Hugo to Gain Re-Election
Hugo to be relected
SABANETA, Venezuela — Hugo Chavez has called George Bush the devil, allied himself with Iran and inserted himself into election races all over Latin America. He has poured Venezuela’s oil wealth into uplifting the poor, and rivals Fidel Castro as a defiant voice of the left.
Now, as he seeks another presidential term in an election Sunday, he is telling Venezuelans this is only the beginning of his effort to remake Venezuela as a socialist oil power.
Chavez predicts a “hurricane” victory that will secure a mandate for zero compromise on policies that inspire both adulation and despair. Having survived a coup, a recall referendum, a general strike and clashes with the Roman Catholic Church, business community and opposition media, he has entrenched his power and sharpened left-right divides beyond Venezuela’s borders.
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Chavez first came to prominence as a paratroop commander leading a failed coup attempt in 1992, and was elected six years later on a wave of discontent with Venezuela's corrupt political elite. He promises a new "21st-century socialism" which aims to redistribute the country's oil wealth to the poor, mainly through programs that provide everything from subsidized food to cash benefits for single mothers.
Chavez has consolidated as much power as a democracy can credibly permit: His allies have near-total control of state offices, congress and the judiciary; he has increased state control over the oil industry; he got the constitution changed to allow him a second term and wants to change it again to abolish term limits altogether, allowing him to stay in office beyond 2012.
As Castro's health deteriorates, Chavez has become Washington's biggest adversary in the region, with ample petrodollars to back him up.
He has collided with the Bush administration on multiple fronts. He opposes its free-trade efforts, has stayed supportive of Iran in the midst of international efforts to abort its nuclear program, and famously described Bush to the U.N. General Assembly as "the devil."
Chavez insists the White House was behind the coup led by business and military leaders that unseated him for two days in 2002, only for him to be swept back into office with an outpouring of support from Venezuela's poor.
His Bush-baiting has struck a chord in a region which often feels treated as Washington's backyard, but the strategy has also at times backfired. I am surprised the left in this country isn’t already making arrangements to host Hugo’s re-election party. Funny thing he says a lot of what the left wing loons say about Bush. Also, I am surprised the ISG is suggesting we try to set up a meeting with Hugo.
Personally I couldn't believe that Danny Glover would invite him to come speak in a Harlem church. I am pretty much done watching anything that Glover stars in. TO his credit, NY REP Charlie Rangle called out Hugo Chavez and basically said how dare you come to New York and bad mouth my president, only we can do it.
I think Hugo is nothing more that a two bit gangsta that
SABANETA, Venezuela — Hugo Chavez has called George Bush the devil, allied himself with Iran and inserted himself into election races all over Latin America. He has poured Venezuela’s oil wealth into uplifting the poor, and rivals Fidel Castro as a defiant voice of the left.
Now, as he seeks another presidential term in an election Sunday, he is telling Venezuelans this is only the beginning of his effort to remake Venezuela as a socialist oil power.
Chavez predicts a “hurricane” victory that will secure a mandate for zero compromise on policies that inspire both adulation and despair. Having survived a coup, a recall referendum, a general strike and clashes with the Roman Catholic Church, business community and opposition media, he has entrenched his power and sharpened left-right divides beyond Venezuela’s borders.
Snip-----
Chavez first came to prominence as a paratroop commander leading a failed coup attempt in 1992, and was elected six years later on a wave of discontent with Venezuela's corrupt political elite. He promises a new "21st-century socialism" which aims to redistribute the country's oil wealth to the poor, mainly through programs that provide everything from subsidized food to cash benefits for single mothers.
Chavez has consolidated as much power as a democracy can credibly permit: His allies have near-total control of state offices, congress and the judiciary; he has increased state control over the oil industry; he got the constitution changed to allow him a second term and wants to change it again to abolish term limits altogether, allowing him to stay in office beyond 2012.
As Castro's health deteriorates, Chavez has become Washington's biggest adversary in the region, with ample petrodollars to back him up.
He has collided with the Bush administration on multiple fronts. He opposes its free-trade efforts, has stayed supportive of Iran in the midst of international efforts to abort its nuclear program, and famously described Bush to the U.N. General Assembly as "the devil."
Chavez insists the White House was behind the coup led by business and military leaders that unseated him for two days in 2002, only for him to be swept back into office with an outpouring of support from Venezuela's poor.
His Bush-baiting has struck a chord in a region which often feels treated as Washington's backyard, but the strategy has also at times backfired. I am surprised the left in this country isn’t already making arrangements to host Hugo’s re-election party. Funny thing he says a lot of what the left wing loons say about Bush. Also, I am surprised the ISG is suggesting we try to set up a meeting with Hugo.
Personally I couldn't believe that Danny Glover would invite him to come speak in a Harlem church. I am pretty much done watching anything that Glover stars in. TO his credit, NY REP Charlie Rangle called out Hugo Chavez and basically said how dare you come to New York and bad mouth my president, only we can do it.
I think Hugo is nothing more that a two bit gangsta that
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