by Juan Paxety
on January 23, 2008
California’s agriculture and food secretary, A. G. Kawamura is on a visit to fidel’s tropical workers’ paradise this week, and for a change, The Associated Press begins to see a bit of the apartheid:
California hopes it can carve out an upscale market for such goodies as pistachios, figs, kiwi fruit and wine in Cuba, the land of ration cards and rice and beans at nearly every meal.
What kind of upscale market exists in Cuba? First, the tyrants – raul, fidel and their bunch. Second is the upscale tourists who finance the dictatorship. As we’ve learned from The Real Cuba, all of those fancy tourist hotels and resorts are owned by what the Cuban government calls “the revolutionary armed forces.” Meaning the money the tourists pay the hotel for the upscale rooms and upscale food goes right into the hands of the Cuban military – and is used for oppression.
Kawamura follows agricultural secretaries from 18 other states who have visited Cuba in recent years, and acknowledged that California is behind many states in establishing major trade relationships here. Despite being America’s largest generator of agricultural trade, his state shipped only $735,000 worth of farm products to Cuba in 2006, largely powdered milk, rice and wine.
That’s right. As we’ve pointed out here many times, the United States is the largest provider of food to Cuba. That’s some embargo.
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by Juan Paxety
on January 22, 2008
Ol’ Fred Thompson has called it quits. From RightWingNuthouse
Just received this email from the campaign:
Statement from Sen. Fred Thompson
McLean, VA – Senator Fred Thompson today issued the following statement about his campaign for President:
“Today I have withdrawn my candidacy for President of the United States. I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort. Jeri and I will always be grateful for the encouragement and friendship of so many wonderful people.”
Follow the link to read more from Rick Moran on why Thompson didn’t catch on.
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by Mahone Dunbar
on January 22, 2008
Paxety Pages one-on-one candid interview with America’s most affable ex-President
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by Juan Paxety
on January 22, 2008
The Candidates on Cuba website has now received three position statements from candidates for president. All from Republicans. It looks as though the Democrats are honoring their pledge to ignore Florida this year.
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by Juan Paxety
on January 21, 2008
Venezuelan dictator-wannabe and admitted daily coca-chewer hugo chavez, says some of his country’s farmers are traitors. Why? Because they sell products overseas to make money. CNN reports that he threatened to take over farms if the farmers don’t sell everything domestically.
“In that case the farm must be expropriated,” Chavez said, adding that the government could also take over milk plants and properties of beef producers.
“I’m putting you on alert,” Chavez said. “If there’s a producer that refuses to sell the product … and sells it at a higher price abroad … ministers, find me the proof so it can be expropriated.”
Addressing his Cabinet, he said: “If the army must be brought in, you bring in the army.”
Venezuela has seen spot shortages of food and milk, something that just seems to happen in dictatorships where politics, rather than the market, makes decisions. chavez went on to say that he wants farmers to sell to a new state-owned milk plant, and that he will raise payment by 36%. He says the new plant is being run as what he calls a “socialist business.” Ummm-hummm. How do those businesses work in fidel’s island workers’ paradise?
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