Posted on 1/12/2006, 2:05:32 AM by SJackson
The only bad thing about attending the Capital One Bowl in Orlando earlier this month was that it was held in Florida.
The less money I can spend in a state that doesn't know how to hold fair elections, the better. Come to think of it, perhaps that's why fewer than expected Badger fans made the trip this year.
Well, the Bush boys George the president (thanks in no small part to Florida) and brother Jeb the Florida governor are fixing things once again. This time it's not an election, but a baseball tournament.
The first-ever World Baseball Classic is slated for early March. Organized by Commissioner Bud Selig's office and the players' association, the classic will feature 16 teams from around the world. Games will be take place here in the United States (Florida, Arizona and California), in Puerto Rico and Japan.
But the U.S. Treasury Department has decided that Cuba cannot take part because for them to do so would violate our silly embargo against the Fidel Castro-led nation.
Now that's a shame because Cuba, no matter what one thinks of Castro, arguably is home to the most elite baseball program in the world. As George Vecsey wrote in the New York Times over the weekend, a baseball classic without Cuba isn't a baseball classic at all.
Ironically, the United States doesn't bar its athletes from competing with Cubans in other sports contests the Olympics, for instance. But since the countries that will take part in the Baseball Classic will get a percentage of the gate, the Treasury Department has decided that violates the embargo.
Castro even offered to donate Cuba's share of the proceeds to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, but the Bush administration said no. Selig and others are trying to appeal to the president himself, but so far no luck.
What hasn't been widely noticed is that the large Cuban national population in Florida, a backbone of Jeb Bush's political support in the all-important Miami area, is stridently opposed to Cuba's participation in the games.
The president is loath to upset those anti-Castro Cubans and cause brother Jeb some political problems by overturning his Treasury Department's decision.
The baseball decision is just one in a series of increasingly harsh actions this administration has taken against Cubans. As many from Madison involved in humanitarian activities have come to know, it's hard even to get medicine and other supplies to the country these days because of the rift with Castro.
One would think that a country like ours could rise above playing petty politics with baseball games no less. But that's obviously becoming more than one can expect.
A waste of good words.
You forgot the Barf Alert!!!
I think somebody should invent a "Disgust-O-Meter". That piece would register high on the scale.
It says Capital Times.
Unlike the haning chad who wrote this article, maybe Bush doesn't like murderous, big mouth commies - Cubans voters aside. I would like to have seen Bush's reaction to that thug sticking the machine gun in Elian's face as he hid in the closet. Rummie's, Condi's and Cheney's, too. I'll never get that horrible picture out of my mind.
2) This policy represents another thing I like about Pres. Bush.
3) the large Cuban national population in Florida, a backbone of Jeb Bush's political support in the all-important Miami area, is stridently opposed to Cuba's participation in the games.
A shocker. I'm guessing that if someone had stolen MY property, murdered 100,000 of my countrymen, and persecuted MY church as Castro has, I too would be opposed to the authorities in my new home pretending the man was a legitimate political leader—as opposed to a decrepit old gangster.
I'm still fairly new on FR. I haven't seen the Capital Times posted much. I wish that thug Castro would croak and then we could invite the Cuban players here for a competitive series.
Crying Baby with Full Tummy Alert. Projectile vomiting of strained peas imminent.
You forgot the BARF ALERT
See 6, It's the Capital Times, the progressive voice of Madison, WI.
Are the taxes high in Wisconsin?
BTW, if you check the link, generally 4 or 5 in terms of state and local taxes, they drop to 8 or 10 when federal taxes are factored in.
Some of Us FReepers were never informed (warned) of such facts.
Just trying to figure out why Badgers fans didn't go as much this year. LOL!!! I better stop thinking so hard and remember that it is Bush's fault and this "journalist" was right. All is right with the universe again.
The loud braying of the usual liberal jackass, who knows absolutely nothing about life in Cuba.
My message to this loser
Cry me a river commie. When Castro goes, that regime falls like dominoes The people will kiss the feet of Americans when they come in to feed those lost souls. Can’t wait to see what you write when that happens, right, LOL!
Be part of the solution, not the problem.
Amen, amigo!
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