Venezuelan lawmakers gave initial approval to a bill granting President Hugo Chavez the power to rule by decree for 18 months so that he can impose sweeping economic, social and political change.
Emboldened by his landslide re-election last month, the leftist leader has called for "revolutionary laws" to accelerate the country's transformation into a full socialist state.
The title is a mere rhetorical question, of course.
Here, if the government disagrees with dissenters, those dissenters consider their free specch "chilled" if not downright suppressed. Insert your favorite lunatic Bushtatorship story here.
But in Venezuela, where actual freedom is being snuffed out as we watch, our Left says nothing. I'm sure Jesse jackson will be down there soon, congratulating Hugo.
I'm just guessing that our Left is upset over what they got in 100 hours of a new Congress that they don't fully trust. What could they do with 18 months unfettered by law?
UPDATE: Well good for Senator Reid. Tip to Instapundit for the link.
