tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.comments2022-12-04T13:54:12.156-05:00USCubaPolitics.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-59471190814146394162014-03-10T13:30:09.794-05:002014-03-10T13:30:09.794-05:00Dear Maura, excellent points, which is why the U.S...Dear Maura, excellent points, which is why the U.S.Cuba Now Political Action Committee, www.uscubanowpac.com would like to raise $10,000 (Ten Thousand Dollars) which is the maximum contribution it can give to Rep. Kathy Castor's re-election campaign and make sure she stays in office and empowered to fight the pro-embargo hardliners who have strangled U.S. Cuba relations for far too long. We need to elect politicians who have clear positions in support of lifting the travel restrictions altogether and end the embargo. We send a clear political message when we pool our contributions under that message, the same way conversely the pro-embargo side does with its donations.<br /><br />Since Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S., Green card holders, and U.S. Citizens can contribute, all anyone has to do is visit the PAC website and make a donation of any amount up to $5000.00 If everyone who supports U.S. Cuba policy change will contribute something, there will be the resources to take this fight to the ballot box and win.USCubaPolitics.comhttp://www.uscubapolitics.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-52772689022157517972014-03-10T11:02:48.884-05:002014-03-10T11:02:48.884-05:00It's in your hands Miami voters. We have a Co...It's in your hands Miami voters. We have a Congresswoman for Tampa who has spoken out against the embargo and is very popular and will be re-elected Hon. Kathy Castor. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16665964100934347923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-88933376011225903602013-08-24T06:00:22.212-05:002013-08-24T06:00:22.212-05:00The U.S. Senate has a version of the appropriation...The U.S. Senate has a version of the appropriations bill that does not contain Mario's offensive anti-travel language. However, this does not change the political prognosis.<br /><br />The fact that there are differing bills in the House and Senate only means that there will be a House Senate Conference. While Senators Rubio and Menendez are not conferees, that does not mean they will not weigh in to remove the Senate language and keep the House language. As a member, Mario Diaz-Balart is likely to be a House conferee. They will fall on their swords to keep the offensive language. Who is going to fall on their political swords to remove it? Then there is the issue of money and the lesson that the U.S. Cuba “Democracy” PAC provides. They have contributed to other members of the Appropriations Committee over the years. So again my prognosis as to which version survives, the House or the Senate, the calculus still favors the House anti travel language. Some have argued that the White House will insist that Mario’s language be removed from the Conference Report. Respectfully, I do not believe President Obama will use his veto authority to get rid of a provision that adversely affects Cuba travel. Count on pro-embargo DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, (and Diaz Balart buddy) to ride over this issue at the White House and weigh in on the President. Again, the pro-travel side has no political capital to put up due to their negligence on political action. Votes and money folks. Only votes and money folks. The pro-embargo side shows up with theirs. The pro-travel side chooses not to show. Who is likely to win?Tony Martinezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08305818761401974560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-67021404604487833572013-02-20T06:27:48.646-05:002013-02-20T06:27:48.646-05:00Thanks for our great work !
JW in CA
Thanks for our great work !<br /><br /><br />JW in CA<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-75518673953904606032013-02-19T16:03:27.534-05:002013-02-19T16:03:27.534-05:00Anonymous, you don't know how sorry I am for a...Anonymous, you don't know how sorry I am for all the pain that Cubans have suffered through their entire history of liberation. The pain is still alive and nothing, not even apologies, will be able erase it. But be mindful that the embargo itself was devised to continue the suffering of the Cuban people, as that suffering was deemed necessary for them to rebel against their government. The embargo has been successful in one of its goals, that of continuing the cruel crushing of the Cuban people. But, contrary to what it was intended to do, it has reinforced the powers in place. It has forced this government and its population to be on a continuous war footing, with the consequences that we know for civil life on the island. This government has now 5 more years under the leadership of Raul Castro. It will continue revitalizing its image and its economy by engaging Europe, Canada, CELAC, and some countries in the Middle East. The embargo is succeeding in making the U.S. irrelevant to the Cuban reality. The U.S. government and Cuban-Americans that have refused any engagement with Cuba are losing the opportunity to have any say in the future of the island. Reach out, visit the island, engage the people who live there. You will find out that they will respond in kind. They are not your enemy. They are your own people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-6652668845165646522013-02-19T15:44:42.214-05:002013-02-19T15:44:42.214-05:00Where is it required that the United States engage...Where is it required that the United States engage in this policy when there are no free elections in Saudi Arabia, China, Bahrain, Vietnam, and other countries where we have normal relations, travel, and no embargo? <br />http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-2012<br /><br />What Castro did or did not do to the Cuban people is a matter between Cubans, not Americans. Cubans will decide when there will be political changes in their country, not us. We should not be hypocrites as a country with the rest of the world when the United Nations consistently reminds us annually to end the embargo. Is Cuba pointing missiles at or threatening the United States today? The embargo hurts everybody but Castro and is making certain people and interests rich. There is the issue of compensation for expropriated American properties. However, how can there be compensation when there is an embargo? <br /><br />While I agree with you that there should be free elections in Cuba (one party elections are not democratic) and across the globe, we have enough problems here in the United States with our own elections. How many citizens waited hours standing in line to vote in Florida and other states in the last election? We have to have the Justice Department intervene in some states under the Voting Rights Act to make sure people are allowed to vote and not discriminated against. You have to be a millionaire or raise millions of dollars to run for Congress. We have two political parties that dominate and control the political process. We have a lot of problems with our "free" elections here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-69986473243806343352013-02-19T14:35:42.337-05:002013-02-19T14:35:42.337-05:00You seem to have forgotten what Castro
did to our ...You seem to have forgotten what Castro<br />did to our people. As far as I am concerned. The Embargo should stay in place until Castro is gone and there is a free elections in Cuba.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-48821586171945501152013-01-06T18:31:20.065-05:002013-01-06T18:31:20.065-05:00When President Obama understands the historic oppo...When President Obama understands the historic opportunity for a breakthrough in U.S. Cuba relations through the resolution of the Gross, Cuban Five, and other human related issues, he may very well decide to pardon the Five. A persuasive political case can be made despite those who would rather that the Five and Gross remain imprisoned. A dramatic potential scenario of the resolution of these cases was published here on May 2, 2012, The Freedom of Alan Gross and the Cuban Five. You can view here in our Archives.Tony Martinezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08305818761401974560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-57640433465620381632013-01-06T18:16:20.920-05:002013-01-06T18:16:20.920-05:00Anonymous: They don't have a right to another ...Anonymous: They don't have a right to another trial. The judicial procedure has about run its course. This being a political case, the Supreme Court has refused to review it. All they can hope for now is a pardon, highly unlikely on the part of a president who rarely grants them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-13659151263268499342013-01-06T16:40:20.967-05:002013-01-06T16:40:20.967-05:00Rafael - why don't you actually try to obtain ...Rafael - why don't you actually try to obtain sophisticated satellite communications equipment and SIM cards whose signals block or cannot be picked up by other communications? You cannot obtain such equipment freely here in the United States. Why don't you try to bring in sophisticated satellite communications equipment into a foreign country and see how those authorities respond? Try bringing such equipment here into the U.S. without the proper clearances and I assure you the CBP will not wave you in but bring you into a room for some lengthy questioning - and good luck taking your equipment with you. As for airspace, the airspace indeed belongs to the people who are citizens of their corresponding nation anywhere on the planet. However, there are rules and regulations regarding flying aircraft. Flight plans usually have to be filed and reviewed. Think you can fly anywhere you want to? Why don't you try renting an airplane and try flying over airspace over certain areas of the United States and not ask permission? See what happens. You won't get the chance. You do your cause no good by suggesting that one does not have to follow the rules of civility, domestic, and international law.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-68980922541444668822013-01-06T16:10:25.968-05:002013-01-06T16:10:25.968-05:00 As a Cuban citizen living in the U.S. I can cross... As a Cuban citizen living in the U.S. I can cross the border into your country with “sophisticated satellite equipment and spy SIM cards” tell Canadian customs that I’m bringing in such equipment in order to “liberize” Canada and you know what I would get from them? A laugh, yes a laugh and a “go ahead” and that is because a free country doesn’t need or fear such “sophisticated” equipment. <br />Only a totalitarian dictatorship fears a fax machine and free expression, and as for you other point about Brother to the Rescue violating Cuban air space, as a Cuban, the air space over my country belongs to all Cubans, I don’t need nor should any Cuban have to ask permission to fly over the air than rightly belongs to us!<br />Rafaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03005990702628113676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-22923937373811714312013-01-06T09:59:12.055-05:002013-01-06T09:59:12.055-05:00.....anonymuos ....they stil have the rigth t........anonymuos ....they stil have the rigth to another trial unlike the cubans imprison by politocal police in cubaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-14725390019960987682013-01-05T18:54:02.732-05:002013-01-05T18:54:02.732-05:00This is a fair and thorough review of the events t...This is a fair and thorough review of the events that led to the imprisonment of the Cuban Five. For readers still questioning the accuracy of this letter, please read Amnesty International report, which clearly shows how irregular the trial of the five Cubans was: http://amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR51/093/2010/en/37243f8f-e69f-465a-adcc-902be3e5301c/amr510932010en.html#2.3.Ban%20on%20visits%20with%20wives%20of%20two%20of%20the%20prisoners|outlineAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-55191570360145509152012-12-21T18:18:35.691-05:002012-12-21T18:18:35.691-05:00you always speak so candidly and make coherent and...you always speak so candidly and make coherent and salient contributions to what is sadly a sideshow of international rhetoric on a subject so close to my heart. great job, Tony.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-49007488382039238702012-12-13T10:37:14.498-05:002012-12-13T10:37:14.498-05:00Tony, nice article but the four obstacles are a sm...Tony, nice article but the four obstacles are a smoke screen to hide the real issue. The US cannot afford to have a free and sovereign nation such as Cuba. As dated and tired as it may sound, the real obstacle is only one; Imperial Power. History demonstrates that the US continues to behave as an imperial power throughout the world, where the law is what the US wants it to be and the reality is what the US says it is and manufactures it through the extensive media control. Examples abound as the "Spanish American War" and "Yellow Journalism" through the numerous interventions including recently in Honduras, to the so called war on "terror" , to ignoring international law and the continuing war against Cuba, and other governments especially in Latin America. The four obstacles mentioned in the article could be overcome by the willingness of our government to desist such needless policies conducted under the guise of democracy and national security. It is precisely our national security that is threatened and weaken by violating our own principles of fairness and freedom.<br />Milton Sanchez-ParodiAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-9227876519129957272012-12-07T15:51:28.908-05:002012-12-07T15:51:28.908-05:00the cuban people are wonderful, friendly and resou...the cuban people are wonderful, friendly and resourceful. i have married my wife and am so in love with her due to her strength of character, abilities and her loyalty to me.<br />al of her family are good people who suffer from the lack of oppurtunity imposed by the USA in blocking investemnt and would be more than happy with a more friendly face to the USA where many relatives are,.. OBAMA get rid of this stain on your country now.michael basnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-21039732141515803822012-12-05T12:39:13.248-05:002012-12-05T12:39:13.248-05:00Please consider signing/sharing this petition to t...Please consider signing/sharing this petition to the White House for a new level-headed approach to obtaining the release of Alan Gross and relations with Cuba. We need 150 signatures for the petition to be published. Thank you. Nick http://wh.gov/5BqMNicohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18411611012967408016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-64923226792252202912012-11-14T10:44:48.294-05:002012-11-14T10:44:48.294-05:00It will require an Act of Congress to lift the tra...It will require an Act of Congress to lift the travel ban to Cuba. It will require an Act of Congress to end the embargo. So where do you think the majority of your political efforts must go?Tony Martinezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08305818761401974560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-67879704007582739302012-11-14T10:43:15.415-05:002012-11-14T10:43:15.415-05:00While we do not want to discourage political activ...While we do not want to discourage political activity, it is important to understand that signing a petition is the least impactful way to get an elected official's attention.What is required by Cuban-American moderates and other Americans who favor normalization and travel for all is to a take a page from the opposition's political activities -raising money and being a cohesive voting bloc. Political money must be raised and contributed to a PAC that will support electing candidates in favor of travel and ending the embargo; and second - those Cuban-American moderates need to coalesce into a tangible voting bloc, not the amorphous Cuban American vote that voted for President Obama when it is still not clear why they gave their votes to President Obama and where U.S. Cuba policy fit into that calculus. Remember Governor Romney still got the majority of the Cuban American vote - 52 to 48 for President Obama.Tony Martinezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08305818761401974560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-28640794277666769392012-11-14T10:31:13.936-05:002012-11-14T10:31:13.936-05:00Now is the time for we Cuban-Americans who favor t...Now is the time for we Cuban-Americans who favor the normalization of relations with the island to get more politically active. You can start by signing this petition to end the travel ban for all Americans to visit Cuba. http://wh.gov/XCyRDanielnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-80962687781799088342012-09-18T19:49:09.596-05:002012-09-18T19:49:09.596-05:00It is terrible that President Obama is stalling on...It is terrible that President Obama is stalling on the renewal of people-to-people licenses for some US travel agencies. Media reports on this situation have caused enormous confusion. Most people think that legal Cuba travel for Americans has ended. This is not the case. Many licenses remain available.<br /><br />It's still ok for Americans to go to Cuba with a license. Cuba travel for Americans hasn't been cancelled or banned. Despite delays by Washington in re-issuing licenses to some US travel agencies, you can still visit Cuba legally now with many other Cuba travel agencies and license options. Find out at LegalCubaTravel.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03211669268893365363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-1156574433004458172012-09-18T19:48:48.438-05:002012-09-18T19:48:48.438-05:00It is terrible that President Obama is stalling on...It is terrible that President Obama is stalling on the renewal of people-to-people licenses for some US travel agencies. Media reports on this situation have caused enormous confusion. Most people think that legal Cuba travel for Americans has ended. This is not the case. Many licenses remain available.<br /><br />It's still ok for Americans to go to Cuba with a license. Cuba travel for Americans hasn't been cancelled or banned. Despite delays by Washington in re-issuing licenses to some US travel agencies, you can still visit Cuba legally now with many other Cuba travel agencies and license options. Find out at LegalCubaTravel.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03211669268893365363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-37739698983644681502012-06-06T19:05:20.241-05:002012-06-06T19:05:20.241-05:00For our readers, a copy of the complaint filed in ...For our readers, a copy of the complaint filed in Federal Court against the State of Florida is available for reading or downloading at:<br /><br />http://www.scribd.com/doc/96225583/Amended-Complaint-Odebrecht-Construction-vs-Prasad-State-of-Florida-Dept-of-Transportation<br /><br />and for those with Facebook - visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/uscubablog and LIKE. ThanksTony Martinezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08305818761401974560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-660626385452585892012-06-05T19:40:04.720-05:002012-06-05T19:40:04.720-05:00As predicted, Odebrecht filed a lawsuit challengin...As predicted, Odebrecht filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Florida House Bill 959. <br /><br />http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/04/2832880/odebrecht-sues-florida-over-new.html<br /><br />We believe the law will be declared unconstitutional for reasons already discussed. It is unfortunate the Florida taxpayer will be footing the bill defending another stupid law which should have never been enacted in the first place. Even more poetic, the lead counsel for Odebrecht is Raoul Cantero, former Florida Supreme Court Justice, and the grandson of the late Cuban dictator, Fulgencio Batista...May the U.S. Constitution prevail.Tony Martinezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08305818761401974560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3227748558915477890.post-86405363519188034772012-05-02T12:59:43.841-05:002012-05-02T12:59:43.841-05:00A creative approach should the White House feel li...A creative approach should the White House feel like being creative.<br /><br />Interesting to speculate whether the return of Americans who have sought asylum in Cuba would tip the scales or ever be contemplated in Havana, at least as long as Fidel Castro is alive.<br /><br />Maybe if the return of Posada Cariles to Venezuela or Panama were added to the scale by the US....<br /><br />John McAuliff<br />Fund for Reconciliation and DevelopmentJohn McAuliffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com