Is Castro dead?

[ducklite]

More and more it appears that he might be dead or gravely ill and near death.

Miami-Dade OEM raised it's operations level and Jeb Bush is ready to send guard troops to the caostal areas along the Gulf to stop an exile of Cuban's should activity increase in the Strait.

This is an interesting story to watch, especially for Floridians where we've got about 1 million people of Cuban descent within our borders, and could easily see that number jump dramatically if Cuba's borders were opened for Cuban citizen's to freely leave.

Anne

 

[Pop Daddy]

and what about Elvis ?

 

[Poohbear123]

More and more it appears that he might be dead or gravely ill and near death.

Miami-Dade OEM raised it's operations level and Jeb Bush is ready to send guard troops to the caostal areas along the Gulf to stop an exile of Cuban's should activity increase in the Strait.

This is an interesting story to watch, especially for Floridians where we've got about 1 million people of Cuban descent within our borders, and could easily see that number jump dramatically if Cuba's borders were opened for Cuban citizen's to freely leave.

Anne

Thats great, that and Hurricane Chris we have to put up with.

 

[tnkbl]

Thats great, that and Hurricane Chris we have to put up with.

I thought it was only a tropical storm, did I miss an upgrade?

 

[bbangel]

I don't think baby brother is the type to set Cuba free. He is apparently worse than Fidel.

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

Is this why it's such a big deal? My Mom called me to tell me that he'd turned over power to his brother before surgery. I was just baffled as to why it's a big deal- our President turns over power to the VP if he's undergoing surgery. Now it makes sense....

 

[Poohbear123]

I don't think baby brother is the type to set Cuba free. He is apparently worse than Fidel.

I heard the exact opposite, this is why they are Celebrating here in Little Havana, tying up traffic, etc.

 

[Cantw8]

and what about Elvis ?

Elvis is good

 

[ducklite]

I thought it was only a tropical storm, did I miss an upgrade?

Do'nt think so, I think that was hypothetical...

Anne

 

[SplshMtn99]

Chris is still a weak tropical storm. Predicted to stay that way up till Friday at least so far. Cuba will see Chris for sure. Predictions don't appear near Florida (yet).

 

[eclectics]

I thought we encouraged Cuban refugees . Jeb should set up welcome centers to expedite their arrival. Since we are so anti Castro and set up these lax immigration rules concerning Cuba, we certainly can't start being hypocritical about it now.

 

[ducklite]

Is this why it's such a big deal? My Mom called me to tell me that he'd turned over power to his brother before surgery. I was just baffled as to why it's a big deal- our President turns over power to the VP if he's undergoing surgery. Now it makes sense....

In his 45 years in office he's never done this before, even when he's had surgery before. It seems that some analysts think that he's dead and the Cuban Spin-Doctors are covering it with this story until the new regime gets it's act together...

Anne

 

[ducklite]

I thought we encouraged Cuban refugees . Jeb should set up welcome centers to expedite their arrival. Since we are so anti Castro and set up these lax immigration rules concerning Cuba, we certainly can't start being hypocritical about it now.

We don't exactly welcome them. It's more of a tolerance. If they can make it to dry land our official policy is not to send them back. But if they do'nt make it to dry land--back they go, and our USCG is tasked with keeping as many from making dry land as possible.

Anne

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

I thought we encouraged Cuban refugees . Jeb should set up welcome centers to expedite their arrival. Since we are so anti Castro and set up these lax immigration rules concerning Cuba, we certainly can't start being hypocritical about it now.

Amen to that. I've never understood this sentiment. Can't Florida voters rally and do something about it? We'll just be sure that the ballot is legible.

One of my favorite songs- Jimmy's "Everybody's Got A Cousin In Miami"
With this going on, maybe he'll do it on Thursday! WAHOO!

It was ninety miles to freedom but they took the risk
Though the ocean was all motion and the wind was brisk
The deadly gunboats never saw them in the pale moonlight
They were off to Cayo Hueso by the dawns early light
The gringo in the garden called the customs man
They answered all his questions, were allowed to land
The ladies shared a hair brush and their husbands had a coke
Then they were taken up to Krome to meet with their kin folk

Chorus:
Everybody's got a cousin in Miami
Everybody understands the impromptu
Dancing in the heat to the beat
That turns your clothing clammy
Everybody needs to have a dream come true

In a third world jungle not so far away
Lives a natural drummer with a dream to play
He's the brother of the lizard and the flying fish
But he's been enchanted by the pictures
From the satellite dish
So his mama packs his bags, knots his red neck tie
Sends him north to her relations with a kiss good-bye
He's bewildered by the plane ride and the immigration line
Until he sees his Christian name upon a cardboard sign

Everybody's got a cousin in Miami
Everybody is an Aborigine
Dancing in the heat to the beat
That turns your clothing clammy
Everybody wants to win that lottery

It's hard to believe the city started as a trading post
Home to the Seminole, pirate and pioneer
Between the river of grass and the old mosquito coast
Before the railroad claimed the southernmost frontier

I am umbilically connected to the temperate zone
It brought me life, it brought me love
I never have outgrown
It brought me one too many nights along that Biscayne shore
And one too many mornings in the Grove Drug Store
In one way or the other we're all refugees
Living out this easy life below the banyan trees
Smoothing off the rougher edges of the culture clash
We got a style, we got a look
We got that old panache

Chorus

 

[beachblanket]

Is this why it's such a big deal? My Mom called me to tell me that he'd turned over power to his brother before surgery. I was just baffled as to why it's a big deal- our President turns over power to the VP if he's undergoing surgery. Now it makes sense....

Wrong analogy. Dictators never delegate anything unless they absolutely have to.....I'd put money on Castro being in very, very rough shape right now....or maybe even already dead.

 

[DawnCt1]

I heard the exact opposite, this is why they are Celebrating here in Little Havana, tying up traffic, etc.

I understand that traffic jams might be an inconvenience but why roll your eyes. If you were Cuban and in your wildest dreams the possibility of a free Cuban existed, wouldn't you celebrate?

 

[Bob Slydell]

Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead

 

[BuckNaked]

Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead

 

[luckystar]

I normally don't post here. I am a lurker I have to agree DawnCt1 this is one of the Cubans wildest dreams. I live in Miami and I heard that a lot of the cubans restaurants are celebrating. Some Cubans that live in Miami have waited more than 50 years for this to happen. I have a lot of cuban friends and they are very happy. What they say around here is that Fidel's brorther is apprently better than Fidel but don't mark my word on that.

 

[eclectics]

We don't exactly welcome them. It's more of a tolerance. If they can make it to dry land our official policy is not to send them back. But if they do'nt make it to dry land--back they go, and our USCG is tasked with keeping as many from making dry land as possible.

Anne

That's the official line. I just wonder how diligently it is enforced. Dade County politicians, and most FL statewide officials also, don't exactly make "let's crack down on Cuban refugee" speeches every chance they get.