Obama in Cuba

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by noonereal

A monkey could identify Trump or Clinton (Bill) as a narcissist. This is not rocket science.

That said, I find it distasteful for someone that is professional to offer diagnosis without protocol.

You are agreeing with Whelly? Stop the presses!

[BlueStreak]

So, anyhow;

Someone please explain something to me: Why has opening trade and engaging in commerce which, as near as I can tell has long been a basic tenet of conservative economic ideology, suddenly become a repugnant thing to Conservatives?

I mean, it's not like the GOP has ever really opposed in any serious effort NAFTA, GATT, Chinas MFN status..........etc., etc. All of those things had to have Republican support to pass........

But, of late "free trade" suddenly becomes an intolerable evil, lain exclusively at the feet of "Liberals". Is it because the lemmings follow every single shape-shifting position of the day they put forth? I dunno, you're gonna have to help me on this one.

And, now that it's Cuba and Obama is the guy tearing down the barriers...........

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by bobabode

You are agreeing with Whelly? Stop the presses!

On the very rare occasion that Whelly is told to support a reasoned considered view, of course we will be in alignment.

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by noonereal

and what makes a narcissist ill equipped to be president as you clearly suggest.

Seems Bill did a fine job blow jobs and slime aside.

Abstraction problem. Depends on what the term 'a narcissist' is taken to signify. You said you knew all the stuff in my 'narcissistic leaders' link, but you would not have had to ask that question if you did. You seem to have dropped all the negatives out of your personal meaning of 'a narcissist.'

Basically, there's a spectrum. A little of it, under control, makes one optimistic, self-confident, etc. A lot of it makes one convinced that the most grandiose inflated self-image is literally true, and irrationally unable to handle criticism, liable to vindictive rage toward any who threatens one's self image, etc.

BTW, I challenge your description of Bill Clinton as a narcissist. He seems quite capable of empathy for others, and of self-criticism, behaviors typically impossible for genuine narcissists.

[whell]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

I think the rules need to be relaxed a bit on the remote diagnosis thing, when the person with the raging personality disorder is RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

It's not hyperbole when it's literally true.

Wouldn't the fact that the individual is running for prez make the production of proof more essential? Or would you prefer that the Dan Rather standard of proof be applied in all cases? Or does this lower standard only apply when we're taking about the Republican candidate?

If not, then show me evidence of this "literal" truth.

[whell]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

So, anyhow;

Someone please explain something to me: Why has opening trade and engaging in commerce which, as near as I can tell has long been a basic tenet of conservative economic ideology, suddenly become a repugnant thing to Conservatives?

I mean, it's not like the GOP has ever really opposed in any serious effort NAFTA, GATT, Chinas MFN status..........etc., etc. All of those things had to have Republican support to pass........

But, of late "free trade" suddenly becomes an intolerable evil, lain exclusively at the feet of "Liberals". Is it because the lemmings follow every single shape-shifting position of the day they put forth? I dunno, you're gonna have to help me on this one.

And, now that it's Cuba and Obama is the guy tearing down the barriers...........

A bit of a history lesson may be in order here. Yes, Dwight D. Eisenhower’s State Department imposed the first trade embargo on Cuba. The original embargo covered all U.S. exports to Cuba except for medicine and some foods. It was JFK that expanded the embargo to cover U.S. imports from Cuba and made it permanent. So, Cuba has been a bit more of a bi-partisan effort. And it still is. There are still some Dems who don't want to see the Castro regime - whether its Raul or Fidel - getting propped up.

Also, Cuba helped make the case for the embargo when Castro nationalized hundreds of US and foreign owned businesses in a single night.

[Rajoo]

Originally Posted by whell

Wouldn't the fact that the individual is running for prez make the production of proof more essential? Or would you prefer that the Dan Rather standard of proof be applied in all cases? Or does this lower standard only apply when we're taking about the Republican candidate?

If not, then show me evidence of this "literal" truth.

You want Trump to offer proof that he is a narcissist? To begin with (despite the fact that Trump is a pseudo politician), he will deny any such characterization let alone offer proof?

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by whell

A bit of a history lesson may be in order here. Yes, Dwight D. Eisenhower’s State Department imposed the first trade embargo on Cuba. The original embargo covered all U.S. exports to Cuba except for medicine and some foods. It was JFK that expanded the embargo to cover U.S. imports from Cuba and made it permanent. So, Cuba has been a bit more of a bi-partisan effort. And it still is. There are still some Dems who don't want to see the Castro regime - whether its Raul or Fidel - getting propped up.

So, why don't you think St. Ronnie's "Constructive Engagement" should be applied to or will work in Cuba? Neither Raul nor Fidel is long for this world. Don't you think it's a good idea for us to have toe sort of relationship with Cuba which could positively influence the transition? Or do you think that isolating Cuba, which has failed miserably over the last 57 years, will suddenly and magically begin to work?

[whell]

Originally Posted by Rajoo

You want Trump to offer proof that he is a narcissist? To begin with (despite the fact that Trump is a pseudo politician), he will deny any such characterization let alone offer proof?

No, read what I wrote again. I want the folks who are making the accusations to offer proof.

[CarlV]

Fidel sides with Republicans.

Fidel Castro has broken his silence over President Obama's Cuba visit in a damning letter published in state-run newspaper Granma.

Fidel, who handed power to his brother Raul a decade ago, said Cuba didn't need any gifts from the "empire".

He described Mr Obama's words of reconciliation as "syrupy" and warned they could give Cubans a heart attack.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-35911423

Carl