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California Democratic Party unanimously tells Bush hands off Venezuela

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Padme Amidala Donating Member (401 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 03:34 PM
Original message
California Democratic Party unanimously tells Bush hands off Venezuela
The California Party unanimously passed a resolution entitled "RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO RESPECT THE GOVERNMENT OF VENEZUELA" at it's October 2nd executive board meeting.

The Party has not posted the October 2nd resolutions yet. The resolution that was the state party's resolution was based on is posted at:
http://patrickhenrythinktank.org/resolutions.html#venezuela

Anyone who likes confirmation call call the state party office.

Also, passed unanimously were resolutions calling for Bush to meet with Cindy Sheehan and for withdrawal from the WTO and Cancellation of Nafta. These orginal reolutions (with the only difference being that the words California Democratic Party were substituted for the club's name) can be found athttp://patrickhenrythinktank.org/resolutions.html

A resolution calling for IRV also passed. This was presented by the Santa Clara Democrats and backed by the PHDC.
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AX10 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 03:40 PM
Response to Original message
1. kick
I will call to confirm this. I hope the national party does the same. Bush cannot be allowed to be a world dictator. Chavez was elected to office, three times. That's three more times than Bush.
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On the Road Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 03:57 PM
Response to Reply #1
3. Good Luck on the National Party
Lots of Chavez enemies there, apparently including Kerry.

I'm glad the CA party spoke out. This kind of thing can make a difference.
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LittleClarkie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 04:10 PM
Response to Reply #3
6. What, what has Kerry said re: Chavez
Just curious.
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IndianaGreen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 05:57 PM
Response to Reply #6
14. Go to Common Dreams and do a search on Chavez and Kerry
or do a search in DU and you will find whatever was not deleted at time it happened.
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LittleClarkie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 06:06 PM
Response to Reply #14
16. Okay, thanks. Even though Common Dreams ain't my favorite place, I will
do so.

Not me favorite since they quoted the Boston Herald. Any source is free game if they're criticizing Kerry, I suppose.
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IndianaGreen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 06:16 PM
Response to Reply #16
17. Why John Kerry Must Retract his Position on Venezuela
Here are a couple of those articles, none of which are by the Boston Herald. They were posted in DU and raised quite a stir among the Kerry supporters.

Keep in mind that any Democratic candidate in 2008 that throws his support to the elites in Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru, or anywhere in Latin America, will get his/her ass roasted by the Left.

Published on Friday, March 26, 2004 by CommonDreams.org

Why John Kerry Must Retract his Position on Venezuela

by VenezuelAnalysis.com

It is almost unexplainable that Kerry, as a Democrat, maintains almost the same positions as Bush and his ultra-conservative cabinet. Many in the progressive community had hoped that Kerry could bring a fundamental change to the foreign policies implemented by Bush towards Latin America. Statements such as this lead us to believe that there may be little change in the arrogant US government foreign policy, and unfortunately, mistrust and resentment towards the United States in Latin America would probably continue to grow as a result.

Without offering any evidence, Kerry, follows the line of the Venezuelan opposition, accusing Chavez of aiding the Colombian guerrilla forces, permitting narcotrafficking, undermining democratic institutions, attempting to impede a possible recall referendum on his mandate, and of implementing policies that are detrimental to US interests.

Chavez is a President who has been elected twice by clear majorities in democratic elections, and who, at this time, still enjoys one of the highest levels of popularity amongst Latin American leaders. Chavez's policies have earned him the support of millions of progressive and liberal voices throughout Latin America as well as in North America.

Kerry's recent statement makes it clear that he has taken the side of the Venezuelan opposition, an opposition which is unequivocally responsible for the political instability in Venezuela due to its failure and refusal to accept Chavez as the President of Venezuela, despite his clear support by a majority of Venezuelans proven through numerous electoral victories.

The fact that in his statement Kerry suggests Bush has not put enough pressure on Chávez, completely ignores the ample evidence of the millions of dollars the Bush administration has given the Venezuelan opposition through the National Endowment for Democracy. Such substantial financing has been used numerous times in attempts to oust Chávez from office through extra-constitutional means.

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0326-01.htm


Published on Friday, March 26, 2004 by CommonDreams.org

Senator Kerry: You Want My Vote? Support My Positions!

by Ann Samuelson


As with many prior Democratic presidential candidates, I fully expect to see Kerry move to the right as we get closer to the election. We can see this kind of movement in a speech Kerry made on March 19th when he condemned Hugh Chavez, the democratically elected President of Venezuela. Candidate Kerry characterized Chavez's policies as "detrimental to our interests" and suggested he was undermining Venezuela's democracy as well as supporting Columbian rebels. Kerry singled out Chavez's friendship with Fidel Castro for special condemnation and accused him of impeding a recall referendum. Prior to this, news reports suggested Chavez was trying to court a friendship with Kerry.

So what are Chavez's real crimes? He's undertaken a land reform in Venezuela, giving idle lands to poor peasants; many of these lands were previously under the jurisdiction of large plantation owners. Also, he's taken on big oil interests by passing laws that doubled the royalty taxes paid by oil operators and he's asserted control over the state owned state oil company, which was previously controlled by foreign oil interests. It's telling that one of the few places you can find the full text of Kerry's speech is on Petroleum World website (http://www.petroleumworld.com/Edit4Mar24.htm).

I would doubt the majority of Americans know who Hugh Chavez is or care about America's relationship with him. If this speech is not earning Kerry points with the voters, why is he making it? It's a wink and a nod at the wealthy and the corporations who have business interests in Venezuela. Through this speech he's implying that while he might take left stances in public, he's really siding with big corporate interests just like Bush. So it's up to you, Senator Kerry. What's it to be? Do you want my vote or do you want to continue courting corporations and the wealthy? Either way the Democratic Party ought to stop blaming Nader for their own failures.

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0326-13.htm


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EuroObserver Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 07:10 PM
Response to Reply #17
20. Well said there.
Edited on Mon Oct-10-05 07:10 PM by EuroObserver
¿Is there a Clarke position on these issues?
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On the Road Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-11-05 11:29 AM
Response to Reply #6
22. Kerry has made some anti-Chavez comments.
As far as I know, Kerry hasn't gone as far as to suggest an invasion, and I don't he would if he were president. But he does give legitimacy to any pro-invasion movement, and I don't think he would take a stand if Bush suddenly decided to bomb Caracas.

Here are some statements Kerry made during the campaign:

Thursday, May 6, 2004 (Venezuelanalysis.com): For the second time in the first quarter of the campaign trail, John Kerry, the democratic candidate for president of the United States, has declared that “democracy is a risk” in Venezuela. Kerry also said that Venezuela’s democratically–elected President Chavez is becoming a dictator.

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=1265

I saw these in a mainstream source at the time, so I'm pretty sure they're legitimate. A lot of imperialism towards Latin America has come from Democrats over the years, and Kerry is right in that tradition. Clinton was a little better than average, and I hope the next Dem president is even better.
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texpatriot2004 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 03:41 PM
Response to Original message
2. Wonderful. Glad and grateful to hear them do this.n.t
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MaineDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 04:03 PM
Response to Original message
4. Do these have to be passed by the Party at large?
Usually Exec Committee things get presented at the State Party Committee meeting. Does it work that way in California?
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LittleClarkie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 04:09 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. If they don't, wouldn't this be the Exec Committee sorta talking to itself
In other words, "Hey, that's great. But what does it do?"
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rinsd Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 04:12 PM
Response to Reply #5
9. Oh no...not you again!
Why oh why do we keep running into each other on these CA Dem Party threads!

Good to see you though, hope everything is well.
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LittleClarkie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 04:26 PM
Response to Reply #9
10. :-P
Edited on Mon Oct-10-05 04:26 PM by LittleClarkie
Anyway, like I said, thanks for the info. So this is indeed at the state level. Interesting.

Good to see there is a mixed baggie of national, international and state resolutions as well. I was starting to wonder.
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rinsd Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 04:10 PM
Response to Reply #4
7. Here'e the CA Democratic Party's website....
I don't know if resolutions have the power of becoming party plank but the site may help answer some of your questions.

http://www.cadem.org/site/c.jrLZK2PyHmF/b.947937/k.CC3A/Home.htm

Here's the list of resolutions

http://www.cadem.org/site/c.jrLZK2PyHmF/b.981881/k.3EF8/Resolutions.htm
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LittleClarkie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 04:11 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. Thanks
for the info.
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Padme Amidala Donating Member (401 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 07:43 PM
Response to Reply #7
21. The page hasn't been updated since the July resolutions.
A notice went out that the CDP web site would be updated soon. So, until it's updated, it's best to call the party for information. The Venezuela resolution was number SAC05.40. The WTO resolution was SAC05.34. The Cindy Sheehan resolution was MAN05.09. The IRV resolution was LA05.32. The numbering system makes sense. A number of the resolutions took several E-board meetings to pass. The 05 means that it was submitted this year. The ones that start with SAC had been held over from the Sacramento July E-board meeting. LA means that the resolution had been held over from the April CDP Convention. MAN means that the resolution was submitted for the Manhattan Beach E-board meeting that just occurred.
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Muddy Waters Guitar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 05:04 PM
Response to Original message
11. Good, maybe head off all the anti-Chavez WMD rhetoric
Otherwise, I'm sure Bush will find some excuse to blame Chavez for stashing the Iraqi WMD in his underwear drawer.
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EuroObserver Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 05:11 PM
Response to Original message
12. Freedom for California
n/t
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Megahurtz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 06:31 PM
Response to Reply #12
18. Yes! n/t
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IndianaGreen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 05:55 PM
Response to Original message
13. But the DLC supports the Venezuelan elites, as did John Kerry!
No wonder the Beltway Democrats find the grassroot Democrats so annoying for failing to goose step like the Republicans do.
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LittleClarkie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 05:57 PM
Response to Reply #13
15. delete
Edited on Mon Oct-10-05 05:58 PM by LittleClarkie
delete
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ninkasi Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-10-05 06:50 PM
Response to Reply #13
19. Too bad
No true Democrat, liberal, or progressive has any business supporting the elites who have kept so many mired in hopeless poverty for so long. Chavez is giving them hope for the first time in their lives. Of course the powerful families have objected, they have been used to having everything to themselves.

Chavez is, from everything I've read, greatly loved by the common people of Venezuela, and they are the ones he is helping. More power to him. We have our own gang of elites here who are ruining the country, and who need to be voted out of office.
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