I was getting worried there. The silence coming from the Hillary camp in regards to the nationwide protects going on these days, was deafening. But on Tuesday, Speaking to an audience after receiving an award from The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights in New York, Hillary declared, “yes, black lives matter.”
She wondered what Robert Kennedy would say about “the thousands of Americans marching in our streets demanding justice for all,” and “the mothers who’ve lost their sons.”
“What would he say to all those who have lost trust in our government and our other institutions, who shudder at images of excessive force, who read reports about torture done in the name of our country, who see too many representatives in Washington quick to protect a big bank from regulation but slow to take action to help working families facing ever greater pressure,” Clinton said, pivoting to the release of a Senate report last week investigating the CIA’s interrogation techniques after 9/11.
Clinton said that recent world events, including the mass murder of children in Pakistan and the siege in Sydney, Australia, “should steel our resolve and underscore that our values are what set us apart from our adversaries.”
Republicans expressed enthusiasm for Gross’ release but spoke out against the administration’s new approach, ThinkProgress reports.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) argued that America’s policy toward the island nation “should not be revisited…until the Cuban people enjoy freedom — and not a second sooner” and characterized the move as “another in a long line of mindless concessions to a dictatorship.”
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) — who is of Cuban descent — gave interviews to every news organization promising to “make every effort to block this dangerous and desperate attempt” as the Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Western Hemisphere subcommittee. He argued the “new policy is based on an illusion, on a lie” and sets a “dangerous precedent” that “will only cause other tyrants from Caracas to Tehran to Pyongyang to see that they can take advantage of President Obama’s naiveté during his final two years in office.” Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), the outgoing Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair, generally echoed Rubio’s criticism.
But the Republicans’ outcry against the new policy contradicts their own faith in the power of free market economies. Under the administration’s policy, the U.S. will restore full diplomatic relations, ease travel in 12 existing categories, allow U.S. to import more goods, expand exports to Cuba, among other changes. Opening up trade and investing opportunities will likely push Cuba toward a more American-style economy — the kind Republicans argue leads to freedom.
“We will end an outdated approach that for decades has failed to advance our interests and instead we will begin to normalize relations between our two countries,” Obama said. “These 50 years have shown that isolation has not worked. It’s time for a new approach.”
I remember watching the clip below of MSNBC’s interview with the Cleveland police union who kept insisting that the police officer who murdered of 12 year old Tamir Rice was “justified,” and while watching, all these questions and comments started coming to mind as I listened to the unbelievable cops-are-always-right nonsense coming from the cop.
Apparently Cenk Uygur from The Young Turks had the same questions and comments, and he used his platform on YouTube and blasted the cop for his moronic response.
“Just, for Christ’s sake, be a human for a second,” Uygur challenged the man after watching a clip of the MSNBC piece. “And say, ‘We’re so sorry that [a] 12-year-old kid died, man. Obviously we didn’t mean that.’ Is that too hard to say? Is that too hard to say — ‘We didn’t mean to kill your 12-year-old son. We’re so sorry about that.’”
Uygur continued. “You killed him in two seconds — [Rice] didn’t have time to listen to what you said,” Uygur said in response. “This Orwellian prick; we just saw the video, we’ve seen the video a million times. You pull up and you shoot him. You pull up and you shoot him. One-one thousand, two-one thousand and he’s dead.”
Another historic achievement for the Obama administration. Detailed below are the basics of an agreement that will in essence, end the 50 years of hostility between America and Cuba.
What the US will give Cuba
Diplomatic opening:
The U.S. will take steps toward restoring diplomatic ties with Cuba, severed since 1961. The travel ban will still be in place, as will the embargo, but the embargo’s impact will be eased and some forms of travel will be made easier.
Embassy in Havana:
This will include the goal of reopening a US embassy in Havana in the coming months. The embassy has been closed for over half a century.
Release alleged Cuban spies:
The US will release three Cubans who were convicted of espionage and imprisoned in the US: Gerardo Hernandez, Luis Medina, and Antonio Guerrero. All three prisoners were members of the “Wasp Network,” a group that spied on prominent members of the Cuban-American community. CNN reports that Hernandez, the group’s leader, was also linked to the downing of two two civilian planes operated by Brothers to the Rescue, a U.S.-based dissident group.
Easing business and travel restrictions:
The U.S. will make it easier for Americans to obtain licenses to do business in Cuba, and to travel to the island. CNN reports that the new rules still won’t permit American tourism, but will make it easier to visit for other purposes.
Easing banking restrictions:
Americans will be able to use credit and debit cards while in Cuba.
Higher remittance limits:
Americans will be able to send up to $2000 per year to family members in Cuba. Cuban-American remittances are a major source of income for many Cuban families.
Small-scale imports of Cuban cigars and alcohol:
US travelers will be able to import up to $400 in goods from Cuba, including $100 in alcohol and tobacco products.
Review of basis for sanctions:
Secretary of State John Kerry has been ordered to review Cuba’s status as a “state sponsor of terrorism.” If his review determines that Cuba no longer deserves that status, that will be a first step towards lifting at least some US sanctions.
What Cuba will give the US
Release Alan Gross:
US contractor Alan Gross had been imprisoned in Cuba for the last five years on charges of attempting to undermine the Cuban government. His detention has been a major issue for the US and the Obama administration. He has been released and is on his way back to the United States.
Release political prisoners:
Cuba will release 53 political prisoners from a list provided by the United States. CNN also reports that Cuba is releasing a US intelligence source who has been imprisoned in Cuba for more than 20 years, but it is not clear whether that individual was one of the 53 included on the list.
Increased internet access:
Cuba will allow its citizens increased access to the internet. The US has long sought this as a means of increasing pressure within Cuba for democratic reform.
Access by the UN: Cuba will allow officials from the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to return to its territory.
The information included in the Spending Bill that passed both the House and Senate is quite simply scary, like calling white potatoes fresh vegetables and the massive raise in donations allowed for congress members… things that made Stewart shook his head in disbelief.
That this man is even considered a leader in the Christian arena is in itself a travesty.
In recent writings, Bryan Fischer of The American Family Association, said that liberals “would drag the Bible’s heroes before the courts at Nuremberg and charge them with crimes against humanity” and suggesting on his radio program that Jesus would support the use of torture in a time of war.
Fischer argued on his radio program today that the Bible makes certain things permissible during times of war that would not be permissible during times of peace, adding that Jesus is a “warrior” who would probably approve of torture.
“Christianity is not a pacifist religion,” Fischer said. “The God that we serve is described in Exodus 15 as a ‘man of war.’ Now we often think of gentle Jesus, meek and mild, but let’s not forget, according to Romans 19:13, when he comes back … he will be riding a white horse and wearing his own robe, dipped in blood. That is a robe that is worn by a warrior who is inflicting casualties on the foe. So this is gentle Jesus, meek and mild; when we comes back, his robe is going to be dipped in blood because he too is a warrior”
Back up the clown car. Another clowns wants to hop in.
“A lot of people think I have fun with [talking about running for president] and I enjoy the process,” Donald Trump said while at the Economic Club of Washington on Monday night. , “but the country is in very serious trouble so I am considering it seriously.”
Asked when he’ll decide, Trump said: “March, April or May.”
“I think we need someone very good, very fast, or we’ll be in a lot of trouble,” Trump said.
He said he’d rather do what he’s doing now, but that as far as a run for the presidency goes, “until I see someone I think is outstanding, I’d be inclined to do it.”
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