Shaking Castro's hand

[AdamSmith]

The horror!

Fidel Castro (L), leader of the "26th July" revolutionary group which ousted Cuban President Fulgencio Batista, shakes hands with U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon following talks in Washington April 19, 1959. (UPI Photo/FILE) http://www.upi.com/News_Photos/Archives/Fidel-Castro-officially-steps-down-as-Cuban-leader/fp/295/#ixzz2nH6I3VvM

And not to forget...

[TampaYankee]

Yada, yada, yada. The crazies and much of the rest of the GOP criticize whatever Obama does, even if he shakes the Pope's hand. That is the overall landscape.

Then of course, there is the exile community who will never be happy until the Castros are hung from a Havana flag pole and their property and valuables are restored, with interest.

Finally, the remnants of the Cold Warriors and the neocons, which see a potential military adventure behind every bush or under every rock, get pissed when they see anything less than a war stance taken against any entity with a different world view from theirs.

[AdamSmith]

I couldn't help imagining the respective thought balloons as Barack and Raúl shook hands.

BO: If Florida would just vanish into a giant sinkhole I could fix this tomorrow.

RC: If Fidel would just check out I could fix this tomorrow.