Yelling “Fatherland, socialism or death!” Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez was sworn in for his third term, to the sound of crickets chirping. Not one world leader showed up to this Caracas spectacular to witness it – not a single one. Chavez says he didn’t invite anyone, but given his need for adulation, I leave it to you to make up your own mind about the veracity of that. Even Evo Morales said he had better things to do. But the skies were full of world leaders in transport – they all found time to attend tiny Nicaragua’s presidential inaugural, of Daniel Ortega, who’s publicly stated that he intends to govern moderately and democratically, something that seems to have far more credibility to the Latin Consensus of leaders than any statement by Hugo Chavez.

It’s really quite amazing. The fact that every Latin American leader blew off Hugo’s inaugural says mountains about his growing diplomatic isolation. All the smiles and handshakes that have been seen in the past in photos were clearly fake smiles and phoney handshakes. Hugo’s third term victory is obviously something no leader in the region wants to witness or be seen as part of. It may not only be because of domestic political backfire but – possibly even as personal safety issue, given the likelihood of Hugo Chavez being thrown out in a military coup. Would you want to be standing next to Hugo when the bullets from a troop rebellion by some ambitious colonel inevitably fly? I wouldn’t.

It’s also notable that the failure of all world leaders to attend Hugo’s swearing in comes on the heels of his verbal assault on the Organization of American States chief, Jose Miguel Insulza. Two days ago, Chavez called him a pendejo repeatedly in a long tirade about expropriation.

This clearly is a thug who’s moving backward.

Read Daniel’s account of the whole incredible specter of Chavez withering away in this post here.

And Miguel has more here.