Louise, this part of your post immediately reminded me of something that Obama said in an interview some time ago, though I can’t remember now, who it was with.

• “…But what drew me to Obama was how he opens up to questions from the audience at every rally. He picks people from the floor at random and answers every question that comes. He not only answers whatever comes, but even goes into explaining why he gives an answer, or the reason behind the issue that the question was about. I’ve never seen a candidate do that!’”

Whomever is was, was ‘accusing’ him of being ‘vague’ and I remember thinking at the time, how ridiculous that was. Be that as it may, Obama’s response was something like this:

“Ya know, when I first started this campaign, back at the very beginning, and was going around to various Town Hall meetings and talking with groups of Americans all over, the main complaint was that I was being too ‘professoratorial” (yes, I know that isn’t a word…at least my spell checker doesn’t recognize it, but I knew what he was talking about). In other words, he was giving them way more information than they wanted to have!! But hey, that’s what smart people have a tendency to do…especially if they’re well..professors!

And, I really DO understand that, not because I’m so smart, but because every time I get ready to try to find out the facts about something, I end up having to go further and further back, to figure out how things got to whatever it is that I’m trying to figure out. Nothing of any real importance ever is what it looks like, until you start digging into the background of however it got that way. Now after one does that for an extended period of time, all of these dots that didn’t have any connections, start to take shape. Now it’s not always a nice or neat square, or triangle, or even a circle…never a circle. Nope…more like an inkblot or a really long rope that crosses itself and does double and triple loopbacks with multiple knots.

Needless-to-say, most folks don’t wanna be bothered with all of that. It’s like, just give us the Cliff notes, and for some, they even want those to be triple-strenght compressed.

So yeah, it’s more than a tad bit foolish for folks to expect Obama to have all of the answers, (and we’re not even paying him yet) when he has said more times than I can count, that he doesn’t HAVE them all, and that this isn’t something he’s planning on doing as a one-person operation!

As for advisors…seems to me like that’s a leaders greatest strength..knowing how to pick them. After the really serious depression that overcame us when GW became the SC appointed pres, a few of us tried to hold out some hope that he would at least surround himself with some good advisors, because of course we knew how incredibly stupid he was, lacking ANY experience. But, his ‘advisors’ had long before been selected at the same time that HE was ‘selected’ by his ‘advisors’. Richard the Dick Cheney et al. So actually, we were just in temporary denial…just to get past those really gloomy times. Even I had not a clue of just how awful it would get. Nope…not a clue.

Anyway, I said all of that to say that already, Obama has some excellent advisors, to add to his own smarts. This is good.

Fidel Castro to Obama,I like you and I will meet you in hell, as I see no chance of meeting you in Cuba.

Right on!
Thanks

[cyrena, May 26 at 10:38 pm]

You do make a valid point. Not only on the Cuban/Puerto Rican issue, but on the issue of sanctions in general. And Obama having a handle on all the crap that has come to us as a direct result of sanctions, in Cuba and EVERYWHERE else!

Sanctions. The dumbest political policy that ever was invented! The only thing sanctions do is hurt the people, making their leader look even better to them, because he is “trying” to do something about it.

Of course Obama does not have all the answers.
He does not yet know all the questions!

But at least he has the guts to jump right in and try to understand and express an opinion. Quite unlike the other candidates who simply rely on tried and true sound-bites, that “sound good and signify nothing” stuff.

As one former Clinton supporter [a political reporter] said on the Charlie Rose Show the other night, [paraphrase] ‘I fell out of love with the Clintons when they started on the attack campaign. But what drew me to Obama was how he opens up to questions from the audience at every rally. He picks people from the floor at random and answers every question that comes. He not only answers whatever comes, but even goes into explaining why he gives an answer, or the reason behind the issue that the question was about. I’ve never seen a candidate do that!’

When I read or listen to the candidates I am often struck by the thought, how little they know. I have the advantage of age of course, yet I know very little! And the notion that because Hillary is married to someone who was president she knows it all, is so silly it shouldn’t even deserve mention!

Most important, I am continually surprised at how little mainstreammedia knows about the machinations going on behind every problem a new president will have dumped in his lap the first day.

Those problems are the reason they surround themselves with knowledgeable people. Or in the case of Bush, turn the think and sort issue over to someone else and BELIEVE [wishing on a star] that person will get everything right.

Of course that will have to be McCain’s method.

Regardless of the willingness to meet with less than friendly leaders does not mean we go in promising them everything and then some. We go in with the tools we have and start from there- concessions from both sides.
Just because we are willing to talk does NOT mean we are willing to give Up Sh*t!
consider those who are firmly behind Iran’s President- would he not also suffer some set back by being willing to talk with US- Not as long as he doesn’t give up the Principles for which he is seeking resolution. willingness to negotiate does not mean willing to concede anything.
Only Pussies are afraid of conversation, they know they have no base to stand on. Bushco doesn’t ahve any ‘credit’ to work with- they have squandered it,here & around the world. Obama will have Credit- first his willingness to talk, his rebuke of unnecessary invasions and military force and Most imporatntly the Backing of the Citizens of this Country. the World Knows we have been Bound & Gagged for the last 3 1/2 decades-9/11 was an attack on the MIC, NOT US (we wer put in harms way by the corrupt Gov’t & their Inc sponsors -along with the ‘switch Hitters’ of the M.E. ‘Royal families’- used US as Camo and human shields!

Are you ready? http://dncdisruption08.org/

Louise, thanks for this. I said pretty much the same thing, (kinda sorta) on the other thread from Eugene’s piece, because I agree that the embargo will in fact have to be lifted, and that is surely his eventual posture.

I’ve not had an opportunity to listen to the entire speech, so I thank you for posting a portion here, and I will look for the rest.

Meantime, as I mentioned on the other thread, the MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE here, is that Obama is already prepared to initiate diplomatic efforts, and I’m seeing from what you’ve posted here, that he is properly prepared. (I’m hoping that he will appreciate the history of how and why Castro got to be an angry old man. )

And so, even without reading his speech before I wrote that, I was convinced that he would be prepared, as he says here. That’s important, because there are always two sides to every story, and the truth lies somewhere in the middle, (usually) and this has been an on-going internal dispute for SO long, that far too many folks are not aware of all sides of the issues, and how closely and emotionally we as humans are likely to cling to what are traumatic events of our pasts.

That can be said of many Cuban-Americans, who have in the past, VOTED FOR REPUGS, because of their hatred toward Castro. This is a fact. I’m not suggesting that they do not want restrictions lifted, but the Cuban-American communities here are largely divided themselves, on their feelings and attitudes toward Castro, (and with reason) and Washington (particularly the repugs) have consistently exploited that.

That said, I believe there is another reason for Obama’s tackling this at this time. In addition to the large Cuban-American constituency in Florida, there is a large population of Cubans in Puerto Rico as well…many of the same who were run out of Cuba at the time when the US was using Batista as their in-road to setting-up Capitalism American Style in Cuba.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulgencio_Batista

The Revolution that eventually replaced him with Castro still has lasting effects, since so many of the middle class Cubans were forced out..mainly those previously supportive of Batista, and they remain very opposed to Castro. Many of them also remain in Puerto Rico, and that election is also coming right up. So far, Hillary has been favored there, even while Castro has basically been in favor of Obama. So, there’s a lot going on, that we don’t necessarily see.

Now Fadel. Please try to calm down a bit, and possibly write another small donation. Even if you don’t donate, at least vote for the guy! . Give him a chance first, to do some talking with the Cubans. I agree that we need to work on diplomacy/democracy here at home first, but I don’t think that Obama is the type to try to follow through on forcing America’s type of democracy on Cuba, which is the ONLY reason that we’ve had such a bad and stupid policy with them, that developed long before Obama was even born. So, let him familiarize himself with the deal there, and see what he can work out. It might even allow for some sort of a trade for those political prisoners that Castro has locked up.

OK? Just think it over and give things a little time. I think Louise is right that Castro’s feathers may be a little ruffled that he seems to have been left out, and Castro ALWAYS gets pissed off if it seems like anybody connected with DC is trying to coddle the more right-wing Cuban Americans.

Besides, you SURELY don’t think that McCain or Hillary would do anything differently do you? They won’t even bother to talk with Cuba. Bill never changed the policy, even though there WAS a time when we were able to travel to Cuba directly from here.

(now I have to go via Mexico).

but I watched Obama’s address to the Cuban American National Foundation and I was left with a totally different opinion than Castro and apparently you all.

I felt his position was one that reflects honest diplomacy. I did not get the impression that the embargo would be the club he would hold over Cuba to beat an America first agreement out of them. Rather an unpleasant reality he will inherit and have to deal with, hopefully as a way to achieve a positive outcome. And of course a positive outcome means the embargo will have to go away.

In fact, I found myself admiring the courage he displayed in expressing a position that many in that audience might receive with hostility. The response he received from them was polite applause, but not particularly impressive.

But then I have become accustomed to thunderous applause when Obama speaks. So, maybe my perceptions were wrong.

But I don’t think so.

I think my perceptions are something being missed by mainstreammedia and Castro. I suspect Fidel Castro’s response may be based on the perceived slight that Obama will meet with Raul Castro, Cuba’s current president, rather than him. Could he be feeling a bit left out of the loop?

I certainly hope you all don’t jump ship because of this. Sometimes reporters and angry old men twist things just enough to change the focus. The focus here should be on Obama’s willingness, no eagerness to approach and work with Cuba. Something no other candidate is willing to do. And in fact McCain has pledged to maintain the stubborn and ancient [and mean] Bush/Walker/Cuban refugee pay-back position.

From Obama’s speech:

“Now I know what the easy thing is to do for American politicians ... every four years, they come down to Miami, they talk tough, they go back to Washington, and nothing changes in Cuba,” said Obama, who was greeted by a scattered chanting of “Yes We Can, Yes we Can” as he took the podium.

“After eight years of the disastrous policies of George Bush, it is time, I believe, to pursue direct diplomacy, with friend and foe alike, without preconditions.”

He repeated previous statements that if elected president, he would immediately lift the limits on Cuban Americans who want to travel to Cuba or send remittances to family on the island. And he spoke about his often-criticized willingness to meet with Cuban leader Raúl Castro.

“There will be careful preparation. We will set a clear agenda,” Obama said. “And as president, I would be willing to lead that diplomacy at a time and place of my choosing, but only when we have an opportunity to advance the interests of the United States, and to advance the cause of freedom for the Cuban people.”

And there you have it. A typical I will but only statement. But it must be remembered the Cuban American National Foundation largely supports the embargo, while many want to be able to send money to friends and family still in Cuba. How do you please a group of people with a split personality?

Well like most other potential voters, you agree to help them do what they want, with conditions.

As he made clear, his thrust will be open diplomacy that will benefit both countries. And that means eventually the embargo will be lifted. The reality is that is the only way it can happen. And Obama knows that. As should all of you.

Obama is Deadly Wrong on This!

To keep this fifty-year-old trade sanctions against Cuba as leverage to push for democratic change on the island is not different in essence from the wrong policies of the past. We need democratic change her at home than anything else.

So on this point, I side with Fidel Castro, and Barack Obama will not get my vote. If Obama has not yet grasped the erroneous concept of forcing the deteriorating American democracy on others, then his talk about positive change is just empty rhetoric!

I had on my desk two modest checks I was going to mail out tomorrow to the general Democratic National Fund and to Obama’s campaign, but after reading this piece of news, I tore them up and threw the pieces in the garbage.

Well, I don’t know how well Obama’s stance is going to work for him in the Puerto Rico elections. Maybe the lifting of the travel restrictions will be a good thing.

On the other hand, I don’t know if (in this case) Castro isn’t trying to have it both ways. He apparently wants to normalize relations with the US for trade, and that would help the people of Cuba.

On the other hand, he’s complaining that any change in policy that allows Cuban Americans to send money to their own family members would encourage consumerism and the like. (which it probably could/would)Even if doesn’t encourage consumerism, it could create the very sort of socio-economic inbalance that exists here, which is the whole purpose behind the Cuban Socialist doctrine to begin with.

This is an old, old story; and one that has repeated over and over again. It is the story of the strong armed US isolating any country that they could not control. In this case, the plan was for the same US mobs of old, to turn Cuba into another colonial possession, and Havana into another Atlantic City. Castro wasn’t having it, so he ran ‘em out.

That was 50 years ago, and the US has been punishing Cuba ever since, leaving them with only the Soviets to trade with. Now the Soviets have dropped out of the scene, leaving Cuba even more isolated.

So, Obama treads on dangerous ground if he’s decided to use this as leverage to force Cuba to accept “American Democracy”, (hasn’t worked in Iraq) in exchange for life sustaining trade. He’s going to have to do a fine diplomatic dance to negotiate a freer society for Cubans, and the elimination of the political repression, and at the same time promise that the US Corps won’t do a literal take over of that sovereign nation state.

Like I said, this has been going on for 50 years, and it’s like being in the middle of a domestic dispute, (Cubans in Cuba, and Cubans in the US) and that’s never an enviable position.

Oh the other hand, Raul is not the same man that his brother is, and Cuba has already begun to bring about changes in their own social atmosphere since Raul has taken the reigns.

Like I said, he’s gonna need to thread carefully. Eliminating political oppression is one thing. But there might not be that political repression in Cuba, if Castro wasn’t still fighting against the US corporate take-over of that country, even if it’s more an ideology on his part than anything else. He still has reason to be paranoid. Look what the US has done to Mexico and other Latin American countries.