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February 25, 2008
Fidel's Brother Raul Castro Becomes Cuba's Leader
Cuba's acting President Raul Castro holds his vote before casting it, to elect the president of Cuba's National Assembly in Havana, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008
Cuba's parliament named Raul Castro president on Sunday, ending nearly 50 years of rule by his brother Fidel but leaving the island's communist system unshaken.
In a surprise move, officials bypassed younger candidates to name a 77-year-old revolutionary leader, Jose Ramon Machado, to Cuba's No. 2 spot — apparently assuring the old guard that no significant political changes will be made soon.
The retirement of the ailing 81-year-old president caps a career in which he frustrated efforts by 10 U.S. presidents to oust him.
Raul Castro stressed that his brother remains "commander in chief" even if he is not president and proposed to consult with Fidel on all major decisions of state — a motion approved by acclamation.
Though the succession was not likely to bring a major shift in the communist government policies that have put Cuba at odds with the United States, many Cubans were hoping it would open the door to modest economic reforms that might improve their daily lives.
In his first speech as president, Raul Castro suggested that the Communist Party as a whole would take over the role long held by Fidel, who formally remains its leader. The new president said the nation's sole legal party "is the directing and superior force of society and the state."
"This conviction has particular importance when because the founding and forging generation of the revolution is disappearing," Raul Castro added.
The U.S. has said the change from one Castro to another would not be significant, calling it a "transfer of authority and power from dictator to dictator light."
Wild Thing's comment........
I doubt Cuba will change at all now or anytime in the future. All they do is pass the baton from one commie to the other.
Posted by Wild Thing at February 25, 2008 12:45 AM
Comments
Nah--they ain't gonna change. And any of those citizens who sent complaints (he opened a complaint line) will be summarily hunted down and jailed.
That's what commies do. You have no say. You have no rights. You get sent to the Nether regions, never to be heard from again.
It won't change until there is an uprising and no one in Cuba is willing to do that out of fear.
So why is it Americans are willing to vote for someone who will take us down that socialist road?
Posted by: Lynn at February 25, 2008 05:19 AM
When will Raul Castro grow the ZZ TOP beard and don the olive green fatigues?
Posted by: 2beornot2be? at February 25, 2008 06:04 AM
At least the leadership remains aged. Should be a short duration. There is a large underground in Cuba just waiting for the Castros to become ineffectiv, or dead.
Posted by: TomR at February 25, 2008 12:30 PM
"Meet the New Boss... same as the Old Boss."
Posted by: Rick at February 25, 2008 08:35 PM
Lynn, good point. The dems and their thinking all this is ok will be very sorryone day when they get a socialist country.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 26, 2008 01:27 AM
2beornot2be?, LOL good one.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 26, 2008 01:30 AM
Tom, that is good, I hope it will not be to long in waiting. Those people have waited for such a long time.
Even the Cubans in Florida are mostly Republican because of their hate for the Clinton's and Janet Reno.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 26, 2008 01:34 AM
Rick that is exactly all that has happened.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 26, 2008 01:36 AM
