One of my favorite Congressman (that's a very exclusive club!) Jeff Flake (R-AZ) graces a new 3 minute episode of Reason TV :

Jeff Flake is the lesser known libertarian-leaning member of Congress...but just as like if not even more liked by many in the "Don't Tread on Me" crowd. He looks like a younger better looking version of John Kerry and is an infinitely better speaker than Ron Paul. Keep an eye on him. Maybe he can pick up where Paul left off down the road. :)

Anyway, Flake paid a visit to Reason Magazine HQ in DC and spoke to the Reason staff about our stupid policies toward Cuba. He hopes the switching of power from one Castro to another will give Congress an excuse to pursue the open relations policies he's been wanting for a while.

In the wake of Fidel Castro's resignation as president for life, Flake quickly and unequivocally called for the U.S. to lift its bans on travel to and trade with Cuba. Nearly 50 years of embargo, argues Flake, has produced nothing other than continued misery for the Cuban people and unnecessary restrictions on the freedom of Americans.

If you're interested, there's an extended 15 minute clip below the main one of him making a speech to the Reasonoid audience about open relations with Cuba.

I sincerely hope he's able to succeed. Our policies toward Cuba are so destructive and pointless. I posit that those policies kept Fidel in power far longer than he should have been. We'll see who jumps on board. I expect a mix bag of supportive congressmen leaning Dem. The Senate is a bigger challenge. I wonder how our three aspiring presidential candidates would vote if a Senate version of such a bill came their way before the Fall. Hmmm. Something tells me they'd either vote yes or "be busy campaigning".

Where do you all stand on Cuban relations?