Hugo hosts soccer Copa America and disses U.S. & all other unfriendlies

[UTUSN]

This is all I find to back up my claim. I was TOLD in a NON-verifiable setting that Hugo is the host of this event, similar to 1936, and that he refused to greet ALL the nations, only greeted Bolivia and his own, that U.S. visitants arrived and were barred from the stadium.

I am RELAYING what I was told. I could not verify this through links. But here is the ever CHARISMATIC Hugo for the benefit of his admirers.


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http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2007/junio/mier27/chavez-and-Evo.html

Chávez and Evo preside over inauguration of Copa América

From yesterday to July 15 approximately, the whole of Venezuela will vibrate to the rhythm of soccer. “For Bolívar,” confirmed Chávez in his speech of welcome to the 12 competing teams, “the homeland is America; today, for us, the Cup is America.”

With these words, the passion for soccer of a whole nation was unleashed. The modest but beautiful inaugural ceremony celebrated the traditional Venezuelan songs and dances of hundreds of men and women who have worked extremely hard over the last two years so that today the country has nine excellent stadiums (some newly constructed, others expanded and remodeled) in the nine host cities where they are realizing the dream of organizing the 91-year-old Copa América for the first time in this South American country.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-23401981-details/Copa%20America%20Blog,%20June%2024:%20Football%20takes%20centre%20stage%20after%20scandal,%20mud-slinging%20and%20threats/article.do

The ever-charismatic Chavez has got so carried away as to warn his Brazilian counterpart that the country who created Pele, Romario, Ronaldinho and Co, had better beware Venezuela, who have won only won match in the long history of the Copa America.

"We will not be the Cinderella team as usual," Chavez told President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Holding the tournament here is like taking the World Cup to the United States. Venezuela – a land of oil wealth, beauty queens and baseball – is the only country in South America where football is not king, which is perhaps reflected in their FIFA world ranking of 70 and a reputation as the region's whipping boys.

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[blitzen]

1. He was referring to Simon Bolivar's political ideas, not to Bolivia

[UTUSN]

2. I'm always wrong. n/t

[Name removed]

3. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[UTUSN]

4. I *knew* I could find a place for these quotes!!1 Thank ZEUS I found it!!1

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http://www.sdgallery.com/catalogs/bryan/2004/

Bread and Circus originates from the Roman satirist Juvenal. The idea was that as long as the common people were supplied with plenty of bread and entertainment, then there would not be too much trouble for the ruling class. They could go about their business as they pleased without much scrutiny or interference. Juvenal’s stance was that since life in Rome had become so corrupt and decadent that the only valid form of art was satire.

http://www.periclespress.com/Rome.html

The cost of participation
What does the bloodletting in the Colosseum say about Roman political leadership? - very little that is flattering. It suggests that Roman politicians were currying favor with the masses by appealing to their basest instincts. Unable to provide effective leadership, they were able to stay one step ahead of the crowd only by distracting it with grotesque spectacles. The Emperors, rather than leading the masses, chose instead to appease the mob. Insofar as the mob seemed to grow more bloodthirsty, perhaps that had to do with the lack of action. Denied the experience of actual combat, the mob could only feel the exhilaration of battle by watching others engaged in the most extreme actions in the arena. ....

The problem for Rome was not an unusually cruel personality trait harbored by the Roman plebs. It was instead an inability to solve underlying social and economic problems. Romans were forced to live under conditions of hardship. They were crowded together, could not find work, had trouble finding food, and had little hope of escape. The leadership was sitting on a powder keg, which, while never quite exploding, never disappeared either. Before the circuses the Roman masses found an outlet for their frustrations as members of rival gangs which sprang up throughout the city. Unemployed toughs roamed the streets hunting rival gangs. The authorities either would not or could not control things. ....

http://www.thomasjamesmartin.com/breadcircus.htm

.... Those scornful words "bread and circuses," panem et circenses in Latin, become more meaningful when you understand that Roman citizens became increasingly addicted to free distributions of food and the violent gladiatorial and other contests held in the Coliseum and the chariot races of the Circus Maximus. He felt that Romans had lost the capacity to govern themselves so distracted by mindless self-gratification had they become. ....

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[WinkyDink]

5. Well, the U.S. has worked mightily to "diss" President Chavez. As well as possibly overthrow.

[UTUSN]

6. He's a pResident as much as Shrub is, in MY book!!1 n/t

[LittleClarkie]

11. And his supporters are about as much fun.

He's like the Bush of the left. But as long as he's on the left, his antics are just spiffy, apparently.

[UTUSN]

13. Thanks, LC, I'm not used to being supported!!1 n/t

[UTUSN]

7. Just for Hugo-ites!!1

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http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N26353270.htm

Venezuela's Chavez seen wanting office "for life"
27 Jun 2007 18:03:43 GMT
Source: Reuters

.... "He has been acting increasingly messianic and so he is likely to either get the constitution rewritten to allow for additional terms or eventually declare himself president-for-life."

Post portrays Chavez as "a masterful political gamesman" who knows that his popularity largely rests on being seen as a strong leader who takes on the United States, the Venezuelan elite and a host of other perceived enemies -- often with public insults that are rarely used by other leaders.

"To keep his followers engaged, he must continue outrageous and inflammatory attacks," Post said. ....

But in the wake of one of his worst diplomatic defeats, the failure of a protracted and cHostly lobbying campaign to win a seat for Venezuela on the United Nations Security Council, Chavez was so despondent that he stayed away from an Ibero-American summit meeting in Uruguay. "My colleagues don't like me," he complained. ....

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[1932]

8. It's reassuring that the hugo-nots criticisms make no sense.

[UTUSN]

9. HAH!!1 n/t

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[UTUSN]

12. You ASSUME. And, YES!!1 I am certainly CONNECTED to the CIA!!1 n/t

[LittleClarkie]

16. Celestial Intervention Agency?

I watch too much Dr. Who.

[Big Pappa]

14. What?

I hope you are not around sharp objects.

[LittleClarkie]

15. Well you know what they say

Ass-u-me, and all that.