{"id":14339,"date":"2014-12-19T01:05:58","date_gmt":"2014-12-19T09:05:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=14339"},"modified":"2014-12-19T01:05:58","modified_gmt":"2014-12-19T09:05:58","slug":"open-thread12192014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2014\/12\/19\/open-thread12192014\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread–12\/19\/2014"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m writing for tomorrow, day 44.  This is my only article.  I\u2019m still mostly down, and having to fight the Care2 Glitch Monster last night cut into my sleep.  What\u2019s going to be your Christmas storm back east is coming in and it\u2019s going to be a nasty one.<\/font><\/p>\n

Jig Zone Puzzle<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s took me 4:31 (average 5:47).  To do it, click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

Short Takes<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

From NY Times<\/a>: <\/font>Following months of secret negotiations with the Cuban government, President Obama on Wednesday announced sweeping changes<\/a> to normalize relations with Cuba, a bold move that ends one of the most misguided chapters in American foreign policy.<\/p>\n

The administration\u2019s decision to restore full diplomatic relations, take steps to remove Cuba from the State Department list of countries that sponsor terrorism and roll back restrictions on travel and trade is a change in direction that has been strongly supported by this page<\/a>. The Obama administration is ushering in a transformational era for millions of Cubans who have suffered as a result of more than 50 years of hostility between the two nations.<\/p>\n

Mr. Obama could have taken modest, gradual steps toward a thaw. Instead, he has courageously gone as far as he can, within the constraints of an outmoded 1996 law that imposes stiff sanctions on Cuba in the pursuit of regime change.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese 50 years have shown that isolation has not worked,\u201d Mr. Obama said. \u201cIt\u2019s time for a new approach.\u201d<\/p>\n

I fully support Obama’s decision to do this. Needless to say, Republicans are using this as an occasion to promote hate.  See below.<\/font><\/p>\n

From Media Matters<\/a>: <\/font>Right-Wing Media React Angrily To Agreement With Cuba<\/p>\n

Triple Barf Bag Alert!!!<\/strong><\/font><\/p>\n

Revoltin’ Bolton<\/font><\/p>\n