Alright, let's face it: we all saw this one coming. An entire government handing over special powers to a strong executive leader with dictatorial tendencies for 18 months. I smell constitutional reform on the number of terms a president can serve. Smells like quiche.
Here's a fun game: how many dictators can y'all name who rose to power with such special and "limited" decrees? Please leave a comment.
I'm going to start you all out with Pinochet (idealistically opposed to Chavez, but these days I think the two of them would see eye to eye on many things).
Five points for Latin American dictators, seven points for European, 3 points for Asian, and 20 points for Australian (I don't know if there is one, but if you know the guy's name, you my friend are a history god).
Bonus question: have any American presidents gotten away with this? (10 points. 15 if you can name the circumstances surrounding it).
As a side note: -20 points if you even mention Star Wars.
In more serious terms: how the heck is this guy getting away with all this? ... oh yeah... the opposing party decided to make an ideological argument and boycott the national elections.
-30 points if you're thinking of making an "ideological argument" or "symbolic gesture" anytime in the future. If you're going to fight windmills, you might as well hit them head on.
The winner at the end of the week gets a cookie.
7 comments:
a ver...
están......los de siempre :P
Chávez :P pero no cuenta, verdad? jiji...
Castro, de Cuba
Batisita, de Cuba
Augusto Pinochet, de Chile
Porfirio Díaz, de México
Maximiliano de Austria (pero de México)
Juan Perón, de Argentina
Rafael Trujillo, de la República Dominicana
Fco. Franco, de España
Mussolini, de Italia
Hitler, de Alemania
Stalin, de la Unión Soviética
Lenin, de la Unión Sovética (esa me la dió Papa)
Napoleón Bonaparte, de Francia
Y dice mi Papá que Bush también :P
I wanted to play too!
Let me think. . .
please, everyone, continue to post. I'll put up if certain leaders do or do not qualify. I suppose I should say that these are leaders who were given "special powers" by the people or legislature in order to react in what was perceived as a crisis, but then abused that power. :D So some of Ardilla's answers may not count. Muajajaja. But we'll see after some research and the end of the week.
the abuse of power is PRECISELY what makes a dictator one. I protest!
From M-W ...
Main Entry: dic·ta·tor
Pronunciation: 'dik-"tA-t&r, dik-'
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin, from dictare
1 a : a person granted absolute emergency power; especially : one appointed by the senate of ancient Rome b : one holding complete autocratic control c : one ruling absolutely and often oppressively
2 : one that dictates
Despite their absolutism, they ALL had "limits," whether they were in the form of rich people, powerful governants, legislators, or legislation... just like this guy. Heck, even the Roman emperor had the senate. Many of them had the electoral fraud stench you're getting from this one too. Check Diaz! Hmm... Shall I give you the "limitations" each of these dictators had? :D? I do protest.... I do, I do..
Luv U! ;)
Ardillas' dad....which Bush?
he means the current president, Im afraid :p
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