How ironic.
The lone Republican presidential candidate who won’t prostitute himself for the pro-embargo, anti-travel vendetta agenda of influential Cuban-Americans in South Florida is the one who certainly won’t be nominated: Ron Paul.
So much about libertarianism only works in the abstract. But when it comes to common sense on Cuba–from the geopolitical to the humanitarian to the economic–the 76-year-old physician-politician gets it. Last week’s USF debate was a frustrating reminder.
Paul underscored that the “Cold War” was, indeed, over and that ongoing American policy toward Cuba was “Dark Ages” posturing. Just end the embargo and open up travel to the neighboring island nation, he urged. All this while Mitt Romney preached against “giving in” to a “rogue nation,” Newt Gingrich harangued about “overthrowing the Raul Castro regime” and Rick Santorum peppered his “continue the sanctions” screed with as many “dictator” and “tyrant” references as he could shoehorn in.
We interrupt this column item, which is a variation on a familiar theme about how virtually everything is somehow linked to politics, for a word about priorities. I just untethered myself from my home computer, grabbed a bottle of water and went for a walk in chamber of commerce January weather. Just for the Dell of it. I said hi to a couple of neighbors and even waved to the guy up the street who I don’t like. Hey, life’s too short.
Then I crossed over Bayshore Boulevard to gaze at something other than Derek Jeter’s sprawling manse on Davis Islands. I saw a pelican and lots of ducks. I also saw no litter–and just two days removed from Gasparilla! Let’s hear it for those higher in the animal kingdom doing the right thing by nature.
Then I was rewarded with a dolphin sighting. Ever notice how each time is the first time? Still mesmerizing. Still smile inducing.
It was too coincidental. I think it was a sign. Change the dynamic. Take in the bigger picture. Remember what’s important. Stay a skeptic; don’t morph into a cynic. Treat yourself to an attitude adjustment courtesy of nature. Perspective counts.
OK, I’m now back. But not, arguably, exactly the same as before I left. So, where was I? Oh, yes, the Three Pandering Amigos effectively canceled each other out on Cuba at that debate.
It was a counterproductive, rhetorical wash. But there was an obvious winner: The Brothers Diaz-Balart, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and David Rivera, most notably. The mess-with-us-over-Cuba-at-your-own-risk formula still, alas, works.
But for some reason, even that onerous political reality–while still infuriating–now seems a bit less difficult to cope with.