Cuba.

[4est_4est_Gump]

This man has never met a thug or tyrant that he could not find common ground with.

A fuller examination of el's proclivities...

http://townhall.com/columnists/mona...r-replay-this-time-we-lose-n1933814/page/full

 

[silver gurl]

I live in Canada and it seems the spot to vacation. It is inexpensive (but the prices are about to go way up), you can get a 4 star hotel at a great price. I have never heard any good recommendations of decent food. People always complain about the food, so I am a little wary.

Wat, I can can get Cubans here. Brought one to Mr. Pickle this summer. They are pricey, $35. But he said there was nothing like it.

 

[AZMotherLover]

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view/56563/desi-arnaz-babalu-o.gif

 

[Beco]

I live in Canada and it seems the spot to vacation. It is inexpensive (but the prices are about to go way up), you can get a 4 star hotel at a great price. I have never heard any good recommendations of decent food. People always complain about the food, so I am a little wary.

Wat, I can can get Cubans here. Brought one to Mr. Pickle this summer. They are pricey, $35. But he said there was nothing like it.

Food should get better

NPR- Of course, Cuba is far more food secure than many of its similarly impoverished neighbors in Latin America like Honduras and Haiti. But animal (and fish) protein is in extremely limited supply, and to buy food, Cubans have to wrestle with a "jigsaw puzzle" — different markets and currencies for different food products.

Cuba imports about 80 percent of its food, according to the World Food Program. That costs the government $2 billion a year, and since 2000, a solid chunk of the imports have come from the U.S. In 2013, American firms sold $348 million worth of agricultural goods to Cuba, according to the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council. The top three products? Frozen chicken, soybean meal (for animal feed) and corn.

Wednesday's announcement was not the end of the embargo, of course. But Obama's new approach to Cuba includes "expanded sales and exports of certain goods and services from the U.S. to Cuba." That includes agricultural products, from commodities like rice and beans to butter.

Without those extra transaction costs, certain U.S. producers that don't currently sell to Cuba — like fruit and vegetables producers — may finally be able to offer the Cuban government a competitive price. Or rice from the Southeast U.S.: Cuba used to buy it, until we were out-competed by Brazil and Vietnam.

Depending on how this goes, we are going to be able to sell more products to Cuba, the sky is the limit. It makes sense for the US, open the damn country up!

 

[cowslinger64]

I live in Canada and it seems the spot to vacation. It is inexpensive (but the prices are about to go way up), you can get a 4 star hotel at a great price. I have never heard any good recommendations of decent food. People always complain about the food, so I am a little wary.

Wat, I can can get Cubans here. Brought one to Mr. Pickle this summer. They are pricey, $35. But he said there was nothing like it.

I've had a Cuban cigar.. It was decent, the way it was rolled was the best of any I've tried. But for pure satisfaction and taste, a Macanudo Portofino was far better IMO.

The arguments against this Cuba issue are ridiculous. You dinosaurs need to move on..

 

[Ishmael]

Food should get better

NPR- Of course, Cuba is far more food secure than many of its similarly impoverished neighbors in Latin America like Honduras and Haiti. But animal (and fish) protein is in extremely limited supply, and to buy food, Cubans have to wrestle with a "jigsaw puzzle" — different markets and currencies for different food products.

Cuba imports about 80 percent of its food, according to the World Food Program. That costs the government $2 billion a year, and since 2000, a solid chunk of the imports have come from the U.S. In 2013, American firms sold $348 million worth of agricultural goods to Cuba, according to the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council. The top three products? Frozen chicken, soybean meal (for animal feed) and corn.

Wednesday's announcement was not the end of the embargo, of course. But Obama's new approach to Cuba includes "expanded sales and exports of certain goods and services from the U.S. to Cuba." That includes agricultural products, from commodities like rice and beans to butter.

Without those extra transaction costs, certain U.S. producers that don't currently sell to Cuba — like fruit and vegetables producers — may finally be able to offer the Cuban government a competitive price. Or rice from the Southeast U.S.: Cuba used to buy it, until we were out-competed by Brazil and Vietnam.

Depending on how this goes, we are going to be able to sell more products to Cuba, the sky is the limit. It makes sense for the US, open the damn country up!

To put a different twist on an old saw, "In front of every silver lining is a cloud."

Where is the hard currency going to come from to pay for all of this anticipated increased trade? Currently Cuba is getting almost all of it's hard currency from Venezuela (Now in serious jeopardy due to oil prices) and in return they are furnishing several thousand medical workers. Does anyone believe that we are going to allow, or even certify, Cuban medical staff to work in the US and pay the Cuban government for the privilege of doing so?

The main problem, all other issues, and there are many, aside, is that Cuba produces nothing of any significant value and they never have. And it's damn hard to build an economy on nothing. Particularly when everything that is produced by the meager economy that does exist is filtered through the government coffers. In other words NONE of this anticipated influx of capital is going to reach the Cuban people. If you trade with Cuba, you trade with the government. They're significantly worse than China in that respect.

There is the prospect of offshore, deep, oil in the future. But no one is going to invest in any drilling under current oil patch economic conditions. So that leaves them with sugar (worthless under current world prices), cigars, various agricultural products, and that's about it.

There is no real silver lining in this deal beyond a marginal enrichment of the Cuban government.

Ishmael

 

[Beco]

To put a different twist on an old saw, "In front of every silver lining is a cloud."

Where is the hard currency going to come from to pay for all of this anticipated increased trade? Currently Cuba is getting almost all of it's hard currency from Venezuela (Now in serious jeopardy due to oil prices) and in return they are furnishing several thousand medical workers. Does anyone believe that we are going to allow, or even certify, Cuban medical staff to work in the US and pay the Cuban government for the privilege of doing so?

The main problem, all other issues, and there are many, aside, is that Cuba produces nothing of any significant value and they never have. And it's damn hard to build an economy on nothing. Particularly when everything that is produced by the meager economy that does exist is filtered through the government coffers. In other words NONE of this anticipated influx of capital is going to reach the Cuban people. If you trade with Cuba, you trade with the government. They're significantly worse than China in that respect.

There is the prospect of offshore, deep, oil in the future. But no one is going to invest in any drilling under current oil patch economic conditions. So that leaves them with sugar (worthless under current world prices), cigars, various agricultural products, and that's about it.

There is no real silver lining in this deal beyond a marginal enrichment of the Cuban government.

Ishmael

Like every other Island in the Caribbean, Cuba will benefit greatly from US tourism. Tourism dominates that area, even in the Cayman Islands and Bermuda, they all rely greatly on tourism and the mighty American dollar…..That alone will produce revenue and jobs both in Cuba and in the US due to increased construction of hotels, etc. to handle the added capacity to satisfy the influx of tourists. Build it and they WILL come! Count on that....especially the east coast

It doesnt hurt that Cuba has one of the most prolific oil and gas basins on the planet sitting just off its northwest coast. What a shock....this is the main reason the US did this. and I applaud this. China and Russia are thinking ahead, I am glad the US is as well. But add in Fishing, farming, sugar, and an array of small businesses that will benefit from US participation and you’ll have a thriving economy.

That said, where would the money come from? The US of course…..I’m sure we will lend them billions…

 

[jomar]

200 mph tape is faster.

So is missile tape.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Like every other Island in the Caribbean, Cuba will benefit greatly from US tourism. Tourism dominates that area, even in the Cayman Islands and Bermuda, they all rely greatly on tourism and the mighty American dollar…..That alone will produce revenue and jobs both in Cuba and in the US due to increased construction of hotels, etc. to handle the added capacity to satisfy the influx of tourists. Build it and they WILL come! Count on that....especially the east coast

It doesnt hurt that Cuba has one of the most prolific oil and gas basins on the planet sitting just off its northwest coast. What a shock....this is the main reason the US did this. and I applaud this. China and Russia are thinking ahead, I am glad the US is as well. But add in Fishing, farming, sugar, and an array of small businesses that will benefit from US participation and you’ll have a thriving economy.

That said, where would the money come from? The US of course…..I’m sure we will lend them billions…

We'll ship every available South Florida job to Cuba, too. In return we'll get cigars, rum, and cheap whores.

 

[Que]

We'll ship every available South Florida job to Cuba, too. In return we'll get cigars, rum, and cheap whores.

I may have to re-think supporting this administration.

 

[Beco]

We'll ship every available South Florida job to Cuba, too. In return we'll get cigars, rum, and cheap whores.

among other things, sure.....but this was about oil, lets be real. China and Brazil are there, with a major headstart. Its about American interests going forward. For once, Obama got it right. A bold move for sure, and I for one, so glad he did it.

America needs to be on this side of the fence, out of the Middle East, more into Asia and the Caribbean (Cuba) and Mexico.

 

[Beco]

Rubio is not a son of cuban exiles. This just prove that journalists are as dumb as Rubio.

 

[silver gurl]

http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/josh-freed-our-cuban-holiday-may-be-coming-to-an-end

 

[rosco rathbone]

It will be interesting to see how the liberalization of the Cuban economy plays out. I'm sure it will all go well, with such a large, eager population of potential sex providers, pool boys and hotel maids 90 nautical miles from our borders.

 

[Ishmael]

It will be interesting to see how the liberalization of the Cuban economy plays out. I'm sure it will all go well, with such a large, eager population of potential sex providers, pool boys and hotel maids 90 nautical miles from our borders.

At least it will be a service based economy. *chuckle*

Beco seems so certain that the oil and gas thing is going to work out. Perhaps, but no corp. I know of is going to invest in a venture that would be subject to 'nationalization' at the drop of a Che Guevara beanie.

The tourist trade will bring in some much needed hard currency, but Cuba is going to get the cut-rate tourist. The real money is going to go to other S. American, C. American destinations.

Ishmael

 

[Beco]

At least it will be a service based economy. *chuckle*

Beco seems so certain that the oil and gas thing is going to work out. Perhaps, but no corp. I know of is going to invest in a venture that would be subject to 'nationalization' at the drop of a Che Guevara beanie.

The tourist trade will bring in some much needed hard currency, but Cuba is going to get the cut-rate tourist. The real money is going to go to other S. American, C. American destinations.

Ishmael

Two hour plane ride.........you just cant beat that.

 

[Beco]

At least it will be a service based economy. *chuckle*

Beco seems so certain that the oil and gas thing is going to work out. Perhaps, but no corp. I know of is going to invest in a venture that would be subject to 'nationalization' at the drop of a Che Guevara beanie.

The tourist trade will bring in some much needed hard currency, but Cuba is going to get the cut-rate tourist. The real money is going to go to other S. American, C. American destinations.

Ishmael

We don't need the oil now, perhaps 20 years from now we still may not need it, but the policy was just so antiquated, most of the millennials probably have no clue why we have an embargo. cuba might become the hot thing for a while, but they could trail off to be just another island. It doesnt matter. I am happy Obama kept a promise, I am happy we can perhaps move on, its all just so silly. Per usual, its the people that suffer from idiotic policies of our leaders....aka, The Middle East....

I wonder if marijuana is legal there.....I'm sure its " good stuff man"

 

[Ishmael]

We don't need the oil now, perhaps 20 years from now we still may not need it, but the policy was just so antiquated, most of the millennials probably have no clue why we have an embargo. cuba might become the hot thing for a while, but they could trail off to be just another island. It doesnt matter. I am happy Obama kept a promise, I am happy we can perhaps move on, its all just so silly. Per usual, its the people that suffer from idiotic policies of our leaders....aka, The Middle East....

I wonder if marijuana is legal there.....I'm sure its " good stuff man"

I'm well aware of the time line. And there is the possibility that the Cuban government will change to one that can be trusted, remote but possible. The fact is is that there are only a few nations, and corporations, that have the technology to develop a deep water field, neither China nor Russia are one of those. And those that do remember quite well the 'nationalization' of the foreign owned refineries and wells, a process that still has not been payed for to this very day. Then there is the issue of transporting and refining said oil.

As far as moving on goes, except for some aged and dying exiles I just don't know of anyone that is looking for 'closure' re. Cuba. From the standpoint of the people it was a shit hole under Batista and it's an even bigger shit hole under the Castro Bros.

I'm just sitting back getting a *chuckle* out of watching the press and the libs tripping all over their own dicks as if this were some "We found a cure for cancer" moment. A mammoth premature ejaculation moment in time. Hell, the embargo won't end without a congressional vote, and there will be no embassy without congress appropriating the funds. And none of that will happen until the new congress sees the deal the administration brings to the table. And that deal is going to get an anal examination the likes of which has only happened on rare occasions in the past and given this administrations foreign policy track record that exam will be well deserved.

Ishmael

 

[Beco]

I'm well aware of the time line. And there is the possibility that the Cuban government will change to one that can be trusted, remote but possible. The fact is is that there are only a few nations, and corporations, that have the technology to develop a deep water field, neither China nor Russia are one of those. And those that do remember quite well the 'nationalization' of the foreign owned refineries and wells, a process that still has not been payed for to this very day. Then there is the issue of transporting and refining said oil.

As far as moving on goes, except for some aged and dying exiles I just don't know of anyone that is looking for 'closure' re. Cuba. From the standpoint of the people it was a shit hole under Batista and it's an even bigger shit hole under the Castro Bros.

I'm just sitting back getting a *chuckle* out of watching the press and the libs tripping all over their own dicks as if this were some "We found a cure for cancer" moment. A mammoth premature ejaculation moment in time. Hell, the embargo won't end without a congressional vote, and there will be no embassy without congress appropriating the funds. And none of that will happen until the new congress sees the deal the administration brings to the table. And that deal is going to get an anal examination the likes of which has only happened on rare occasions in the past and given this administrations foreign policy track record that exam will be well deserved.

Ishmael

China is everywhere that oil exists, including Cuba. They were in Africa while we were still arguing about their dictators. Also, China just put a rover on the moon, you dont think the Chinese can figure out how to get oil out of the ocean?

 

[JohnnySavage]

But what about Assada?

 

[patient1]

Return property to the Baccardi family. As it is, they can't grow enough sugar in PR to feed the distillery.

Prohibition of alcohol may be over, but marijuana is the new opportunity.
Cuba can restore itself to it's former glory, such as it was.

 

[Sean]

LOL@ the nationalisation outrage. When those companies stole from and exploited Cubans with the connivance and active participation of the bunch of gangsters running the government at the time.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

LOL@ the nationalisation outrage. When those companies stole from and exploited Cubans with the connivance and active participation of the bunch of gangsters running the government at the time.

Every government are gangsters.

 

[ms_ann_thrope]

Cuba is like our Taiwan.

 

[about_average]

LOL@ the nationalisation outrage. When those companies stole from and exploited Cubans with the connivance and active participation of the bunch of gangsters running the government at the time.

I assume you are referring to Batista. Don't forget the US government complicity.