Hugo Chavez, everybody’s favorite tin-pot South American dictator, had a plebiscite yesterday on the future of his dictatorial status.  He lost!  So, Chavez cannot run for President indefinitely, meaning he’s got to step down in 2012.  Opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez said, “This reform was about democracy or totalitarian socialism, and democracy won.”

But, if this socialist is like other ambitious socialists, he’ll find a national emergency (probably American-related) or reword a new referendum to give him those powers anyway.  I’ll believe the step away from totalitarianism when I see it.  But, this is the first electoral defeat for Hugo, even if it was 51-49%.  I don’t expect to see a trend, but it is a good start for the Venezuelan people.  However, the close vote guarantees that Chavez will not go quietly.

AP photo.

Some conservatives are giving Howard Dean a hard time over his most recent episode of diarrhea of the mouth. At a recent dinner in Washington, the former Presidential candidate mental patient accused Fox News of using Stalinist tactics.  I think we should cut him some slack.

Dean’s remark is actually a sign of progress.  Democrats rarely if ever criticize Communist regimes.  I always suspected this was because they are enamored with their atheism and economic system.  Whatever the reason, one rarely hears a peep from liberals when it comes to Communism.

On the other hand, one could argue that Dean really hasn’t had an epiphany on Communism.  If that is the case, then Dean was actually complimenting Fox News, albeit in his own warped way.  I think we should cut him some slack.