Banana Republic Newsflash

[SciFiFisher]

Of course, there is always the highly complimentary U.S. State Department Travel Advisory for Venezuela

Reconsider travel to Venezuela due to crime, civil unrest, poor health infrastructure, and arbitrary arrest and detention of U.S. citizens. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Hey that travel advisory mentions that the neighborhood of El Llanito is a high crime area. it's somewhat near from where I live. Good to know.

Yikes! Of course, no matter where you live, including the U.S., most people live closer to high(er) crime areas than they realize. In your case I suspect that it may be a bit more concerning.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Rumor has it that Nicky is in talks with the IMF.

In an official IMF statement I found, they say this:

MR. RICE: Let me maybe just back up a little bit for those who haven't followed it. Earlier this year the IMF executive board discussed this issue of Venezuelan data and in fact at that time issued a declaration of censure against Venezuela for its failure to implement remedial measures and its failure to comply with its obligations regarding data provision under our articles so that is a little bit of the background there.

What I can tell you in terms of an update is that there have been discussions with the Venezuelan authorities on this issue and, you know, those contacts have been ongoing even in recent days. So we were, you know, we are hopeful that will lead to a productive conclusion. I don’t have a specific, you know, read out for you on those discussions obviously and I don't have a specific date to announce for the board though we would expect that to happen in the coming weeks, for the board to meet.

You know, we have got a very clear, transparent set of guidelines and procedures regarding the data provision duties by our member countries. As I said these are laid out in our articles, they are available on our website. It is quite transparent. But I will probably leave it there because I don't want to preempt, you know, the decision, the discussion and the decision that is to come from our board but that is where we stand. Good morning.

I find it surprising that we're still sending info to the IMF. After all, Chavez was supposed to have us pulled out of it back in 2007. I guess it was BS, like most of the stuff these damned commies say. (No, I have nothing against the IMF)

Still, it's surprising that the government is bothering to negotiate with the IMF to get out of sanctions for failing to give them economic data. I guess that's what fueled the rumors. In any case, BTW, it makes no sense. Any bailout with the IMF is going to have as preconditions: An end to the foreign exchange controls, major government spending cuts, opening up all of our markets, eliminating all subsidies and price controls, raising interest rates and most probably, raising taxes by a lot. Measures that I doubt very much Maduro will take.

[SciFiFisher]

Rumor has it that Nicky is in talks with the IMF.

In an official IMF statement I found, they say this:

MR. RICE: Let me maybe just back up a little bit for those who haven't followed it. Earlier this year the IMF executive board discussed this issue of Venezuelan data and in fact at that time issued a declaration of censure against Venezuela for its failure to implement remedial measures and its failure to comply with its obligations regarding data provision under our articles so that is a little bit of the background there.

What I can tell you in terms of an update is that there have been discussions with the Venezuelan authorities on this issue and, you know, those contacts have been ongoing even in recent days. So we were, you know, we are hopeful that will lead to a productive conclusion. I don’t have a specific, you know, read out for you on those discussions obviously and I don't have a specific date to announce for the board though we would expect that to happen in the coming weeks, for the board to meet.

You know, we have got a very clear, transparent set of guidelines and procedures regarding the data provision duties by our member countries. As I said these are laid out in our articles, they are available on our website. It is quite transparent. But I will probably leave it there because I don't want to preempt, you know, the decision, the discussion and the decision that is to come from our board but that is where we stand. Good morning.

I find it surprising that we're still sending info to the IMF. After all, Chavez was supposed to have us pulled out of it back in 2007. I guess it was BS, like most of the stuff these damned commies say. (No, I have nothing against the IMF)

Still, it's surprising that the government is bothering to negotiate with the IMF to get out of sanctions for failing to give them economic data. I guess that's what fueled the rumors. In any case, BTW, it makes no sense. Any bailout with the IMF is going to have as preconditions: An end to the foreign exchange controls, major government spending cuts, opening up all of our markets, eliminating all subsidies and price controls, raising interest rates and most probably, raising taxes by a lot. Measures that I doubt very much Maduro will take.

Yes, but it looks like he is trying to "fix things" and once again those dirty nasty international meddlers are messing things up when the IMF won't come through with a bailout or lift the sanctions.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Yes, but it looks like he is trying to "fix things" and once again those dirty nasty international meddlers are messing things up when the IMF won't come through with a bailout or lift the sanctions.

Maybe. But, traditionally, the IMF has never been popular here ("instrument of the Empire, lah di dah"). OTOH. Masburro going to Russia to beg for crumbs does appeal to the Commies down here.

We have elections for Mayors and Municipal councils on December 9th. Turnout is expected to below 20%. Frankly, I have no interest in going either. Not even my sister is planning to go

[SciFiFisher]

Yes, but it looks like he is trying to "fix things" and once again those dirty nasty international meddlers are messing things up when the IMF won't come through with a bailout or lift the sanctions.

Maybe. But, traditionally, the IMF has never been popular here ("instrument of the Empire, la di dah"). OTOH. Masburro going to Russia to beg for crumbs does appeal to the Commies down here.

We have elections for Mayors and Municipal councils on December 9th. Turnout is expected to below 20%. Frankly, I have no interest in going either. Not even my sister is planning to go

I can imagine it seems sort of pointless.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Well, we had the election (whoopee) Official Figures peg turnout at 27%

About 27 percent of the 20 million eligible voters turned out for Sunday's council races, the president of Venezuela’s National Electoral Council, said, praising the election as strengthening Venezuela's democracy.

Riiiiight.

In meantime the Russkies sent two bombers and two civilian aircraft here. Mike Pompeo wasn't pleased

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said it amounted to "two corrupt governments squandering public funds".

I'm not a fan. But I find it hard to disagree with him.

And just make things a bit more depressive: Goodyear closed up shop for good. As part of their severance package they gave employees 10 tires. Which should tell you all you need to know about how well things are going.

[Thumper]

Not even multiples of 4...

[geonuc]

Pompeo's statement was ... pompous. And unnecessary. So what if Russia lands a couple of planes on another continent.

Oh, and congratulations on your renewed democracy.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Pompeo's statement was ... pompous. And unnecessary. So what if Russia lands a couple of planes on another continent.

Yep. Yet, I'm not all that pissed off at him for saying it.

Oh, and congratulations on your renewed democracy.

NOT


ETA, just heard that at one of the companies we do work for. Production is barely 6% of installed capacity. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Here we go again

What the BBC piece doesn't say is that, yesterday, in a local Newspaper (which BTW, after tomorrow will stop having a printed edition the last opposition paper to do so) Maduro said he was going to give an "Ultimatum" to the US Charge D'affaires to stop "interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs". That he will not tolerate "Foreigners with anything to say on the situation of the country". He also said that governments who did not agree with how he was managing the country ought to remove their ambassadors".

And the latest fad is to arrest foreign journalists...

[SciFiFisher]

Is there anyone who actually believes the constant barrage of "the outside foreigners are out to get us" stories?

[Sigma_Orionis]

Is there anyone who actually believes the constant barrage of "the outside foreigners are out to get us" stories?

Not that I know of.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Well, the Russkie bombers left on Friday. Funny thing is that the Russkies told the White House before they told us.

And now the Russkies say they're going to set up an Air Base down here.

[SciFiFisher]

Well, the Russkie bombers left on Friday. Funny thing is that the Russkies told the White House before they told us.

And now the Russkies say they're going to set up an Air Base down here.

Well, that will get interesting.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Tell me about it.

[Sigma_Orionis]

And it got interesting allright.

Several local NewsPapers (no news in English so far) mention that the Russian Ambassador in Venezuela denied that Russia wanted to set up an Air Base here.

"“Es una de esas cosas inventadas que aparecieron en la prensa rusa y de otros países. La Constitución venezolana prohíbe la instalación de bases militares extranjeras, así que, especular sobre esto es un juego que no es limpio”, dijo Zaemskiy."

"It's one of those made-up things that came out in both Russian Press and the Press of other countries. The Venezuelan Constitution forbids the installation of Foreign Military Bases. So, speculation over this is playing dirty said (Russian Ambassador in Venezuela, Vladimir) Zaemskiv".

All well and good. HOWEVER, TASS is a wholly owned Russian Government News Agency.

[Thumper]

Putin owns the US, why not you too?

[Sigma_Orionis]

He's got joint custody with the Chinese...

[Thumper]

Zing!

[Sigma_Orionis]

Whazzdat? a 21st Century Rimshot?

[Thumper]

I didn't have time to look for the rim shot emoji.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Another rat abandons ship.

Venezuela Supreme Court judge Christian Zerpa flees to US

In the meantime

Mr Maduro is due to be formally inaugurated to a second term on 10 January.

Fourteen countries recalled their ambassadors from Caracas in protest at the result of the vote last May, and the US imposed fresh economic sanctions on the country.

Before the election even took place, the United States, Canada, the European Union and a dozen Latin American countries said they would not recognise the results.

[SciFiFisher]

Another rat abandons ship.

Venezuela Supreme Court judge Christian Zerpa flees to US

In the meantime

Mr Maduro is due to be formally inaugurated to a second term on 10 January.

Fourteen countries recalled their ambassadors from Caracas in protest at the result of the vote last May, and the US imposed fresh economic sanctions on the country.

Before the election even took place, the United States, Canada, the European Union and a dozen Latin American countries said they would not recognise the results.

Apparently, this rat was afraid he wasn't going to get to keep getting his share of the cheese anymore. Frankly, I almost hope the U.S. refuses to give him asylum and ships him back.

[geonuc]

How come he gets to flee and you don't? It's as if the whole thing is unfair!

[code monkey]

Is there anyone who actually believes the constant barrage of "the outside foreigners are out to get us" stories?

Not that I know of.

come on, sigma. our current president has his devoted base. I see no reason not to expect that yours does as well. despite what the policies and practices are doing.