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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories City ready to rein in bad dog owners Josephine County scrambles to house juvenile offenders Travel funds would help disabled woman reconnect with her father Get Up & Go: Dec. 22 Shady Cove residents recall the devastation of 1964 flood Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Josephine County scrambles to house juvenile offenders Emergency Services Emergency services Emergency services Police search for pursuit suspect near Hyatt Lake Politics and Elections State certifies recount showing failure of GMO-labeling measure Time running out for O&C funds GMO vote recount still shows little change GMO labeling votes recounted under careful watch in Jackson County Kent Bush: First Amendment doesn’t mean what you think it means Education Ruch school class focuses on the natural environment Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Logos may offer students 'fifth year' at RCC or SOU St. Mary's plays host to youth robotics tournament A lesson in giving Environment Biologist resigns over LNG reporting failure Bird flu discovered in Winston backyard flock Jackson County holds back on enforcing GMO ban for now No fish, no funding for problem dams Most residents speak against gas pipeline State News Questions remain in death of Oklahoma teen Impostor makes off with Salvation Army donations in Corvallis, Albany Faith-healing couple sentenced to 10 years for death of diabetic daughter Uber suspends operations in Portland for 3 months Group challenges timber producer's 'green' label Nation - World Obama makes Maduro’s ‘insolent Yankees’ line harder to sell Grand jury won't indict Ferguson cop in shooting Obituaries Eva Mae Clement Gerald Steve Stebbins Nellie Fay Luther Ernaldo (Al) Gerald Wesley Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable ACCESS receives $50,000 donation from Wells Fargo Sports Latest Stories Schireman, Tornado shoot past Pacers On the rise Gutches, Johnson lead Raiders to eighth at Reno TOC Rally falls short for Oregon Cavs tame Grizzlies as Waiters steps up late Varsity 541 College Sports Gutches, Johnson lead Raiders to eighth at Reno TOC Rally falls short for Oregon OSU’s Andersen details ‘very, very busy’ first week Winston cleared in conduct hearing Quinnipiac holds off Oregon State, 60-52 Pro Sports On the rise Cavs tame Grizzlies as Waiters steps up late Mavs victorious in Rondo debut Chargers rally big to beat 49ers No slowing Blazers in win over Pelicans Community Sports Keeping Fit: Runners need to do more than run to stay in shape RESULTS/STANDINGS LOCAL EVENTS Business Latest Stories Blog: The Holidays Have Arrived Falling gas prices help spur travel at Medford airport Employment in Oregon surpasses pre-recession levels Free lunchtime presentation covers business planning Ride & Drive: 2015 Nissan Juke Nismo Real Estate News Rental owners group reports 2.48 percent vacancy rate More sales, but no change in residential housing median price People In Business People in Business, Dec. 3 Transportation Falling gas prices help spur travel at Medford airport Allegiant Air will resume Medford-Phoenix service May 22 Agriculture K-BAR ignites agriculture boom beneath Table Rocks Southern Oregon wine industry had a robust 2013 Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, Dec. 22 Kathleen Parker: Talk about a wildfire: Is the movie next? Other Views: Kingsley Field jobs are welcome Our View: Be careful when you donate Letters to the Editor, Dec. 21 Editorials Other Views: Kingsley Field jobs are welcome Our View: Be careful when you donate Other Views: Detective's sentence violates public trust Our View: Cheers and jeers Our View: Vaccines benefit everyone, save lives Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Dec. 22 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 21 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 19 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 18 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 17 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon Guest Opinion: Forest thinning means water for the future Guest Opinion: Suit threatens family farms and democratic vote Guest Opinion: SOU pool decision short-sighted Guest Opinion: It's time for biologists to let OR-7 go dark Lifestyle Latest stories Health Watch: Small diet changes can make a big difference Family Time: What parents feed baby can have long-term impact Home Help: Home safety tips for a safe and happy winter season Marketta Gregory: What’s in the Bible Community blog: Removing Barriers Is Good Insurance Food Community blog: 'Cookbook Book' digests genre's past 300 years Community blog: Liver pat� an easy nosh for Hanukkah and beyond Local bubbly can ring in the New Year Food for Thought: How to keep your kitchen organized during the holidays Kitchen Call: Shopping for the cook Home and Garden Home Help: Home safety tips for a safe and happy winter season How NOT to install drywall Dear Monty: Siblings dispute inherited real estate Home Help: Create a happy homemade holiday Rogue Valley Christmas light displays Health Health Watch: Small diet changes can make a big difference Community blog: Removing Barriers Is Good Insurance Health Watch: Change up your treadmill workout Community blog: A Dark Night of Healing and Hope Community blog: The Promise of Hope � and Health - Fulfilled Hiking Biking Faith Churches, synagogs host seasonal events Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Milestones and Achievements Fans, friends and family welcome home victorious SOU team at airport Wedding: Boldt-Mahon Order of Elks national office revokes Medford lodge's charter Jackson County's new health building complete, will serve clients in February Ashland celebrates 'Wild' screening with Cheryl Strayed Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Live Music in Local Clubs Celebrate winter solstice with the Bad Film Society Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present 'The Holly and the Ivy' Tomaseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas" returns to the Craterian Theater Stefan Baumann and Eugene Bennett highlight Third Fridays Theater ACT presents reading of 'The Quality of Life' Meet the real Jacob Marley This Nutcracker ballet will have a superhero twist Plumbing the depths of meaning TMTO presents 'A Christmas Carol: The Musical' Music Live Music in Local Clubs Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present 'The Holly and the Ivy' Tomaseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas" returns to the Craterian Theater Seattle rock band Smokey Brights plays Howiee's Eight Dollar Mountain and Fruition play Applegate Lodge Community Events Celebrate winter solstice with the Bad Film Society Tomaseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas" returns to the Craterian Theater Stefan Baumann and Eugene Bennett highlight Third Fridays Dancing People Company celebrates the solstice Dance to the Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra Dining Coffee shops roll out holiday-inspired drinks Over Easy serves 'pop-up' brunch Sundays Ooblies Artisan Waffle Sandwiches Brunch at Loft Brasserie Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Questions remain in death of Oklahoma teen ... City ready to rein in bad dog owners ... Victorious Raiders parade trophy through downtown Ashland ... Questions remain in death of Oklahoma teen ... City ready to rein in bad dog owners ... Victorious Raiders parade trophy through downtown Ashland ... Obama makes Maduro's 'insolent Yankees' line harder to sell Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 18, 2014 @ 11:58 am Posted Dec. 18, 2014 @ 11:58 am » Social News Bloomberg News CARACAS, Venezuela — President Nicolas Maduro’s favorite tool to rally popular support has been a blunt one: Yanqui-bashing. That may lose its clout now that President Barack Obama has moved to restore diplomatic ties with Maduro’s principal ally, Cuba. Like his mentor, the late Hugo Chavez, Maduro has whipped up support by alleging the United States is conspiring against Latin American sovereignty, and his Socialist government in particular, citing the embargo on Cuba as the primary example of Washington’s bullying tactics toward the region. With that embargo, which he calls a “blockade,” weakening, Maduro may find his talking points sounding antiquated. “Maduro’s anti-U.S. rhetoric is being undercut by the Cuban government,” said Gregory Weeks, head of Latin American studies at the University of North Carolina. “One of the biggest repercussions is that Maduro’s foreign policy is based on exclusion of the U.S. and now its biggest ally is moving toward the U.S.” Maduro has accused the U.S. of multiple assassination attempts, sabotaging Venezuela’s electrical grid and inciting an “economic war” as the country struggles with one of the world’s highest inflation rates and its bonds trade at default levels. When Congress approved legislation this month to freeze assets and deny visas for Venezuelan officials accused of repressing anti-government protests, he called them “insolent Yankees” and told them where they “can shove their visas.” Two days after Maduro rallied his red-shirted supporters in central Caracas against the legislation, Venezuela state television showed images of celebrations in old Havana as President Raul Castro announced his agreement with Obama to swap prisoners and begin establishing diplomatic relations. “We must learn the art of living, in a civilized way, with our differences,” Castro, 83, said. Venezuela’s government welcomed Wednesday’s accord in a statement sent by the Foreign Ministry that also recognized “the gesture of courage” by Obama following the “failure of the criminal economic blockade.” Maduro earlier this year designated a nominee to serve as ambassador in Washington after the two countries expelled their respective envoys in 2010. Maduro’s government supplies Cuba with almost 100,000 barrels of oil a day in exchange for the service of Cuban doctors, athletic trainers and military advisers. Yet, as oil prices plunge and Venezuela’s economy contracts, Cuba has started to look beyond Caracas as it tries to revitalize its own beleaguered economy. That policy shift could further damage Maduro’s credibility at a time when he’s already suffering at the polls. In November, Maduro’s approval rating fell to 24.5 percent, according a Datanalisis poll cited by Bank of America in a note to clients. The survey of 1,294 people was conducted between Nov. 4 and 20 and had a margin of error of 2.7 percentage points. The U.S.-Cuba accord “could strengthen the moderate factions of the Chavista movement, who may now say that we need to emulate what Cuba has just done and sit down and negotiate with the U.S.,” said Javier Corrales, a professor of political science at Amherst College. “They realize that they don’t need to have this hostile front with the U.S.” It would be a difficult shift for Maduro to make in a country where policy has been defined by its anti-U.S. stance. In 2004, Chavez and then-Cuban President Fidel Castro established the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America, or Alba, a trade block to rival the Free Trade Area of the Americas promoted by the U.S. The block later expanded to include Bolivia, Ecuador and a number of Caribbean nations. It may be easier for Maduro to carry on as if nothing has happened. “He will continue telling the world they are facing imperialism in its worst form, but I don’t think many people will find it credible,” Corrales said. 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