So things have been weird here since the election. This all started with the calmer-than-expected acceptance of the results by the opposition. Sure, not all did, clearly not Pablo Medina or Antonio Ledezma, and sure, Rosales supporters were nearly booing him when he conceded defeat, but they had little other option but to roll over and accept.

Was this a good idea for them? It was their only option at this point (a successful coup being incredibly unlikely). Their goal has been to shake the accusation that they are golpistas, coup-plotters.

Their secondary goal is to rebuild hegemony in the long-term, becoming a "majority." This is why the far-right is upset: because they know this is a losing proposition. They know they are not and cannot become a majority. Their only option is to reconstruct the colonial ideology that for so long has led people to vote against their own interests. Easy to maintain, not so easy to rebuild after it has dissolved.

For Chavez and the government, it’s full steam ahead. Excellent. The first move was to appoint a commission to write proposed changes to the Constitution, which would then be discussed through "Street Parliaments," passed by the (100% Chavista) National Assembly before being put up for a referendum.

The opposition can smell the danger, but as we said, they’re in a tough spot. So what do they do? Make silly demands. First was the silly demand for representation in the government, cabinet posts or something. After all, they "represent 4 million venezuelans" (of 26 million, mind you).

Chavez’s response: er, no, you lost.

Second silly demand, more clearly motivated by fear of constitutional reform: since we represent 4 million people, and since we have no seats in the Assembly, those people aren’t being represented. So we need to have new elections for the Assembly.

Chavez’s response: er, no, it was your own silly fault for pulling out of the elections. Assembly elections were only held a year ago, and are not scheduled for another four years. It would be unconstitutional to change this!

So things will be heating up again soon, after the "Christmas Truce," when Chavistas start passing constitutional amendments—hopefully to curb private property, empower communal councils, empower workers’ cooperatives and collectives—and the opposition realizes that it has no way to stop the process…