The revolution will succeed when the Revolution fails.

Hugo Chavez, stinging from losing a referendum vote where he, quite concerningly, asked voters to approve a lifting of term limits on his administration, appears to be trying a new tack... removing government restrictions and actually helping people.

He now vows to tackle problems such as crime, corruption and food shortages, and has offered an amnesty to political adversaries linked to a failed 2002 coup against his rule.

 "There are practical problems that do not belong to any ideology and they have to be resolved."

Good for him. Good for Venezuela. Let's hope he keeps it up.