The Populists Retreat.(World Affairs; LATIN AMERICA)(left-leaning Latin American presidents)

Byline: Joseph Contreras

Why Latin America's firebrands are softening their rhetoric--and emboldening the opposition.

A rather chastened Hugo Chavez recently addressed his fellow Venezuelans on his weekly television program, "Alo Presidente." "I'm obliged to apply the brakes," said Chavez, referring to the pace of political and economic change the country should expect this year, after voters rejected a government-backed package of constitutional reforms in December. Soon after, his Bolivian ally Evo Morales made conciliatory gestures of his own, opening unity talks two weeks ago with provincial governors from opposition parties. "Let's work together to resolve our differences," said the Bolivian president.

What's going on? Chavez and Morales are two of the Latin American left's leading demagogues, known for their pugnaciousness and their willingness to throw vitriol at all enemies, real or imagined. Yet they have significantly toned down their rhetoric, coming to the realization, it seems, that bitter words don't get things done. "These are majoritarian populists who strongly believe they represent the people and that the people are on their side," says Arturo Valenzuela, director of Georgetown University's Center for Latin American Studies. "But they've found that governing is more complicated than that, and there's a sense of realism that's setting in."

Indeed, running a country takes more than fiery speechmaking. In Nicaragua, President Daniel Ortega has had so few accomplishments after his first full year in office that he skipped the traditional state-of-the-union address. His poll numbers reflect that dismal performance. Between April and December, his disapproval rating jumped 18 points to 54.6 percent.

In Bolivia, Morales swept into office two years ago promising to take back control of the country's energy resources and become George W. Bush's "worst nightmare." But his campaign to nationalize Bolivia's natural-gas and oil resources amounted to little more than tax hikes on foreign energy companies operating there. His attempt late last year to ram through a new constitution that would give him greater powers galvanized political rivals. Bloody clashes broke out between police and protesters, spooking many in a country where spasms of violent unrest have toppled ...