We all saw this coming a long time ago. Just a matter of when..
(and not that it was much of a "democracy" already)
Top Venezuela official breaks with government, protests mounthttp://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-idUSKBN1721P8
Quote
Having already shot down most of the National Assembly's measures since the opposition won control in 2015, the pro-Maduro Supreme Court on Wednesday said it was assuming the legislature's functions because it was in "contempt" of the law.
Quote
OAS head Luis Almagro, whom the Venezuelan government views as a pawn of Washington, has been pushing for its suspension from the 34-nation regional bloc and wants an emergency meeting after the latest developments.
But suspension appears unlikely, diplomats say, given Venezuela's support from other leftist governments and small nations who have benefited from its oil largesse.
"It's false there has been a coup d'etat in Venezuela," Venezuela's foreign ministry said, alleging a regional right-wing conspiracy.
"On the contrary, institutions have adopted legal correctives to stop the deviant and coup-seeking actions of opposition parliamentarians."
Quote from: Nefaro on March 31, 2017, 02:14:15 PM
We all saw this coming a long time ago. Just a matter of when..
(and not that it was much of a "democracy" already)
Top Venezuela official breaks with government, protests mount
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-idUSKBN1721P8
Quote
Having already shot down most of the National Assembly's measures since the opposition won control in 2015, the pro-Maduro Supreme Court on Wednesday said it was assuming the legislature's functions because it was in "contempt" of the law.
Quote
OAS head Luis Almagro, whom the Venezuelan government views as a pawn of Washington, has been pushing for its suspension from the 34-nation regional bloc and wants an emergency meeting after the latest developments.
But suspension appears unlikely, diplomats say, given Venezuela's support from other leftist governments and small nations who have benefited from its oil largesse.
"It's false there has been a coup d'etat in Venezuela," Venezuela's foreign ministry said, alleging a regional right-wing conspiracy.
"On the contrary, institutions have adopted legal correctives to stop the deviant and coup-seeking actions of opposition parliamentarians."
Yeah, this is just a formality. Chavez took away Democracy a long time ago.
Probably won't be much longer before a coup attempt or civil war breaks out there.
Yeah, with the lives of the average Jose & Juana going right in the dumpster soon the only way left for Maduro and his cronies to stay in power will be to go all-out Nork.
Their supreme court reversed itself today
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/venezuela-court-drops-moves-to-tighten-presidents-grip/ar-BBza1BZ?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartanntp
QuoteVenezuela's Supreme Court on Saturday abandoned measures to seize power from the opposition-controlled legislature after the moves drew international condemnation and raised pressure on President Nicolas Maduro.
In a rare climb-down by the president's allies, the pro-Maduro court retreated from the rulings that had sparked opposition calls for mass protest marches in a volatile country stricken by an economic and political crisis.
The court said in a ruling published on its website that it was revoking a March 29 decision to take over legislative powers from the National Assembly, a move opponents had branded a "coup d'etat."
It also revoked an earlier ruling that stripped lawmakers of their immunity from prosecution and ended emergency security powers it had conferred on Maduro in the crisis.
Maduro had earlier hinted at the coming announcement in a televised address, hours after his own attorney general broke ranks to condemn the court rulings.
"We have reached an important agreement to solve this controversy," he said.
- Internal criticism -
Maduro faced the strongest criticism ever from within his own camp when Attorney General Luisa Ortega condemned Wednesday's Supreme Court rulings that strengthened the socialist president's grip on the levers of power.
The court decisions neutralized the opposition-majority National Assembly and revoked lawmakers' immunity from prosecution.
Ortega called them a "rupture of constitutional order."
Maduro's opponents had called on Venezuelans to take to the streets Saturday and urged the army to abandon him.
It remained uncertain whether protests would go ahead and what the next maneuvers in the more than year-long political standoff will be.
- Opposition defiant -
The opposition leader of the National Assembly, Julio Borges, earlier called on the military and other institutions to follow Ortega's example and speak up against Maduro.
"Now is the time to obey the orders of your conscience," he said.
Pressure against Maduro also increased abroad. In Washington, the Organization of American States (OAS) scheduled an emergency session for Monday to discuss the Venezuelan crisis.
Thirteen OAS nations, including heavyweights Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, as well as the United States, had called for the Venezuelan court rulings to be declared "incompatible with democracy and a violation of the constitutional order."
The head of the OAS, Luis Almagro, has strongly criticized the Maduro government in the past.
South American regional bloc Mercosur -- which suspended Venezuela in December -- will hold crisis talks Saturday, Argentina announced.
- Power struggle -
The opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) won a landslide in legislative elections in December 2015.
But the court has overturned every law passed by the current legislature.
Venezuela has the world's biggest oil reserves, but the collapse in energy prices has sapped its revenues, prompting shortages of food, medicine and basic goods and a surge in violent crime.
Maduro is not up for re-election until October 2018. But he has been forced to fend off opposition efforts to call a vote on removing him from power.
- Frustration in street -
Venezuela emerged from dictatorship after an uprising in 1958 and has seen three further attempted military coups since 1992.
Tension has grown since Maduro took over from his late predecessor Hugo Chavez in 2013. Both have been fierce critics of the United States.
In a speech to cheering supporters late Friday, Maduro insisted "the constitution; civil, political and human rights, and people power are in full force."
Outside a supermarket in Caracas on Friday, Venezuelans queueing to buy food rations vented their frustration.
"I don't support either side," said Yandry Diaz, 18, who works in a shoe shop.
"What they want is to have us in the street, fighting and killing each other so that they can hold onto power."
Quote
"I don't support either side," said Yandry Diaz, 18, who works in a shoe shop.
"What they want is to have us in the street, fighting and killing each other so that they can hold onto power."
I can't lie, I don't understand the political jibberjabs going on there at all. But
I ONE THOUSAND PERCENT AGREE WITH THIS GUY! To paraphrase Chesterton (on a rather similar topic now that I think of it), those words should be hung in gold and adamant above every main door everywhere on the planet.
^I have to agree with you and that guy.
Also, I think life there has already sucked for the average person for a while, with little food, gasoline, etc. and their currency basically worthless.
Quote from: Gusington on April 02, 2017, 11:45:30 AM
Also, I think life there has already sucked for the average person for a while, with little food, gasoline, etc. and their currency basically worthless.
I still like the Communist Toilet Paper theory:
When a recently minted Commie nation reaches the point where it can't keep enough shit-paper stocked on the shelves, the collapse into a totalitarian Communist state is imminent.
:))
Venezuela passed that point a few years ago. I remember reading the article with the TP shortage specifically mentioned.
When ~30M can't find TP there is an issue.
Situation continues to plummet in Paraíso Rojo with another landmark moment breached. :hide:
Venezuelan opposition leader "disappears" in government prison
May 8, 2017 by Jazz Shaw
If you live in the United States and you loudly and strongly criticize President Trump, you're invited to effectively become a guest host on MSNBC and your face and voice become well known across the land. In Venezuela, if you loudly and strongly criticize President Nicolas Maduro, you're invited to take up residence in a heavily fortified prison where you eventually disappear from sight... assuming you're still even alive.
That seems to be what's happened to opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez. For those not familiar, Lopez was one the earliest public opponents of Maduro's regime, speaking out and calling for reforms. His reward for his civic participation was to be locked away in the heavily guarded Ramo Verde prison. And that took place back in 2014, just as a reminder to those of you who might think that Maduro's tyrannical antics only began recently. For a couple of years he was at least getting visits from his wife and other relatives, but in April of this year Lopez simply disappeared and nobody was allowed to see him. I caught this news from our friend Fausta at Fausta's Blog. (Still an indispensable resource for all political news from the Latin American world.) Here's one of the key clues to how things got this bad.
<...snip..>
Read Fausta's full coverage at the link because this is a staggeringly awful story, but one of the key elements is the brutal reprisal against Lopez by the government and their attempts to apparently cover it up. More than a month ago, authorities reportedly demanded that Lopez go out from his prison cell and denounce the protests in the streets, hoping to use his appeal among the public to tamp things down. Lopez refused and was allegedly beaten severely, suffering abdominal injuries. Since that time nobody has seen him. When the family demanded "proof of life" the government supplied a video of a young, healthy looking man who apparently wasn't even Lopez.
So is he alive or dead? The story is finally getting some traction in the MSM, with ABC covering it this week.
continued ~~> http://hotair.com/archives/2017/05/08/venezuelan-opposition-leader-disappears-government-prison/
The average weight of Venezuelans is down 19 pounds.
I remember taking flack back in the Chavez days "on another site" pointing out how Venezuela was becoming a dictatorship and how it would end badly. It did not take a lot of foresight to see this coming - but it was beyond many.
Quote from: airboy on May 09, 2017, 06:26:02 PM
The average weight of Venezuelans is down 19 pounds.
I remember taking flack back in the Chavez days "on another site" pointing out how Venezuela was becoming a dictatorship and how it would end badly. It did not take a lot of foresight to see this coming - but it was beyond many.
I did the same, long ago, in forums elsewhere.
Was surprised some people were defending Chavez' nationalization policies and such at the time.
I recall one European guy, obviously the "Communism just hasn't yet been done right" type who even stated he would enjoy living in Venezuela since it was becoming such a great place for people living there. Didn't believe a word of warning how these things end up. #:-) Sadly, I don't think his beliefs were quite as rare as we'd think.
Quote from: Nefaro on May 10, 2017, 10:33:38 AM
I recall one European guy, obviously the "Communism just hasn't yet been done right" type who even stated he would enjoy living in Venezuela since it was becoming such a great place for people living there. Didn't believe a word of warning how these things end up. #:-) Sadly, I don't think his beliefs were quite as rare as we'd think.
Lucky for him he didn't have the courage of his convictions and move there.....
I would think bernies supporters would be flocking there to see how great it is.
Quote from: OJsDad on May 10, 2017, 12:09:42 PM
I would think bernies supporters would be flocking there to see how great it is.
Latte' liberals and college snowflakes leaving their "safe places"? Nah, don't see that happening. O0
Quote from: Steelgrave on May 10, 2017, 12:06:56 PM
Quote from: Nefaro on May 10, 2017, 10:33:38 AM
I recall one European guy, obviously the "Communism just hasn't yet been done right" type who even stated he would enjoy living in Venezuela since it was becoming such a great place for people living there. Didn't believe a word of warning how these things end up. #:-) Sadly, I don't think his beliefs were quite as rare as we'd think.
Lucky for him he didn't have the courage of his convictions and move there.....
They're great fuel for memes, though!
:DD
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpics.me.me%2Fprotests-capitalism-resist-capitalism-using-an-iphone-%25E2%2598%2585%25E2%2598%2585%25E2%2598%2585-patriots-who-13786966.png&hash=89968459b01287cc368f6678f2d3f86c38e18be6)
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs2.quickmeme.com%2Fimg%2Ff8%2Ff87fea19691b03a0d69a910b20c396a308c92e58af7a7f5606af28e6ccc8d32b.jpg&hash=62a46a8a07a84546b1b641c1317c2e05f82eba09)
But...but...they're so hip and folksy and earthy!
And living in their parents basement.
^And that!
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/17/world/americas/venezuela-children-starving.html
A couple of times a month this is discussed on Fox Business for at least the last year.
This is a story from the AP this morning about Trump looking at invading Venezuela.
https://apnews.com/a3309c4990ac4581834d4a654f7746ef
QuoteBOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — As a meeting last August in the Oval Office to discuss sanctions on Venezuela was concluding, President Donald Trump turned to his top aides and asked an unsettling question: With a fast unraveling Venezuela threatening regional security, why can't the U.S. just simply invade the troubled country?
The suggestion stunned those present at the meeting, including U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and national security adviser H.R. McMaster, both of whom have since left the administration. This account of the previously undisclosed conversation comes from a senior administration official familiar with what was said.
In an exchange that lasted around five minutes, McMaster and others took turns explaining to Trump how military action could backfire and risk losing hard-won support among Latin American governments to punish President Nicolas Maduro for taking Venezuela down the path of dictatorship, according to the official. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discussions.
But Trump pushed back. Although he gave no indication he was about to order up military plans, he pointed to what he considered past cases of successful gunboat diplomacy in the region, according to the official, like the invasions of Panama and Grenada in the 1980s.
The idea, despite his aides' best attempts to shoot it down, would nonetheless persist in the president's head.
The next day, Aug. 11, Trump alarmed friends and foes alike with talk of a "military option" to remove Maduro from power. The public remarks were initially dismissed in U.S. policy circles as the sort of martial bluster people have come to expect from the reality TV star turned commander in chief.
But shortly afterward, he raised the issue with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, according to the U.S. official. Two high-ranking Colombian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid antagonizing Trump confirmed the report.
Then in September, on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, Trump discussed it again, this time at greater length, in a private dinner with leaders from four Latin American allies that included Santos, the same three people said and Politico reported in February.
The U.S. official said Trump was specifically briefed not to raise the issue and told it wouldn't play well, but the first thing the president said at the dinner was, "My staff told me not to say this." Trump then went around asking each leader if they were sure they didn't want a military solution, according to the official, who added that each leader told Trump in clear terms they were sure.
Eventually, McMaster would pull aside the president and walk him through the dangers of an invasion, the official said.
Taken together, the behind-the-scenes talks, the extent and details of which have not been previously reported, highlight how Venezuela's political and economic crisis has received top attention under Trump in a way that was unimaginable in the Obama administration. But critics say it also underscores how his "America First" foreign policy at times can seem outright reckless, providing ammunition to America's adversaries.
The White House declined to comment on the private conversations. But a National Security Council spokesman reiterated that the U.S. will consider all options at its disposal to help restore Venezuela's democracy and bring stability. Under Trump's leadership, the U.S., Canada and European Union have levied sanctions on dozens of top Venezuelan officials, including Maduro himself, over allegations of corruption, drug trafficking and human rights abuses. The U.S. has also distributed more than $30 million to help Venezuela's neighbors absorb an influx of more than 1 million migrants who have fled the country.
For Maduro, who has long claimed that the U.S. has military designs on Venezuela and its vast oil reserves, Trump's bellicose talk provided the unpopular leader with an immediate if short-lived boost as he was trying to escape blame for widespread food shortages and hyperinflation. Within days of the president's talk of a military option, Maduro filled the streets of Caracas with loyalists to condemn "Emperor" Trump's belligerence, ordered up nationwide military exercises and threatened with arrest opponents he said were plotting his overthrow with the U.S.
"Mind your own business and solve your own problems, Mr. Trump!" thundered Nicolas Maduro, the president's son, at the government-stacked constituent assembly. "If Venezuela were attacked, the rifles will arrive in New York, Mr. Trump," the younger Maduro said. "We will take the White House."
Even some of the staunchest U.S. allies were begrudgingly forced to side with Maduro in condemning Trump's saber rattling. Santos, a big backer of U.S. attempts to isolate Maduro, said an invasion would have zero support in the region. The Mercosur trade bloc, which includes Brazil and Argentina, issued a statement saying "the only acceptable means of promoting democracy are dialogue and diplomacy" and repudiating "any option that implies the use of force."
But among Venezuela's beleaguered opposition movement, hostility to the idea of a military intervention has slowly eased.
A few weeks after Trump's public comments, Harvard economics professor Ricardo Hausmann, a former Venezuelan planning minister, wrote a syndicated column titled "D Day Venezuela," in which he called for a "coalition of the willing" made up of regional powers and the U.S. to step in and support militarily a government appointed by the opposition-led national assembly.
Mark Feierstein, who oversaw Latin America on the National Security Council during the Obama administration, said that strident U.S. action on Venezuela, however commendable, won't loosen Maduro's grip on power if it's not accompanied by pressure from the streets. However, he thinks Venezuelans have largely been demoralized after a crackdown on protests last year triggered dozens of deaths, and the threat of more repression has forced dozens of opposition leaders into exile.
"People inside and outside the administration know they can ignore plenty of what Trump says," Feierstein, who is now a senior adviser at the Albright Stonebridge Group, said of Trump's talk of military invasion of Venezuela. "The concern is that it raised expectations among Venezuelans, many of whom are waiting for an external actor to save them."
___
Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in Washington contributed to this report.
I don't trust anything in the American print media about Trump. The Hate runs too deep.