Thuggery & Buggery in the old familiar ways:
Juan Cristobal at Caracas Chronicles posts the above photo of El Caudillo Chavez on parade and writes:
That was Caracas yesterday. What is your immediate reaction?
a) Fear
b) Laughter
c) Sadness
d) The final realization that compromise, negotiation or, perhaps, even coexistence with chavismo is now virtually impossible.
Keep in mind the people with the guns are not soldiers, they are members of the “Bolivarian Militia,” a paramilitary, unconstitutional body created for the sole purpose of defending the Revolution. Â Harry’s Place has more: Â Bolivarian democracy on parade
Chavez rallies armed youths militias “to defend socialism”
Socialism. Democracy. Â Like in the Democratic Peoples Republics around the world:
Venezuela’s revolution faces crucial battles; Chavez: `Towards a communal state!’
CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez urged thousands of gun-toting militia troops Tuesday to be ready to fight for his socialist government, telling them that opponents may be plotting to oust or kill him.
Chavez rallied the civilian militia at an outdoor speech while marking the anniversary of a failed 2002 coup against him. Organizers estimated about 35,000 militia members in the crowd, which filled a downtown avenue in Caracas.
The president said his opponents would be defeated if they tried another coup, and he vowed to emerge again with a dominant majority in the National Assembly after September elections.
Without giving details, Chavez told the crowd that he believes some people in Venezuela are conspiring to assassinate him. WaPo
