Mixed news in the world of liberal democracy today. Generalissimo Vladimir Putin's United Russia won 63 percent of the vote in a highly flawed parliamentary election. If it was not clear already that Russia did not have civil liberties, well now it cannot be even described as illiberal democracy. This is thuggery and extortion. Why, why can he get away with this? . . .
Luckily, the news is not all bad. Venezuela's Hugo Chavez will not be president-for-life after all. To his credit (I can't believe I'd ever say that), he conceded defeat and did not change the results in his favor. Venezuelans won't sell out to populist rhetoric after all.
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