Chavez offers economic advice to US

In light of the US economic crisis, Chavez offered his advice to the US "I think the United States should start a constituent process to create a constituent assembly, a new truly democratic model."

Evidently a new constitution solves all problems, I guess that's why Venezuela's economic performance is the among the best in the world. You know with the high inflation (running about 30%) and food shortages, and all.

McCain wins Friday debate

I shit you not

Considering the debate hasn't even taken place yet, I would like to know exactly how McCain actually won it.

I don't think Chavez would even be so bold in insulting the voters intelligence

Click here to read the story and see the ad that was posted in the Wall Street Journal this morning, even before McCain said he in fact would be at the debate.

Obama, Venezuela, and Latin America

Earlier this year during one of the democratic candidate debates Obama stated he would be willing to hold talks with world leaders the US considers our "enemy" including Chavez. Naturally many, including Venezuelans, saw this as a sign of weakness and Obama being naive. I disagree.

Obama has correctly pointed out that Chavez, during the Bush presidency, has exploited the void left in Latin America by the US due to it's engagement in Iraq, and combined with our disastrous policy towards Latin America, Chavez has easily fomented anti-american sentiment.

Obama afirmó que lo que debe hacer su país es dar a conocer a Chávez que no están interesados en que siga propagando el sentimiento anti-estadounidense en la región, pero que está interesado "en entablar un diálogo respetuoso con todos en América para buscar la manera de mejorar su calidad de vida", subrayó.

I do find the notion of not engaging with Chavez a proven failure of a policy (ie. Cuba). We have held high level meetings with every country in the world (excluding Cuba) that we have considered enemies (North Korea, Iran, Syria, etc...).

In other news, Obama condemned Chavez and his anti-democratic credentials, after his expulsion of the representatives of the NGO Human Rights Watch.

As I have stated on multiple occasions, between McCain and Obama it is Obama who will likely have the best ability to contain Chavez's influence in Latin America. At the very least black and indigenous groups in Latin America, who predominately still identify with Chavez, will feel some affinity to Obama if not because it is a change for Bush but because of Obama's race.

Politics

If we ignore the person, I find that this picture reveals a lot about political campaigns. To me captures the sinister nature of politics and how dirty it really is. Many of us hope for honor, integrity, and civility in politics, but you know lurking behind is that big dark shadow. When campaigns get heated the shadow is revealed rising above the honor, integrity, and civility and ushering in the dark side of politics and the people in them.

picture by Jill Greenberg

McCain's "change" : "...Lipstick on a pig is still a pig"

This is how Obama describes McCain's best effort to call his campaign all about change, when in fact he is offering very little change from the past 8 years.

Despite the republicans best efforts, in no way can Obama's comments be misconstrued as sexist or a personal attack. Instead the phrase is an old idiom, which ironically enough was used a year ago by McCain describing Hillary Clintons health care proposal. But of course now that Obama uses it to describe McCains fake "change" he is called sexist.

This almost rivels Obama's comparison of Hillary Clinton to Annie Oakley.

For those Venezuelans who may not be familiar with the term, it is similar to "el mono vestido de seda mono se queda"



Image taken from Innovation to win

New BFF: Russia and Venezuela

So what else is Chavez to do with billions of dollars worth of new weapons purchases (mainly from Russia)? Well..., since the US seems to refuse to invade Venezuela, and Colombia isn't falling for Chavez's tactics, the next best thing is to play some war games with Russia.

The war games will take place between November 10th and 14th in the Caribbean, according to reports 4 Russian ships along with Venezuelan ships and submarines.

Of the two countries, I would say Russia has the most to gain from these exercises. Like Cuba, Venezuela looks to be the new pawn in Russia's new geopolitical game.