Bolivia’s cocalero chief, Evo Morales, an open supporter and covert supplicant of Hugo Chavez, is losing allies in the upcoming December election. This is probably a significant piece of news. Throwing his lot with Venezuela’s hated dictator is obviously lucrative, but no way to win votes. With Venezuela’s entire diplomatic thrust moved south since the CAFTA victory for Central America and El Norte, it may well be that Hugo Chavez is crumbling on his southern front as well.

Economists say that if anything can’t go on, it won’t. Read it here.

UPDATE: Miguel Buitrago at the estimable MABB blog has a dissenting view – read it here.