Time for a thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations

In an article published in the LA times, the author "The Times editorial board", expresses how we are long over due for a change in relations with Cuba. They site how studies have shown that the majority of Americans are in favor of easing sanctions. A poll, commissioned by the Washington-based Atlantic Council research group, found that 6 in 10 Americans favor normalizing diplomatic relations with Cuba. They do however show both sides of the argument by stating that  a Florida International University survey just three years ago found that 53% of Cuban Americans in Miami-Dade County opposed ending the 1962 embargo, even though a similar percentage believed the embargo had not been effective, and a majority supported easing restrictions on traveling to and investing in Cuba. The article is well written and tells the story down the middle. Cuba's human rights record will continue to be a problem with any change in relations.

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-cuba-20140216,0,3354954.story#axzz2u1Rb7PBU

On Feb 7, 2014 the New York Times published an article about congress's inability to pass an immigration law. As House Republicans embarked late last month in luxury buses for their retreat on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, their ears were already ringing with angry phone calls. Heritage Action, the political arm of the conservative Heritage Foundation, was imploring its members to flood the Capitol with warnings to accept “no amnesty.”

The day before, the Tea Party Patriots group set in motion 900,000 automatic phone calls in 90 Republican House districts, connecting tens of thousands of voters to their members of Congress. The hashtag #NoAmnesty blazed across Twitter. About the same time, FreedomWorks, another anti-tax, limited-government group, was pulling in signatures on its “fire the speaker” petition against the House speaker, John A. Boehner.

When House Republicans gathered on Jan. 30 to actually read and discuss Mr. Boehner’s principles on immigration reform, his was already a losing battle.