Oh Lordy, This Just Isn't Right!

[bobbcat]

I never imagined that I could hear something that would challenge my plan to support Bush this fall, but tonight, it has happened.

For those of you who are watching Dateline right now as I speak, you will know right off the bat what I am talking about.

The story is a followup on Elian Gonzalez, and they are talking about the Bush administration's hard-line policy of clamping down on Cuban-Americans'ability to visit relatives still living in Cuba. Only immediate family members are allowed to be visited, and can only be visited every 3 years. The theory is that too much $$$ spent in Cuba by these Cuban-Americans striving to help out their family members (oh the "horror" ) goes to help Castro's regime.

I am tired of this hard-line stance against Cuba. I am tired of watching the Cuban people be so severly punished by the US gov't in a futile quest to do Castro in. This policy is doing nothing to Castro, but you can bet it is bringing in utter misery to an already tough life most Cubans must live. No one is going to touch Castro. This is just beyond the pale. I am really disgusted.

[CagedTroll]

In 2000 Castro [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now] from the U.S., as well as to send Cuban doctors to disadvantaged parts of the U.S., like the Mississippi Delta.

June 21, of this year, he [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now].

Now it's entirely true that these are propaganda tactics. And it's entirely true that Castro's a dictator. But Cubans, in a Third World country, still have access to first-rate health care. Despite the US embargo..., which, if we dropped it, they'd be way ahead of us in about two years.

[bobbcat]

Exerpt:

Castro concluded, “Your measures against the Cuban people are an atrocious and inhumane act. Cuba can prove that you want to destroy a country whose medical services have saved and continue to save hundreds of thousands of lives in poor countries of the world.

A question to those of you who still feel confident in your resolve to support Bush: Where is the sense of this? Talk about a case of "throwing the baby out with the bathwater," this is it.

Another question though comes to mind: Where does Kerry stand on this issue? I would have to know before I would ever...no, I take it back....I can't support Kerry either. This is a sucky situation. I just may leave the POTUS column BLANK on November 2nd, and not think twice about it. I have to live with myself!

Could this be the year to support[Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]??

[crazytimes]

I don't like the fact that to go to Cuba I would have to fly to Canada or Mexico first. We should aave the freedom to travel and spend our money where we want!

Also I think it unfairly punishes regular Cuban citizens. I mean for crying out loud, let them visit their relatives!

[luvmetender]

Just don't vote for Nader. Alfred would be fine.

[mayfly]

vote for whoever you feel led to. We will never have a perfect president. I have to pick whomever is most in line with what I believe. You need to do that too. Even if its Nader. Or Alfred

[CagedTroll]

Originally Posted by bobbcat

For those of you who are watching Dateline right now as I speak, you will know right off the bat what I am talking about.

Two hour time difference, so appreciated the advance notice. Thanks 'Cat.

I'm curious though, [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now] four years ago, [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]... If you watched the rest of the report, and saw Elian now... What's your take on Clinton's actions?

[chippers21]

No perfect presidential candidate???? LOLOL They are ALL a bunch of crooks who say what they think we want to hear. You have to go with the lesser evil....As a one issue voter I always vote for the one who supports life. The unborn have no voice. For me the candidate who supports "Pro Life" is the lesser of the two evils I have to choose between. Simplistic but it works for me.
Clinton had the same Cuban policies, as have all the recent Presidents. No reason to think Kerry would change anything. Especially with the tough stance on immigration since 9-11. Of course he will probably "say" he supports something different if he sees it might get him votes.

[bobbcat]

Well, I still do not approve of the approach the Clinton administration took in regard to Elian's case. I was pleased to see Elian so obviously doing well. I think he is a bit of a star in Cuba.

I figured that the Bush administration's hard-line stance may be consistent with other administrations when I took some time to think it through.

Okay, I am off the ceiling now, and Alfred probably will miss out on my vote this year.

[CagedTroll]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]

Therein lies the dramatic change, one that has broad implications for how the administration regards Cuba. For 35 years, fleeing Cubans were greeted as victims of oppression desperately seeking freedom, the way West Germany treated refugees from East Germany. Forcing them back home was unthinkable.

Now, forcing them back is policy. Refugees who set to sea trying to make it to Florida will be intercepted and handed over to Cuban naval or coast guard officials - or a U.S. ship might dock at Havana harbor to unload them. The deal, made with Havana, fulfills a longtime wish of Cuban President Fidel Castro that the United States stop welcoming his people as automatic refugees. The old policy embarrassed his government and, in his view, created periodic unrest as Cubans headed to sea.

Kerry's said in the past that the only reason we don't change policies towards Cuba (that obviously haven't worked) is because of the politics of Florida. He's also definitely undoing Bush's new travel restrictions.

Kerry's got the same stated policy goal, getting Castro to step down and allow free elections, but how to go about it is something he can't talk about right now. (Although I get the impression the Democrats are writing off Florida this year. Bob Graham is leaving the Senate, and the Republican candidate being supported by the White House is a wealthy trial lawyer. Since they're picking up a seat from Illinois, Florida's not going to be a big loss on the Senate floor.)

Something about the Elian story last night made me think that Castro wants to quit being the Dictator, but doesn't want to give up being the Symbol of The Dictator. There have been reports that he's been having health problems, which he denies, but he's 78 years old. He's probably not going to step down till he dies, but I doubt he's running the country like he used to.