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Increasing Democratic Fervor in Venezuela

"In Chávez Territory, Signs of Dissent"

By SIMON ROMERO (New York Times, November 30, 2007).

CARACAS, Venezuela, Nov. 29 — Three days before a referendum that would vastly expand the powers of President Hugo Chávez, this city’s streets were packed on Thursday with tens of thousands of opponents to the change. The protests signaled that Venezuelans may be balking at placing so much authority in the hands of one man.

Even some of Mr. Chávez’s most fervent supporters are beginning to show signs of hesitation at backing the constitutional changes he is promoting, which would end term limits for the president and greatly centralize his authority. Other measures would increase social security benefits for the poor and shorten the workday.

New fissures are emerging in what was once a cohesive bloc of supporters, pointing to the toughest test at the polls for Mr. Chávez in his nine-year presidency.

In the slums of the capital, where some of the president’s staunchest backers live amid the cinder-block hovels, debate over the changes has grown more intense in recent days.

“Chávez is delirious if he thinks we’re going to follow him like sheep,�? said Ivonne Torrealba, 29, a hairdresser in the gritty Coche district, who has supported Mr. Chávez in every election since his first campaign for president in 1998. “If this government cannot get me milk or asphalt for our roads, how is it going to give my mother a pension?�?

Full Article can be accessed at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/30/world/americas/30venez.html?hp

Regards,

Plato

By Plato on Nov 30, 2007, 05:41 in Politics & the war.

slguy says on Nov 30, 2007, 06:22:

Thanks for sharing, Plato.

I'm encouraged- especially if the NY Times is writing such a story.

My friends in Venezuela tell me now that they also are encouraged about the lack of popularity of the referendum, but this is tempered by fear of El Payaso's reaction on Sunday during the polling.

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

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Plato says on Nov 30, 2007, 06:26:

Slguy,

Check out the other thread - Hugo Chavez en Univision - with Chavez on Youtube.

Plato

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those [liberals] who, in time of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.--Dante Alighieri, (1265-1321)

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scotty says on Nov 30, 2007, 17:36:

I feel sorry for the Venezuelan people, Chavez is stealing their freedom and ruining that beautiful country.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

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slguy says on Nov 30, 2007, 17:43:

Sadly, Scotty, he's only taking what they're giving him

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

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john_stark says on Nov 30, 2007, 17:49:

Let's see what happens on Sunday. I predict Il Duce, I mean Chavez, will win a great victory. And if he doesn't he'll accuse his enemies of having plotted against him.

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goin_south says on Nov 30, 2007, 20:29:

I predict it won't be nearly the 70% or whatever it was that won Uribe the last presidency in Colombia

Where do we go from here?

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billyb says on Nov 30, 2007, 20:36:

It all depends if Jimmy Catahh is doing the certifying, or someone with a functioning brain.

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Robert Jorge says on Dec 1, 2007, 10:34:

I think JimmyC, Michael Moore, Sean Penn, and Barbara Streisand should immediately go to Venezuela and observe the elections to make sure they are fair.

* if they were on the same plane, Mike would have to be on one side, and the other three on the other side. Otherwise, the plane would just go in a big circle because of the pitch angle.

BEWARE of gold diggers.

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goin_south says on Dec 1, 2007, 13:15:

sit-down comedy? today? roberto?

Where do we go from here?

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