Job Discussion Forums

[MELEE]

Wow.
I was not expecting this when I turned on my computer this morning.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23229795?GT1=10856

[Guy Courchesne]

Winds of change...Bush was upbeat about the news I see.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jB0_rWGT7xUFcJu6maVkJPMIdPDw

[MO39]

Melee, thanks for alerting me to this news. Despite Bush's unduly optimistic view of this change of the guard in Cuba (will anything real change there with Fidel perhaps still pulling the strings behind the scenes?), I don't foresee any improvements in US-Cuban relations till after Bush is out of office, which, according to a button proudly pinned to my purse for the last year, will take place on January 20, 2009 (!).

[nineisone]

John McCain made promises to the Cuban exile community to hold a hard line against Cuba which helped him trump Guliani in the Sunshine state Republican primary and will give him an advantage in that all important swing state come November.

Clinton was notorious for holding the line as well in his 8 years and wifey would probably follow course as she would likely have a rehash of Billy's boys in her cabinet.

So that leaves us with Obama, son of the wandering mother, Harvard pragmatist with the Kennedy speechwriter. Great guy, inspirational message, but a huge ? on almost all points of foreign policy. Even money that little will change in US policy towards the Americas, regardless of who the new president is.

[Justin Trullinger]

[nineisone]

In general, I agree with your comments. Specifically, I might discern a slightly different perspective from recent history.

The last significant positive change in policy towards L.A. came nearly 30 years ago during the Carter administration. Carter was unique in recent history for entering the white house without the establishment credentials that behooved all other U.S. Presidents post-WWII. In his desire to seek diplomatic accords with the region and most prominently his heavily criticized decision to sign over the canal to Panama, J.C. made a concentrated effort to engage the L.A. world in a more broad minded fashion. Likely cost him the election in 80. His desire to open relations with Cuba was halted by the same exiled Cuban bloc that still wields great political influence.

What does this mean for 08' and specifically Obama? For the first time(since Carter) we have a candidate with a legit shot to win that does not have the insider and establishment bias to preclude relevant change in US foreign policy. He is likely to surround himself with a combination of voices from both inside and outside the beltway. Will he fall victim to the same pressures that negated Carter's vision of across the board foreign policy change? Difficult to say until we get a better idea of what type of resolve he has in handling his critics, the media, and whatever the make-up of congress will look like should he get elected. His desire to meet with Chavez and other "controversial" L.A. heads of state is surely a sign that he won't be bullied by the current status quo opinion.

I'd still say even money and the potential for an Obama presidency should at least cause some mild excitement among those hoping for improved and more equal relations with the U.S.