Now for extra credit, explain how Obama or Clinton's position is any different from Bush's.

They didn't use his trademarked "free and fair" three-word sound-bite? At least that was the giveaway for me.

Further extra credit if you can show how Obama is clearly the candidate for change given his position on Cuba.

No fair offering extra credit for impossible tasks, unless I can earn them by effort alone.

Now for extra credit, explain how Obama or Clinton's position is any different from Bush's. Further extra credit if you can show how Obama is clearly the candidate for change given his position on Cuba.

If the Cuban leadership begins opening Cuba to meaningful democratic change, the United States must be prepared to begin taking steps to normalize relations and to ease the embargo of the last five decades.

d) Obama

I would say to the new leadership, the people of the United States are ready to meet you if you move forward towards the path of democracy, with real, substantial reforms.

b) Clinton

That is why we must press the Cuban regime to release all political prisoners unconditionally, to legalize all political parties, labor unions and free media, and to schedule internationally monitored elections.

"Cuba's transition to democracy is inevitable; it is a matter of when - not if. With the resignation of Fidel Castro, the Cuban people have an opportunity to move forward and continue pushing for the moment that they will truly be free. America can and should help hasten the sparking of freedom in Cuba.

c) McCain

Eventually, this transition ought to lead to free and fair elections — and I mean free, and I mean fair — not these kind of staged elections that the Castro brothers try to foist off as true democracy, the United States will help the people of Cuba realize the blessings of liberty.

a) Bush

Fidel is gone. It’s time for this policy to go with him.

Not until his policies do.

If the Cuban leadership begins opening Cuba to meaningful democratic change, the United States must be prepared to begin taking steps to normalize relations and to ease the embargo of the last five decades.

This one is easy. To paraphrase Biden, a noun, a verb and either change or hope.

I would say to the new leadership, the people of the United States are ready to meet you if you move forward towards the path of democracy, with real, substantial reforms.

Another easy one. The 'I' is the dead give away. Who is the most egotistical of all the candidates?

That is why we must press the Cuban regime to release all political prisoners unconditionally, to legalize all political parties, labor unions and free media, and to schedule internationally monitored elections.

"Cuba's transition to democracy is inevitable; it is a matter of when - not if. With the resignation of Fidel Castro, the Cuban people have an opportunity to move forward and continue pushing for the moment that they will truly be free. America can and should help hasten the sparking of freedom in Cuba.

Harder, but consistent. Ask yourself this question, who would go the most bonkers if the embargo was lifted? Now read the quote and tell me if lifting the embargo would be ruled out as part of 'hastening the sparking of freedom'.

The last one is equally obvious to anyone who read James original post.

Tlaloc, your memory is too short, or maybe it's just your perspective since you sound too young to remember these events, but I don't think Hitler's Germany or Tojo's Japan were moved by soft power.

Oh, yes they were. They ABSOLUTELY were. There was the war period of course, but what matters more is the period afterwards when we helped reconstruct their nations and slowly but surely eased off on the restrictions instead of humiliating them and trying to keep them oppressed. The Marshall plan and the period immediately after WW2 is the very textbook case of using soft power wisely.

And is there any person or policy that you don't agree with that isn't either stupid or delusional?

I didn't call anyone stupid here. I did use the term delusional- but what else can you call people whose reaction to failure is to try the same thing again expecting different results. Seems like "delusional" is very appropriate.

Try to respect people you disagree with because, believe it or not, you are going to eventually realize that you aren't always on the side of the angels, no matter how pure your heart may be.

I've owned up to the places where I've been wrong. And I do respect people who are honestly wrong, that is people who argue in good faith for what they believe and who then admit when they are shown to be wrong.

But how can anyone argue for the embargo in good faith when it failed for almost fifty years to accomplish its goal. Notice that Cuba is about the only old school communist country left on earth. Everyone else moved on but them. Coincidnence? Probably not. We *maintained* Castro through our actions. That's been clear for years if not decades. So tell me what good faith argument is there for the embargo that wouldn't have long ago admitted it was wrong?

If Fidel Castro is going to be credited yet again by Big Media types for outlasting nine US presidents

It isn't about "crediting." It is about pointing out that our policy is clearly ineffective. 9 US presidents have maintained a policy designed to do only one thing- remove Castro from power, and the guy eventually steps down due to failing health at age 82! Obviously something is wrong with the policy.

If Fidel Castro is going to be credited yet again by Big Media types for outlasting nine US presidents (the 22nd amendment notwithstanding from this always piquant analysis), then why shouldn't George W. Bush be credited for bringing him down? It's silly, sure, but then I'm one of those "oppponents" of Castro who have always considered him a dictator rather than a liberator.

the cuba embargo seems to be like the drug war- a failed policy that has had the opposite of the intended effect and yet can't be rescinded because it has a core of delusional supporters who demand it remain in place no matter how bad a job it does.

Great.

The best successes of the US to "liberalize" other countries have all involved soft power- trade, diplomacy, foreign aid. The iron fist does not suit democracy well. It is counterproductive (witness Vietnam, Iraq, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, et cetera).

You are actually right though I don't think you meant to be. If Bush had caved on the war on terrorism in 2004, he would likely not have been elected. So it is only his "steadfast leadership, strength of character, and iron will" that brought him to office when the change over occurred.

If the Cuban leadership begins opening Cuba to meaningful democratic change, the United States must be prepared to begin taking steps to normalize relations and to ease the embargo of the last five decades.

a) Bush
b) Clinton
c) McCain
d) Obama

I would say to the new leadership, the people of the United States are ready to meet you if you move forward towards the path of democracy, with real, substantial reforms.

a) Bush
b) Clinton
c) McCain
d) Obama

That is why we must press the Cuban regime to release all political prisoners unconditionally, to legalize all political parties, labor unions and free media, and to schedule internationally monitored elections.

"Cuba's transition to democracy is inevitable; it is a matter of when - not if. With the resignation of Fidel Castro, the Cuban people have an opportunity to move forward and continue pushing for the moment that they will truly be free. America can and should help hasten the sparking of freedom in Cuba.

a) Bush
b) Clinton
c) McCain
d) Obama

Eventually, this transition ought to lead to free and fair elections — and I mean free, and I mean fair — not these kind of staged elections that the Castro brothers try to foist off as true democracy, the United States will help the people of Cuba realize the blessings of liberty.

a) Bush
b) Clinton
c) McCain
d) Obama

I'll post answers in a bit. I would just like to see how many people can pick their candidates from their position.

Only Bush, because of his steadfast leadership, strength of character, and iron will, has been able to force Fidel from his seat of power.