I think Fidel is dead

[Stinky The Clown]

We heard today, more than a year after he took ill, that he's resigning as Cuba's president, in favor of his brother, Raúl Castro Ruz.

The last I recall seeing him in any way, shape or form was when Hugo Chavez went calling.

Cuba is, in many ways, like OZ, with one guy behind a curtain playing his Great Wurlitzer.

I think the curtain is there and someone is, indeed, fingering the keys. But it isn't Fidel and hasn't been for a while. My guess is he died a few days ago and the remaining powers that be are working toward a gentle, perhaps lengthy, change in power.

That was a hell of a run, Fidel. Love you or hate you, 49 years is quite a run, indeed.

[tekisui]

1. You may be right. If he isn't dead, he is probably very close.

[Virginia Dare]

2. I think you're probably right..

I always figured by the time we heard he was stepping down, he'd either be dead or very close to it. Maybe he passed his secrets on to Chavez, i.e. how to stay alive when the CIA wants you dead.

[Warpy]

3. His cancer doesn't have a great prognosis

even with the best medical technology money can buy.

I'm a little surprised he's hung on this long, to tell the truth.

And 49 years in that country really is a hell of a run. He had to have done something right.

[Ano Genitus]

4. 49 years and 10 US presidents.

[lpbk2713]

5. He would want to deny a lot of people the privilege of dancing on his grave.

And he knows there would be many who would want to.

[JoDog]

6. You bring up a good point

Castro probably wouldn't be giving up power if it wasn't something serious. He isn't the type to retire to the country and spend time with his family. It's highly possible that his health has taken a turn for the worse, he is on life support, or he is dead.

Having him "step down" like this would make incredible sense in any of those scenarios. By having his brother take power now, there is less chance of a power struggle or uprising when Castro's demise is announced. There will be no power vacuum, no sudden shift in power. Whether or not Fidel dies and when become irrelevant. The transfer of power has already happened. Here's the new boss, same as the old boss.

[yellowcanine]

7. Maybe he is hoping that George Steinbrenner will sign him as a pitcher.

He should have a year or two left in that arm. Even if he doesn't, just the chance that he might appear to pitch an inning or two would pack em in at the Bronx zoo.

[ProgressiveFool]

8. Crap, if he dies while Bush is still president, the Bushies will claim it as a victory

just like Raygun and the fall of Communism.

[angrycarpenter]

11. I think even Bush knows that this is a hands off situation

Trying to make some big political splash with this will be a mistake so big that I hope someone has told him to be neutral in anything he says about it.

[angrycarpenter]

9. Fidels tomb would be the #1 tourist attraction in this hemisphere.

At least in the top ten. And there would be no dancing allowed. I wonder if they will do a Lenin on him and permanently embalm and put him on display.

[Mz Pip]

10. If not

he will be soon. The guy is old and very sick. His retirement will be short.