Chavez Reforms Defeated

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has narrowly lost a referendum on controversial constitutional changes. Voters rejected the reforms, which included allowing a president to stand indefinitely for re-election, by 51% of the vote to 49%, officials said.


However, the president swiftly conceded and urged the opposition to show restraint.
"To those who voted against my proposal, I thank them and congratulate them," he said. "I ask all of you to go home, know how to handle your victory."

I may disagree with his policies, but I will give him credit for accepting the decision of the people. International monitors were not permitted to observe this election. He may be crazy and loud, but apparently he'll mostly play by the rules. (EDIT)- For now anyways.

[mykalberta]

I will reserve my judgement until the end of his term.

[IntenseFan]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

International monitors were not permitted to observe this election.

Maybe it wasn't as close as we think then?




I know, I'm a conspiracy nut...

[Knut]

Who here thinks he "Miraculously" convinces 2% of people before the end of his term?

[Cowperson]

The interesting thing about it was the vote wasn't even going to be close until a few months ago when many of his closest allies turned against him, essentially saying they believed in socialism, but socialism with democracy.

They in turn led the charge to sway the vote against him.

"To those who voted against my proposal, I thank them and congratulate them," he said. "I ask all of you to go home, know how to handle your victory."

I would agree that, considering the megalomaniac uttering the words, that it sounded surprisingly contrite.

It might not be the end of it.

Cowperson

[habernac]

I don't trust Hugo as far as I could throw him.

[MaxPower]

Yeah but isn't Chavez trying to be a "champion of the people"? He only goes out of his way to blatantly p!ss off the international community, namely the US, while trying to be a hero at home. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure this guy is a power hungry nut job, but I think he'll try and establish his dictatorship using more subtle tactics.

[Cowperson]

This is one of the funniest things you'll read all day:

http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archi...02/492858.aspx

Also, Chavez throws off the cloak of magnanimity and calls the opposition win a "(other word for poop) victory."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7130347.stm

What a wonderful villian this guy is.

Cowperson

[habernac]

Well, Chavez is a lot of things, boring certainly isn't one of them. I'm looking forward to a time when the politcal climate is a lot more stable in Venezuela. I'd love to visit again.

[lifer]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

This is one of the funniest things you'll read all day:

http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archi...02/492858.aspx

Also, Chavez throws off the cloak of magnanimity and calls the opposition win a "(other word for poop) victory."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7130347.stm

What a wonderful villian this guy is.

Cowperson

This part was missing when I read your post the first time. I started reading the article and was confused about your post. It makes much more sense now.

[CaptainCrunch]

Right now Chavez has the support of the people and the military, he has managed through his actions been able to revitalize the opposition as well.

If the support of the people begins to slip, how long before Chavez uses the military to seize power and get his reforms including a removal of presidential term limits.

[lifer]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Right now Chavez has the support of the people and the military, he has managed through his actions been able to revitalize the opposition as well.

If the support of the people begins to slip, how long before Chavez uses the military to seize power and get his reforms including a removal of presidential term limits.

I don't know as much about the situation down there as many people do, but doesn't Chavez's defeat in the referendum indicate that he is losing the support of his people...well, half of them anyway. I realize that it wasn't necessarily an election, but I understand these results to indicate that the people do not want him to remain in power.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by lifer

I don't know as much about the situation down there as many people do, but doesn't Chavez's defeat in the referendum indicate that he is losing the support of his people...well, half of them anyway. I realize that it wasn't necessarily an election, but I understand these results to indicate that the people do not want him to remain in power.

Nah.. he was trying to legitimize it in the world community. If the people ask for it, who out there can oppose it as undemocratic. This just leaves him with plan B.. which is to force his way into a longer term.

[lifer]

That makes sense too. Just some posturing to make it look legit, but he will push it through no matter what. I agree that is what it's looking like right now.