Cuba’s Communist Shuffle: Raul Castro Officially in, Fidel Officially Out
- Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:16am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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HAVANA (AP) — Raul Castro was named first secretary of Cuba’s Communist Party on Tuesday, with his aging brother Fidel not included in the leadership for the first time since the party’s creation 46 years ago.
Despite raising hopes during the gathering that a new generation of leaders was poised to take up important positions, Raul announced that Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, an 80-year-old longtime confidante, would be his No. 2.
Ramiro Valdes, a 78-year-old vice president, was named to the No. 3 spot. Several younger people were added to the 15-member leadership group, but in lesser positions.
Fidel Castro, 84, made a surprise appearance at the gathering, receiving thunderous applause from the 1,000 delegates assembled in a vast convention center in the capital, Havana.
Many could be seen crying as he was helped to his place on stage by a young aide, then stood at attention next to his brother during the playing of Cuba’s national anthem.
The revolutionary icon, who wore a blue track suit over a checked shirt, looked unsteady on his feet as he clutched the aide’s arm, and at times slumped in his chair. But he became more animated as the proceedings continued, especially when Raul‘s name was read out by a party official announcing the members of the party’s Central Committee.
That larger group is tasked with picking the leadership council. For the first time since the party’s founding in 1965, Fidel was not included in the names of Central Committee members, which were called out alphabetically.
Each newly elected official stood up, revealing a mix of young and old, including many women and Cubans of African descent. There were also a number of generals and other senior armed forces officials.
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ejjensen
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 10:56pmlook they found obama’s dad
Report Post »OBAMABLOWS
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:14pmI take full official credit for this. Just like Clinton and the internet…things are a-happening on my watch!
Raul who? WHO? Damn………now what? Oh…OK…gotta go smoke and think on this.
Anyone for golf? Congressional has a tee-time open…….
Report Post »OBAMABLOWS
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:12pmI take full official credit for this. On my watch, just like Clinton and the internet, things are happenin!
Raul…..Raul who? WHO? Oh damn……….gotta go smoke…………..
Report Post »thetang
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 6:42pmOne lives to watch the other one die! Who cares?
Report Post »Khthulhu
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 5:19pmI wonder why O didn’t attend? His invite must’ve gotten lost in the mail. Simply unforgivable! You know Jimmy Carter was there applauding like the rest of the commies.
Report Post »SandyfromChesterfield
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 5:15pmDon’t be too excited by thinking that the people of Communist Cuba will get a break. Castro’s daughter has already said that she thought it was a good idea to let the people have their own businesses then when they are successful we will just take them over again!
Report Post »Duxdogs
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 2:41pmI heard Fidel is moving to South GA to spend some quality retirement time with his ol buddy Jimma Carter!!
Report Post »Average_JoeMN
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 2:20pmI‘m surprised Jimma Cahter wasn’t there to congratulate him and Obama to bow to him.
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 1:49pmNothing new here. Raul has been running things since Fidel go sick years ago. Seriously Blaze come up with something new.
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 1:45pmThis has been de jure for awhile–its just now becoming de facto.
Report Post »Two Party Scam
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 1:08pm‘Big Government’ Tyrany hides behind many masks:
Communism
Socialism
Marxism
Democracy
Progressivism
Collectivism
Eugenics
Sharia
The ONLY proven system that has ever benefited the individual is a ‘Constitional Republic!’
The only truely free counrty is the United States of America, but is losing all this freedom with excessive ‘democracy.’
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 12:28pmHow exciting is this?
Report Post »Guerrino_P
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 2:34pmNot really exciting but I took the family to a Cuban resort last month and it was a great time, great food and lots of cold beer.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 12:25pmNice to see the youth of Cuba get their shot at running things.
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 1:46pmGood one.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 12:24pmI don’t imagine there will be a “Fundamental Transformation”.
Report Post »Richard Compton
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 12:15pm“In with the New Boss, same as the Old Boss” the song still says it all.
Report Post »jimjetearl
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 12:14pmWho elected these folks?
Report Post »Miami
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 2:13pmAs Mao said true power comes at the end of the gun
Report Post »Rob_M
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:53amSo is there going to be a difference?
Report Post »T-2
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:49amthis will be like the New Black Panther Party…extra socialism with twice the hate…
Report Post »LastCallForEmpathy
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:40amIm sure the global order of creeping death has a pin on that spot of the map as well…Wont be long before the price off food has blood running in the streats their as well…And no, im not defending communism…If the corruption and doublespeak at the top of most governments these days does not have you questioning the perceived reallity being given by the media industrial complex i feel for you…I really do…
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:35amOh goody, now the Obama administration can INVEST in their economy, too!
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 2:25pmObama/Soetoro has worked on that. Now I wonder if Cuba is the alternate route for terrorists to enter the U.S.
Report Post »chirodoc007
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:24amThis is going to go over Fantastically well with the Cuban community in Florida – NOT. Someone should let Marco Rubio know what is happening.
Does anyone know if the Regime in DC has sent any housewarming gifts? Perhaps an I-Pod with Barack’s Greatest speeches would be appropriate. Isn’t that what he sent to the Queen?
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:24amCommunist aristocracy.
Report Post »JEANNIEMAC
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:22amAs with other dictators, once they get power, it stays in the family as the presidency becomes a family dynasty.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:21amI hope things go smoothly. The Lord knows we don’t need any new problems. We already have enough coming from the White House.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:54amWOW !!!!!!!!!!!! what a big change !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 2:22pmRobert-Ca
Report Post »?
dcwu
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:20amSo, the new honchos can blame and kill some more folks and take their stuff.
Report Post »Fidel has some stuff.
May I suggest …
hauschild
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:26amDarn! No more “Weekend at Fidel’s” where they get his minions to prop him up and wave to the crowd, etc.
Report Post »Revere1
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:26amUnfortunately I don’t see any kind of change until the Castro family is out of power.
Report Post »Susan Harkins
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:31am…replacing horse ship w/ cow ship.
new flavor…same stench.
Report Post »theonefromabove
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:44amWill this make a difference? I think not.
http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos
Report Post »tobywil2
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 12:02pmTyranny is the use of the government’s monopoly on force to initiate the use of physical force against the individual. 3000 years of recorded history have shown that tyranny begets poverty and despair. Individual freedom creates prosperity and well-being. Socialism, communism, fascism, kingdoms, and the tribal chief – witch doctor are all just different forms of tyranny. The only difference between these different forms of tyranny is the rhetoric and the title of the Tyrant. The ultimate result of tyranny will be destruction of civilization as we know it and a return to the poverty and despair of the Middle Ages.
Tyranny begets tyranny because of problems caused by the initiation of force against the individual create new problems that the tyrant tries to solve by increasing the oppression.
Report Post »http://commonsense21c.com/
TexasCommonSense
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 12:07pmHope and Change?
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 12:12pmBHO’s new play ground…
Report Post »lovenfl3
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 12:22pmThat will free him up to be one Obama’s czars. He could be in charge of Obamacare. Michael Moore would support that. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIMRNUGXxII
Report Post »CultureWarriors
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 1:27pmLet’s open it up so we can ship all of our left wing nuts there. It‘s a liberal Nirvana isn’t it? They would be happier there (if it’s possible for a liberal to be happy), we would be orders of magnitude better off without them. Seems like a win-win deal. So what do ya say liberals? Why don’t you all go live in Cuba?
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 1:50pm@CultureWarriors
Report Post »Minus their bank accounts, since they are so in favor of paying as much taxes a person can.
Since they seem to think Cuba is such a great system, give them a one-way ticket. Sean Penn, Leonardo DiCraprio, Alec-unearned fame-Baldwin, Mr. Susan Sarandon and wife, many, many more Hollywood-communist-infiltrators.
Miami
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 2:04pmTwo killers from the same blood line, as a mater of fact Raul was the more murderous of the two. So what does that say to the future of Cuba, till this murderer finally dies? Cubans live in constant fear, the few that speak out are jailed and beaten or just beaten. No matter the sex or ethnicity but these are especially racist. Note the lack of any Black leaders. Hell they use to do Dr.Mengele type experiments on Blacks and Gays in the 60′s UMAP concentration camps.
http://wwwcriticalvision.blogspot.com/2006/01/rd-laing-and-evil.html
http://havana5060.blogspot.com/2007/06/gallegos.html
http://bigjournalism.com/hfontova/2010/03/20/banned-in-britain-for-hate-speech-unless-youre-the-daughter-of-a-mass-murderer/
War crimes, try Crimes against humanity, the face of evil…
Report Post »avenger
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 4:17pmwhoopee…same old sheet,new boss….
Report Post »AriBenTZion
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 4:49pmCastro is not dead yet?
Report Post »Polwatcher
Posted on April 20, 2011 at 5:55amDid anyone check to see if Obama would want the Job? He would feel right at home in Cuba.
Report Post »nptden
Posted on April 20, 2011 at 7:00pmIt‘s so nice to realize they are all so close to their day of reckoning in ’Hell’.
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