[lbo-talk] NYT: Chavez loses, 51% to 49%; Chavez does concede on TV

[Chuck]

Mr. WD wrote:
> I'll certainly defer to anyone who has paid more attention to
> Venezuela than I have, but my impression is that this defeat isn't
> such a bad thing.  Sure, the overwhelming passage of the referendum
> would have been great, but a 51/49 victory wouldn't have given Chavez
> much of a mandate -- and the press would have jumped on even the
> smallest irregularity in voting as evidence  the results were rigged,
> that Chavez is a really a dictator, etc.  Now it'll be hard for anyone
> to argue credibly to popular audiences that Venezuela isn't really a
> democracy.  Additionally, I question the long term viability of any
> revolution centered on one person.  If Chavez has to deal with term
> limits, that will force the chavistas to groom new leaders who can
> carry the revolution forward if something happens to Chavez.
> 
> Anyone think I'm off base here?
> -WD

I've never understood why American leftists are so stuck in a rut when 
it comes to supporting *one* guy as the leader of these leftist regimes. 
If this so-called "revolution" in Venezuela has any substance, then it 
surely can find thousands of qualified people to run for president in 
the next election.

I also don't understand why people feel so compelled to defend Chavez 
more than the popular revolution. Chavez is just one imperfect human 
being who craves power. Does it really take an anarchist to point out 
the obvious.

The news that Chavez was defeated is very welcome.

Chuck