Breaking: Castro Resigns as President of Cuba

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2008-02-19 12:47pm

I dedicated a song on my radio show to everyone that's tried to get rid of Castro.

Alice Cooper - Poison.

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2008-02-19 01:34pm

Hmm. Well, this is certainly going to make things interesting...

Big Phil · Post by **Big Phil** » 2008-02-19 01:50pm

Stravo wrote:snip

Out of curiosity, why do Cubans form such a strong, cohesive voting block? There aren't that many Cubans, after all, so why do the Republicans suck their cocks so frequently?

Flagg · Post by **Flagg** » 2008-02-19 01:57pm

SancheztheWhaler wrote:
Stravo wrote:snip
Out of curiosity, why do Cubans form such a strong, cohesive voting block? There aren't that many Cubans, after all, so why do the Republicans suck their cocks so frequently?

Because they are concentrated in Florida, which is a swing state. And though they aren't a huge minority even in Florida, there are enough of them that they along with the bible-thumpers in the more conservative parts of the state outnumber the more liberal voters.

Korvan · Post by **Korvan** » 2008-02-19 02:01pm

My parents visited Cuba a couple years ago and toured around the countryside on a moterscooter. They got to have quite a few really open conversations with some Cubans.

The main impressions they got was that Cuba was a poor country, no one went hungry, or wanted for education or healthcare. Deliveries of free food would be made about once a month, and while its not steak and lobster, it's easily enough for a family to live on.

The main problem they saw, especially among the younger people, is that there is a lack of hope/ambition for the future. the met many people with advanced education working as waitress, tour guides etc. as the tips they received would greatly exceed any sort of money they could make working in their field. It is still also a country where you cannot openly speak your mind and it was only really out in the countryside where people would feel comfortable enough to speak openly to my parents.

[R_H] · Post by **[R_H]** » 2008-02-19 03:43pm

Bush opens his mouth (BBC)

US President George W Bush has called on Cuba to prepare for free elections after Fidel Castro's announcement that he is retiring on health grounds.

The ailing communist leader, who is 81 and has not been seen in public since surgery in July 2006, said he would not accept a new term as president.

Mr Castro's brother Raul, the 76-year-old acting leader, is strongly tipped to replace him.

The US state department has said its embargo on Cuba remains in place.

It would probably not be lifted "any time soon", one senior official said.

The European Union said it hoped to revive ties with Cuba while China described Mr Castro as an old friend and said it would maintain co-operation with Havana.

Beijing has taken over as one of Havana's key economic partners, the BBC's Nick Miles reports.

Moscow used to fulfil that role but it was noticeably silent on the end of the Fidel era, he adds.

No demonstrations calling for change were reported on the streets of Havana - in contrast to celebrations by anti-Castro exiles in Miami, Florida.

'Blessings of liberty'

Speaking on a tour of Africa, Mr Bush said he regarded Mr Castro's departure as "a period of transition, and it should be the beginning of the democratic transition in Cuba".

The US, he added, was ready to help the "people of Cuba realise the blessings of liberty".

In the UK, Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman said Mr Castro's departure opened the way for a peaceful transition to a pluralist democracy.

China described Mr Castro as an old friend and said it would maintain co-operation with Cuba.

Mr Castro announced his resignation in a letter published on the website of the Cuban Communist Party's newspaper Granma in the middle of the night, Cuban time.

He said he was "not in a physical condition" to continue as president and commander-in-chief but promised to remain "a soldier of ideas", writing essays entitled Reflections of Comrade Fidel.

The National Assembly is widely expected to elect Raul Castro as Fidel's successor. He has mooted major economic reforms and "structural changes".

But some analysts see a possible generational jump, with Vice-President Carlos Lage Davila, 56, a leading contender.

Raul Castro has worked to ensure a smooth political transition, keeping the army loyal to the regime and strengthening the Communist Party's hold by introducing reforms and weeding out corrupt officials.

He has also had the advantage of continued economic support from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in the form of millions of barrels of cheap oil.

I found this bit to be absolutely hilarious

Bush wrote:The US, he added, was ready to help the "people of Cuba realise the blessings of liberty".

Phantasee · Post by **Phantasee** » 2008-02-19 03:47pm

Bush wrote:The US, he added, was ready to help the "people of Cuba realise the blessings of liberty".

The blessings of liberty: now in 5.56mm!

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2008-02-19 04:04pm

With so much money pouring in from EU tourism the best bet anyway is just to lift the embargo and bury the hatchet. If the US just lets Cuba develop economically then there will probably be a peaceful democratic transition in the next generation anyway.

Phantasee · Post by **Phantasee** » 2008-02-19 04:25pm

HemlockGrey wrote:With so much money pouring in from EU tourism the best bet anyway is just to lift the embargo and bury the hatchet. If the US just lets Cuba develop economically then there will probably be a peaceful democratic transition in the next generation anyway.

"Peaceful democratic transition" doesn't exist in the real world, Hemlock! That's why we have to go in and FORCE them to become democratic! Democracy by the sword! Allahu Ackbar!

Oh wait, I'm mixing up my ideologies again.