Is Chavez hurt by his incessant hurling of insults?

Simon says on Nov 27, 2007, 14:24:

"Is Chavez hurt by his incessant hurling of insults?"


The answer in true Chavez-style......F at CK YEAH!!!

HERE'S SIMON!!!!

cassini77 says on Nov 27, 2007, 15:08:

"Is Simon hurt by his incessant hurling of insults?"

Yeah ...

travelintom says on Nov 27, 2007, 15:08:

Aw, gee, kings are rebuking him? He must be crying inside, especially not to be loved by the esteemed Saudi royal family. The Church has always supported the right wing, everywhere. This stuff gets him points with the poor and every Bush condemnation bolsters his support. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend". The pity is that his near-dictatorship hurts the cause of democratic leftist reform in the rest of Central and South America.

Que les vaya bien.

cassini77 says on Nov 27, 2007, 15:11:

Fantastic. In this text you can, with some adaptations, replace the name of Chavez with Uribe and it is still functioning ...

goin_south says on Nov 27, 2007, 15:58:

"...taking on Spanish royalty and Colombia's right-wing president can only win him votes..."

I don't really understand the thinking behind this comment.
Is the general population of Venezuela as lunatic as Chavez??

Being an ass as he has been out and about, I would think, would lose him votes at home, if the people have any good conscience about them.

and, thank you.

Tinto (Moderator) says on Nov 27, 2007, 16:51:

Taking on Spanish royalty could be an effective way for Chavez to deflect blame/refuse to accept responsibility for his remarks. Juan Carlos of Spain is a descendant of the European royal families that intermarried and became progressively more stupid through the centuries. And when they ran out of money, they sent the conquistadors to places like Venezuela to rape, pillage, plunder, enslave and forcibly convert.

I wonder why the King even attends events like this. I agree with the rebuke but it would have meant more coming from Zapatero.

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

fecherklyn says on Nov 27, 2007, 16:55:

Cassini, Your "one-liners" rebuking any opinions critical of extreme-left wing political policy have long intrigued me. Could you clarify for everyone here if you are a card-holding member of the communist party or simply wed to Chavez and the FARC?

If the aforementioned do represent your political leanings.....so well be it. Everyone is intitled to their opinion. OR ARE THEY?

The following is an extract of El Universal's issue today:

THE VENEZUELAN CONFEDERATION OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY CHAMBERS (FEDECÃ?MARAS) MONDAY INVITED VENEZUELANS "TO REJECT THE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM AND ADVOCATE DEMOCRACY."

THE CHAMBER CLAIMED THAT THE PROPOSED CHANGES "RUN COUNTER TO THE VENEZUELANS' FEELINGS, AS IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR LIFESTYLE. REJECTION AGAINST THE REFORM IS A CLAMOR THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY."
FEDEC�MARAS CHAIR JOSÉ MANUEL GONZ�LEZ READ A COMMUNIQUÉ WHERE BUSINESSPEOPLE ASKED PEOPLE TO "TAKE A STEP FORWARD, TO VOTE FOR A LIFE IN PEACE."

THE VENEZUELAN RULER LATER REPLIED THAT IF THE BUSINESS SECTOR INTENDED TO FIGHT HIS REFORM, HE WOULD SEIZE THEIR COMPANIES.

Of course, I cannot vouch for the accuracy or good translation of this article but it does seem fairly representative of how many people now understand Chavez's modus operandi....."Agree with me or else".

Assuming the above extract is correct, how do you, Cassini, condone such an attitude? Is this Chavez's adaptation of democracy? Or is this just a re-enactment from all previous revolutions......."All measures are acceptable to achieve our ends"?

Simon says on Nov 27, 2007, 17:14:

"While I agree with the King's rebuke, it should have been delivered by Zapatero."

Zapatero is too diplomatic to say something like that.

HERE'S SIMON!!!!

Tinto (Moderator) says on Nov 27, 2007, 17:32:

Perhaps, but he is the elected voice of the people of Spain. And he could have used softer words to convey the same message.

I'm anti-royalty. I think all royal families should be given a choice:

A. Poverty and exile, or
B. The guillotine

Even if they're mere figureheads they're anachronisms.

slguy says on Nov 27, 2007, 17:37:

Tinto, true enough, they're anachronisms- but poverty or the guillotine? Who pissed in your cornflakes? ;) They're pretty much harmless anachronisms, and they didn't have much choice, being born into royal families, did they?

Lots of folks like the tradition. Brits, especially, I understand.

( I am EVER so proud of myself for not taking the Chavez bait! jajajajajja)

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

Tinto (Moderator) says on Nov 27, 2007, 17:43:

If I lived in a democracy that still had a royal family, I'd want a cost-benefit analysis performed on the institution. If the incremental tourism dollars plus the jobs for gossip columnists and paparazzi > the monetary and national embarrassment costs, then the institution could continue.

;-)

slguy says on Nov 27, 2007, 17:58:

jajajajajjajajajjajaja

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

scotty says on Nov 27, 2007, 18:13:

you'll wake up some day and turn on the news and see that some one in Venezuela has taken him out.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

Gator says on Nov 27, 2007, 18:31:

Chavez is a triplejueputa. He is in trouble, knows it and is attempting to stir up an issue to tacke some of the heat off and deflect in-country criticism.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

Sam Salmon says on Nov 27, 2007, 19:24:

Agree with Gator-Venesolanos are poor but they aren't stupid they realise-most of them-that enough is enough.

Chavez is on thin ice in a tropical climate.....

' a la orden!'

Robert Jorge says on Nov 27, 2007, 20:39:

I hope you guys are correct. The only people that would be negatively effected by Chavez's demise would be the companies that make those terrible red shirts he always wears.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

Sam Salmon says on Nov 27, 2007, 22:07:

I wouldn't mind a hat-the hats are campy in a way.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2007/02/11/wchavez11.jpg

' a la orden!'

Chelesupercono says on Nov 28, 2007, 05:19:

Chavez is nothing more than a loud mouthed, uneducated monkey with oil money.....the King of Spain had the guts to say what the whole world thinks about that idiot.....Viva El Rey!!!! Hombre con Cojones!!!!

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

john_stark says on Nov 28, 2007, 05:48:

Chavez is a crafty old dude. Venezuelans love insults and to be able to throw a good insult is regarded as an art. Is he hurt? Hell, no.

morphus says on Nov 28, 2007, 06:14:

Chavez called Condoleezza Rice an "illiterate" and Bush "the devil".

john_stark says on Nov 28, 2007, 06:20:

Cheney is the devil. Bush is just one of his flunkies.

elmodefoque says on Nov 28, 2007, 06:27:

I normally don’t like getting involved in political matters, but since I surround myself at work with diehard bleeding heart liberals, (whatta you expect? this is NYC) I will make one short comment.
I LOVE BUSH, especially when is shaped like a landing strip.

over 5 million colombianos in USA and only 27 barranquilleros, i'm one.Curramba, el mejor vividero del mundo!

billyb says on Nov 28, 2007, 06:48:

Them are some finely honed political instincts, Elmo, jaja.

Rikito says on Nov 28, 2007, 08:15:

fecherklyn, don't push cassini77 too much. [DELETED because of personal insults]

It is not life that matters, but the journey.

cassini77 says on Nov 28, 2007, 14:41:

Too funny this Rikito. His insults are so sweet, so smart ...

cassini77 says on Nov 28, 2007, 14:45:

Fecherklyn, when somebody does not agree with you, he is a communist or a farxist ?
I did not know they were so many ...

Mama, tengo miedo ! I see Reds everywhere !

Rikito says on Nov 28, 2007, 15:24:

Cassini77,

I am sorry for you...I am not insulting you. Your problem is that you never have anything of value to add to any of the posts in here. I write stuff and make comments and sometimes people agree with me and many times they do not, but that's ok because they usually disagree with some amount of intelligence. In your case, you do not. All you want to do is to piss people off for no reason. You have no clear reasoning and you cannot rationalize.

For example, of couple of people in here have disagreed with me and taken me to task for what I said. After wiping the crap off my face and rereading what they wrote I came to understand and agree with their criticisms of me. I was wrong. They engaged in rational and well thought dialogue...you do not.

Chavez has and is insulting the President of a sovereign nation. Not because he hates Uribe, but because he is in trouble in his own country and so he invents a conflict with a sovereign neighbor. Chavez lied and betrayed the trust of a President (Uribe) of another country. He has insulted the King of Spain and the Spanish people, he continuously goes after the US (after the US pays for the oil Chavez sells), he insults the Catholic Church, the President of Chile, the King and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and his latest victim is France and President Sarkosky. And let’s not forget the organization that is planning to invade Venezuela and kill Chavez…the evil CNN!

Is Chavez acting this way to improve the conditions of his nation and the people he represents? I do not believe so. His only motive is self-serving and almost everyone outside Venezuela sees this. Venezuela is a great country with a strong history of fighting for their freedom and the ability to persevere. Why does Chavez want to take this away? Because he is a self-serving paranoid schizophrenic individual.

Long ago in the early days of the US there was a social scientist from France who came to the US and other democratic countries to study how democracy works. I forget his name. But he was a well known person in his country. Anyway, he made a comment about democracy for people to be aware of…�Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.� How many people will die because of the actions of Chavez?

Cassini, I know this is a lot of words for you to comprehend, but try anyway. Take care and good luck. Develop your thoughts more, we would like to hear them and debate you.

It is not life that matters, but the journey.

billyb says on Nov 28, 2007, 15:39:

Rikito, you are wasting your time, better luck squeezing water out of a rock than getting an intelligent comment out of that one.

Tinto (Moderator) says on Nov 28, 2007, 15:46:

Alexis de Tocqueville, that's the name you were thinking of.

slguy says on Nov 28, 2007, 15:50:

Damn Tinto, You beat me to it. ;) I spent a semster studying his book in school. Absolutely amazing how timeless it is.

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

Rikito says on Nov 28, 2007, 15:52:

Yeah, that's it...thanks guys. I'm getting CRS disease in my old age.

It is not life that matters, but the journey.

Man Tequila says on Nov 28, 2007, 15:58:

Doing business requires a certain degree of trust, which requires a certain level of maturity. Oil money is currently making Venezuela rich, but markets are fickle. You know who your friends are when you run into problems, and if you annoy people over trivialidades you may find you have fewer friends.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

vladimiro says on Nov 28, 2007, 16:37:

These are just common techniques to stir up nationalist sentiment at home which he then uses as a tool to gain support for his policies. Its got nothing to do with "deflecting from problems at home" as you so often here from Americans. On the contrary, things are good at home for Chavez.

With $100 oil and income redistrubtion plans the lower class majority have seen there incomes more than double within a short time period.

Would Bush be in trouble at home if 60% of the US population saw their incomes more than double under his government? No government in the world would be in trouble under those circumstances.

To put it another way, did American politicians invent the nonsense about Saddam's involvement in 9/11 to deflect attention and criticism in the US? No, they used it to ramp up patriotic feelings in the US and gain support for their reckless gamble to control the Iraqi oil fields. I believe Chavez is using the same technique to advance his agenda.

Tinto (Moderator) says on Nov 28, 2007, 16:49:

Someone has been reading too much Juan-I-don't-have-a-life-I'm-not-good-enough-for-Yale-Muslims-can-do-no -wrong-I'm-an-expert-on-EVERYTHING-in-the-Middle-East-and-I'm-going-to-blog-about-it-24*7*365-Cole.

Fearless prediction: I think Chavez will buy his way to victory this weekend, but this latest rant against CNN doesn't help his case with thoughtful voters.

fecherklyn says on Nov 28, 2007, 17:21:

Cassini,

I noted your typical contributions were pungent one-liners and strongly suggestive of an extreme political persuation. As their informative content is otherwise so limited I invited you (not accused) you to clarify your convictions. In short, I was inviting you to debate the matters you seem to take so strongly. The article I proposed for your comment relates to a fundamental matter concerning Chavez's doctrine....."Why is no one allowed to disagree with him?".

So far you have replied with yet another one-liner and ignored real debate on a serious issue.

Just in case you haven't realised it yet, PBH is supposed to be a forum for discussion and exchange of ideas and information. Why not try being a little less parsimonious with your words and try to persuade us about your convictions.

podborski says on Nov 28, 2007, 17:23:

I heard he has a thing against mini-skirts too

scotty says on Nov 28, 2007, 20:12:

he likes to be in the lime light, he likes to stir the pot, but people all over the world are getting tired of his big mouth and his verbal abuse, the King of Spain said what alot of people wanted to say.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

Sr Tertius says on Nov 28, 2007, 20:56:

Thought some might find this interesting.

"When the finger points to the moon, the fool looks at the finger" (Chinese proverb)

billyb says on Nov 28, 2007, 21:02:

It would be nice if we could all (including, or maybe specially me) could discourse as classily as Zapatero, but it will never happen, at least not on PBH, jaja.

Robert Jorge says on Nov 28, 2007, 21:02:

I saw bits of that speech on Caracol. Never saw the whole thing though until now. Damn good speaker and he made Chavez look like a little boy being calmly scolded by a much more mature, intelligent person.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

manINred says on Nov 28, 2007, 21:07:

That was an interesting video. I read about the incident on the BBC.

billyb says on Nov 28, 2007, 21:49:

Shutting Up Venezuela’s Chávez
By ROGER COHEN
Published: November 29, 2007
CARACAS, Venezuela

It was a fascist general in 1930s Spain who coined the phrase “Viva la muerte!� or “Long live death!� Essentially meaningless, the words captured the cult of soil, blood and savagery that coursed through European Fascism, in its Francoist and other forms.

President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela hates fascists; they are central to his repertoire of insults. But he has not hesitated to deploy the imagery of death to bolster his leftist brand of petro-authoritarianism, now operating under the ludicrous banner of “Fatherland, Socialism or Death!�

The slogan looks almost quaint in its anachronism. Chávez would no doubt claim Cuban revolutionary, rather than Spanish fascist, roots for it (Fidel Castro also invoked fatherland and finality). The bottom line is this: Latin America’s oil-gilded caudillo is getting serious about ruling for life, just like Franco and Castro.

I might add Vladimir Putin to that list. Like the Russian leader, Chávez has already used gushing oil revenue, a pliant judiciary, subservient institutions and the galvanizing appeal of vitriolic anti-Americanism to concoct a 21st-century, gulag-free authoritarianism. But even Putin has not contemplated going as far as Chávez now intends to take his “Bolivarian revolution.�

Venezuelans will vote Sunday in a referendum that would remove all limits on presidential re-election, grant Chávez direct control over foreign currency reserves, allow him to censor the media under a state of emergency declarable at his discretion, expand his powers to expropriate private property and create the second formally socialist nation in the Americas alongside Fidel’s.

“The measures amount to a constitutional coup,� said Teodoro Petkoff, who edits an opposition newspaper. Certainly, they would prod Venezuela from an oppressive rule comparable to Mexico’s under its once impregnable Institutional Revolutionary Party toward the dictatorial absolutism of Cuba.

Unlike other votes during Chávez’s nine-year presidency, and unlike the assured victory of Putin’s United Russia Party in voting the same day, the referendum is not a foregone conclusion.

Overcoming inertia, opponents led by students have energized a “No� campaign. A general once close to Chávez has denounced a looming coup d’état. Polls suggest a close outcome.

But awash in petrodollars — oil accounts for about 90 percent of Venezuelan exports — Chávez commands formidable resources. They are centered in the armed forces; a huge nomenklatura scattered across the bureaucracy and newly nationalized industries; the so-called Boliburgesía (Bolivarian bourgeoisie) of traders grown rich working the angles of a corrupt system; and the poor whom Chávez has helped and manipulated.

Certainly, the oil money Chávez has plowed into poor neighborhoods (at the expense of an oil industry suffering chronic underinvestment) has reduced poverty. The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America said last year that the extreme poverty rate had fallen to 9.9 percent from 15.9 percent.

But more than spreading socialist ideals, Chávez has spread a form of crony capitalism, dedicated to his greater glory, that has imbued the economy with all the resilience of a house of cards.

Foreign investment has plunged, scared off by nationalizations. A huge disparity between the official and black-market exchange rates has encouraged get-rich-quick schemes for favored “Chávistas� while erecting endless barriers to trade. Price controls on staples have made eggs unavailable. This week, you can’t find chickens. Chávez’s socialism delivers subsidized gasoline and glittering malls but no milk.

Latin America has been here before, with the disastrous import-substitution and highly regulated models of the 1960s and ’70s. Most of the region has moved on, but not Chávez, who trumpets “growth from within,� whatever that is. The World Bank’s recently released “Doing Business 2008,� a ranking of the ease of conducting commerce, places Venezuela 172nd out of 178 countries.

Despite this, the country does huge business with the United States, as its fourth-largest crude oil supplier and a big importer. Chávez’s “socialism� and his chumminess with Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad do not extend to cutting off the “imperialist empire.� Chávez is too shrewd to sever his lifeline.

A possible conclusion would be that he’s harmless — a wily barracks-bred buffoon whose leftist rhetoric is just a veneer for a petrodollar power play. Perhaps that’s why the United States — and Latin American nations — have been so muted, or silent, before Chávez’s attempted “constitutional coup.� Oil speaks.

But Chávez’s grab for socialist-emperor status is grotesque and dangerous — as Fascism was — a terrible example for a region that has been consolidating democracy. King Juan Carlos of Spain got it right when he recently interrupted Chávez’s trademark verbal diarrhea with a brusque: “Why don’t you just shut up?�

Venezuelans should watch that regal routine on YouTube — it’s even been set to music — and follow suit on Sunday.

billyb says on Nov 28, 2007, 21:52:

If chavez wasn't so full of shit, the article below would be great news.



Chavez to `Leave Government' If Referendum Voted Down (Update1)

By Steven Bodzin

Nov. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said he will leave the government should voters reject his proposed changes to the constitution in a referendum, raising the stakes in an election pollsters say is too close to call.

``The voice of the people is the voice of God,'' he said today in a televised speech in the city of Merida. ``In the case that the reform isn't approved Sunday, I will start to pack my bags because I will have to leave the government.''

Chavez has sought to make the Dec. 2 vote a referendum about his presidency rather than the issues, which include ending presidential term limits, Oscar Schemel, director of Caracas polling firm Hinterlaces, said today at a press conference. Voters who know more about the 69 changes to the constitution are less likely to support them, he said.

The race is too close to call, Schemel said. Other recent polls have found the two sides in statistical ties among people certain to vote. Voters will decide whether to nationalize natural gas fields, guarantee gay rights and cut the work day to six hours, among other proposals

john_stark says on Nov 28, 2007, 21:54:

One way or the other Chavez is going to get what he wants as long as we keep giving it to him. The money that is. What I can't figure out is why we fund all these guys that we claim to hate?

billyb says on Nov 28, 2007, 21:56:

Probably for the same reason Chavez sells oil to the "Devil", poltics is politics and business is business.

Robert Jorge says on Nov 28, 2007, 22:00:

All I can hope is that Jimmy Carter again endorses the Venezuelan election as "fair" this time also.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

billyb says on Nov 28, 2007, 22:04:

Don't get me started on that senile old bastard, jeje.

goin_south says on Nov 28, 2007, 23:17:

that guy silenced Chavez for a moment... but, the discourse won't change the lunatic. Be sure,... he'll be at his antics again soon, because as Uribe said: he has an agenda and it's to rule south america

and, thank you.

billyb says on Nov 29, 2007, 06:51:

Acosta Says Venezuelan Army May Oppose Chavez Plan, Globo Says

By Guillermo Parra-Bernal

Nov. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Venezuela's armed forces may split and oppose President Hugo Chavez's plan to change the constitution if its approval on a Dec. 3 vote sparks violence, a retired army official and former Chavez ally told O Globo newspaper.

The armed forces are divided over the Chavez's constitutional plan and may join citizens in the ``construction of a new reality,'' Joel Acosta Chirinos, the former commander of the failed coup attempt that Chavez led in 1992, told Globo. Chirinos says the possibility the armed forces would take up arms can't be ruled out, Globo said.

podborski says on Nov 29, 2007, 07:49:

me in the Chavez hates mini skirts thread:

"just to be a bit more clear manINred, communism/socialism/fascism/naziism are not exactly the same of course, but their FUNDAMENTAL principles are the same, subordination of individual rights to collective rights, with the collective being either 'the state', 'the motherland', the 'fatherland' etc"

Sr t's response:

"I'd like to know who, today, holds "the belief that the individual has no meaning." Except for some fringe wackos, nobody. Most (legal) Communist parties have long dissociated from the Stalinist credo. The insinuation by Pod that Chavez is some sort of modern day Stalin-in-the-making is literally laughable. I'd like to see a trace of evidence of that--Pod's only contribution has been to pass as true poorly forged news and then claiming that he was just joking"

Chavez's slogan as quoted in the article above:

"Fatherland, Socialism or Death!��?"

Oh something is literally laughable alright sr t...jajaja

slguy says on Nov 29, 2007, 08:22:

It's obvious that Chavez is running a bit scared these past two weeks.

My question is- does his semi-literate power base understand how embarassing he is to their country? And are most of them smart enough to understand that a democratic Venezuela ceases to exist if they approve this blatant establishment of an irrevocable dictatorship?

Dunno.

I DO know that the dumbest modefoques are the Einsteins threatening to "boycott" the referendum.

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

fecherklyn says on Nov 29, 2007, 15:48:

Slguy,

"My question is- does his semi-literate power base understand how embarassing he is to their country?"

IMHO. NO. Just as many of the poorer comunities from the mid-states of the USA (or France, UK, if you prefer, etc) have little inclination to examine problems far from their front door, the Chavez power base is similarly concentrated uniquely on its own problems. Thus, the hitherto unrepresented poor can at least credit Chavez with throwing some crumbs in their direction whilst noting the "opposition" has, thus far, continued to ignore their existence from all practical aspects. Elsewhere, Chavez's power base comprises the ever-present opportunists who have obtained ("revolutionary") powers beyond their wildest dreams prior to his emergence....hence the new "missions" commisioner who finally purchased my "home" in Venezuela and who had never had a job, or bank account, prior to his exercise of "peoples'powers".

"And are most of them smart enough to understand that a democratic Venezuela ceases to exist if they approve this blatant establishment of an irrevocable dictatorship?

INHO, Yes, they are smart enough. As explained above......Chavez serves their interests until someone else comes along with a really democratic platform which has something in it for them.

As to the reform referandum...forget it! The result is already known before a single vote has been cast. You need confirmation? Just ask the (absent/rejected) foreign electoral auditors/observers. You want to count the votes? Sorry, you must accept our computer results!.......................................................etc.

vladimiro says on Nov 29, 2007, 15:49:

Actually, he is using his high popularity in Venezuela to push through less popular reforms.

Luis Vicente Leon, pollster with local Venezuelan polling firm Datanalisis:

While Chavez has 62 percent popularity, the reforms have 34.9 percent. So it is more important that Chavez use his strength and sell Chavez supporters the idea that they are voting for him, for his continuation, rather than for the reforms themselves. And we see that in the propaganda, the campaign is "Yes means Chavez" or "Continue on with Chavez".

http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersEdge/idUSDIS85641820071128

slguy says on Nov 29, 2007, 15:54:

Thanks, vlad. I could barely tell your political philosophy from your answers. Unusual! ;)

As I've said repeatedly - countries tend to get the governments they deserve.

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

fecherklyn says on Nov 29, 2007, 16:07:

Vladimiro,

Agreed 100%, with the proviso that pushing through his reforms not only comprises using his "high popularity" but also suppressing those who WOULD object to his way of operating.

Chavez is cannily refocusing the reforms referendum onto a "Do you want me or not?" basis. All credit to him for recognising the "Opposition" have nothing universally credible to offer.

But does this "acuteness" on his part excuse him from menacing all those who do not unreservedly subscribe to his vision? Don't agree with me....you lose your job. Don't agree with me......don't bother to ask for any govt subsidised loans, govt issue documentation (passports, cedulas, etc). And so on.

Chavez has been since this since Day 1, although this is only becoming manifest now. "The fast track is with me...everyone else beware!".

fecherklyn says on Nov 29, 2007, 16:13:

"
Should read..."Chavez has been like this since this since Day 1" .......,

john_stark says on Nov 29, 2007, 21:03:

"My question is- does his semi-literate power base understand how embarassing he is to their country? And are most of them smart enough to understand that a democratic Venezuela ceases to exist if they approve this blatant establishment of an irrevocable dictatorship?"

Embarassing? They are proud of the guy and the way he stands up to everybody and throws his weight around. Do you actually think the majority of Venezuelans give a hoot about democracy?

goin_south says on Nov 29, 2007, 22:00:

I-Pod, Yo...Acuerdo!!
One has to be careful with the Tertiary Discourse; sometimes it almost seems sensible.... but, usually, jus more liberal diarrhea.

and, thank you.

podborski says on Nov 30, 2007, 03:53:

it's the old 'baffle them with bullshit' approach huh GS? Nothing is black and white, we can't really know for sure, the blindingly obvious is 'simplistic' (what's wrong with simple anyway?)...blah blah blah

it works on college students though

cassini77 says on Nov 30, 2007, 15:13:

Billyb, you are right. But you must explain me why you write that Chavez is full of shit. Do you think you are a specialist in this domain ? Have you got a Ph.D. allowing you to speak so scientifically?

billyb says on Nov 30, 2007, 15:16:

Why yes, I have a PH.D. in B.S.

vladimiro says on Nov 30, 2007, 18:30:

"My question is- does his semi-literate power base understand.."

I would think Americans would be more understanding, because they too were similarly manipulated by their politicians with petty patriotism and fear mongering tactics. During what looks like a critical point in history with the rise of china, india and tech advancements that are changing the world economy, the US will be hemmoraging its resources in Iraq in vain for many years to come.

slguy says on Dec 1, 2007, 13:38:

To my way of thinking, there is a significant difference between believing previously credible speakers about intelligence data that the average american has no access to- and choosing to hand my country over to a buffoon who amuses himself by making fart jokes at the U.N.

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

cassini77 says on Dec 2, 2007, 15:07:

Ph.D. in B.S. = Ph.D. in Big Shit ?

Man Tequila says on Dec 2, 2007, 15:11:

The blades of fulmination on the helicopter of my confusion are flying in the heavens of indifference.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

slguy says on Dec 2, 2007, 15:21:

All right, MT, I give.

Is that one of your pearls, or a bit of innocent plagiarism? ;)

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

Man Tequila says on Dec 2, 2007, 17:16:

No plagarism, who can say who inspired me? ;)

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

goin_south says on Dec 2, 2007, 18:00:

Any Late_Breaking, Inspirational Surges at the polls in Caracas this evening?
Anyone?

and, thank you.

podborski says on Dec 3, 2007, 03:13:

jaja man t..I loved the one that went something like 'the train of your stupidity rides on the rails of my indifference', almost good enough for my signature line, although not sure if I'd be quoting cassini or if he borrowed that phrase. If it's borrowed we need to find the source

kalder says on Dec 3, 2007, 04:35:

Yes. I've just read MT's bon mot. Very good :)

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

billyb says on Dec 3, 2007, 07:53:

"Ph.D. in B.S. = Ph.D. in Big Shit ?"

BS=Bull Shit, Cassini, that's why I'm one of the few that can decipher your nonsense.

goin_south says on Dec 3, 2007, 22:03:

'El tren de su estupidiante..... jejjee

and, thank you.

scotty says on Dec 4, 2007, 00:37:

I think Chavez is hurting himself around the world, people are getting tired of his big mouth and threats. he has had words with the USA, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, and his mouth is still flapping.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

Rikito says on Dec 10, 2007, 15:11:

Give Cassini a break. It took him all day to learn how to spell PhD.

It is not life that matters, but the journey.

billyb says on Dec 10, 2007, 15:38:

Moving beyond insults......


From El Universal

Guyana to protest at UN incident involving Venezuela




The Guyanese government has plans to file a complaint at the United Nations (UN) due to Venezuela's delay to issue an official report on the destruction of two Guyanese dredgers for rivers, an occurrence that has renewed the border tensions between the neighboring countries, AP reported.

Guyana's Minister of Foreign Affairs Rudy Insanally said that Georgetown would seek the UN reply because the Venezuelan government never provided an explanation. Some weeks ago, the Guyanese army reported that Venezuelan troops blasted two dredgers used for gold mining on November 15, in river Cuyuní.

"Our sovereignty is first. Everybody should understand that," said Insanally on Monday in a communiqué. He added that President Bharrat Jagdeo felt frustrated because of the Venezuelan government failure to give a timely reply.

According to the Guyanese army, 36 Venezuelan soldiers used helicopters and C-4 explosives to destroy the river dredgers.