Since no one else can see it yet, allow me.

It's because he's setting himself up to be Romney's running mate ... And he will be the next vice-president when he and Romney beat out Obama/Biden.

Mrtraveler01: Headso: Although if the great minds at the GOP think the contest will come down to Florida as it did in 2000 the Cuban pandering could win them the election. Although the majority of Cubans have always been republican, if you look at the Florida numbers only like 16% are democrats. Although.... what ended up deciding FL in 2000 for vote totals?

Old rich white people in Palm Beach County?

/Throw in the Jews for extra measure. :P

They have had a constant campaign of "Obama hates Israel", all signs seem to be pointing to them believing Florida will be very important in this election.

Mrtraveler01: Headso: Don't Cubans ride here over on rafts and get to stay and Mexicans that do the same thing are called illegals by those same Cubans? Not sure that Rubio is going to lock up the Hispanic vote like the GOPers think.

Oh absolutely not. Almost every Latino who isn't Cuban votes different from Cubans.

In other words, they vote Democrat. The main reason the GOP still has a lock on the Cuban-American bloc is because they still support the Cuban embargo even though it's been proven to be a failure.

I'm curious why they still support the embargo. It's obvious after all this time that it hasn't resulted in anything positive. Also, I would think that the Cubans living in the US would likely still have friends and family in Cuba, who would probably be better off if the embargo was lifted. I just don't really get why supporters of the embargo in general still think it's necessary. Anyone care to enlighten me?

"American Son" didn't work out so well for the last guy IIRC


/Titles like that make my patriotesticles tingly
//Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.-Mark Twain

NeoCortex42: Mrtraveler01: Headso: Don't Cubans ride here over on rafts and get to stay and Mexicans that do the same thing are called illegals by those same Cubans? Not sure that Rubio is going to lock up the Hispanic vote like the GOPers think.

Oh absolutely not. Almost every Latino who isn't Cuban votes different from Cubans.

In other words, they vote Democrat. The main reason the GOP still has a lock on the Cuban-American bloc is because they still support the Cuban embargo even though it's been proven to be a failure.

I'm curious why they still support the embargo. It's obvious after all this time that it hasn't resulted in anything positive. Also, I would think that the Cubans living in the US would likely still have friends and family in Cuba, who would probably be better off if the embargo was lifted. I just don't really get why supporters of the embargo in general still think it's necessary. Anyone care to enlighten me?

They can actually send money to their own relatives that still live there. It is permitted under the embargo. The collapsed economy means you really only have to send them $100 or so a month to provide about 3 times when anyone else is making.
//Just a guess

Oh man, yeah, give him the nod, GOP. A non-natural born citizen as the VP choice...heads asploding cognitive dissonance EVERYWHERE!

NeoCortex42: Mrtraveler01: Headso: Don't Cubans ride here over on rafts and get to stay and Mexicans that do the same thing are called illegals by those same Cubans? Not sure that Rubio is going to lock up the Hispanic vote like the GOPers think.

Oh absolutely not. Almost every Latino who isn't Cuban votes different from Cubans.

In other words, they vote Democrat. The main reason the GOP still has a lock on the Cuban-American bloc is because they still support the Cuban embargo even though it's been proven to be a failure.

I'm curious why they still support the embargo. It's obvious after all this time that it hasn't resulted in anything positive. Also, I would think that the Cubans living in the US would likely still have friends and family in Cuba, who would probably be better off if the embargo was lifted. I just don't really get why supporters of the embargo in general still think it's necessary. Anyone care to enlighten me?

Castro wants the embargo ended, therefore Florida Cubans want to keep it. If Castro had better troll fu, he'd make speeches about how awesome the embargo has been in preserving Cuban socialism.

Headso: vpb: Thunderpipes: Outrageous Muff: Right, because if there is someone the republican base will work tirelessly for it's a Cuban who may or may not have been an "anchor baby". I love that the GOP has no idea what people think, in 2008 it was "We should get a woman because having a vagina on the ticket will make every woman vote for us." And in 2012 it's "We should get a Hispanic because having a Cuban on the ticket will want to make all the Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, Dominicans, and South Americans vote for us."

Worked for Obama didn't it? Between the sheep following and white guilt, he would have had to try to lose.

And the really really sucky alternative.

And the whole we just suffered through 8 years of a republican thing..

And the smartly run campaign, the tremendous oratory skills, the indescribable charisma, the policy stances that resonated with the cultural zeitgeist, the not picking a VP candidate who can be most charitably described as willfully ignorant...

vpb: If you say "Estadounidense" to the average Mexican they will look at you like you have two heads.

Besides, the actual name of the country called Mexico is "Los Estados Unidos Mexicanos". Any Mexican can claim to be from the United States and it will be literally true. They are from the United Mexican States.

"Estadounidense" is also commonly used in Latin America. It's easily found in formal speech as the term for U.S. nationality or origin in press and TV, Even in Spanish-language TV in the U.S.

BTW, Mexico =/= Latin America.

THX 1138: VernonFL: That is interesting, since while most people in the USA think that we are the only "Americans", most everyone else would say "NorteAmericanos" or "EstadoUnidense" to mean "USA American"

"Un hijo Americano" doesn't really mean "a son of the USA", it means "a son of America (the continent, not the country)

Yeah, it's interesting how non-English speakers use that term so differently than we do. I was in a taxi in Belgium once and the driver asked where I was from. I said Canada and he said "Really? I'm also American! I'm from Brazil!"

/it made sense, but it was unexpected.

I got my butt reamed on facebook for pointing this out -- ironically it made me 'unamerican' and 'a traitor to your country that pisses on the flag' -- comments that I wasn't supposed to take umbrage at either.

phyrkrakr: factoryconnection: The VP debate is pleasant theater, but having seen the Quayle/Bentsen and Palin/Biden debates the nights they happened... how much can we possibly believe that the outcome has any bearing on the general election?

Yeah, but they did lead to this, though:

[i2.kym-cdn.com image 556x992]

Truly epic thread.


This Biden/Palin meme about the BBQ won the Internet

fortheloveof: I got my butt reamed on facebook for pointing this out -- ironically it made me 'unamerican' and 'a traitor to your country that pisses on the flag' -- comments that I wasn't supposed to take umbrage at either.

Your facebooks need cleaning.

Either that or I really need to find more diverse friends.

mbillips: NeoCortex42: Mrtraveler01: Headso: Don't Cubans ride here over on rafts and get to stay and Mexicans that do the same thing are called illegals by those same Cubans? Not sure that Rubio is going to lock up the Hispanic vote like the GOPers think.

Oh absolutely not. Almost every Latino who isn't Cuban votes different from Cubans.

In other words, they vote Democrat. The main reason the GOP still has a lock on the Cuban-American bloc is because they still support the Cuban embargo even though it's been proven to be a failure.

I'm curious why they still support the embargo. It's obvious after all this time that it hasn't resulted in anything positive. Also, I would think that the Cubans living in the US would likely still have friends and family in Cuba, who would probably be better off if the embargo was lifted. I just don't really get why supporters of the embargo in general still think it's necessary. Anyone care to enlighten me?

Castro wants the embargo ended, therefore Florida Cubans want to keep it. If Castro had better troll fu, he'd make speeches about how awesome the embargo has been in preserving Cuban socialism.

That makes a lot of sense, but I'm curious what their actual justification of it is. Do they think the embargo will eventually get the government to say "okay, now we'll be democratic" and it's only a matter of time before it works? I just never really understood the logic of having the embargo in effect all this time.

"An American Son"?

Guess "Not an Anchor Baby" was already taken or something.

Rubio still thinks he's on the short list for Veep?

He prolly is but he won't make the final cut.

For three reasons.

First, he's a former Mormon. The "1 and 1/2 Mormon Men" scenario won't play out in the notches of the bible belt the GOP need to turn up to win this election.

Second, while the GOP truly needs Florida's electoral votes to make a decent showing Rubio's missteps in retelling his tale different ways will come back to haunt him in a real campaign and the GOP should know this by now.

Third, residual racist sentiment in the GOP will see a Hispanic Veep in a race against a Black POTUS as a wash and this will lead lower turn out.

It will be Rand Paul.

For the youth vote his father's cult still has in thrall, for the pseudo libertarians he brings and because he's the closest thing to a southern good old boy the GOP has that they can still bring into the light of public scrutiny.

Book it.

Gives us that much longer to talk about the Blunt-Rubio amendment.

quatchi: "An American Son"?

It will be Rand Paul.

For the youth vote his father's cult still has in thrall, for the pseudo libertarians he brings and because he's the closest thing to a southern good old boy the GOP has that they can still bring into the light of public scrutiny.

Book it.

That would be awesome. The more teabaggy the Republicans get, the less appeal they have nationally.

How many copies is WND going to purchase to force it onto the best seller list and then include as free gifts for signing up with them?

Rand Paul is an interesting choice, but I think it will be a social conservative. Huckabee would be the most electable, but I think Santorum might force his way on the ticket instead.

mbillips: That would be awesome. The more teabaggy the Republicans get, the less appeal they have nationally.

Agreed. [okaywiththis]

Mrtraveler01: Headso: Don't Cubans ride here over on rafts and get to stay and Mexicans that do the same thing are called illegals by those same Cubans? Not sure that Rubio is going to lock up the Hispanic vote like the GOPers think.

Oh absolutely not. Almost every Latino who isn't Cuban votes different from Cubans.

In other words, they vote Democrat. The main reason the GOP still has a lock on the Cuban-American bloc is because they still support the Cuban embargo even though it's been proven to be a failure.

My gay Cuban friend votes Republican, and only because of Cuba. I told him he was a farking moron.

Geotpf: Rand Paul is an interesting choice, but I think it will be a social conservative. Huckabee would be the most electable, but I think Santorum might force his way on the ticket instead.

farkabee is NOT electable once you know that he is a Dominionist, he just hides it better than assjuice.

what_now


Do it, GOP. Pick someone who's been in politics for a week and a half to debate Joe Biden. Good luck with that.


I give you a 2.0 on troll meter, but I plagiarized that

quatchi: "An American Son"?

Third, residual racist sentiment in the GOP will see a Hispanic Veep in a race against a Black POTUS as a wash and this will lead lower turn out.


Oh but have you seen Rubio? He's pretty much a "white" Hispanic from Spain (or other European ancestry). This guy's ancestors killed more Indigenous people and enslaved more black people than the most racist white American could even dream of. Stop pitying us, we're bad people too.

Janusdog: Geotpf: Rand Paul is an interesting choice, but I think it will be a social conservative. Huckabee would be the most electable, but I think Santorum might force his way on the ticket instead.

farkabee is NOT electable once you know that he is a Dominionist, he just hides it better than assjuice.

The fact that he hides it better is exactly what makes him more electable. I agree that their policy positions are quite similar (and scary).

Headso

They have had a constant campaign of "Obama hates Israel",


You are wrong, GOP has no campaign about Obama hating Israel.

It is Obama who is waging that campaign to appeal to his base.

Geotpf: Janusdog: Geotpf: Rand Paul is an interesting choice, but I think it will be a social conservative. Huckabee would be the most electable, but I think Santorum might force his way on the ticket instead.

farkabee is NOT electable once you know that he is a Dominionist, he just hides it better than assjuice.

The fact that he hides it better is exactly what makes him more electable. I agree that their policy positions are quite similar (and scary).

Well, I guess in the same way that Satan can look pretty.

Buffalo77: Headso

They have had a constant campaign of "Obama hates Israel",


You are wrong, GOP has no campaign about Obama hating Israel.

It is Obama who is waging that campaign to appeal to his base.

"President Obama spoke about his ironclad commitment to Israel's security. He rightly said that our security cooperation is unprecedented... And he has backed those words with deeds."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, May 23, 2011.

"Once again it's been proven to all the doubters, President Obama is an ally and friend of Israel. The Obama administration gives backing to Israel's security in a wide, all-encompassing and unprecedented manner."
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, September 21, 2011.

But what would those guys know, compared to true Israeli patriots like Fox & Friends?

Buffalo77: Headso

They have had a constant campaign of "Obama hates Israel",


You are wrong, GOP has no campaign about Obama hating Israel.

It is Obama who is waging that campaign to appeal to his base.

They did try, though. But the bottom line is the younger generation of Jewish voters is getting sick of Israel's shiat too.

I think Rubio would be a great VP.

On the other hand, long before most people had heard of Palin, I thought (based on her record) that she would make a great VP.

I'm just hoping the decision will be made by adults this time.

Outrageous Muff: Thunderpipes: Worked for Obama didn't it? Between the sheep following and white guilt, he would have had to try to lose.

What are you doing here? Are both Free Republican AND Stromfront down?

Heh. Nice typo...

Says right there in TFA, subby:

--Rubio is racing a more critical version, "The Rise of Marco Rubio," by WashPost's Manuel Roig-Franzia, edited by Simon & Schuster's Priscilla Painton, scheduled for release July 3.

Headso: Although if the great minds at the GOP think the contest will come down to Florida as it did in 2000 the Cuban pandering could win them the election. Although the majority of Cubans have always been republican, if you look at the Florida numbers only like 16% are democrats. Although.... what ended up deciding FL in 2000 for vote totals?

The Supreme Court?

Eternal Virgin: quatchi: "Third, residual racist sentiment in the GOP will see a Hispanic Veep in a race against a Black POTUS as a wash and this will lead lower turn out.

Oh but have you seen Rubio? He's pretty much a "white" Hispanic from Spain (or other European ancestry). This guy's ancestors killed more Indigenous people and enslaved more black people than the most racist white American could even dream of. Stop pitying us, we're bad people too.

Rubio can pass? That counts in some quarters no doubt but in others just his name and his self identification alone will turn him into Ricky Ricardo in their wee minds.

/Wanders off to listen to a decent boot of Neil Young doing Cortez the Killer (popzmuzik)

Who?

Mrtraveler01: Headso: Don't Cubans ride here over on rafts and get to stay and Mexicans that do the same thing are called illegals by those same Cubans? Not sure that Rubio is going to lock up the Hispanic vote like the GOPers think.

Oh absolutely not. Almost every Latino who isn't Cuban votes different from Cubans.

In other words, they vote Democrat. The main reason the GOP still has a lock on the Cuban-American bloc is because they still support the Cuban embargo even though it's been proven to be a failure.

most hispanics I know (brother in law and family) are very socially conservative and racist, but are mostly union members. several of them don't speak English.

most of them didn't bother voting in 2008; they lost interest after Guliani dropped out.

NeoCortex42: Mrtraveler01: Headso: Don't Cubans ride here over on rafts and get to stay and Mexicans that do the same thing are called illegals by those same Cubans? Not sure that Rubio is going to lock up the Hispanic vote like the GOPers think.

Oh absolutely not. Almost every Latino who isn't Cuban votes different from Cubans.

In other words, they vote Democrat. The main reason the GOP still has a lock on the Cuban-American bloc is because they still support the Cuban embargo even though it's been proven to be a failure.

I'm curious why they still support the embargo. It's obvious after all this time that it hasn't resulted in anything positive. Also, I would think that the Cubans living in the US would likely still have friends and family in Cuba, who would probably be better off if the embargo was lifted. I just don't really get why supporters of the embargo in general still think it's necessary. Anyone care to enlighten me?

I've been to Cuba on vacation several times. I've also been to Mexico. I've seen the differences between the two countries with my own eyes.

I think the reason for the continued embargo is less to bring about the fall of the Communist Party in Cuba than to blunt the effectiveness of their rule. If Cuban-style socialism succeeded, then the rest of Latin America may tell Chiquita and Dole and the other multinational corporations to get stuffed and implement similar policies.

For example: Cuba is a poor third-world country. But there isn't the huge income inequality like in the rest of Latin America. My friends and I feel much more safe walking the streets in Cuba than in Mexico. They have universal education up to high school and free university education for any Cuban who can pass the entrance exams. They are poor but there isn't the desperation and street crime that third-world poverty elsewhere causes.

If the embargo was lifted, Cuba would become richer. They could sell their delicious rum in America, and export their cigars and sugar there. Americans would visit their resorts and spend their dollars in Havana and Varadero and Holguin. The Cuban economy would improve. And that might send the message to the rest of Latin America that it's okay to be socialist. And American tourists who go there expecting some kind of Stalinist police state would have their eyes opened.

Minus1Kelvin: Oh man, yeah, give him the nod, GOP. A non-natural born citizen as the VP choice...heads asploding cognitive dissonance EVERYWHERE!

You are selling the power of doublethink short. These people are more than capable of simultaneously believing that native-born Barack Obama is not a "natural born citizen", but that foreign born McCain, Romney, and Rubio are.

Farker Soze: Where birf certifcat wher?

Leave Hillary Clinton and the rest of the Dems that starting this birther crap alone. They got schooled on it by the rest of us. It's time to move on. People are aloud to make mistakes as long as they learn from them.

ABQGOD: vernonFL: "Un Hijo Americano."

That is interesting, since while most people in the USA think that we are the only "Americans", most everyone else would say "NorteAmericanos" or "EstadoUnidense" to mean "USA American"

"Un hijo Americano" doesn't really mean "a son of the USA", it means "a son of America (the continent, not the country)


/Then again, its been awhile since I've taken 11th grade Spanish, so I could be wrong.

"Un hijo Americano" means "An American son." "A son of America" would be "Un hijo de America" - subtle semantic difference, but I think it matters.

It doesn't, really. It is semantically different but it makes no difference in practice. For a great deal of Latin American countries (full disclosure: personal experience limited to Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Colombia, Peru, Chile and Brazil which is a wee bit different but bear with me) "America" is used to refer to the continent. Uses of "Americas" are generally restricted to literary contexts (poetry, songs, etc). If you ask any Latin American which continent s/he lives in they will almost certainly answer "America", not "Latin America" or "Central America" or "South America".

"Americans" used to be formally referred to as "Estadounidenses". I've observed a shift from that to "Americanos" in the last 10 or so years (I'm in my late twenties so grain of salt and all that) mostly, I think, from the number of migrants travelling back to their home countries after years living in the US. Mainstream Media seems to contribute as well. You wouldn't believe the amount of US media consumed all over the place.

/been in Mexico since '09

Brokenseas: NeoCortex42: Mrtraveler01: Headso:

For example: Cuba is a poor third-world country. But there isn't the huge income inequality like in the rest of Latin America. My friends and I feel much more safe walking the streets in Cuba than in Mexico. They have universal education up to high school and free university education for any Cuban who can pass the entrance exams. They are poor but there isn't the desperation and street crime that third-world poverty elsewhere causes.

If the embargo was lifted, Cuba would become richer. They could sell their delicious rum in America, and export their ci ...

Don't know about Cuba but I've been to some seriously hellish places in Mexico and in Central America.

/only been robbed at gunpoint in Mexico once so yay, good luck! >_>
//also asked if I wanted to buy a revolver one night as I was walking home. Supposedly safe neighborhood /had been living in Scandinavia for a couple of years before that. Bit hard to adjust.

Buffalo77: Headso

They have had a constant campaign of "Obama hates Israel",


You are wrong, GOP has no campaign about Obama hating Israel.

It is Obama who is waging that campaign to appeal to his base.

I'll tailor my comment for the derpers out there... Fartbongo is trying to gas the jews in Israel all day everyday but the reason that the GOP is bringing this issue up to the real merkins like you is that they know FL has a relatively high elderly Jewish population and they could help swing the vote.

Brokenseas:
I think the reason for the continued embargo is less to bring about the fall of the Communist Party in Cuba than to blunt the effectiveness of their rule. If Cuban-style socialism succeeded, then the rest of Latin America may tell Chiquita and Dole and the other multinational corporations to get stuffed and implement similar policies.

For example: Cuba is a poor third-world country. But there isn't the huge income inequality like in the rest of Latin America. My friends and I feel much more safe walking the streets in Cuba than in Mexico. They have universal education up to high school and free university education for any Cuban who can pass the entrance exams. They are poor but there isn't the desperation and street crime that third-world poverty elsewhere causes.

If the embargo was lifted, Cuba would become richer. They could sell their delicious rum in America, and export their ci ...

I hadn't considered that angle. That at least makes some logical sense.

Benjimin_Dover: Farker Soze: Where birf certifcat wher?

Leave Hillary Clinton and the rest of the Dems that starting this birther crap alone. They got schooled on it by the rest of us. It's time to move on. People are aloud to make mistakes as long as they learn from them.

Heh nice try son.