Chavez suffers a defeat

[TexasTiger 13,029]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8...;show_article=1

His reforms narrowly lost.

[AURaptor 1,126]

Does this upset you ?

[otterinbham 0]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8...;show_article=1

His "reforms" narrowly lost.

Fixed that for you.

[TexasTiger 13,029]

Does this upset you ?

Not in the least.

[TexasTiger 13,029]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8...;show_article=1

His "reforms" narrowly lost.

Fixed that for you.

Actually, they would have been significant reforms. However, all reforms aren't for the better. I'm surprised he didn't rig the election. Or at least not enough.

[otterinbham 0]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8...;show_article=1

His "reforms" narrowly lost.

Fixed that for you.

Actually, they would have been significant reforms. However, all reforms aren't for the better. I'm surprised he didn't rig the election. Or at least not enough.

Well, becoming Presidente for Life, the key issue in the election, isn't what I call a reform. And agreed on fixing the election, given how electoral fraud was so rampant in the last time around.

[Tigermike 3,055]

This is a start. Good for them.

[otterinbham 0]

What I don't get is how many could vote for the thug. This guy pulled a page out of the socialist handbook, started confiscating property, nationalizing industry, etc. etc., and guess what? The formerly-prosperous economy is sinking like a stone and there food shortages in what was once a food exporter.

However, I'm sure that Danny Glover or Sean Penn will fly down there soon to continue the relentless bobo honking.

[Tigermike 3,055]

There are always many who would vote for a scumbag like Hugo. Then there are those who benefit by him being in power.

Saturday morning I was talking to a friend who lived there for years and who still has family there. Saturday morning she was already anticipating the vote. She was telling me that her daughter and daughter in law had been back just two months ago and were appalled at the way things had deteriorated. They had intended to stay a month but only stayed ten days.

Even though Hugo failed with this vote don't expect him to give up and don't expect him go leave without a fight. The prisons are full of people who have spoken out and worked to get him out of power.

But if he does leave he will be rich because I think it's safe to say he has been stashing away a good deal of the oil money coming in to Venezuela. Who knows maybe he will buy a house in Hollywood and be neighbors with Danny Glover or Sean Penn.

[TigerHeat 9]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8...;show_article=1

His reforms narrowly lost.

He will leave the throne only at room temperature. There will be hell to pay for the plebes that dared deny the "progress". Kinda like the "process", but less Shula-like.

[Ranger12 46]

I would say being elected "President for Life" is a pretty big reform to their election policy.

I am also surprised this election was not rigged or maybe it was, but the opposition did a better job of rigging it, therefore countering Chavez's rig.

History has taught us that men like this get into power because at first they bring about positive changes, which is just a cover for their real plans when they have absolute power. When a country is in the crapper already, it is not hard for a power hungry man with some wealth to become the "savior" of the country.

[otterinbham 0]

I would say being elected "President for Life" is a pretty big reform to their election policy.

I am also surprised this election was not rigged or maybe it was, but the opposition did a better job of rigging it, therefore countering Chavez's rig.

History has taught us that men like this get into power because at first they bring about positive changes, which is just a cover for their real plans when they have absolute power. When a country is in the crapper already, it is not hard for a power hungry man with some wealth to become the "savior" of the country.

True. Ask any German or Italian in the late 1930s how they felt about reforms. The trains ran on time and people were employed.

[Tigermike 3,055]

An update on Hugo's response to this little set back (it was NOT a defeat).

Venezuela's Chávez defiant, despite defeat

President Hugo Chávez indicated Tuesday that he will not give up on plans to change the Constitution, even though voters rejected the idea this past Sunday.

By Daniel Cancel | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor

from the December 6, 2007 edition

Caracas, Venezuela - Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez says the time has come for "profound reflection" following his first electoral defeat in nine years at the helm Sunday night.

"Did I make a mistake in choosing the strategic moment to present [the proposal for sweeping Constitutional changes]?" Mr. Chávez asked on state television Monday. "It could be. We still aren't mature enough to adopt an openly socialist project."

But Chávez's acceptance of the results has strengthened his democratic credentials, and analysts say he'll use that to push his socialist "revolution" just as fervently as he has been.

"It is striking how quickly and shrewdly Chávez turned the defeat to his political advantage, claiming the high road and retaking the initiative," says Michael Shifter, the vice president for policy at the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington think tank. "He remains determined and resolute in pursuing his revolution, but the vote means he will encounter growing resistance, not only at home but throughout the region. The loss reveals seeds of decay that are likely to intensify over the next year or so."

Chávez's base has weakened ...

After getting nearly 3 million votes fewer than last year's presidential elections, government officials have wonder what happened to their key bases of support. Reports Tuesday showed that in Petare – one of the most densely populated slums in Latin America and normally a stronghold for Chávez – the "No" option won 62 percent while only 38 percent backed the constitutional reform.

"Chávez needs to reflect upon the proposal and his close collaborators. There must be a new sensibility when new changes are proposed, because any decision he attempts to make by force could cause serious consequences," says Carlos Luna, a political analyst and professor at the Central University of Venezuela.

But few believe the results will cause Chávez to alter his course.

Alberto Barrera, a novelist and co-author of the Chávez biography, "Chávez sin Uniforme," says the president seems unwilling to read the truth from the electoral results, showing what he calls a ¨short circuit¨ between what Chávez wants and what the people want. "President Chávez exists because the country's elite ignored and turned their backs on the will of the people, but now it seems he may be willing to do the same," he says.

Speculation has begun to mount about how and when Chávez will attempt to push some of the reforms into law, whether unilaterally by decree or through the National Assembly, which he dominates. He also controls the country's courts, most of its media, and almost all local and state governments.

His options may be limited by article 345 of the current Constitution, which prohibits a reform project defeated at the polls to be submitted again during the same presidential term.

In theory, this means the president could not push through proposals such as curbing the Central Bank's autonomy, the formalization of Venezuela as a socialist state, creating a confederation of nations with Cuba, abolishing presidential term limits, and presidential appointment of local and state authorities.

But Chávez has the power to pass any law unilaterally, until August 2008, that does not explicitly contradict the current Constitution. During that time, analysts expect him to pass such reforms as a 36-hour workweek, universal social security, and a fund for independent workers.

The National Assembly could also convoke a constitutional assembly to change the rules. Chávez supporters are likely to control the assembly until internal elections in 2010.

"It's true that during this constitutional period I've lost the right to present this reform proposal again of my own initiative, but the Venezuelan people have the authority and right to do so," said Chávez Tuesday. "If the people wish to, a request can be made before this presidential period ends in five years."

Striking a defiant tone

Chávez also warned people against thinking that the vote was a serious blow to his moves to bring "21st century socialism" to the country, and had a few choice words for those who voted "No" in Sunday's referendum.

"Chávez will be here for a long time and the revolution will be here for a long time," he said. "The revolution came here to stay so don't make ridiculous conclusions. If they [his supporters that abstained or voted "No"] were looking to punish me, they flagellated themselves."

Still, Chávez continues to enjoy widespread support here. For example, Marlena Villegas, a 70-year-old housewife, swallowed the defeat with hope and pride. "Of course I want him to implement the reform," says Ms. Villegas.

"That reform has to go through, but our poor president can't do everything by himself. He has traitors within his ranks, [President Bush] trying to remove him, and countless other things. But this revolution will move forward because he has an entire people behind him," she says.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1206/p01s01-woam.html