Category Archives: Diosdado Cabello

Things I learned watching last night’s cadena (UPDATED)

Posted on May 2, 2013 by

Last night’s cadena nacional presenting the regime’s “evidence” that the opposition is to blame for getting their faces kicked in at the National Assembly is the stuff of legend. Here’s the belief-beggaring goebbelsian job: Here’s what I’m thinking as I see this: … Continue reading →

Posted in Chavismo, Diosdado Cabello, Politics, The Media | 115 Comments

The tweets are God-given

Posted on April 15, 2013 by

What was Diosdado Cabello saying with these tweets? Was he interpreting the unease with which the military received these “results”? Was he undermining the weak Maduro? The floor is open for wild speculation.

Posted in Diosdado Cabello, Military | 22 Comments

“Juan Cristobal is exactly right.” -Diosdado Cabello

Posted on March 24, 2013 by

National Assembly chairman Diosdado Cabello’s bizarre rant yesterday baffled and amazed me. Diosdado expressly cedes Juan’s point – yup, we’re crazy – in language poised exquisitely between Trash Talk and a Kinsley Gaffe - the accidental utterance of an obvious but impolitic truth. … Continue reading →

Posted in Diosdado Cabello | 48 Comments

The gang’s all here!

Posted on January 13, 2013 by

It has been a crowded weekend in Havana so far. First, two Latin American presidents tried unsuccessfully to visit the comandante presidente: Argentina’s Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Peru’s Olanta Humala. At least Cristina met with both Castros for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Chavismo, Diosdado Cabello, International, Nicolas Maduro, Politics | 33 Comments

VP Maduro: No inauguration on January 10th (Updated)

Posted on January 8, 2013 by

Minutes ago, the President of the National Assembly Diosdado Cabello just read a letter from Vice-President Nicolas Maduro, in which he indicates that President Hugo Chavez won’t attend the official inauguration of his third term of office (2013-2019), established to … Continue reading →

Posted in Constitution, Diosdado Cabello, Nicolas Maduro, Politics | 65 Comments

The Living Constitution

Posted on January 7, 2013 by

As a lector avispao put it to me, the problem with my critique of the Maduro Doctrine is that I’m looking for the constitutional law in the wrong place. The source of genuinely binding norms in Venezuela these days isn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Constitution, Diosdado Cabello, Nicolas Maduro | 69 Comments

El binomio de oro

Posted on January 3, 2013 by

An “inspection” to a coffee factory in Caracas was the perfect PR opportunity for the Chavernment to present an image of unity, specially between its two top men: Vice-President Nicolas Maduro and National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello. The appointed succesor … Continue reading →

Posted in Chavismo, Diosdado Cabello, Nicolas Maduro | 22 Comments

A quiet, tragic exit for a man who did everything with a bang

Posted on January 2, 2013 by

Over at Foreign Policy’s Transitions blog, I begin to say goodbye. (Registration now required, although it’s free)

Posted in Chavez cancer, Diosdado Cabello, Henrique Capriles, Nicolas Maduro | 76 Comments

The Saturday Shuffle

Posted on January 1, 2013 by

The next big date in the charade that has become the transition process in Hugo Chávez’s Venezuela is January 5th. This is when the National Assembly reconvenes to select a new President for the year. The date is pivotal for … Continue reading →

Posted in Diosdado Cabello | 133 Comments

First, do no harm

Posted on December 10, 2012 by

The current political/oncological drama shaking Venezuela presents a tricky situation for the opposition. On the one hand, they need to avoid the danger of appearing to gloat. Ultimately, even the most hard-hearted of us feels some sympathy for a man … Continue reading →

Posted in Chavez cancer, Diosdado Cabello, Nicolas Maduro | 13 Comments

Chavez can now get his new surgery

Posted on December 9, 2012 by

The National Assembly has unanimously approved the request of President Hugo Chavez to leave the country and go to Cuba for his fourth surgery in 18 months. You didn’t miss much: The opposition asked for Chavez’s recovery and urged for … Continue reading →

Posted in Chavez cancer, Chavismo, Diosdado Cabello, Opposition, Politics | 8 Comments

Article 233 Chronicles (Updated)

Posted on December 6, 2012 by

Here is what Article 233 of our Constitution says (in my rough English translation): “Article 233. The following are considered “absolute absences” of the President: his death, his resignation, or his being deposed by a sentence from the Supreme Tribunal … Continue reading →

Posted in Chavez cancer, Constitution, Diosdado Cabello, Nicolas Maduro, Politics | 21 Comments

The first ad of the Capriles vs Cabello election?

Posted on June 12, 2012 by

It’s long, but there are themes in here that will come in handy … if it comes to that.

Posted in Diosdado Cabello, Henrique Capriles | 16 Comments