Someone in Ecuador is thinking what I’m thinking…

And he’s even more Ecuadorable than usual:

Don’t you love it when great minds think alike? From Aporrea:

The president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, congratulated his Venezuelan counterpart, Hugo Chávez, for the electoral victory on the 23rd, in which the PSUV won 17 of 22 governorships and 265 mayoralties in Venezuela.

“Thank you, Hugo, for the invitation to the ALBA summit, for the usual hospitality which we received; you know how much we love the people of Venezuela and support them in the struggle for a new Venezuela. I congratulate you for the victory on Sunday.”

Correa also questioned the attitudes of the international media in their efforts to minimize the PSUV victory in the regional elections. “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at the ridiculousness of the media, who want to minimize or disguise such a complete victory. The headlines in Ecuador go more or less like this: ‘Opposition gains ground, Chávez retreats’,” said Correa, who was unable to help guffawing.

“Yes, this might make us laugh now, but the level of ridiculousness in the media is dangerous because now they are a major power. The power of information is very great in Latin America and we know what function it serves: a small group of big-business interests. This should bring us to political conclusions and decisions we need to make to promote public media like TeleSur, which inform and don’t distort,” said Correa.

Translation mine. Linkage added.

I think Rafecito must have been reading this blog, because I said the exact same thing just the other day. Either that, or there’s some weird Jungian synchronicity going on here.

BTW, speaking of weird Jungian synchronicities, look who else is saying things the big ugly whore media don’t want you to hear about Venezuela:

A group of more than 130 international election observers praised the organization, fairness, and efficiency of last Sunday’s regional and local elections in Venezuela, and also gave constructive suggestions for how to reduce lines at polling booths in the future.

The National Electoral Council of Venezuela (CNE) “has achieved credibility, efficient and transparent processes, and as a consequence of this, Venezuela has new legitimate authorities,” said Joaquin Vives, an observer from Colombia’s CNE, during a press conference Monday evening.

The well-audited electoral machinery makes the Venezuelan electoral process “a pioneer in the world, leading the way down the correct path,” said the Colombian delegate.

Vives also expressed admiration for the electoral spirit of the Venezuelan people. “Many things dazzled us about the process that the Venezuelan people lived [Sunday], especially its attitude. We observed voters who were willing, decided, patient, and in their great majority respectful and with great desire to construct democracy in Venezuela,” he said.

[…]

An observer from the United States, Anthony Gonzalez, pointed out that the voting centers were well equipped and well secured by the National Guard, and that by having election day on the weekend, Venezuela facilitated working class suffrage.

Gonzalez expressed concern about long lines at voting stations, but expressed confidence that the CNE “has the capacity to respond effectively” by opening more voting stations in the future. He also suggested keeping more voting machines on reserve at each center.

Costa Rican activist María Elena Salazar Alvarado said she observed the Venezuelan electoral process to be “beautiful, participative, of which all Latin Americans should feel proud.” Salazar added that she plans to share her experience with social movements in her country.

Salazar was “filled with emotion” upon observing the participation of indigenous communities in the elections of the eastern Anzoategui state, where “women and men walked with enthusiasm from far away zones. They participated happily and expressed their satisfaction because now they are indeed taken into account,” she said.

An observer from the US, praising “working-class suffrage” in Venezuela? Whoa nelly, that’s commie talk! What next? Will the Russians be coming?

Too late; they’re already here. And, more unnerving, Chavecito’s not the only one welcoming them; El Ecuadorable and Lula are both all hail-fellow-well-met with Dimitri Medvedev. (What? Brazil isn’t scared of the Russian navy? Nope. Clicky da linky, ye unbelievers.)

After all this, I think El Ec might just want to rethink his original decision not to join the ALBA. It’s clearly the coolest party on the block.