Fidel Retires

You have to hand it to the old guy: he outlasted everyone.

Forty-nine years, despite what the U.S. did, tried to do, or said, he hung on, a thorn in the side of every president and and all the rabid anti-Castroites in Florida.

Not only did he hang on, he brought universal education and health care to tiny Cuba. Tiny communist Cuba–and now we are chums with massive communist China. But we love China. The contortions of our foreign policy would put a contortionist to shame.

But how we hated Cuba. What a hoot.

And now he is retiring. Hats off, Fidel. Damn, hats off.

Note: Thanks to Terry et al for correcting the number of years.