Deathwatch in Caracas

The American media 's obsession with Hugo Chávez is two-fold: there is a deathwatch over his cancer and a countdown to the end of his presidency in the coming elections. Every few days, there are reports -- some by doctors -- that he is at death's door. The latest one gives him nine months to live, at most. Now that the opposition has chosen a single candidate to run against Chávez, the media has begun to talk about Venezuela after him, as if it were a given that he will lose the election.

Well, we'll soon find out if that reporting -- which appears to be more wishful thinking than serious journalism -- ends up being true. I wouldn't bet on it.

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