Obama to announce sweeping changes in Cuba policy today!

[Mehmentum]

It just goes to show it doesn't matter how reasonable or popular it is, anything Obama supports Republican politicians will oppose. 

[Lief 🗽]

In 20-30 years were all going to look back and wish we had another Obama. A true FF. And of course, a stupid response from the GOP: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/17/marco-rubio-cuba-obama_n_6342348.html

Yes. I firmly believe, and I'm being serious here, that historians in 20-30 years will regard Obama as a top 10 president.

[ElectionsGuy]

+1 point for Mr Obama

Again, why couldn't he have done all of this before the election?  I feel like at least Udall and Hagan could have won if Obama had done all of this stuff in the weeks before the election.

No...

Can anyone defend Rubio's backlash against this?

with a move that has such a high favorability, you'd think not. Though Republican politicians conservative pundits I'm sure will oppose anything Obama does.

[King]

lol FOX News

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

In the words of Lief...

THANKS OBAMA!

[user12345]

lol FOX News

Proof Obama is a communist!1!1!!

[TDAS04]

Apparently, Obama isn't ruling out visiting at some point.

[memphis]

Wow! I didn't realize that the Vatican played such a crucial and active role in the normalization process.
Pope Francis is such a FF!

Even when his position is correct, there is nothing FF about a religious leader sticking his nose into the world of politics. That is the opposite of freedom.

[TheDeadFlagBlues]

My dad sells trucks and has gotten five calls today from Cubans looking for anything with wheels. His friend down in Miami said their celebrating in the streets. Business is going to be good for the next few weeks!

democrats are doomed!!1111

Obviously, this is great news. President Obama is truly one of the greats.

[BaconBacon96]

Thank you Obama! About damn time.

[Lief 🗽]

As Buzzfeed correctly pointed out, the thaw in Cuban-American relations was in part brought about by the American royal family's visit to the island nation in 2013.

[King]

Damn, JayZ's lost some weight.

[Sopranos Republican]

Wow! I didn't realize that the Vatican played such a crucial and active role in the normalization process.
Pope Francis is such a FF!

Even when his position is correct, there is nothing FF about a religious leader sticking his nose into the world of politics. That is the opposite of freedom.

Thanks again for your scorching hot takes on life!

[Sopranos Republican]

Best. President. Ever.

[BaconBacon96]

Does Obama need the approval of Congress to end the embargo or can he just sign an executive order?

[Landslide Lyndon]

Does Obama need the approval of Congress to end the embargo or can he just sign an executive order?

Only the congress can lift the travel ban.

[ElectionsGuy]

Does Obama need the approval of Congress to end the embargo or can he just sign an executive order?

Congress. Since they passed the laws enforcing the embargo, he has to get their approval to end it.

[Brittain33]

Does Obama need the approval of Congress to end the embargo or can he just sign an executive order?

Congress has to pass a repeal. Republican Party is clearly not ready for that even though there are many who would be happy to junk it and are public about it.

[BaconBacon96]

That's unfortunate then.

[cinyc]

It just goes to show it doesn't matter how reasonable or popular it is, anything Obama supports Republican politicians will oppose. 

Republican politicians have been against normaiiizing relations with communist Cuba since well before Obama was President.  Heck, Republicans probably have been against it for as long as Obama has been alive.

[King]

It just goes to show it doesn't matter how reasonable or popular it is, anything Obama supports Republican politicians will oppose. 

Republican politicians have been against normaiiizing relations with communist Cuba since well before Obama was President.  Heck, Republicans probably have been against it for as long as Obama has been alive.

True, but it was long believed in this debate that many plains state GOP Senators who would benefit in agricultural trade with Cuba were going to voice support today and nobody stood up.

[angus]

Pope Francis played key role in U.S.-Cuba deal

yes, I read that "the announcement was the product of a year of clandestine back-channelling between the U.S. and Cuba, facilitated by the Canadians and the Vatican and with personal involvement from the Pope."

A Canadian, the Pope, and President Obama walk into a bar...


Anyway, it's good that we're finally talking about Cuba.  Hopefully he'll do the executive order thing and make it so we won't get fined $7500 dollars for visiting Cuba.

[Mr. Morden]

Does Obama need the approval of Congress to end the embargo or can he just sign an executive order?

Only the congress can lift the travel ban.

And the trade embargo, presumably?

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

My dad sells trucks and has gotten five calls today from Cubans looking for anything with wheels. His friend down in Miami said their celebrating in the streets. Business is going to be good for the next few weeks!

democrats are doomed!!1111

Obviously, this is great news. President Obama is truly one of the greats.

Whoops, their should have been they're. Another spelling gaffe on my part. This is what goes down when I get excited and post quickly from my phone .

[memphis]

Wow! I didn't realize that the Vatican played such a crucial and active role in the normalization process.
Pope Francis is such a FF!

Even when his position is correct, there is nothing FF about a religious leader sticking his nose into the world of politics. That is the opposite of freedom.

Thanks again for your scorching hot takes on life!

I don't even know what this is supposed to mean.