Oppression over...

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Nick Ripe indicates which way he should have gone...

...or at least we can hope this really is the beginning of the end for the Krusty (deceased) and Nick Ripe Roadshow. Nearly 75% turnout and an [edited] overwhelming majority in votes mean a large majority in the Venezuelan National Assembly for the opposition. Hopefully they can remain united and steer the donkey [Update: who spat his dummy afterwards: "I decided to hear it one more time and there was no mistake about it: Nicolás said "I didn’t get my majority, so now you don’t get your house""] on the right path for Venezuela.



You don't have to dig very deep to know why this beautiful country with massive potential has become such a disaster but here, In five charts, you can see just the recent damage Maduro's policies has caused. Recession is forecast for 2016 as well so the road to recovery will be long and hard.



Hopefully political prisoners could now be released, especially those there for only doing what Maduro does every day. 

Oppression over...

---

Nick Ripe indicates which way he should have gone...

...or at least we can hope this really is the beginning of the end for the Krusty (deceased) and Nick Ripe Roadshow. Nearly 75% turnout and an [edited] overwhelming majority in votes mean a large majority in the Venezuelan National Assembly for the opposition. Hopefully they can remain united and steer the donkey [Update: who spat his dummy afterwards: "I decided to hear it one more time and there was no mistake about it: Nicolás said "I didn’t get my majority, so now you don’t get your house""] on the right path for Venezuela.

You don't have to dig very deep to know why this beautiful country with massive potential has become such a disaster but here, In five charts, you can see just the recent damage Maduro's policies has caused. Recession is forecast for 2016 as well so the road to recovery will be long and hard.

Hopefully political prisoners could now be released, especially those there for only doing what Maduro does every day. 

Orinoco overflow of ordure...

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Ordure. Shit. Dung. Excrement. Maduro: "...get ready for a time of slaughter and death if the Bolivarian revolution fails..." from ABC Spain. WTF? Not what you'd expect a President of anywhere to say but then Venezuela these days isn't really 'anywhere'.

"Llamo al despertar nacional, al despertar colectivo, del pueblo frente a la oligarquía. Llamo a un despertar nacional de la conciencia popular (…) vencer la guerra económica es la tarea de todos, o lo hacemos entre todos o prepárense para que el imperialismo tome el control del país, prepárense para que venga la masacre del 27 de febrero, y allí la conocerán en vivo, no la conocerán por un video, prepárense para un tiempo de masacre y de muerte si fracasa la revolución bolivariana, pónganse las pilas todos o vamos a ver qué pasa con esta patria, a despertar, he venido a tocar un ‘campanazo’ de despertar desde la Ciudad Socialista Belén."

Rough Ows translated (edited after reading exactly what he said; it's worse. The title there re 'Papa' refers to a meeting of Maduro with the Pope that should have taken place today.): "I call for a national awakening, a collective awakening: the people against the oligarchy. I call a national awakening of the popular consciousness...  ...to win the economic war is the task of everyone. We do it all between us or get ready for imperialism to take control of the country; get ready for the slaughter of February 27, and there you will see it live, not on video. Get ready for a time of slaughter and death if the Bolivarian revolution fails, everyone sharpen up or when you wake up you will see what happens to this country. I come to sound the alarm bell from the Socialist Bethlehem City." [The February 27th he refers to is the "Caracazo"].



What a twat; the Bolivarian revolution was failing over 10 years ago. It is certainly not democratic; Venezuela is one of the worst countries for murder and kidnap; it's currently 176th out of 178 in Economic freedom rankings (just behind Zimbabwe and only ahead of Cuba and North Korea! FFS [list]); it's running out of money (just how the fuck?!...)...you know I could go on. 

Orinoco overflow of ordure...

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Ordure. Shit. Dung. Excrement. Maduro: "...get ready for a time of slaughter and death if the Bolivarian revolution fails..." from ABC Spain. WTF? Not what you'd expect a President of anywhere to say but then Venezuela these days isn't really 'anywhere'.

"Llamo al despertar nacional, al despertar colectivo, del pueblo frente a la oligarquía. Llamo a un despertar nacional de la conciencia popular (…) vencer la guerra económica es la tarea de todos, o lo hacemos entre todos o prepárense para que el imperialismo tome el control del país, prepárense para que venga la masacre del 27 de febrero, y allí la conocerán en vivo, no la conocerán por un video, prepárense para un tiempo de masacre y de muerte si fracasa la revolución bolivariana, pónganse las pilas todos o vamos a ver qué pasa con esta patria, a despertar, he venido a tocar un ‘campanazo’ de despertar desde la Ciudad Socialista Belén."

Rough Ows translated (edited after reading exactly what he said; it's worse. The title there re 'Papa' refers to a meeting of Maduro with the Pope that should have taken place today.): "I call for a national awakening, a collective awakening: the people against the oligarchy. I call a national awakening of the popular consciousness...  ...to win the economic war is the task of everyone. We do it all between us or get ready for imperialism to take control of the country; get ready for the slaughter of February 27, and there you will see it live, not on video. Get ready for a time of slaughter and death if the Bolivarian revolution fails, everyone sharpen up or when you wake up you will see what happens to this country. I come to sound the alarm bell from the Socialist Bethlehem City." [The February 27th he refers to is the "Caracazo"].

What a twat; the Bolivarian revolution was failing over 10 years ago. It is certainly not democratic; Venezuela is one of the worst countries for murder and kidnap; it's currently 176th out of 178 in Economic freedom rankings (just behind Zimbabwe and only ahead of Cuba and North Korea! FFS [list]); it's running out of money (just how the fuck?!...)...you know I could go on. 

Oncoming Orinoco orthosis...

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"The tragedy is that what is playing out now in Venezuela has happened many times before. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.....and nowhere is that more true than in Latin America."  Just been led (from a comment here) to this great blog Coppola Comment by Frances Coppola: earlier this month she wrote A Latin American tragedy.



Frances writes - linking to research - that the recurring problems (Peru, Chile etc in the past) tend to be a combination of factors that comprise four stages: the current tragedy being Venezuela of course, which is currently well into the 3rd Phase:

"There are pervasive shortages, inflation is over 65% and rising, and foreign reserves are declining sharply despite Venezuela's trade surplus. The budget deficit is currently at 17% and rising. The economy is demonetizing rapidly as more and more transactions are done on the black market. To make matters worse, the US government has imposed sanctions on Venezuela for suppressing dissent. So far, the government has resisted devaluation and subsidy cuts, but it cannot do so for much longer. Maduro - never as popular as his predecessor - is resorting to bribing the population with unsustainable fiscal expenditures, but this will only hasten the economic collapse that now appears inevitable. Venezuela is headed for default, hyperinflation, disorderly regime change and a wrenching fiscal adjustment. And the people who will suffer - indeed are already suffering - are the poor that Chavez and Maduro set out to help, just as the poor in Chile and Peru suffered."

Coo, coo...that's no pigeon.

Oncoming Orinoco orthosis...

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"The tragedy is that what is playing out now in Venezuela has happened many times before. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.....and nowhere is that more true than in Latin America."  Just been led (from a comment here) to this great blog Coppola Comment by Frances Coppola: earlier this month she wrote A Latin American tragedy.

Frances writes - linking to research - that the recurring problems (Peru, Chile etc in the past) tend to be a combination of factors that comprise four stages: the current tragedy being Venezuela of course, which is currently well into the 3rd Phase:

"There are pervasive shortages, inflation is over 65% and rising, and foreign reserves are declining sharply despite Venezuela's trade surplus. The budget deficit is currently at 17% and rising. The economy is demonetizing rapidly as more and more transactions are done on the black market. To make matters worse, the US government has imposed sanctions on Venezuela for suppressing dissent. So far, the government has resisted devaluation and subsidy cuts, but it cannot do so for much longer. Maduro - never as popular as his predecessor - is resorting to bribing the population with unsustainable fiscal expenditures, but this will only hasten the economic collapse that now appears inevitable. Venezuela is headed for default, hyperinflation, disorderly regime change and a wrenching fiscal adjustment. And the people who will suffer - indeed are already suffering - are the poor that Chavez and Maduro set out to help, just as the poor in Chile and Peru suffered."

Coo, coo...that's no pigeon.

Ocando's Orinoco opus...

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Posting still light but concerned about the ongoing situation in Venezuela, STILL not getting the coverage it should...if the other end of the political spectrum was doing even a tenth of what Maduro's thugs are doing then there would be wall to wall widespread reporting.



Ocando Casto is an investigative journalist with a career spanning more than 20 years and has covered public corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, immigration and - last but not least - extensive research on the presence of [edit] 'Chavismo' in the U.S., the focus of his new is book 'Chavistas en el Imperio: Secretos, Tácticas y Escándalos de la Revolución Bolivariana en Estados Unidos' (Chavistas in the Empire: Secrets, Tactics and Scandals of the Bolivarian Revolution in the USA). Hat-tip: The Devil's Excrement. It is really a series of anecdotes and is probably the same as could be said of any corrupt and evil regime over the years but it does highlight - for those unaware - the gross champagne socialist hypocritical thieving scum mentality of what passes for Venezuelan government. Translations will be available.

Ocando's Orinoco opus...

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Posting still light but concerned about the ongoing situation in Venezuela, STILL not getting the coverage it should...if the other end of the political spectrum was doing even a tenth of what Maduro's thugs are doing then there would be wall to wall widespread reporting.

Ocando Casto is an investigative journalist with a career spanning more than 20 years and has covered public corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, immigration and - last but not least - extensive research on the presence of [edit] 'Chavismo' in the U.S., the focus of his new is book 'Chavistas en el Imperio: Secretos, Tácticas y Escándalos de la Revolución Bolivariana en Estados Unidos' (Chavistas in the Empire: Secrets, Tactics and Scandals of the Bolivarian Revolution in the USA). Hat-tip: The Devil's Excrement. It is really a series of anecdotes and is probably the same as could be said of any corrupt and evil regime over the years but it does highlight - for those unaware - the gross champagne socialist hypocritical thieving scum mentality of what passes for Venezuelan government. Translations will be available.

Opus on odium...

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It's been a while since I posted anything on Venezuela but this was too good to ignore: Nick Ripe has signed a decree to form a 'Hugo Chavez Institute for Advanced Studies'; this isn't just an institute with Krusty's name but the 'Instituto de Altos Estudios del Pensamiento de Hugo Chávez' (The Institute for Higher Studies of the Thoughts of Hugo Chavez [El Universal]) to further the study and dissemination of ideas, the legacy and values ​​of Hugo Chavez...hmmm. And who better than Adan Chavez (Krusty's brother and the governor of Barinas state where the Institute will be, and who was Minister of Education...red education) to 'run' it.  "First, the profound thinkers to study Chavez opus will have to sift through insults, vulgarity and parables to find some substance..." ..."Still, let's be optimistic and hope that such an advanced institute may finally shine some light on the tortuous and vile mind of Chavez." hat-tip Daniel.

Opus on odium...

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It's been a while since I posted anything on Venezuela but this was too good to ignore: Nick Ripe has signed a decree to form a 'Hugo Chavez Institute for Advanced Studies'; this isn't just an institute with Krusty's name but the 'Instituto de Altos Estudios del Pensamiento de Hugo Chávez' (The Institute for Higher Studies of the Thoughts of Hugo Chavez [El Universal]) to further the study and dissemination of ideas, the legacy and values ​​of Hugo Chavez...hmmm. And who better than Adan Chavez (Krusty's brother and the governor of Barinas state where the Institute will be, and who was Minister of Education...red education) to 'run' it.  "First, the profound thinkers to study Chavez opus will have to sift through insults, vulgarity and parables to find some substance..." ..."Still, let's be optimistic and hope that such an advanced institute may finally shine some light on the tortuous and vile mind of Chavez." hat-tip Daniel.

Ousting ocracy...

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Things are heating up in Venezuela: now it isn't a case of 'We want a recount!', it has turned into "You stole the election!". [English] [Spanish]. The Electoral Commission has now dis-guarded even a pretence of being unbiased (and they still insist any vote audit - whenever they finally decide to say it might be - won't affect the election outcome!) and last night the fast-losing-any-credibility government decided to interrupt the broadcast: just as Capriles challenged the government his speech was interrupted by mandatory government broadcasting on all TV and radio networks! As Daniel says, "a cadena is the forced commandeering by the state of ALL TV AND RADIO STATIONS for a simultaneous broadcast". Why would this happen...well some may say that certain people need a Chavista to maintain power...and the Cubans in Venezuela that supervise many government offices and agencies, plus law enforcement, intelligence and military may have something to do with it. Just saying; HCR better watch his back...

Ousting ocracy...

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Things are heating up in Venezuela: now it isn't a case of 'We want a recount!', it has turned into "You stole the election!". [English] [Spanish]. The Electoral Commission has now dis-guarded even a pretence of being unbiased (and they still insist any vote audit - whenever they finally decide to say it might be - won't affect the election outcome!) and last night the fast-losing-any-credibility government decided to interrupt the broadcast: just as Capriles challenged the government his speech was interrupted by mandatory government broadcasting on all TV and radio networks! As Daniel says, "a cadena is the forced commandeering by the state of ALL TV AND RADIO STATIONS for a simultaneous broadcast". Why would this happen...well some may say that certain people need a Chavista to maintain power...and the Cubans in Venezuela that supervise many government offices and agencies, plus law enforcement, intelligence and military may have something to do with it. Just saying; HCR better watch his back...

Orchila obituary...

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Not quite...and not wishing to appear morbid - and against Venezuelan majority opinion - IMHO there isn't long to go. Hugo Chavez is in his presidential residence on the island of Orchila; having not been seen in public since early December he was returned by night and in secret - without fanfare or warning - to Venezuela to be treated at military hospital in Caracas ten days ago; still nobody saw him although to listen to the sock-puppets you'd think he had 'breathing difficulties' but was running things. Then, a few days ago he is sent to 'a family setting' after a new rapidly-developing lung tumor had affected 35% of his left lung, this worsening diagnosis apparently on the same day he had 5 hour meetings with government reps [ABC Esp]. He is battling for his life [BBC]; no more lies.

Orchila obituary...

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Not quite...and not wishing to appear morbid - and against Venezuelan majority opinion - IMHO there isn't long to go. Hugo Chavez is in his presidential residence on the island of Orchila; having not been seen in public since early December he was returned by night and in secret - without fanfare or warning - to Venezuela to be treated at military hospital in Caracas ten days ago; still nobody saw him although to listen to the sock-puppets you'd think he had 'breathing difficulties' but was running things. Then, a few days ago he is sent to 'a family setting' after a new rapidly-developing lung tumor had affected 35% of his left lung, this worsening diagnosis apparently on the same day he had 5 hour meetings with government reps [ABC Esp]. He is battling for his life [BBC]; no more lies.

Onkos operation...

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[Updated 5pm] Krusty the clown was to be operated on yesterday or today last night ...there's no news yet but his sickness is the worst possible scenario for Chavismo: "Chavez's popularity has risen, the voter's intention has not grown accordingly."



Onkos (ὄγκος) from ancient Greek meaning bulk, mass, or tumor (hence oncology etc).

Onkos operation...

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[Updated 5pm] Krusty the clown was to be operated on yesterday or today last night ...there's no news yet but his sickness is the worst possible scenario for Chavismo: "Chavez's popularity has risen, the voter's intention has not grown accordingly."

Onkos (ὄγκος) from ancient Greek meaning bulk, mass, or tumor (hence oncology etc).