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Venezuela’s democratic façade has completely crumbled (Hugo Chavez's Long Con)
Washington Post ^ | 7/1/16 | Moisés Naim and Francisco Toro

Posted on 07/10/2016 6:14:45 AM PDT by doghorse

Not long ago, the regime that Hugo Chávez founded was an object of fascination for progressives worldwide, attracting its share of another-world-is-possible solidarity activists. Today, as the country sinks deeper into the Western Hemisphere’s most intractable political and economic crisis, the time has come to ask some hard questions about how this regime — so obviously thuggish in hindsight — could have conned so many international observers for so long.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: chavez; communism; marxism; southamerica; venezuela
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Abject socialist failure. Don't think this could happen in the USA? When the left controls the Supreme Court anything is possible. More reason than ever to VOTE TRUMP.
1 posted on 07/10/2016 6:14:45 AM PDT by doghorse
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To: doghorse

Chavez didn’t “con” anyone. His believers were willing dupes who conveniently ignored history, slept through Econ class, and thought they could recast human nature. In short, they were liberals.


2 posted on 07/10/2016 6:22:04 AM PDT by IronJack
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Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: doghorse
could have conned so many international observers for so long

Give us an example of someone whom you believe was "conned".

4 posted on 07/10/2016 6:23:46 AM PDT by Jim Noble (The polls can have a strong influence on the weak-minded)
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To: doghorse

You have a typo in heading indicating this was in Washington ComPost...


5 posted on 07/10/2016 6:23:47 AM PDT by newfreep
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To: doghorse

Only low IQ clowns....e.g., progressives...were conned, you MSM clowns.

Those of us capable of logic know that perpetual motion and socialism etc. are only believed by those to whom a wedge is a complex mechanical tool.


6 posted on 07/10/2016 6:24:00 AM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: doghorse

Funny how the article never cites socialism as the cause of Venezuela’s problems.


7 posted on 07/10/2016 6:24:15 AM PDT by Maceman
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To: newfreep

Life is full of small mistkes.


8 posted on 07/10/2016 6:25:11 AM PDT by doghorse
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Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: doghorse

As clarification, I am shocked WaPo published this article.


10 posted on 07/10/2016 6:28:02 AM PDT by newfreep
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To: doghorse

” the time has come to ask some hard questions about how this regime — so obviously thuggish in hindsight — could have conned so many international observers for so long.”

The same way the Clintons and Rats have and are conning stupid American today.

The two idiots that wrote this article are incapable of seeing the parallels.


11 posted on 07/10/2016 6:28:57 AM PDT by aquila48
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To: Maceman

If they had, the WAPO wouldn’t have printed their opinion article. The WAPO has a lot of subscribers that are socialists. The closest they could come was to call them Progressives.


12 posted on 07/10/2016 6:29:54 AM PDT by doghorse
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To: doghorse

The answer is easy. Leftist voters are easily fooled, driven by envy and greed, they are led by Elites who promise them something for nothing. They ignore the fact that Socialist/Communist regimes have littered history with failed Marxist attempts to equalize everyone but the Elites, who live large because they consider themselves better than the commoners. When the people finally get wise to the corruption and the betrayal, the Elites use cruel force against the people. Millions have died this way.

Yet, even in this country, because of the corrupt education system and Leftist media, millions of voters will vote for a truly corrupt Marxist who has already amassed hundreds of millions by betraying the trust of the offices she and her husband have held. Leftists are talented speakers, convincing each generation that this time it will be different. It won’t be different, but it will be too late.


13 posted on 07/10/2016 6:32:03 AM PDT by txrefugee
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To: IronJack

Agree. And when James Dobson made critical comments about Chavez many years ago he was pounced on by the U.S. media. Maybe they should have listened to him instead and not let their desire for a socialist utopia cloud reality.


14 posted on 07/10/2016 6:32:49 AM PDT by mikeandike
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To: doghorse

They weren’t “conned”, they were true believers who thought socialism really would work “this time” even though it has failed everywhere.


15 posted on 07/10/2016 6:35:06 AM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Know Islam, No Peace - No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: doghorse
...so obviously thuggish in hindsight...

It was obvious then. The left just lied or ignored it, like they always do.

16 posted on 07/10/2016 6:35:12 AM PDT by KC_Conspirator
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To: doghorse
...the time has come to ask some hard questions about how this regime — so obviously thuggish in hindsight — could have conned so many international observers for so long.

That is actually a really easy question to answer. Every communist regime in the world puts a rose-colored filter over what it shows the rest of the world, and those who believe that a utopian paradise is possible and doable here on earth embrace the rosy image.

I remember a forum conversation a few years ago with someone who fervently supports socialized medicine. After I explained why socialized medicine cannot possibly work--because it is incompatible with human nature and with the laws of economics--the person came back with "But don't you want everyone to have health care?" What do you say to someone who feels that wanting something makes it possible?

17 posted on 07/10/2016 6:35:27 AM PDT by exDemMom (Current visual of the hole the US continues to dig itself into: http://www.usdebtclock.org/)
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To: IronJack
Chavez didn’t “con” anyone. His believers were willing dupes who conveniently ignored history, slept through Econ class

Spot on...

His supporters were mostly poor and ill-educated so an "econ class" was never a thought...

The smart ones who took an econ class left the country years ago...

Miami is filled with them.

18 posted on 07/10/2016 6:38:26 AM PDT by Popman (Christ alone: My Cornerstone.)
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To: freedomwinsout
Hugo’s daughter came out just fine..She has 4-5 billion stashed in various places especially USA banks...Interesting that Maduro doesn’t go after those billions to feed “HIS PEOPLE”

No surprise. The fruit doesn't fall too far from the tree.
Third world dictators...life doesn't change.She too will get gunned down one day. That's the life of dictators. She better high-tail it to Switzerland so she can stash her cash and lose some of that extra grasa she's carrying around. At forty, if she lives that long, she will be OBESE. Ah, the good life.

19 posted on 07/10/2016 6:40:57 AM PDT by cloudmountain
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To: doghorse

How could the regime have conned progressives for so long?

How hard is that...they fall for every communist, anti-American line ever uttered. They are waiting around to be conned by a tyrant spouting leftist garbage.


20 posted on 07/10/2016 6:43:56 AM PDT by Scott from the Left Coast
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