Why I like the US primary system

It is super Tuesday up North. This blog is not about US politics (though I know them, I have my opinions and my favorites).

However as the Venezuelan opposition is considering the wisdom of primaries, I cannot resist to point out the Massachusetts results of tonight. Clinton won, and at ease with 56% at this writing. And yet, the Kennedys made a big endorsement show of Obama. And yet the governor of the state and Kerry endorsed Obama. It seems that people know better than following silly endorsements.

We can just hope that Chavez "endorsements" are going to be moot points next November, as well as endorsements form "ancien regime" politicians in the opposition camp. We can hope that Venezuelans will vote for the one most likely to pick up the garbage efficiently rather than the one who wants to prepare the state against a US invasion. There are hints that this might be the case which would explain some of the unease of Chavez and of some oppo leaders. The Venezuelan opposition (and chavismo) should not be afraid of primaries (if well organized which is an entirely different subject). After all Obama is winning every caucus today so far and even some primaries such as Georgia and Alabama. The evenness of tonight result and the civility between Clinton and Obama at their last debate should not only allay fears but be an example to follow for the opposition if they want to trash chavismo in November local elections. Right now they are poised to take more than half the states for about 2/3 of the country population. It is for the opposition to lose.

-The end-

"No mas FARC" in Caracas (No more FARC)

[updated]

There is two good news: despite this being a holiday week end the turnout was better than what I expected. The march by itself must have covered 3 blocks which for such a specialty march on a Carnival Monday is just fantastic for Caracas.

The other good news is that it was well organized, meaningful and attended by a lot of Colombians. Those ones, I am pretty sure, are not going to vote for Chavez next time. Without further ado, a few pictures and videos (to lighten up the page, most pictures are small, click them to enlarge).
This first picture is when Yon Goicochea spoke. It is to be noted that no political parties or politicians attended, only intellectuals, ONG and students did organize the event and managed it. Special mention to El Nacional columnist Tulio Hernandez for being the main stage emcee.


One of the "media manipulation" objectives was to display a large mosaic banner, that is, a whole bunch of people carrying a numbered poster and sitting in line. This picture is during one of the rehearsals.



And courtesy of YB, a view from the top of the Lido Center.



If politicians were not invited I was given to observe the new student leadership for the first time alive. I must say that through the last year they have learned quite well how to work out crowds. Here a short video of Freddy Guevara where you can see his dynamism and how the crowd goes wild. I have a longer video with the polished speech of Goicochea but it is too long to put up with the blogger format, later on YouTube maybe.



There were many emotional moments. The Colombian anthem was sung and many in the crowd did sing along. I was lucky enough to be near a group of Colombians living in Venezuela and you can see the diverse crowd singing.



Doves also were released and I managed to catch them, even if not spectacularly.


And at noon Bogota time, 12:30 Caracas time, the human poster was set up, a siren sounded and we all cursed the FARC. Video next.



The march to the Colombian embassy, ahead of yours truly and behind him.




In front of the Colombian embassy, waiting for the ambassador to receive the support letter. Read the banner that surely will please Colombians.


At the end of the march coming back to my car I got this perspective of the Miranda, now empty, to give you a better sense of space, of the crowd that attended.


International press review

Unfortunately Google news is not as fast as this blogger in putting full reports with pics. At least we got some interesting stuff.

In Argentina (where else?) we got a second march with Piqueteros in support of the FARC. Then what else could you expect from a movement which is funded by chavista money bag carriers? At least the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo seem to have had the good sense to shut up even though they are also beneficiaries of Chavez largesses.

Reuters reports a rousing success in Colombia. As expected Cuba's Prensa Latina tries to minimize as much as possible the impact, underlining the complaint that the Polo Democratico Alternativo has as to this becoming a plebiscite of sorts in favor of Uribe. Well, if this is the case they have only themselves to blame: if they had cut clearly their links to the FARC earlier, they would be befitting of this extraordinary day. Instead, their desire to get electoral funding from Chavez (at least within some members of that Colombian Polo) is playing heavily against them as the accumulated blunders of Chavez have Uribe reach unheard of popularity levels!

Meanwhile Chavez and the FARC sensing the implosion of their strategy are trying to regain some momentum by freeing three other hostages. They certainly can afford it, even more so that a few days after such release they can get again as many hostages as they might need. Some PR person should tell them that this drop wise strategy can only backfire on the long term, establishing them as coarse manipulators. Today's anti FARC successes will not be erased by three hostages freed. We are well beyond this now, only freeing Ingrid Betancourt right now would benefit Chavez and the FARC. This blog is pleased to offer them this free advice.

Elsewhere

In Venezuela there were significant marches in Maracaibo, San Cristobal, Valencia, and Barquisimeto. At least these ones made it to TV.

In Peru Alan Garcia screamed "Viva Colombia!".

Everywhere in the world there were from a few dozens to a few hundred Colombians and their friends that managed to gather. In Colombia of course TV showed marches everywhere, such as the half a million folks for Medellin alone.

For all to see, the diaspora of Colombian people, in large part due to the 60 years of failed FARC subversion.

-The end-

Desperado

There is nothing like starting the week with a little piece on Venezuela by Maria Anastasia O'Grady. In "Desperado" she dwells lovingly on what a thug Chavez is becoming, with eerie reminiscences of Argentina pre-Falkland looming disaster. Nothing that the readers of this blog have not read yet, but it is nice to see it in the pages of a major paper, is it not? Very stimulating just before this intrepid blogger is getting ready to go and march against the FARC. Which you all are going to do, no?

A little delicious excerpt:

And despite what appears to be a [Chavez] primitive understanding of economics, he may even have figured out the connection between prices and supply. ...... But don't hold your breath for further signs of enlightenment. Control of the oil industry has been the main reason Mr. Chávez has been able to squelch democracy. His own warped logic suggests that he needs to control other key sectors if he wants to keep his grip on power. If he can strangle the private sector, he can starve his adversaries.

Post Data: It is not idle to remember that today is also February 4, yet another anniversary of February 4 1992 when Chavez officially started his career to destroy any democratic value within Venezuela. Let's not forget that Chavez started his carer by blooding his hands and has shown no regret for it. The novelty these days is that he does not care much anymore that his democratic claims do sound hollow: he is itching for a fight again, the only thing that really excites him, even if his pants might get soiled (Museo Militar anyone?)

-The end-

Walk against the FARC

This Monday you can do something for a good cause that also will piss off Chavez: join one of the many groups protesting the FARC violence across the world. You can find reasons here in English and meeting points here with the schedule for your area once you click on the closest meeting point to you.

For Venezuelans who might be hesitant to disrupt their Carnaval holiday (bad timing for Venezuela, low turnout expected), I will give a few reasons why move your butt and be at Plaza Brion of Caracas (or wherever you might be) by 11 AM Monday 4 February:

YOU can protest against Chavez for dragging us into a war we have no business being in, a true anti war march! Before the war starts!

YOU can protest for Chavez supporting violence and drug traffickers.

YOU can protest for Chavez supporting hostage takers.

YOU can protest his coup attempt of February 1992 where his ambition cost the lives of hundreds of Venezuelans and a political and economical crisis that has never abated since then.

But best of all, YOU can state that the union of Latin American peoples will not pass through the personal ambitions and barely contained violence of a few individuals.

See YOU there, Plaza Brion, between 10 and 11 AM for a short walk to the Colombian embassy.

-The end-

Cocaine and the commandante

The way the cocaine traffic connection in Venezuela is rapidly being exposed, we can understand much better why is Chavez so desperately trying to start a conflict with Colombia or why he is chewing coca leaves in public. In fact, the very best hypothesis today as to why Uribe took the damning chance to have Chavez as an "intermediary" with the FARC was perhaps to have Chavez expose himself for what the bolivarian revolution has become: a morally corrupt entity. The dangerous gamble seems to have paid off. Chavez now is totally exposed as being at best too lenient with some within his army benefiting from drug trafficking from Colombia. At worst? The readers will decide themselves with the links below.

First, in English, through Harry's place, I was sent the fabulous article from the Guardian. A lengthy, complete, research on the murky world of drugs, FARC, Venezuelan army and Bolivarian pseudo-revolution. Not to be missed. The title by itself leaves absolutely no room for ambiguity:

Revealed: Chávez role in cocaine trail to Europe

Now, the Guardian readers, no matter how to the left they might be, will have to see Chavez for what he really has become. Such as did long ago the readers of Le Monde in France or even longer ago readers from El Pais in Spain. True leftist democrats cannot accept the ways of Chavez and we can watch in amusement as some of the worst critics of chavismo are now coming from the European Center to Left arena, while the right still seeks to minimize Chavez while cashing in some deals such as Total about to renew some contracts in Venezuela. But then what can you expect from Sarkozy.....

For those who can read Spanish (hat tip P.B.) you have two articles from SEMANA. The first one describes with an amazing luxury of details one the main henchmen of Chavez, the one who is called by Semana as the Chavez 's Montesinos, namely general Hugo Carvajal. It seems that this nice man has accumulated power to an extent we have not seen since Pedro Estrada of the latest military dictatorship in Venezuela, the one of Perez Jimenez (greatly admired by Chavez by the way). [ADDED LATER! the translation into English at PMB, DO NOT MISS IT!!!!]

The second article from the same Semana issue is about the lives and times of the recent drug lord killed in Merida, Venezuela. In this article you will learn how Wilber Varela "Jabón" moved to Venezuela under Chavez rule (2004) where he did battle rival gangs while the Venezuelan armed forces did play a role as an umpire for sale much more than any anti drug enforcement agency. These crimes, covered up by chavista officials, one day will have to be explained.

And where is the answer of Chavez to this mounting sea of corruption and drug trafficking? Last night in "cadena" he commemorated his getting into office, 9 long years ago. And what did he meditate on? As to whether the "oligarchies" of Colombia are worse than the ones of Venezuela. Some body should have the good sense to tell Chavez that covering up for drug traffickers is probably the worst crime that exists against a society, and that the drug oligarchy he is creating will soil his name for ever. Not to mention bringing one day a vicious reaction against all what Chavez stood for, even the good stuff of his early years.


-The end-

"Ooops!" moments of chavismo

The day was rich of moments showing that chavismo knows full well that the water is rising around their neck.

Inflation is 3.4%

Well, that is in Caracas as now they want us to consider as equal the inflation in Maracaibo. Even though it would still be a whopping 3%, more in one single month than the inflation of many countries for a full year. Still, from January 2007 to January 2008 the accumulated "official" inflation is 24.1%. The provinces will find little solace in that this is Caracas number: in a few months it will be their number too, worry not.

The oops moment: the very red new planning minister said that the 11% goal for 2008 should be revised in spite the hopeful January result (hopeful because it is a little bit better than in December 2007, while being the worst January in 10 years). Just for that Al Troudi deserves an award as being infinitely more honest and upfront than his predecessor, disastrous Giordani. At least Al Troudi has a keen sense of the obvious....

Narco "Jabon" found dead

This famous drug trafficker, Varela, nicknamed "soap, jabon" from the biggest Colombian cartel these days has been killed. The USA offered 5 million dollars for his capture. I wonder what did the people who shoot him got...

Ooops moment? Killed in Venezuela, in Merida of all places!

Naaah! There is no link between Venezuela and drug traffic and narco guerrilla, it is all a media manipulation. I bet you Globovision paid more than 5 million just to have "Jabon" shot in Merida!

Judicial practices of Venezuela under close scrutiny at OAS organizations

The OAS court system hears cases once they have exhausted all the legal recourses in their respective countries. Then it decides if according to international codes of laws and ethics people got justice in a given state. Right now there is a case that is making its way in Costa Rica, seat of the court, a case referring to three judges dismissed in an arbitrary manner in 2003, according to a possible interference of the executive power (Chavez). Needless to say that if the ruling goes against the Venezuelan state it will be the first internationally accepted direct evidence for something that we all know in Venezuela: the TSJ of Venezuela, our high court, is just an instrument of the executive power.

The ooops moment was simple enough. Today Luisa Estela Morales (who I was discussing recently by the way) the head of TSJ, was busy diminishing the importance of the case, saying that the firing was just a simple administrative procedure. It seems to me that the hearings did not go well for the Venezuelan state envoys and she is already bracing herself for an unfavorable decision. Of course her argument does not fly very high: the Interamerican Court only takes relevant cases, anyone could have told her so. Here we have damage control before damage even happens.

Too bad for her, she will pay the broken dishes of her predecessors...

Vielma Mora leaves Venezuelan IRS

Vielma Mora, the SENIAT/IRS director was removed today from the SENIAT. He is perhaps the only chavista officer that has demonstrated to be able to manage something. An apparatchik is named to replace him: expect the SENIAT to decline fast and become a mere punitive agency while not been able to keep up the level of tax collection that Chavez requires to keep up his little foreign expeditions.

Ooops moment? Not too easy to figure this time. But there it is: Chavez is so afraid of losing Caracas town hall that he is willing to sacrifice tax collection to send what he thinks is his best candidate to replace truly awful mayor Barreto. Unfortunately if Vielma Mora is respected he is certainly not loved, and has no political experience, is very abrasive on top of a whinny voice. And the damage done in Caracas is so bad that I doubt any chavista can overcome it. Perhaps Chavez will know better and send Vielma to a more electable position such as Aragua or even Miranda. Because see, I doubt very much that the all the shopkeepers that have been crudely harassed by the SENIAT will vote for Vielma Mora. Even customers will not be pleased with Vielma: after all, no matter how many stores have been punished, there is still no milk on the shelves.

-The end-

Chavez little toy armies

I am busy these days, but fortunately after Miguel excellent find on Facebok now there is another post to highlight from Gustavo Coronel's blog.

A few days ago Chavez decided out of the blue to create an ALBA army. ALBA, for those who are late in the game, is a collection of countries who depend on Chavez check book to make ends meet. Namely Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua and for some strange reason Dominica with Ecuador as its main observer. See, Ecuador does not need as much a stipend from Chavez, drawn out form Venezuelan tax payer of course for the sole glory of Chavez egomania. Besides Correa is the more educated of that sad assortment and has a healthy ego on his very own. Chavez is finding out to his chagrin that Correa not only does not respond as a lap dog but could become himself a rival of sorts someday.

At any rate, the ALBA army proposal fell like a bomb as only the most dependent and gutless character of the lot, Nicaragua's Ortega, sort of entertained it seriously. But that is not the reason of this post, that was just the background to fully understand the piece of Gustavo who makes a strong case as to why the OAS should ban Venezuela or Venezuela at least have the decency to leave the OAS. Well, I mean Chavez foreign policy since it is not Venezuela foreign policy, it is solely Chavez fart of the day.

-The end-