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While admittedly no one does an operetta as well as the South Americans, Carmona seemed to be the worst of possible picks as interim president. With the CGT playing the lead role in organizing the general strike and turning out people for the street protests, how could Carmona fail to include any CGT representation in his cabinet? Without CGT support and a less-than-unified military, the anti-Chavez coalition quickly dissolved.

Carmona clearly blew it. Hopefully it won't cost him his life.

Carmona seemed to be the worst of possible picks as interim president.

I don't think there was time to give this much thought. The events happened so quickly after Chavez's civilian snipers, positioned on rooftops, started murdering marchers. There isn't someone who stands out as a strong alternative to Chavez, someone who could rally the people and all the political groups. Carmona, I believe, was visible and out there and got stuck with the job. He wasn't up to ruthlessly holding the reigns against the violent operation Chavez has set up. Carmona is a concilator and that isn't the game plan you go with when your opponent is Chavez.