I’m not a socialist or a communist, but I could probably defend socialism/communism in the wake of the Venezuelan failure much better than most lefties I see doing it are

All I simply have to do is explain that Hugo Chavez’s moronic spending decisions (generous spending on welfare/aid programs rather than infrastructure, education and industry so that the country wouldn’t be dependent on oil export money) showcased his failings as a leader and do not actually indicate a failure in central economic planning as a whole

Of course I don’t think they’ll do this because it would mean tarnishing Chavez’s legacy and his cult of personality