who could/would step in if Maduro decided, that for the good of his Party, ideology and Venezuela, he will just go away? Or, is the only alternative to Maduro, rightists?

Feels like the 50's & 60's all over again.

Other than Maduro saying so.

when Kissinger said he was going to make their economy scream?

Or when we did the same to Nicaragua in the 80's and have tried less successfully to do to Cuba since the 60s?

I mean now, in this current unrest.
I can tell you confidently that VN aren't buying the Maduro crap that this is all a US/CIA/RW plot to foment unrest and stage a coup.
My wife is from VN, she still has lots of relatives there and we get daily updates on the situation there, it's a powder keg waiting for a spark to ignite it.

those at the bottom.

while in VN, I married her and brought her here to the US years and years ago, her family is not the moneyed elite that you seem to think they are, we send them money each month so they can live in that cesspool of an economy.

My wife's family is from Peru, but we would consider poor here is roughly middle class there, and a notch or two below that are the truly poor, street people, shantytown dwellers and the like.

Those are the people who are not likely to benefit if Venezuela returns to neoliberal orthodoxy.

Maduro regime is doing fine all by itself destroying the economy, but just for kicks, can you provide proof with links that this is all a US/CIA/RW plot to destroy and overthrow the VN govt?

Other than the corrupt Maduro regime saying so?

more and more desperate as they see their idol's Bolivarian revolution start to come apart at the seams. So the push is on now to excuse the all too obvious failures of the Chavez-Maduro economic model by screaming "CIA CIA" at the top of their lungs. What's even more intriguing is that most of them have never had any contact with Venezuela and have no understanding of the country or how it works. But never mind - the mess Chavez created and that DimSuccessor is unsuccessfully trying to hamhandedly manage is reaching (if it hasn't already done so) a tipping point beyond which some fundamental changes will have to occur in order to avoid a bloody internal struggle. I personally think it is highly likely that Maduro may well be forced out, not by the CIA but by his BFF Diosdado and coterie, backed by their Cuban 'advisors'.

and traveled extensively in Latin America so I think I know a little bit more about what's truly going on there than those that fanatically defend the corrupt VN. regime at all costs.

We hope that there isn't a bloody civil war or a coup against the govt, we want to see a fair election by the people and elect the leaders they want, rather it be the Chavistas or the opposition, but, from what we're hearing from her family in VN, it is reaching a tipping point and the results are going to be ugly.

So, describe the best-case scenario for me, preferably one that does not involve a bloody revolution and that does not install a fascist-led, U.S.-backed regime. Seriously. What's the best that can happen? How could that change come about?

-Laelth

would be for a true reformist to win the election and a wholesale cleansing of the govt, top to bottom, and then institute real reforms, that will revitalize the economy, modernize the infrastructure, reform the police forces, judicial system.
Allow all opposition partys to function freely and fairly without threat of govt crackdown.

And of course, only accept help from the industrialized nations without strings attached.

We pray and hope that it isn't too late to avoid a bloody revolution, but her family members say that it's fast approaching zero hour.

Like we aren't mixed up in enough messes already.

you can count on Imperialism being involved. Generally there is oil in the mess, and unless you let it flow freely as the multi-nationals dictate, there will be issues.

Recent examples: Venezuela, Ukriane

have the capacity to refine it's own oil because of corruption and mismanagement by the Maduro regime, and then sent back to VN as gas.

By Maria Páez victor
Source: Counterpunch.org
February 17, 2014

Maduro barely squeeked out a win at the last elections, and I question whether he will hold onto his job this coming election.

You can blame outside forces all you want, but that's pure crap, the economy is in the toilet, inflation is running rampant, chronic shortages of basic goods, an electical grid that's failing because of failure to modernize, highest violent crime rate in Latin America.

I shake my head in wonder at all the "experts" that think the problems in VN are caused by the US/CIA when in reality, the problems lie directly at the feet of the corrupt Maduro regime.

election to take place, do you?

The revolution is too important to risk betrayal by the people at the voting booth. It must be protected from the voters, who are potential participants in a foreign conspiracy.

that the Maduro regime will declare martial law or a national emergency and either cancel elections or nullify the results if it looks like the Chavistas are going to be thrown out on their corrupt collective asses.
We want them to immigrate to the US but they refuse, they want to stay and help make VN a better place to live for their children.

We hope to get down there some time this year to visit all her relates.

real possibility that you could be stranded by airlines ceasing operations there, plus the looming spectre of civil war.

The history books are full of goons like Maduro. Not smart enough to work through the difficult times, not willing to let someone else do it.

The big difference between Chavez and Maduro is that the former would have left office if the people voted against him.

reservations about us visiting.
Chavez was a smart politician, you're right, he would have left office if the vote would have gone against him, Maduro is no Chavez, much more inept and corrupt.

the next elections in Venezuela?

Maduro is up in 2019.

not happy with government policies of being a traitor.

who is not a traitor inside Venezuela could possibly have any complaints about his rule, given that his policies are working to perfection and that any troubles are obviously a foreign plot.

Ditto with the Ukraine.

It is so obvious that he is perfect and that all of his opponents are corrupt traitors and foreign agents that you need not provide a shred of evidence of it.

Any Venezuelan who fails to "clap louder!" should be in jail.

My wife has extensive family ties to VN and they tell a far different story than you tell.
And just to be clear, her family are not the rich elitists, they are poor, struggling to make it in that horrible economy, we send them money each month just so they can survive the tanking economy.

You can blame outside forces all you want, but the cold hard truth is that the Maduro regime is solely responsible for the spectacular failure of the economy and few VN's now believe that this is a US/CIA sponsered plot to undermine and overthrow the govt.
The most credence given to this crap exists right here on DU, but not in VN.

But, again, do you have any credible proof that the US/CIA is fomenting the unrest there to undermine and overthrow the govt? Other than Maduro saying so or that the proof is that there is no proof?

Wtf is that supposed to prove, that you know more than anyone else who lives there?

And yes, proof has been posted. You can also take into account that 'history' you're ignoring ..... or not. I really dislike debating with right-wingers who rah-rah the toppling of yet another democratically elected government. It actually sickens me.

I have said, several times now, that I hope that there isn't a coup, that there are free and fair elections and whoever the people choose is their business.

All I've done is debunk the claim that the present troubles in VN are not a plot by the US/CIA to undermine and overthrow the VN govt.

You've 'debunked' nothing.

Not even close.

People here aren't stupid, or blind, or ignorant to history. Shame, isn't it?

the US/CIA is fomenting unrest to topple the govt, unless you count Pres. Maduro claiming it, or that the proof is past history or the proof is that there is no proof.

But, carry on with your defense of this corrupt govt.

The corrupt government that's supported by a majority who've been lifted from extreme poverty, provided opportunity for education, given a voice in government at all levels, etc., etc. etc.?

Go do a little reading here. There are some fantastic posters who've provided very useful information on Venezuela. You seem like you might need a bit of a brush-up on actual facts.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1108

I wouldn't trust the uber rich to give an unbiased report on Venezuela.

Anyone knows how their article will go WITHOUT reading it.

Democrats don't think like these guys. That's why they are Democrats. Values all go together, it's all about principles, or no principles at all.

None of these problems are attributable to government policies. Anyone who expresses discontent inside Venezuela is a CIA plant and should be arrested.

that I can remember Venezuela going to hell in a handbasket. Maybe the third. I lose track. I was a teenager the first time and we got a few refugees from the Pérez Jiménez government in my high school…in Wisconsin?…but anyway, we did. I don't recall that it's ever been too stable in my lifetime. Kind of like a few other Central and South American countries (Guatemala immediately comes to mind). It doesn't help when we let the CIA meddle though.

and followed by the claque of LatAm experts screeching their support for this action because "the fascists left no other choice".