American links

[erudito]

Venezuela now has over 30,000 Cuban advisers.

Pointing out that every President since Nixon has vowed to reduce American dependency on foreign oil, while use of foreign oil has gone up and up.

Not a good photo moment for the Obama Administration.

Various dissidents around the world are beginning to prefer President Obama’s predecessor

Comments

Cuban advisers

[tcpip]

Beyond the conspiracy it seems that there's actually 40,000 mainly energy workers and medical staff.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/apr/06/cuban-advisers-bolster-venezuelan-regime/

Re: Cuban advisers

[erudito]

Presumably paid for by Venezuela--Cuba sure couldn't afford it.

Cuba has some success in health: apart from that, the main thing one would learn from Cuban advisers is economic control and political repression. Having lots of energy, aid and health workers also makes the military, security and political advisers less obvious.

Re: Cuban advisers

[tcpip]

Or training them on how to have a people's militia and how to ensure elected Presidents stay elected.

Re: Cuban advisers

[erudito]

Cuban advisers have no credibility in democratic governance. On the contrary, it is a fairly clear sign that you are thinking along different lines.

Dissent is patriotic

[tcpip]

But what the Tea Party is doing is beyond mere dissent. They are turning up to the seat of government, armed and calling for an overthrow of an elected goverment.

And imagine if it was a largely coloured protest movement!

Re: Dissent is patriotic

[erudito]

Nice piece from Tim Wise.

Yes, that is going beyond dissent. The question then becomes how to respond. A mixture of firmness on public order with enough response to isolate the more extreme elements is usually clever in these matters. Blanket dismissal is likely to anger and recruit, which is not good.

Re: Dissent is patriotic

[jordan179]

They are turning up to the seat of government, armed and calling for an overthrow of an elected goverment.

A few of them are carrying (legal) firearms, and they are calling for the "overthrow" at the ballot box of said elected government. The rights to bear arms, and of peacable assembly of this sort are explicitly guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution: Second and First Amendments, respectively.

And imagine if it was a largely coloured protest movement!

(*imagines it*)

Yes? It would still be constitutional, and legal.

Re: Dissent is patriotic

[tcpip]

I think you'll find advocacy to commit a crime is still illegal in the U.S. regardless of the constitution.

[jordan179]

That would be illegal -- if it went beyond rabble-rousing to actual conspiracy to commit some illegal act. Of course, that billboard has nothing in particular to do with the Tea Parties.