The White House: Released President Obama's statement on Cuba, here what this blogger found, " Proudly, the United States has supported democracy and human rights in Cuba through these five decades. We have done so primarily through policies that aimed to isolate the island, preventing the most basic travel and commerce that Americans can enjoy anyplace else.  And though 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.....Now, where we disagree, we will raise those differences directly -– as we will continue to do on issues related to democracy and human rights in Cuba.  But I believe that we can do more to support the Cuban people and promote our values through engagement.  After all, these 50 years have shown that isolation has not worked.  It’s time for a new approach. "

Lets Get Real:

  

Thank goodness President Obama was not President during the Cold War, the Berlin Wall would still be up, the above argument could have been made about Russia during the Cold War,  this looks like a 100% victory for the Castros of Cuba.   The President really does not care if he harms the Democratic brand in 2016, one would not be shocked if Democrats who have a mind to run 2016 and need Florida to win will seek distance between themselves and the Oval Office.   Also lets recall a lot of the Cuban sanctions have a legal framework, IS Obama going to break US Law to get his policy forward.   The Oval Office has watched to much of the left wing West Wing TV series.   

The end of the freeze, Cuba and the US - The Old Cold War

BBC News: Reports " US and Cuba are to start talks to normalise diplomatic ties in a historic shift in relations between the two countries, say US officials. "

Lets Get Real:

Thus President Obama has his West Wing ( TV Series ) moment, the thawing of the relationship between Cuba and the USA.  It can be expected that the US gets nothing out of this deal, while Cuba gets the removal of sanctions AND free access to the US. It's not the end of the Cold War as Reagan had, but after these many decades of icey relationship betweem the two nations there is a chance for understanding.    Lets see how long the Castro Regimes lasts if the Cuban people have free access to US media and see what they are missing out on.    As noted in the Reagan diaries the President looked for thawing in the relationship, its Obama turn to earn his Nobel Peace Price.

Tsarist Russia, USSR, now the fall of Putin's Russia - Greater Russian Crisis

Telegraph: Reports the following, " Russia risks Soviet-style collapse as rouble defence fails..'What is happening is a nightmare that we could not even have imagined a year ago,' says Russia's central bank "

Lets Get Real:

It would be ironic if President Putin was bought down by the loss of the rouble, thus Nicholas 11 was bought down by World War One and the lack of bread, Gorbachev was bought down when he reacted in a slow manner to the August Coup, is it the fate of the KGB Putin to be bought down by his own ego and bad economic policy.    After the end of the Cold War it was thought that Russia could be bought in to a normal relationship with the West, it didn't work, Russia it seems requires a strong leader, in that they got Putin, but that has lead to the invasion of the Crimea, the support of Russian rebels in East Ukraine, a constant threat to the the Baltic States.   Thus will the Russian Government have to stop Russians taking their money out of Russia, its the next logical step, one gets a feeling that a lot of Russians will be turning up in London.   House prices will go even higher!!  Thanks a lot President Putin. 

Putin's Economic Meltdown - Great Russia under Threat

Guardian: Reports the following on the death cycle of the Russian Rouble, " Rouble crashes to dramatic low amid frantic central bank rate rise..Russians left wondering whether the good times under Vladimir Putin are over as 17% interest rates fail to save the day "

Lets Get Real:

The West would have helped Russia before it took over the Crimea, allowed Russian rebels to shoot down a plane in East Ukraine, now it is in the interest of the West to see Russia go through this economic mess.    The West could make a deal with Putin, he gets out of Crimea and East Ukraine then the West will help the Russian rouble.  Of course there is the chance that Putin will want to shift the focus to the Baltic States, yes an attack on the Baltic States, members of NATO.   It is not new for politicians who are in trouble at home to seek an international crisis, the Russian economy of today is tied to the West, not the case in the time of the USSR.    The Russian economy can bleed, and that is a threat to Putin.  Watch this developing, trouble is ahead. 

Bush for President - 2016 Election

BBC News: Reports the following on the record of Jeb Bush as  Governor of Florida, " During two terms as governor of Florida, he overhauled the state's education system and pushed for substantial tax cuts."

Lets Get Real:

On record Jeb Bush can make a great argument, he reformed education in Florida and made assessment important in education, also he ran a conservative Republican Administration, he helped Bush 43 in winning the election in 2000, the Democrats will bound to bring up that and Iraq, they will try to get Jeb Bush to be critical of Iraq, the candidate should come back with a strong support for his brother and the Bush surge of 2007.   The growth of IS is down to President Obama and his failed policy in Iraq.   The interesting part is the havoc this will cause in the close relationship between Bill Clinton and Bush 41 and Bush 43, it should mean that its a clean race, much chance with the extreme left and righ in the US.   Also this could force Hillary Clinton to run at a more early stage.   This blog is waiting for those 2016 polls. 

Jeb Bush, the First Stage of the 2016 Race - 2016 Race

The New York Times: Reports the following on the early entry of Governor Jeb Bush in to the 2016 Presidential race, " Mr. Bush has for the moment frozen the so-called invisible primary. .."

Lets Get Real:

The above is the only nice thing that Governor Bush should expect from the liberal New York Times, if  Jeb Bush does win in 2016 he will become a political target for every liberal news outlet.   The Governor needs to win Iowa in 2016 and close down the process, if it becomes a fighting match then Bush could lose with the right of the Republican Party.   The Governor should be thinking about having a strong VP choice, a candidate who would want to run in either 2020 or 2024, your thinking that blog is mad to be going out that far, but if you think about it, Bush 41 won become he was the VP to Ronald Reagan and Gore nearly pulled it off in 2000, he would have won if he had won his own State.   Thus Jeb Bush has to think big, not his own two terms but for a term for his VP.   Let the polls start, its fun time.

Jeb Bush for President - 2016 Election

CNN - Politics: Reports the following on Jeb Bush. " Bush has had close ties to the Latino community throughout his life. He has a bachelor's degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas, spent part of his early career living in Venezuela and he speaks Spanish fluently. His wife was born in Mexico. "

Lets Get Real:

Governor Jeb Bush is the front runner for the Republicans when it comes to 2016, he was seen as the brighter of the Bush brothers, he has added to this by his interest in South America and his various personal developments, he can speak Spanish, his wife was born in Mexico, his family has gone through their own ups and downs.   Also when it comes to policy such as immigration, Bush is a liberal, that will be used to attack him in the race.   But as the Governor has stated he would rather win the general election and lose a primary race here and there.   This blog is supporting Governor Jeb Bush for President.