US seeks to normalize relations with Cuba

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Daradon

While it was obviously very scary when it happened, there was a bit of western propaganda surrounding the event. With information that has come out since and the perspective that comes with time, I dunno if it was ever THAT close to be honest. The closest we ever came yes, but the brink, probably not.

(snip)

I don't know if you were alive then and old enough to know what was happening, but Iit was eerily close. I was in school and we had to do shelter drills where we took refuge under our desks. We were darn close. I've read a little about that period and disagree that we weren't really close.

[Vedder]

Originally Posted by Cuz

So this will be Obama's legacy?

I find it funny that people always talk about Obama's non-existent legacy, as though Obamacare doesn't count.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Vedder

I find it funny that people always talk about Obama's non-existent legacy, as though Obamacare doesn't count.

Well they're repealing it, right?

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Vedder

I find it funny that people always talk about Obama's non-existent legacy, as though Obamacare doesn't count.

[Flamenspiel]

yes, i have seen those prices here as well. A few years ago i remember buying a box of 25 Romeo y Julietta that worked out to about 6$ each(No. 4s) at the Zurich duty free. There are a of discount places in the US(factory outlets) that have the higher quality Dominicans for a fraction of what are sold for in Canada. Now if they start adding Cubans into the mix you have a whole new reason for going to Vegas!

[bizaro86]

Does this mean the Americans are giving up their claims for ownership of everything that was expropriated during the regime change?

[Displaced Flames fan]

In the end, this may be Obama's crowning achievement.

It's a big achievement.

Well done.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Isn't Obama's crowning achievement/legacy the economy? Especially considering many thought it'd be his weakest area? This is a pretty good move but preventing a depression should probably take the cake.

[Byrns]

Obama finally earned his Peace Prize.

[Vulcan]

An old school mate of mine has retired to Cuba and married a Cuban girl. He probably lives like a king over there for now.

[Thor]

Watching the morons on the right in the US flip out over this is infuriating. This has everything to do with Florida being a swing state and the bitter Cuban's who don't care about facts, that the embargo is hurting its people and not the ruling party.

Any argument for the embargo comes with, well why do you trade with China, and there is no answer they can give for that which justifies one and not the other.

Great for Obama to try this, hope its fully realized, any of us who have visited Cuba know how awesome these people are and how much of a struggle it is for them, screw these Florida Cubans living in luxury in comparison trying to stop this. For shame!

[FlameOn]

About time since Cuba hasn't been a threat for a long time. Hopefully they can finally modernize and improve the lives of regular Cubans.

Russia is becoming increasingly isolated over this.

[Barnes]

Russia just recently forgave most of Cuba's debt and signed deals for Russian companies to do some exploration work in the Gulf.

Russia is no good.

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by Barnes

Russia just recently forgave most of Cuba's debt and signed deals for Russian companies to do some exploration work in the Gulf.

Russia is no good.

It would have been better if Cuba had just kept the debt or paid it off instead of giving Russia those resource rights.

The Russian ruble will soon be worthless anyways so you might as well hold on to it and pay fractions of pennies on the ruble.

[karl262]

Originally Posted by Thor

Watching the morons on the right in the US flip out over this is infuriating. This has everything to do with Florida being a swing state and the bitter Cuban's who don't care about facts, that the embargo is hurting its people and not the ruling party.

Any argument for the embargo comes with, well why do you trade with China, and there is no answer they can give for that which justifies one and not the other.

Great for Obama to try this, hope its fully realized, any of us who have visited Cuba know how awesome these people are and how much of a struggle it is for them, screw these Florida Cubans living in luxury in comparison trying to stop this. For shame!

Hit the nail on the head right there - the embargo is Fidel and Rauls best friend. I just don't see a congress that approves to lift the embargo as long as the Castro brothers are in charge. Too much bad blood there.

[Winsor_Pilates]

I haven't been to Cuba but this will really speed up my plans to travel there. Would love to visit before it's opened up to the US.

And aside from my vacation planning, this is a very good news.

[Cheese]

First thing....visit now before it becomes Hawaii east...it will be bought by the Americans.
Tourism will boom and cost 5x what it does now. The beaches with obnoxious Americans will be less friendly to visit.
Cigars will cost 20x what they cost now.
Many Cubans will make a fortune selling their 1950s vintage cars to auto collectors...at least those in good shape.
A lot of Cubans will end up destitute due to open markets, I hope they find a way to help these people. The Peso or CUC at market rates will be much like Mexico or worse.
As much as people outside Cuba think they LOVE the Americans, that is not always true. Lots of mistrust, especially amongst the older Cubans.
There is soooooooo much more that will be both good and very bad, but I need to give it more thought and give a reasoned response.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

They aren't too bad out here in Vancouver.

I buy mine for ~20 bucks.

Then they're not very good.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

An old school mate of mine has retired to Cuba and married a Cuban girl. He probably lives like a king over there for now.

What's living like a king in Cuba? Having both salt and pepper?

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Handsome B. Wonderful

What's living like a king in Cuba? Having both salt and pepper?

With the cost of living in Cuba and his Canadian pensions, I'm sure he lives more comfortably than he would in Canada.