How could that possibly hurt?

"conservatives" are going to be outraged over this.

I have absolutely no problem with lifting our embargo of Cuba. We've had no problems making amends with nearly all other "communist" countries. So why not make nice with Cuba?

At least we know the Cuban products aren't tainted with lead and poisons like the other Communist country we trade with that owns us.

Supposed to be awesome beaches there too. Could turn into a great vacation spot....again.

ksparrothd: Supposed to be awesome beaches there too. Could turn into a great vacation spot....again.

Not to mention their incredible growing regions. It would actually help our economy to move some of the "exotic" veggies back to Cuba where they once grew and use that land for row crop farming here.

I cannot believe I am this boring.

We'll never "defeat the commies" in Cuba with a blockade. If we're serious about bringing regime change, we need to fight this battle with Starbucks and McDonalds.

i can't think of a reasonable argument for maintaining an embargo on cuba. but then, i have a hard time with the logic for most of our latin american policies...

Should have been done ages ago.

ksparrothd: Supposed to be awesome beaches there too. Could turn into a great vacation spot....again.

It is an awesome vacation spot

Eddie Adams from Torrance: We'll never "defeat the commies" in Cuba with a blockade. If we're serious about bringing regime change, we need to fight this battle with Starbucks and McDonalds.

An external threat encourages internal cohesiveness. The policy over time has not only been ineffective, it's been self-defeating.

I have a friend that went on a Carribean cruise and came across some Cuban cigars. He's not much of a connoisseur, and when I asked him if Cubans were really all that much better he said he couldn't really tell a difference.

Anyone disagree?

Diogenes: I have a friend that went on a Carribean cruise and came across some Cuban cigars. He's not much of a connoisseur, and when I asked him if Cubans were really all that much better he said he couldn't really tell a difference.

Anyone disagree?

from what i can tell, anymore cubans aren't any better than a good dominican.

miami is gonna go apeshiat. fark 'em

thomps: from what i can tell, anymore cubans aren't any better than a good dominican.

It's the mystique...Like your wife's sister.

Diogenes: I have a friend that went on a Carribean cruise and came across some Cuban cigars. He's not much of a connoisseur, and when I asked him if Cubans were really all that much better he said he couldn't really tell a difference.

Anyone disagree?

They seem much harsher to me. I've had Cuban Cohibas, Partagas and Hoyo De Monterreys and they've all been stronger than their Dominican counterparts. Maybe I'm just getting crappy versions of the Cubans with much-more chopped up tobacco, but I don't think they're really a huge upgrade.

Diogenes: I have a friend that went on a Carribean cruise and came across some Cuban cigars. He's not much of a connoisseur, and when I asked him if Cubans were really all that much better he said he couldn't really tell a difference.

A friend of mine who is a connoisseur told me once that Cuba has ruined most of its good growing land because it over cultivated tobacco, so, yeah, a Dominican cigar is probably comparable at this point.

imagine
rational policies ??
ZOMG

plus, if he lifts them NOW, DAY ONE, by the time 2010 comes around, everyone will have "forgotten"
everyone who went to cuba for a vacation, would go, "huh"

50 years of failed policy, what will we change next?
the 28 year, complete failure of a war on drugs?

Somewhere, Bill "Spaceman" Lee is smiling.

B-b-b-but my grandpa owned a whorehouse / sweatshop / slave labor camp under Batista and I want my property back!

/the objection from Miami

(could you hand me that very very tiny violin, please?)

Bill_Wick's_Friend: B-b-b-but my grandpa owned a whorehouse / sweatshop / slave labor camp under Batista and I want my property back!

My Aunt went through something like that in Dresden after the wall came down. It was a property claim and in all honesty I don't recall how it all came out, but I can see this happening in Cuber.

Dancin_In_Anson: thomps: from what i can tell, anymore cubans aren't any better than a good dominican.

It's the mystique...Like your wife's sister.

/Well played, sir.

//Every major cigar co. moved seeds over to the Dominican Republic and other nearby islands. Climate is similar, but the soil may not be. Just like wine (or even tomatoes), soil can be vital to the flavor profile.

///Most people don't smoke enough of either to tell the difference, hence the "wife's sister" mystique is the driving force.

Dancin_In_Anson: Bill_Wick's_Friend: B-b-b-but my grandpa owned a whorehouse / sweatshop / slave labor camp under Batista and I want my property back!

My Aunt went through something like that in Dresden after the wall came down. It was a property claim and in all honesty I don't recall how it all came out, but I can see this happening in Cuber.

Yeah... those rarely if ever amount to much more than a bunch of sound and fury, because the financial claims usually get written off as null and void upon the resumption of normalized relations.

Currently the US claims that the Cuba owes exiles in the US somewhere around $6 Billion, and Cuba claims that the US owes it $70 Billion in damages done to it by the embargo. For normalized relations to move forward both sides have will have to agree to set aside their claims against the other.

Code_Archeologist: Yeah... those rarely if ever amount to much more than a bunch of sound and fury, because the financial claims usually get written off as null and void upon the resumption of normalized relations.

I'll drop her a note and see if she would be forthcoming with any info.

Cigars and rum? Sounds good to me

Code_Archeologist: Currently the US claims that the Cuba owes exiles in the US somewhere around $6 Billion, and Cuba claims that the US owes it $70 Billion in damages done to it by the embargo.

Is Cuba claiming the United States must trade with it, and to trade with third parties who also trade with Cuba? I would like to see the embargo removed, but I don't see how a desire on their part constitutes an obligation on our part.

If Cuba decided that it would not sell cigars anywhere in the Western Hemisphere, certainly it would be their right to do so without us planning an invasion under the banner of "free trade," or demanding damages.

Elizabeth: So that's it, then? That's the secret, grand adventure of the infamous Jack Sparrow. You spent three days lying on a beach drinking rum.
Jack Sparrow: Welcome to the Caribbean, love.

ksparrothd: Supposed to be awesome beaches there too. Could turn into a great vacation spot....again.

It's overrun with Europeans, I'm afraid.

Dead for Tax Reasons: miami is gonna go apeshiat. fark 'em

Farkin' banana Republicans. Let 'em vote for Bush again.

Bout time.

mmm...rum....

wrytrzcrmp: ksparrothd: Supposed to be awesome beaches there too. Could turn into a great vacation spot....again.

Not to mention their incredible growing regions. It would actually help our economy to move some of the "exotic" veggies back to Cuba where they once grew and use that land for row crop farming here.

I cannot believe I am this boring.

ilambiquated: ksparrothd: Supposed to be awesome beaches there too. Could turn into a great vacation spot....again.

It's overrun with Europeans, I'm afraid.

And Canadians.

What, no Garypdx and his Cold War wharrgarbl?

What is Fark coming to!

Dear Fark,

When you begin greenlighting headlines that claim alcohol is bad, your political bias is officially worse than da Freep.

--rum-drinking "fake" Americans

Thing hasn't worked for 50 years. What's another 4 going to seriously accomplish?

Actually the signs aren't too good that this will happen.

Undiluted: When you begin greenlighting headlines that claim alcohol is bad, your political bias is officially worse than da Freep.

*Reads headline carefully, looking for claim that alcohol is bad*

Not seeing it. Lemme doublecheck:

*reads it yet again*

Nope -- still not seeing it.

ilambiquated: It's overrun with Europeans, I'm afraid.

So not all that different than the BVIs?

lol. Obama has said nothing about lifting the embargo. And he won't. Why? It'll just cost him political capital.

You people are going to find out real quick that he's just another politician. Better than most of them, but he's not for the sweeping changes you all thought he was for. Stop projecting your ideas/thoughts onto him.

IndyMBA: I have absolutely no problem with lifting our embargo of Cuba. We've had no problems making amends with nearly all other "communist" countries. So why not make nice with Cuba?

Exactly. Add Iran to this list and we could potentially solve a lot of unnecessary problems.

Dancin_In_Anson: thomps: from what i can tell, anymore cubans aren't any better than a good dominican.

It's the mystique...Like your wife's sister.

Eeeewwwww! Obviously, you've never seen my sister-in-law!

If we lift the embargo on Cuba, does that mean we can send 'em back?

About, farking, time.

vegas robainas all around!

It may not turn the country around, but after cigars and rum you might not care.

I'm split on this.

On the one hand - I freaking despise communism. Since pretty much the rest of the world already trades with Cuba, and even we trade food with them already (they get most of their food from America), I don't really think this will be much more than a symbolic gesture, but the wrong kind.

On the other hand - the despicable Cuban regime has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they will run their country into the farking ground rather than cede any power or reform their system in a sane and civilized manner, so the "embargo" isn't really doing much anyway aside from making it marginally more difficult (though not impossible) to buy Cuban goods (protip: you can order Cuban cigars from Europe at a small premium).

So either way, as a conservative Republican I'm not going to pitch a fit.

The PoliSci in me wants to comment on how much the embargo sucks.

The cigar man in me wants to comment on that domain. Some of the best smokes I've ever had were indeed Cubans. Dominicans and Hondurans have improved vastly in the 40 years since the embargo. More investment and ever-increasing experience in their respective regions have brought them up there.

Think about Californian wines. Are the finest wines in the world still coming out of France? Sure. Have Cali wines consistently climbed in quality to a point where their bests can compete with the bests from anywhere else? Yes again. Same goes for smokes.

And think, an influx of Cubans into the US would drive down prices on really good Dominicans as Americans snatch up all the Cubans simply because of the cachet.

mongbiohazard: On the other hand - the despicable Cuban regime has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they will run their country into the farking ground rather than cede any power or reform their system in a sane and civilized manner, so the "embargo" isn't really doing much anyway aside from making it marginally more difficult (though not impossible) to buy Cuban goods (protip: you can order Cuban cigars from Europe at a small premium).

So either way, as a conservative Republican I'm not going to pitch a fit not at all troubled to suggest that you commit a felony.

Just pokin' a little fun - don't let it spoil your New Year!

mongbiohazard: protip: you can order Cuban cigars from Europe at a small premium

For a conservative Republican you don't have much respect for the law.