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-- Hugo...doing it again.
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Hugo...doing it again.

As if his intentions weren't clear enough. It's good to know that when Castro dies, we'll have this loon to deal with for the next few decades. Greater good my ass. Chávez thinks he owns Venezuela. Textbook communist dictator.

quote:

August 15, 2007 Chávez to Propose Removing His Term Limits By SIMON ROMERO CARACAS, Venezuela, Aug. 14 — President Hugo Chávez will unveil a project to change the Constitution on Wednesday that is expected to allow him to be re-elected indefinitely, a move that would enhance his authority to accelerate a socialist-inspired transformation of Venezuelan society. The removal of term limits for Mr. Chávez, which is at the heart of the proposal, is expected to be accompanied by measures circumscribing the authority of elected governors and mayors, who would be prevented from staying in power indefinitely, according to versions of the project leaked in recent weeks. Willian Lara, the communications minister, said Mr. Chávez would announce the project before the National Assembly, where all 167 lawmakers support the president. Supporters of Mr. Chávez, who was re-elected last year with some 60 percent of the vote, also control the Supreme Court, the entire federal bureaucracy, public oil and infrastructure companies and every state government but two. The aim of the overhaul is “to guarantee to the people the largest amount of happiness possible,” Mr. Lara said at a news conference on Tuesday. The project has already led to fierce debate over Mr. Chávez’s expanding power. Critics in the Roman Catholic Church have been clashing with Mr. Chávez over the re-election proposals, with one cardinal, Rosalio José Castillo Lara, calling him a “paranoid dictator.” Mr. Chávez’s proposals would centralize his control over political institutions even further, potentially weakening opponents like Manuel Rosales, the governor of Zulia State, who received nearly 40 percent of the vote in presidential elections in December, analysts said. Mr. Chávez’s current term expires in 2012. “We are entering a new stage implying more intensive state control of society,” said Steve Ellner, a political scientist at Oriente University in eastern Venezuela. While the proposal to be unveiled by Mr. Chávez may contain surprises, he recently said that “the Venezuelan people should be given the right to keep a president in power as long as they like, whether it be for 5 years, 12 years, 40 years.” Since Mr. Chávez’s re-election to a third term in December, he has surprised many with the breadth of the changes in his political and economic policies. He has nationalized telecommunications, electricity and oil companies; forged a single socialist party for his followers; deepened alliances with countries like Cuba and Iran; and sped the distribution of billions of dollars for local governing entities called communal councils. As Mr. Chávez, 53, settles into his ninth year in power, images of him have become impossible to avoid here. On billboards, posters and murals, he is seen hugging children, embracing old women, chanting slogans and plugging energy-saving Cuban light bulbs into sockets. Still, Mr. Chávez has faced serious setbacks at home and abroad even as his approval ratings remain relatively strong in Venezuela. His decision forcing a major television network critical of him off the public airwaves triggered student protests across the country in May and June. And Mr. Chávez’s attempts to create a regional development bank to rival the World Bank have encountered quiet opposition from officials in Brazil. He has also had to abandon plans for a pipeline to transport natural gas across South America after encountering resistance from environmental groups. Mr. Chávez’s ambitions to remain in power indefinitely run counter to changes in large Latin American democracies since the demise of military governments in the 1980s. Constitutions elsewhere in the region — with the important exception of Cuba, Venezuela’s closest ally — deter presidents from such temptations. But Mr. Chávez has signaled a desire to be president at least until 2021 as part of a project to reconfigure political power structures in Venezuela. A central feature of this plan is the president’s communal councils. About 20,000 of the councils are expected to be created this year, with authority over issues like infrastructure and some social welfare projects transferred to them from municipal and state governments. Mr. Chávez’s critics say the councils must remain loyal to his political ideology to receive funding. The president said one Sunday last month on his television program that the 1999 Constitution, which he fought for after his first election as president in 1998, has become vulnerable to “counterrevolution” and “infiltration” by reactionary elements. Still, even some politicians within Mr. Chávez’s coalition have expressed concern that his proposals could weaken the authority of regional governments. Hard-line supporters of Mr. Chávez say the project will win easy approval by the end of the year, though it remains to be seen if it will be subject to national referendum or a vote in the National Assembly. Cilia Flores, president of the National Assembly, said Tuesday that she expected two to three months of discussion before a vote, which, if taken by lawmakers, would be approved by a “qualified majority.”

This is old news, I heard about this like few weeks ago. I think any reasonable or smart person would have seen this coming long ago. I am not surprised at all.

Hugo knows we've got the power to bomb his country back into the stone age within minutes of pissing us off.

Eh... some nobody island country has a different form of government than us.. who cares?

are the conservatives so desperate that they need to create another boogey-man? sad really.

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Originally posted by Spacey Orange are the conservatives so desperate that they need to create another boogey-man? sad really.

uh, no.

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Originally posted by DJ Shibby Eh... some nobody island country has a different form of government than us.. who cares?

Especially since it isn't an island...

I'm joking of course; I'm assuming you know different...

Yeah! He's totally my kind of guy!!! 6 hour work days? Who cares if he's ass raping us blind! He gets my vote!

quote:

CARACAS (Reuters) - President Hugo Chavez proposed a constitutional change on Wednesday to reduce Venezuela's maximum workday to six hours as part of broader legal changes to advance his self-styled socialist revolution.

What's the big deal?

This is actually a good idea Chavez is trying to introduce. In America a Presidency can only stand for two terms, meaning they are always thinking short term quick fixes. In their second term, should they get one, what onus is there on them to please the people?

In the UK, there is no limit on the amount of "terms" a British PM can sit. They could serve until they die should the ruling party want them in and that party keeps winning elections.

They constantly have to keep the population happy otherwise they would be voted out. If you're gonna be "voted" out anyway, whats the point in giving the people what they want?

Some people need to engage their brains before they make criticisms on behalf of the right-wingers in the American government and media...

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Originally posted by George Smiley Some people need to engage their brains before they make criticisms on behalf of the right-wingers in the American government and media...

Some people need to engage their brains before they make supporting rants on behalf of SOBs like Chavez...

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Originally posted by LazFX Some people need to engage their brains before they make supporting rants on behalf of SOBs like Chavez...

Perhaps you could explain why you think it's a bad idea?

quote:

Originally posted by George Smiley Perhaps you could explain why you think it's a bad idea?

Didn't Stalin do the same thing?

consolidate consolidate consolidate power...taking over more and more of the government and private industry every year, then decide that both elections and private property are no longer necessary.

quote:

Originally posted by Capitalizt Didn't Stalin do the same thing? consolidate consolidate consolidate power...taking over more and more of the government and private industry every year, then decide that both elections and private property are no longer necessary.

Eh? He wants to change the electoral system so that he can stand for election longer than the current limitted terms. It would be like the American President wanting to change the electoral system to allow Presidents to stand for more than two terms - something common in a hell of a lot of countries. Do you not understand that or is it some arrogant American thing where you look down your noses at any type of political system that is different to your own?

He still has to be elected!

quote:

Originally posted by George Smiley Perhaps you could explain why you think it's a bad idea?

Probably not unless you've ever had to suffer under dictatorship and nationalisation of private property, otherwise it's just words in print to most people.

quote:

Originally posted by George Smiley Perhaps you could explain why you think it's a bad idea?

i will get back on that with you. I will poll the family my family supports/sponsors. All the men in the family were executed due to your Idol Hugo.... in front of the children, on direct orders from Hugo, they were Teachers and Professors, but cause they questioned the NEW VISION of chavez they were killed......

fucking people that know not what that man has done to gain his power should not focking spout off shit. I bet you wear a Che T-Shirt huh??

quote:

Originally posted by George Smiley He still has to be elected!

at the point of a gun?

I agree with you on many points jorge.... but this one my fellow TA, I think you are soooo wrong...

quote:

Originally posted by Lilith Probably not unless you've ever had to suffer under dictatorship and nationalisation of private property, otherwise it's just words in print to most people.

Why do you think that a government should only be able to stand for a limitted amount of terms of office?

And as someone who knows nothing about Venezuala, perhaps you could provide me with some trustworthy source to back up your claims that Venezuala is a dictatorship? Was Chavez not elected by the people?

quote:

Originally posted by LazFX at the point of a gun? I agree with you on many points jorge.... but this one my fellow TA, I think you are soooo wrong...

I don't know anything about Venezuala. I am commenting on the proposed plan to allow governments to rule for indefinate terms of office (like the British) and I think it's a good thing. Please provide me with sources (NOT American media sources as they are not trustworthy) that say Chavez is a dictator and he wasn't democratically elected.

quote:

Originally posted by George Smiley Was Chavez not elected by the people?

So was Mugabe and that son of a bitch owes me a farm.
Chavez won't leave power any time soon and anyone thinking otherwise there is in for a painful lesson.

quote:

Originally posted by Lilith So was Mugabe and that son of a bitch owes me a farm. Chavez won't leave power any time soon and anyone thinking otherwise there is in for a painful lesson.

I knew someone was gonna bring up Mugabe!

I quite clearly asked for information on Chavez, not Mugabe!

Same crap, different stink, different continent and that's about it. It's easy to have wealth envy and bandy about socialist ideals of the state running everything and giving it to the people, but the reality is that it's just ordinary people getting screwed out of everything they rightfully owned and worked for.

quote:

Originally posted by George Smiley I quite clearly asked for information on Chavez, not Mugabe!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6277379.stm

Venezuela's National Assembly has given initial approval to a bill granting the president the power to bypass congress and rule by decree for 18 months.

President Hugo Chavez says he wants "revolutionary laws" to enact sweeping political, economic and social changes.

He has said he wants to nationalise key sectors of the economy and scrap limits on the terms a president can serve..

Pledge

Mr Chavez approved 49 laws by decree during the first year of his previous term, after the assembly passed a similar "Enabling Law" in November 2000.

Now the president says an Enabling Law is a key step in what he calls an accelerating march toward socialism.

He has said he wants to see major Venezuelan power and telecoms companies come under state control.

Mr Chavez also called for an end to foreign ownership of lucrative crude oil refineries in the Orinoco region.

Critics of the president accuse him of trying to build an authoritarian regime with all institutional powers consolidated into his own hands.

But, National Assembly President Cilia Flores said "there will always be opponents, and especially when they know that these laws will deepen the revolution".

_________________

and another interesting article on Chavez

Freedom of the Press?

The Media in Venezuela is largely and overtly against Chávez, with very little mass media supporting him. However there are numerous reports of intimidation of the media by pro Chávez gangs that have been alleged to have issued violent threats against the media that does not support him. Chávez moved to start restrictions on the media with vaguely worded legislation that could allow him to suppress political content, although the initial scope of the law was restrictions on pornographic and violent content.

In mid-March of 2005 Chávez passed legislation further clamping down on the press, by broadening controls on how the press can report articles deemed "disrespectful" or "insulting" of the government. Sentencing for such transgressions ranges between 20 and 40 months incarceration, depending on the gravity of the offense. Moreover laws have been passed against the media, tightening controls on what would be considered slanderous, carrying sentences up to 30 months and what would amount to tens of thousands of US dollars in fines.

Numerous human rights organizations have expressed great concern over the incremental restrictions imposed by the Chávez regime on the Venezuelan media .

Supreme Count

To solidify his control over the Venezuelan Supreme Court, Chávez passed legislation in May 2003 to increase the number of Supreme Court Justices from 20 to 32 and appointing another 5 vacant posts, giving him a clear majority in the judicial branch of the government. He also allowed for the appointment of 32 reserve justices, all of which are loyal to him. It should also be noted that former justices were forced to resign after several "politically sensitive rulings". Many are very concerned that with the control of the courts, Chavez seems to have consolidated control over the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the government.

The Statesman

Chávez as a statesman has interesting allies, having a very close personal friendship with Fidel Castro of Cuba, and Venezuela provides oil to Cuba in exchange for skilled workers and other services. Similar to Castro, Chávez is seen as a darling to the left wing, especially left wing media in the United States.

Chávez also had ties to Saddam Hussein of Iraq, and not only staunchly opposed the invasion of Iraq but also went on a state visit to Hussein. He has also allied himself with Qaddafi in Libya, receiving a human rights award from him in 2004 during a state visit.

Not surprisingly relations with the USA are extremely poor, with Chávez publicly attacking President George Bush, and accusing the United States of attempting further attempts on his life. In fact his paranoia and pre-occupation of removal from office has reached such proportions that Chávez's rationality has been called into question by some.

Chávez has also recently bought MiG's from Russia, and territorial disputes with Colombia and Guyana now call into question whether Chávez is looking to start looking to his military for purposes other than defending the country. He has granted asylum to Colombian opposition terrorists, which indicates that perhaps he might also attempt to move against Colombia in other ways than outward military force. Moreover, Chávez has been known to support numerous far-left terrorist groups in South America.

The Left-Wing Fascist (sic)?

The National Guard or state police force in Venezuela has been accused of intimidation and bullying tactics of opposition, reminiscent of the Mussolini brownshirts in the 1930's. It is also troubling that nationalism and xenophobia are seemingly fostered by the government, combined with a push to have the population loyal to Chávez and not to the country. He has created a cult of personality about himself, creating the illusion to the masses that he is infallible; as a speaker Chávez has a bombastic style, literally working his audience up into a frenzy.

Chávez seems also to aspire to unite much of South America's sentiment against foreigners, notably the United States. He speaks of a continental vision, but clearly not without much influence from himself.

quote:

Originally posted by Lilith Same crap, different stink, different continent and that's about it. It's easy to have wealth envy and bandy about socialist ideals of the state running everything and giving it to the people, but the reality is that it's just ordinary people getting screwed out of everything they rightfully owned and worked for.

Any links?

And I'd be wary over the trustworthyness (sp?!) of information you come across because all I know is that Venezuala has come in for a hell of a lot of criticism from American and it's all been slander. I don't hear much in the papers about oppression in Venezuala like I do in Zimbabwe (or Rhodesia if you prefer ). But I do notice that when I do hear about stories like the one in this thread, there seems to be some kind of campaign - originating in America - to twist what is otherwise a non-story (and as I said, a good idea when you think about it in general terms) and turn it into one of oppression (which the American public are only too happy to lap up like a lot of other stories about terrorists and dictators that turn out to be a load of bullshit designed to herd the American people into supporting a government policy they would otherwise not support)

I could find you thousands of articles from British sources and twist them in a way to suggest to people with no knowledge of Britain that it is a dictatorship (I can even find you thousands of statements from British people themselves that say Britain is a dictatorship!) so just be careful about what information you're receiving on Venezuala

Google it if you must, it's pretty easy to filter out american sources and at the same time while you're investigating and analysing the modus operandi of dictatorships you can also draw some interesting comparisons between them and the current US administration.
I don't have a Pol-Science degree. PKC does I think and he might be able to expand on anything those articles don't cover, but even an ignorant little drop kick like myself can see the similarities in how they work.
Nor do I have any real sympathy or love for the US (and the feeling is mutual as I'm not really allowed back there either but I wont go into that) But Chavez is a dictator, he displays all the behaviour and actions of the popularly elected variety of them.

quote:

Originally posted by Lilith Nor do I have any real sympathy or love for the US (and the feeling is mutual as I'm not really allowed back there either but I wont go into that)

what about latino texans?? any props for them??

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