Obama to announce sweeping changes in Cuba policy today!

[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.

[angus]

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.

I don't either, but if you regard the pope as a "religious leader" rather than a political one, then you must have slept through all your history classes.  The Roman Catholic church is a political organization, and the Bishop of Rome is its political leader.  In fact, the Vatican, although not a member of the United Nations general assembly, was granted Permanent Observerver State status long ago.  It never applied for membership in the UN, but make no mistake:  it is a political entity, and the pope is a political beast.  Even the mild-mannered Argentinian currently holding that title.  Popes have taken political positions for a couple of millenia, and Francis is no exception to that tradition.

Also, I'm sure he'll rest well tonight knowing that you think his position is "correct."

[angus]

Do we know who Obama is going to be appointing to be Ambassador to Cuba?

"Wanted:  Cuban-Americans who are not loyal Republicans to apply for ambassador position."

That should narrow it down.