Here's a great article on the coming crisis, written from the Chavista point of view.
I should start with a disclaimer - the author is a friend of mine. Here we go - Chris poses a great question in his piece:
"how can they claim fraud when dozens of surveys taken over the last few months show that the election won't even be a close contest? And secondly, why would the Chavez government commit fraud when it is obvious that they will easily win? The answer: it is all part of a plan to overthrow the government in the days following the December 3rd election."
I agree with the question, however I would question the answer more carefully.
Chavez is the man, myth, and mystery all wrapped into one. Like his counterpart in Cuba, he is the cult of personality the press makes him out to be. The Chavez movement realistically doesn't exist without Chavez himself. He is the icon.
That said - we may have an alternate reason to fix the vote. Even if the vote isn't close ( and I do agree it is not likely to be close), controlling the vote is laying a foundation of control. It's the same reason the Democrats fix the vote in Chicago, as much today as last century. They don't just want to win, they demand total control of the system. To control totally is to get high. It is to have the mandate, it is to be the lord high executioner. President Bush called his short-lived dominance "political capitol," and then swiftly moved to overturn actions of the Supreme Court, Congress, and anyone else who dare stand in his way. Chavez has done the same, just heading in the other political direction.
So - we come back to the elections. Is there fraud? Maybe. Is there a plan to riot? probably.
Is there US funding and involvement? Definitely. Too much oil sitting in Venezuela to believe anything else.
So, readers, what do you think?
Comments