VENEZUELA: Congratulations, President Chavez.

[Cascadian]

I would also like to congratulate the people of Venezuela for continuing to choose an independent and progressive line. Some people think Hugo Chavez is this communist bogeyman who is turning Venezuela into a communist dictatorship like Cuba. From all I have read, this is hardly the case. The only thing he has done is reduce illiteracy and raise the living standards of Venezuela's poor. Chavez is at best a Democratic Socialist/Populist and not a Communist. I think the only reason he pals around with America's enemies like Fidel Castro and Amedinjad in Iran is because he knows it ticks off the Bushista Neocons in Washington. He wants to show how independent he is. Chavez cannot be bought by the Bushistas,

VIVA CHAVEZ VIVA VENEZUELA!


John

[napi21]

1. Ithink I like Hugo because he's so honest about Shrub!

He doesn't pull any punches, and calls him the liar that he is. Idon't really know how he is at governing Venezuela, but if he won by such a big margin, I guess the people like him and what he's been doing.

[Cascadian]

2. If only some of our Democratic lawmakers could be so straight up.

n/t

[Kelly Rupert]

17. So basically,

for all you know, he could be a tyrannical dictator holding sham Saddam-esque elections, and you'd still like him because he called Bush "the Devil?" Do you like Ahmadinejad, that other fairly-elected Bush enemy?

Chavez isn't a tyrant, of course, and isn't comparable to Ahmadinejad. But it would probably be more responsible to base your opinion of a leader on their commitment to responsible, democratic governance, rather than the sharpness of their rhetoric.

[napi21]

20. Oh, I don't knowabout that. Lots of people make the hit parade here on DU

because every so often they have the spine to openly critize the Prez. I think because so few people ever do openly speak the truth about Shrub, we tend to really like the few who do.

[Horse with no Name]

25. All I know is what I need to know

Jimmy Carter certified the last Venezuelan elections and declared it legit.
I trust that man with all I have.
If he said it was on the up-and-up, then it was.
The obvious will of the Venezuelan people is being carried out. However, the will of the Venezuelan elite is probably not. Rich people aren't generally open to losing their oil revenues or the poor not having to scrounge beneath their feet for their crumbs.
I am sure everything Hugo does isn't the greatest, but what is ever ALWAYS the greatest?
It's a tradeoff I would guess.

[bobbie]

3. Is it official? I hope so, this is just the info I popped in to check on.

Never occured to me to look at a news site. :)

[Cascadian]

4. Here is a link....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6205128.stm

It is official. Chavez has won.


John

[bobbie]

32. Thanks very much Cascadian

And a beautiful link it is.

[LibertyorDeath]

5. This is why the Corporatist's hate him so much

"He channeled oil profits toward multi billion-dollar programs for the poor including subsidized food, free university education and cash benefits for single mothers."

VIVA CHAVEZ VIVA VENEZUELA!

"Long live the socialist revolution! Destiny has been written," Chavez shouted to thousands of flag-waving supporters wearing red shirts and braving a pouring rain.

"That new era has begun," he said, raising a hand in the air. "We have shown that Venezuela is red! ... No one should fear socialism ... Socialism is human. Socialism is love," Chavez said. "Down with imperialism! We need a new world!"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061204/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/venezuela_election

[John Q. Citizen]

6. I like him because he knows America's enemies aren't the enemies of

the American people, just our elite ruling class. Like Fidel Castro, for instance.

Heck we were all good buddies up until our elites tried to tell him to bend over 'cause they're driving.

And Chavez knows that for all the talk about Iran being our enemies that our elites will ship TOW missiles to the Ayatollah in a New York minute. He doesn't fall for that jive.

Chavez knows that today's arms recipients and CIA drug suppliers are tomorrows Hitlers. It all a big word game to our elites.

[Pastiche423]

7. Congratulations, President Chavez!

This year is ending on a good note.

[Hieronymus]

8. Yes, it's great news..

no doubt, Bush is apoplectic.:party:

[malaise]

9. Viva Chavez

People first!

[Disturbed]

10. I hope he doesn't get assasinated like most

Central and South American leaders that lean left have been.

[malaise]

11. Not recently

Neo-liberalism and globalization have been rejected by most of Latin America. South American people were the first victims of these evil policies and the policies of the American puppet dictators have long been exposed.

[1932]

18. If Chavez were assassinated, it would solidify the anti-neoliberal sentiment in

South America and, possibly, around the world for 25-50 years, I would bet.

[roody]

12. Yo amo a Hugo.

[originalpckelly]

13. WOOHOO! Can't wait until he takes those term limits away!

I want him around for life!

:bounce:

[Cascadian]

14. Do I detect a bit of sarcasm? n/t

[originalpckelly]

15. Why surely not!

VIVA CHAVEZ! VIVA CASTRO! VIVA PAPER TOWELS! VIVA SOFT AND ABSORBENT! VIVA BY KLEENEX!

[Cascadian]

16. Yeah. Just as I thought.

It's :sarcasm:. Obviously from no friend of Democratic Socialism. ;)


John

[originalpckelly]

19. Well, we Democratic Capitalists...

don't like corporations much either. Why doesn't Chavez give everyone in Venezuela a voting share in the oil companies? That would be a real democratic reform. But he doesn't want to do something like that, he wants to control the oil. Just like all the people at the big oil companies in America.

[wuushew]

22. How exactly would you manage 25 million stock voters?

What would be the mechanisms for issuing stock to new births or determining ownership of shares after a citizen dies?

Additionally if the citizenry decides to dictate high levels of dividends to be paid out this is in no way superior to the government directly spending oil revenue. Chavez specifically allocates funds for helping the poor. If everyone got the same dividend amount, wealth would simply accumulate as it always has in the hands of fewer and fewer people.

I imagine financial instruments to buy out shares of stock would exist, perhaps analogous to the way members of the Continental Army were screwed out of their government bonds by shrewd investors in the aftermath of the Revolutionary war.

[nolabels]

30. In a large trust fund (also known as a national government)

Viva the peoples revolution in the hostile takeover of the inhumane corrupt multinational corporate governance :woohoo:

[Jcrowley]

24. Pat Robertson Agrees

Viva Chavez who stands with the poor not the capitalist.

[ShaneGR]

21. Democratic Socialism is not President for life... nt

[Cascadian]

27. Where does it say Chavez wants to be President for life?

Do you have any sources you would like to cite? And when is it so wrong to help your poor countrymen out? It would be nice to see such a leader and government here.

John

[rman]

23. No president for life with *extended* term limits

(rather than no term limits) - and only if and when the opposition boycotts the elections.

Next time, tell the whole story, not just the part that suits your agenda.

[warrens]

26. Imagine, keeping campaign promises

We might be seeing a Latin American legend in the making, but one with a lot more power than Fidel or Peron or anyone else in the region's history. He could transform the entire region.

[Cascadian]

28. It's not just Chavez.

You have great leaders of vision coming out of Latin America. It's a new day for our neighbors. With people like Lula of Brazil, Kirchner of Argentina, Morales in Bolivia, and Bachelet of Chile. All of whom won outright because the people wanted change and change they are getting and for the better. I will even go so far as to include Obrador in Mexico. In my opinion the legitimate President of Mexico.

When will some people realize that Latin America is no longer economic colonies of the US and the multinationals? They tried so-called "free" trade and it failed miserably. Wake up you "laissez faire" Democrats. Catering to the corporatists no longer washes with more and more people. The spirit of WTO in Seattle lives!


John

[Greyhound]

29. K & R

:kick:

[Cascadian]

31. Where does it say Chavez wants to be president for life?

I keep hearing this and reading this. Where does it say Chavez wants to be President for life?


John