Mediaboss Marketing

Washington Its the intramural D.C. squabble that blew up as quickly as an ocean rain squall: the Marco Rubio vs. Rand Paul Cuba Smackdown of 2014.

Why are two Republican senators, both probable presidential contenders, fighting over President Obamas decision to reopen relations with communist Cuba? Like lots of things in official Washington, its complicated. There are both personal and political reasons for the fight.

One thing is sure: Its bitter.

Kentucky Senator Paul doesnt know what hes talking about, says Senator Rubio.

Rubio is an isolationist who wants to retreat to our borders and perhaps build a moat, charges Paul.

Lets start with Rubios side of things. The Florida lawmaker and son of Cuban immigrants has been the face of GOP opposition to Mr. Obamas surprise Cuba move. Hes arguing that the United States will receive nothing for loosening travel restrictions and establishing other means of contact with Havana. The Castro regime will remain in place, its grip on power unaffected.

Its an issue that Rubio obviously cares deeply about. Its also historically very important to his state, where conservative Cuban-Americans have long been a powerful political bloc.

I dont care if the polls show that 99 percent of people believe we should normalize relations in Cuba. Id still believe that before we can normalize relations in Cuba, democracy has to come first, or at least significant steps towards democracy, Rubio said Wednesday.

Paul, for his part, is trying to carve out a niche as a Republican presidential contender with a different kind of foreign policy position. If theres a word that sums it up, its non-interventionist. Hes been skeptical of the virtue of deploying US power overseas in the past.

So he came out mildly in favor of the presidents actions. He said in a radio interview earlier this week that Obamas Cuba opening was probably a good idea and that the 60-year-old US embargo on trading with Cuba hasnt been effective.

See the original post here:
Marco Rubio vs. Rand Paul: Who's winning GOP Cuba policy smackdown? (+video)

Sen. Rand Paul took a shot at his colleague, Sen. Marco Rubio, on Twitter, slamming the Florida Republican for an isolationist view on Cuba.

Senator @marcorubio is acting like an isolationist who wants to retreat to our borders and perhaps build a moat. I reject this isolationism, Mr. Paul tweeted.

The two senators have traded a couple of barbs over differing views of President Obamas announced intent to normalize relations with Cuba. Mr. Rubio opposes the diplomatic outreach; Mr. Paul supports it.

SEE ALSO: Marco Rubio slams Rand Paul over Cuba: He has no idea what hes talking about

But after Mr. Paul came out in public support of smoothed relations, Mr. Rubio slammed his Kentucky colleague as having no idea what hes talking about, various media reported.

Mr. Paul then hit back, tweeting: Hey @marcorubio if the embargo doesnt hurt Cuba, why do you want to keep it?

He also called Mr. Rubio an isolationist in a separate Twitter message, and later tweeted: The United States trades and engages with other communist nations, such as China and Vietnam. So @marcorubio why not Cuba?

But Mr. Paul didnt end there. He also took to his Facebook page to criticize his Florida colleague.

He wrote, Talking Points Memo found: Senator Marco Rubio believes the embargo against Cuba has been ineffective, yet wants to continue perpetuating failed policies. After 50 years of conflict, why not try a new approach? The United States trades and engages with other communist nations, such as China and Vietnam. Why not Cuba? I am a proponent of peace through commerce and I believe engaging Cuba can lead to positive change.

He also put on his Facebook post similar hits that he tweeted: Seems to me, Senator Rubio is acting like an isolationist who wants to retreat to our borders and perhaps build a moat. I reject this isolationism. Finally, lets be clear that Senator Rubio does not speak for the majority of Cuban-Americans. A recent poll demonstrates that a large majority of Cuban-Americans actually support normalizing relations between our countries.

Read the original:
Rand Paul trolls Marco Rubio on Twitter as Cuba feud turns nasty

January 2015 Progressives at Maryland Live! Casino
New, Bigger and Better Progressives with 3 new ways to win: Open a Chain Reaction pod and everyone entered in the drawing wins; Open a Mystery Wheel pod and ...

By: Maryland Live! Casino

Read this article:
January 2015 Progressives at Maryland Live! Casino - Video

The All Progressives Congress has strongly condemned the acts of intolerance by Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, who has been working hard to obliterate the APC presence and also victimize the partys members in the state.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the Governors actions, when he visited Kashere, the hometown of his predecessor, Senator Danjuma Goje, on Thursday were despicable and barbaric, and should be condemned by all right thinking people.

During his visit, Dankwambo personally ordered the removal of all APC billboards and posters in the town, ordered the police and the army to break into Senator Gojes family house, where they broke down doors, teargassed and arrested his relations, including children.

The Governor also ordered the same security forces to break into the family house of Senator Gojes wife, where they similarly destroyed doors and teargassed the occupants, including the 90-year-old father of Senator Gojes wife and the Senators wifes 70-year-old stepmother, while all her sisters and brothers were arrested.

All those arrested, numbering over 50, are now being detained at the police headquarters in the state capital, Gombe, while the Governor has also ordered the arrest of anyone who tries to secure bail for those in detention. In Gombe town, the Governor has gone further to order the police to remove all APC billboards and posters in the town. In other words, as far as the Governor is concerned,it is a criminal offence for anyone to belong to the APC in his state.

This is intolerance of the highest order and negates the tenets of democracy. It is important for the Governors party, the PDP, which has been professing political tolerance, to call the emerging little dictator to order before he destroys the state in a fit of primaeval rage, it said.

The APC described as a cruel irony the fact that the PDP, which has been busy criticizing the APC for fielding an old man as a presidential candidate, is home to a man who was born in post-independent Nigeria but has chosen to behave like a 19th century emperor.

See the article here:
Dankwambos attack on APC despicable, barbaric -Party

Tony Abbott has declared that his governments disappointing result in the WA Senate election will only increase his resolve to scrap the carbon and mining taxes.

The Prime Minister has also described the dive in support for the Liberal Party at Saturdays Senate election re-run as a typical by-election result.

Primary votes for the Liberal and Labor parties have dropped about 5 per cent in the count thus far, while the Greens have picked up a swing of about 6 per cent.

Clive Palmers Palmer United Party, which outspent the Liberal Party by nearly 10 to one on television advertising, gained a swing of about 7.5 per cent.

Advertisement

The rerun will give the Liberals two seats and Labors controversial Senate candidate Joe Bullock has won a seat.

The swing to the Greens is expected to see Scott Ludlam retain his seat, with the Palmer United Party, Labors Louise Pratt and Liberal Linda Reynolds fighting it out for the fifth and six seats.

The ABCs election analyst Antony Green has predicted PUP candidate Dio Wang and Ms Reynolds will claim the final two spots. On this result, the government would need to negotiate with Mr Palmers party in order to pass its legislation in the Senate.

Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, where the government is negotiating a free trade agreement, Mr Abbott said there was nothing in Saturdays vote to suggest that the voters have suddenly decided they love the carbon or mining tax.

Asked if he would move for a double dissolution on the carbon tax, Mr Abbott said he expected the new Senate from July 1 to respect the governments mandate.

The rest is here:
Liberals' vote dives in WA election