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Caribbean-Latin America
Castro Hands Over Power, Cuba Says It's Temporary
2006-08-01
We had five stories put up tonight about Fee-del: youse guys are quick! We've consolidated to this one and the following story, from CBS and Fox respectively. The accordion lady is on stage, but no word yet on whether the fat lady will make an appearance. Let's all hope for more good news later today!
(CBS4 News) HAVANA In an unprecedented announcement, the Cuban government announced Monday night that Fidel Castro was temporarily giving up power to his brother and Vice President Raul, due to surgery for an illness he developed while traveling to Argentina. This is the first time Castro has turned over power to anyone since taking control of Cuba in 1959.
Will Raul give it back, or is he sitting with his feet on his brother's desk, smoking one of his cigars, and thinking about how he's been waiting a very, very long time.
"You and what army, Fidelito?"
The announcement was made at 9:15 Monday night on Cuban Television, monitored in Miami. A spokesperson for the Cuban government made the announcement, which came in the middle of a newscast. There was little advance notice of the special announcement.
Quick, someone find the accordian lady.
Posted by:Spinelet Unomomp3008

#39  Ok, 21:45 reportage is way more balanced, my bad. Still, the first one was a riot.
Posted by: anonymous5089   2006-08-01 15:49  

#38  Lol!!! closing comments of the french lci reportage about this (reportage which by the way consists of testimonies of cubans singing the praise of fidel) : "many cubans wait for the return to health of fidel castro so he can act like their family father again".
Posted by: anonymous5089   2006-08-01 15:39  

#37  Cumbayah, my lord......Cumbayah......
Posted by: mcsegeek1   2006-08-01 15:21  

#36  Does anyone have a strong enough stomach to look at D.U.M.B. or Daily Cooz to see if they are all holding hands and weeping?
Posted by: Jackal   2006-08-01 14:50  

#35  WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Bush administration has been carrying out secret reconnaissance missions to learn about nuclear, chemical and missile sites in Iran in preparation for possible airstrikes there, potential post-Castro investment opportunities, journalist Seymour Hersh said Sunday.

Posted by: Besoeker   2006-08-01 14:37  

#34  Condi picked the wrong week to stop drinking...
Posted by: Seafarious   2006-08-01 14:33  

#33  As soon as communism dies the US should open the trade routes.

I would be amazed if there aren't a whole series of plans ready to go into action once he pops his clogs...
Posted by: Tony (UK)   2006-08-01 14:32  

#32  Is it painful?

If you mean diverticulosis, it can be if it flares up due to eating something like, say, a peanut. My dad had his colon resection to remove that area a decade or so ago. He said he feels much better since having it done.

(And we address his cards: "Dear Dad;"
Posted by: eLarson   2006-08-01 14:28  

#31  The suspens is killing me! Stop playing with my nerves, and die already!
Posted by: anonymous5089   2006-08-01 14:21  

#30  Sooooooo, any bets on a toe tag?
Posted by: twobyfour   2006-08-01 13:31  

#29  As soon as communism dies the US should open the trade routes.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2006-08-01 12:03  

#28  Look for military posturing by both the Cubans and their allies - Chavez et al - as they jostle for power. It may sound like something to laugh at, but in fact will be sufficiently serious that we will need to divert attention to it while we have other things on our plate.

Same thing is going to happen when NORK falls - in fact, it's the best explanation for Kimmie's current mischief-making.
Posted by: lotp   2006-08-01 11:41  

#27  Raul is 75. Cuba appears to be prepared to go through multiple leaders in a short period of time ala the Soviet Union as it fell apart.
Posted by: DoDo   2006-08-01 11:36  

#26  Hugo Chavez is about to lose his play pal.
Posted by: Lancasters Over Dresden   2006-08-01 11:31  

#25  Is it "meet the new boss, same as the old boss", or has Raul said or done anything to spur the optimism I've seen here and elsewhere? The folks celebrating in Miami might be jumping the gun.
Posted by: BH   2006-08-01 11:21  

#24  My brother had diverticulosis. Nearly killed him and he was in his early 50's. Had to have a chuck of intestine removed. He wore a colostomy bag untill a doctor could be found to reattach everything. He nearly died on the operating table.

That said, the problem was caused by rich diet, smoking and heavy drinking.
Posted by: BrerRabbit   2006-08-01 11:18  

#23  abc
Posted by: Thrineng Omolulet7846   2006-08-01 11:15  

#22  I canÂ’t wait till the Funeral. I hope itÂ’s just before the election so the LLL M0onb@+5 will get a photo op with Raul and the dead corpse. You just know they canÂ’ skip FidelÂ’s funeral, lest they upset their base.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2006-08-01 10:53  

#21  Is it painful?
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-08-01 10:12  

#20  CHICAGO The intestinal bleeding problem Cuban President Fidel Castro is believed to be suffering from could be life-threatening. Doctor Stephen Hanauer, the gastroenerology chief at the University of Chicago hospitals, says ongoing bleeding can be serious. Hanauer says it is difficult to deduce the cause of Castro's bleeding without knowing what part of the digestive tract is affected.

Ulcers are a common cause of bleeding in the stomach or upper intestine, while a condition called diverticulosis also can provoke bleeding in the lower intestine, especially in people over age 60. Hanauer says this condition involves weakened spots in the intestinal lining that form pouches, which can become inflamed and provoke bleeding.
Posted by: Steve   2006-08-01 10:06  

#19  wait for it


5..4..3..2..MSM slime extolling his evil ass, Jummah, halfbrite, Sandy Pantz etc at state funeral..
Posted by: RD   2006-08-01 09:48  

#18  I believe Valerie Plame is an undercover anesthesiologist. Ooops! I didn't mean to reveal that.
Posted by: Poison Reverse   2006-08-01 08:45  

#17  I can see the NY Times headlines now, "Latin world mourns. World leaders gather, Jimauh Carter to join Raul in eulogy at a soccer field which formerly contained soviet missle silos."

Ring up the heavenly whores and break out that bottle of Guayabita del Pinar Che, he's finally coming home!
Posted by: Besoeker   2006-08-01 07:28  

#16  Die, you bastard, die! Die! Die!
Posted by: Mike   2006-08-01 06:59  

#15  Oh NO! I hope the dealer maximo is not dead, otherwise his groupies at "le monde diplomatique" will be devastated! Oh, the humanity!
Posted by: anonymous5089   2006-08-01 05:08  

#14  Damn bastard better not be dead. I can't toast his demise appropriately for a couple more months.
Posted by: Swamp Blondie   2006-08-01 05:03  

#13  Eeeeew! What do you have against cats, Rex Mundi?
Posted by: twobyfour   2006-08-01 05:03  

#12  Death on the operating table without benefit of anasthesia....then pour ketchup on him and feed him to the cats.
Posted by: Rex Mundi   2006-08-01 03:02  

#11  What's the big deal? Chicago and Cook county are governed the exact same way, only we have lousy winters and the offices go to the departing pol's kids.
Posted by: Ebberesh Whaing5674   2006-08-01 01:10  

#10  Castro ain't the type to 'hand over' power. Methinks Raul has just pried it from his cold dead claws...
Posted by: PBMcL   2006-08-01 00:40  

#9  Hope he gets to shake hands with Zarqawi and Arafat real soon.
Posted by: DMFD   2006-08-01 00:37  

#8  Sepsis. What a pleasant way to go for a pleasant man.
Posted by: DarthVader   2006-08-01 00:32  

#7  Maybe dem dar expensive imported Spanish/Black Hams finally got him - you know, the stuff Fidel can eat anytime he wants to while his People + Army starve. Iff Fidel were Radical Islamists > GOD/HEAVEN WANTS ME TO KILL YOU ANDOR TAKE YOUR LANDS, WELATH, WOMEN, PET DAWGS, AND YOUR HAMS - ONLY AN D ***** INFIDEL TRAITOR WOULD STOP THE HAMS FROM FLOWING.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2006-08-01 00:30  

#6  Castro's kaboose cooked? Let's have a fork on standby.
Posted by: twobyfour   2006-08-01 00:29  

#5  Fidel can play my flute
Posted by: Captain America   2006-08-01 00:25  

#4  Cuban health care sets the world standard. I'm sure mi amigo will do fine
Posted by: Jimmy Carter   2006-08-01 00:21  

#3  I feel that because of his age the vulture graphic is more appropriate. Intestinal surgery at 80 is always iffy. Lots of chances for sepsis.
Posted by: Penguin   2006-08-01 00:17  

#2  If it turns out to be a false alarm, you can replace the accordian lady with Weird Al.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Posted by: Anonymoose   2006-08-01 00:10  

#1  Fidel can smoke my cigar
Posted by: Frank G   2006-08-01 00:03  

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