Posted on 12/18/2004 6:22:34 AM PST by Kitten Festival
In 1992, Lt. Col. Hugo Chavez learned the hard way that a military coup was the wrong way to seize power when his attempt to rule Venezuela fizzled, landing him in jail. Seven years later, Chavez "converted" to democracy, and his fortune changed. He won the presidency.
Since then, Chavez and his cronies have been busy converting Venezuela's nascent democracy into a dictatorship. While paying lip service to democratic values, they have gradually been stripping Venezuelans of their basic rights and freedoms. The protests of other governments and of human rights organizations, meanwhile, have fallen on deaf ears.
Before winning an August referendum on his rule, Chavez promised to mend his authoritarian ways. If anything, his triumph seems to have emboldened him. Exercising his control over the National Assembly, Chavez is systematically clamping down on democratic freedoms.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Since then, Chavez and his cronies have been busy converting Venezuela's nascent democracy into a dictatorship. While paying lip service to democratic values, they have gradually been stripping Venezuelans of their basic rights and freedoms. The protests of other governments and of human rights organizations, meanwhile, have fallen on deaf ears.
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Sounds like most Latin American countries.
Chavez should stay away from Cuba if he wants to stay President.
I bet the RATS are watching this guy for hints on how they can regain power in America. After all, they both share the same core beliefs.
Not really true. Some of them were like that in the 1970s, but they've never seen this bad on this continent. This Chavez guy is an absolute criminal and killer, all sanctified by Jimmah Cotta the dictator's friend. He's not just dodgy like the other ones, he's plain flat out evil. And he wishes us ill.
If swearing were allowed on this board, I'd say.
F ing Jimmy Carter. Is there anything he hasn't totally f ed up in the last 30 years since he became President.
Chavez's biggest mistake is to stand with Cuba. The US would prefer a stable Venezuela with any president but not when they are freindly with Cuba.
He needs to spout less rhetoric and take a look at the real-politik involved. Why piss off the US anymore?
The Venezuelans have had President after President that has done nothing to for the chronic poor.
The people in the slums like Chavez as he actually does things for them. They get doctors, the kids get meals in schools, every household gets a collection of classic literature.
Don't blame Chavez for taking what was on offer. If the elite had actually done anything for their country then they would not be in this position.
Hmmmmm, lets see,
#1 Tries to take power in a putsch.
#2.Takes power democratically.
#3.Converts office to dictatorship.
Yep, sounds familiar.
This is baloney. If you would bother to read the Venezuelan blogs, which you don't, you would hear from nurses in public hospitals in Venezuela, talking about how their hospitals are out of supplies and can't give proper care any more because Chavez has stolen all their funds and given it to CUBAN, repeat, CUBAN doctors, who are not there to be doctors. These Cuban doctors can give out bandaids and certainly make housecalls (the better to see what's inside your house) but if you need cancer surgery, well too bad, the hospital that would have treated you, free, pre-Chavez, is now out of supplies and money. This is very sick stuff going on. Chavez has defunded the real medical centers that help people, free of charge, and forked it over to Castro for god knows what. Net result, no medical care, lots of spies. You ought to get more informed about this communist descent in this beleaguered country.
Zackly. And take a look at some of his arm gestures.
http://www.missouri.edu/~quinnl/MVR/report.html
Nope.
Chavez has popular support. He was democratically elected, even the Whitehouse will admit this.
Chavez does not give money to Cuba he gives Oil in exchange for Doctors.
I sense hypocracy over this. When Chavez was taken out by a coup without the support of the majority of hte country that was good.
When Chavez grants and wins a recall referendum that is bad.
Chavez WON fairly. You will be lucky to find a Government that claims these elections were fraudulent. The only people complaining are the ones with the must to lose, the very people that have been screwing the poor of venezuela for decades.
Wrong - the White House has NEVER said they accept the Carter endorsement. This is a fact. Go to the State Dept Web site and see if you can see any endorsement at all. All that Powell has acknowledged since the fraudulent recall referendum is that Chavez is still in power - a simple recognition of reality. The State Dept said they would withold judgment until they get Carter's word but the fact is, they have witheld judgment SINCE getting Carter's word, knowing full well how bad it is.
His support is NOT Democratically elected. It is pure fraud. And everything since then is pure fraud., I sense we have a chavista flame troll on this Web site.
I sense we have a chavista flame troll on this Web site.
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No. We simply have someone that does not agree with you.
Simple fact poor people will vote for the person that actually does things for them.
The Coup was fradulent. The Referendum was not.
Your view is very much that of an outlier. You are spouting chavista propaganda, the kind that Global Exchange/Code Pink have written up themselves.
The recall referendum was a total fraud. The poor do NOT support Chavez - Take a look at these so-called 'oligarchs' here - http://www.salonchingon.com/exhibits/caracas2004/source/opp-march-bests-14.html
Photos don't lie. The only people who support chavez are communist block committees who are stealing venezuela blind and oppressing the nonblock committee members. It's all about corruption these days. The communists intend to steal venezuela blind and spirit it all off to Miami. Venezuela's poverty rate has shot up 80% since Chavez took power. The Venezuelan middle class is no more. The poor have gotten poorer. 7000 businesses have been driven under by Chavez. People are getting their land stolen. Only the communist elite have gotten rich now. The poor do not support Hugo Chavez. Only the communist bureaucrats with their hands in the till do.
The photos were interesting but do certainly not reinforce your point:
On the streets it is clear that a large portion of the public, probably 30-40%, are convinced the election was fixed. In upscale Altamira, three motorcyclists dressed in Chavista garb scuffle with these opposition protesters and fire into the crowd, killing one woman and injuring 7.
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So this means 60 - 70% do not think there was a a fraud!
More quotes from your link:
The majority of Caracas' 5 million people live in barrios resting on the hills surrounding the city center. They are diverse communities, but they share one thing in common: they have been wholly ignored by previous governments, leading to overwhelming poverty and disillusion.
Within the past year, the fruits of the process have appeared in every barrio. The referendum demonstrated to outsiders what people in the barrios have known for months: there has been a profound social awakening here, energizing a well-organized grass-roots movement that is aided by the government. Among other accomplishments, these community organizations brought out the vote like never before.
On a Saturday afternoon in La Vega, classrooms are packed with women of all ages returning to school, seeking higher degrees thanks to Mission Ribas.
In order for families to get titles to their land and homes, their barrios need to be mapped, so land committees have formed in each barrio, undertaking the massive task of mapping millions of "unregistered" homes. Instead of relying on well-paid specialists to carry out the daily work of organizing these programs, people in the barrios form committees, set their agenda, and petition the government.
Virginia del Carmen Sequera who has lived in 23 de Enero for more than 40 years, happily shows her new property title. With this document she was able to attain government micro-credits with zero interest, to build a bathroom and kitchen.
Invading one of the US major oil suppliers in this time of instability in the market and high prices would not happen.
A coup would be on the tables but at the moment there is enough going on in the world without this to deal with.
I believe that the US just wants stability and are willing to sit this one out.
Also Clinton was not my president and there was lots of protest to Bosnia and Kosovo.
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