Advisor affirms Bush's Cuba policy

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Sat, Mar. 20, 2004


Advisor affirms Bush's Cuba policy

Karl Rove, President Bush's key political strategist, wins a standing ovation when he promises a Miami audience tougher sanctions on Castro.

BY PETER WALLSTEN AND LESLEY CLARK

[email protected]


With Democrats vowing to exploit a rift between the White House and some Cuban-American leaders, President Bushs top political strategist assured Miami GOP activists Friday night that the administration is committed to economically strangling Fidel Castros government.

In a speech that seemed designed specifically to soothe long-simmering tensions, senior White House strategist Karl Rove devoted more time to Cuba than any other issue -- drawing a standing ovation from the heavily Hispanic crowd at a Miami-Dade Republican Party fundraiser.

''Have no doubt, we will remain committed,'' Rove told the crowd at the Radisson Mart Plaza Hotel and Convention Centre in west Miami-Dade County. Referring to the president, he added: ``He knows, you know, we must not waver.''

PROMISES

Rove unleashed a litany of promises to tighten the grip on Castro, saying the administration would find ''new and creative ways'' to limit the flow of money to the island, punish companies that do business there and crack down on travel.
(snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/breaking_news/8232837.htm

[TheFarseer]

1. This is so radically different from what

he said he was going to do. What happened to opening up the Cuban market for our goods? I specifically remember Bush saying that. How can anyone believe anything that comes out of his mouth?

[Lexingtonian]

2. Stupid people will invariably get lied to

That's how the Bush Administration works. They're problem is that they've lied a few too many times to people who weren't fooled and a bunch of their victims are now catching on too.

Look at Rove's audience: people who imagine that they'll get to rule Cuba once Castro dies. Of course Rove knows that once Castro dies and the country opens the big American corporations will hop in and become the de facto rulers- they were there in 1959 and remember it just as well as the Cuban immigrees, and Cuba has no political or economic power structure that can actually resist them once the Embargo is lifted. Even these people moving back (and many won't) will mean little change in the economic power clash's outcome. They're destined for puppetdom at best, demolition by the rise of Cuban democracy in the longer run.

So these people who imagine themselves to be a ruling class/government in exile are mostly delusional. Rove will tell 'em what they want to hear, they're vulnerable since they do know reality is not in their favor but are in violent denial of it. For predicately stupid people, appeal to what their stupidity demands. How else could Bush get 50 million votes together?

[Mika]

3. Cubans caught on pre 1959

"Of course Rove knows that once Castro dies and the country opens the big American corporations will hop in and become the de facto rulers..."

Well, gee.. I guess if Rove knows that, then it must be true. :eyes:



"and Cuba has no political or economic power structure that can actually resist them once the Embargo is lifted"

Well then, why not lift the embargo now IF the goal is to economically undermine Cuba? Hmmm.... unless.. there are other reasons.