Expect Rep. Kristi Noem and Senator John Thune to join the mostly Republican and entirely hypocritical bluster against President Barack Obama's historic declaration that it's time to normalize U.S. relations with Cuba. Senator-Elect Mike Rounds might go there, too, but then his friend and donor Jeff Sveen will remind him that he's been waiting over a decade to sell Hutterite turkeys in Havana. At that point, Rounds votes aye on lifting the embargo.
Our next junior Senator will see the same light our President made clear today: we've dealth with worse regimes with more openness than the failed embargo we've kept on Cuba:
...[T]hough this policy has been rooted in the best of intentions, no other nation joins us in imposing these sanctions, and it has had little effect beyond providing the Cuban government with a rationale for restrictions on its people. Today, Cuba is still governed by the Castros and the Communist Party that came to power half a century ago.
Neither the American, nor Cuban people are well served by a rigid policy that is rooted in events that took place before most of us were born. Consider that for more than 35 years, we’ve had relations with China –- a far larger country also governed by a Communist Party. Nearly two decades ago, we reestablished relations with Vietnam, where we fought a war that claimed more Americans than any Cold War confrontation [President Barack Obama, statement on Cuba policy changes, 2014.12.17].
Relations with China... Rounds saw the benefits of those relations right here in South Dakota, where millions of dollars from Chinese investors made his friends rich and apparently created so many jobs that neither he nor any of his rich friends can agree on a number. Rounds will apply the same thinking to voting to end the Cuba embargo... if we can get the GOP leadership to bring a bill to that effect.
What prevents the Obama administration from suing to reverse Helms-Burton?
http://thehill.com/policy/international/277573-obama-waives-helms-burton-law-sanctions-against-cuba
Rounds was on Bill Janklow's idea of public radio today: he's still a clueless crook.
http://listen.sdpb.org/post/dakota-midday-senator-elect-mike-rounds
Rounds won't do anything unless it benefits him and the Republican party. To heck with anybody else.
What makes anyone think that Rounds will be any different than Thune or Noem? He will vote the way the "management" tells him to vote! No SD representation to see here, folks! Move along!
Larry, statehood for Cuba?
There may be a couple of nice Jewish families there, so Rounds may be forced to step up to send Kosher meat (do we still have that kosher beef kill in South Dakota?) along with other agriculture products to Cuba.
Make it so.
Rounds will do as he's told to do.
That packing plant was just across the border in Gordon. It seems like being Kosher doesnt have a thing to do with being legal.
http://www.thefencepost.com/news/7633405-113/plant-packing-beef-gordon
No ifs, ands, or butts
The Blindman
I would bet that the equipment at the Gordon plant is better than the equipment Rounds purchased for Aberdeen with Chinese moolah.
The rigidity of the Republican party will drive them into wandering the wastelands like Moses with the Israelites for another 40 years after their so-called "power-trip" they are about to embark on in Congress. Too bad they can't be thoughtful Repubs like Tsitrian and some others!!
Mike Rounds would be the last member of the Senate to have moral standing in refusing relations with Cuba. His criminal enterprise in South Dakota benefited immensely from Red Chinese investments. I hope someone in the Senate stands up and calls on Mikey to explain his duplicity.
Cubans might invest in prisons if the state wants to go on a prison building spree.
Inmates could roll South DaCuban cigars out of dried corn leaves. Put state resources to work for a value added export product.