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Minstrel Boy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-04 12:06 PM
Original message
Cuba and Venezuela slam US Free Trade Area of the Americas
Cuba and Venezuela slam US Free Trade Area of the Americas

Dec 15

In a new bid to challenge the US backed Free Trade Area of the Americas, Cuban President Fidel Castro and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced in Havana an alternative bloc for the region based in mutual cooperation among states rather than in pure pro-market policies. Naming the new pact the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), the presidents said it would eliminate trade barriers and tax obstacles, provide incentives for investment, increase banking relations and tourism cooperation.

...

Castro said the alternative was conceived as "a battle fought with the same rules and regulations as those imposed by the empire to divide the people". In turn, Mr. Chavez addressing a crowd in Cuba's Capital remarked that the ALBA "is an alternative to the perverse FTAA, which they have been trying to impose on us for years," Chavez said. "FTAA is dead."

...

At the time Chavez and Castro were holding bilateral talks to increase cooperation --Venezuela currently provides Cuba with 53,000 barrels of oil a day at preferential prices, while Cuba has 13,000 doctors in Venezuela, is helping the country stamp out illiteracy and has treated thousands of Venezuelans in its hospitals -- the US administration began expressing concern over Chavez' new domestic policies, which threat, according to Washington, civil freedom.

On other issues, Venezuela promised financing for Cuban industrial and infrastructure projects, while Cuba agreed to pay a minimum price of US$27 per barrel of Venezuelan oil, as part of the accord "to apply the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas."

http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=23963

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chenGOD Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-04 12:12 PM
Response to Original message
1. Watch for Iraq to declare Venezuela the enemy soon...
Those damned people, taking care of each other like that. It's almost humane or something....
/sarcasm.

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BayCityProgressive Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-04 12:34 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. China is also building a nickle industry for Cuba
and Cuba will be able to keep 49% of the profit without having to invest a thing. I wouldn't be surprised if Venezuela gives Cuba their old fighter planes now that they have bought better from Russia. At one time I thought the socialist government in Cuba would fall after Castro's death but that isn't so certain a thing anymore. Their country is growing fast and gaining friends, I think the USA will have a tough time of getting their grubby hands on Cuba.
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-04 12:45 PM
Response to Reply #2
4. If Cuba had a truly progressive government, why has the same
dude been in power for 5 decades...

Just so you know, I am Cubano (full disclosure).
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wuushew Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-04 02:39 PM
Response to Reply #4
12. Perhaps the same reason Washington ran unopposed
Father of his country or something similar.
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-04 03:16 PM
Response to Reply #12
14. Don't go there because you have no idea what you are talking about..
did Washington stay in power for more than two terms?

How many dissidents did he murder?

How many people who weren't dissidents, who he thought were dissidents, did he murder?

Are you Cuban?
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Mika Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 10:35 PM
Response to Reply #14
100. Good question - for another thread
Go start your own thread documenting Castro's crimes.

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0007 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 10:35 AM
Response to Reply #12
25. ...like American is the father of the World Series with only
America teams playing.
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w4rma Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-04 03:40 PM
Response to Reply #4
16. It's not. But, it's ALOT better than the government Castro overthrew.
ALOT better. 100x better. And that government was supported by the big corps and it's the type of government that the big corps would like to replace Castro with.

I think Castro needs to, heavily, make sure that things in Cuba will work out okay after he is gone. I think that the best start would be for him to drop out of some upcomming elections and set in motion a true democracy at the top while he's still around to prod it.
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-04 03:45 PM
Response to Reply #16
17. It is illegitimate to defend a disctator by stating the regime
he replaced was "worse." Batista sucked. But must be joking to state that Castro might give democracy a chance. That is laughable.

Castro thinks of himself as The Revolution. Without him, there isn't one. Without him, there is no Cuba.

Why do you think my people are literally killing themselves to leave that country? It isn't because we love the US (don't get me wrong, I think of the US as my country, not Cuba). He is killing us.

I don't like the embargo because it hurts ordinary Cubans.

But understand this, Castro is a murderer. Period. He will never leave office until he is dead or too sick to defend his position.
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bemildred Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-04 12:42 PM
Response to Original message
3. (al Jazeera) Castro, Chavez defy US trade pact
The Bushite losers keep their streak of foreign policy fuckups alive.

Cuban President Fidel Castro and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez have announced an alternative trade bloc to the one proposed by the US for a free-trade area of the Americas.

The alternative was conceived as "a battle fought with the same rules and regulations as those imposed by the empire to divide the people", Castro said on Tuesday.


---

FTAA dead

Before the signing of the agreement, Castro and Chavez addressed a rally in Havana where both presidents declared the US-proposed Latin American Free Trade Zone dead.

Chavez has long accused the US
of plotting against him

"It is an alternative to the perverse FTAA, which they have been trying to impose on us for years," Chavez said. "FTAA is dead."

al Jazeera
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Just Me Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-04 12:46 PM
Response to Original message
5. Figures Cuba and Venezuela would be the ones to create a compassionate
Edited on Wed Dec-15-04 12:47 PM by Just Me
economic policy. Of course, this'll piss off the corporatists and both Castro and Chavez will be firmly placed within the "axis of evil".
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-04 12:47 PM
Response to Reply #5
6. Yeah, that Castro is so compasionate. He is a true humanitarian.
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BayCityProgressive Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-04 12:53 PM
Response to Reply #6
7. I'm not trying to be rude
and I really don't know much about the inner workings of the Cuban government, but have you ever actually lived their Bono? I do think it would be interesting to learn more about the country but I don't really trust American news sources much on the subject.
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-04 12:57 PM
Response to Reply #7
10. I lived there, but don't remember it. I have family there, but I am
Edited on Wed Dec-15-04 12:58 PM by Bono71
too afraid to go back.

I will just say this, the US has many problems with it's Have/ Have-not society. Though the rhetoric from the Castro regime sounds appealing at times, it is still an dictatorial regime, that will stop at nothing to crush its oponents. Castro takes shots at Bush that have a ring of truth. But Castro is the devil (and by condemning Castro, I do not mean to compliment Bush).
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Say_What Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-04 02:32 PM
Response to Reply #10
11. "an dictatorial regime, that will stop at nothing to crush its oponents."
Edited on Wed Dec-15-04 02:34 PM by Say_What
Sounds more like US imperialism around the globe to me...

<clips>
America's Allies
THE FRIENDLY DICTATORS
Meet the Friendly Dictators - three dozen* of America's most embarrassing "friends", a cunning crew of tyrants and corrupt puppet-presidents who have been rewarded handsomely for their loyalty to U.S. interests.

Traditional Dictators seize control through force and often are self-styled "Generals." Constitutional Dictators hold office through voting fraud or severely restricted elections and are frequently mouthpieces for the military juntas which control the ballot boxes. Both types of dictators are covered here, along with a few tyrannical kings. but don't look for "enemy dictators" (communists and the like) in this set of cards. These are America's allies, strange and undemocratic as they may be.

Friendly Dictators often rise to power through bloody CIA-backed coups and rule by terror and torture. Their troops may receive training or advice from the CIA and other U.S. agencies. "Anti-communism" is their common battle cry and a common excuse for political repression. They are linked internationally through extreme right-wing groups such as the World Anti-Communist League (see card 17). Strong Nazi affiliations are typical - some have been known to dress in Nazi paraphemalia and quote from Mein Kampf, while others offer sanctuary for actual Nazi war criminals.

Friendly Dictators usually grow rich, while their countries' economies go down the drain. U.S. tax dollars and U.S. backed loans have made billionaires of some; others are international drug dealers who also collect CIA paychecks. Rarely are they called to account for their crimes.

http://home.iprimus.com.au/korob/fdtcards/Cards_Index.html

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Mika Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-04 10:32 PM
Response to Reply #10
19. "But Castro is the devil"
"I lived there, but don't remember it."
"But Castro is the devil"




Nuff said. :crazy:

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Judi Lynn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:15 AM
Response to Reply #10
20. Why are you too afraid to return, Boner?
There have been over 1,000,000 tickets sold for trips back and forth to Cuba in the last few years. Lotsa folks went there and lived to tell about it!

I especially enjoyed hearing the story of Lázaro Gonzalez, that drunken old wreck who tried to hold Elián Gonzalez hostage, and keep him from returning to his family. Lázaro went there ON VACATION, and took up Juan Miguel's bed, while the man voluntarily gave it up to him, and slept in his car in order for the drunken old bastard to have a heck of a holiday. To show his appreciation, he tried to steal the man's son.

I read he spent the days fishing, and hanging out at the bars in the hotels at night. Stumbled to the plane and got home without ever once being flung into the slammer.

Imagine that.





That terrifying, godless Commie!
How dare he take his son back to
the home he loved, when he could
have lived with a bunch of rabid,
shrieking, scenery-chewing idiots.

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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 10:03 AM
Response to Reply #20
22. How many people related to you were murdered?
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 10:10 AM
Response to Reply #20
23. Here you go
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 10:41 AM
Response to Reply #20
26. Castro loves them there homosexuals.
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countryjake Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 11:30 AM
Response to Reply #26
34. Another viewpoint...
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 11:34 AM
Response to Reply #34
35. WOW...an employee of the government of Cuba thinks that
artists have more freedom...shocking.
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 10:54 AM
Response to Reply #20
30. Here's one from the terrorists at AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
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Just Me Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:34 PM
Response to Reply #30
93. Yes. And Amnesty has spanked us, too.
If you are a perfect human being seeking perfection from humanity,...you will always be sadly disappointed.

If you accept yourself and the rest of us as being what we are,...a conscience, living being in a challenged existence,...maybe, just maybe, you will stop throwing your fists at those who want to embrace you,...as a human being in this common existence.

REJECT material reward and hang onto,...the only real value left,...eachother.

The psy-ops of capitalism is a lonely sacrifice.
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:42 PM
Response to Reply #93
97. Where did I post the US has it right...
and how many Americans are fleeing this country because of persecution?

How many Cubans are willing to drown or die to leave Cuba?

This is too easy.
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Deja Q Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-04 12:54 PM
Response to Reply #6
8. Everyone is.
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-04 10:24 PM
Response to Reply #6
18. Got anything to prove otherwise boner?
You have been saying this shit for months with NADA to back it up.
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 10:10 AM
Response to Reply #18
24. Here you go
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 04:48 PM
Response to Reply #24
37. First you called Castro a baby killer
Edited on Thu Dec-16-04 04:50 PM by Carl Brennan
in another thread. You based your accusation on anecdotal BS. Now you are just being sarcastic about his human rights record:

...Up to 200 people believed to be involved in the planning of anti-government demonstrations or marches for Human Rights Day on 10 December were rounded up and held in custody in order to prevent them from participating in 'counter-revolutionary' activities. Although most of those arrested were released after being held for periods of up to 48 hours, four people remained in detention yesterday evening, two of whom had already been tried and sentenced.....

One must never forget boner, as you persistently do, that Cuba has been under a veritable seige for 40 years. The actions taken by Castro seem very restrained under the circumstances.

In sum this is nothing to support your case.
Got anymore?

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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 04:53 PM
Response to Reply #37
38. I am from Cuba...where are you from?
Edited on Thu Dec-16-04 04:55 PM by Bono71
Castro had his henchmen murdered people and sometimes these people were children. How do I know? My family members lived there. We were not rich, hell some of my people were FOR the revolution. But the man is a totalitarian dictator, and he behaves like one. Does it not strike you as the least bit odd that my country has had one leader since 1959? That doesn't trouble you? It doesn't trouble you that he tortured homosexuals in the 60s and 70s? Please, you belittle our pain, you pseudo-intellectual, know-nothing white boy.
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:03 PM
Response to Reply #38
41. Unsubstantiated for the 100th time.
:eyes:

I'm not going to go around refuting all your BS until you answer the question I've poised above.

We aren't being racist are we?
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:06 PM
Response to Reply #41
42. I am not racist if that is what you are insinuating...


Do yourself a favor and talk to people (not on the internet) that have fled the country and ask them what the place is like.

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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 10:41 AM
Response to Reply #18
27. Hope you're not gay in Cuba.
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Judi Lynn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 10:49 AM
Response to Reply #18
28. I glanced at the "article" and noticed Jose Basulto, the terrorist
featured prominantly. It's a lawsuit brought by LARRY KLAYMAN.

I don't have time to check on how that lawsuit turned out, but anything from Jose Basulto's website is slightly tinged with Miami Cuban "exile" terrorist ravings. They have acted like asses, like monsters over 40 years.

I've been up all night, can't stay to look around for a long time, but I didn't want anyone to be taken in by this crap.

Here's a list of terroristic actions taken in a period lasting around ten recent years or so. It wouldn't include all the latest oness. These guys are true jackasses, and unbearably obnoxious, as you already have seen for years and years.

http://www.canadiannetworkoncuba.ca/Documents/terror.shtml

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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 10:52 AM
Response to Reply #28
29. Here's one from those lying bastards at AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
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Billy Burnett Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 11:05 AM
Response to Reply #29
32. AI's main source is Cubanet
Cubanet is a cesspit of Noriega's and Cason's "journalists". :puke:

Using their data is like trusting Chalabi's data on Iraq.



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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 11:08 AM
Response to Reply #32
33. So...
we ignore everything bad. I see.

Do me a favor, rather than picking and choosing what you want to believe off of the internet, go talk to someone who defected.
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 04:54 PM
Response to Reply #29
39. Please be specific about the big humanitarian issues
you have been screeching about these months. Pull the specifics out of the article.

Reminder: You need to start integrating in your conciousness the fact about Cuba being under terrorist threat for the past 40 years. You simply ignore this and pump this lame AI article whenever you get a chance.
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 04:56 PM
Response to Reply #39
40. Read my post above...I could provide dozens of articles...
What do you think about his treatment of gays?
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 10:57 AM
Response to Reply #28
31. Yeah, those gays are terrorists, aren't they?
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:18 PM
Response to Reply #31
46. Cuban exiles murder gays like Bush does and chops them up
into little pieces and puts them hidey holes in gatorswamps Boner!!

Where have you been. Didn't you know that!!

They do Boner!! Listen.

They actually do it Boner. They chop up little Commie kids pack them in ice and ship them off to Asia as cuisine Boner.

:crazy: ain't it. But its true Boner.
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:23 PM
Response to Reply #46
50. Bush...
Ummmm we are discussing Castro, and his crimes.

I can't stand Bush, we can agree on that. But I will bet you Bush is out of office before Castro is.
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Mika Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 10:33 PM
Response to Reply #50
99. Hijacker!
Edited on Thu Dec-16-04 10:39 PM by Mika
Bono71, This thread is about Cuba and Venezuela "slamming" the FTAA.

Plain and simple, you have hijacked this thread with your anti Castro diatribe that has little to do with the subject at hand.

Go start your own thread on Castro's supposed crimes instead of hijacking this one.


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Judi Lynn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:18 PM
Response to Reply #31
47. It's not the gays who are terrorists, Boner. It's "Take Back Miami."
Here's a glance at the handiwork of Cuban "exile," Eladio Armesto-Garcia, hard at work in Miami. He's the one who submitted a fraudulent petition a couple of years ago, and was also a State Representative. What an utter ass:
After continued prodding by Father Hopkins and other church members, Buonamia and his wife agreed in late August to come back to Saint Philomena. On Sunday, September 3, the couple, having spent the early morning campaigning for Love, drove to church in their recreational vehicle, which had several large “Jay Love for Mayor” signs affixed to it. Buonamia says he warned Father Hopkins that he would be driving the RV, and the priest said it would be fine. Buonamia parked in the rear of the church parking lot. “I was trying to obscure it as much as possible,” he says. “We knew it wasn't Love territory, but it never dawned on me that people would get physical over this.”

Soon after arriving, Marisa Buonamia was accosted inside the church by Eladio Armesto-Garcia, a former Republican state representative, who served in Tallahassee from 1992 until 1994. He told her to move the RV immediately. She refused. “I told him: “This is a democracy,'” recalls Marisa, who hails from Panama. Next Armesto-Garcia confronted Buonamia.

“He was very agitated,” Buonamia remembers. “He starts screaming at me in Spanish that Jay Love is a homosexual and that I'm supporting homosexuals and that I have to get my RV out of there. I told him it is not important to me what he thinks. I'm here to go to Mass, and I asked him to leave me alone. He then screamed at me in church that he was going to beat the shit out of me when Mass was over.”

Armesto-Garcia is a member of the Christian Coalition and chairman of a group called Take Back Miami-Dade, whose goal is to repeal the so-called gay-rights ordinance passed by the county commission two years ago. The ordinance, which is designed to protect individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation, was enacted through the efforts of the nonprofit SAVE Dade political-action committee.

“He mentioned that he was with the Christian Coalition,” Buonamia continues. “He was saying that SAVE Dade was a bunch of homosexual perverts who are for abortion, and that Jay Love is one of them. He was doing the homophobic routine.” Armesto-Garcia stormed off. Buonamia grew nervous and went looking for him a few minutes later. He found Armesto-Garcia in the back of the church finishing a phone call to his son, Eladio José Armesto.
(snip/...)
http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2000-09-21/defede.html/1/index.html

He called his son who came to the church and slashed Buonamia's tires, which cost $1144 for Buonamia to replace, and told him he was going to beat him up.

He got national recognition when he delived the pile of fraudulent papers to prevent gay rights legislation in Miami. More on the scum:
At this point you may be wondering about Armesto-Garcia. Here's a little background: He spent just two years in the state legislature because he was not only ineffective but also was mired in one scandal after another. Among other indiscretions this moral and religious pillar cheated on his wife, fathering a child with his mistress back in 1976. (See Seventh Commandment for more information.) Several times the woman had to drag Armesto-Garcia into court to force him to make child-support payments. Once he was elected to office, though, he placed his ex-girlfriend on the state's payroll as his “executive secretary,” a job she held until the precise day before their child turned eighteen and was no longer entitled to child support. More recently Armesto-Garcia was a member of Miami's code-enforcement board and was investigated for possibly violating the state's Sunshine Law. No charges were filed.
(snip)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eladia Armesto-Garcia's name was noted at the gay publication, :
Anti-Gay Coalition Calls Election Fraudulent

Eladio Jose Armesto of Take Back Miami-Dade said Wednesday only a rigged vote could have resulted in victory for the law's supporters, and planned to call for an investigation into the matter.

"Anti-repeal forces are in control of the mayor's office and the department of elections," Armesto said.

Supervisor of Elections David Leahy and other county officials denied the groups allegations of vote rigging.

The coalition had a similar reaction in August when members of the repeal group were arrested for election fraud.

Anthony Verdugo, chairman of the Florida Christian Coalition, and a board member of Take Back Miami-Dade, said in August that the arrests were a ploy to embarrass Take Back Miami-Dade and are part of "a vast left-wing conspiracy by corrupt enemies of the democracy."

"What we have known about the Christian Coalition's lack of integrity is apparent to all," said NGLTF's Lorrie Jean.
(snip)
http://www.gfn.com/archives/story.phtml?sid=12187

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here are some observations made on the legitimacy of Armesto-Garcia's petition.
Among the questions raised by SAVE Dade's examination:

•As volunteers were checking signatures against those on file with the elections department, they discovered that as many as 1400 people had signed the petition more than once, sometimes employing noticeably different handwriting. Among the duplicates was Armesto-Garcia's son Eladio José Armesto, who along with his wife, Rosa, signed twice, two days apart.

•Take Back Miami-Dade filed entire pages of voters' names that also appeared on other signature sheets in a different order.

•At the bottom of at least 800 petition pages, where circulators are supposed to certify they witnessed each signature, SAVE Dade found evidence that dates had been changed to match actual collection dates, implying that circulators had "certified" pages before gathering signatures.

•In repeated instances clusters of names were all signed using the same handwriting.

•Some notaries allegedly certified their own petition signatures, an apparent violation of state election laws.

•Some petition circulators themselves signed multiple times, another apparent violation of state laws.

SAVE Dade contends that organizers of the petition drive violated a number of Florida Statutes that govern elections, one of them being FS 104.185, which deems it a crime "if a person signs another person's name or a fictitious name to any petition to secure ballot position for a candidate, minor political party, or an issue." Says Miami lawyer Alicia Apfel, who has been assisting in the examination of Take Back Miami-Dade's petition drive: "Basically they are cheating every voter in the county. They ought to be ashamed of themselves."

Armesto-Garcia counters that his group has nothing to hide and welcomes a full inquiry. "They can do what they like. We have done nothing wrong," he declares. "Everything is fine and dandy -- nothing bad has been done."
(snip/...)
http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2001-02-01/metro.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpts from letters to the editor:
Take Back Miami-Dade is clearly just another group led by conservative Cuban and religious leaders who wish to make Miami a Wasp haven, or a miniature Havana closed to those who do not adhere to the religious or political beliefs of Cuban leaders. All of Miami should rise up in opposition to this small group of bigots. Someday they may call for the closing of all synagogues, the deportation of all recent immigrants, or unequal pay for nonwhite and non-Latin workers. No matter who you are or what groups you belong to, eventually you may find the ever-damning finger of the religious right pointing at you. If history has taught us anything, it is that eventually coalitions of zealots turn on their own members who are not pure enough, white enough, straight enough, et cetera.
(snip)

Could Eladio Armesto-Garcia's troops be a hint of things to come? I am pleased that Juan Carlos Rodriguez has brought to light the shenanigans of Eladio Armesto-Garcia's organization. Take Back Miami-Dade is a hypocritical, fraudulent front sponsored and funded by the Christian Coalition and its self-serving allies in the Republican Party. Armesto-Garcia's and other anti-civil-rights groups should be using their tax-free, not-for-profit dollars to do good, not evil.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Armesto-Garcia and his local army of churchgoing bigots are prime examples of what will happen once George W. Bush's faith-based organizations get their polluted hands on public money.
(snip)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Of all people, Cuban exiles should know better: It is a disappointment that among the Take Back Miami gang are Cuban exiles. One must wonder if they came to America for freedom and democracy or to enforce their own form of fascist order.

America and Miami-Dade County function under the legal premise that all people are created equal. We entrust our elected officials to make sure this is enforced, without the need for a popular vote. The end result is that Cubans are not forced back to Castro because of some difference of opinion, Coral Gables retirees are not denied life-saving medication to make room for the young, and Homestead farmers are not enslaved because some think they are simply dumb dirt-pushers.

If this gang committed fraud to undermine democracy, let us deal with the human trash by throwing them in jail. And let all of us together save Miami.
(snip)
http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2001-02-08/news/letters.html

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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:22 PM
Response to Reply #47
48. Again, you ignore the post...what say you to the artist and the film?
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Judi Lynn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:29 PM
Response to Reply #48
54. Nothing. Didn't read it. Saw it a long time ago. Believe it's grossly off.
I'm not going to haggle on this. I'll check in later.
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:41 PM
Response to Reply #54
61. Truth hurts...maybe you should see the movie, Judi.
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:47 PM
Response to Reply #54
64. More abuse, Judi
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:48 PM
Response to Reply #54
65. Czechs not happy, Judi.
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:52 PM
Response to Reply #54
66. 500 writers and poets not happy, Judi
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:45 PM
Response to Reply #54
98. UN condemns Castro, Judi.
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Judi Lynn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:27 PM
Response to Reply #31
52. Take Back Miami's current spokesman is Eladio Jose Armesto
Edited on Thu Dec-16-04 05:27 PM by Judi Lynn
who is the son of the utterly contemptible Eladio Armesto-Garcia. He has apparently had his hands full trying to make life more difficult for gay people in Florida.

I recall reading that Eladio Armesto-Garcia's sister is also involved in this odd obsession.

I don't know how influential they are there, but they surely keep at it. Must have a lot of time on their hands.
Miami Zealots Charge Electoral Fraud
Monday, September 9th 2002
MIAMI -- In advance of Tuesday's vote on the proposed repeal of Miami-Dade's gay anti-bias law, Take Back Miami-Dade, a coalition favoring repeal, accused the county's political establishment of abusing power and planning electoral fraud.

Eladio Jose Armesto, the anti-gay spokesman for the group, said Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas and State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle were attempting to deny people the right to vote by working against the referendum.

Armesto also charged Supervisor of Elections David Leahy's office was planning to rig computer programs to falsely record a vote against the repeal effort.

The amendment to the county's human rights ordinance, narrowly passed by county commissioners in 1998, prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.

"The mayor has made public declarations that he is willing to expend all of the necessary resources to influence the result of the election," Armesto said Sunday. "The truth and the law have never seemed to stand in their way when it comes to advancing their corrupt political agenda."

Armesto called on the Justice Department, Attorney General John Ashcroft and the FBI to monitor the election to ensure a fair vote.

The response given by Penelas was quick and to the point. "What happened today is nothing more than a last-ditch effort by a group of extremists," said the mayor. "I think what they're concerned about is the overwhelming number of people who will come out on Tuesday and vote against the referendum."
(snip/...)
http://archive.datalounge.com/datalounge/news/record.html?record=20201

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I recall reading about these Cuban "exiles" a long time ago. They've put Miami on the map for their loathesome, despicable levels of hate based activity.

I have seen enough from other Cuban right-wing "exiles" on message boards to realize theirs (Armesto) is not an isolated example of deficient personalities.
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 04:09 PM
Response to Reply #28
36. Oh Judi...you got some splainin to do on this one...
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:14 PM
Response to Reply #28
43. Here's another one
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:24 PM
Response to Reply #43
51. But the US is worse Boner, they chop babies up and
put them in shallow graves. Bush raped his daughter, fathered an illegitimate son, chopped him up and put him in a shallow grave.

I have a friend who told me this. Where do you live?

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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:27 PM
Response to Reply #51
53. Before the night falls...you should see it
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:32 PM
Response to Reply #53
56. You believe me don't you boner?
How could you not? And if you do what difference does it make what others do, this must be stopped first.
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:34 PM
Response to Reply #56
58. Here's another
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:02 PM
Response to Reply #58
69. Yea, but Bush is worse he
hangs dissidents in GTMo by their thumbs in dark jail cells.

I knew somebody who witnessed it Boner
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:41 PM
Response to Reply #56
62. Keep ignoring the posts, Carl
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:58 PM
Response to Reply #62
67. Don't you believe me boner?
Ignore what post?
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:03 PM
Response to Reply #62
71. Well, why are you ignoring my question? Do you
believe me?
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:13 PM
Response to Reply #71
75. I believe you...and you still ignore the posts on Castro...Lol!
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:26 PM
Response to Reply #75
87. But Castro ain't as bad as Bush the body chopper that you agree he is.
So we go after the baddest first and then the otherone after we verify he is bad. OK?
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:44 PM
Response to Reply #56
63. Jews not too happy either, Carl.
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:59 PM
Response to Reply #63
68. Bush murders Jews too and chops em up!!
puts them in gatorland hidey holes!!

Castro ain't as bad, I don't think, Unless he chops em up and puts em' in hidey holes. Does he do that Boner?
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:02 PM
Response to Reply #68
70. I agree, Bush does...you loooooove ignoring Castro....love it!
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:05 PM
Response to Reply #70
72. You think that Bush chops up Jews?
Edited on Thu Dec-16-04 06:06 PM by Carl Brennan
If you do then you must agree that this is alot worse than what Castro does to them. So why focus on Castro, the lesser of the two evils so to speak?
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:06 PM
Response to Reply #72
73. Yep, here;s another one on Castro...
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:14 PM
Response to Reply #73
77. So, you ignore Bush who chops up Jews and go after the
guy who purportedly crimps their rights? Peculiar set of priorities dude. What are you on other than prescription stuff?
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:18 PM
Response to Reply #77
80. Murder and torture equals crimping...LOLOLOLOL
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:23 PM
Response to Reply #80
84. Got any sources to back that up?
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:25 PM
Response to Reply #84
85. Ummmm...look around....
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:27 PM
Response to Reply #85
88. I looked, can't find any. You must have seen something I
Edited on Thu Dec-16-04 06:27 PM by Carl Brennan
didn't so pass it over if you please.
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:28 PM
Response to Reply #88
90. Jesus. I am not posting stuff twice.
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:31 PM
Response to Reply #90
92. You got to post it once before you post it twice boner.
Do you mind me calling you Boner, Boner?
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:36 PM
Response to Reply #92
94. Before the night falls (posted at least 2 articles on it) discusses
the torture of homosexuals and dissidents.
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:16 PM
Response to Reply #28
44. Here's another one
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:17 PM
Response to Reply #28
45. yet another one
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:31 PM
Response to Reply #45
55. I know this doctor who studied the genetic makeup
of Cuban exiles and they are genetically different from all other humans. Its a fact. But he died trying to get the story out and all the records were destroyed Boner. Ain't that a bitch? I never told anybody until now boner, because I never thought anybody would believe me until I ran into you.

You beleive me don't you?
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:37 PM
Response to Reply #55
59. Hey Carl...the truth hurts....doesn't it...
I have provided sources from:

The UN
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch
The Boston Globe
The Miami Herald
The New York Times

I guess its just one big lie...


Again, splain to me how one guy stays in power 46 years???????
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:39 PM
Response to Reply #55
60. EU has a problem with Castro, Carl
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:08 PM
Response to Reply #60
74. Lesser of the two evils Boner. You already agree that Bush chops up people
and puts them in shallow Jews and you don't focus on that but you focus on someone who may, or may not intern them.
Where are your priorities dude?
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:14 PM
Response to Reply #74
76. My priority is my country...you loooooove dictators.
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:19 PM
Response to Reply #76
81. If your priority is your country then you should be going after Bush
who chops up jews and asking Castro to help you because he only interns them. Jeeeeez. You need to get off of whatever you are on. You are barking up the wrong tree big time. :crazy:
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:20 PM
Response to Reply #81
82. I am cuban
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:17 PM
Response to Reply #74
79. Also, Bush will be gone in 8 years...Castro still going at 45...you
looooooooooooooovvvve ignoring that one, duuuuuuuuuuuude
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:22 PM
Response to Reply #79
83. Lot's of people chopped up in8 years Boner. A whooooole lots.
gatorland will be a big graveyard.
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:26 PM
Response to Reply #83
86. Can't explain how he stayed in power 45 years, can you...
can you say fear?
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:30 PM
Response to Reply #86
91. Why talk about that when we got a body chopping Bush to git!!
I say again get off whatever you are on. Man, you'd probably start watering the grass if you saw your house on fire.
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:37 PM
Response to Reply #91
95. You can't explain it...so you twist this thread into silly nonsense..
HAHAHAHAHAHAHa
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:40 PM
Response to Reply #91
96. I bet you loved this part...
The Castro regime is criticized every year by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Pax Christi, the UN Commission on Human Rights, the Inter American Court of Human Rights, Reporteurs Sans Frontiers and many other international organizations.

From a post above.
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Carl Brennan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 11:14 PM
Response to Reply #96
101. What silly nonsense?
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Mika Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 11:37 PM
Response to Reply #101
102. Carl.. why bother?
:shrug:


Certain statements made by our interloper friend reveals an agenda regarding Cuba's national revolutionary hero.

ex:
"Castro is the devil" - by Bono71
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:22 PM
Response to Reply #28
49. another one
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VegasWolf Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-04 12:56 PM
Response to Original message
9. and bush sits with his finger up his ass while the world changes. n/t
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gorbal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-04 02:44 PM
Response to Reply #9
13. Becasue of this-
Now people are going to comapre Venezuela's government with Cuba's. I'm not sure this is a good thing. Venezuala's is more democratic but now they are probably stained in many ex-cubans eyes.
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-04 03:17 PM
Response to Reply #13
15. Chavez is not my cup of tea, but I don't think he is a Castro...we
just need to see what happens next.
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countryjake Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 08:24 AM
Response to Original message
21. Kick
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Bono71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 05:34 PM
Response to Original message
57. UN 12 out of 13 years condemns Castro
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KoKo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:15 PM
Response to Original message
78. Sounds good to me! (n/t)
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MisterCompletly Donating Member (87 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-16-04 06:27 PM
Response to Original message
89. Cuba pays as little as $27US per barrel of Venezuelan oil
Sounds like Castro and Chavez have their own little ftaa scam going on.

What's good for the comrade is a golden goose to gander upon.
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