Be sure to take our August poll as time is running out:
August poll, last few days…
– August 27, 2007Posted in: Castro Is Dead, Poll
Archive for August, 2007
‘Fidel doesn’t matter’
– August 27, 2007Posted in: Castro Is Dead, Politics
That’s the headline of a brief item by Brazil correspondent Jonathan Wheatley of the Financial Times. Here’s the money quote:
It has been clear since last summer when the president’s younger brother, Raúl, smoothly took over the reins of power on a temporary basis that the institutions of Cuban communism were strong enough to survive Mr Castro’s departure from office.
Gawd, I hope he’s wrong. But in any event, Raul is old himself. Except that maybe when his turn comes up, he’ll say yes to the colostomy bag.
Monday, Monday…
– August 26, 2007Posted in: Defection, Human Rights, Media, Politics
Tomorrow (Monday) a big court date is set for the custody battle between the foster, and would be adoptive parents of a young Cuban girl in Miami, and her father from Cuba:
Nearly eight years after the battle over young Elian Gonzalez divided this city, another Cuban child has become the center of a bitter custody fight. A trial is set to begin Monday in family court over whether the 4-year-old girl’s father can regain custody of his daughter or whether she should remain with the wealthy Cuban-American former sports agent and his wife who want to adopt her.
We’ve mentioned this story before, as have numerous other blogs and websites. What makes this case especially interesting is the fact that the foster father was only recently revealed as Joe Cubas, a sports agent best known for representing defecting Cuban baseball stars. A few days ago, Babalu Blog posted that this was a case of revenge by Castro; I agree. Sure smells like it.
And here’s an interesting quote from today’s article, the one I’m posting about here:
Both (the girl’s mother, Elena) Perez and (head of the Cuba Study Group Carlos) Saladrigas said the community’s fear was that in both the Elian case and this one the fathers were pressured to bring the children back by the Castro government.
“The concern is whether they are speaking from their heart or being coerced, and there is no clear answer to that. You will never know,” Saladrigas said, adding, “If it wouldn’t be for that it would be a no-brainer.”
Funny how that got buried at the end of the article.
Posthumous writing?
– August 26, 2007Posted in: Castro Is Dead, Media
Amid all the rumors of Castro’s death, a ghostwritten essay has appeared in the Juventud Rebelde (Rebellious Youth) newspaper in Cuba, supposedly just hot off the moribund caudillo’s typewriter:
Castro’s essay, the latest in dozens of ”Reflections of the Commander in Chief” columns he has published several times a week since late March, was signed Saturday evening and appeared in the Communist Youth newspaper Juventud Rebelde the following morning.
According to the Miami Herald, Castro’s supposed blatherings made no mention of his health (or lack thereof).
Another day, another denial
– August 26, 2007Posted in: Castro Is Dead, Chavez - Venezuela, Media
You have to wonder. All these Castroites coming out of the woodwork, denying Fidel’s death. The latest: Castro’s Mini-Me, Hugo Chavez:
“Fidel Castro will never die!”
Castro’s friend and ally Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez sent greetings to Cuba’s ailing leader during an address Saturday to thousands of supporters.
“For those who want Fidel to die, they are going to end up frustrated because Fidel Castro will never die. He will always live on,” Chavez said.
If Hugo says it, it MUST be true! LOL!
Cuban leaders are strongly denying the rumors going around South Florida that their leader is dead.
Interesting that they didn’t name names. Hmmmmm…
The rumor mill is spinning…
– August 24, 2007Posted in: Castro Is Dead
…like a windvane during a hurricane, with news that Fidel Castro is really, finally dead. Spanish- (and English-) language radio and TV, newspaper websites, blogs, even Drudge. Everyone’s talking about it–but acknowledging it as a rumor at this point.
I myself saw little activity in Miami (related to celebrations, or anything similar), but then again, I haven’t had the chance to drive by the heart of Little Havana to check for myself.
My own take is–and I admit this is HIGHLY speculative–that Castro is indeed dead but Cuba’s commie government will make the announcement when they’re good and ready. This has been the SOP for commie governments since at least Stalin’s death.
Either way, stay tuned. This looks like it could be one wild ride…
Take the August poll now, one week left
– August 24, 2007Posted in: Castro Is Dead, Poll
Shame on Brazil
– August 24, 2007Posted in: Defection, Useful Idiots
Sending two Cuban boxers back to prison over a technicality instead of letting them find asylum in another country, such as Germany, where they had applied for such:
Two Cuban boxers who abandoned the Pan American Games were deported from Brazil because of problems with their visas and not political pressure from Cuba, Brazil’s justice minister said.
Justice Minister Tarso Genro said Thursday that police tracked down boxers Guillermo Rigondeaux and Erislandy Lara after the Cuban delegation made a formal complaint that the two had disappeared during the games last month, the government news agency Agencia Brasil said.
But he said the Cubans were deported according to the law because of visa irregularities.
Here’s a very telling piece of the article (emphasis mine):
“The Cuban government didn’t ask for anything,” Perez Roque told Folha de S. Paulo news agency, retracting a previous statement to the contrary.
Castro’s liars can’t even get their stories straight.
Even in death he won’t shut up
– August 24, 2007Posted in: Castro Is Dead
Yet he remains quiet about his health… possibly because his body temperature is now the same as room temperature?
A new newspaper column signed by Fidel Castro and published Thursday again attacks U.S. policies toward the island but does not address his health.
Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque told journalists in Brazil on Thursday that the 81-year-old Castro is determined to fully recover from intestinal surgery last year that forced him to cede power to his brother Raúl.
”Fidel is doing very well and is disciplined in his recovery process,” Pérez Roque said.
Castro has not been seen in public since the emergency surgery in July 2006. The state of his health remains a ”state secret” but has been the subject of repeated rumors and speculation.
My question is, will he buried in his faux military uniform, a business suit, or an Adidas track suit?
First person to be arrested under new law: Fidel Castro
– August 24, 2007Posted in: Cuba's Economy, Cuban Slavery
Anti-corruption laws toughened in Cuba
Acting leader Raúl Castro has ordered harsher penalties for public officials who break labor rules.
Ratcheting up his fight against corruption and mismanagement in Cuba, interim leader Raúl Castro has signed a decree requiring tough, swift and long-lasting punishment for public officials who violate labor rules.
If slavery is illegal under this new law, then Fidel Castro should be the first one arrested under it, for enslaving millions of Cubans.
