Posted on 12/01/2007 3:36:25 AM PST by america4vr
CARACAS, Venezuela — After nine years amassing power and stirring socialist movements across the hemisphere, President Hugo Chavez is finding that even his hero, South American liberator Simon Bolivar, seems to want to rein him in.
Bolivar's own words are being employed by Chavez opponents to attack a referendum Sunday through which the Venezuelan leader hopes to dramatically expand presidential authority in his oil-rich nation. When a leader gets too much power, "that is where usurpation and tyranny originate," Bolivar warns in banners all over town.
For the first time, the charismatic and provocative Chavez, a former army colonel, is staring at an election defeat as even longtime loyalists on the left fear that he has gone too far in proposing constitutional changes that would let presidents be re-elected for life and rule by decree in emergency situations.
His prominent ex-defense minister, retired Gen. Raul Baduel, calls the measures a "coup d'etat." One of Chavez's two ex-wives has jumped ship on him. And several lawmakers from his ruling coalition are dissenting, even though they still support "The Process," as Chavez calls his socialist platform.
"I don't like to have to vote 'no,' but I think we need to deepen our democracy. This doesn't do that," said Pastora Medina, a congresswoman and erstwhile Chavez enthusiast with the Fatherland for All party. "Sometimes the president goes too far."
Chavez's call for a "socialist revolution" across the region, while causing friction with the U.S., has resonated among poor Venezuelans. It has helped him win election three times, survive a recall and earn voter approval for a previous overhaul of the constitution. His avid supporters also took to the streets to protest a short-lived army coup against him in 2002.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
That would slow him down a little bit. Is Jimmy Carter "certifying" this one too?
The DU might jump off a bridge if that happens. Chavez is their guy. The savior of the socialist world.
Aren’t Chavez minions in charge of counting the votes?
How would you vote on the constitutional referendum?
(Likely Voters)
Yes
56%
No
40%
Undecided
4%
Source: Consultores 30.11
Methodology: Interviews with 1,600 Venezuelan adults, conducted from Nov. 21 to Nov. 27, 2007. Margin of error is 2.16 per cent.
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/pro_chvez_side_ahead_before_venezuelan_vote/
As usual, there are dueling poll results which will make it easy for Chavez to claim whatever he wants.
Exactly right. Exactly right. The vote for the constitutional changes is just window dressing to make it look it's what the people want. He's going to be their dictator from now on no matter what, and the people be damned. BTW, Hitler did the same thing after he was elected, as I recall. He just took less time to do it.
What would he be doing below a picture of a tree chopper?
I’m not sure why he’s sitting there, but it’s definitely “The Peoples’ Art” type of painting found in communist countries and is popular throughout Latin America. So, it wouldn’t be out of place in a government office at all.
To sit there for a photo, however, is almost too delicious an opportunity!
Great photo. Thanks for reminding me about Babalu ... haven’t been there for months!
Bump!
It really is a great photo. I’ve been trying to post it here for a week. Finally re-opened an old wordpress blog just to post it there for proper linkage!
BabaluBlog is better than ever.
I am a great fan of the style ... and of Latin American fine art in general. I would love to own that painting! :)
OTOH Jimmy Carter phoned it in last time without actually monitoring anything and he could do so again and probably will.
I give “Prettyboy” 3 years tops before we see his head on a pike
“Aren’t Chavez minions in charge of counting the votes?”
Didn’t Stalin say something like, “it’s not who votes that counts, it who counts the votes?”
“...even longtime loyalists on the left fear that he has gone too far in proposing constitutional changes that would let presidents be re-elected for life and rule by decree in emergency situations.”
I’d say thats a bit too far!
Hillary’s rethinking her post election plans...
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