Cuba

[Dugout DickStone]

weird thing for fsd to get butthurt about.  It is good for the US and good for Cuba, Castro is dying and his dictatorship is too.  Once that market is opened, he is done and he knows it so why fight it?

This does not happen if there is a strong Russia

[Fake Sugar Dick (WARNING, NOT THE REAL SUGAR DICK!)]

weird thing for fsd to get butthurt about.  It is good for the US and good for Cuba, Castro is dying and his dictatorship is too.  Once that market is opened, he is done and he knows it so why fight it?

This does not happen if there is a strong Russia

I'm not butthurt about this, I just don't think it's significant. 

[Fake Sugar Dick (WARNING, NOT THE REAL SUGAR DICK!)]

there's other good stuff, too. You guys should read it:

Facilitating an expansion of travel under general licenses for the 12 existing categories of travel to Cuba authorized by law-

General licenses will be made available for all authorized travelers in the following existing categories: (1) family visits; (2) official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations; (3) journalistic activity; (4) professional research and professional meetings; (5) educational activities; (6) religious activities; (7) public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions; (8) support for the Cuban people; (9) humanitarian projects; (10) activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes; (11) exportation, importation, or transmission of information or information materials; and (12) certain export transactions that may be considered for authorization under existing regulations and guidelines.
Travelers in the 12 categories of travel to Cuba authorized by law will be able to make arrangements through any service provider that complies with the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regulations governing travel services to Cuba, and general licenses will authorize provision of such services.
The policy changes make it easier for Americans to provide business training for private Cuban businesses and small farmers and provide other support for the growth of Cuba’s nascent private sector.  Additional options for promoting the growth of entrepreneurship and the private sector in Cuba will be explored.

Remittance levels will be raised from $500 to $2,000 per quarter for general donative remittances to Cuban nationals (except to certain officials of the government or the Communist party); and donative remittances for humanitarian projects, support for the Cuban people, and support for the development of private businesses in Cuba will no longer require a specific license.

Authorizing expanded commercial sales/exports from the United States of certain goods and services-

The expansion will seek to empower the nascent Cuban private sector.  Items that will be authorized for export include certain building materials for private residential construction, goods for use by private sector Cuban entrepreneurs, and agricultural equipment for small farmers.  This change will make it easier for Cuban citizens to have access to certain lower-priced goods to improve their living standards and gain greater economic independence from the state.

Initiating new efforts to increase Cubans’ access to communications and their ability to communicate freely-

Cuba has an internet penetration of about five percent—one of the lowest rates in the world.  The cost of telecommunications in Cuba is exorbitantly high, while the services offered are extremely limited.
The commercial export of certain items that will contribute to the ability of the Cuban people to communicate with people in the United States and the rest of the world will be authorized.  This will include the commercial sale of certain consumer communications devices, related software, applications, hardware, and services, and items for the establishment and update of communications-related systems.
 Telecommunications providers will be allowed to establish the necessary mechanisms, including infrastructure, in Cuba to provide commercial telecommunications and internet services, which will improve telecommunications between the United States and Cuba.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/12/17/fact-sheet-charting-new-course-cuba

Wow, it does even less than I imagined based upon this puff piece.

All this really does is set a precedent to kidnap Americans and embolden a dictatorship. Same oppressive government. When Raul dies, someone else will take over.

[Fake Sugar Dick (WARNING, NOT THE REAL SUGAR DICK!)]

How about one of you libtards explain how this helps us or the people of cuba?  You don't get the benefit of all your 50 cent presumptions.

Officials said that, among other steps, the U.S. will ease travel and remittance policies; expand commercial sales and exports; and ease imports, including of tobacco products and alcohol. The U.S. will expand Cubans' access to the Internet and telecommunications.

You realize cuba is a military dictatorship right? And that won't change?

LOL at that list of things benefiting the us.

It will change. Not overnight, but it will change. This will do more to get rid of the Castros than the 50 year embargo.

You really think selling products to Cubans won't benefit the US?

We won't be selling anything to cubans, because military dictatorship

[Fake Sugar Dick (WARNING, NOT THE REAL SUGAR DICK!)]

You understand that cubas gdp is half that of kansas right?  Like, even if this was what you think it is, it would still be nothing.

That's why everyone is confused as to whether to spin this as humanitarian or economic,  when in reality it's neither.

[michigancat]

[Fake Sugar Dick (WARNING, NOT THE REAL SUGAR DICK!)]

$500 per remittance

What a boon

[Brock Landers]

Sweet, now it's only a matter of time before Cuba is overrun with Starbucks, luxury resorts and Long John Silvers franchises.

[Dugout DickStone]

serious butthurt

[sonofdaxjones]

Some of you have the depth of a thimble.

Who has said they will start flying more strategic bomber patrols in the Gulf of Mexico, who has reached out to Cuba and other Central and South American countries for things like naval bases and longer runways to refuel and base strategic bombers??

[Fake Sugar Dick (WARNING, NOT THE REAL SUGAR DICK!)]

The cubans are pretty pissed about this.

[sonofdaxjones]

I only got to listen to National (not as left leaning as we used to be before we got busted injecting ourselves into politics and proving to the world once and for all that we were extremely left leaning) Public Radio in bits and pieces yesterday. 

But one segment had discussion about how Europe is absolutely terrified of a flailing, drunk, broke and pissed off Russia, and the another segment was about man-on-the street interviews in Cuba, and how some in Cuba hate the idea of better ties in the U.S. and some like it. 

[Dugout DickStone]

The cubans are pretty pissed about this.

Good

[CNS]

Lol at the self shame Dax has for listening to NPR

[Headinjun]

Lol at the self shame Dax has for listening to NPR

I sometimes wonder if Dax hates his inner prog-lib self. 

He rambles on like an anti-lgbt pastor who eventually gets caught blowing dudes at a park. 

[Fake Sugar Dick (WARNING, NOT THE REAL SUGAR DICK!)]

The libtards are sure in a nasty mood today. Lots of pent up aggression, likely motivated by a lack of a sense of self worth.

T&P

[michigancat]

another segment was about man-on-the street interviews in Cuba, and how some in Cuba hate the idea of better ties in the U.S. and some like it.

sounds like a great segment

[sonofdaxjones]

Pfft . . . self shame 

Since they were caught red handed, they're actually much more listenable and fair.   

[CNS]

Fair and balanced news.

[Fake Sugar Dick (WARNING, NOT THE REAL SUGAR DICK!)]

Moran and Roberts support this. That ought to get the libtards in a pinch.

[Dugout DickStone]

Natural gas prices cratering, Putin is openly weeping and begging the US for some crumbs.

[michigancat]

Moran and Roberts support this. That ought to get the libtards in a pinch.

I think that's great.

[Dugout DickStone]

Moran and Roberts support this. That ought to get the libtards in a pinch.

Everyone except total dumbasses support this.

[SdK]

 Buena Vista Social Club.

[star seed 7]

Neocons want to partisan up everything