Hypothetical: You are the despised leader of a government under siege during a populist revolt. What do you do?

If you have come to the point where you are despised then the only thing I would think they could do is leave the country and take out a new identity.

These leaders had plenty of time to get it right, or even try to get it right. Their citizens know that.

@tranquilsea, okay… exactly when do they make that decision? Not just any time some group gets together to protest outside the capitol. How do they know when it’s a good time to go and that the new group will have the necessary leadership abilities to keep the country going?

go to venezuela and say I’m still in the country—maybe.

Listen to the people and how they feel about what is going on in THEIR country.

I think a leader who has left it till there is blood on the streets has left it too late, and there’s no way back. No ‘correct’ way anyway…

If they can try and see the bigger picture and change their thinking, much earlier on (gage the will and mood of the people) and take action well before there is bloodshed, then possibly they would stand a much better chance of ‘clinging’ on for a bit longer…. but it’s only going to be a matter of time.

Admit defeat & run like a bitch!

I’d offer a referendum on the legitimacy of my leadership in exchange for immunity from prosecution should I lose.

The premise of the question is wrong. Once it gets bloody, you can’t preserve your power and authority unless you crack down a la Tienanmen Square. Once you have the military and the politicians on the side of the people, you can only get the hell out.

Some of the regimes nipped things off early by making concessions and/or negotiating to include the opposition. That only works early on.

Isn’t Tripoli a city in Libya?

I would GTFOASAP.

Take the money and run, take the money and run.

Retire to Prairie Chapel Ranch, Crawford, Texas