Chilling Video - Maduro's Venezuelan National Guard Abduct HS Girls Off The Street

It's not getting too much attention right now, but Hugo Chavez's successor Presdidente Nicolas Maduro is consolidating control with an iron hand and rewarding his followers the way dictators always do.

Venezuela itself is in dire economic straits after years of Chavez's 'Bolivarian revolution' mismanagement. Inflation is rampant, the currency is essentially worthless, and the standard of living is collapsing as the prices of staples are through the roof. People are only allowed one shopping trip per week, and ala' Cuba, many times they don't find much when they get there. When faced with massive protests led mainly by students and middle class, Maduro's response has been to b;same the U.S. and crack down...hard.

Oddly enough, I've yet to hear President Obama say 'Maduro must go' the way he talked about Mubarak...oh wait...this is a hard Left socialist dictatorship! Why would anyone even ask?

Hugo Chavez Dies

 

Hugo Chavez has died of cancer at age 58.

His demise was reported by his vice president, Nicolas Maduro who said that Chavez passed away earlier today.

The vice president also called on the opposition to respect "the people's pain."

"Those who never supported the comandante Hugo Chavez, respect the pain of the people. This is the moment to think of our families, of our country."

Needless to say Maduro blamed the U.S. saying "we have no doubt" that Chavez's cancer, which was first diagnosed in June 2011, was induced by "the historical enemies of our homeland."

Considering how much President Obama liked Hugo Chavez, that's even more than most conspiracy theories.

Chavez was yet another authoritarian 'progressive' although he was at least honest enough to call what he was doing socialism, by which he meant nationalist socialism, with all that implies. Of course, like most socialist dictators, Chavez made sure to feather his own nest, amassing a personal fortune of over $2 billion.

Power to the people and Viva la revolucion..yeah, ri-ght.

After taking power in 1999, he did his best to assume dictatorial powers, but was fended off (just barely) by the fractious nature of Venezuela itself. He never quit managed to gain that all important consensus that would enable him to emulate his idols Stalin and Castro and obtain complete control, but what he managed was fairly close to it.

In the end he was just another strutting comic opera Latin American caudillo, for all his pretensions.

Ya basta.

As for Venezuela, no one's really sure what happens next. Chavez left no clear successor, and while his United Socialist Party of Venezuela is more or less in control, the country's sharply polarized and the considerable opposition to Chavez could be used by a successor, perhaps Miranda state Gov. Henrique Capriles quite effectively. And of course, the eternal question is, which way will the army jump?

Stay tuned.

Is Hugo Chavez History?

 

There is an historic election being held in Venezuela today between Hugo Chavez and the candidate of the Democratic Unity Table (MUD), Henrique Capriles. And believe it or not, the exit polls show Capriles beating Chavez, 51.3 to 48.06.

Voting has been fairly calm, with the army guarding polling places and only a few instances of sporadic violence.

At issue is a major change both in Venezuela's political orientation and its economic policy.

In spite of Venezuela's oil wealth, the country suffers from one of the world's highest murder rates, 18 percent inflation, a deteriorating electrical grid and the bloated Chavez government accused of endemic corruption and mismanagement.

In addition, while Chavez has used effective control of the Venezuelan government. the National Assembly, much of the courts and media and the Central Bank to push through massive social welfare benefits, the country 's budget is in deficit, and the Chavez bureaucracy has stifled private enterprise and job growth.

Chavez is also not the fighter he once was, having recently gone through a bout with cancer that included chemotherapy and radiology.

Capriles, a popular state governor favors a more pro-western policy, calls for an end to corruption, more privatization and and an end to special oil deals for countries run by Chavez's cronies like Cuba. He's a savvy po0litician who managed to unite the opposition factions.

Needless to say, the country is divided. Sounds familiar, no?

Will this be the end of Chavez's 'Boliverian Revolution'? I'd say much depends on whether the army still backs him.

So far, the exit polls show Capriles winning, but anything could happen.

Stay tuned...