Daily Blog Buzz: Don't Cry for Me, Havana
Hugo Chavez visits fellow dicator Fidel Castro in the hospital.
Notice their matching stylish commie-red shirts.
The big news of the day: Fidel Castro, Cuba's commie president since 1959, has resigned. Fidel, 81, has been sick with cancer and his brother Raul, 76, has been essentially running the government. Cuba's Council of State will meet on Sunday and is expected to keep Raul in power. Although it is unclear how much Cuba will change right now, bloggers agree that Fidel's resignation is good for Cuba.
Michelle Malkin was one of the first to round up the news from Cuba--and like most bloggers, she's not sad. Bryan Preston at Hot Air adds, "I say the Fidel Death Watch is on. I have a cigar waiting for that day." A Jawa Report blogger notes that "Castro rose to overlordship of Cuba largely through imprisoning and murdering any 'rising young leaders' who got in his way." And at the Corner, John J. Miller points us to information about Castro's "rotten legacy."
But what's next for Cuba?
Drew at Ace of Spades notes that while no one can be sure what is next for Cuba, "there are a lot of people in several US government agencies dusting off plans on what the US will do when Castro dies or the regime in Cuba falls. It will be a very happy but challenging time." And at Andrew Sullivan's blog, blogger hilzoy says that "change has begun."
But at the Corner, Otto Reich disagrees: "Fidel has not run the country since July of 2006 but as long as he is alive no Cuban will dare challenge his power. The average Cuban, as well as the leaders, are far too afraid of physical retaliation from Castro." Robert Farley at Tapped and Scott Hinderaker at Power Line agree. More on that from Captain Ed, who says, "If Fidel died, the machinery of the Cuban state might have decided to take another direction, but Fidel remains alive and a threat." Nonetheless, he says, the U.S. is in the prime position to steer Cuba toward democracy.
All Americans are hoping for a democratic Cuba. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John McCain have issued statements in support of real democracy. Susan Davis at the WSJ Washington Wire reports on more Washington reaction.
Fausta rounds up blogger reactions and says, "The countdown to a transition officially begins today." And Glenn Reynolds adds, "Let's transition to a free, democratic Cuba soon -- I'd like to add it to my dive-destination list. . . ."