Call it xenophobia, or worse, but it must be admitted that within the Republican Party there exists a significant contingent that has deep concerns about preserving “American culture.” A couple of hundred thousand fewer Latinos in Florida couldn’t hurt their cause.

Ummmm. You do realize that those particular Latinos vote overwhelmingly Republican…

My point exactly! Even though it would make sense for Republican anti-immigrants to favor letting the Cubans go, they won’t do it, because, as you point out, and as I said in my post, they vote overwhelmingly Republican in presidential elections.

Thanks for taking the time to comment.

Ummmm. You do realize that those particular Latinos vote overwhelmingly Republican…

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HOW,HOW could the Lamont campaign have let that APOLOGIST Dean on as their representative…he let Lanny LIE up and down without rebutting……If Lamont loses….this will be the REASON why!!!! I am so upset right now…all hid was apologise and say how much he likes Joe…WHAT AN IDIOT…this is the best they could put forth on such an important day..with Lanny the schmozzer and liar ready with all the talking points……it made Lieberman look like a GREAT guy.

My exact thought. The guy was a Lieberman apologist. I think Russert is a buddy of Joe and wanted to have a lightweight against a seasoned professional. He embarrassed himself.

Her response was as straightforward as Dr. Rice is capable of being: “We are not going to do anything to stoke a sense of crisis” in Cuba. This is her way of saying “No way, Jose!”

Why should we? Well, for one thing, a cadre of people with a strong history of democracy can only assist in the island nation’s transition, if that is to occur. Additionally, capital may leave with these emigrants but if it is used to establish a prosperous trading partner 90 miles off the Florida coast, it is a good thing, is it not?

Call it xenophobia, or worse, but it must be admitted that within the Republican Party there exists a significant contingent that has deep concerns about preserving “American culture.” A couple of hundred thousand fewer Latinos in Florida couldn’t hurt their cause.

So why didn’t Dr. Rice say, “Hey, it’s a free country! If people want to leave, we don’t keep them here like they did in the bad old days of East Berlin. We wish them well, and we offer whatever help we can give in their noble efforts to establish a democracy in Cuba?”

The answer is that Cuban-Americans are, in Lincoln’s phrase, “not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it,” specifically, in Florida. While Cuban-American voters often split their votes between the two major parties in local or state elections, they tend to vote overwhelmingly Republican in presidential races, by margins that have fluctuated between 75 and 85 percent, making them perhaps the most solidly Republican ethnic bloc in the country. Without the support of Cuban Americans in Florida, Dubya would have lost both elections by margins too large to cover over with shenanigans.

Think about it! Cuban Americans being held hostage, kept in Florida against their will, so that Republicans can win elections. It is further proof, as if we needed any, that Republicans will stoop beneath dirt, to win elections. But don’t be so sure that Cuban-Americans will not see through this, and turn on the Republicans.

Visit the Schapira blog, “What we know so far …

“… and tell ’em Big Mitch sent ya!”

Devil’s Advocate, #140:
So now Americans who exercize their right to choose their representative in legal elections are “insurgents”?

Someone has to call Newt on this. This is outrageous!

It would be a lot easier if Gingrich would stop hiding behind a subhuman shield of Faux News wingnuts and say these things for a critical audience.

– And join the StatesRootsProject.com along with the rest of us FirePups who are already there; get a login, start adding content and events you find at DFA-Link and Meetup.

Rayne you are such a Goddess! I love your list, I do need to make a minor correction here for you please. It’s dot ORG. The correct url is:

http://www.staterootsproject.org

Hope everyone is signing up at the new state Roots Project site. Besides state groups you will find many other new groups (and blog entries) on a variety of themes and topics, something for everyone. If you don’t find what you are looking for yet please start one.

And remember to follow through on Rayne’s wise advice on her excellent list.