Yesterday was as bad as one could fear it would. A monstrous military parade was used to celebrate a most civilian event. All was late on schedule, all was designed to please Chavez, including him wearing his new disguise of a special military uniform. El Tiempo de Bogota gives a deserved review of the day, Colombians not being able to even respect Venezuela yesterday. Heck, Venezuelans did not even respect themselves, why should El Tiempo do it? this was not Venezuela day, it was another step in Chavez personality cult with the usual hanger-ons paid for (though one wonders what was Leonel Fernandez of Dominican republic doing there?)
The speech of Argentina's president was as vapid and out of place and context as one could be afraid it would. As a cheap Peronista of mafia like agreements with Chavez she certainly did not disappoint Chavez. She spoke of all but Venezuela, and some of her rare historical comments were actually historically wrong. What could you expect from a woman who in such an historical occasion says "we were chatting with President Chavez". I mean, you certainly were at some point during the day but you do not say that at the tribune of the National Assembly of the country when you are the controversial keynote speaker of the momentous day! But that is exactly what Chavez wanted, trivialization of the 19 de abril and people like me wasting time on the woman that Manuel Caballero justly nicknamed "cocotte", in French a silly woman that pretends to be as elegant and perfumed as possible. It is also a double entendre as "cocotte" means stink. Indeed, what we saw yesterday was the stench of failed leaders but successful thugs trying to find together new justifications for their hold on power at the expense of their people.
Updated: read the Simon Boccanegra today.