Clinton and Chavez Cordial Amid Tension

Rightwing and Chavez Agree

See how extremists are. Chavez is now suggesting Obama is satan, which puts him in agreement with the Sarah Palin-loving wingnuts. Chavez is comical and childish, calling Obama the "Nobel War Prize:"

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez spoke at the United Nations Climate Change Conference today in Copenhagen, and suggested that President Obama is the devil.
Chávez said that “the Kyoto Protocol cannot be declared dead or extinguished, which is what the US pretends to do. Which is why (President) Evo (Morales of Bolivia) tells a great truth: If Obama, Nobel War Prize, said here, by the way, it smells of sulfur here. It smells of sulfur. It keeps smelling of sulfur in this world. The Nobel War Prize has just said here that he came to act. Well, then show it, sir, don't leave by the back door, eh? Do everything you need to do for the US to adhere to the Kyoto Protocol, and let's respect Kyoto, and empower Kyoto, and respond to the world in a transparent fashion.” ABC

Obama and Spain's Zapatero Meet Oct. 13

Obamas and the Zapateros at G20

Obama and Spain's Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero will meet today and make statements to the press around 1 pm, according to Politico. I'll post video when it's available. Surprise! Relations with Spain under George Bush were not so good. Expect republicans to be watching closely because Zapatero is--gasp--a socialist, and apparently a prickly one at that. A little background:

Zapatero has tried, and failed, for several years to get some one-on-one face-time with a U.S. president. Zapatero, who is arguably the most anti-American leader in Europe today, was until now one of the only such Europeans never to have been invited to the White House.
Zapatero is the Prime Minister of the socialist government of Spain who just after his first election victory in 2004 recalled the Spanish troops from Iraq.
In 2003, when Zapatero was still the opposition leader, during the parade on Spain’s National Day on October 12th, he conspicuously remained seated when the American flag was passing by, and said “Why should I stand up? It’s not my flag?”
The flag incident was not merely an offense to the Bush administration at a time of a heated argument over the war in Iraq, but an insult to the American people as a whole.
Zapatero’s government also made efforts to sell aircraft and patrol boats to Hugo Chávez in Venezuela and adopted a very soft policy on Fidel Castro’s Cuba.
Last March, the Spanish socialist government also announced that it would withdraw its 630 troops from the NATO-led KFOR force in Kosovo. Americano

Chavez's Bar Room Entertainment

It's good that so many world leaders respect Obama, but we all know Hugo Chavez is being manipulative for his own selfish purposes. He's like any other wingnut. They're often childish, and they use hyperbole to push their ideologies. I love what Susan Rice has to say:

Biden: Shaking Hands With Chavez Expresses Confidence

Joe is right. In the world of grown ups, you don't avoid or shun, you face people and problems squarely. This is a preview of this Sunday's 60 Minutes:

The Handshake That Made Republicans Wail

Could you hear it today? The screech heard around the world--Obama shook Hugo Chavez's hand.
A bunch of predictable republicans complaining that the U.S. is weaker because Obama was friendly with Hugo Chavez.
We voted out that line of thinking.
Diplomacy is the new way now Republican Boys, not bullying, not cowboy charades, not we're better than you.
Here is the dumbest thing I read all day--Shake hands but don't smile:

David Gergen, CNN's senior political analyst, said Obama is trying to make good on that pledge.

"I think most political advisers would tell the president, you know, it's fine to shake hands, hold the smiles," he said, adding that the gesture shows some inexperience on Obama's part.

"What the real test here is going to be in policies and in the actions. And I think Barack Obama has to somehow make a balance between being open, reaching out and also not surrendering or retreating on basic American principles and on showing some toughness," Gergen said.

William Bennett, a CNN contributor and Republican strategist, agreed it's too early to tell if anything has changed.

"Image is one thing. Reality is another. Substance is another. Things that need to get accomplished is another. That will be the test," Bennett said. Read the whole thing at CNN

Mole Man Dick Cheney got into the act too. What a despicable man he is. He ought to be in a prison cell. I loathe Cheney. Could you tell?

Former Vice President Dick Cheney told Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity that President Obama’s handshake with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez “was not helpful” and could lead “foes” of the U.S. to “think they're dealing with a weak president.” Politico

Of course Newt, just turned Catholic, had to throw in his two cents. Here is a montage:

John Ensign Calls Obama Irresponsible

John Ensign? Yes, Sen. John Ensign of Nevada, better known as the Hairdo (he does have really nice hair), gives yet another reason why the republicans are off the map. "You have to be careful who you're seen laughing and joking around with," he said. I think there are a lot of Alpha men out there who have a bad case of Obama envy. 

Tea Bagger Dick Armey on Meet the Press

Congressman Harold Ford makes the case for government spending, answering Dick Armey, chairman of FreedomWorks. Ford asked Armey what is your alternative--nothing is not an alternative.
Too bad they cut to commercial cause I would've loved to hear Armey's response.
Ford also suggested that the tea baggers and the rest stop calling Obama a socialist and questioning Obama's intentions. In other words, let's all grow up and debate in a civil manner.
Armey is a much more reasonable and likable man on TV, even though off camera he engages in the socialist rhetoric and his organization uses fear tactics, inciting the already fearful. His website says "Congress could sneak through socialized medicine."
His wife calls him "honey."

Take Two on Cuba and Hugo and Guns. Why on Earth would anyone need an assault weapon. This gun issue strikes me as ironic. All the people who cling to their guns tie it to freedom. But they're all so afraid, walking around with their guns in their holsters, living in fear that they'll have to defend themselves. That's not freedom.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Race is a Topic at the Summit

Obama arriving at the Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

WaPo: In talking about his race and the backgrounds of his counterparts, Obama is associating himself more closely than his predecessors did with Latin America's indigenous, black and mixed-race underclass, which has long identified the United States with economic policies that benefit the elite of European descent far more than them.

The approach has helped to reduce, though not eliminate, the expected political strife between Obama and such populist leaders as Venezuela's Hugo Chávez and Bolivia's Evo Morales, the first indigenous president of his country.

Those men explicitly mentioned Obama's race in a closed-door meeting Saturday as a sign that U.S. policy toward the region may change, according to several U.S. and Latin American officials who attended.

Chavez Restoring Venezuela Ambassador to Washington

Obama and Argentina president Cristina Fernandez

As the media is writing that Obama "got punked" or spun by Hugo Chavez, Chavez takes a step in the right direction and says that he'll send a Venezuelan ambassador back to Washington.

It isn't Obama getting punked, it is the media responding to the irrational conservatives who are out of their gourds about Obama shaking Chavez's hand. It was obvious what Chavez was doing and who could blame him? Everyone wants to get next to Obama. It shines a positive light on them. That doesn't mean they're best buds but it's easy for a small mind to start with the socialist rants. If Obama shakes the hand of a socialist, that must mean he's a socialist, according to conservatives. We have to do a better job of educating are kids because we have too many people growing up with but a sliver of a mind. 

Sarkozy Has Some Obama Envy

Obama envy. It's going around. Did you see Hugo Chavez's move to get in a photo with Obama? Some of these world leaders are so.... emotional. And they're largely men, competing with each other to be top dog. You can see the testosterone flexing their muscles. I don't think women, if we had more women leaders, would behave in the same manner. In fact, the world would be better off with women leading. It's a biological thing. But men know this, which is why they've tried throughout the centuries to keep women out of power. Anyway, I'm off on a tangent. 

NYT: Mr. Obama, according to Mr. Sarkozy, “has a subtle mind, very intelligent and very charismatic. But he was elected two months ago and never ran a ministry in his life. He doesn’t have a position on a number of things.” Mr. Obama “is not always operating at a level of decision-making and efficiency,” according to the voluble Mr. Sarkozy.

Mr. Obama appeared unprepared on climate change when they met, according to Mr. Sarkozy, who told the legislators, “I told him, ‘I don’t think that you have quite understood what we are doing on carbon dioxide.’ ”

In the magazine L’Express, Mr. Sarkozy was quoted as joking about Mr. Obama’s sanctified image. Pressed by Mr. Sarkozy, Mr. Obama agreed to visit France in June for the anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.

“I am going to ask him to walk on the Channel, and he’ll do it,” Mr. Sarkozy reportedly said.

Chavez Gives Obama a Book

What did he say to a leader who once likened his predecessor to the devil?

"I said 'como estas'", Obama told reporters with a laugh.

In an opening speech to the 34-nation gathering, the president promised a new agenda for the Americas, as well as a new style.

"We have at times been disengaged, and at times we sought to dictate our terms," Obama said to loud applause. "But I pledge to you that we seek an equal partnership. There is no senior partner and junior partner in our relations." MSNBC

Obama looks like he wants to move this meeting along. Chavez gives him a book:

The book, en ingles, is The Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent, a 40-year-old essay and the best-known work of Uruguayan journalist and novelist Eduardo Galeano about U.S. and European economic and political interference in the region. Swamp

Obama Meets Hugo Chavez

Obama Speaks at Summit of the Americas

Update: See more video of Obama's speech here. 

Obama and Hugo Chavez

"We can't let ourselves be prisoners of past disagreements," Obama said. 

"I'm very grateful that President Ortega did not blame me for things that happened when I was 3 months old," he said. 

"There is no senior partner and junior partner in our relations." 

From Politico:

As they were lining up in reverse alpahbetical order by last name, Chavez was first. At this point, Obama walked across the room and introduced himself to Chavez, they chatted for a short time, and returned to line. When he returned to line he talkedwith President Bachelet of Chile and with President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva. Then Ortega walked into the room, past POTUS, and he stopped to introduce himself to POTUS. POTUS said it was is "gusto" - ie, pleasure - to meet him.

FYI, Chavez website says Chavez and POTUS talked about mutual desire to change the relationship of their countries. The senior administration official did not dispute this characterization.

Obama's arrival in Trinidad and Tobago:

Obama to Attend Summit of the Americas April 17-19

Update 4-17: See Video of Obama arriving at the Summit and his speech here. 

Joe Biden in Latin America
The fifth Summit of the Americas bring together the thirty-four democratically elected Heads of State and government in Trinidad and Tobago. Some of the talk is expected to be about Cuba. VP Joe Biden paved the way for the summit with his recent trip to Chile and Costa Rica. The summit's mission:

"Guaranteeing our future by promoting human's prosperity, energy safety and sustainable development of the environment."

Yesterday, Obama spoke with Peru's president about the Summit:

President Obama spoke with President Garcia of Peru to express his desire to deepen our bilateral relationship and work together to advance shared goals. The Presidents discussed how to work together to resolve the global financial crisis and restore economic growth for the benefit of all people throughout the hemisphere. President Obama looks forward to working with Peru toward a successful Summit of the Americas that focuses on positive, common agendas. The President also thanked President Garcia for Peru's regional leadership in combating drug trafficking.

And Obama recently spoke with the head of Trinidad and Tobago, where the summit will be held:

President Obama spoke with Prime Minister Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago today to thank him for his efforts in preparing to host the upcoming Fifth Summit of the Americas. The President looks forward to participating in the Summit and discussed with the Prime Minister a shared desire to focus the Summit on addressing the common challenges facing the people of the Americas. The President is committed to building strong and productive partnerships in the hemisphere and

Here's some great information on the summit. Of course, it doesn't come from American press, where it was difficult to find anything about the summit. Much of our media is wrapped up in bows and dogs:

Xinhua: In contrast to his predecessor George W. Bush, U.S. President Barack Obama has kept a low profile on the summit. He has yet to make any comment on whether to restore talks, suspended since 2003,on the setting up of a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).

Obama also said in mid February, he will neither issue a policy nor make a comment, but will only attend the summit to listen to the opinions and proposals of leaders of Latin American countries.

He hoped that there would be an atmosphere of "dignity, equality and mutual respect" between him and his Latin American counterparts at the summit.

During a visit to Central and South America, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on March 28 in Santiago, capital of Chile, that "the time of the United States dictating unilaterally, the time where we only talk and don't listen is over." He said the United States is expected to cooperate and conduct dialogue with Latin America.

Biden's five-day visit was aimed at paving the way for President Obama to attend the summit.

Talks toward the establishment of FTAA began at the first Summit of the Americas in Miami, United States, in which 34 leaders approved a resolution to start negotiations.

The negotiations were suspended in 2003 when Brazil and Argentina demanded that the agreement provide for the elimination of U.S. agriculture subsidies, the effective access to foreign markets and further consideration toward the needs and sensibilities of its members.

The last summit was held in Mar del Plata, Argentina, in November 2005. Prior to the meeting, Bush said talks on FTAA should be re-established.

There is a softening to Washington minus Bush:

Since the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, the Bush administration had been preoccupied with the war on terror and paid less attention to the Latin American countries, which caused the estrangement of relations. The relations between the U.S. and Venezuela and Bolivia deteriorated to such an extent that the two countries and the United States expelled each other's ambassadors.

Chavez founded the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas to challenge FTAA, while another organization, the South American Community of Nations, was founded through the promotion of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Few Latin American countries today still show an interest in FTAA.

However, some Latin American leaders have adopted a conciliatory attitude toward the upcoming summit. "We are a democratic and peaceful continent and the United States should look at production and development, not only drug-trafficking and organized crime," Lula said during a visit in Washington in February.

On February 4, Chavez said: "We are willing to achieve rapprochement at any time. We intend to return to the level of relations we had with former President Bill Clinton, which, although they were not easy, were easy-going." Read more

Some background on the Cuban embargo from the Guardian:

President Kennedy imposed an economic and trade embargo on Cuba on 7 February 1962 after Fidel Castro's government expropriated US property on the island. Known by Cubans as el bloqueo, the blockade, elements have been toughened and relaxed under succeeding US presidents. Exceptions have been made for food and medicine exports. George Bush added restrictions on travel and remittances.

The sanctions regime

• No Cuban products or raw materials may enter the US

• US companies and foreign subsidiaries banned from trade with Cuba

• Cuba must pay cash up front when importing US food

• Ships which dock in Cuba may not dock in the US for six months

• US citizens banned from spending money or receiving gifts in Cuba without special permission, in effect a travel ban

• Americans with family on the island limited to one visit every three years.

See a timeline of economic embargo events here. This is a fascinating tidbit:

According to a letter sent by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to the U.S. Congress late last year (and now provided to the Associated Press) the Treasury Department had 4 full-time employees dedicated to investigating Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, and over 2 dozen assigned to investigating Cuban Embargo violations.
The letter reveals that over $8 million were collected in embargo violation fines since 1994, and over 10,683 "enforcement investigations" opened since 1990. Relating to terrorism, the OFAC opened 93 "enforcement investigations" between 1990 and 2003.

And wow:

October 28. For the 13th consecutive year, the UN General Assembly votes overwhelmingly against the U.S. embargo on Cuba. The vote is 179 to 4, with 1 abstention. Voting with the U.S. for the embargo are Israel, Palau and the Marshall Islands.