In which we discuss Madurismo

[Masada]

This is not some conspiracy theory.

It sure looks like one.

 

[Bamspeedy]

yes it does. If troops are doing exercises on a military base I see no problem with that (such as the teaching the Venezuelans to use 1970s technology....the missile tests), but patrolling the streets are a whole different ball game. More proof is needed of this than just accusations from unknown sources.

Edit: but it's par for the course really. Considering maduro's claims against Obama (and seemingly every other leader).

 

[Praise_Satan]

The story is simple, power outages every day, sometimes multiple times day, lasting for 2-4 hours on average in the cities.

Who are they blaming this time?

1. The rich capitalists and right-wingers
2. The opposition and their conspiracies
3. The hoarders
4. America?


"Venezuelans are wasteful users of electricity..."

Oh right. Figures. Supply and demand all screwed up; Blame someone else!

 

[Masada]

Much as I dislike his particular brand of politics, Madurismo has a lot of reason to be afraid of America. If I was in his position, I'd be worried that America was trying to remove me. Hell, in this case it's more than likely true given that there are some relatively sane reasons from an American perspective to see him removed. The clouded election also makes it considerably more defensible to the Venezuelan and American audiences*. In any case, it isn't like America cares much about free and fair elections anyways, the pretense of them is usually sufficient.

I'd like to note that I don't agree with those reasons and think them flawed. But w/e. The CIA are going to do what the CIA want to do.

 

[Quackers]

Minister Jesse Chacon revealed plans for a new "Cuban Electricity Savings Program" that will reduce electricity consumption to better model the 'Cuban Ideal' and force a limit on the amount of electricity the 'wasteful' Venezuelan population consumes daily.

I prefer European austerity to the Venezuelan variety.
These euphemisms are so awful, it's literally another phrase for "we cannot effectively manage the energy needs of our population so you're getting blackouts under the guise of "saving energy". Laughable.

Isn't Venezuela an energy exporter too? It makes it even worse.

 

[Traitorfish]

Well, it's like Cameron said- we're all Thatcherites now.

 

[Takhisis]

What potential is there for American intervention if that continues?

Next to none, there is no invasion of Iran or North Korea just to name two far more dangerous firebreathing nemeses.

Is there any sort of moderate opposition in Venezuela? If so, how large/ powerful is it?

They are there all right,

I must admit, I know next-to-nothing about the situation in Latin America currently, but this thread is very interesting.

We'll get you a Bananamerica thread soon enough.

The US isn't going to intervene. Maybe if there was a long time cuttoff of the oil flow. But maybe not even then. And no one on Venezuela would really benefit from cutting off the oil. They need to money to pursue their agendas.

Without the oil exports, the oligarchy's handouts will cease and the regime'd fall soon after because its own mercenaries would desert it.

I prefer European austerity to the Venezuelan variety.
These euphemisms are so awful, it's literally another phrase for "we cannot effectively manage the energy needs of our population so you're getting blackouts under the guise of "saving energy". Laughable.

Isn't Venezuela an energy exporter too? It makes it even worse.

It's a common hallmark of these governments that they like the poor so much that they want everyone (else) to be like them (the poor). They also manage to have shortages withing remarkably short times.

 

[Lord Baal]

The right is non-existent. They all now live in Florida, or Alberta. Chavez so to that.

The left and center still exist however and the opposition is really quite strong now that they are united under one party. The country really is quite bi-polar politically right now, between the center-left and Chavismo.

Though from what I am hearing, former Chavistas in the thousands are defecting to the opposition in light of Maduro revealing himself as a dictator that's destroying the 'great work done by Chavez'. Or because of the fact that they have no money to buy food, and may have lost their job for various reasons over the past few months.

So the situation is very much like Cuba about a decade or so after Castro seized power?

That's actually a good situation for the centre-left opposition. Maduro doesn't strike me as possessing anywhere near the popularity or ruthlessness of Castro, and Fidel had to crack down quite hard to stay in power through the seventies. And he had Soviet backing.

 

[Takhisis]

Also, Castro never attributed to himself any supernatural connection that I remember, Maduro claims to be in permanent contact with Chávez's spirit.

 

[Lord Baal]

Also, Castro never attributed to himself any supernatural connection that I remember, Maduro claims to be in permanent contact with Chávez's spirit.

Wow. That's North Korea-level leadership-insanity there. I'm pretty sure Castro beat up the Grim Reaper though, hence his abject refusal to die.

 

[Takhisis]

Yes, Maduro's assumption ceremony included some rather embarassing dialogue in birdspeak with the Dear Dead Leader.

Also, there was a lot of shenanigans about calling on local shamans/animistic witches/etc. so that they'd cast a curse on anyone who didn't vote for the embodiment of the country official candidates.

 

[EvenStranger]

Also, Castro never attributed to himself any supernatural connection that I remember, Maduro claims to be in permanent contact with Chávez's spirit.

That is some scary sh*t right there.

 

[Lord Baal]

Yes, Maduro's assumption ceremony included some rather embarassing dialogue in birdspeak with the Dear Dead Leader.

Also, there was a lot of shenanigans about calling on local shamans/animistic witches/etc. so that they'd cast a curse on anyone who didn't vote for the embodiment of the country official candidates.

I take back what I said about North Korea. That's some Liberia-level bullcrap right there.

 

[Takhisis]

This is his official taking of office (clipped):

Spoiler :

Link to video.

Leaked Convo between Mario Silva, a former rvolutionry propagandist now being reeducated in Cuba, and a Cuban colonel:

Spoiler :

Link to video.

Maduro says that he knows who 'betrayed' him by not voting him because of their sadness:

Spoiler :

Link to video.

(halfway through he says 'los tenemos', i.e. 'we have them'.) He has their identification, etc. etc. No scare tactics here.

And, finally, Maduro claiming that former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe, and 'traitors and imperialists' in Miami (i.e. anti-Castrist Cubans) and USA (i.e. Obama the First, Emperor of the Americas) and so far unnamed 'sectors of the Venezuelan right', (Roger Noriega and Otto Reis are accused by name) are planning to have him assassinated in order to sow chaos:

Spoiler :

Link to video.

 

[EvenStranger]

The potential for human suffering is all that prevents this from being a heartfelt situation.

 

[Takhisis]

Yes, Capriles has had an interview with the president of Colombia, J.M. Santos, and Chavismo's nº 2 Diosdado Cabello says it's a betrayal against the eternal president, etc. etc.

 

[Kyriakos]

He rules in the name of a deceased leader with whom he communicates spiritually, somehow.

Not meaning to sound overly sarcastic or needlesly amphoteric, but many prominent western politicians have spoken of Jesus. On the other hand many people who despise them do seem to like the narrative which is known as Burning Bush

 

[Takhisis]

Which is exactly my point, Mr. Kyriakos, inMadurochavist spiritism has the inflexibility of an unquestionable religious dogma. It's not me, I'm just following orders from supernatural entities.

 

[Takhisis]

On even more disturbing news, Argentina prosecutor Nisman has formally accused the Iranian regime and their protegés in Hezbollah of organising a vast network of spies and infiltrators across Latin America, and of using Venezuela as the centre for this as well as laundering money to bankroll such activities.

 

[Lord Baal]

On even more disturbing news, Argentina prosecutor Nisman has formally accused the Iranian regime and their protegés in Hezbollah of organising a vast network of spies and infiltrators across Latin America, and of using Venezuela as the centre for this as well as laundering money to bankroll such activities.

That's not that disturbing. Venezuela was once the centre of the Soviet and Egyptian spy networks in Latin America as well.