Pres. Barack Obama will make a historic visit to Cuba “in the coming weeks,” the culmination of his efforts to end a half-century of tensions between Havana and Washington, a senior administration official said late Wednesday.
“We can confirm that tomorrow the administration will announce the president’s travel to Latin America, including Cuba, in the coming weeks,” the official said on condition of anonymity. ABC had first reported the news, saying that the trip would take place in late March.
The trip, the first one by a sitting President since 1928, immediately drew fire from the conservatives.
Would @tedcruz visit #Cuba? No, “as long as the Castros are in power.” https://t.co/tZiz7EBNZC #GOPTownHall https://t.co/lv5v2fTiyg— CNN (@CNN) February 18, 2016
But apparently the President did not think that was enough to sufficiently get the conservative riled up enough, so his White House Press Secretary also made this announcement:.@marcorubio responds to @POTUS’ plan to visit to #Cuba. #GOPTownHall https://t.co/5Nlsme7EA8 https://t.co/Iz2L2lkEb9— CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) February 18, 2016
President Barack Obama is preparing for a fierce battle with the Senate over the Supreme Court vacancy, but he’s not planning to attend Justice Antonin Scalia’s funeral — a decision that puzzled even some of his allies and incensed conservative media.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest revealed the president’s plans during the daily briefing, saying Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will go to the Supreme Court on Friday “to pay their respects to Justice Scalia” while the justice lies in repose in the Great Hall. Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden, who share Scalia’s Catholic faith, will be at the services instead.
I don't blame the President for not going to the funeral.
I mean could you imagine trying to make small talk about a guy who you disagreed with on almost EVERY topic?
The ridiculous part is---If the President had gone to the funeral, conservative heads would explode and they would have acted like he was spitting on Scalia. He doesn't go---they act like he is spitting on Scalia. Win, win.
ReplyDeleteExactly right.
DeleteScalia was a politician and a public servant but he wasn't a Head of State.
DeleteUmmm, Hello! I'm sure this visit was planned MONTHS/YEARS ago! No one foresaw Scalia going to hell!
DeleteThat is why we have a VP to do things that the POTUS is unable to do, for whatever REASON, he is the Fucking POTUS!
Of course they will whine, they always do. If he had canceled they would of found a excuse to bitch about that also,too! Fuck them all.
I hope the POTUS does all he can in his "Bucket" year ;-D
Where was the outrage a decade or so ago when Illinois Governor George Ryan (R)led
ReplyDeletea group to Cuba? Spent some time with the Castros and loaded up on cigars.
I read a list (not sure where) of what president attended a justice's funeral, and which VP had, etc. It is certainly within the President's protocol to send his Catholic VP. He and the First Lady are paying their respects tomorrow. When was the last State of the Union Scalia attended?
ReplyDeleteHe rarely attended a State of the Union address. In 2013 he called it "a childish spectacle". So much for his belief in the Constitution.
DeleteScalia wasn't the nicest guy on the Supreme Court! Check the facts! The media is being kind to him now, but I think that will change as time moves along.
DeleteThe only kind things I can say about him include the fact he had a great sense of humor and I loved watching the interview that he and the elderly female currently serving on the Court did together. I can't think of her name - but, she had two last names! They hunted together and enjoyed each other's company, but didn't agree on politics - so, didn't discuss the subject.
Fat Tony was as corrupt as they come. Questions are being asked about who paid for his private flight to that expensive hunting lodge, and who paid for the visit. Who ese was there, Dickless Cheney? They were BFFs.
DeleteSupreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Scalia had an odd friendship over the years, proof you CAN put politics aside and still be civil. Those days went the way of the typewriter, and it's kind of sad.
DeleteIf they aren't going to vote on a nominee then hopefully another conservative judge will die
ReplyDeleteNo one has mentioned the Secret Service and security. In today's highly crazy environment, the Secret Service might not have been too crazy about the President appearing in the Cathedral at a specific time, for a specific length of time. By paying his respects at the SCOTUS tomorrow, the security situation would be much more manageable. I don't know this was a major consideration, but it seems like one to me.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth 44
Hadn't thought of that. Great point!
DeleteIsn't it sad that Obama is probably in more danger in this country then he will be in Cuba?
DeleteI have zero objection to President and Mrs. Obama attending the funeral. Security, etc. would be a heightened situation, I would think!
ReplyDeleteLike him going to Cuba! Damn, but he is an outstanding POTUS! Cruz is so damned wrong and the young, naïve kid also running for POTUS are idiots!
Think the above comment forgot to include the word 'not' - as in "I have zero objection to President and Mrs. Obama 'not' attending the funeral!
DeleteOf course they'd complain if President Obama went, and complain because he didn't go. Can't win.
ReplyDeleteHowever, one would think that Cruz especially would be happy that his father's fellow Cubans have a chance to enjoy some benefits and freedoms with POTUS' visit. But, no, Rafael and son Ted only care about those who got away. They don't care about the oppressed in Cuba; they'd rather things stay the same.
For the Cruzes, it's all about them.
Castro's biggest sin --and the rationale for the trade embargo--was nationalizing assets of U.S. corporations and offering to make good with I.O.U.s (Cuban govt. bonds). Nobody cared about Communism (see Walmart) or human rights abuses (see our friends the Saudi Royals).
DeleteThis country is full of companies desperate to export to Cuba.
I wonder if Cruz Sr. pays taxes, or is his church tax exempt? Is that his means of support, or does he have a REAL job? Cruz and Rubio have REAL jobs, but do not spend much time actually working at them.
DeleteIf you believe the media, America is so partisan-ridden, it could very well split apart, with violence -- the progressive lead is very uncertain, if you believe the latest Polls with every candidate except Trump beating Hillary by many points.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.electionprojection.com/latest-polls/
The malice against not just a mandated President, but governing itself is sickening. The question is not where this endless & escalating, vicious & regressive thinking will stop, but how... with Fox, right-wing internet sites & GOP candidates, & their "passionate" supporters fanning the flames.
and now 1%er Bloomberg threatens to "take over" for the good of the country and "become a CEO/president" bought & brought to us by his rich cronies.
Alternet just now:
Corporate Shills Already Have Their Pom Poms Out for Billionaire Michael Bloomberg Jumping Into Presidential Race
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/michael-bloomberg-classic-billionaire-centrist?akid=13987.1075399.4mluSL&rd=1&src=newsletter1050947&t=8
What really cracks me up is the fact both Trump and Bloomberg think the USA is run like business! It's NOT!
DeletePlus, Bernie keeps using the term 'revolution'! Total crap - he could have found a much better word!
DeleteNational President:
ReplyDeleteTrump vs. Sanders Quinnipiac Sanders 48, Trump 42
Cruz vs. Sanders Quinnipiac Sanders 49, Cruz 39
Rubio vs. Sanders Quinnipiac Sanders 47, Rubio 41
Bush vs. Sanders Quinnipiac Sanders 49, Bush 39
Kasich vs. Sanders Quinnipiac Sanders 45, Kasich 41
Trump vs. Clinton Quinnipiac Clinton 44, Trump 43
Cruz vs. Clinton Quinnipiac Cruz 46, Clinton 43
Rubio vs. Clinton Quinnipiac Rubio 48, Clinton 41
Bush vs. Clinton Quinnipiac Bush 44, Clinton 43
Kasich vs. Clinton Quinnipiac Kasich 47, Clinton 39
But this is what is very disturbing!!
After all Obama has done, the Democrats sure aren't getting the news out. What a good brainwashing job the right-wing has done. Tell lies enough and they become truths.
President Obama Job Approval Rasmussen Reports Disapprove 50, Approve 49
President Obama Job Approval Gallup
Disapprove 50, Approve 47
President Obama Job Approval USA Today/Suffolk Disapprove 51, Approve 40
Direction of Country USA Today/Suffolk
Wrong Track 63, Right Direction 27
I don't believe these polls - I know too many folks that approve and respect President Obama and the job he has done!
DeleteThe Republicans and media are horrible - they are currently doing everything in their power to tear Hillary Clinton apart and down!
As President Obama won both times in spite of all the crap the Republicans threw out there against him - they are doing the same thing now to Hillary Clinton!
I think Hillary Clinton will win and can hardly wait to see the Republicans eat crow AGAIN!
A Hillary Clinton/ Rafael Castro ticket has even less of a chance.
DeleteNow a Sanders/Clinton ticket might be even stronger since many that don't like her as President would accept her as Vice President and Clinton supporters would be happy to have her on the ticket, even as a VP choice.
Primary polls are quite worthless. There's a lot of "fake voting" in them, as each side tries to give it to a candidate they feel is easy to beat in a national election, e.g., a Democrat replies and pretends to be a Republican and votes for Trump or Bush so that the Democratic nominee can win.
ReplyDeleteWorthless? Not completely.. They aren't always accurate but they can provide useful information.
DeleteI agree 12:45 PM Whenever I get a call with questions for polls, I always answer exactly the opposite of my take on things and people/candidates or projected - possible candidates!
DeleteI'm so sick of polls! Don't believe them at all. Plus, the media goes by the polls and they are truly screwing things up!
Donald Trump winning? Forget about it! He'll never be POTUS!
He doens't want to upstage the deceased or cause more security hassles for those who will attend, seems normal to me.
ReplyDeleteFor which he will be blamed.
DeleteWow this is head spinning news !! and now the pope? and apple? and cuba? 2 candidates with Cuban roots? and bundys in undies and and and and and political entertainment galore. Pass the popcorn.
ReplyDeleteLoved the bundys in undies comment.
DeleteObama Following Precedent By Not Attending Scalia's Funeral
ReplyDeletehttp://crooksandliars.com/2016/02/obama-following-precedent-not-attending
OT...I despise Trump and don't give a flip about the pope, but I find it ironic that the pope is critical of Trump regarding the wall, but hasn't said a word about Trump's divorces or infidelities. Trump won't win this feud but he should, imho. The Vatican should tend to its own issues, which are numerous.
ReplyDeleteI think that Pope Francis' statement about Trump needs to be seen in the context of his visit to Mexico and the border - where the statement was made. The pope's point, and a valid one that could be extrapolated to include most of the GOP, is that Christianity is about treating people as we would want to be treated. Not the Old Testament religion being yakked about by the fake Christian fundamentalists and 99% of GOP politicians.
DeleteBeaglemom
He apparently thinks it's perfectly Christian of Ted Cruz to bomb the Middle East flat.
DeleteAh, but the President will be paying his respects at the supreme court when Scalia is there, lying in state.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't matter what Barack Obama does or does not do, say, appoint or if he pisses sitting down, the Republicans will still go ape shit. Their party is dying, they know it and they can't croak or do anything else for that matter with a whisker of fucking dignity.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm going against the grain here but....I think President Obama should go to the funeral and I think he should read a eulogy. No one does those things as well as Mr. Obama does - no one. He would show the country how to rise above the petty politics and ridiculous conspiracy stories and be and look like a statesman.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to say this: I'm disappointed by his not going.
I welcome differing opinions.
Meh, I think he did the right thing. Often times the VP attends low-level events and funerals so I'm all for letting Biden handle this.
DeleteIt would be different it it would have been one of the Justices appointed by Obama, but Scalia was someone else's political appointee so I believe that he didn't deserve a Presidential recognition at his funeral.
@1:59 - I respect your right to a differing opinion, but I'm glad the President will mourn Scalia privately with the First Lady. VP Biden is Catholic so it fits.
DeleteNah, he should go a filibuster while reading Dr Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham.
DeleteWhat's he going to say?
DeleteScalia loved his Mother.
Anything else and he'll be called out as a liar and worse.
Why should he go? If he did, the drooling cross-eyed right wing goober parade would scream about some imaginary insult the President caused by his very presence.
ReplyDeleteOMGZ, the Muslin Usurper didn't wear the big hat with the feathers and march with the KoC! OMGZ, he didn't participate in every nuance, custom, and tradition of the very Catholic funeral Mass blah blah blah.
I'm sure Scalia will find his way to his eternal resting place without any help from President Obama.
I am glad he is sending Biden as appropriate for Scalia's stature. 're Scalia wearing the martyr cap at his inauguration. Scalia was so rude.
ReplyDeleteOh NO!
ReplyDeleteNow I suppose the Republican legislators as well as Fox News, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and all the rest of their ilk
are going to talk bad about our President?
Oh NO!
He's not going, because the constitution clearly states, when a Supreme Court Justice dies in the last year of a President's term in office, the next duly sworn and voted in President should attend. Yep, you read it here first, folks.
ReplyDelete(This was meant as snark, any resemblance to real life or fiction is purely coincidental).
All joking aside, I'm glad he's sending VP and Professor Biden to represent him. The RWNJ network's all twisted like a pretzel over this, and "Tonin", as his close friend used to call him, won't even know who did or didn't show up. I think the family understands and would feel honored to have the Bidens. I wonder how many Scalias showed for Beau Biden's funeral?
Am I the only one to find the fact that the media is so quick to report on all the conspiracy theorists speculating about Obama being behind Scalia's death but no speculation whatsoever about who the "friend" is that went with him. Whoever it was should be identified. Why the secrecy?
ReplyDeleteThat ranch as a reputation.
DeleteI think the young girl he was bonking panicked when he died and put that pillow over his face to cover it and then ran out to report the death. Then they just left it there and covered all trace of his activities.
I'll bet his family were aware of his reasons for this hunting trip too, which is yet another reason they didn't want an autopsy. Would do to find Viagra or something else in his tox report.
ALMOST every topic? I'm sure it is EVERY topic. I don't blame him for not attending either. He'll be criticized both ways - if he did attend, he'd be branded as a hypocrite
ReplyDeleteThey've already said no matter who he nominates they'll block it.
ReplyDeleteThat's spitting on Scalia and the Constitution he loved and upheld.
Some still think Obama is a Muslim, yet they insist he should go to a Catholic service for a man that was disrespectful of him and the office he held.
There is nothing Obama could do that would make the Republicans respect him, be civil or even pretend to work with him. So why should he bother?
If I were him I'd do exactly what he's doing: send Joe and get on with my job.