Hugo Chavez's Opponent Manuel Rosales Catches Up in Polls (Translation)

El Universal ( Caracas ) ^ | November 19, 2006 | Staff Article ( translated by self )

[Kitten Festival]

He will just steal the election, what does he have to worry about? The photos of course make it harder in world public opinion, but somehow I think he will find a way. And Jimmah will enable. Assuming Chavez cheats, he will find himself up against a lot of angry Venezuelans and I hope they will get rid of him in their own way as they see fit.

[pctech]

Wow, if Chaves gets beat in the election and then tries to declare martial law or something to negate the elections he'll be risking a civil war down there.

Just what the doctor ordered huh?

[StJacques]

". . . This will be very interesting to watch, but until then, to keep abreast of/////wish we had emissaries there. . . ."

The European Union will have observers there -- I saw an article on this last week -- and you can bet that the Spanish will insist upon a fair rendering of a verdict. Chavez is not well-liked in Spain, even among many on the Left.

[StJacques]

". . . He will just steal the election, what does he have to worry about? . . ."

I once again refer to the article from El Universal (Caracas) I translated and posted here. The reporting makes clear that Chavez is working hard to mobilize the officials of the Venezuelan state at all levels through extensive pressure to support his reelection.

My analysis of all of that is, given the overt resort to pressure Chavez is displaying, that he cannot simply do as he chooses at this point in time. There are powerful forces arraigned against him now. Everyone in Venezuela understands this. That is why Chavez is speaking in such threatening tones to officials of the Venezuelan state. He has to check their power before he moves and right now, I don't think he's being listened to, based upon what I'm seeing.

I think the entire rest of the Venezuelan election campaign will now be centered upon the determination of whether Chavez is able to intimidate the officials of the Venezuelan state into guaranteeing his election or not. Right now, he hasn't done it. But I also think he's just getting started.

[stickywillie]

if hugo loses, does the cheap heating oil for the northeast get cut off?

[StJacques]

Kitten, I put the wrong web address in the link to my post to you just a moment ago. It's post #16 I was referring to in my earlier comments. My bad, sorry.

[StJacques]

Shoot, let's try this again.

It's my post #16.

I am not having a good night at this keyboard.

[Nancee]

"So can we agree this is one time we can all hope that polls are right?"

ABSOLUTELY!!

Nancee