McCain hits Obama on Cuba policy

Hmmm...because NOT talking to Cuba has made so much difference. At point does a person figure out that their policy is an utterly FAILED policy? Do these right-wingers never give up?

Gee, we talked to the Soviets, we talked to the Chinese, we talked to the Vietnamese....and look what happened. Their regimes either changed or are in the process of becoming more open. We ignore North Korea, Burma, Iran, Cuba...and look what happens...NOT A DAMNED THING.

Get over the failed policies of the past. It's time to move on to a foreign policy that works.

Ditto to LM. You couldn't have said it better. It we were to apply a scientific principle to this, the data would clearly indicate that the same hypothesis has been applied for the past 50 years, and the experiment still has not changed or evolved. Time to try something new.

!!!!!!!!!!BRAVOOO!!!!!!!!!

Exactly what purpose has our being high-handed and refusing to talk to these leaders served? We stand NO chance of having any influence at all by continuing to distance ourselves. McCain is just wrong, wrong, wrong in planning to perpetuate this policy.

I have to agree with LM. The failed policy of the last 45 years or so toward Cuba has shown that the US embargo has probably hurt the Cuban people as much as their government. How the US can take such a hard stance on Cuba, but then to lie in bed with the Chinese-an even bigger human rights violator-is hypocritical beyond belief. Kudos to Barack for having the guts to say that we need to start talking with Cuba. Open dialogue is the ONLY way to improve relations. McCain is just proving that he will be another 4 years of George W. Bush, and this is something that the US can not afford.

You don't punish the Cuban government by punishing the Cuban people. You could start normalizing relatons and trade and see if that works. I think 40+ years is enough of a trial period to see that punishing the Cuban people won't spark some democratic revolution. More old bull-headed thinking.

Having been in GTMO during the missile crisis talking to a lot of Cuban ExPats living on base I learned a great deal talking with them. Gee, was I ahead of my time? Lets face it-anyone who knows anything about Cuba knows that is is ideal for Resorts and Gaming. Recognition would knock the slats out of Vegas, Atlantic City and all the rest of the gambling/tax revenue generation in place in America. Like everything else it has nothing to do about human rights or any political reason - it has everything to do about the almighty dollar.

Obama has no foreign experience, no military experience, I could go on and on.

Due to the failure of the last 8 years we've lowered our expectations and somehow things got so bad we're actually excited at these 3 canidates.
Do Americans really think these are good choices ?

Cuba, like the war on drugs, illegal immigrants, socialized medicine etc., etc., ad nauseam, are tried and true political red meat issues regularly thrown out by conservatives, who, of course never resolve the issues.

Being thick headed and adamant about ANYTHING nowadays is supposed to pass as leadership.

Our situation with Cuba is the equivalent to sticking your fingers in your ears and humming show tunes hoping the problem goes away.

What possible harm comes from talking to people?

LM we have dialogue with countries that can potentially cause us problems or have some thing we want. This is not a policy of the right wingers this policy was in place under John F Kennedy. And for your information we do talk to North Korea since they now have a couple of nukes. Besides talk is cheap you really honestly feel that talk will bring peace, check your history normally peace was brough at the edge of a blade not from some idiot whipping his tongue.

Do you recall when the US had a spy plane go down in China, Bush made several demands of the chinese to return the people and the plane well they eventually returned both but they took the plane apart and shipped it back to the US via a Russian Freighter. How is that for more open???

LM we have dialogue with countries that can potentially cause us problems or have some thing we want. This is not a policy of the right wingers this policy was in place under John F Kennedy. And for your information we do talk to North Korea since they now have a couple of nukes. Besides talk is cheap you really honestly feel that talk will bring peace, check your history normally peace was brough at the edge of a blade not from some idiot whipping his tongue.

Do you recall when the US had a spy plane go down in China, Bush made several demands of the chinese to return the people and the plane well they eventually returned both but they took the plane apart and shipped it back to the US via a Russian Freighter. How is that for more open???

The GOP is in the pocket of wealthy families still hoping to get reparation for losses suffered by the Cuban revolution. They are also playing on false hopes of expatriates hoping to return to positions of power and influence in Cuba.

Come on GOP, get a clue. Cuba is no worse with many of our allies, including Saudi Arabia (known for slave trafficking and of course it is a monarchy). We ourselves now practice torture and illegal eavesdropping on our citizens -- maybe we should not talk to ourselves.

When did Cuba become a threat to the safety or economic well being of the USA. It has been a sore point to many wealthy Cubans living in idle comfort in Miami making large donations (buying) to American politicians.

Isolating Cuba for half a century only tortured the Cuban people that did not leave Cuba.

Shame on you Washington.

LM, are you totally lost???? We spoke to Chinese and they changed right? Wrong!!!! Then maybe the Vietnamese? Wrong!!! or how about Putin's new Russia. Get some education, each has changed, but it hasn't been change that was good.

Let's face it: We tried:
1. Not Talking to Cuba.
2. Various embargos and economic sanctions
3. An invasion by the CIA & Cuban Exiles.
4. 638 assassination attempts on the former Cuban President.
5. An outright kidnap of a little Cuban boy.

Might as well talk to them.

To LM:
Yes, NOTHING happened in North Korea.... Do you really believe this?

Doing the right thing, may sometimes be difficult to do. Sometimes it is isolating the most egregious dictatorial regimes, and sometimes it is talking to them. To ascribe this attitude to 'right wingers' fails utterly to understand the historical US position with Cuba. It was initiated by a Democrat, for heaven's sake.

People who wallow in partisanship these days are willing to play politics with our foreign policy. It is ill advised, and naive. US interests transcend party affiliation.

The embargo is clearly a failure. As an authorized traveler to Cuba I have seen every country but the US involved in business relations and economic reform. The Cuban people respect the US and its people. I have never heard anyone either in the street or in governmental meetings talk negatively about me or the US. I am sure the political machines on both side say all that is needed, but as a businessman I have not been in any uncomfortable position.

It is true that Raul Castro has made minor changes, but a start was needed. It is time for the US to realize that the Caribbean is no longer a step child and reform is needed or other countries not is US favor will continue to grow in Cuba and the Caribbean region

For the better part of 50 years, ever since the overthrow of Batista by Castro, we have maintained an embargo on Cuba. The effect of that embargo has imposed lots of hardships on ordinary Cubans, but never resulted in the overthrow of the present regime. A lot of forward thinking groups in this country, especially businesses interested in selling such things as food products, have pressed for a greater opening for what promises to be a good market for our own surplus products. If things are going to get better for the mass of Cubans, we need more trade rather than less. All the embargo has done is reinforced the siege mentality fostered by the Castro's, with little gain for the United States in any respect.

I have visited cuba within the last few years and will tell you flatly the only people being hurt by our so called embargo are the peasants themselves. We have no trouble at all calling the oil rich dictators our freinds I guess if Cuba had vast oil reserves we would also call them friend reguardless of their form of government

Well said, all of a sudden, we passing judgement on who is unapproachable and who is, I mean what if these people are so bad, if these people are so wrong in dictatorships and leadership, that they can't be spoken too, why the hell don't we do what we did to Sadam and just assasinate they behinds, if as the reps say you can't sit down and talk to these people, yeah go head start yet another dirty little war.

Hipocritz
Go Figure
We are all damned at this pace

Hmmm.... Maybe we only talk to countries let our corporations use their people for near slave labor...

Hiya LM...

You've hit the nail on the head. It's pathetic McInsane should choose this to hammer Obama with! Is he really losing his marbles/bearings?

Four More Years! Four More Years! Four More Years ! .... Let's don't and just say we did!

Ron Paul for President sounding better & better every day. By the time McDumbass gets rid of all the lobbyist's from his campaign like he's promised to do ... there won't be anyone left to pimp his old, sorry ass and he'll have to drop out!

YEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS !!!

You know you are right. Clinton talked to the Chinese. Gave them U.S. missle secrets as I recall. Hey look at that, this thread is on boston.com. Now there's a surprise.

McCain is amazing. To state as he has that he would press the regime into doing certain things, is in effect, opening a dialogue (talking), pretty much the same thing. After so much time, it would seem and should be noted that talking never hurt anyone. Unless by pressing them, he simply means posturing through the media on an international scale, which does and means nothing. If discussions in a rational manner don't work, then nothing is lost. However, without discussions nothing can be gained. It's about time our leaders stopped posturing for the media and sound bytes and started engaging other leaders (friend and foe alike) across the globe for the betterment of our country.

Why do these old people play politics?

America is afraid of Cuba?

Maybe Obama is right, we need to rid ourselves of these archaic political ideals that OLD men have kept in place for decades.

McCain is NOT what America needs.

To all of you talking about how nothing has changed with China... what about this administration basically borrowing money from the Chinese government to fund this idiotic war in Iraq? Sure, they're worse than Cuba when it comes to human right, but we can owe them tons of money and buy all our stuff from them?

Yet even talking to Castro (and getting in early with the slightly more democratic Raul wouldn't be a bad idea) is the worst idea we could have?

This argument is going to fall flat mainly because the voters don't care about Cuba anymore. It's like making an issue out of our relations with St. Thomas at this point.

Perhaps if our foreign policy towards Cuba was not dictated by some extremely wealthy families in Florida who are growers we could have a rational policy. Instead we have an embargo and sugar subsidies to keep the prices and profits ridiculously high.

It's about the money as always

There is nothing wrong with open dialogue with any country for that matter. Let's face it, the current administration has put the American people in a sink hole, and they are still trying to sink us lower and lower with all their BS. It's time for a new America, new ideas and most importantly new leadership. God Bless Obama.

McCain's policy is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Unconditionally release prisoners? Who does he think he is? Cuba doesn't listen to the United States, and if you want to bring down a Communist regime, the easiest way is ALWAYS the economy, because the politics will always follow in kind. Russia learned that, and Cuba would too...but not under McCain. Under that idiot, Cuba would learn how reckless and stupid American leaders can be.

OMG people are you that ignorant ?

Yes we talked to the soviets, chinese & etc, but it was not face to face with our current president at that time. It was through 3rd parties.

damn left wing liberals just will not face the truth.

It's disgustingly apparent that McCain will offer "politics as usual." This country is in dire straits and will continue going down the tubes as long as partisan politics, big business, and lawyers are running the show...wait a minute, aren't those all the same thing? Say goodbye to the American dream people, NONE of the candidates is fit to lead.

Yes, by all means, let us demand nothing of Castro. Barack Obama has pledged to meet with Cuba's henchmen without prior conditions. So did Neville Chamberlain 70 years ago, That's the last time that any democratic leader made that mistake. Presumably, Castro's goons could be torturing political in the room next door, but since Obama set no preconditions for meeting with Castro, it would be no business of his. And, of course, it isn't. His sole concern is to make Communism work in Cuba as it does in China, that is, work in America's interest. The repression of the Tibetans illustrates clearly that the Communist Chinese have no respect for human rights and that nothing has changed in China except that it is financially more viable. The tyranny now stands on firmer ground and is better equipped to perpetuate itself into infinity. Is that what you and Obama also want? I should not be surprised.

http://reviewofcuban-americanblogs.blogspot.com

Following McCain's logic, Democrats shouldn't talk to Republicans. Republicans, after all, gave us a prison in Cuba (Guantanamo) that holds prisoners without trial or legal representation... just like Castro.

The right is so afraid of Barack Obama it's scary. Imagine this. A world leader who actually wants to make a difference instead of continuing the isolationist policies for the last 50 years. The republicans don't want to advance the dialogue because they make more money by keeping people down and starting wars.

We do not know what is in Obama's heart. Reading his books, I am certain that he is anti-white. Everyone who votes in Nov. should read his books. It left me with the impression that he should be running for president of Keyna instead of U.S.A. Read the books.

He made a statement in "Dreams From My Father" when he was about 17 while his mother was attempting to drum some sense into him about his friends and his not too good lifestyle "I had given her a reassuring smile and patted her hand and told her not to worry, I wouln't do anything stupid. It was usually an effective tactic, another one of those tricks I had learned: People were satisfied so long as you were courteous and smiled and made no sudden moves. They were more than satisfied; they were relieved-such a pleasant surprise to find a well mannered young black man who didn't seem angry all the time." Tjos is the way he is campaigning for president: smiling and courteous and making no sudden moves. These are his tricks he learned at an early age. He is not to be believed. He scares the hell out of me.

Read his books...read his books....read his books. He does not seem to know that he is also white. He would make an excellent communist.

Don't you guys know that Obama is going to have all the hatefull leaders of the world kissing each other and buying flowers for all of us??? Oh yes indeed. Yes, let's talk to them and give them what they want... oh, our distruction? Or maybe it's another reason all together? I don't know, but Obama has proved that he can do so much for the people by running for office after office, but not breathing long enough to help anyone... at least he is present lolololol Oh my goodness...

You really want to end communism in Cuba? Give them a baseball franchise. American or National League - it doesn't matter. Maybe the Havana Humidors. Look what baseball teams in Toronto and Montreal have done for our relationship with Canada.

No, I am serious. Cubans absolutely love baseball. Open up our relationship with a baseball team, and they'll probably want to become the 51st state within a decade (assuming we can get our own house in order at some point). Anyone remember "ping pong diplomacy" from the Nixon days that opened up China? It works. I can't say a whole lot good about Nixon, but he was way more of a true American than this current batch of Republicans - and at least he had some brains in his head.

The Cuban policy that we have engaged in for the past 45 years is working so well that we need to continue it? Come on Mr. McCain. If anyone should be dropping out of the race, it should be you.

What may happen when a US President meets an adversary without preconditions? Obama chose JFK as his reference point....... Here, the actual history betrays Obama's defense.

Following the Bay of Pigs fiasco, Kennedy met with Nikita Khrushchev (3 June, 1961). The summit occured without precondition and minimal preparation, as Obama espouse. Krushchev took measure of JFK and judged him weak.

The Berlin was under construction within two months (13 August, 1961) of the ill advised summit.

By October, 1962, the Cuban missile crisis brought the world closer to nuclear than it has been, before or since.

Although Kennedy learned and grew from the experience, his learning curve put the world at the brink of nuclear catastrophy.

For those of you too young to remember, we don't want to go there again. Trust me. Obama does, in fact, lack both the experience and judgment that the office of the President demands.

Jerry,

Peace brought by "the edge of a blade..." Well, we ARE at peace with Cuba. We're not discussion making peace with Cuba...we're discussing establishing official diplomatic ties with Cuba. Stay on topic or get out.

Also...regarding "some idiot whipping [their] tongue...." Do you mean like you're doing in your blog? Martin Luther King was an "idiot?" Mahatma Gandhi was an "idiot?"

I am a traditional conservative Republican who lives in South Florida. I am not so sure that the Cuban émigré living in Miami is any longer of significant political importance to US politicians.

Senator McCain will be wasting his time on Calle Ocho as most of the émigrés are now dying off anyway. His time could be more productive in the heartland where American farmers are selling cattle, corn, and wheat to Cuba.

Perhaps Senator McCain, a victim of the Vietnam war, recognizes, that due to our ability to communicate with the Vietnamese, their lives have changed dramatically for the better.

With regards to Cuba, Senator McCain might want to follow the example of Ambassador Douglas "Pete" Peterson who voluntarily returned to Vietnam as Ambassador to help the country get back on its feet. Peterson was a P.O.W for some 6 1/2 years.

Senator McCain might also want to recognize that the failed neo-conservative policies of confrontation will get us nowhere, especially with Cuba.

So, if I understand correctly, it's totally cool to (literally) hold hands with repressive regimes in Saudi Arabia and Russia, but merely talking to Raul Castro is somehow offensive and wrong. The hypocrisy of the GOP knows no bounds...

Maybe dialogue is the first step in establishing a real foreign policy??? Wake up America...the time has come to take back our country from the Neo-Cons! Let's see...we're spending millions of dollars a day to fund an army in the Middle East, the value of the dollar has tanked, our trade deficit is out of control, gas prices are reaching $4.00 a gallon, the economy is in a recession, hardworking American's are getting layed off from their jobs...do we really want four more years of this? Let's set aside partisan politics and hold the current administration and the Republican party accountable for the state of affairs in this country and in the world. Enough is enough!

LM....Vietnam hasn't changed its still communist, and North Korea is still Communist and we talked to them too. and we still do talk with North Korea. Ever heard of the "Six Party Talks" with north Korea? thats us talking to them with a group of nations and its getting them to shut down their nuclear reactors. and the plan not to talk to Cuba and not to trade with them, yeah it was instituted by a democrat. So don't blame it on the GOP dumbass. If we ease up on Cuba then all the other countries know that all they have to do is wait the U.S. out and we will cave. We have to stay firm. Barack is an Idiot who has only 2 years of senate expierience and thats it as far as politics goes... and he has absolutely no military or foreign relations expierience. He would be 10 times worse than Bush could ever be.

I think Obama is right; we should talk to other countries. PLEASE REMEMBER
he has the top of the line of people working for him. I am sure he will get key people to assist him and keep him abreast on Foreign Affairs and learn how to communicate appropriately. There is no President that I know that do anything
without being advise of what is the best for this country. President Bush was advised wrong about the war in Iraq. We are not the strong country that we used to be, that is because of the President we have now. We are in debt and owe other countries, our defense is weak, and I can go on and on what has happen to this weak President Bush. I am an Independent and left with no choice but to vote for Obama

McCain might as well campaign on 'Four More Years'

"John McCain offers a third Bush term. He does not represent the change we need,""

Sounds like a lemming remark to me. Please explain in detail what the change we need is?????

LM is misguided and only speaking in liberal half-speak, neglecting so much more than what he/she is seeing through their foggy goggles.

Cuba? Really? A Democratic President started that policy almost invaded Cuba. You can learn all about it by reading up on the JFK Presidency, circa 1962.

Soviets? Golly-gee-wizz Scooby....good thing several Democratic run Presidencies did alot to solve that one. Who was in office and talked to the Soviets? Oh yeah, Ronald Reagan, a Republican. Read the memoirs of Gorbachev sometime.

China is a dead-end argument. We've been talking to them for years, they were allies of ours in WWII....and have since become world players in economic markets. But all is not pink flowers, just ask Tibet and Taiwan.

Vietnam? Wow. Good thing our talks found out the where-abouts of missing POWs. God thing Vietnam and China believe in sound labor practices! (sarcasm)

North Korea? It took a Replubican Administration (Dwight Eisenhower) to end that war. Myanmar , and Iran? Do you know anything about their totalitarian regimes?

You forgot to mention Nazi Germany. Good think "talking" got us real far with Hitler....or not. Maybe lilly-dipping along would have helped us all out? What about Serbia? Clinton Adminstration just talked while the world got a population shave via genocide. What about Middle East Peace talks? We are into several decades there with no resolution.

Get over the tunnel-vision of all failed policies being Republican policies, because it is simply not true. Furthermore, not too many purple shirted liberals realize that a Democratic Administration researched, developing, and deploying an Atom-Bomb over Japan in WWII.

How's that for policies?

McCain and Republicans get off your high horses! There's nothing wrong with talking to your friends and enemies. No man is an island. We all need each other in some way or another. I guess if Cuba had oil it would be a different story eh?

Wow, to think that this freshman senator now has all the answers that have been evading the past 9 presidents and how many other Congress-critters? Revisionist history at best. Democracy has to come from within - isn't that what everyone has been saying was wrong with the Iraq war? Obama has zero foreign policy experience and I don't see his decision to open talks with some of these countries at all productive - it only legitimizes nutcases. We had progress with Russia becasue when we opened a dialogue we were coming from a position of strength, they had a failing economy, and a new regime made it possible. I see no change in Vietnam or Russia other than multi-national corporations have had some success - no human rights improvements, free media, etc.

God help us if this is how informed the public is when they vote...

So now McCain will propose likewise standards on China?

Of course not.

He is an old-school product of the Cold War whose outdated hard-line policies have no place in the modern world.

Refusing to talk to your adversaries, while simultaneously applying stifling economic embargos upon them, guarantees only more of the same results of abuse and war that have characterized American foreign policy for far too long.

It is time for a change.

McCain should join his buddie bushie and retire, for the sake of the country and the world.

To Bob:

Forget about "US interests", that is propaganda-think at best and imperialist ideology at worst. A democrat did it so it must not be right-wing? Unplug yourself from US politics and the media for a while, do some soul searching, and get some real perspective.

What benefit have you personally accrued?

THE EMBARGO AGAINST CUBA IS NOT A "BUSH POLICY!"

We should be careful not to overreach in our attempts to link every problem to Bush. While I hate W as much as the next guy, the embargo against them was started in 1958 and was codified into law by Bill Clinton in 1992.

Does Sen. Dodd really think Americans will believe the Cuba issue is a product of Bush?

Intelligent people are open to talking to those with whom they disagree. Perhaps common ground can be found, compromises made. At worst, they can "agree to disagree" but there will be respect gained for the U.S. by opening up talks with those who we now consider to be "enemies of democracy". I find it ironic that even Hillary Clinton has criticized Obama for wanting to meet with leaders of foreign countries. You have to begin discussions somewhere and what better way than leader to leader?

Our policies in Cuba have never been successful. Opening up the doors for all US citizens to travel to Cuba would be the fasted route to democracy in Cuba.

It's an irony that we won't do business with Cuba because it's communist, but we welcome trade with Communist China and in fact, have sold our soul to them.

If you think the oil crisis is tough now, just wait until OPEC puts us in the back of the line because China and India are such good customers. All because we've contributed to the success of their economies.

But, let's not do business with litte Cuba, which by the way, has oil right off its shore...

Does anyone know that we entered into agreements with Cuba for US farmers to sell produce to Cuba and our farmers counted on that income. The year that it went into effect it was a boon to US farmers. They entered into agreements for the second year and Bush pulled the plug saying that Cuba needed to pay for their produce in advance. Our farmers had to cancel their contracts and were out at that potential income. It's our farmers who got hurt. Once again, our administration at work.

Is it election time yet?

Jesus....so many ignorate people in this world. If you are a dictator, do you think some will talk you into giving your power away? Hell NO! IDIOTS!!!!!!

We aren't isolating them to harm them, we are isolating them to protect ourselves. If you idiots had your way, we'd give them the money and materials to blow us to bits. After all, that's what all this was about...nukes pointed at us.

Ignorant people shouldn't breed!!!

Manuel A. Tellechea said: "Presumably, Castro's goons could be torturing political in the room next door, but since Obama set no preconditions for meeting with Castro, it would be no business of his."

That is VERY funny, since the Bush administration had admitted to water-boarding prisoners that are now being held literally right next door to Castro, on Gitmo. They have been held there for six years without trial or due process, many without any direct charges being filed against them other than being declared an enemy combatant. So are you saying that Castro should put a preconditions on meetings with the US regarding US waterboarding? Or do you think Cuba should do what we say, not what we do?

Jerry, military shipping planes back in bits after a forced landing is standard practice. We did the same to a MiG that had to make an unscheduled stop in HK many years back. And even though the US is talking to North Korea now, the Bush administration rejected that approach and the Clinton era diplomacy until it was too late and the North Koreans had several nuclear bombs.

I find it somewhat incongruous that Bush should be attacking Obama for 'inexperience' after his disastrous and unpresidential 'appeasement' exhibition last week. Bush has learned nothing after seven years on the job. McCain offers four more years of the same.

Histrionics of the type Bush-McCain engage in display weakness, not strength. This is particularly so when the US is now responsible for the single most notorious prison and torture chamber on the island.

Please deliver me form this madness and suffering from the last eight years.

You can run but you will never hide from the last eight years of the worst president in history, John.

Just run on your records Bush/McCain, and we are going to run you guys out on a rail.

I cant wait.

Obama '08

Praise be

What is his problem?????????

McCain is a war Hero.....he should be the first to admit to talks before action......

McCain is a little boy with a gun, and now he wants the biggest gun of all....the USA

War has always been avoided by talks, never ever by bullying

ANOTHER "WEAKLING" WHO WANTS TO BE PRESIDENT...RAUL CASTRO IS NOT OUR ENEMY...HE IS A SIMPLE HUMAN BEING, WHO IS VERY INTELLIGENT AND SMARTER THAN MCCAIN

It is time for America and the many "really proud" Americans to stand up and say enough is enough. We have been lied to and bamboozled into believing the distortions of what is going on in the world. We have one planet to share with the rest of the world. The word was "share" and not "control". Why is it that we cannot talk about how each nation can contribute for the betterment of the whole. Why must we favor one people over another. Why must we manipulate in order to achieve. Why can we not embrace our differences rather that reject them. Far more can be achieved by diplomacy than by bombs and bullets. What is our death toll in Iraq? How many more will die, and for what? Do we know why hundreds of billions of dollars are being squandered and who is actually being enriched in the process? It is definitely time for change. Can we be a facilitator rather than a terminator? "Yes We Can".

Gary,

If Cuba had oil, we would already have diplomatic relations or be invading their country. (Saving them from the evil empire) We don't care about the struggles of people from a country that doesn't have oil. We are paying for that shortsidedness now...........closing in on $200.00 a barrel. We are no longer in control. We need someone whom is CAPABLE of talking to everyone.

Now that Bush has hung the Republican Party with a short rope, what choice do we really have? McCain is just someone they setup to lose the next election.

An embargo against Cuba made sense FORTY-FIVE YEARS AGO, but it should have been eased gradually over time. Castro has been a ruthless communist dictator, yet we've treated other ruthless dictators with kid gloves (a photo of Rumsfeld and Saddam comes to mind...). What makes Cuba different? Could it be the anti-Castro voting bloc here in the US? Historically, our brand of diplomacy (sanctions, embargoes, etc.) only serves the dictator who can blame the US for his country's poverty. Castro stayed in power and so did Saddam. I have great respect for John McCain, but he is making his position quite clear - he will continue to embrace the failed policies of the past and give us another four years of Bushism.

And McCain says that he's different from Bush? The real reason the GOP doesn't want to normalize relations with Cuba is that it would take Florida out of play as a battleground state where Republicans usually win. If a veto proof majority in Congress repealed the Cuban sanctions with widespread approval from voters outside Florida, the Cuban Americans/Republicans who run Florida politics would lose their political power in Florida and DC...but as long as Castro and sanctions are an issue, they will be able to dictate policy. It's sad that most Americans can't go to Cuba...if you go to Cuba and then witness the extreme discrimination and human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia or Kuwait, you really question why there's sanctions against Cuba.

Let's see, ask a 1st grader what is a better way to influence someone, to communicate and interact with them, or to ignore and shun them. Even a 1st grader knows that communication works better. America's "isolation" policy on Cuba is a total failure and foreign relations laughingstock. I have no doubt in my mind that if America had never embargoed Cuba, that if America had encouraged American visitation to Cuba all along, and that if America had open trade with Cuba that Fidel would have been out of power decades ago. This stupid isolation policy is completely retarded and needs to stop ASAP! (BTW, I'm from Miami, but not Cuban)

Jack,

Your own ignorance is truly mind-boggling. You wrote: "If you idiots had your way, we'd give them the money and materials to blow us to bits." Sure sounds like our relationship with Saudi Arabia to me.

McCain and McBush have the weakest forgein policy in the last 50 years of American history. For these fellas its all business at the expense of innocent lives.

Here is a story about McBush's legacy to profit from war; including funding the Nazi's rise to power.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/sep/25/usa.secondworldwar

To #32: "Yes we talked to the soviets, chinese & etc, but it was not face to face with our current president at that time. It was through 3rd parties."

OMG yourself. No we didn't. Nixon met with Mao face to face, shook hands with him, and watched the Chinese Red Army do maneuvers and shook hands with the soldiers. Richard Nixon, while president, in China. Reagan met with Gorbachev several times, including the time when he went to Russia and stood in Red Square and was asked face to face if he still thought that the USSR was an "Evil Empire" to which he said on Russian TV, "No, I do not". It's you who needs to learn history. Besides, what about the fact that we DIDN'T meet with Ho Chi Minh, even though he sent letters to numerous presidents asking to meet and asking to JOIN American forces and asking the Americans to HELP Vietnam gain independence from French rule, which we refused to do, leading to the Vietnam War. If we HAD talked to him that war could have been completely avoided.

Billy Brigg -

Apparently you are the ignorant one. Richard Nixon actually visited China and Mao Zedong. Ronald Reagan held a number of talks with Mikhail Gorbachev. The current Republican policy of diplomacy through stonewalling your adversaries probably has more to do with the fact that our president is not quite intelligent enough to act in a diplomatic role with our enemies.

Cuba is a remnant of the cold war. I was born in Miami and went through the Cuban missile crisis, which memory reminds me of the family digging a hole under the house because we all thought we were going to be Nuked.

Aside from that, whats the politics of today after the Berlin wall fell, everything. If we can't talk to a country the size and power of Cuba, then why would I think we could make good judgments in regards to IRAN, etc.

This country needs new ideas. The 50 year CUBA policy is outdated and clearly not working. If I ran my business that way, I would have been bankrupted many times over.

Go Obama '08

Soviet Russia pointed nukes at us from Cuba. Cuba was obliged to let it happen since the Soviets were subsidizing the country by a million dollars a day. Why did Cuba need the subsidy? Because of the Embargo imposed upon the country when Fidel kicked out puppet-president Batista and nationalized all of the businesses. Why did Fidel nationalize the businesses (over 90% U.S. owned)? Because the companies refused to pay taxes. It's just basic cause and effect.

I see a lot of reference to this being Bush's Embargo. It originated with JFK and that cannot be denied. However, the last seven years under Bush has shown an unprecidented and unprovoked (during his presidency) strengthening of the Embargo. Family visits were reduced from once a year to one visit every three years, licenses for religious travel are being tabled and licensing for educational travel garnered new restrictions that essentially closed down many universities' programs. Since when does the government dictate what people can learn?

A previous post mentions that aging Cuban-Americans won't be as avid proponents of the GOP. I can agree with that. Couple it with the fact that the GOP has restricted their rights in the last seven years, why would they want to lend their support to the organization? The tides are turning on that front for the Republicans.

Talking, just talking (I'm in no way suggesting appeasement), will not undermine our foreign policy so long as we don't make drastic changes in our position and continue to hold fast to our end goal of free elections and democracy in Cuba. But really, talking isn't the golden solution. When are we going to have a leader who can design a comprehensive foreign policy based on force and diplomacy. Bouncing from one extreme to the other has not done this country, or the world, any bit of good. There is no 'one right way' and no 'one right party' that can adequately address the problem. We need more cooperation within our own regime before we can present viable foreign policy. I don't see any of the candidates offering that.

As far as race and elections go. Get over it. A lot of America's youth (by that I mean under 18 citizens) could care less about petty profiling like race, religion and sexual orientation. None of those things is guaranteed to make you a great leader or a good person so lets stop using them to judge people by. I agree with the Independent's post above: None of the candidates this cycle meet the basic requirements to be the leader of this nation. I'm tired of chosing the "lesser evil".