Below The Beltway

Apparently, some people think Fidel Castro is sending signals that he’s about to give up power:
MEXICO CITY — Fidel Castro indicated Monday in a statement read on state television that he was willing to hand over the reins of Cuba’s government to a younger generation of leaders. But his statement remained silent on whether he [...]

Fascism, that is:

The vapid talking heads on Fox & Friends obviously had no idea how to respond to what Paul said. They were expected something simple, I’ve got to assume, and to have a politician quote Sinclair Lewis, and actually make a valid point about the mis-use of religion in politics, was much more than [...]

Christmas is coming, and the news is getting weirder:
DANBURY — A 33-year-old woman was charged with fourth-degree sexual assault Saturday after allegedly groping a man playing Santa Claus at the Danbury Fair mall.
Sandrama Lamy, 33, of Danbury, is charged with fourth-degree sexual assault, according to Danbury Detective Lt. Thomas Michael.
Two messages seeking comment were left [...]

It looks like the Ron Paul for President campaign is ready to start spending all that money it’s raised:
Flush with cash after another record fund-raising event, the campaign of Ron Paul said Monday that it was hiring more staff members, expanding its ground operations in early primary states, planning more advertising and looking ahead to [...]

This is probably the first time I can remember a politician actually mentioning Jesus in a political ad:

Four years ago, Andrew Sullivan was a big fan of John McCain, this time around he’s liking a certain Congressman from Texas:
[T]he deeper reason to support Ron Paul is a simple one. The great forgotten principles of the current Republican party are freedom and toleration. Paul’s federalism, his deep suspicion of Washington power, his resistance [...]

A truly bizarre moment on the campaign trail:
Call it Hillary’s alien inspiration.
The former first lady wants to take America back to the movie references of the 1990s.
“Remember that movie ‘Independence Day,’ where invaders were coming from outer space and the whole world was united against the invasion?” she asked at a campaign event Saturday.
“Well, why [...]

Forbes is reporting this morning that New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg fully intends to run for President, and that he’s willing to spend a billion dollars in the process:
Look out, Hillary and Barack, here comes Mike. No, not Mike Huckabee (though he’d better watch out, too). Mike Bloomberg–Mayor Mike as millions of New Yorkers more [...]

The King of Saudi Arabia has pardoned the rape victim who was sentenced to 200 lashes for being in public with a man:
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah has pardoned a female rape victim who had been sentenced to 200 lashes for being alone with a man at the time of the [...]

Yesterday was the 234th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party and, to mark the occasion, Ron Paul’s supporters staged another successful fund-raising drive:
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul’s supporters raised over $6 million Sunday to boost the 10-term Texas congressman’s campaign for the White House.
Called a “Money Bomb,” the goal was [...]