Hi! Colleague!
So, in one single and rather brief sentence the Venezuelan Constitution, once the best Constitution in the world, Chávez dixit, has been turned into the most malleable an useless piece of paper in the land. Remarkably, the decision cites Art. 231, which is the one that was asked to be interpreted and instead of citing the many articles relevant to the decision in the current 1999 Constitution, it goes back and cites Art. 186 of the old 1961 Constitution, which is not only obviously invalid, but also irrelevant, since there was no reelection (Wise move!) contemplated under the old Magna Carta.
But I keep going back to the motive in this crime: Why give such a twisted and convoluted interpretation, when there were other apparent more Constitutional paths available?
This tragicomedy has three main actors, with a ghost behind some of them: Hugo Chávez, Nicolas Maduro and Diosdado Cabello. (The ghost is Cuba):
Hugo Chávez may be in bad shape, but while he failed to say on Dec. 9th. what should happen in this particular case, he has never been one to want to give up power. Thus, clinging on to the position fits Chávez’ personality to the hilt. (And the ghosts desires) Today’s decision is consistent with not allowing either a temporal or absolute absence and just let Art. 235 of the Constitution ride. Imagine how ridiculous the interpretation was: The President can ask for it (Did he? I did not see him like I did on Dec. 9th. Did you?) and on top of that it can be as indefinite as he wants, without anyone allowed to question why he continues to be on leave. A good decision for Chávez, if he knows what is going on or expressed he wanted this to happen.
For Maduro, a very poor speaker (chosen by the Cubans), and fairly unknown to boot, the sooner a possible election takes place, the better for him, as there will be little time for the “people” to think about him and have an opinion. However, being such a yes man, Maduro will not go against Chávez wishes, imagine if Hugo resuscitates! (r the Cubans get mad!)
Time is also in Maduro’s favor in terms of the economy. The deficit for 2013 at Bs. 4.3 per US$ is about 16% of GDP. Devalue to Bs. 7.5 and you have about a 4% deficit in round numbers. Easy to finance. But each month you delay the devaluation (Ten days going so far) you generate the need to finance about Bs. 20 billion (US$ 5 billion) or take it from the mysterious parallel funds (If they all exist). If they all have what they are supposed to, you will be at zero by the end of the year.
You can also cut spending, which has already happened, but with an election coming and with Maduro as the candidate, you need all the spending you can get (or find!).
Then we come to Diosdado. He can support Maduro’s path, if that is what Hugo asked for, but as long as Chávez is alive, he can’t go a different way. But Diosdado knows time favors him. If Maduro runs the show for two or three months, with no economic adjustment in place, people may be fed up with Nicolas before even the race starts.
And why didn’t Hugo and Nicolas (And the Cubans!) want Diosdado to be President?
Easy. First they don’t trust him. Second, if a temporal (or absolute) absence was invoked and Diosdado became President, Maduro will be the candidate as: Nicolas Maduro, son of the man, member of PSUV, Chávez anointed successor, but Diosdado would control the purse strings. But, after tomorrow, under the wonderful and twisted interpretation by the Venezuelan Supreme Court, Nicolas Maduro will continue being the Vice-President of Venezuela under the “principle of continuity” cited by Luisa Estela Morales, President of the TSJ, today.
What this means is that if something were to happen to Hugo of a temporal or absolute nature, Nicolas would automatically become President under Art. 233 of the Constitution and run for President as the man in charge, controlling powers and purse strings all along. Moreover, he may even (Barring a Diosdado adventure) be President not for six, but for seven years as he would formally (Or would it have any formality?) assume his Constitutional term on Jan. 10th 2014.
And that is to me the only motive of this tortuous plot: This was the way to avoid Diosdado, have Maduro run as President and comply with Chavez’ wish to remain in power to the last breath.
And the economy? Who cares, let Nicolas take care of it, after all, politics is all that matters…
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January 14, 2013 at 10:47 am
[…] To Understand Today’s TSJ Decision, Let’s Look At Motive […]
January 12, 2013 at 12:13 pm
In the past, Fidel has always dispelled rumors of his demise by releasing a photograph of him and some dignitary holding a current copy of his propaganda rag. Apparently HE is so incapacitated that HE cannot even be propped up for a photo. HE is so incapacitated that no one can quote anything that HE said.(They always imply HIS wishes) He is so dire that foreign dignitaries will not talk about HIM for fear of giving away HIS condition. If they say they talked to him, and it comes out later that they couldn’t have, they pay politically. They are thick-as-theives, as long as it is to their benefit. And, have more to lose than the crooked Venezuelan politicians who cannot even get their lies to mesh.
January 12, 2013 at 10:20 am
Agree with the devil.. Cubans want Maduro sitting as President first, so he can then appoint ministers and many strategical top positions to loyal lefty people.. then he will run as PSUV candidate with full economical support.. So, IMHO in a matter of weeks (maybe days) they will clear the bad new about Chavez and call quickly to new elections.
BTW.. Cristina spent the day in La Habana, met both Castros. met Chavez family.. BUT NO WORDS ABOUT CHAVEZ HEALTH, she neither said whether or not she saw Chavez.. No words.. She does not want to acknowledge it, she does not want to lie, neither she cannot say the truth, avoid any mess with journalists .. SHE WENT TO CUBA TO NOT MEET CHAVEZ…
January 12, 2013 at 9:06 am
Well, the 10th has certainly come and gone and while the dictatorship continues in Cuba, er Venezuela (same difference), nary a peep from the rest of the world about the ‘coup’. Sometimes I hate being right. No one cares about Venezuela, apparently not even the Venezuelans. Check that, the Cubans – your overlords – care.
January 12, 2013 at 9:32 am
deananash,
This is because of the totally evil ” diplomatic silence” which is so common int the world .The cowardly and bullying world of politics.A world where lies and power mongering are kings.
However, seen from the opposite point of view, which is also valid: what countries does Venezuela show ITS ” love ” for ?
answer: countries that support Chavez.
Time and time again, the US is criticized by the government and by the citizens, so why should the US care? It has to stay out of Venezuelan affairs.
Venezuelans are always saying they don’t want any outside interference.
The BBC which is very influential in Europe has always protected the image of Chavez in Europe so there is minimum pressure to be concerned.
Look at the OEA….lefties, lefties.
If the people want support from abroad they have to stand up for themselves first, and ask for help but instead they vote ( which gives the world the idea that the people believe their vote counts), instead of exercising civil disobedience which would be totally justified under the criminal government of Chavez.
In History, there is no limit to the injustices that have been perpetuated by popular governments but before Venezuelans complain about other countries no caring, they must first show that they are willing to stand up for justice in their own country.
January 12, 2013 at 3:55 pm
I think you are right (in your last paragraph); because Chavez has always skirted the law or twisted it to his benefit as opposed to brazenly breaking it, the rest of the world is unlikely to do much, particularly if Venezuelans do little themselves.
January 11, 2013 at 11:51 am
Chavez: Norwegian Blue?
January 11, 2013 at 4:04 pm
Maybe, if you tar and feather him in beutiful blue plumage …
January 11, 2013 at 8:59 am
There is an excellent article by Jorge Castaneda quoted in run runes which points to what is, to me, the greatest mystery of it all: why is Venezuela, a large, populated and rich country, accepting to be a protectorate of a tiny, run down and discredited country like Cuba. Worth reading, particularly as it doesn’t come come a right wing American type.
January 11, 2013 at 1:43 pm
“protectorate”?
Puppet, rather. A puppet country of Cuba!!!
January 11, 2013 at 3:23 pm
The protectorate is the state being protected.
pro·tec·tor·ate
/prəˈtektərət/
Noun
A state controlled and protected by another.
The relationship between a state of this kind and the one that controls it.
January 11, 2013 at 3:43 pm
Castaneda used the word protectorado and gives it its second meaning, I.e. subjected to (see Wikipedia).
January 11, 2013 at 7:03 am
On Life Support ( to keep lungs & blood circulation going ) clinically dead? The man can not Breath on his own. What is so difficult to understand about this. Induced coma ( is there brain activity? ) with the limited information that has been given Art 233 part I or IV apply. Since he has apparently been in this state since Jan 2 ( before his mandate TERMINATED ) unable to communicate how can he serve. Does he have the right of convalescence? yes he does. But not as the head of an armed Nation. He, if he really loved his people, would not have run for President. But that would have been way to responsible a decision for the PSUV.
Why does the opposition automatically think Maduros’ video conference showing off his FORCE with all his little Generals was directed against them? Could have been for Cabello … a show of : play nice with me and I play nice with you : The fact that they have been like twins can only refer to the “understanding” that they must share the spot light. For future benefit .. I am sure.
Well, if the man does not show his face, without tubes sticking out of it, in the next 2-3 weeks… the outer skin of the PSUV will start peeling away. Anyone waiting for more Linea Blanca in the ports .. I think they need more stoves before they can have another election. I bet you they get Stoves before they get Wheat Flour for BREAD ….
Good going VE … Fail again … this is only putting more upward pressure on the unmentionable underground market. TY … “El tiempo de Dios es perfecto”.
January 11, 2013 at 2:20 am
If there is no medical report, and there is no verifiable statement or document from the president-elect, he is simply derelict in his duties and responsibilities and should be disqualified. Of course that would be rational and logical and legal.
Chavez is not coming back, and I think just about everyone knows that by now. So it’s really not about Chavez any more. We are in post-Chavez Venezuela, and one thing that is painfully obvious is that the hangers-on of the robolucion care only about holding on to power, with no thought or consideration given to the welfare of the people or the country.
January 10, 2013 at 7:43 pm
I would like to suggest that if there were no cover-up regarding the “truth” of Hugo Chavez’s medical condition, there would be no objection to an independent assessment by a group of doctors approved by both parties. In fact, I believe the comandante was declared “cancer-free” twice by the same doctors hands that the comandante is placing his life into. A second opinion might be recommended here.
January 10, 2013 at 7:08 pm
Oh, what a clown, the Constitution protects the right to health, but the Government does not provide it and Chavez goes to Cuba. very coherent.
And the idea of Luisa Estela Morales having an “idea” is ludicrous, but you don’t have ideas with the Constitution, you use the law. Continuity is the same problem you have with your brain, it continues to love Chavez and no matter what they do, you continue to be smitten by their silly stuff.
January 10, 2013 at 2:56 pm
“Today’s decision is consistent with not allowing either a temporal or absolute absence and just let Art. 235 of the Constitution ride,” a groping Octavio writes.
0000
Art. 235 rides, because the type of “absence” that 235 mentions doesn’t apply.
There are different kinds of constitutional absences
Article 235 defines “absence” as absent from the territory of Venezuela.
Neither 233 nor 234 sees “absence” as a mere absence from the territory.
Both 233 and 234, correctly construed, define, “absence” as the unavailability of the president to serve. The two articles [233 and 234] divide “unavailability to serve” into temporary and permanent. Obviously, a president can be available or unavailable to serve either inside or outside of the territory.
Thus, the dispositive questions are: (1) Is Chavez entitled, like other employees, to a reasonable period for recovery [ the same as Luisa Morales’ term “leave”] before termination proceedings begin? And, (2) is Chavez available to serve while he lies in his hospital bed?
To a large degree, the Opposition, composed largely of idiots and led entirely by idiots, wants to get (!) Hugo Chavez real good by switching a 235 absence for either a 233 or 234 absence.
Concretely, take the argument that since Chavez has been in Cuba too long or, at least, a long time, 233 or 234 should be invoked against him. Such arguments misuse “absence” in the 235 sense.
Luisa Estella Morales was simply superb, wasn’t she?
January 10, 2013 at 3:10 pm
Answer me this, oh smartass, what type of absence is Chavez’, temporary? absolute?
Schoolyard? Out to lunch, be back in 5?
What kind of absence is it?
What kind of absence is it that the SOB can’t sign a piece of paper or even pose for a picture?
What kind of absence is it that not even Fidel or Raul are saying a word?
Please enlighten us, cabeza ‘e ñame!!
January 10, 2013 at 5:21 pm
“Answer me this, oh smartass, what type of absence is Chavez’, temporary? absolute?” Roberto N asks a damn good question tactlessly.
0000
First, if we talking about a 233 or 234 “absence,” we talking about an unavailability of the president to serve, not whether he is present or absent in Venezuela. Therefore, if the president is available to serve, he is not absent whether temporarily or permanently. The president serves by giving orders. The VP and Cchavez’ ministers say he’s giving orders to them. Hence, the president is not unavailable to serve and therefore he’s not absent at all. He’s neither temporarily nor permanently absent.
You can be sick or healthy and be available to serve. Yes, you can be healthy and still unavailable to serve. You can be in Venezuela or Cuba or wherever and still be avaiable to serve. Don’t equate unavailability with sickness because the sickness has to extinguish his availability to serve.
Second, let’s go to another part your question. Art. 233 defines permanent absence as an unavailability to serve that results from at least one of six reasons — (1) death, (2) resignation, (3) removal by supreme court, (4) physical or mental disability found a medical team picked by the supreme court, (5) abandonment of positon found by the National Assembly and, finally, (6) recall by popular vote. Right now, Chavez doesn’t qualify for any the six possibilities.
If an unavailability of the president to serve results from something other than either (1) or (2) or (3) or (4) or (5) or (6) mentioned-above, then the unavailability is a temporary absence.
Chief Justice Morales introduced the idea of entitlement to “leave,” that is, a reasonable period for recovery before invoking termination proceedings. Although millions of workers have sick leave in Venezuela, the vile bourgeois-led Oppositon wants to deny Chavez a reasonable opportunity to recover before terminating his employment as president. Chavez’s Oct. 7 reelection says he’s entitled to “leave.”
The constitution gives and protects the right of everyone to health, including the president. So, impliedly, there is no necessity for Chavez to work himself to death which will make him permanently unavailable.
January 10, 2013 at 7:26 pm
“physical or mental disability found a medical team picked by the supreme court”
Don’t the Venezuelan voters have a right to know his condition today? Has the Supreme Court picked a medical team to report on Chavez’s health? If not, why not? Do we just take the Cubans word for it, shrug our shoulders, and say, OK?
Or are you telling us that we know all we need to know about his condition?
January 11, 2013 at 11:20 am
“Don’t the Venezuelan voters have a right to know his condition today? Has the Supreme Court picked a medical te am to report on Chavez’s health? If not, why not? Do we just take the Cubans word for it, shrug our shoulders, and say, OK?”
oooo
As stated above, the president serves by giving orders so that he isn’t unavailable to serve. According to the VP, the president ordered that Venezuela and the region be given regular and truthful reports on his medical condition. I know the reports are regular and I assume they’re truthful.
The supreme court has not picked a medical term. The Court contends that Chavez so far isn’t unavailable to serve since he still serves by giving orders to his VP and ministers.
The Cubans don’t have many words to say about Chavez’ condition. The words about Chavez’ condition come mostly from the Venezuelan ministry of communication and information, the VP, and Chavez’ family members like Science Minister Arreaza.
January 10, 2013 at 7:37 pm
Well actually, we only know what we are told. However, we were told time and again that the cancer was “gone”. Can we believe what we are told?
January 11, 2013 at 11:36 am
“Well actually, we only know what we are told. However, we were told time and again that the cancer was “gone”. Can we believe what we are told?” Gordo says.
oooo
Yes and yes to both questions.
That was the opinion of Chavez and his medical team. But time showed that their optimism was not supported by the facts. Cancers sometime recur or breakout anew.
Again, the constitutional question is not whether Chavez is sick — he surely is, but whether he is or isn’t available to serve as president after his “leave” expires. As long as he gives orders, he serves. When he can no longer serve, proceedings under Art. 233 or 234 will be invoked to remove him from office.
January 10, 2013 at 8:05 pm
The TSJ and the AN have defaulted on their very duty, and then the TSJ ruled.
It is “general knowledge”, ratified by the generalities bandied about by Hugo Chavez and acolytes and expanded upon by informed speculators such as Jose Marquina, but with no legal weight whatsoever that he has a grave illness, of the kind that could end his health and life. A grave, debilitating, possibly lethal illness, which by definition is one that can destroy his health and his life, and logically enough, his ability to hold office.
At this point, the AN and TSJ SHOULD have asked for a report from a physician. To deliberate if the sickness X can compromise his ability to hold office. Never mind the Venezuelan public’s right to know and to be able to follow the deliberations of the TSJ and AN. Which they are steadfastly and heroically NOT having.
He’s entitled to “medical leave” that’s for sure. But idiot boy! tell me where is the medical report signed by a examining physician justifying that “leave”. It should be public also. It has never been seen, in reality we don’t even know WHO the physicians are.
No problem, then. Furnish a faithful medical report and he can go on leave. Because he has a grave illness, right? If he’s just on medical leave, and it’s not a grave illness, he can’t possibly be excused from the swearing in. I must conclude he might as well be going through liposuction and plastic surgery. How considerate of the TSJ to give him leave to return to us prettier and thinner!
But there’s more yet. He issues instructions to his VP and to the President of the AN, but only through their voices and pens. Hugo Chavez can’t be bothered to talk, be photographed, or sign a document himself. But remember, it’s no grave illness. All of it in foreign soil. It’s been a month of this comedy already. Again the TSJ and AN are derelict on their duty, for the President is rather… missing, than absent.
January 11, 2013 at 11:59 am
Yes, the high Court introduced the idea of “leave” or a reasonable time for recovery during which Chavez doesn’t have to demonstrate that he is available to serve, under 233 or 234, as president by, at least, giving orders. When “leave” expires, Chavez has to show he is available to serve.
Presently, Chavez gives orders although he doesn’t have to, since his “leave” hasn’t yet expired.
Chavez ordered regular and truthful reports be given to the people concerning his medical condition. The regularity of the reports is indisputable. The veracity seems strong, given the consistent pessimistic tone of the reports.
Understandably, the bourgeois media wants to see his hospital charts and shake his IV bag.
January 11, 2013 at 12:08 pm
I am glad Chavez called you to tell you all this. I also like this “introduction# of concepts by the high court. Do you know which way is up? “Regular and truthful” then you talk about ethics and you have none.
January 11, 2013 at 1:02 pm
“He’s entitled to “medical leave” that’s for sure. But idiot boy! tell me where is the medical report signed by a examining physician justifying that “leave,” loroferoz argues.
oooo
The government gives regular and truthful reports to Chavez’ boss. Generally, in an employment relationship, a worker seeking “leave” supplies detail report(s) to his boss, if the boss or the boss’ representatives request it.
According to Article 5, only the people — or, at least, a majority of them — are the boss of Chavez.
The majority of people seem fully satisfied with the amount of detail conveyed in the regular and truthful medical reports that Chavez or his VP or his ministers provide. Giving these reports to the boss or the boss’ representatives is not of course a full waiver of their confidentiality based on doctor-patient relationship.
If the boss is satisfied, then that’s it. The boss seems satisfied because the boss doesn’t clamor for more info.
The bourgeois media isn’t the “representative” of the people but it clamors for more detail all the time. The Oppo isn’t the “representative” of the majority of the people, either. But Oppos always clamor. The Oppo must think it is the boss.
Who are the top “representatives” of the people or of the boss in this constitutional crisis?
They are the supreme court and the National Assembly.
But they aren’t clamoring because Chavez is on “leave” and he doesn’t have to demonstrate that he available of serve or because the leadership of the supreme court and leadership of the Nationa Assembly are getting and have been getting detail medical reports on Chavez’ condition.
t
January 11, 2013 at 2:00 pm
BS BS BS
January 11, 2013 at 5:57 am
Yep, there he is, signing orders. Clear as day really
January 11, 2013 at 12:11 pm
If some of these pictures correspond to reality, Chavez certainly is not signing or givng orders.
Happily, they don’t correspond.
By the way, when Chavez travels, he signs documents electronically, using a code.
January 11, 2013 at 12:13 pm
I thought he had talked to you.
January 11, 2013 at 4:47 pm
“I thought he had talked to you,” Octavio says.
oooo
I’m sure he talks about you.
January 12, 2013 at 2:20 am
“I thought he had talked to you,” Octavio wonders.
0000
It seems the day for vile rejoicing of philistines and other assorted garbage of the bourgeois-led opposition in Venezuela will soon be here … perhaps, in only a few days.
January 11, 2013 at 1:28 pm
Yep, talks daily to ASShaw. Gives ASShaw the bullet points, political policy and operational dailies.
January 11, 2013 at 4:58 pm
“ASShaw,” N babbles.
oooo
Are you asinine or asenine. You got to be one or the other.
January 10, 2013 at 3:38 pm
“show me the body”. Give me some proof of life.
For all we know Hugo may be already being eaten by worms (and BTW, said worms getting intoxicated with Hugo’s rotten flesh).
January 10, 2013 at 7:52 pm
Superb in raping not only the Constitution but Lady Logic herself, they were.
January 10, 2013 at 11:25 am
That this whole debacle looks like a banana republic sham despite the PSUV having trounced the opposition twice recently is very telling: there must have been some very grubby little backroom deals to get the TSJ to sign it off.
The impression I have is the presidency is significantly weakened whilst other bodies (including AN) have reaped the reward. The $64k question is what will a Cuban backed Presidency do to gain some of that power back…
January 10, 2013 at 10:31 am
Empezo la dictadura imperfecta. El PRI mexicano se mantuvo en el poder mas de 70 años con la dictadura “perfecta”. You better watch out my friends.
January 10, 2013 at 8:36 am
I say above that Diosdado is bidding his time. That is precisely the point of the article and yes, all military people I ever met at all levels and positions aspired to eb President, even lowly technical people at IUPFAN where I gave seminars, they would all end up talking about it
January 10, 2013 at 10:28 am
I don’t believe for a second that Diosdado Cabello will be content to sit in the shadows for very long.
Not too many months ago I was sure he’d run for governor of Monagas, his home state and where there had been a war between Jose Gregorio “The Cat” Briceno and Chavez over PDVSA’s major environmental screwup at Jusepin last February.
Cabello would have been a shoe-in as proven by the 16 Dec election results where some women who’d probably never visited the state but was Chavez’s hand-picked candidate, ousted Briceno.
I’m with Miguel on this one. It’s impossible for me to believe that Cabello will wait patiently once Chavez is dead. One must strike while the iron’s hot and I believe that strike he will.
January 10, 2013 at 2:23 am
You seem to start from the assumption that all these people want to be president. I don’t see that at all. I think they are very eager to avoid becoming president. They like things how they are. Maduro, Cabello, et al all know that they lack what it takes to be the person who must take final responsibility. They like being in the shadows. They are terrified of becoming president. They will put it off as long as possible.
January 10, 2013 at 7:03 am
I agree with Sapito here. I wrote about that in my blog. I even think Cabello et al. are playing with this against us and we are foolish to fall for it.
Of course Cabello is very ambitious and he might consider in the long term (for Venezuelan standards, 3, 5 years from now) something like that…perhaps, but his main thing is money, connections…being able to control the violence sources.
January 10, 2013 at 8:20 am
Really? You must have been leaving in a different country. I never met a Venezuelan military above Captain that did not want to be President or a politician of any age who did not want to be President. In fact, I have met very few Venezuelan male civilians over 40 who did not aspire to be on the Cabinet and/or be Presidents. Remember Pedro Carmona, one of the most mediocre people I have ever met? On April 11 2002 there were dozens and dozens thinking they could be President. Ironically, the only want that did not ask was the man that should have been Presiden: Diosdado Cabello.
January 10, 2013 at 8:32 am
Miguel, you must be also leaving in a different country as well.
Do you think you have more contact with the average Venezuelan? No, it takes more than talking to la mujer de servicio y la vendedora de cachapas o el vendedor de perrocalientes.
Almost every milico wants to be Bolívar 2.0 and all. But one thing is the fantasy or wishes and another what they consider WHEN. And if they are clever – and Diosdado is clever- they know when it’s the time.
Francisco Toro wrote something very right in his blog: los tiempos de Diosdado son perfectos. I say it again: he won’t strive for the presidency in the next 3 years, probably 5, because he knows when could be the time
and he is aware, more than you are, about what the vulgo, el pueblo, thinks about him.
You have been predicting the economic collapse of the regime, you have been focusing on “the international community won’t take that” for way too long.
January 10, 2013 at 9:02 am
Why should the International community not take anything when the opposition seems to take it quite well 🙂
January 10, 2013 at 10:30 am
Since neither of you live in the same country, then your difference of opinion makes sense 🙂
January 10, 2013 at 12:33 am
Why even call elections? If the Supreme Court has ruled “continuity of administration” there’s no need for new elections. Maduro is “continuing” the previous administration of Chavez. No elections till 2018.
January 10, 2013 at 8:33 am
Chavez is gonna die and then there must be a new election. Well, that is what the constitution says. However, seeing the TSJ modifies the constitution as they wish, it´s impossible to say what they´ll do when Chavez finally goes.
January 10, 2013 at 9:45 am
If there are ‘no elections till 2018,’ why haven’t ‘they’ devalued the Bolivar?
January 10, 2013 at 10:27 am
I think they’re dealing with the situation at hand right now (Chavez not coming to be sworn in, and the gravity of his illness) and pretty soon they´ll step into the financial crisis. Don´t have much time before this crisis goes kabum!
January 10, 2013 at 1:22 pm
There’s already a financial crisis! It seems like everything is waiting for el comandante to return. If he’s going to return. In the meantime, they are handling the important things… like Globovision and Pepsi. Black market exchange rate is moving up, however.
January 9, 2013 at 10:22 pm
Standing ovation for this post! Clap, clap, clap…
January 9, 2013 at 9:58 pm
Hay Pollo!
Central Madeirense had frozen whole chickens today, for the first time since a week or two before Christmas. The checkout lines stretched almost halfway up the aisles toward the back of the store, with most carrying at least two chickens. Still no coffee, sugar, or yuca.
January 9, 2013 at 10:16 pm
is that a good sign or a bad one?
January 9, 2013 at 11:04 pm
It’s a good sign. It means something somewhere is working well enough to get a government price controlled food to the people. I was getting concerned that no one had remembered to import chicken feed, or that the money for it had all been stolen, or that it had been sent to Cuba.
January 10, 2013 at 6:58 am
Michael,
Are those USA, Colombian, Mongolian, Bolivian chicken? Try to see if there is some label about them, please.
January 10, 2013 at 8:14 am
glad to hear then
January 10, 2013 at 10:41 am
Kepler-
Venezuelan chickens. The usual ones this store carries. The label says “Matadero de Aves La Tropical, Carrizal, Miranda”.
January 10, 2013 at 10:51 am
Ahhh bailan joropo
January 10, 2013 at 12:00 pm
Thanks, Michael. I am kind of proud…now, they come from one of the opposition bastions…they are not socialist chickens just yet…if the regime decides to “nationalise” that matadero, you will end up very soon eating Chinese “socialist” chickens, which might contain some other stuff we don’t want to talk about.
January 11, 2013 at 1:52 am
I’m doubtful that any of the present non-leaders shuffling around on stage would have the guts to try to nationalize anything, for fear of backlash and lack of support. Any support Maduro or Cabello may have at the moment is fragile and could disappear rapidly.
There’s an old military maxim about never giving an order that won’t be obeyed. In order to be sure that an order will be obeyed one has to have the ability to enforce it, and I don’t think either of these has the support to be sure of that.
January 9, 2013 at 9:55 pm
The legitimate head of state is absent! The Party in Power is running the show and not respecting the law of the land, and there are serious problems everywhere… and nobody is dealing with these problems, so they are getting worse! Is that your message?
January 9, 2013 at 9:53 pm
“(The ghost is Cuba): …
However, being such a yes man, Maduro will not go against Chávez wishes, imagine if Hugo resuscitates! (r the Cubans get mad!)”
Since we’re into ghosts and witches and mystical stuff:
Witches: “Double, double toil and trouble. Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.” Macbeth Act 4, scene 1, 10–11
Yes, and if Hugo does somehow ‘resusitate’ in his sequestered hospital room in Havana, then the DGI will no doubt add a little something to the witches cauldron at CIMEQ, ….and, ah, give Hugo a measured sip of this new potion. That should unresusitate things…..;)
If only the ole Bard were still alive. He’d love this stuff!
January 9, 2013 at 8:44 pm
Reblogged this on danmillerinpanama and commented:
Ah, Venezuela, where the sun often shines and the women are consistently beautiful! So what if the constitution is used like toilet paper? There are food, water and electricity aplenty. Did I mention gasoline?