Click over to Fausta's place - the first story is a hoot - the former French President's Analyst writes a tell all??? Sacre Blue!
IT WAS in early May 1982, after a year in power, that Mitterrand contacted Magoudi to ask him to become his therapist. The psychoanalyst accepted with reluctance: he didn’t relish the prospect of the secret service searching his study in the Marais district or curious courtiers bugging his telephone.
And the next story deals with the Caribbean - you know, Venezuela, Aruba, crime, communism, ET AL. There's lot's of good stuff at Fausta's today.
Thank you Dan!
I still can't get over the shrink's rationalization of violating patient confidentiality: "his book was ordered by Mitterrand himself". Was it? Did Mitterand say so in writing?
Posted by: Fausta | Tuesday, November 22, 2005 at 04:23 PM
Chavez has become one of Latin America's most vocal critics of U.S.-style capitalism, which he calls a major cause of poverty.
U.S. officials accuse Chavez of endangering Venezuelan democracy by assuming ever greater powers.
During a short-lived 2002 coup against Chavez, the U.S. government promptly recognized the new leaders, who were soon driven out amid a popular uprising.
So much for democracy.
Posted by: coconuttree | Tuesday, November 22, 2005 at 11:49 PM
So much for democracy.
Posted by: coconuttree
=============
Chavez is a democratically elected president. He has been elected several times. (Once I read 10 times, but I don't know if that is accurate.)
The overthrow was not the will of the people and the peasants literally came down from the mountains and overthrew the person that had been installed. After Chavez was back in power, he held yet another election - even though it was not time yet for an election - and he won by a land side.
The power elite and media owners do not like him, but they represent an extremely small percent of the population. He is a people's president, takes the side of the little man, and they do support him fully. Most people there are dirt poor and their lives are improving significantly under Chavez's reforms.
Venezuela does have a democracy.
He is a pill though, and deliberately antagnozies Bush. Their politics are completely opposite. The day may well come when there is an explosion.
Posted by: Shonane | Wednesday, November 23, 2005 at 02:31 AM
exactly, Shonane. Chavez does not represent big business, he represents his population and that's why the US tried to get him out - (oil, baby) whether they went as far as an assassination attempt is open for discussion, but their dirty hand was known by all in the coup attempt. The immediate american recognition of the coup leader as a legitimate ruler was as telling as it was pathetic.
Posted by: lawbster | Wednesday, November 23, 2005 at 05:41 AM
You better know which side of the bread your butter is on. If you all hate America so much, go live in Venesuela. You bunch of know it all turn coats. That is why this country is in such a mess is because of people putting down our government and belittling our president. He is the only one we have and the father of this country. He is president. You are not. He must have done something right...blue
Posted by: blue | Sunday, November 27, 2005 at 06:40 PM
You better know which side of the bread your butter is on. If you all hate America so much, go live in Venesuela. You bunch of know it all turn coats. That is why this country is in such a mess is because of people putting down our government and belittling our president. He is the only one we have and the father of this country. He is president. You are not. He must have done something right...blue
Posted by: blue | Sunday, November 27, 2005 at 06:41 PM