Monthly Archives: March 2009

Quico says: My latest piece in the Guardian’s Comment is Free site is now up. (Notice: 500 words, and not one of them is “Chávez”!) The comments thread they’ve got going so far is too dreary for me to jump … Continue reading →

Quico says: In a feat of unparalleled economic mastery yesterday, Hugo Chávez proposed a new international currency to be backed by underground oil reserves: the Petro. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper immediately countered with his own proposal – the Glacio … Continue reading →

Juan Cristobal says: – Everyone knows Venezuelan women are beautiful and win lots of pageants. Like populists and ball players, beauty queens are one of those things that we seem to produce excellent specimens of, our own “non-traditional exports.” However, … Continue reading →

Quico says: One source that’s quickly becoming a must-read for me is Política de Ñapa: Hernán Lugo Galicia’s PSUV gossip blog in El Nacional. Lets be clear here: the vast majority of of the gossip about the government in opposition … Continue reading →

Quico says: OK, so here’s my idea for a movie pitch: As we fade in, we see the old oil baron on his death bed, a picture of Comandante Chávez hanging sternly from the wall. As Ramirez struggles for breath, … Continue reading →

Quico says: Rama Vyasulu is the Gordo Antonini of 2009. Update: Confused by this whole story? The Wall Street Journal explains it from start to finish.

Quico says: You’ve heard of Bad Hair Days? Well Miguel Octavio had a Good Blog Day yesterday. A very Good Blog Day. I love it when the blog tail wags the MSM dog. Yesterday was one of those days. (I … Continue reading →

Quico says: I’ll own up, I have no idea what the hell is happening in the bolivar swap market. Some prominent Caracas exchange operators have stopped trading altogether on reports that one or more key accounts in the US have … Continue reading →

Quico says: Sorry, false alarm.

Quico says: Now that el jefe has announced that there isn’t enough money to go around this year, it stands to reason that any spending increase has to be offset by cuts elsewhere. With that in mind, a simple question … Continue reading →

Juan Cristobal says: – Remember Chávez’s prophetic speech about how Cuba and Venezuela were sailing together toward the same “sea of happiness“? Funny, I doubt Havana Airport’s Duty-Free stores are as empty as the ones in Maiquetía (pictured left). Come … Continue reading →

Quico says: In the current New Republic, Enrique Krauze writes a remarkable essay grounding Chávez’s authoritarianism in its historical context. Whether he’s covering familiar ground or striking off into what is – to me – entirely new territory, Krauze’s narrative … Continue reading →

Quico says: It’s funny. Last year, when Bernie Madoff was caught fabricating reports designed to make it seem like he was still holding $50 billion worth of investors’ money even though, in fact, the money had already been spent, he … Continue reading →

Quico says: One aspect of this whole Economic Adjustment story that isn’t getting enough attention is “the development fund that didn’t bark”: Fonden. Sold to us for years as Venezuela’s “rainy day fund” which would shield the country in case … Continue reading →

Chávez says: “We’re going to face down the separatist intentions of the regional governments in Zulia, Táchira, Miranda, Nueva Esparta and the mafias that stand behind them.” …Zulia…ok, Táchira, I guess…Nueva esparta, maybe…MIRANDA?!!? WTF! Is this really what they figure … Continue reading →