Monday, January 20, 2025
Biden betrays Cuba
The Biden presidency is going out with a bang, from cutting sentences without regard for victims to taking Cuba off the terrorism list. For many of us, President Biden has a lot, not a little, of ‘splaining to do.
What were they thinking? Let’s check the story:
In a last-minute move before he leaves office next week, President Joe Biden removed Cuba from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism, lifted sanctions on companies run by Cuba’s military and again suspended a provision in a law that allows Cuban Americans to seek compensation for confiscated property on the island.
The three measures announced Tuesday were described as “unilateral” actions taken by President Biden as a “gesture of good will” to facilitate a deal mediated by the Catholic Church that would lead to the release of Cuban political prisoners, including people who took part in the island-wide July 11, 2021, demonstrations, a senior administration official told reporters.
In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, the Cuban Foreign Ministry said Cuba’s leader told Pope Francis in a letter earlier this month of the decision to release 553 people convicted of “several crimes that are punishable by law.”
My father’s cousin spent 14 years in a Cuban political prison. So I’m all in support of releasing men (and women) in Cuba’s jails. It sounds to me that we went too far in these moves.
According to news reports, it was an act of good will. An act of good will for what? What else did we demand? It sounds like we gave and they took.
It’s reminiscent of President Obama opening a U.S. Embassy, doing the wave with Raul Castro in a baseball game in Havana and opening up Cuba to U.S. tourists. What did the U.S. get out of that Obama deal? I can’t see anything.
The Biden move is also suspending Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, a provision that allows Americans to sue a company if it is benefiting from property confiscated by the Cuban government without compensation.
Without compensation? Stealing someone’s property without consequences?
What’s next for Cuban people? Nothing until President Trump and Secretary Marco Rubio bring back some sanity to our relationship with the outlaw state in the island.
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Biden betrays Cuba - American Thinker https://t.co/3eKgvWKadi
— Silvio Canto. Jr. (@silvio_canto) January 20, 2025
A word about January 20
On January 20th 1981, Ronald Reagan was sworn in as the 40th president of the United States. A few minutes later, the 52 hostages held at the U.S. embassy in Iran were released……ending the Iranian Hostage Crisis……it was the first day of a very impressive two term presidency…..
Happy # 91 Camilo Pascual. He pitched most his career for the original Washington Senators who became the Minnesota Twins in 1961. As a Washington Senator, Pascual pitched for very bad teams. It got better when the team moved to Minnesota and the Twins became a perennial contender with a young Harmon Killebrew, power hitter Bob Allison, the very good lefty Jim Kaat and fellow Cubans Tony Oliva & Zoilo Versalles. His numbers were great with the Twins: 20-11 in 1962 and 20-9 in 1963. He led the league in strikeouts 3 years in a row. In other words, he was one of the best right handed pitchers in baseball. Overall, he won 176 games with a very good 3.63 career ERA.
On this day in 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated for the 4th time.
George H.W. Bush, or # 41, was inaugurated on this day in 1989. After his death in 2018, I wrote this post: The 3 times that I was very happy that George H.W. Bush was around….
George W. Bush, or # 43, was inaugurated on this day in 2001. In 2009, I wrote this post: A little thanks to Pres. Bush!
1981: What were you doing when Governor Reagan became Pres Reagan?
Do you remember what you were doing that sunny January day in 1981?
I was driving some colleagues between Saltillo and Monterrey in the north of Mexico. It was an isolated road but ideal for picking up the ceremony and speech over WOAI-AM of San Antonio, Texas. It came in clearly in our car radio!
Later, we got to the hotel in Saltillo and heard that the Iran hostages had been released.
Quite a morning, from the new president to the release of the hostages.
A post from 2006 about President Reagan and that day in 1981
25 years ago, I was on a business trip in Northern Mexico. At noon, I picked up Pres. Reagan's inauguration ceremony on the radio. It was a wonderful moment. Carter was out. Reagan was in. Weakness was gone. Leadership was in.
Later that day, the Iranians released the US hostages. It was one of those split screen moments. On one side, the new President at a ball. On the other side, US hostages boarding a plane.
Pres. Reagan is getting a lot of good press from historians. He looks better and better.
1) common sense, and
2) a strong belief in the American people and free markets.
A few years ago, I bought an audio tape of Reagan speeches. It is great. He inspires me as much today as he did that day 25 years ago.
We remember Johnny Oates (1946-2004)
As a manager, Oates spent 3 seasons with the Orioles and then led the Rangers to 3 AL West titles in 1996, 1998 & 1999.
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1981: President Reagan took over
1981: The Iran hostages released
Was there a connection? We will never know but my guess is that the Iranian understood that a President Reagan would act differently than President Carter.
Happy # 91 Camilo Pascual
The great Camilo Pascual was born in La Habana, or Havana Cuba, on this day in 1934.
As a young kid, my favorite Cuban baseball player was Camilo Pascual. He pitched most his career for the original Washington Senators who became the Minnesota Twins in 1961.
As a Senator, Pascual pitched for very bad teams. It got better when the team moved to Minnesota and the Twins became a perennial contender with a young Harmon Killebrew, power hitter Bob Allison, the very good lefty Jim Kaat and fellow Cubans Tony Oliva & Zoilo Versalles.
His numbers were great with the Twins: 20-11 in 1962 and 20-9 in 1963. He led the league in strikeouts 3 years in a row. In other words, he was one of the best right handed pitchers in baseball.
Overall, he won 176 games with a very good 3.63 career ERA. He would have easily won 230 games with a better team!
We say happy birthday to one of my heroes. I don't know what Camilo is doing these days. I read a few years ago that he was scouting for the Twins in Latin America.
Happy birthday to the great Camilo. I hope that you really enjoy your birthday!
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.