Just found out we are going to normalize relations with Cuba! Wow!

[Rex]

Been gone all day and what happens when I come back!? Obama makes history. This is awesome, I know there are a LOT of people that have been waiting for this day! This has been a long time coming, I didn't think I would live to see it! Thank you Mr. President for doing something that needed to be done for decades!

Fuck the Red Menace/McCarthy holdouts and haters.

My head is still trying to wrap itself around what just happened. A very historic moment for both American and Cuba!

[Mika]

1. Actually, we aren't. Its a very limited rapprochement.

Lots of rules remain. We're still travel banned by the US gov't. Limited trade. Limited travel. Cuba still on the terra list.

There's a long way to go - and we need congress to do that. Yikes!

[babylonsister]

2. But it's a good start and that's where we have to begin.

Finally someone did sumthin'!

[Rex]

4. You have to walk first before you can run.

This is huge and will impact the lives of millions. Of course there is a long way to go...IT JUST STARTED TODAY!

Just think, normal relations with Cuba! So needed at a time like this imo.

[Autumn]

3. Now THIS is a big fucking deal.

Long long overdue.

[Rex]

5. I'm in shock!

Finally an end to the insane McCarthy era laws against Cuba.

[malaise]

9. Not quite

Congress will have to repeal the Helms–Burton Act, but President Obama does have lots of power to make changes

[Rex]

11. Hmm...shit can we get that accomplished with so many GOPers?

Who has the actual power to normalize relationships with another country? Is it both Congress and the POTUS? We've needed to do this for decades...can we get Congress to go along!?

[malaise]

14. Helms Burton was a big mistake

POTUS has lots of power but the tourist part of it will depend on Congress

[Rex]

16. I don't think there was much that Jessie Helms touched, that did not burst into flames.

Such a horrible person. No doubt he was neck deep in Red fever. Burton is just another crazy teabagger, it is scary that such fanatics write national policy.

[calimary]

49. Helms-ANYTHING is pretty much a mistake.

He was one of those schmucks who served as a good barometer - if he was against it, it was probably something worth supporting.

[bettyellen]

6. When can we go!?!?! Hopefully by February!!

[Rex]

7. If they do away with restrictions, I will take a vacation there

it will be on the bucket list. It was stupid to leave Cold War laws in place with Cuba for so long. Now Obama can help work toward a positive relationship.

[bettyellen]

19. me too, before the rest of the USA ruins the joint!

[Hekate]

22. Good point!

[bettyellen]

24. love travelling so I can get away from everything, including Americans, LOL!

[Dr Hobbitstein]

44. So much this! n/t

[cantbeserious]

46. Look Forward To Visiting Cuba Soon

eom

[whathehell]

37. LOL..One of my first thoughts, too.

[calimary]

50. Everybody I know in the consumer cigar community is THRILLED!!!!!!

I'm pretty tickled about it myself. COME ON, America. GET OVER IT!!!!

Something else I like about this, too. This is going to put Barack Obama in the history books for yet another positive reason - and a GIANT, and rather courageous step forward.

[Electric Monk]

8. I don't think this could have happened without Pope Francis

http://time.com/3637901/pope-francis-cuba-obama/

The letter from Pope Francis “gave us greater impetus and momentum for us to move forward,” a white House official said. “Cuba was a topic of discussion that got as much attention as anything else the two of them discuss.”

[Rex]

10. Wow, thank you for the link.

I've been amazed by Pope Francis, when he called for an end to greed in the West I nearly fell out of my chair. I think Pope John Paul II is smiling from somewhere at Pope Francis.

[NightWatcher]

12. Great, now my Cuban cigars won't be as special.

Knowing they were verbotten always made them a little better than the other sticks in my humidor.

[Rex]

13. Well were they special because of flavor or the fact that it was contraband?

Kinda like beer just tastes ordinary after you turn 21.

[NightWatcher]

26. I'll still smoke em regardless of status.

I do like my Romeo Y Julieta Reserva Reals every once in a while.

But they were something even more special when you had to get them brought over by someone who knew a guy

[Rex]

35. My only experience with cigars is a bad one.

Nobody told me or my friend to roll the smoke around in our mouth. We thought they were just more powerful cigarettes. I think I puked and cried at the same time - until I could no longer find fluid in my body.

[Hekate]

15. I'm blown away. This is a fantastic development

As I said elsewhere, I feel like I just got a pony I've been waiting for since Nixon went to China.

Thanks, Santa!

[Rex]

18. That is kinda what I said in another thread...came home from work to find

an early present under the tree! Never thought I would see it in my lifetime Hekate...I am blown away by the news.

[BeyondGeography]

52. Loved it when the Prez said we normalized relations with China 35 years ago

It was a clever way of painting a little kooky corner for the dead enders who have been holding this issue hostage to Castros death/removal for so many years. Great day for the country.

[BlueJazz]

17. I could travel there if I truly wanted to but have been advised against it. I LOVE Cuba music.

Rats, would like to go.

[Rex]

20. It is on the list of places to go.

Give it time, hopefully the POTUS can build up a coalition in Congress to end the insane Red Menace embargo. We are 3 decades late in normalizing our relationship with Cuba imo.

[BlueJazz]

32. I'd probably have to go to Mexico on my US passport, then to Cuba on my Australian..

...passport but being that there's no Australian or United States consulate, I'm asking for trouble.

[Luminous Animal]

55. Mexico is very accommodating. Officials will not stamp your U.S. passport, in or out,

if you are a U.S. citizen and traveling to or from Cuba. I've several friends who have taken advantage of that largesse. I believe Canada will do similar and the Canadian Embassy represents Australians in Cuba.

[BlueJazz]

56. Cool Thanks!

[roody]

59. Cuba is very easy to visit.

[B Calm]

29. Been there two times, but

we couldn't leave the naval base. The coastline is absolutely beautiful.

[B Calm]

21. Republicans are whining because he is not acting like a lame duck, lol!

[Rex]

23. The GOP doesn't seem to know what to do about the POTUS.

He came out swinging (after Nov 4th) and landed so many shots to the GOP that they have no clue how to defend themselves...I am loving this!

And if the GOP starts to crybaby nationally, Obama can remind them that he motivated his party (against their wishes) to vote for THEIR omnibill. So either way, the GOP comes off looking like shitty spoiled brats that don't like peace.

And if we had an M$M that actually functioned, everyone would know about it.

[Hekate]

25. And that's the truth. Lame duckery will set you free!

What amazes me is not that the GOPers are whinging, but that we have a coterie of DUers who are. Yikes.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

27. We could learn something from socialists...

[Rex]

30. I totally agree.

There is nothing wrong with a country broadening it's horizons. We all benefit from a more diverse culture.

[Kalidurga]

28. Best news I have seen in a long time...

I have been saying this for as long as I can remember. The sanctions against Cuba are/were stupid. We definitely need this good PR.

[Rex]

34. Yes, the sanctions were beyond stupid and needed to be overhauled decades ago.

I needed some good news today and this is it!

[TheKentuckian]

31. Hey now! That is big news, way to go Mr. President.

[Rex]

33. Somewhere in hell, Jessie Helms and Joseph McCarthy are weeping.

All their decades of work for hate, washed down the drain.

[countryjake]

36. K&R!

[BootinUp]

38. kick

[jtuck004]

39. I suspect it will depend a bit on Cuba. They may still think we can go fuck ourselves. n/t

[Mika]

40. Thank you.

Its not as if Cubans in Cuba don't have a say in all of this.

Tonight, they're celebrating the return of the last of The Cuban Five heroes.

[Rex]

41. True but I have a feeling that they will want to normalize relationships too.

For an entire host of good reasons both socially and economically.

[sabrina 1]

42. It is good news, isn't it Rex?

[Rex]

43. Best thing I've heard in a long time sabrina 1!

Letting cold war policies against Cuba continue on is absolute madness! I just hope he can get some backing from this Congress to do the right thing.

[sabrina 1]

58. I don't think these things happen in a vacuum. I have a feeling it has been in the works for a while

and wouldn't be announced before there was certainty that it is going to happen. So I think Congress will back it, but probably they'll pretend they are 'fixing' Obama's plan and then take credit for whatever happens in the end.

[packman]

45. About friggin' time

I smoked a Cuban cigar once on a cruise and it was different-smooth, not harsh and mellow. As for the rum and those old cars still in mint condition, well we need that type of culture close by.

[TBF]

47. I've been curious as to why now -

but thrilled he is doing it. A long time coming.

And I would LOVE to visit.

[Cleita]

48. I visited Havana with my parents in 1948.

Since I was only eight years old, I don't remember much. I think it will be nice to be able to revisit sometime again and legally. It's about time this McCarthy era nonsense ended.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

51. Wow! Didn't see this coming

[neverforget]

53. Awesome isn't it?

Great job President Obama!

[ancianita]

54. I'm so happy about this! Baila! Baila! Baila!

[historylovr]

57. This is amazing news.

I hope things proceed smoothly.

[roody]

60. According to IFCO, the remaining of the Cuban 5

have been released.