Our Surreal Venezuela (or Keen Observations of the Painfully Obvious…)

by Alex

- Following a Supreme Tribunal ruling, the National Elections Council decided against a pro-government party which tried to stop the opposition from using the color blue in its campaign. Deciding on a color is what the judicial and electoral systems in Venezuela are up to these days.
- Meanwhile, the government is strongly urging (with special emphasis in strong) its workers to wear the color red at campaign rallies for Chavez. I’m not sure if that includes underwear also.
- A new sign hangs at the Venezuelan Military Academy which reads, “The Crib of the Bolivarian Revolution”, which specifically references Chavez’s party. So now the National Armed Forces are a campaign headquarters for a candidate.
- Opposition candidate Rosales shows up unannounced at a baseball game, and the crowd goes wild; camera pans of the stadium show fans shouting his campaign slogan, “Dare”. Chavez rides through any town on a strange parade-type float, ala Queen of the Louisiana Shrimp Festival, and the state channels only air close-ups of those surrounding his float. There are zero pans of adoring throngs or crowds.
- Chavez said he would step down if he loses, but he also threatened to arrest Rosales if he questions the results of a Chavez victory.
- The only reason the government is using fingerprint technology is to allow public sector managers at the local level to threaten workers with outing them if they vote for the opposition. Yet the National Electorate Council goes on pretending that they have any other function besides to intimidate and inspire terror.
- Everyone assumes pollsters are hired by either side, so they’ve lost their function.
- Nobody has analyzed how the new US Congress will treat Chavez. It is the Democrats who have, in the past, erroneously pandered to Chavez, both in the House of Representatives and in the Senate. It is the Republicans (and I thank Senator Lugar for this) who understood the real Chavez from the start…
- Chavez has created so much wealth within the banking community that he’s bought some very powerful friends who would normally call themselves “opposition”. But whatever, never underestimate the power of cash.
- If Chavez wins, Venezuela is screwed, because he’ll radicalize his agenda. If Rosales wins, Venezuela is screwed, because Chavistas (such as the Tupamaros) won’t accept a Rosales victory without a fight. I hope everyone has a visa…
- Everyone knows that the “de-stabilization” plan which Chavez keeps referring to is basically this: 1.) Chavez wins through fraud and the opposition hits to street to protest. (The protest part is the destabilization plan). Chavez is saying is that he’s going to win, either way. Anyone who questions his victory will be arrested.