Turns out Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the Curly Howard of Latin America, can't even do dictatorship right. The country, holder of the world's largest proven oil reserves, is in an unprecedented social, economic and political meltdown as it experiences the inevitable results of nearly 20 years of socialism.
Just a couple of days ago, I noted how Maduro had ordered his compliant Supreme Court to declare the Congress in contempt of the Constitution and had the judges strip the legislators of their powers and immunities, i.e., meaning they can be arrested at will for their words and deeds in Congress. In the wake of the domestic and international outrage this action provoked, Maduro "convinced" the Court to take another look. Like the obedient little worms they are, the judges nullified their own ruling. Maduro grandly declared "the crisis is over!"
No, President Maduro, the Ralph Kramden of Latin America, the crisis is not over. It's building up a head of steam. The only thing worse than being a dictator is being a bumbling one. Maduro has shown that he can be beaten and forced to retreat in the most embarrassing sort of way. The opposition will take note as will many in his immediate circle already getting sweaty palms over their prospects for the future. I note that with Trump in power in the USA, a cushy exile in Miami, the traditional resting ground for disgraced Venezuelan elite, is not very likely. To the moon!
I still say Maduro will stop a bullet.
ReplyDeleteI would love to read that in the daily news...
DeleteYa gotta love it when someone like Maduro shows the world what a bumbler he is. When he loses the support of the army, he's toast.
ReplyDeleteMaduro may be Barney Fife struggling for his bullet!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the character theme with Ralph and Curly.
I hope the thugs from Xi to Saud to Mugabe are hearing footsteps.
I forgot, what's hus first name again? Cabeza? And his middle nanestarts with a "D"?
ReplyDeleteNothing would please me more than to see him end like Ceaucescu. Alas it is not him that gives the orders, it is Raul. Maduro's intended replacement, Tarek Al Asiami, will rule with a much firmer fist.
ReplyDeleteSilvus: If he gets the chance. The self-cleansing aspect of socialism might be triggered first.
ReplyDeleteI pray you are right. For now Maduro is keeping Vladimir Padrino Lopez happy as per instructions from Raul. So he is unlikely to do much. If the money at the top runs out, then the happiness runs out, and you may be right. For now the Boli-burgoise are living it up stealing the proceeds from PDVSA, how ever diminished they may be due to their incompetence. The recruits of Guardia Nacional are eating from the garbage like everyone else. It would not take much to push them over the edge. But There are also about 10K Cuban embeds in the military in Vzla to serve as a checkmate to that one. And in general the average Venezuelan lacks the gumption to stand up and fight. As Bolivar once wrote in:
Delete"Letter to a gentleman that was taking interest in the republican cause of South America" 1815.
"In so much that our compatriots don't acquire the talents and political virtues that distinguish our Northern brothers, I much fear that they will become our ruin. Unfortunately, these qualities seem to be very distant from us, in the degree that is required; and, to the contrary, we are dominated by the bad habits that are acquired under the direction of a nation such as the Spanish one, that has only stood out in firmness, ambition, vengeance and greed."
Silvius: And in keeping with common practice among good socialist brothers, you can bet Venezuela is paying Raoul very handsomely for the Cuban military who are hidden in the ranks of the Venezuelan army. The next question, though, is can Raoul keep the Cuban soldiers happy in Venezuela? Because if THEY get unhappy, no telling where things would end up!
DeleteVenezuela "largest proven oil reserve" -- only because the Saudis keep the empty quadrant oil reserves secret.
ReplyDeleteI was in errors a few days ago. The Kennedy's called them "Our GOOD friends in Venezuela" and it was Citizens Energy not Citizens Oil ... Joe Kennedy's cash cow charity.
I wonder if the Venezuelan military whispered something in Maduro's ear that it wasn't a good idea to neuter the legislature. The military is the one force remaining that could bring sanity to the country.
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