Oh, by the way ...

I know Quico hates it when I post random bullet points of stuff, but there are several things I need to say, and I don’t have time today...

bullet-pointsI know Quico hates it when I post random bullet points of stuff, but there are several things I need to say, and I don’t have time today for an ellaborate post on each one:

  • Don’t dwell too much on the mass hysteria and the adoring throngs of people. First off, they are not one in the same. There are many people who went to the procession yesterday and/or are going to see the body today because they liked (not “revered,” not “loved,” simply “liked”) Chávez. Others are going out of mere curiosity. Sure, the others, the ones that are wailing and ripping their robes – those are the die-hard supporters, and the camera loves them. But do they represent the majority of the country? I doubt it… In statistics, they call this self-selection bias – don’t draw conclusions from carefully staged images from a non-random sample.
  • Whoa. We have a first lady? When did Maduro take the oath? When did they get married? I wanna see the marriage certificate. #DonaldTrumpModeOn.
  • A friend reminded me the other day – one time, not so long ago, in a not-too distant land, a populist, larger-than-life leftist military Latin American President died while holding office. His chosen successor inherited a mess, and proved unable to handle it. I don’t want this for my country, but let’s not think for a second that the spectacle we are watching signifies the definitive consolidation of chavismo in power.
  • Really? Are we going to fret about where they bury Chávez? For all I care, he can go to the Panteón Nacional and be buried on top of Simón Bolívar. This is not an issue we need to make an issue out of. Los muertos que entierren a sus muertos
  • While we’re on the subject, don’t even get me started on the crazy conspiracy theories going around about Chávez not being really dead, or having died in Cuba, or the body being a wax figure.
  • A propos of our self-parodying Defense Minister, the strategy coming from chavistas is: say or do the most outrageous thing you can think of, wait until they start frothing at the mouth, and then convince the people nonstop that they “are inhuman fascists who are full of hatred.” The ultimate goal is to make this election about whether or not the opposition are in fact human beings, and not about Maduro and his very serious failings as a candidate. Remember, it’s not about us, it’s about him and his posse. Don’t fall into their trap. Patience is key.
  • Oh, and Capriles is the candidate. It’s a done deal.