link to this
@zippy The CIA and US administrations were friends of Noriega due to their drug policies. Never heard about the scenario of the Marine being shot! @TIP Richard Lugar is one of the acknowledge foreign policy experts in the Senate. Mr. Voinovich is the former governor of Ohio and has been a Senator for many years. Unfortunately, they are the early leaders of the stampede that will take place disavowing the Bush Iraqi policy. For your own sake, do not stand in the door as the other Repubs try to wiggle out from under their mantra of “supporting the troops.” The revolution is beginning to unfold before our very eyes. Lies can only be told for so long before they become apparent they are lies. Watch the Repubs in the Northeast and Midwest begin to come out against this war. Joe Lieberman has an agenda that is not supportive of the troops. When he went to Iraqi a couple of weeks ago, the “grunts” would not speak with him because they felt he did not listen to what they had to say about what they saw about the war. Remember, move away from the door!By Handout for Jackie
June 26, 2007 6:02 PM | Link to this
Jackie doesn’t seem to understand that 2 out of 49 senators is not exactly a landslide. Then again, Jackie probably thinks that President Clinton winning with 40% of the US vote in ‘92 was a landslide. Go figure. We’re not leaving Iraq Jackie, get over it.By zippy
June 26, 2007 6:16 PM | Link to this
@Jackie 5:49 Please see 1989 here regarding the shooting: http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq56-1.htm Regarding drugs, it’s a little more complicated than that. He was indicted on drug smuggling, racketeering, and money laundering. Manuel didn’t hold his end of the bargain and turned hostile towards the US. A US Marine became the boil over point. The rest, they say, is history. Between you and Tip, you did a great job Googling on those senators! I’m sure on a public forum you would have coughed that up.