Venezuela's socialist president dissolves the nation's legislature. Obama nods in approval.

In disastrous Venezuela--where people are so hungry they're killing captive zoo animals for food-- a year or so ago the opposition to the socialist government won a majority in the national assembly.  The regime fought back by packing the nation's supreme court with loyalists.

The opposition majority in the assembly started a petition drive to force new elections for the presidency--which is now held by socialist and former bus driver Nicholas Maduro.  Maduro got the puppet court to declare the drive invalid.

Now--today--in a move that was utterly, absolutely predictable, Maduro got his packed court to dissolve the assembly and take over its legislative powers. 

Here's how one U.S. news site reported it:

In a surprising move the Venezuelan opposition is calling a coup, the Venezuelan Supreme Court has stripped the country's National Assembly of its powers. The court ruled that all powers vested under the legislative body will be transferred to the Supreme Court, which is stacked with government loyalists.

The ruling effectively means the three branches of the Venezuelan government will be controlled by the ruling United Socialist Party. The opposition has been taken out of the picture.

Prominent opposition leaders are already calling the government of President Nicolás Maduro "a dictatorship."

Maduro spoke about the ruling in a message broadcast live Thursday on the government's TV network.

"They're giving me and authorizing me, enabling special powers that stem out of the state of emergency clauses in our constitution. This is an order by the Supreme Court. It's a historic ruling," Maduro said.

The Supreme Court ruling says the judicial branch will execute all legislative powers that normally belong to the National Assembly, which has had an opposition majority since January 2016.

"Let it be known that, as long as the contempt situation persists and the National Assembly actions are invalidated, this constitutional court will guarantee that all parliamentary functions will be exercised by this court, or an institution designed by it, in order to safeguard the rule of law," the court wrote.

The court declared the National Assembly in contempt last year for swearing in three legislators from Amazonas state. Their elections were deemed invalid by the court.

Admittedly this report was from a site known for fake news so whether it's true is anyone's guess.  It's something called "CNN."

Over the past three years Venezuela has seen an economic meltdown. Shortages of basic food products and medicines are commonplace. Inflation is expected to rise 1,660% this year and 2,880% in 2018, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Earlier in March, data from the country's central bank revealed Maduro's government is running out of cash. Venezuela has $10.5 billion in foreign reserves left. Given that the country owes $7.2 billion in outstanding debt payments, it means Venezuela will run out of cash at some point, depending on fluctuation of oil prices.

Some reporter should ask Hilliary, Bernie and Barack Hussein if they still admire socialism.  After all, that's what Obozo wanted:  let him make or delete laws on his own authority.  Why bother with an unneeded legislature?