How about passing the free-trade agreement with Columbia.
Oh wait, Nancy Pelosi (et al) oppose that.
Posted by Bagley at May 16, 2008 03:54 PMSo-called "free trade" agreements are crap. There is no such animal as "free trade". As NAFTA has shown, they are only a means a screwing the workers in member countries.
There should be normal trade with Cuba. The Republiscum have no problem selling out to Chinese dictators who are worse than Castro. Basically, they want to make Cuba a colony again.
Posted by bernarda at May 16, 2008 05:17 PM"There is no such animal as 'free trade'."
And you also believe that the economy is a zero-sum game, right?
Posted by Bagley at May 16, 2008 05:19 PMWhat serious and sensible people want or propose is of no consequence until the Repub party is utterly smashed as a political entity. If they aren't smashed, no hope of progress. Period.
The Repubs (and allied "conservative" movement) will oppose and block any meaningful progress for America as long as they exist. It's what they exist FOR.
Posted by euzoius at May 16, 2008 06:56 PMIt's kind of no news news. Of course, one should liberalize the relationship with Cuba; it's our next door neighbor for god's sake. However, the current mindless restrictions are a result of a political process, pressure groups, posturing and inertia.
The committee work's, therefore, is pointless, old news and will trigger no change. Do they outline a plan to change the political process with respect to Cuba?
Posted by koshembos at May 17, 2008 03:36 AM"free trade" is a euphamism for "free or near as dammit, labor"
The objective of all of these trade agreements is to turn the planet into a series of sweatshops. Having driven the cost of labor into the ground, all that remains is to dispose of what remains of labor safety and wage laws and everyone can be a slave on the ole world plantation.
Soon workers all over the world can trade 12-18 hr days for a bowl of rice and a hut.
The CFR Task Force report as relates to Cuba is perfectly consistent with Obama's long-standing views as reported by the WSJ:
Clinton and Obama both "... said they were prepared to engage in vigorous diplomatic efforts to make democratic progress in the communist nation following Fidel Castro’s resignation announcement".
Unlike Clinton, Obama said he would agree to meet with Raul Castro "without preconditions".
“We now have an opportunity to substantially change the relationship between” Cuba and the U.S., Obama said, cautioning that he would have an agenda that would include the release of political prisoners and democratic reforms. He also advocated for lowering travel restrictions for Cubans here to visit their family and vice versa."
Posted by pragmaticprogressive at May 17, 2008 05:44 AM