Americans Favor Re-Establishing Ties With Cuba
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James Joyner | Friday, December 15, 2006 |
A new Gallup poll shows that two-thirds of American favor renewing diplomatic ties with Cuba. This isn’t particularly surprising:
Over the past 32 years, a majority of Americans have consistently said they support establishing diplomatic ties with Cuba, with the exception of one poll conducted in 1996.
So, there is longstanding, overwhelming, bipartisan support for changing our Cuba policy. Yet, our policy remains steadfast.
This is a classic case of “Who cares more?” The Cuban lobby, while tiny, is powerful and motivated on this issue. The two-thirds who want to see the policy change? Not so much.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia.
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I've never really understood this - outside of the greater Miami-Dade area, who really gives a rat's ass about our policy to Cuba? Surely the Anti-Castro lobby can't be _that_ strong? What Pre-Cold War holdovers are left alive to still be offended about the way Castro dissed us way back when?
Well I for one say change the policy; after castro is confirmed dead, his brother comes to us cryng repentence and forgiveness.
Otherwise, leave them in the stone ages with their 1940 cadillacs.
This is a stupid policy that's worked for 40 years to keep the Castro in power. If this argument works for Cuba, why do we recognize the PRC government?
Screw Castro. Keep the policy as is. Those communist bastards. Plus, it has worked.
Wait for the old farts to die off.
We didn't get a new car in '58. And I still remember the ashen faces of Dad and his friend, sitting in front of the TV listening to Castro say "I am a Communist. I have always been a Communist." Mother never used bad language, but she had a face like iron for days.
That sort of thing has been disappeared from history by what Goldstein calls "the narrative" as promulgated by the pseudoLeft and the media. There are still those of us who remember, and as long as we're in the way (and Fidel keeps breathing) the situation will remain as it is.
Regards,
Ric
"Plus, it has worked. "
Huh?
The explicit goal of the policy was to undermine the regime of Castro. Castro remained in power for 47 1/2 years, and his brother continues. I would challange anyone to find any policy, of any government anywhere that has failed so utterly, for so long.
What was that oft heard definition of insanity?
If you have any real interest in accomplishing the goal, and a policy fails, repeatedly, and you dont change your approach - well....
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