Venezuela shows that it can’t handle the truth

[FSogol]

From the Washington Post's Editorial Board:

IT’S NOT clear yet whether Edward Snowden will accept Venezuela’s announced offer of asylum or, if he should do so, whether he would be able to reach the South American country from the Moscow airport. A cynic might wonder if Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who passed up the chance to rescue the would-be American defector when he was in Moscow last week, made his offer after returning to Caracas precisely because he suspected he wouldn’t have to deliver on it.

In any case, before Mr. Snowden flees to the land of “21st-century socialism,” where toilet paper is among the many goods in short supply, we’d suggest that he take a lesson from one of the country’s best-known journalists, Nelson Bocaranda. A newspaper columnist and radio host with nearly 1.5 million Twitter followers, Mr. Bocaranda shocked his country when he reported in June 2011 that President Hugo Chávez was suffering from cancer — news the government had improperly withheld from the public. Days later, Mr. Chávez was obliged to acknowledge that a “baseball-sized” tumor had been removed from his abdomen.

SNIP

The charges are patently absurd. The evidence against Mr. Bocaranda consists of a single tweet he sent out, reporting ballot-box irregularities in the city of Maracaibo. Government claims of subsequent attacks on government offices were refuted by local media and a human rights group, which toured the locations and found no damage. But the Venezuelan regime has not hesitated to jail political enemies on trumped-up charges.

Whole piece here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/venezuela-shows-that-it-cant-handle-the-truth/2013/07/10/084f5328-e987-11e2-aa9f-c03a72e2d342_story.html

[geek tragedy]

1. Socialist governments don't need to recognize the rights of people

who oppose socialism. The fan club will be in to educate you on this matter.

[FSogol]

2. Yup. n/t

[geek tragedy]

18. Totally predictable. nt

[burnodo]

3. Ahh, the Washington Post reports on Venezuela

I'm sure there's nothing but honest journalism there!

[FSogol]

5. I guess you forgot to read the piece.

[Comrade Grumpy]

25. I read the hit piece. Pretty thin gruel, but SOP for the Post editorial board.

Bocaranda is not in jail; he's not even charged with a crime, as far as I can tell.

Prosecutors want to talk to him as part of a criminal investigation.

A shining example of respect for freedom of the press? Not exactly.

Proof that Venezuela is an anti-democratic hell-hole. Not hardly.

Maybe the Post could write about James Rosen, too.

[malaise]

4. I lived through economic and political sabotage in Jamaica between 1978 and 1980

When the Chamber of Commerce and the RW politicians and their overseas backers were finished with us, we couldn't even find rice, sugar or toilet paper.
It showed up a few days after the US backed Seaga shot his way to power in 1980.

Spare me. Anyone who wants to practice sovereignty and attempt social upliftment for his/her people in this hemisphere is the perceived enemy of the market and their backers.

Enough of this fucking shit. Aren't you folks tired of the 1% misleading bullshit?

[FSogol]

6. Huh? The piece is about Venezuela's trumped up charges against a journalist. n/t

[malaise]

8. I have a bridge to sell

if you believe that shite

[Comrade Grumpy]

26. I don't see that this guy has been charged with anything. Am I wrong?

[FSogol]

29. He's received 2 summons to appear before the Venezuelan AG. n/t

[Comrade Grumpy]

32. So he hasn't actually been charged with anything?

[FSogol]

33. Hairsplitting. If he was in Venezuela, he'd be in jail now. n/t

[Comrade Grumpy]

47. Charged with a crime/not charged with a crime. Hardly hairsplitting.

He seems to have more faith in Venezuelan institutions than you do. He says he's going back.

[FSogol]

49. Pretty brave, imo. Now what "hero" can we contrast him with?

[polly7]

24. +1000. nt.

[Starry Messenger]

27. Yup. "Venezuela Police Seize 2,500 Rolls Of Toilet Paper From Warehouse Hoarding Scarce Goods"

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/venezuela-police-seize-2500-rolls-toilet-paper.php

ASSOCIATED PRESS MAY 31, 2013, 9:13 AM
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Police in Venezuela say they have seized nearly 2,500 rolls of toilet paper in an overnight raid of a clandestine warehouse storing scarce goods.

The Thursday announcement on Twitter said that the officers raiding the garage in western Caracas also seized about 400 diapers and 7,000 liters of fruit juice.

Police chief Luis Karabin told Venezuelan news agency AVN that police, acting on a telephone tip, found “merchandise that we know is scarce on the shelves and doesn’t reach the people.”

<snip>

Pretty low of WaPo to take a lazy swipe at Venezuela. The good news is that we now know which newspaper makes a good replacement bumwad.

[malaise]

43. No surprise - that happened regularly back in the day. I lived it

I know how it's done - doesn't matter who you starve, who you deprive of medicine - attempt to tax transnational corporations to fund development for your citizens, discuss democratic socialism (even with a mixed economy) and expect sabotage.

Take your neo-liberal medicine, shut the fuck up and rule in our interests.
I remember two trips to the Eastern Caribbean and going to supermarkets and seeing lots of stuff that was made in Jamaica on their shelves while our shelves were empty - absolute sabotage.

[cali]

7. just when you think WaPo editiorials can't get any worse

they do. They're openly right wing and have been for quite some time.

[FSogol]

9. So, no comment on the charges against Mr. Bocaranda, just broad brush swipes against

an editorial board?

[Capt. Obvious]

10. gratuitous swipes at a Left spectrum government

gives ample credence to the facts supplied in this opinion piece.

Bringing the piece here is a great way to upset the commies though. This thread will have potential.

[whatchamacallit]

11. So many closet right-wingers on DU...

[FSogol]

12. Bring on the name calling!

[Cali_Democrat]

15. So what did you think of the article?

Why does the prosecutor want to charge Bocaranda?

[Comrade Grumpy]

31. I thought it was thin gruel.

The allegation is that he incited violence. We'll see if anything happens with it.

The guy is not in jail, in prison, being tortured, hasn't been "disappeared," but is busily tweeting away.

[FSogol]

34. Because he's in the US. n/t

[Comrade Grumpy]

48. You seem to be more afraid of Venezuela than he is, since he says he's going back.

But carry on.

[Scurrilous]

13. K & R

[Cali_Democrat]

14. Welcome to your new home, Snowden

HAHAHAHAHAHA



K&R

[Starry Messenger]

16. Portraits in courage: unsigned editorials.

WaPo must have gotten on the WSJ train this week.

[FSogol]

20. Unsigned? Seriously?

From the Post:

Editorials represent the views of The Washington Post as an institution, as determined through debate among members of the editorial board. The board includes: Editorial Page Editor Fred Hiatt; Deputy Editorial Page Editor Jackson Diehl; Jo-Ann Armao , who specializes in education and District affairs; Jonathan Capehart, who focuses on national politics; Lee Hockstader, who writes about political and other issues affecting Virginia and Maryland; Charles Lane, who concentrates on economic policy, trade and globalization; Stephen Stromberg, who specializes in energy, the environment, public health and other federal policy; and editorial cartoonist Tom Toles. Op-ed editor Autumn Brewington and letters editor Michael Larabee also take part in board discussions. The board highlights issues it thinks are important and responds to news events, mindful of stands it has taken in previous editorials and principles that have animated Post editorial boards over time. Articles in the news pages sometimes prompt ideas for editorials, but every editorial is based on original reporting. News reporters and editors never contribute to editorial board discussions, and editorial board members don’t have any role in news coverage.

[geek tragedy]

22. Probably better to be unsigned than signed by Hiatt nt

[Starry Messenger]

23. That's a list of who is on the Board.

I read that, thanks. Someone wrote the piece in the OP though, it wasn't all of the people on the list.

[Cleita]

17. Toilet paper, really?

The ugly American must criticize another country because of their lack of toilet paper?

[allin99]

21. turned me off too.

just like the articles about snowden being a "drop out". gimme a fucking break already.

[CakeGrrl]

19. The irony is glaring, but some refuse to see.

People are so busy wishing the brave patriot well, it's clear they aren't understanding the ideological hell to which he's consigned based on his own beliefs and dislikes.

Oh well.

[markiv]

28. what is this, 'Free Republic'?

my goodness, exposing venizuala because it's 'socialist'?!?!?

neoliberalism is about being for the same thing as those you call your oppenents, but claiming the difference in style of doing it matters

[FSogol]

30. Huh? Do posters at FR comment on articles they haven't read?

[byeya]

35. The important truth about Venezuela is that more people have access to health care,

education, adequate diets, and meaningful input into their local governments while the nation itself has more control over its natural resources.

[randome]

41. Easier to manage health care when the high murder rate cuts down on life expectancy!

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Birds are territorial creatures.
The lyrics to the songbird's melodious trill go something like this:
"Stay out of my territory or I'll PECK YOUR GODDAMNED EYES OUT!"[/center][/font][hr]

[Comrade Grumpy]

50. Someone ought to mention that to Honduras!

[AllINeedIsCoffee]

36. I hope ole Eddie is taking an online course on how to use the three seashells.

[randome]

44. Yeah, Venezuela will be quite an education for our friend Eddie!

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Birds are territorial creatures.
The lyrics to the songbird's melodious trill go something like this:
"Stay out of my territory or I'll PECK YOUR GODDAMNED EYES OUT!"[/center][/font][hr]

[AZ Progressive]

37. Isn't it any more Obvious that DU is being hijacked by DLC third way supporters?

Talking about socialism the way the Right wing talks about socialism is a big giveaway.

[markiv]

39. 'is being'?

i think it's later than that

[FSogol]

40. Did you even read the piece? Besides 1 line about socialism, it is about

the government harassing an award-winning journalist. Something fans of Snowden/Greenwald and company should be interested in.

[Jazzgirl]

45. You are correct AZ.

I've noticed the same thing. Makes me really sad.

[byeya]

46. I agree with AZ - the Republican wing of the Democratic Party is out in force(and farce)

[Starry Messenger]

51. Bingo.

The ugly xenophobia is a bonus I guess.

[UTUSN]

38. R#4 & K for, just WAIT till SNOWDEN/GREENWALD hear about *this* & make a REVELATION!1 n/t

[FSogol]

42. Thanks. Once we get to 5 recs, the name-calling will really begin!