The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

So Castro has ceded power to his brother. Looks like he's probably going to kick it. The really bad thing, I suppose, is that his brother (or so I've read) has been Fidel's enforcer and is supposed to be even more hard line than Fidel.

Umm, I wouldn't be so quick to assume that he's "probably gonna kick it" so soon. It's pretty much standard practice for a leader to go through the motions of transferring power to whoever is #2 if they're going for surgery (didn't Clinton do it? Or was it Bush Sr.?).

Of course, he will eventually die, unless the cigars have made him immortal. Will it mean immediate change? Doubtful. But even if his brother's a bigger jerk, the odds of him having the charismatic power that Fidel has are pretty slim, so there will be an opportunity to instigate change (hopefully it will come from within).

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Umm, I wouldn't be so quick to assume that he's "probably gonna kick it" so soon. It's pretty much standard practice for a leader to go through the motions of transferring power to whoever is #2 if they're going for surgery (didn't Clinton do it? Or was it Bush Sr.?).

Of course I am aware of that. The reports are simply that his health problems are getting more severe. Intestinal bleeding in a man who turns 80 in less than two weeks is not a good sign I'm sure, though I am no doctor. And I would also suppose that any news as to his condition coming out of Cuba would be well watered down.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

The reports are simply that his health problems are getting more severe. Intestinal bleeding in a man who turns 80 in less than two weeks is not a good sign I'm sure, though I am no doctor.

Maybe you could find a videotape of him in his hospital bed and you could do a Frist analysis of his condition...