Could Kerry, Hagel drive reboot in US-Cuba ties?

[karynnj]

2. What was clear is that Menendez will be an opponent to doing anything

I was going to say that I hope that Kerry would be able to get Menendez to see the positives for Cuba. However, I don't think Menendez actually cares what betters life in Cuba. The part of his base that he wants to keep happy is the RW anti-Castro "refugees" who have profited by the repressive policy for 50 years. (I put refugees in quotes as most of these people likely were born here and the rest should have assimilated in 50 years!)

The Republican opponent will be Rubio.

I think if Obama agrees with Kerry and Hagel, they might be lucky in their opponents. Menedez is not a particularly compelling speaker or leader. (I never saw any real excitement for him when I was a NJ resident - even among Hispanics.) I think Rubio has been over hyped and is all about politics, but he will be the more dangerous of the two. One positive signal was that tea party Senator from Arizona, Flake, brought up the issue saying we should open our policy. ( You can see the sensitivity as Menendez went into full scold mode to blast Flake for his (admittedly silly) joke of having Cuba have to endure spring break.

It would be hard to get a better team than Obama/Kerry/Hagel to get a change.