Some Miami-Dade Cuban Republicans Dream of the Good Ole Days of Batista

"This poll shows there are two Cuban-American communities,” said the pollster. “There is the older exile community that has dominated the discussion about Cuba policy for years and there is the emergence of the younger generation, the Cuban-American community of the present and future." "Poll: Cuban-Americans split on Obama’s Cuba policy."

This "older exile community" were apparently happy to live under the "terrorist" dictatorship of

Fulgencio Batista, in full Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar (born January 16, 1901, Banes, Cuba—died August 6, 1973, Marbella, Spain), soldier and political leader who twice ruled Cuba—first in 1933–44 with an efficient government and again in 1952–59 as a dictator, jailing his opponents, using terrorist methods, and making fortunes for himself and his associates. . . .

[Batista] returned as a brutal dictator, controlling the university, the press, and the Congress, and he embezzled huge sums from the soaring economy. In 1954 and ’58 the country held presidential elections that, though purportedly “free,” were manipulated to make Batista the sole candidate. His regime was finally toppled by the rebel forces led by Fidel Castro, who launched their successful attack in the fall of 1958.

"Encyclopædia Britannica, Fulgencio Batista."




Weekly Roundup

"Weekly Roundup: Questions on Jobs, Jeb and Marriage."




FlaGOP apparatchik laff riot

In an "animated Christmas card comes with jingling bells" the FlaGOP apparatchiks who lost their legal fight over disclosure of its communications with GOP elected officials about redistricting, make fun about the whole thing . . . The docs, however, may shed more light on the legislative map and could cause some heartburn for the GOP leadership in the next legal fight over the Senate maps." "GOP consultants have some fun and send out a doc-shredding Christmas card."




"Florida has a fracking problem"

Aaron Deslatte: "Florida has a fracking problem. Voters want cheap energy, environmental protection, cleaner water, lower taxes and less government in their lives." "Florida could have fracking problem on its hands."




Scott's shameless job claims

"Gov. Rick Scott says he won a race to create 700,000 jobs in seven years, a central promise of his 2010 campaign, but by his own words he moved the finish line." "Scott says he hit jobs mark — but he changed the mark." But the dead enders see it differently: "Rick Scott Ends 2014 on a High Note With -- What Else? -- Jobs."




Battle of the pipsqueaks

Update: "Marco Rubio, Rand Paul trade shots over Cuba on TV, Twitter, Facebook"; "Marco Rubio: Rand Paul taking his cues from Obama on Cuba." "The disagreement between Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rand Paul (R-KY) over America's changing relationship with Cuba is escalating quickly."

Rubio was among the loudest opponents to President Barack Obama's announcement that the United States would begin normalizing relations with its Caribbean neighbor. After Paul said he supported the change, Rubio lashed out, saying Paul "has no idea what he's talking about."

"Rand Paul Slams Marco Rubio As Cuba Feud Escalates." See also "Conservatives Just Forgot 150 Years Of Cuba History."




"Stubborn, not smart"

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "By turning down more than $50 billion from Washington over the next decade to expand health-care coverage, Florida's Republican legislative leaders have been stubborn, not smart. They've let their aversion to the Affordable Care Act, where the funding offer originated, trump their compassion and common sense." "Expand health coverage in Fla."




Herald Editors jumping with joy

The Jeb Bush cheerleaders on the Miami Herald editorial board - an historically spineless group if there ever was one - gleefully report that

Former Gov. Jeb Bush all but formally announced last week that he will enter the 2016 presidential race, fixing Florida ever more firmly in the center of the quadrennial political drama and — more important — ensuring that a pragmatic, experienced conservative will be heard.

"Jeb Bush, on the brink."




Enough already

Even the legal scholars on the Tampa Trib editorial board recognize it's "long past time that Scott give up any hope of prevailing in the courts and work within the confines of the court rulings." "Editorial: Scott should end costly legal fight to keep flawed drug-testing law."