Shep Smith wonders: Is America about to “ruin” Cuba?

Hot Air ^ | December 17, 2014 | Allahpundit

[2ndDivisionVet]

I first heard of this when John Podhoretz tweeted about it and I thought, “Nope, John’s exaggerating. I wonder what Shep really said.” Then a bunch of other people tweeted that Podhoretz was right, so I thought, “Okay, but obviously a joke.” Then I watched the clip.

Actual quote about an honest to goodness police state, no apparent irony intended: “The last thing they need is a Taco Bell and a Lowe’s.”

Two ways to read that, I guess. One is that he’s objecting to having the wrong priorities, not to American businesses invading the island. Cubans need basic necessities, not fast food. Get a couple of Charmin factories in there churning out TP and that’d be a corporate move worth applauding. But wait — if that’s his point, why’s he reminiscing at the start of the segment about the sweet-ass four-dollar Cuban rum he likes to bring back whenever he travels there? That’s not a necessity. Which brings us to theory two: This is exactly what it sounds like, a guy seemingly willing to trade away greater prosperity for Cubans if it means Americanizing the island in return for preserving the quaint, simple culture that decades of authoritarianism and economic retardation have produced. It’s basically the “noble savage” view of economics. What doth it profit a Cuban to gain a middle-American depot for cheap building materials if he lose his cheap-rum-making soul? Where are we going to go to watch people riding around in 60-year-old Studebakers now?

Lot of that going around on the left today, as it turns out. As an emetic, go read Michael Totten’s account from earlier this year of what Havana is really like.

(VIDEO-AT-LINK)

[hinckley buzzard]

Germans drink Budweiser but it is the original Czech brew, not the horse piss churned out by A-B in America.

[hinckley buzzard]

Because Shep is a liberal at heart he doesn't really see Cubans as actual people, you understand. More like little miniature dolls walking around a model village inside a bell jar.

[Mike Darancette]

Is America about to “ruin” Cuba?

The Cuban people hope so.

[hinckley buzzard]

When I visited East Berlin in 1963 as an impudent youth I asked the tour guide why they built the Wall. He said it was to "prevent economic interference from the West." Now Shep is lamenting, guess what--economic interference from the West.

Hmm.

[Nuc 1.1]

There is so much to mention. Wish I was young again.

[driftless2]

Only a genuine liberal would make such a stupid statement like what Smith said. He was essentially saying Cubans don't need capitalism. Obviously, few Cubans could afford to visit a Taco Bell. But Smith's remark was on the snide side.

It reminds of a quote from a liberal celebrity from Britain who when visiting an American grocery store declared that surely consumers don't need that many choices for cereal or other food products.

[Tigerized]

Cuba got ruined in 1959.

Anything since would be an improvement.

[clearcarbon]

Good that, in Cuba, we’ll finally have a place to ship all those trespassing foreign nationals crossing the southern border. After having lost so much of their own population to the continent over the years, the Cubans will no doubt be delighted to welcome the newcomers that will so willingly do the jobs that the natives don’t want to do.

[wardaddy]

When I think crate motors I think edelbrok...kaase....smeding.... roush....

I was at lingenfelter years ago and they had monster edelbrock

Like 700 horsepower

Red

On a pedestal like a piece of art

Just waiting for the right match but meanwhile so formidable just sitting all red and chrome sitting on that display mount

[Celtic Conservative]

I’ve seen motors like that. So nice and decked out the owners remove the hoods at car shows so people can properly ogle them. they put mirrors under the car so you can get a good look at the suspension and exhaust.

CC

[wally_bert]

Any Willys Jeeps or salvageables would be accepted.

[Dr. Sivana]

Germans drink Budweiser but it is the original Czech brew, not the horse piss churned out by A-B in America.

True about the name Budweiser. The Wiesil Pis American style made by InBev is sold under the name "Bud" in Germany, and more than American soldeirs with bad taste drink it.

[TADSLOS]

Shemp Smith ruins Fox News.

[Squeako]

I can guarantee that Obama's unilateral action here is going to further ensure that none of those vintage cars ever leave the island unless it's converted into a boat (see Truckonaut). The only way they'd be exported generally is if the communist regime completely collapsed but obama is normalizing relations in order to strengthen it.

[ataDude]

Who cares what Schmuck Smith has to say?

[Nuc 1.1]

Yep. I bet there are a significant number of collectables in Cuba. Initially, they would probably be available for a good price. Like many I wish I was young again, knowing what I know now...

[wally_bert]

Youth is definitely wasted on the young....

[Cvengr]

By the time Obama is finished colonizing Cuba, he’ll want Havana rolling Swisher Sweets in memorium of Michael Brown and criminalize the vintage Cuban leaf.