No progressives should be demanding new elections in Venezuela due to Chavez' health...

[MADem]

25. I thought you were familiar with the country and its language....and its politicians.

"Diosdado Cabello" means "God Given Hair" -- and he's a pal of Chavez's since the days of the failed coup in 92. He's the guy who will end up fighting with Maduro over who gets the Lead Dog job, on an interim basis, if Chavez dies. NOT the opposition...they don't get involved until elections are called.

Stop telling falsehoods about me. NOTHING I have said " implies that this is an illegitimate government"--I am not implying ANYTHING of the sort at this stage.

I am asking "Where's Hugo?"

You apparently don't understand that the Constitutional nuances are going to set Maduro and Cabello against one another if Hugo doesn't show up to take the oath eventually, notwithstanding stalling tactics by the legislature and his political allies (and Hugo is too "ill" and is not going to appear any time soon, the VP has already said). This isnt "speculation" or "facist enabling" -- that's the Venezuelan constitution for you. VZ constitutional lawyers are weighing in, and they're saying this situation can't go on forever and clarity is needed promptly.

You were, in fact, calling me a Fascist, by insinuating that I might be one if I don't see things your way--which isn't a very civil approach to take, though I won't characterize what you are doing in the same sort of dire and inappropriate language such as you used towards me--I will tell you I don't like what you are saying and I find your comments a poor substitute for discussion.

By asking "Where's Hugo?" no one is "deciding" the future of Venezuela. For you to even say that is absurd. That is just asking a simple question, one that any sentient being with an interest in the nation or even a slight amount of curiosity about international issues is asking.

What I am saying here isn't "helping" anyone or "hurting" anyone--and that line of argument is just foolishness that sounds like it comes from a place of desperation because you can't control what people are asking--you're just not going to shut people up and stop them from asking SENSIBLE questions by calling them Facists or other names, simply because you don't like inconvenient but essential queries.

You're advocating censorship--and that's just wrong.

Again-- I am asking "Where is Hugo and how is his health?" It's the same question that Chavistas in the streets are asking, and have been for WEEKS now.

You'd know this if you read the papers. The government has finally said "He's too ill to attend" but that is all they've said: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/01/08/168904955/venezuelas-chavez-to-miss-his-inauguration

The Chavistas are acknowledging that there's a problem, and he might not make it. Why can't you? Are these Chavista kids "Fascists" for daring to contemplate a post-Chavez Venezuela?

http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/ABC_Univision/chavista-youth-contemplate-post-chavez-venezuela/story?id=18157090

But young supporters of President Chávez are also aware that the charismatic leader could pass away soon. And his imminent death raises uncertainty about the country's future.

"With his leadership, the president guarantees the stability of the country," said Jesús Garcia, a 22 year-old member of the Anti-Mantuanos Chavista collective. Garcia said that if Chávez lives, but is too sick to be the country's president, he should stay on as a "guide" of the revolution, because "there is much work to be done."

....But amongst some young Chavistas there is less faith in the future. Adriana Rivas, a self-described "youth revolutionary leader," who is also from the neighborhood of Altagracia, worries that without Chávez socialism will not progress in Venezuela.

"I don't trust in the deepening of the revolutionary process if Chávez dies," Rivas told ABC-Univison. Rivas said that if Chávez is not healthy enough to be president but continues to live, he should serve as an adviser to his hand-picked successor, Maduro. "[Vice President] Nicolás Maduro is a soldier who does what he is told to do," Rivas opined. "So with that sort of set-up, we could advance."