Banana Republic Newsflash

[Sigma_Orionis]

although not for long

[SciFiFisher]

although not for long

This is starting to read like a bad plot from Star Wars Episode 49

[Sigma_Orionis]

She ain't no Princess Leia I tell you.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Those right wing nutjobs at the NYT are being accused of being biased against Nicky:

Does The Times Take Sides in Venezuela Reporting?

[Sigma_Orionis]

Here's an audio interview with the president of a think tank called Inter-American Dialogue where he says that THIS time we probably won't end up in the Zombie Apocalypse, but that if the economic situation doesn't get better, next time we probably will

[SciFiFisher]

Here's an audio interview with the president of a think tank called Inter-American Dialogue where he says that THIS time we probably won't end up in the Zombie Apocalypse, but that if the economic situation doesn't get better, next time we probably will

Here are a few survival tips if it come to that.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Yes, with all the unstable areas in the world right now, the supply of trainable fascists has dwindled recently causing an increase in cost. You just can't buy a cheap mercenary these days.

Guess good help is hard to find these days

Here's an audio interview with the president of a think tank called Inter-American Dialogue where he says that THIS time we probably won't end up in the Zombie Apocalypse, but that if the economic situation doesn't get better, next time we probably will

Here are a few survival tips if it come to that.

Too late, we put Zombies in charge.......

[Sigma_Orionis]

At least someone in the Opposition is using the grey goo between his ears (or if you prefer is using the head that sits on top of his shoulders......)

Don’t trust your gut

Some of you might have noticed that the oposition is split in two factions

One (which makes the most noise) is headed by Leopoldo Lopez (the ex-mayor that was sentenced to 10 years and has written an Op-Ed at the NYT while sitting in jail, I recently posted a link to that OP-ed) and Maria Corina Machado (the assembly member that has been striped of her legislative immunity because Panama made gave her a temporary rank so she could speak at the OAS, I also posted about that). I definitely don't like those two, why? From the site I linked in this post:

That reaction is legitimate, and it is exactly the one the government is looking for. They want a repeat of 2002-2004, they want to force us into supporting coups, strikes, and walking out of elections. That is why we should go against our gut and do the exact opposite.

IMHO those two are playing right into the government's hands.

The other faction is led by Henrique Capriles Radonski (whom was the presidential candidate in last year's special elections), who SEEMS to be taking this attitude:

Sitting out the replacement election, as some have suggested, would be a massive mistake, similar to the one we made in 2005. Not only would we be betraying the thousands of gochos battling out in the streets, we would be giving away a prominent political office that is ours to begin with, and that will most likely remain ours. The government simply cannot win the mayorship of San Cristóbal – and nothing they do can change that. The same holds true for San Diego. Not participating would mean letting them off easy.

Bolding mine (gocho means someone from the Andean Region btw)

I don't like Capriles Radonski either, but seems to me that he is the lesser of the two evils in the opposition.

It looks like at least part of the opposition hasn't learned the lesson that behaving like spoiled kids will not get them what we need.

In the meantime, fulfilling their duties as the main source of political entertainment for the western hemisphere, our Glorious Socialist Revolutionaries have come up with this:

Venezuela to Probe Crossword Puzzles’ Role in Protests

Fisher: this doesn't sound like a bad plot from StarWars Episode 49, this sounds like a bad plot from the TeleTubbies

[Sigma_Orionis]

And now we get REALLY surreal.

The myth of Washington’s lost influence in the Americas

This guy speculates that the US is being so "hands off" with Venezuela because if the Opposition actually makes it to power it will (conventional wisdom says anyways) that it will stop pumping oil money into the Caribbean countries STARTING with CUBA.

And that in turn will mean that Cuba will go to hell, and the US doesn't need that at this time.

What if we’ve got it all wrong? What if Washington is just bluffing, and the votes at the OAS are coming out … exactly the way they want them to come out? What if Washington wants Maduro to stay in power while appearing to really want him not to?

I honestly doubt that Venezuela has now become more influential in the Caribbean than Washington has. Something doesn’t fit with that story, which may just mean … we’ve had it wrong all these years.

To his credit, the author makes it clear that he is speculating.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Someone sent me an email with the alleged results to a poll made by a well known Pollster here (Datos C.A.)

According to what I read:

- Over half the people polled were from the slums.
- Government Approval Ratings are under 30%
- Over 70% of those polled think that things suck here (what a surprise)
- Over 50% of those polled think that things are going to be just as bad or worse in the short term
- The three top complaints are (in that order) scarcity, crime and high cost of living
- Over 40% of those polled think we're in a dictatorship (and of course, the fact that a poll like that has been made, makes me think they're WRONG, so I am on the other 40%)
- Over 50% blame Maduro's Government for the Scarcity problems, the lack of hard currency for food imports and crime. (I am shocked, SHOCKED this can be)
- Over 50% think that the street protests are not doing any good.
- Almost 90% think that:
a) The government should change their policies
b) The government has to work with the opposition to improve the situation here. (I guess they want world peace too)
- Almost 90% think that most people should surrender their firearms, almost the same amount thinks that those pro-government groups called "colectivos" should do that too.
- Almost 70% wants the government out via elections.
- Over 60% think that Leopoldo Lopez is a political prisoner. Yet, over almost 90% think that the did the right thing by giving himself up to the authorities
- Over 70% think that Maduro can be removed through the electoral process.

The results of these polls are beginning to be used in some news sites here.

[Sigma_Orionis]

More Riots, oh goodie.

I was near Altamira today, the main avenue there was closed off by students who set up tents all over a block, didn't see anything like riots, apparently they happened elsewhere.

Ironic I find this out through the BBC

[Sigma_Orionis]

Well, Maduro just did an op-ed at the NYTimes

I suppose the Times was more than eager to publish it, as it has been accused of bias against Chavistas

[Sigma_Orionis]

Meh, reactions to Nicky's Op-Ed at the NYTimes were swift....

Painting the Grey Lady Rojo Rojito

[Sigma_Orionis]

Pax Chavista

If you ask me, they got it, why? cause once again the opposition behaved like spoiled brats.

[Sigma_Orionis]

This explains why we're all fucked up

[Sigma_Orionis]

Bottom Line: The only way to make this country work is a 60 Megaton Nuclear Device

[SciFiFisher]

please fasten your seat belts. keep your hands inside the ride at all times. and try not to remember that this roller coaster was built by the lowest bidder.

[Sigma_Orionis]

You mean like this?

[Sigma_Orionis]

Yup, Argentinians and Venezuelans are pretty much alike. they have better food though.

[SciFiFisher]

You mean like this?

Yup!

[Sigma_Orionis]

I was forced to go to a tea party once by my MIL.
I was surrounded by women who discussed nothing but the flavours and the rituals of preparing and drinking tea.
Not sure why this new "tea party" has anything to in common with them.
I mean, they had loads of practical information on a subject and it made sense.

Huh?

Just me wondering how two things both called "tea party" are world apart.
The making sense stuff was the tea party I went to, not the one that is now infamous.

So? still wondering what's the difference?

[FZR1KG]

My MIL thought it would be a wonderful experience for me to go to a tea tasting party.
I went under protest and was surrounded by women staring at me.
The hostess got all excited and yelled, "a MAN!".
Let's just say the MIL won't be taking me on what her idea of a fun thing is for me anymore.

[Sigma_Orionis]

I guess that means you don't know why the nutjobs call themselves the "Tea Party" do you?

[FZR1KG]

Something to do with where GJ lives

[Sigma_Orionis]

As usual, you playing the ignorant RedNeck, I should have known