Venezuela's Chavez says Democrats won U.S. congressional gains thanks to 'reprisal vote'

[Flanker]

CARACAS, Venezuela: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Wednesday that Democrats made strong gains in U.S. congressional elections thanks to a "reprisal vote" against U.S. President George W. Bush.

"Of course, the citizens of the United States are humans with a conscience. It's a reprisal vote against the war in Iraq, against the corruption" within the Bush administration, Chavez told a news conference. "All this fills us with optimism."

...

"We see this with optimism for the people in Iraq," said Chavez, accusing officials close to Bush of filling their pockets with profits from government contracts to rebuild Iraqi infrastructure. "It's a mafia that destroys cities and then rebuilds them as a business."

...

Chavez said the majority of American voters had cast ballots against the Republican agenda, including initiatives like the U.S. Patriot Act and plans to expand fencing along the country's border with Mexico.

He referred to Bush and the Patriot Act as "terrorism against his own people."

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/08/america/LA_GEN_Venezuela_US.php

[Tight_rope]

1. Viva Chavez...You are damn straight!

Of course, the citizens of the United States are humans with a conscience. It's a reprisal vote against the war in Iraq, against the corruption" within the Bush administration, Chavez told a news conference. "All this fills us with optimism."

[Kolesar]

6. Napoleon Dynamite

too funny

[Acadia Blue]

14. Yea, he is right. People don't like what little frat priviledged spoiled

lazy oligarch GW has done to our wonderful country. Yea.

[RethugAssKicker]

2. Couldn't have said it better myself !... VIVA CHAVEZ !!!

[Cha]

3. Dead ON, Chavez!

A whole lot of us do have consciences.

"It's a mafia that destroys cities and then rebuilds them as a business."

[The Anti-Neo Con]

4. See Chavez doesn't hate us.

He just hates Bushco.

I wish more people would get that.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

5. Proves Chavez doesn't hate America

He's just disgusted with BushCo, like most Americans.

[Acadia Blue]

15. He only hates that GW tried to have him iced.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

43. It's so sad that most Americans have never heard that part of the story

nm

[seafan]

7. Chavez: 'US officials should consider a public referendum on ** resignation.'

This option would get around impeachment, yet accomplish the goal we are after, and that is to remove ** and Cheney from office before the end of their term. Wonderful idea from our friends to the south!

(Although, we'd have to insist on pen and paper ballots that are hand-counted.)

Rumsfeld, a key architect of Bush's wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, resigned Wednesday, and Bush quickly announced he would nominate Robert Gates, a former CIA director, to lead the Pentagon.

"Heads are beginning to roll," Chavez said during a press conference with foreign journalists in Caracas. "It was about time for him to resign. The president should resign now."

Chavez said if Bush doesn't quit, U.S. officials should consider calling a referendum to ask Americans want their president to resign before his term ends.

Venezuela's Chavez applauds resignation of U.S. defense secretary, says Bush's government 'has fallen'

[rinsd]

8. Umm there is no Constitutional provision for such a referendum (nt)

[happydreams]

12. Is there a Constitutional prohibition?

If not then a referendum or initiative could be conducted I think.

[rinsd]

13. I don't think so

Especially since there is no federal initiative or referendum process.

[happydreams]

16. Check this out:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2946226

This may be the way to bring about the process.

[rinsd]

22. No, it is not

It is a symbolic petition from the most famously liberal city in America.

[happydreams]

24. Would you like to see Bush impeached?

I sure would. Then war crimes trials.

[rinsd]

44. I would like a pony too.

The reality is that impeachment is a political show trial that will not result in Bush's removal (2/3 majority required to convict). Congressional investigations have more bite anyway.

Also as far as war crimes trials there is no way he would be handed over to any international court.

[happydreams]

46. You cannot predict what will happen in the Senate once the

evidence is brought out. Even if there is no conviction there should be impeachment proceedings. Otherwise Bush, remember he's the person responsible for 600,000 deaths in Iraq, will get away with it.

[AzDar]

9. Sounds about right to me. n/t

[still_one]

10. Chavez should STFU, and mind his own country

[happydreams]

11. Good luck with your job in

the diplomatic corp. :eyes:

[Judi Lynn]

18. He was busy minding his own country when Bush tried to overthrow him.

I think he'd like to be able to run his own country again WITHOUT interference from _Bush.

Since you're handing out advice, why don't you tell your pResident to stop breathing down Chavez's neck EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY GODDAMNED DAY?

Every time Chavez sneezes, at least one genius from the _Bush administration has a speech to make on the subject.

If you tried to read more, you'd know this.

[still_one]

27. I didn't vote for bush, but since you admire chavez so much

why not see how the Democrats in Congress embrace that

[Judi Lynn]

29. Would you clarify your post?

Please support it with evidence I "admire Chavez so much," then indicate if U.S. citizens are forbidden to "admire" leaders of other countries "so much."

Do you have something to offer which would illuminate the way "the Democrats in Congress embrace that."

Embrace what?

Quite a few of DU'ers have discussed over the last two years the fact that Democratic Congresspeople first contacted the American oil companies, seeking relief for their poorer constituents for winter heating oil, and were blown off immediately, before making a Venezuela connection.

These people, as well as leaders of some Native American tribes, at various times, contacted the Venezuelan government and arranged a contract for the fuel they needed at a 40% discount, which appeared to assist their citizens as they tried to make it through the winter without freezing. From all that I've gathered, as I saw photos published in their local newspapers, showing them meeting with the tanker trucks and CITGO officials at the moment of the first delivery in their neighborhoods, was that this cooperation suited them ALL just fine.

I did NOT hear in later times, that those DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMEN had suddenly turned against the Venezuelan President, and started seeing him as their enemy.

Obviously you've got more information than the rest of us. Please don't hesitate to post it. We could use the education.

[still_one]

30. Example Charlie Rangle comments on Chavez, and others in Congress

I Don't really want to start a flame war so I am going to appologize for any insinuation I may have implied.

[stepnw1f]

42. "Obviously you've got more information than the rest of us."

We are all still waiting....

[1932]

34. There is a group of Labor politicians in the UK

who have made support for Venezuela a key part of their foreign policy concerns, as has the Mayor of London, Ken Livingston.


There are several American politicians who have the courage to express the same support. Congressman Serrano from NY Dist 16 is one.

[zonkers]

25. I agree.

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

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

[stepnw1f]

26. Nah...He's Got It Right and You Have It Wrong

[John Q. Citizen]

32. Everyone has a right to their opinion, even you. n/t

[UTUSN]

33. Thank you. Tyranny from the LEFT is JUST as bad as tyranny from the RIGHT

And before the usual adoring crowd tells me that CHAVEZ was ELECTED, let's ask, "Under WHICH of several constitutions?" and why are he AND Shrub SO obsessed with VIOLATING SOVEREIGNTY of everybody else? They are soulmates.

I love you Judi Lynn.

[Judi Lynn]

35. Thanks for steering me to look up the background on Venezuela's

constitutions. There's the one and only Wikipedia version which seems adequate:

The Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is the current constitution of Venezuela. It was drafted in mid-1999 by a constitutional assembly that was created by popular referendum. This 1999 Constitution was adopted in December 1999, replacing the 1961 Constitution — which had been, of the 26 constitutions in use by Venezuela since its independence in 1811, the document that had remained in force for the longest time. It was primarily promoted by the current President of Venezuela Hugo Chávez and thereafter received strong backing from diverse sectors, including figures involved in promulgating the 1961 constitution such as Luis Miquilena and Carlos Andrés Pérez. Chávez and his followers (chavistas) refer to the 1999 document as the "Constitución Bolivariana" (the "Bolivarian Constitution") because they assert that it is ideologically descended from the thinking and political philosophy of Simón Bolívar and Bolivarianism.

The Constitution of 1999 was the first constitution approved by popular referendum in Venezuelan history, and summarily inaugurated the so-called "Fifth Republic" of Venezuela due to the socioeconomic changes foretold in its pages, as well as the official change in Venezuela's name from the "República de Venezuela" ("Republic of Venezuela") to the "República Bolivariana de Venezuela" ("Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela"). Major changes are made to the structure of Venezuela's government and responsibilities, while a much greater number of human rights are enshrined in the document as guaranteed to all Venezuelans — including free education up to tertiary level, free quality health care, access to a clean environment, right of minorities (especially indigenous peoples) to uphold their own traditional cultures, religions, and languages, among others. The 1999 Constitution, with 350 articles, is among the world's longest, most complicated, and most comprehensive constitutions.
(snip)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Venezuela

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Really makes a person wish to have far, far more time to snuffle around for more and more information. Very interesting country, with a background wildly different from the one enjoyed by the US'ians. In Venezuela, a larger percentage of the native citizens managed to stay alive throughout the invasion by the Spanish, and the subsequent plundering.

[rman]

38. Except that you provide no evidence

to support your insinuation that Chavez is leading a Left Tyranny.

[stepnw1f]

40. And Yet You Still Haven't Proven He is a Tyrant

Why where is your evidence to back up that tired old talking point of yours? Maybe folks around here might take you seriously if for once you offered evidence and didn't try to insult folks while doing so.

[stepnw1f]

45. Next Time You Send Me a Private Message...

make sure you send that info regarding Chavez... you have no facts to back up your argument. Boohoo....

[Vidar]

17. Chavez has it right again.

[ckramer]

19. Chavez has been reading up too much Noam Chomsky lately

LOL

[Pastiche423]

20. This man knows more about what is happening in the U.S.

than many U.S. citizens.

VIVA CHAVEZ!

[fujiyama]

21. Whatever Chavez's faults

its difficult to disagree with much of what he said here.

[Judi Lynn]

23. Why were we not informed Rumsfeld had a meeting with the Venezuelan

Defense Minister? Do we have to find EVERYTHING from overseas sources? Jeezus!

Venezuela seeks to rekindle cigar industry

November 08 2006 at 11:32AM

By Christian Oliver and Fabian Cambero

Cumana - When Venezuela's Taoist Defence Minister, Raul Baduel, met his American counterpart in October, he produced a characteristically meditative solution to ill-feeling between Washington and Caracas. A fine cigar.

Donald Rumsfeld demurred, protesting his wife would not let him smoke. But makers of Venezuelan cigars insist Rumsfeld missed a little-known treat by not sampling tobaccos they reckon can compete with the big names from Cuba.

"Why should Venezuela be known for oil and pretty Miss Worlds but not for a good cigar?" said Miguel Patino, president of the Bermudez tobacco factory in the tuna-canning port of Cumana, the first colonial city in South America.

His workshops, set among the bright yellow and blue facades of the old town, are humid hives of activity perfused with aromas ranging from bitter peat to chocolate.
(snip/...)

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=31&art_id=qw1162974601316B241

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Apparently the only time we're given any news concerning the admistration and other countries, THEY will let us know by placing it in the propaganda outlets!

Maybe we should just only consult articles from the Voice of America! Or wait for the daily briefings from Tony Snow.

[stepnw1f]

28. Now the US also get's

cheap oil from our new ALLY!

[Rose Siding]

31. I'm impressed by his gracious remarks

A more Bush-like man might have mocked us for 2004's election results.

[TankLV]

36. Viva Hugo! He's so fucking RIGHT!

Hugo speaks for ALL of us!

[Sven77]

39. Sequoia Voting Systems Inc

partly owned by Venezuela, might have got some help there in this election.

[1932]

41. They're not partly owned by "Venezuela." They're partly owned by a Venezuelan

who supports the opposition to Chavez in Venezuela.