Dictator 4 Life

Venezuela’s rubber-stamp congress moved closer to allowing Fidel Castro’s parrot, Hugo Chavez, to become dictator for life (or for a very long time at least). They gave the initial thumbs up to a series of so-called “reforms” that would allow Mini-Me, er, Chavez, to stay in office for a seven-year term rather than the current six years. Additionally, Chavez’s peanut gallery dropped presidential term limits.

The measures await final approval in about two to three months, then must be approved by simple majority via national referendum. But of course, we know how ethical Venezuelan elections have been since Chavez, ahem, defeated a recall measure.