Biggest challenge yet: Chavez's socialist rule at risk as Venezuelans vote

NBC News ^ | October 7, 2012 | NBC Wires

[Cincinatus' Wife]

CARACAS - Venezuelans vote on Sunday with President Hugo Chavez facing the biggest electoral challenge yet to his socialist rule from a young rival tapping into discontent over crime and cronyism.

The vote pitting Chavez against challenger Henrique Capriles is an all-or-nothing contest between two camps that deeply distrust each other and question whether the other side will respect the results of the election.

The stakes couldn't be higher.

If Chavez wins, he will have a free hand to dominate Venezuela for six more years on top of the 14 years he has already been in office, letting him push for an even bigger state role in the economy and cement his legacy.

If Capriles wins, it will likely mean an abrupt shift in foreign policy, an eventual loosening of state economic controls and an increase in private investment -- though a tense transition would likely follow until the inauguration in January......

....Another big task would be to figure out the real level of state finances. Last month, a Reuters investigation found that half of public investment went into a secretive off-budget fund controlled by Chavez and had no oversight by Congress.

The president has denounced his foes as traitors and told voters they plan to cancel his signature social "missions," which range from subsidized food stores to programs that build houses and pay cash stipends to poor women with children.

Tens of thousands of new homes have been handed over this year, often to tearful Chavez supporters at televised events.

Voting runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET), although polls will stay open later if there are lines.

Results are due any time starting late on Sunday evening....

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Most every story I read highlights that people own guns, that tensions are high ["vowing to defend their vote"] and that the military is very loyal to Chavez and if the election ousts Chavez their reaction is in question [a purge of "disloyal" government employees and military members went a long way toward getting their heads straight].

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Venezuela election result set to upset global oil politics "While giant rallies in Caracas may be drawing the world's attention ahead of tomorrow's Venezuelan presidential election, the global significance of the vote can be found hundreds of miles to the east in the oil-soaked Orinoco Belt.

According to studies, Venezuela has overtaken Saudi Arabia to become number one in the world for proven oil reserves, largely thanks to the heavy crude found in this vast alluvial plain.

Whether this multi-trillion dollar asset is controlled by Hugo Chávez or the opposition challenger, Henrique Capriles, will influence which countries and companies are given the priority to exploit them and how much drivers around the world pay at the pump. According to a report this year by BP, Venezuela has reserves of 296.5bn barrels, about 10% more than Saudi Arabia and 18% of the global total. At the country's current levels of production, this would last about 100 years.

If Chávez wins – as most polls suggest – he has promised to ramp up production and reduce his country's dependence on the US market by doubling crude exports to Asia. To further this goal, Venezuela plans to build a pipeline through Colombia to the Pacific which would reduce costs and transport times to China and other Asian markets.

Capriles, who has mounted a strong challenge, says he would fire the oil minister, Rafael Ramírez, and rethink how crude is extracted and used. Until now Russian and Chinese companies have struck the biggest deals for future exploitation................"

[Cincinatus' Wife]

"................The fears have fueled sporadic violence. Little has been lethal, but two Capriles supporters were shot dead last weekend in the president's home state of Barinas, and some blamed Chavez supporters.

Two days ahead of voting, [Ivana] Villamizar echoed a widespread feeling that the race is so close that the election will be decided by a large pool of voters, perhaps 10 percent, making up their mind in the voting booth.

Opinion polls have varied widely and are largely considered unreliable, so intuition is getting a workout.

"There are so many Chavistas, so many people who live in this barrio ... who are public employees and have been obliged to attend government rallies," she said. "But when it comes to the moment of truth are not going to vote for Chavez," she added.

"And there are others who will do the opposite."

Villamizar said she had no idea what would happen Sunday......." - Source

[jmaroneps37]

The last time this skunk was this close to “losing” two polls showed him down 2 to 1 going into Election Day. Hugo won by almost 2 to 1! That scumbag jimmy carter declared the election to be honest and the suckers were told to go home and celebrate (or else).

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Yeah.

Jimmy Carter likes “strong men” like Chavez and Castro and Ortega and Mugabe and Obama in power.

[ETL]

Reuters, Sept 30, 2012

Chavez to Obama: I’d vote for you, and you for me:
http://news.yahoo.com/chavez-obama-id-vote-174358217.html

[ETL]

President Obama and Venezuela dictator Hugo
Chavez at the 2009 Summit of the Americas in Trinidad.
Note the "soul bro" handshake. (my caption)

Obama, Chavez shake hands at Americas Summit:
http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2009/04/17/2698451-obama-chavez-shake-hands-at-americas-summit
______________________________________________________________

From CBS-News, July 29, 2006:

Chavez Vows To 'Stand By Iran'
After Oil Talks In Tehran, Venezuelan Leader Called 'Brother' By Ahmedinejad

"Chavez pledged that his country would 'stay by Iran at any time and under any condition,' state television reported. Ahmadinejad said he saw in Chavez a kindred spirit." "'We do not have any limitation in cooperation,' Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying. 'Iran and Venezuela are next to each other and supporters of each other. Chavez is a source of a progressive and revolutionary current in South America and his stance in restricting imperialism is tangible.'":
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/29/world/main1847331.shtml

[ETL]

CARACAS (Reuters) - With both presidents facing tight re-election fights, Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez gave a surprise endorsement to Barack Obama on Sunday - and said the U.S. leader no doubt felt the same.

“I hope this doesn’t harm Obama, but if I was from the United States, I’d vote for Obama,” the socialist Chavez said

http://news.yahoo.com/chavez-obama-id-vote-174358217.html

[bert]

The article did not note that Chavez is likely dieing and not long for this earth. The question is should I vote for a man near death or for the future?

[ETL]

The question is should I vote for a man near death or for the future?

A vote for Chavez (or Obama) is a vote for death to the future.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

“That scumbag jimmy carter declared the election to be honest and the suckers were told to go home and celebrate (or else).”

This is exactly what one can expect from the left. They don’t care how much cheating and vote fraud occurs, as long as they can declare an ‘honest’ election victory and stay in power.

[Unam Sanctam]

Let’s hope the challenger wins and Chavez respects the results, like the Sandinistas did the first time. However, I don’t trust that slimy b*****d a millimeter.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Word also is that even if Henrique Capriles “loses,” yet holds his coalition together, when Chavez kicks the bucket, elections must be called in 30 days and he’ll be in a good position.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/10/03/3033066/win-or-lose-capriles-may-win-in.html

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

jmaroneps37 ~ “ The last time this skunk was this close to “losing” two polls showed him down 2 to 1 going into Election Day. Hugo won by almost 2 to 1!...”

Elections are not determined by the number of votes cast for a candidate ; most foreign elections are determined by WHO is counting the votes !!