President's Televised Address

[radiofan2023]

Former lawyer Bill Handel on KFI had his show "Handel on the Law" interrupted by the news conference on Venezuela yesterday and went on to give his thoughts on it in the last half of Hour 1 and first half of Hour 2 of the show:

Handel On The Law | iHeart

Marginal legal advice, where you are told you have no case.

www.iheart.com

 

[ted chittenden]

Because of a thing known as "user generated content." Such as this message board. There's an audience for it, and commercial media organizations need to attract audiences for advertisers. They can either incorporate it in their coverage, or the audience will find it elsewhere.

If your reply was 100% correct, then we wouldn't hear any on-the-street interviews from NPR or PBS since neither network has advertisements. (I'll leave alone the sponsorships issue.) However, both networks *do* engage in on-the-street interviews about those complex topics with people who know nothing about them. Why? Because these people who know nothing (or next to nothing), at least in the U.S., are going to make electoral decisions based on their knowledge (or lack thereof) on complex political and economic issues. In other words, the man-on-the-street interviews is an attempt to get the same information that pollsters try to get for political candidates and organizations; namely, how do John Smith and Jane Doe feel about specific issues they know nothing about and, more importantly, how are they likely to vote in the next elections given the issues on which they are being questioned.

 

[TheBigA]

If your reply was 100% correct, then we wouldn't hear any on-the-street interviews from NPR or PBS since neither network has advertisements.

The listeners are the sponsors. So you have the same motivation. But yes, as you say, they're also voters,

We have experts here on this board, and they all get shouted down as representing the status quo or the corporate establishment. There's no advantage to being an expert, because experts can be wrong. Or in the case of public radio, they're all left-wing elitist socialists. At least that's what we're told.

 

[vchimpanzee]

One correction. While WFAE may run "Weekend Edition" for three hours, the show itself is only a two-hour show with, in some cases (such as this one), updates about significant news events as they occur.

WFAE doesn't run the full three hours. "Wait! Wait!" comes on immediately.

 

[Don CT]

Quite frankly, it’s remarkable that the party of “we can’t be the world’s police” is deathly quiet about this blatant violation of international law and the media, collectively, is largely acting like lap dogs for the administration. No meaningful pushback, no meaningful journalism. But maybe the new CBS can be sure to tell us how some random dude on the street feels and not people who understand law.

Clips from the morning shows this morning shows how soft the questioning is. Hold these people accountable for their actions. Don't allow whitewashing.

 

[davideduardo]

This isn't like his first administration, when the people standing next to him were contemplating the 25th amendment. There will be none of that this time. Not from the cabinet, not from congress, and not from the courts. The clock is ticking, they need to get everything done quickly.

It's not as if it's not being pointed out. You can find lots of reporting on it just like this:

Cognitive Decline? These Were Trump’s 11 Most Senile Moments This Year

When Donald Trump wasn’t busy falling asleep in front of the cameras, he spent his first year in office struggling to form coherent thoughts.

newrepublic.com

When the media brings up these things, they get shouted down with charges of biased media and TDS.

Yes, Trump looked tired and fatigued yesterday. From his chat on Fox and Friends earlier in the day, it could be inferred he had slept very little in the prior three days as the operation waited for the proper weather, so I would attribute his presentation to that fatigue and the need to present the full report required.

On the Fox News “phoner” he was clear and conversational, as he was with friends. Yet in the press conference, when speaking spontaneously in the question segment, he was clear, concise and direct.

 

[Don CT]

Yes, Trump looked tired and fatigued yesterday. From his chat on Fox and Friends earlier in the day, it could be inferred he had slept very little in the prior three days as the operation waited for the proper weather, so I would attribute his presentation to that fatigue and the need to present the full report required.

On the Fox News “phoner” he was clear and conversational, as he was with friends. Yet in the press conference, when speaking spontaneously in the question segment, he was clear, concise and direct.

He doesn’t sleep much ever. Isn’t he always up all night.

 

[Deus Ex Machiato]

Yes, Trump looked tired and fatigued yesterday. From his chat on Fox and Friends earlier in the day, it could be inferred he had slept very little in the prior three days as the operation waited for the proper weather, so I would attribute his presentation to that fatigue and the need to present the full report required.

On the Fox News “phoner” he was clear and conversational, as he was with friends. Yet in the press conference, when speaking spontaneously in the question segment, he was clear, concise and direct.

"Speaking spontaneously" is basically repeating the same slogans that play well at his rallies and rants on Truth Social. He knows his riffs (or "the weave") very well, but the contrast between him trying to read off a prepared statement and riffing is becoming more stark. I've seen him read prepared speeches in the past, and this is quite alarmingly different. You could chalk it up to him simply being tired, but as mentioned above, he doesn't sleep much anyway and is somehow able to post a hundred "Truths" at 3am.

I'm reminded of a pair of interviews I saw on TV (CNN?) back in the early 90s...one with Reagan, and one with Nixon. Ronnie was his usual amiable self, but it was a softball interview and more like a conversation with that beloved relative who is slipping into dementia...an experience I had over the holidays. Lucid at times, but can't remember the name of the cat you reminded them of 20 minutes earlier.

Contrast that with Nixon, who was sharp as a tack, clearly staying up on world affairs, and able to expound on what he'd do about (fill in international diplomatic problem) if he were still in the Oval. We're dealing with the former situation, not the latter, and while it may have made some people happy that he toppled a ruthless dictator, he's also got it into his head that we need to invade Mexico, confiscate Greenland, and perhaps even annex Canada. The President is not well.

 

[davideduardo]

Maduro's allies are not going to let this go quietly. Abducting the leader of a foreign country like this – regardless of his/her legitimacy – is not OK and constitutes a blatant act of war.

Maduro has not been given any great show of support following his removal. Some screaming, but no threats and no indication of future or ongoing support. Even the Colombian cokehead president, other than his typical pontificating rants, has done nothing.

There will be serious consequences.

Unlikely. Maduro was seen as incompetent and the cause for 8,000,000 exiles… overwhelming nations like Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Panama, Costa Rica and even the USA. They will see in this the chance that those refugees will now go home.

 

[CTListener]

Maduro has not been given any great show of support following his removal. Some screaming, but no threats and no indication of future or ongoing support. Even the Colombian cokehead president, other than his typical pontificating rants, has done nothing.

Unlikely. Maduro was seen as incompetent and the cause for 8,000,000 exiles… overwhelming nations like Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Panama, Costa Rica and even the USA. They will see in this the chance that those refugees will now go home.

Have Venezuelans "disappeared" under Maduro as Chileans and Paraguayans did under Pinochet and Stroessner or as Cubans and Nicaraguans did under Castro and Ortega? If so, there may be more support for Trump's Venezuelan adventure among Venezuelans -- and in the US -- than one might think. Ends sometimes justify the means.

 

[davideduardo]

Have Venezuelans "disappeared" under Maduro as Chileans and Paraguayans did under Pinochet and Stroessner or as Cubans and Nicaraguans did under Castro and Ortega?

Yes, with many imprisoned in the failed circular shopping center in Caracas known as El Helicoide.

From Google AI:

The shopping center turned prison in Caracas, Venezuela, is
El Helicoide, a massive, unfinished spiral structure originally planned as a futuristic mall in the 1950s that became a notorious headquarters for the Venezuelan intelligence service (SEBIN) and a holding place for political prisoners, known for severe torture and inhumane conditions

If so, there may be more support for Trump's Venezuelan adventure among Venezuelans -- and in the US -- than one might think.

The presidential elections where Maduro was "elected" for a third term were verified by an actual count of all the polling places and the state tabulation centers showing that he had less than 30% of the vote.

Ends sometimes justify the means.

Ask any of the 8 million Venezuelan exiles if they are unhappy today. And, based on the past elections and the continued deterioration of the economy, probably 90% of the Venezuelans still living in the country are happy. The other 10% were Maduro's government employees and his "neighborhood committees".

 

[davideduardo]

We're dealing with the former situation, not the latter, and while it may have made some people happy that he toppled a ruthless dictator,

The only ones happy are:

• The quarter of all Venezuelans who fled the country due to either persecution or the destroyed economy and poverty (in what was the richest nation in Latin America for 50 years or more).
• The near 80% of Venezuelans in Venezuela who did not vote for Maduro.
• Most of the Latin American nation leaders like those from Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, Panama and Costa Rica who wanted him gone.
• The nations that have had to take in 8 million refugees from the destroyed Venezuelan economy.

he's also got it into his head that we need to invade Mexico, confiscate Greenland, and perhaps even annex Canada. The President is not well.

Trump, through the Secretary of State and the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico tried to find a way to assist Mexico in militarily controlling the cartels there. The new president of Mexico did not agree. Nothing more happened.

Trump brought up the idea that Greenland should join and associate with the United States and even sent delegates. I suspect that this was an opening effort to reinforce the U.S. presence there. There was no suggestion of invading or confiscating the country.

Annexing Canada was presented as a humorous way of discrediting Canada's idiotic Premier, Trudeau. It backfired, as Canadians took the "joke" as an offense to their national pride.

 

[TheBigA]

Here's how Spanish language radio is covering the story in Miami:

Venezolanos en Florida celebran caída de Maduro en operación militar de EEUU - Actualidad Radio

Grupos de personas coreaban “libertad” y se cubrían con banderas venezolanas el sábado en Florida para celebrar el ataque militar estadounidense que derrocó al gobierno de Nicolás Maduro, un…

actualidadradio.com

Miami's NBC station:

South Florida Venezuelans react to Maduro's capture Saturday

Venezuelans in South Florida celebrated the U.S. capture of the country’s leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife Saturday.

www.nbcmiami.com

 

[davideduardo]

Here's how Spanish language radio is covering the story in Miami:

Venezolanos en Florida celebran caída de Maduro en operación militar de EEUU - Actualidad Radio

Grupos de personas coreaban “libertad” y se cubrían con banderas venezolanas el sábado en Florida para celebrar el ataque militar estadounidense que derrocó al gobierno de Nicolás Maduro, un…

actualidadradio.com

Miami's ABC station:

Florida Venezuelans celebrate Maduro's capture

South Florida Venezuelans react to Maduro capture. (WPEC)

abcnews4.com

Makes me want to eat arepas and suck mamoncillos up on El Ávila at the park.

Years ago, I was invited by the owners of Venevision to visit Caracas and interview for the GM position of their huge radio network. Their corporate manager took me there and to Bolivar's home and even to the amazing site of the Battle of Carabobo as they tried to impress me (that started with the private plane ride to Maiquetía and no need to go through immigration or customs).

At the time, Venezuela was amazingly impressive due to its growing economy, profusion of local industry and new construction all over.

I did not take the position, as in San Juan we were buying stations in Hartford, NYC and Miami and I was in charge of the project. Retrospectively, I'm glad I did not go there... I made many lasting friends in Caracas and all of them are in Miami now.

All that I have heard from want to go back. That includes a family that owned a half dozen stations in Caracas and many more in the other big markets. It remains to be seen whether things move to the point where media that was confiscated or closed by Maduro and Chávez may be restored to their owners.

The biggest closure was Radio Caracas Televisión, (RCTV) tied in 2006 as the leading Venezuelan TV network. It was shut down, along with Radio Caracas Radio, by Hugo Chávez. RCTV - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

Only about half the radio stations on the air in 1995 are still on. Most of the "missing half" were closed by the socialist regime. Many of the remaining were nationalize or "intervened" via government representatives that "controlled" their content.

 

[Moose Jaw McGee]

The only ones happy are:

• The quarter of all Venezuelans who fled the country due to either persecution or the destroyed economy and poverty (in what was the richest nation in Latin America for 50 years or more).
• The near 80% of Venezuelans in Venezuela who did not vote for Maduro.
• Most of the Latin American nation leaders like those from Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, Panama and Costa Rica who wanted him gone.
• The nations that have had to take in 8 million refugees from the destroyed Venezuelan economy.

Annexing Canada was presented as a humorous way of discrediting Canada's idiotic Premier, Trudeau. It backfired, as Canadians took the "joke" as an offense to their national pride.

Some Canucks take themselves too seriously.

Everyone seems happy about what Trump did in Venezuela except Russia, China, North Korea, etc, and of course American liberals. Venezuelans in Venezuela and around the world are cheering. Never mind that. American liberals are protesting because they don’t like anything Trump does. If your former president had had the guts to do it, I’m certain that would have been perfectly fine with the leftists.

 

[TheBigA]

Not so fast:

Venezuela’s VP Surfaces to Thumb Her Nose at Trump

Delcy Rodríguez has condemned the U.S. abduction of President Nicolás Maduro.

www.thedailybeast.com

Speaking in an all-channels emergency broadcast on Saturday, Rodríguez and other high-ranking officials branded the capture of President Nicolás Maduro as “barbaric” and an “illegal and illegitimate kidnapping,” adding that Venezuela will never be colonized by foreign powers.

 

[ted chittenden]

Some Canucks take themselves too seriously.

Everyone seems happy about what Trump did in Venezuela except Russia, China, North Korea, etc, and of course American liberals. Venezuelans in Venezuela and around the world are cheering. Never mind that. American liberals are protesting because they don’t like anything Trump does. If your former president had had the guts to do it, I’m certain that would have been perfectly fine with the leftists.

I think that one of the concerns that liberals would have had, regardless of which U.S. president did it, would have been the message it sends to other big countries wishing to gobble up their smaller neighbors (think China and Taiwan). Abraham J. Simpson was quite correct when he pointed out in an earlier post that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. (And I will have to stop here.)

 

[Deus Ex Machiato]

The only ones happy are:

• The quarter of all Venezuelans who fled the country due to either persecution or the destroyed economy and poverty (in what was the richest nation in Latin America for 50 years or more).
• The near 80% of Venezuelans in Venezuela who did not vote for Maduro.
• Most of the Latin American nation leaders like those from Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, Panama and Costa Rica who wanted him gone.

Which is all well and good, but what seems to be missing from the administration's narrative is the answer to the very complicated question of "now what?"

I was listening to an interview today with Rick Wilson - founder of the Lincoln Project and a harsh critic of Trump (to put it mildly) - and he brought up that very question. He pointed out that as a Neo-Con, he has some experience with what happens when the US topples a dictator and doesn't consider all the possible consequences. He said that from his vantage point, the administration's plan to "run" Venezuela makes what the Bush administration did in the wake of toppling Saddam seem like a carefully considered, well-thought-out master plan.

Yes, 8 million people have fled Venezuela. Yes, 80 percent of the country is living in poverty. Yes, the Maduro regime squandered the country's oil wealth and/or stole it for themselves, and (keeping it on radio) closed down radio stations. The country is in shambles, Maduro's government is (essentially) still in charge, and even Trump's own former envoy to the country, Elliot Abrams, said of the administration's claim to just "run" Venezuela:

It would be extremely difficult. You know, it’s a very big country. It’s twice the size of California, 25 million people, roughly. It’s too complex for us to run.
What we should be looking for is a popular government, a democratic, elected government that can begin to rehabilitate the country with our support and the support of the other democracies that surround Venezuela. That’s possible. But the notion that we’re going to run it from Washington I think is implausible, and it’s just not going to work.

Mind you, these people (Wilson and Abrams) are not "liberals" whose only problem with this is that they're mad at Trump. They understand (and Marco Rubio's performances on the Sunday talk shows reinforces this notion) that the Trump administration clearly hasn't thought this through. Maduro's people aren't simply going to throw up their hands and say "welp, you got us!" and leave peacefully. The country's oil infrastructure is not going to spring back to life overnight (remember the claim that the Iraq War would pay for itself?), and finally, the cost to the American taxpayer of applying the "you broke it, you own it" principle to rebuilding Venezuela will be exorbitant.

Is it great that a dictator has been removed from power? Sure. Celebrate that. Yippee Ki Yay and such. But rebuilding a country that's been run by a dictator (or series of dictators) for decades isn't all sunshine and rainbows.

 

[TheBigA]

Is it great that a dictator has been removed from power? Sure. Celebrate that. Yippee Ki Yay and such. But rebuilding a country that's been run by a dictator (or series of dictators) for decades isn't all sunshine and rainbows.

What I'm reading is conflicting messaging. On the one hand, you have the president saying 'we will run the country.' On the other, you have Marco Rubio, who knows the history of anti-Americanism and anti-colonialism that exists. He knows the people there will not take kindly to exchanging one dictator for another. Especially one who wants to rape and pillage all of the country's natural resources. The president doesn't know or care about that history, and every time he opens his mouth, he makes it harder for his government to get things done.

 

[davideduardo]

What I'm reading is conflicting messaging. On the one hand, you have the president saying 'we will run the country.' On the other, you have Marco Rubio, who knows the history of anti-Americanism and anti-colonialism that exists.

The concept of anti-Americanism is much exaggerated, mostly by extreme leftists like those in FARC in Colombia and the Sendero Luminoso in Peru. I have worked in radio in every nation in Spanish speaking Latin America except Cuba over the last 60 years (and continue in more than one) and have never witnessed "anti-Americanism" personally nor seen manifestations of it except in far, far leftist movements.

He knows the people there will not take kindly to exchanging one dictator for another. Especially one who wants to rape and pillage all of the country's natural resources.

The intent seems to be to have the original owners of petroleum production facilities and holders of drilling rights to have their "deals" restored if they rebuild the nearly totally destroyed facilities that still remain.

The foreign oil companies paid huge rights to Venezuela, and that was why the country was so prosperous up until the socialist dictatorship got into power.

The president doesn't know or care about that history, and every time he opens his mouth, he makes it harder for his government to get things done.

You are making up history and exaggerating attitudes and sentiments. Yesterday, about 8 million Venezuelan expatriate economic refugees from Chile to Miami and Houston were celebrating and congratulating Trump.