Why Chavez won't allow it - U.S pollsters: Venezuelan president could lose recall referendum

[Cincinatus' Wife]

CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuela's Hugo Chavez could lose a referendum to demand he step down if it were held today, a survey by U.S. pollsters suggests.

Sixty percent of those surveyed said they would vote against Chavez in such a recall referendum, while 38 percent would support him, according to the poll by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and Public Opinion Strategies.

Two percent said they were undecided, according to the poll published Wednesday by the Caracas newspaper El Universal. The door-to-door survey of 1,000 adults was conducted Feb. 21-28 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.

Venezuela's opposition is seeking a referendum on Chavez's presidency halfway into his six-year term, or in August.

The constitution allows such a vote. But for it to succeed, more people must vote against Chavez than Chavez received in his 2000 re-election, or 3.8 million votes.

Venezuela has more than 11 million registered voters.

Opponents say they have collected more than the 2.5 million signatures required to petition for the referendum. The government says the signatures are invalid because a petition drive can begin only after the midway point of Chavez's term, or Aug. 19.

Chavez's popularity ratings have plunged amid constant political and economic turmoil. But they are among the highest for Latin American leaders.

Chavez has said he would accept a referendum but is demanding that he be allowed to run in a new election if he loses. Recent local polls suggest he could win another election because the opposition cannot agree on a single candidate.

A two-month general strike seeking Chavez's ouster fizzled in February. The Organization of American States is brokering talks on a possible referendum.

Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and Public Opinion Strategies have been employed by the U.S. Democratic and Republican parties, respectively.

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On the Net:

Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research Inc.:

www.greenbergresearch.com

Public Opinion Strategies: www.pos.org

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Chavez blocked the non-binding referendum. He can't handle the truth.

Hugo Chavez - Venezuela

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Chavez sympathizers create "Anti-imperialism" movement -"Hey, Hey! Saddam is here to stay!" *** CARACAS, Venezuela - Several organizations affiliated with President Hugo Chavez's government have created an "anti-imperialist" movement to protest the war against Iraq, which they consider part of a U.S. effort to colonize the world.

"Iraq! Hold on! The world is rising up!" dozens of Chavez sympathizers chanted in a Caracas auditorium during the inauguration of the "Anti-imperialist Front of Solidarity with Iraq" on Wednesday night. Speakers denounced the attack on Iraq, and some expressed fears that Venezuela would be next. U.S. Ambassador Charles Shapiro has dismissed such a notion.***

[Egregious Philbin]

Chavez blocked the non-binding referendum. He can't handle the truth.

That's an impressive collection of articles. I've heard that Chavez' detractors can't handle the truth either. He was democratically elected. I find it strange that we bring democracy to some countries while stifling it in others...

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I think we've found our stride.

[billbears]

He can't handle the truth.

So what if he can't handle the truth? It's none of the business of these United States

[MattinNJ]

Actually, according to the Monroe Doctrine it is our business. Although it won't happen, Chavez and Castro should be next on our list.

[billbears]

Actually, according to the Monroe Doctrine it is our business

Hmmmm, perhaps you could look through the Monroe Doctrine and find where it states this argument. The Monroe Doctrine was orginally intended to protect the Western Hemisphere from Europe, not the states from themselves

Although it won't happen, Chavez and Castro should be next on our list.

LOL!! The neocon line now on in our own hemisphere. How fantastic. Tell me, when we get rid of these dictators, who are we going to put in next, and how long before they turn against the hand that feeds them, as Castro did?

[JohnnyZ]

Chavez is trying to destroy democracy in Venezuela and supporting terrorism. Take 'im out and bring Venezuela back to the good old days of 5 years ago.

[MattinNJ]

We both know what the intent of the Monroe Doctrine was. I think it would apply to a communist takeover of a major exporter of our oil.

who are we going to put in next

Pinochet did a phenomenal job after we showed Allende the error of his ways.

[Egregious Philbin]

Chavez is trying to destroy democracy in Venezuela and supporting terrorism.

Chavez was democratically elected!

[Simmy]

True. But so what? He is destroying that very Democracy that put him in power. He changed the constitution, put in judges that side with him, and removed any opposition leader that he considered to be a "threat" to his power. If say, President Clinton tried to do the same thing, think people would just sit around and let the dictator continue to rule? I don't think so.

Also, this referendum, all it is asking is for a new election if I'm not mistakened. Not removal of Chavez (though that may be the ultimate goal, Chavez would still have a chance to stay if the vote were to say, go his way [hopefully without corruption]). What is wrong with that? Can't that be considered a part of the Democratic process?

BTW, what has the US done in Venezuala anyways? The only thing that the US remotely did was "maybe" support the failed coup to remove Chavez. After that, the US has pretty much stayed out of Venezuala, other then a few critism here and there.

[billbears]

Chavez is trying to destroy democracy in Venezuela and supporting terrorism.

Worldwide or just within the borders of Venezuela? Wait, what am I thinking?!? It doesn't matter!! Give our government (you remember the group that always tells the truth ;) ) enough time and they'll have Chavez trumped up for participating in every terrorist activity for the past 30 years

Take 'im out and bring Venezuela back to the good old days of 5 years ago.

Put in our form of government eh? So instead of protecting the Western Hemisphere from European thought and allowing the rest of the hemisphere to decide what is best within the borders of their nations, we as a nation of states enforce to the Southern Hemisphere what these United States think are best for them?

That's logical < /sarcasm>

[billbears]

I think it would apply to a communist takeover of a major exporter of our oil.

There we go!!! If the neocon argument fails based on fact, we can always bring in the 'communist' facet. Word of note, Frum and the National Review lackeys have left communism out in the cold. They're using terrorism as the code word for their Wilsonian foreign policy excuse now.

[JohnnyZ]

Umm . . . put in Venezuela's form of government. Chavez is trying to turn them socialist. Venezuela is the oldest, or one of the oldest, South American democracies. Clearly their people do not agree with Chavez' extremist anti-democratic ways.

[Egregious Philbin]

I just think we need to be careful about saying who is destroying democracy and who isn't. Supporting a coup is a bad thing for us to be doing. Coups are not democratically elected.

[JohnnyZ]

Chavez was democratically elected!

So was Al Gore; we're just holding Venezuela to the US standard. What's that Dubya says about the soft bigotry of low expectations?

[billbears]

we're just holding Venezuela to the US standard

Why? Is Venezuela part of these US now? Why don't you point to me somewhere in the Constitution or the Monroe Doctrine that this is any of our business

[JohnnyZ]

Fares for the regime change bus are quite low.

Hop on! It's fun!

[Contra]

Chavez may allow the referendum, but through vote fraud, will "win" the election. And Jimmy Carter can be a judge and declare everything to be on the up and up. And then Carter can will another Nobel Peace Prize for his tireless efforts for peace.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

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