Chavez Says He Has White House Informant

[cal04]

Venezuela President Hugo Chavez said Sunday he has received warnings from within the White House that the Bush administration is plotting to assassinate him or topple his left-leaning government.

Citing what he said were warnings from an alleged White House informant, Chavez told thousands of supporters at a campaign rally that President Bush has ordered him to be killed before he leaves office in 2008.

Bush ``has said that before he goes, Hugo Chavez shouldn't be the president of Venezuela,'' Chavez told the crowd. ``The president of the United States has said it, especially in recent days. What he doesn't know is that I have friends in the White House.''

The Venezuelan leader has claimed before that the U.S. government is out to kill him - allegations that U.S. officials deny.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6119116,00.html

[EST]

1. No one needs an informant to figure that out.

[Cha]

29. Not if you know how that

shitty little dictator's mo, ya don't.

[Luminous Animal]

2. This is actually pretty funny...

If he doesn't have a mole, then he is capitalizing on people's hatred of the U.S. to strengthen his chances of staying in power.

And if he doesn't have a mole (or if he does, for that matter) then he may have incited more insanity at the White House as they trip overthemselves to , "FIND THE MOLE!" Let's see if anyone resigns.

[bigbrother05]

3. I love it.

[Journeyman]

6. Precisely my thoughts when I read the subject line. . .

Thanks for phrasing it so succinctly.

[Wretched Refuse]

8. I have always wondered

why if Osasm REALLY wanted * out of office, he could just comeo out with a video saying he was in collusion with * on 9/11 and George, thru Osama's daddy, planned the whole thing. But, that would be IF Osama WANTED * out of power. And since * has now provided Osama with MANY more new recruits and a BRAND SPANKING NEW training ground against the world's best defense system, why WOULD Osama want * out of office? Shrub's staying in power is GOOD FOR Osama. Shrub loves the terrorists.

[ngant17]

22. there was a mole in the White House on 911

if I recall, there was a high-level breach of the White House ultra top secret security codes that allowed someone to access presidential communications lines on 911, and to my knowledge no one has ever figured out how that happened. Same as the anthrax attacks.

The Repugs seemed to have forgotten that incident, no one has followed up on the investigation or at least it has never been mentioned in the press as far as I have been able to read.

Chavez's mole would seem small potatoes compared to above.

[Greyhound]

25. I remember the assertion, but I though it was simply another

absurd lie they made up to cover his cowardice during the aftermath of the attack. Those codes are just as secure as the launch codes required for nukuler weapons.

One of the many, many, many lies they have thrown out that are soon forgotten by the M$M stenographers.

[NVMojo]

24. right on!!

[cliss]

27. You're right Luminous and I agree.

This was a smart move on Chavez' part. If anything happens to him, THE WORLD will know who was responsible.

Also, using the concept of a Mole will really heighten their paranoia. These people are paranoid, make no mistake about it. Just watch them start a witch hunt, looking for the Leaker.

You are right.:smoke:

[Cha]

30. It's freakin' hilarious.

Either way, Chavez is letting the world know that he knows of the devil's plans.

[K8-EEE]

4. He's Dumb Like A Fox

If I were him I'd keep up this rhetoric too, so that if he does get assasinated, he'll have the satisfaction of knowing 3/4 of the world will blame the US. It would be really, really bad for BushCo right now if that were to happen, their credibility is like, nil.

[MissMarple]

5. Chavez is a loose cannon. n/t

[spag68]

7. He may be a loose cannon

but you gotta love him. For a guy from a little country like that to be able to tweak the thugs in Washington is just too funny.

[MissMarple]

9. He does make me smile.

And...he does have courage.

[JoFerret]

28. Mixed blessing

too bad he is so flawed in so many crucial respects. Don't pin your hopes to a dim star.

[Peace Patriot]

11. A "loose cannon"? Meaning...not controlled by whom?

What would NOT being a "loose cannon" mean to you? He's the duly elected president of his country. He represents millions of Venezuelans. He speaks his mind. He doesn't lie, so far as I can determine. He's never said anything that was "loose" or irresponsible. His statements are always on point. And, actually--in his statement about Bush and the odor of sulfur Bush left behind at the UN podium--he was speaking for billions of South Americans, and most of the diplomatics at the UN smiled, laughed and applauded. THEY knew what he meant. It wasn't "loose cannon" talk to THEM. It's what they were all thinking. He was shooting at the right target, with the right cannon balls--not spewing his fire power crazily all around him, as the phrase "loose cannon" brings to mind. It was very on point.

What ship should he be attached to, and what targets should he be shooting at--to make him NOT a "loose cannon"?

He's a little colorful, and not terribly "diplomatic" when dealing with Bush and the US. But then, Bush and the US have been quite uncivil to HIM--issuing an assassination threat through Pat Robertson, messing around with violent military coups, and pouring money into Chavez's opposition (in violation of Venezuelan law). Why should he be polite? I think he's a man with a great sense of humor, in the face of truly evil Bushite designs against him and his country. I like his style. We've all been too polite about Bush (--our Democratic leaders sometimes make me want to vomit, they're so deferential!). Chavez has the right idea. Call these criminals on their shit. Say it!

Anyway, I really don't understand your phrase. A "loose cannon" in whose terms?

[MissMarple]

13. Chill....

And I get your point. The cannon has it's own integrity, on the decks of the ship that is this world, he is loose. Solitary.

He should, however, give all of us, most especially George, a heads up about the nascent power of Central and South America.

And, yes, I know what nascent means. And in our world, the U.S. with all our warts and warthogs, he is solitary, relatively speaking.

[Peace Patriot]

17. Well, that's what I was getting at. He is by no means solitary.

It is the Bushites who are isolated and solitary. For instance, Condi Rice went down there and tried to bully and bribe the other South American countries to stop Venezuela's bid for a UN Security Council seat next year. She failed. They are supporting Venezuela. (Chavez mentioned it in his speech, and I've been following the reports). They just made Venezuela a full member of Mercosur--the So. American trade, infrastructure and political organization. As a result of Venezuela's help with onerous World Bank/IMF loans, Argentina's economy is now stable and on the rise, and consequently, Argentina is now in talks with Brazil on a common currency (like the euro), cutting the US dollar out. The tide in South America is overwhelmingly leftist (majorityist)--quite far to the left on our dwarfed political spectrum--and commited to regional cooperation, solidarity, and self-determination. That's Chavez's influence (he calls it Bolvarianism, after the great revolutionary hero Simon Bolivar, whose dream was a United States of Latin America).

In South America, Chavez is a popular leader, and is not in the least alone. He has millions--the majority--who agree with him. It is Bush who cannot set foot in South America!

Now look at the rest of the world. Bush is the most despised leader since Hitler. He has violated the world's laws, spat at the UN, illegally invaded another country, lost all credit in the Middle East, Europe and other places, has shown his regime to be greedy, bullying, unscrupulous, and without any redeeming features. In Asia, the South Koreans despise him. They want a peaceful resolution with the north. He has abandoned Afghanistan, and I'm sure even that puppet government is pissed off. Even Pakistan seems to be trying to distance itself from Bush. And do you remember Bush's reception in England? Millions of people demonstrated against him, and he was stuck in the Queen's residence. He couldn't go anywhere. Same in Ireland. He and his regime are held in the utmost contempt worldwide--also, apparently by most of the diplomats who heard Chavez's speech the UN. He got a standing ovation.

And Bush is despised here at home. He's had a 60% to 70% disapproval rating for several years now. His regime is in disarray. They've even had to back off of the sanctions plan against Iran--let alone their grandiose plans for invasion. They're running a $10 TRILLION deficit. They couldn't even provide hurricane relief--they were callous and negligent and ugly about it. Iraq is falling apart. The calls for Rumsfeld's resignation seem to come daily now. Many Americans are becoming convinced that the 2004 election was stolen. Impeachment talk becomes more open all the time. The military is incredibly unhappy, and ex-generals keep speaking out (speaking for the generals who can't speak). The torture bill may have been the last straw for them. And Bush himself is completely lacking in political skills (and all human skills), and seems to know nothing about government. He can't even talk coherently. Could anyone be more isolated? He has no sense of reality. His idea of power is to kick people around.

Yeah, we have a big dick. That is not real power. Real power comes from persuasion and example, and from understanding other people and seeing to their needs. And that is something Bush has never known. He's like a little bully boy. He can kick over an anthill. But he hasn't a clue how to put one together, nor how wondrous nature is in its intricate organization of things. He has no clue what moves other people, nor how to persuade them. He hasn't convinced anybody of anything. Look at the issue and approval polls over the last several years. People profoundly distrust him, and disagree with all of his policies, in big numbers.

I can't imagine anyone MORE isolated than Bush, personally, nor a U.S. government with less cache in the world than this one has. They might be able to bomb people, and rob people, but that's ALL they can do. Hurt people. They have no real power.

Look at this wall against Mexico. Can you imagine anything more "solitary" than that, for the US government to be engaging in? A fucking wall!

[MrPrax]

19. Great post!!

Succintly put and well framed...

:yourock:

[ima_sinnic]

20. fabulous post--I am saving!

You have described * and his miserable failure regime to a "T"

:applause:

[xchrom]

21. i want to kick your post.

a united states in it's right mind would HELP the economic independence of south america.

[Greyhound]

26. A small point for future reference, the population of South America is

about 350 million. Just so you know, because the Chavez haters love to jump on little mistakes while ignoring the main point.:hi:

[Cha]

31. You're describing exactly why

I like Chavez. I don't expect him to be another mr suave bill clinton, for instance. Chavez is Chavez and I like him just fine.

[tritsofme]

10. Its nice to have a scape-goat to blame all your problems on

Makes it a lot easier to ignore your own domestic problems.

Here in America we have "terra" it seems in Venezuela, Chavez has his fantasy that Bush is going to kill him.

[Peace Patriot]

16. Fantasy? He's had White House frequent diner Pat Robertson call for his

assassination. He's suffered through a violent military coup attempt that the Bushites applauded (and probably instigated). Bush's buds at Exxon and Chevron organized an oil professionals' strike that nearly destroyed Venezuela's economy. They're harboring a known terrorist, wanted in Venezuela for the bombing of a Cubana airliner in which many Venezuelans died. They've refused to extradite him. They've poured millions of OUR taxpayer dollars into the political campaigns of the tiny rich elite that opposes him (in violation of Venezuela law). They badmouth him constantly, for no cause. They call him a dictator. He is most certainly not anything of the kind. Clearly, they're just lusting to control Venezuelan oil, and hate him for daring to use Venezuela's rightful, legal oil revenues for numerous, REAL projects for Venezuela's poor--schools, adult literacy programs, medical clinics, small business loans--things Venezuela's poor have NEVER BEFORE SEEN from their government. He is setting a BAD EXAMPLE for oiligarchs. He's supposed to be like THEY are--selfish, greedy and murderous. They slaughtered tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis without a thought. And they cannot forgive him for being otherwise.

And it's not as if there are no precedents for the US's violent interference in South American countries--with the Bushites now employing some of the very people who did much of it--death squads in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala and other countries. Brutal military dictatorships, with torturers and killers trained on our shores, by our government. The history of South America is blood drenched by Reagan and Bush operatives!

I'd sure like to know who the White House mole is. Maybe it's Pat Robertson himself, suddenly turned into a real Christian, and trying to make amends.

But the thing that strikes me most about this Chavez accusation is that it's so like this Mafiosa-like regime in our White House--to issue a vendetta. It makes no sense for them to kill Chavez. Their "problem" in South America is continent-wide. Their killing Chavez will only INCREASE their problems there, and seriously damage US business interests, which are already experiencing continent-wide fallout from Bush's fascist policy, as well as from their own greed and ill intentions. Can you imagine, for instance, what Michele Batchelet, the new socialist president of Chile, who was tortured by the US-backed dictator Pinochet, thinks of Bush's torture bill? The left--the majority--has won in South America! It's all over. There are now very popular leftist governments in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Venezuela and Bolivia--and will be soon in Ecuador (and in Peru next election cycle). To do business in So. America, our global corporate predators are going to have to deal with governments that are into justice and equity for the poor, and democracy.

But it's just like the Bush Junta to be oblivious to all this, and to put a bullet in Chavez just because they don't like his face, or because he's too mouthy and called Bush the devil. A witty response was called for. Not the Bushites. They have no wit. They're just mean--and personally full of hate. They hate US, you know, the people of the United States, as well. Katrina was gratuitous hate. Sick hate. That's why I think this story is true--in addition to having followed Chavez quite closely in many different kinds of news reports and other sources, and never discovering any evidence that he lies.

[tritsofme]

18. Pat Robinson is a crazy old man that no one pays attention to any more

Lots of RWers think Chavez should be assasinated, Robertson just has more of a pedestal to stand on.

No one disputes the evils of the Bush gang, but you surely can't dispute that Chavez's feud with Bush serves as an excellent political device for him at home.

[rman]

23. Nothing but vague insinuations

Do we have to resurrect the Official DU Hugo Chavez Right-Wing Falsehood Debunking Thread yet again?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=311462&mesg_id=311538

[ShortnFiery]

36. That's no fantasy, If * could, IMO, he'd *off* Chavez in a hearbeat.

If they didn't waste all their political capitol losing Iraq - If things were going well - IMO we'd be invading Venezuala now. :scared:

[frylock]

43. you can't possibly be that naive..

do a little research on Kissinger and Allende, then tell me Chavez is whack.

[Judi Lynn]

12. For people who were too busy to note another coup plot foiled in Vene.:

Published: Sunday, May 09, 2004
Bylined to: Philip Stinard


Second coup attempt: Urban Security Command of the Venezuelan National Guard was to be attacked Wednesday, May 12

Radio Nacional de Venezuela reports: One of the 55 paramilitaries captured this morning on a ranch in El Hatillo (Caracas) owned by opposition leader Robert Alonso, was interviewed by journalist Darvin Romero Montiel of Venezolana de Television (VTV).

The presumed paramilitary, with a strong Colombian accent, gave his testimony anonymously, wearing a hood for security reasons. He confirmed that he was deceived when he came to Venezuela. They had offered him work as a campesino, and then threatened to kill his family if he tried to escape.

“The ranch owner told us that he would pay 500,000 pesos (USD $190) to each Colombian if they would come to work here. After we arrived at the farm, people wearing camouflage gave us more information, that they would take us to another place to prepare us to capture strategic Venezuelan National Guard locations.”

“We couldn’t escape from here.”

The paramilitary confirmed that he was a reservist in the Colombian Army, that he didn’t belong to any subversive group, and that he has a family. “I’m a country man, a hard worker, and I was only looking for a place to work.” He said that they it wasn’t until he arrived in Venezuela that they told him that he couldn’t escape or they would kill his family. Today is his 46th day on the ranch.

“After 8 days, they told us that we couldn’t leave, that they wouldn’t give any of us information, and that we couldn’t meet with civilians or they would kill our families.” The training consisted of “how to enter a house, kill from a car… the majority of us had already served in the (military). They deceived us. We thought that we were coming to work on a farm, to plant plantains and cassava. Yesterday at 3:00 in the afternoon, some uniformed corporals and generals brought us camouflage clothing, boots, armbands, food, provisions, coffee; they supplied us well. We saw them from afar. They wouldn’t let us get close.”

They practiced shooting firearms. “They brought an instructor from the (unintelligible) police, who brought equipment and made us watch films, VHS and everything.” However, the access and use of firearms was restricted. “Four days ago, they brought 5 small arms, pistols, and one rifle.”

The youth (who said that he comes from Bucaramanga, Colombia), commented that they hadn’t asked for documents at any Venezuelan border crossing, because a contact, probably active Venezuelan military personnel, guaranteed their free transit through national territory.

Plan: To steal arms from the National Guard to give to 3,000 paramilitaries.

According to statements released this morning by DISIP Commissioner Miguel Rodriguez, the terrorist plan consisted of attacking a military installation in Caracas this week, possibly the Urban Security Command of the National Guard. On Monday, the paramilitaries were to be taken to another ranch, where they would receive final training with arms and ammunition, and do the assault on Wednesday. “We were going to attack a military base that has tunnels underneath containing arms,” said the presumed paramilitary. The purpose, according to one of the anti-Chavez “generals,” was to steal arms from the base to give to a 3,000 strong paramilitary group who were to come to Venezuela in 8 days.

The final objective of the trained paramilitary group was to overthrow Venezuela's Bolivarian government.

“When we learned everything, more than one Colombian wanted to escape; one Colombian got up and escaped, but they caught him after 100 meters, tied him up, and told him that next time he would be killed. They took away our ID cards and all of our Colombian papers,” said the paramilitary.
(snip/)

http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=21056

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published on Monday, May 17, 2004 by the Agence France Presse
Thousands Protest Colombian Paramilitary Presence in Venezuela
Chavez to Set up 'People's Militia'



President Hugo Chavez announced his government would establish "people's militias" to counter what he called foreign interference after an alleged coup plot by Colombian paramilitaries Caracas claims was financed by Washington.

Chavez also said he would boost the strength of Venezuela's armed forces as part of a new "anti-imperialist" phase for his government.

"Each and every Venezuelan man and woman must consider themselves a soldier," said Chavez.

"Let the organization of a popular and military orientation begin from today."


Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez addresses supporters during a mass rally in Caracas on Sunday, May 16, 2004. Chavez announced his government would establish 'people's militias' to counter what he called foreign interference after an alleged coup plot by Colombian paramilitaries Caracas claims was financed by Washington
Credit: Venpres

The president's announcement came a week after authorities arrested 88 people described as Colombian paramilitaries holed up on property belonging to a key opposition figure.

Earlier, thousands of Chavez supporters draped in national colors marched through the streets of Caracas to protest the alleged coup plot.

Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel claimed the United States and Colombians were involved in the conspiracy.

"This march is in response to the conspiracy mounted by the Colombian oligarchy and the North American empire, but we will defeat them," Rangel said.

Rangel said the number of paramilitaries and people arrested linked to the plot uncovered last week had now risen to 120, out of 130 believed to be implicated.

Of those detained, 102 are in prison, and nine are due to go Monday before a judge.

Eight active-duty Venezuelan military officers allegedly linked to the plot have also been arrested.
(snip)

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0517-04.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Colombian paramilitaries arrested in Venezuela

Jeremy Lennard and agencies
Monday May 10, 2004
Guardian Unlimited


Venezuelan police have arrested more than 70 Colombian paramilitary fighters who were allegedly plotting to strike against the government in Caracas, according to the country's president, Hugo Chávez.
Opposition leaders, however, were quick to dismiss the president's claim, calling the raids on a farm less than 10 miles from the capital a ruse to divert attention from their efforts to oust Mr Chávez in a recall vote.

During his weekly radio and TV broadcast, Hello Mr President, Mr Chávez said that 53 paramilitary fighters were arrested at the farm early on Sunday and another 24 were picked up after fleeing into the countryside.

The country's security forces were uncovering additional clues and searching for more suspects, he said, adding that the arrests were proof of a conspiracy against his government involving Cuban and Venezuelan exiles in Florida and neighbouring Colombia.
Mr Chávez also claimed the plot was backed by Venezuela's mostly pro-opposition news media and said that the raids had "eliminated the seed of a terrorist group".
(snip)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/venezuela/story/0,,1213445,00.html



Photo from an "opposition" demonstration, Caracas.

[OneBlueSky]

14. brilliant! . . . he's gonna have the White House going bat-shit crazy . .

trying to figure out who the informant is . . . talk about ratcheting up the paranoia a couple of notches! . . .

even more brilliant if there is no informant -- which I suspect may be the case . . . :evilgrin:

[roamer65]

15. I love Hugo...

he always keeps them guessing.

[Toucano]

32. Hugo really should lay off a bit.

I love him, but I don't think he's playing his hand as well as he could.

Focus on Venezuela and America Latina for awhile, Hugo. GWB and the Repubs are fucking themselves pretty good right now.

[yurbud]

33. nope--if he's quiet, no one in America will notice when he's gone

It's tougher to get away with killing someone so high profile.

[yurbud]

34. If he doesn't, this is a nice bit of psych warfare, make the fuckheads

paranoid.

[GiveUsHope]

35. I don't think he's telling the truth

If he had one in there he wouldn't admit it. Or maybe that's what he WANTS us to think.

Remember the film the Princess Bride? Exactly.

[ShortnFiery]

37. Princess Bride

Princess Bride :wtf: ... no offense but I couldn't get beyond the title name to get myself to go see it. :shrug:

[GiveUsHope]

39. Great film

Good story.

[ShortnFiery]

40. I just may rent it ... or at least take a second look at the video store.

Thank-you. :hi:

[brentspeak]

38. Chavez spends more time talking about alleged plots against him

than he does tending to the business of his own country.

[Peace Patriot]

41. Not true, brentspeak. For one thing, plots against him ARE the

business of his country. He is the democratically elected president, and the U.S.-backed fascist elite has tried one thing after another, to destroy both him and constitutional government in Venezuela. What would happen to Venezuela if they succeeded? Actually, I think the democracy movement in Venezuela is so strong that Venezuelan democracy would survive, or eventually be restored, but there might be hell to pay in the meantime (Pinochet-type hell). Bear in mind that the democracy movement in Venezuela is linked to the democracy movement throughout Latin America--and other Latin American countries WOULD take action, in the case of a military coup in V.--sanctions, isolation of the coupsters, demand for restoration of constitutional government, strong diplomacy, etc. But it could be a rough time for Venezuelan democrats and political activists. So, Chavez talking about these threats, and trying to prevent them, IS public business.

Secondly, your statement is so exaggerated that it literally cannot be true. He makes a few statements, issues a few press releases, about this subject, and the rest of his time he is doing...? ...what?

Do you KNOW how much time Chavez spends on the OTHER business of his own country? Let's see. His government has restructured their oil company and its relationship with the oil giants to yield more revenues for Venezuela--a huge project in and of itself--and his government is spending those revenues on massive programs to provide schools, teachers, adult literacy programs, free university educations, medical clinics, community centers, and small business loans and grants to poor areas never before served by government; to buy back land for small farmers in a program to achieve food self-sufficiency for the nation, and to restore indigenous rights; to build low-cost housing for the shantytown residents of Caracas (whose homes regularly slide off the hills in heavy rains); to fund public radio and TV; to develop indigenous arts (traditional music, for instance); and to subsidize food for the poorest of the poor. Among other things. He also spends him time working with Mercosur (regional Latin American trade and development group) on projects of mutual benefit; arranging easy-term loans for Argentina (so they can get out of onerous World Bank/IMF debt); finding alternative markets for Venezuelan oil and partners for oil infrastructure (China, for instance)--so that Venezuela is not so dependent on oil sales to the U.S.; and initiating diplomatic missions around the world for various Venezuela goals (trade, medical and educational projects, and various kinds of cooperation). Chavez in addition does a regular, lengthy TV broadcast to the nation, reporting on all of his activities and those of his government. He is responsible for all of the new projects within his country, and visits them regularly--and, as executive, oversees them, appoints managers, reviews reports, gives reports to congress, and consults with his cabinet. He is also responsible for the military, and for national emergency services. And all of these things--government projects, and accountability for them, as well as Latin American regional cooperative projects--are running so smoothly, that you have to figure they are well-managed and that someone is in charge. Chavez does have a government filled with highly intelligent, competent people, but he is the leader of it, and--as they say--"the buck stops there." And if it weren't all going well, don't you think we would have heard about it from our kneejerk anti-Chavez press? All indicators are UP in Venezuela. It's a successful government AND country. No one can deny it. Chavez is a great president. And he spends actually VERY LITTLE time talking about the White House plots against him.

I think the problem is that that is the only time you notice him--when he says something about Bush, and it gets reported here. I would suggest that you do some research on Chavez's accomplishments in Venezuela. www.venezuelanalysis.com is a good place to start. It is pro-Chavez, but it's well-written, with a lot of different commentators, and it does post news that is critical of him (--if it's reasonable, factual and not just rightwing rantings).

Chavez's statements about the threats against him COULD be demagoguery--but I have seen no other evidence of demagoguery in Chavez. He doesn't tend that way. So I am inclined to believe him. ANY politician can get a big head, and get into powermongering, exaggeration and deceit. All should be held in suspicion. I am no pollyanna about politicians--even ones I like. But we also need to be aware of the campaign against Chavez in our war profiteering corporate news monopolies--it is very intense (and sometimes just absurd)--and seek out more objective information, and also counter-balancing positive information, and try to determine what is true and what isn't. My opinion, after much information gathering: The great majority of Venezuelans love Chavez and greatly approve of his policies; he is genuinely representative of his country; he is a good influence in Latin America and in the world.

[truebrit71]

42. Thank you for that information. I am truly tired of the DU'ers...

...that jump on the Ckavez-hating bandwagon with no more information than that which they are spoon-fed by the MSM...

[countryjake]

46. Thanks for all this info!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

45. It takes about ten seconds to make a statement.

For some reason I think Chavez's work day is a bit longer than 20 seconds.

[HughLefty1]

44. Very informative thread....

I tried to recommend this but don't have enought post yet to do so...there are alot of good points in this thread.

[Judi Lynn]

47. It's only possible, too, to add your recommendation in the first 24 hours

after the original article is posted. That may have been the problem you encountered.

Glad to see your comment. Welcome to D.U.