Another Blown Bushco Opportunity?

This story tells us that, in response to increased grumbling from his countrymen (and women, I’m sure), Cuban leader Raul Castro is loosening the restrictions on computers, DVD and other video players and other appliances entering his country (of course, they then become the property of the government and are marked up as much as 240 percent, as noted in the story).

However, if we had serious, adult leadership in the White House, the person in charge would recognize this as an opportunity to reach out in a reciprocal fashion in an effort to slowly lower (and eventually abolish) our trade embargo with that country in the hope of eventual Democratic reforms. Fortunately, though, there are groups in this country such as USA Engage (which counts former Dem House Rep Lee Hamilton and Repug Senator Richard Lugar and former Senator Jim Kolbe as members, hardly people I would call partisans, though Kolbe has issues I know) that are trying to help this process along however they can.

And as long as we’re discussing Cuba, this takes you to an issues fact sheet for all of the still-running presidential candidates, noting the following…

Hillary Clinton: Consider responding positively to "some action that demonstrates they are willing to change" in Cuba. Not willing to meet new Cuban leader Raul Castro before Cuban policy changes.

Barack Obama: Ease trade embargo if Havana "begins opening Cuba to meaningful democratic change." Ease restrictions on family-related travel and on money Cuban-Americans want to send to their families in Cuba. Open to meeting new Cuban leader Raul Castro without preconditions.

John McCain: Ease restrictions on Cuba once U.S. is "confident that the transition to a free and open democracy is being made."

And another thing as long as we’re talking about Cuba: I seriously wish that our next president (God willing, not McCain) pushes as hard as he or she can to abolish once and for all the disgraceful Helms-Burton Act, a product borne of spite due to the fact that two planes hired by an anti-Castro Cuban organization called Brothers To The Rescue were shot down by Cuban fighter jets shortly before the bill was introduced and passed (signing it into law was definitely not a shining moment for The Big Dog). Helms-Burton has become (rightfully) an object of international scorn and ridicule, and putting a match to it would be a signal to the rest of the world that we are prepared to enter a civilized community of nations once more.