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I always figured that when Fidel hung up his fatigues it would only be a matter of time before Cuba would once again become a big-time Caribbean resort and a place where Cubans could and would flourish and prosper on levels as never before.  Not that “the before” was much to admire.  Had it been, there’d have been no revolucion, right?  Cuba is a resort brand waiting to happen, as generations of mis amigos in Miami have for years been telling anyone would listen.  They’re right, of course.  All the God-given elements of geography are there.  But…we’ll have a while to wait.  Probably quite a while, given the Castro Bros. longevity genes.

Instead, Raul “Fidel Lite” Castro is probably prepping for his photo ops with Sean Penn and Danny Glover who have, in turn, probably already made their Havana travel arrangements: Head on down to Cuba to sip Mojitos and fire up a Cohiba or two. Or eight, with El Supremo Numero Dos.  Now that Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has shoved both boots in his boca and revealed himself for the ego-supremo-loco he’s always been, Los Progresivos Americanos need a new Man in America Latina.  The brand promise of 21st Century Cuba?  Still looks a lot like the second half of the 20th.  If it’s a good year, everybody gets a new rice cooker.  Hotel jobs on capitalist islands look pretty good in comparison.  Although Penn and Glover (never to be confused with Penn and Teller) would beg to differ.  Yeah, viva la revolucion. Brand X.