If Nixon went to China during the cold war, why can't Bush go to Cuba now?

[loudnclear]

Just asking?

[arewethereyet]

1. what would be the value ?

China represented a HUGE economy trying to re-open its doors to the world. Cuba is half a tiny island nation that makes cigars. This would be an apples to refrigerators comparison.

[loudnclear]

2. But what is the good reason for the embargo?

It's about principle and hypocrisy. The US has none of the first and much of the second.

[arewethereyet]

3. OK but that is unrelated to the original post

China was about money. Cuba has nothing to offer.

[Bombtrack]

10. Cuba is a whole island, are you thinking of Haiti/dominican republic?

Cuba is still important. Although obviously less so now that the soviet union has fallen.

[HawkerHurricane]

4. The PRC

Has no large block of voters supporting a embargo in a critical election state.

[Curious Dave]

5. Because Bush would have to face the truth

In spite of the bad press that we see coming out of the right-wing controled media regarding Cuba, in many ways Castro's government has been a rousing sucess for the Cuban people. And Bush knows it! A state visit by the world's biggest war criminal to Cuba would bring so much world media coverage on Cuba that the lies that have been told would be exposed.

[Bombtrack]

14. that's a really stupid statement

Cubans live in utter poverty, and despite a well educated populace are very much a third world country

I guess if you consider that a rousing success that's reflective of alot

[annak110]

15. Curious Dave is correct. The Mafia ran Cuba before the

Revolution, they were the oligarcs in a feudal society. There was no education, no health care and the poor died young the way peple do in "third world countries". Now Cubans are literate (higher literacy rate than the U.S.) They have health care and have been known, where possible, to help people in other countries Poverty there is brought on by our policies.

Nicarauga is treated the same way even after its Revolution was reversed by us, Presumably this is punishment for attempting to break out of feudal serfdom.

Cuba Si, Yankee No! Piss on the Mafia and other rwnut outfits.

[Don Claybrook]

24. And why do they live in poverty, O Personal Attacker?

Might it be due to a 40-year embargo by its bully neighbor, hmmmm?

[DACT]

23. Fucking Castro whore

Castro is a brutal tyrant.

[Don Claybrook]

25. DACT rhymes with Tact. Isn't that ironic?

What, exactly, is a Fucking Castro Whore?

Better yet, would you agree with me that George W. Bush is a treasonous, stupid, vile piece-of-shit, and furthermore, the worst president this nation has ever seen? Would you agree that he is the dumbest fucking thug to ever occupy the White House? Would you agree that his supporters fall into one of two categories, namely, wealthy&evil or completely duped? Would you agree that this country has become a damned embarrassment on the world stage due to the antics and brutality of that aborted monkey fetus that some call George?

This isn't a litmus test or anything. I just felt like venting about the REAL problem in this hemisphere, and since you're a good Democrat too, I knew you wouldn't mind, and that you might like to add some of your own commentary.

Thanks, and have a great day!

[mmonk]

6. I believe the neocons /PNAC are calling for getting tough

with Cuba and Syria. That's why, pure and simple. Want to know what he plans to do in the foreign policy arena, just go to their website.

[WhosNext]

7. Because Cuba is persona non grata

[Mattforclark]

8. Because Cuba is evil

They seek to develop weapons of mass destruction with which to threaten to manatees. Didn't you hear?

[arewethereyet]

9. China was evil too. Remember Chairman Mao ?

Cuba is just little tyrant Castro's prison

[WhosNext]

11. sarcasm

[Mattforclark]

13. Yeah, but you are missing the crucial point

Dubya does not want to see Cuba threaten the manatees. They are an endangered species, and he is a compassionate conservative. It is all perfectly rational.

Move along now, nothing to see here.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

12. Bush can't tie his own shoes

much less do anyting useful. Cheney won't go to Cuba like Nixon went to China because he's doesn't give a damn, and Halliburton has no operations there.

[Mattforclark]

16. Shoe tying

is a valuable skill. Do not underestimate its value. I had great trouble as a child in learning how to tie my shoes.

[mitchum]

17. Because Nixon was much more intelligent than *

[Johnyawl]

19. Thank you, I'm glad somebody said that

I was just saying to Geni tonight that bushco is so stupid and short sighted, that it makes me wish we had even Nixon back, and the last time he was president I came close to getting my ass shot off.

[Kinkistyle]

18. There was no important "Chinese Vote" in the U.S. back then.

Bush has to appease the Cuban Exiles in Florida, unlike Nixon, who didn't have a similar "Chinese Exile" demographic to worry about.

[eridani]

20. Because China has one billion people who might like drinking Pepsi

and Cuba doesn't. Also China will let its political prisoners make teddy bears for Mattel and Toys 'R Us, and Cuba won't.

[Osolomia]

21. Because Americans still live in a coldwar fantasy land

Cuba “has nothing to offer” eh? For one thing most of the farm states beg to differ, that’s why there’s delegations from North Dakota, Minnesota and several other states in Cuba this weekend hoping to sign more multi-million dollar deals for their agricultural products, $500 million’s worth in the past 3 years, e.g.:

Tue, Dec. 09, 2003
AGRICULTURE: N.D. companies to seek Cuban contracts
Delegation hopes to sell more of state's products to Cuba
By Andrea Domaskin, Associated Press
http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/news/7447359.htm

The Rest of the World has not been fooled by US media coverage on Cuba for well over a decade now as their defiance of the embargo and votes like this go to show e.g:

December 03, 2003
UN To US: End Cuban Embargo
By Saeed Shabazz | SACOBSERVER.COM WIRE SERVICES

UNITED NATIONS (NNPA) - For the 12th straight year, the United Nations General Assembly has voted against Washington’s four-decade-old economic embargo against Cuba.
http://www.sacobserver.com/news/120303/cuba_embargo.shtml

Cubans live in utter poverty, and despite a well educated populace are very much a third world country, Cuba is just little tyrant Castro's prison, Halliburton has no operations there. Oh yeah? E.g:

December 04 2003
Cuba invites US companies to explore for oil
Reuters
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=122&art_id=qw1070558462565B212&set_id=1

Think it’s just Bush who has to appease the Cuban Exiles in Florida? Think again e.g:,

Democratic Presidential Candidates on Cuba

Of the ten current democratic hopefuls, Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) is the only one who supports an end to the embargo.
http://www.lawg.org/pages/new%20pages/Misc/prez-candidates1.htm

Kucinich to Bush: Lift Cuban Embargo
By Charles Mahaleris, Talon News
November 18, 2003

… Rep. Kucinich (D-OH) said from the campaign trail late last week, "The United States' Cuba policy is a failure. The unilateral embargo must be lifted. The persistently hostile and aggressive rhetoric must cease. We must lift not only the trade embargo. We must also lift the travel ban. We must cooperate with Cuba on issues of national security."
http://www.gopusa.com/news/2003/november/1118_kucinich_cuba.shtml

Wed, Dec. 03, 2003
Clark hints he would explore Cuba ties
Though not calling for an end to the embargo, Democratic hopeful Wesley Clark says the U.S. should `help the Cuban people.'
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/7402949.htm

[Kosmos Mariner]

22. Because even Tricky Dick was a better president than W....

:dem:

[amber dog democrat]

26. that would require vision

and leadership, as well as a spirit of willingness to address issues from more than one side. Plus that would tick off his Neocon handlers.