Venezuela's Chavez says Obama has "stench" of Bush

[Bacchus39]

Source: Reuters

CAMPO CARABOBO, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Saturday Barack Obama had the "stench" of his predecessor as U.S. president and was at risk of being killed if he tries to change the American "empire."

Most world leaders expect a new era of U.S. foreign relations when Obama, a Democrat, is sworn in as president on Tuesday after Republican George W. Bush's eight years in the White House.

But Chavez said frayed ties with Washington were unlikely to improve despite the departure of Bush, who the Venezuelan leader has often called the "devil."

"I hope I am wrong, but I believe Obama brings the same stench, to not say another word," Chavez said at a political rally on a historic Venezuelan battlefield.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE50G2F420090118

---

in Spanish, calls Obama "la misma miasma"


mi⋅as⋅ma   /maɪˈæzmə, mi-/ Show Spelled Pronunciation Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun, plural -mas, -ma⋅ta  /-mətə/ Show Spelled Pronunciation <-muh-tuh> Show IPA Pronunciation . 1. noxious exhalations from putrescent organic matter; poisonous effluvia or germs polluting the atmosphere.
2. a dangerous, foreboding, or deathlike influence or atmosphere.


http://lta.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idLTASIE50G...

CARACAS (Reuters) - El presidente de Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, dijo el sábado que cree que el mandatario electo de Estados Unidos, Barack Obama, es la "misma miasma" que su predecesor y dijo que pudiera ser asesinado si desobedece al "imperio estadounidense".



Chávez, un feroz crítico del Gobierno del presidente George W. Bush, pese al multimillonario intercambio comercial entre Caracas y Washington, dijo que Obama, que asume el poder el 20 de enero, será un nuevo "fiasco" para Estados Unidos y el mundo.

[stray cat]

1. Chavez wants more world-wide attention than he is being given

the world economy has everyones focus.

[Andy823]

2. After 8 years of Bush

Obama is going to have to prove himself to the world, sad but true. Now I believe he can do this, but it will take some time. You can't dump poison in a lake for 8 years and expect to have it clean in a few days when the new owner takes over. Bush has made it very hard for Obama in many ways, getting world leaders to accept that he is not the same as Bush will take time. As for Chavez, well I think he is a tad on the paranoid side, and he may have good reason to be doubtful after what Bush has done.

[liberalmuse]

3. No, that stench of Bush is Bush.

It's going to take awhile to get that smell out. Chavez would be wise to give Obama a fucking chance to get into office before he starts puffing out his chest again. Gee whiz. He may be a bit jealous. He used to be the world's darling and now Obama is.

[Child_Of_Isis]

4. He used to be the world's darling and now Obama is.

Bingo!

[ohio2007]

5. Hugo needs a whipping straw man

According to the National Institute of Statistics, by the last month of 2008, the number of jobless grew to 782,917, whereas the working population stood at 12,041,709


http://english.eluniversal.com/2009/01/15/en_eco_art_unemployment-and-pov_15A2193567.shtml

10% unemployment requires a straw man.

[Mika]

7. More like DU needs a whipping straw man like Chavez.

What do you think the real unemployment levels are in this country?

[ohio2007]

11. And what do you think

the real unemployment numbers are if the article claim a Venezuelan population of 12 million workers ?

now you can see why Hugo is grovelling on his knees begging big oil to return
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3690721&mesg_id=3690721
should they ?

It only benefits Hugo's biggest customer

What is Hugo afraid of ?
http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKN1731625820090118?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0

[PSPS]

15. Hmmm

Chavez is talking to a domestic audience in this rally, and I agree that his comments do seem somewhat crude to american ears. This is a rather unique period in america where the president-elect, Obama, is being guaged since the election as if he were already president. But let's face it. Ever since the election, there has been a political vacuum here because the world has already checked bush off and, instead, is focusing entirely on Obama because he is kind of the de-facto president now.

A lot of the actions taken by Obama so far, including some of his appointments, have been horribly disappointing. The most recent example I can think of is his "idea" to create a "government bank" to buy (pay off with taxpayer funds) all the toxic assets hidden on the books of the banks at their full "pretend" face value despite them being largely worthless. This just continues the bush practice of looting the treasury on behalf of the rich and politically well-connected.

As for our unemployment rate, well, the following speaks for itself.


The SGS Alternate Unemployment Rate reflects current
unemployment reporting methodology adjusted for
SGS-estimated "discouraged workers" defined away
during the Clinton Administration added to the
existing BLS estimates of level U-6 unemployment.

[killbotfactory]

17. That's where our unemployment will be soon

It's already that high in some cities

[Cronopio]

6. What Chavez doesn't understand ...

... is that if you're fighting the pigs in a pigsty, you going to get a little of the "la misma miasma" on you.

I think Chavez is trying to rationalize the taint of "la misma miasma" that's gotten on him in his struggles. Only the actions matter, not the stench.

[ohio2007]

8. maybe the stench is comming from the

Libertador municipality

The official statistics do not include people killed in clashes between rival gangs, crimes of passion or armed showdowns with police corps (Photo: Kisaí Mendoza)


http://english.eluniversal.com/2009/01/12/en_pol_art_official-tally:-2,16_12A2189617.shtml
There is a vote next month but Rule By Decree remains in effect well past that date.

[cobalt1999]

9. Chavez needs an American boogyman to keep people focused on.

I predict he'll be accusing Obama of plotting to kill and overthrow him by summer.

[defendandprotect]

65. And the US doesn't need "boogymen" ...!!???

[acmavm]

10. I am a huge Chavez fan. But I sure wish he'd wait and see if he could work

with the Obama administration before he goes spewing idiocy like this. Dammit.

edit: Whoops, maybe there is a reason for Hugo to feel nervous:

<snip>

Even by Venezuelan standards, the story seemed implausible. On January 9, a young reporter Pedro Carvajalino, from community television station Ávila TV, filmed four leading figures of Venezuela's right-wing opposition returning from Puerto Rico. They had just arrived by private jet from the U.S. territory, where they had purportedly met with representatives of the U.S. Department of State.

According to emails obtained by the reporter, officials held the meeting to plan strategy and secure funding aimed at defeating a proposed amendment to the Venezuelan constitution that would allow elected officials, including President Hugo Chávez, to seek reelection.

The story first broke on Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), a government television channel. The brewing scandal has quickly become a centerpiece of a debate over U.S. interference in the internal affairs of the country as it prepares to vote on the re-election referendum in February.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x417460

_________________________________________________________________-
Nuts.

[INDIA]

20. "I am a huge Chavez fan"

Wow. How embarrassing.

[acmavm]

23. NO, not at all. I happen to favorably view those that defend and aid

the poor.

Now you on the other hand strike me as being comparable to a pimple on the ass of humanity.

[ima_sinnic]

44. good one!

I concur on both counts

[bitchkitty]

58. sssssnap! n/t

[lumpy]

66. It is understandable why Chavez has no trust in the US

government no matter who is president. There are certain elements in this country that any US president has no control over. It is common knowledge that US agents have tried to 'do away' with Chavez and have supported anti-Chavez Venezuelans.

[Endangered Specie]

12. Ha, lets he how the Chavez lovers defend this...

[acmavm]

26. We're not. It was uncalled for. But maybe this has something to do with

it. Maybe he thinks US policy won't change and the School of the America's shit will continue under Obama just like it did under bush**.

<snip>

Even by Venezuelan standards, the story seemed implausible. On January 9, a young reporter Pedro Carvajalino, from community television station Ávila TV, filmed four leading figures of Venezuela's right-wing opposition returning from Puerto Rico. They had just arrived by private jet from the U.S. territory, where they had purportedly met with representatives of the U.S. Department of State.

According to emails obtained by the reporter, officials held the meeting to plan strategy and secure funding aimed at defeating a proposed amendment to the Venezuelan constitution that would allow elected officials, including President Hugo Chávez, to seek reelection.

The story first broke on Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), a government television channel. The brewing scandal has quickly become a centerpiece of a debate over U.S. interference in the internal affairs of the country as it prepares to vote on the re-election referendum in February.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[onehandle]

13. One of the heroes of Democratic Underground.

Figures.

[Frank Booth]

14. Chavez can be amusing,

but seems more interested in getting attention than anything else.

[ohio2007]

37. yes

[leftstreet]

16. Well, at least he didn't call him "Mr. Danger"

His term for Dubya.

That used to crack me up

:rofl:

[Demeter]

18. Way to Win Friends and Influence People, Hugo!

Getting a bit ahead of yourself, aren't you? Or did you try to place a call and not get through?

Or is this a preemptive strike? Not a good start, in any event.

[Wizard777]

19. This is little more than Chavez being pessimistic and cajoling about Obama's Presidency.

But the message is clear that Obama must do much better than Bush. Obama know this and accepts this. Now it's just a matter of having Obama's plans survive contact with reality.......and Congress. But I think Obama is doing very well on the ground work with that. He's reaching out to the American people. We are reaching out to him. That pretty much puts Congress between a rock & a hard place if they don't wanna go our way. It's up to us to put the pressure on our Congress critters to enact his beautiful vision of America's future.

[Bette Noir]

39. It's like work and fishing...

Our worst day with Obama is going to be better than our best day under Bush.

Sure, some of Obama's appointments have been disappointing. But he's going to close Gitmo and end torture, for sure. If possible, he's going to goose the economy, end at least one of the wars, and make sure we all have access to health care.

It'a low bar, but he can't help being better than Bush.

[conspirator]

21. I think Chavez is right. But he should not say it openly for now, it's not diplomatic nt

[Cha]

24. No, chavez is dead wrong..and I don't know

what his problem is but those of us who lived through the last 8 years of the bush coup nightmare know the difference.

Except a few of course who just need to piss and moan.

[geek tragedy]

48. Why are you on DEMOCRATIC underground.

This is not Communist Underground.

[Bacchus39]

53. yes, very very soon we will see how the ranks line up. n/t

n

[killbotfactory]

22. And what has Obama said about Chavez while on the campaign trail?

Oh wait, that's different. :eyes:

"I hope I am wrong, but I believe Obama brings the same stench, to not say another word," Chavez said at a political rally on a historic Venezuelan battlefield.

Golly!

What we have are two sides which are hesitant to say a kind word to each other but who have both shown a willingness to work together and have better relations.

I know, it's horrible. Diplomacy and better relations might occur. Just awful.

[Odin2005]

25. Go fuck yourself, Hugo.

:grr:

[defendandprotect]

27. Our nation is in hands of corporations running government ---

with too many willing -- bought and paid for elected officials doing their

bidding. Chavez knows that -- DU should know that.

Chavez "hopes he is wrong about Obama" as we all hope he is wrong.


And let's hope that Obama will do the right thing and close the teaching of violence and

overthrowing of other governments at the School of The Americas.

Not only have we militarized police actions sgainst citizens crying out

for justice in other lands, but we have done the same things here in America....


Even by Venezuelan standards, the story seemed implausible. On January 9, a young reporter Pedro Carvajalino, from community television station Ávila TV, filmed four leading figures of Venezuela's right-wing opposition returning from Puerto Rico. They had just arrived by private jet from the U.S. territory, where they had purportedly met with representatives of the U.S. Department of State.

According to emails obtained by the reporter, officials held the meeting to plan strategy and secure funding aimed at defeating a proposed amendment to the Venezuelan constitution that would allow elected officials, including President Hugo Chávez, to seek reelection.

The story first broke on Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), a government television channel. The brewing scandal has quickly become a centerpiece of a debate over U.S. interference in the internal affairs of the country as it prepares to vote on the re-election referendum in February.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph ...

[cali]

30. that doesn't make Chavez

a great hero. He's simply another egomaniac clamoring for attention. Worship him all you please, but he's as power hungry as any politician around.

[defendandprotect]

33. And our CIA hasn't been trying to kill Chavez ...?

Nor did the GOP idol Rev. Pat Robertson call for his assassination --??

Notions of "heroes" and "worship" are all yours --

But corporate control of America and American Imperialim and CIA crimes all over the world

are reality -- and Chavez recognizes that reality.

Those who ignore it are in denial.

[cali]

36. and that was Obama's doing? Oh please, stop with the distraction

as I said, feel free to worship Chavez to your heart's content. And feel free to see the world in simplistic little bushian terms of black/white, evil/good. It's such a grand philosophy, ain't it?

[defendandprotect]

56. Chavez "hopes he is wrong about Obama" ....

and I added ... "as we all hope he is wrong."

As many beyond DU -- and many here at DU -- have expressed their

worries about Obama's appointments so far, I presume Chavez is

doing the same. And those appointments are Executive decisions

by a president-elect.

I'm pointing to our out of control Miiitary Industrial Intelligence

Complex. And the influence those forces can have upon any president.

Corporate control of government exists not because of the "buying"

of just GOP elected officials. The elevation of DLC leadership in this

administration increases concerns about the influence this "corporate-

wing" of the Democratic Party may have on the White House.


Your claimed purity of purpose is a laughable "distraction."

[cali]

60. that's a rhetorical device Chavez used, and an obvious one.

As for Obama's appointments, I like these appointments very much: Hilda Solis, Shaun Donovan, Eric Shinseki, Steven Chu, Melody Barnes, Susan Rice, Lisa Jackson and Valerie Jarrett. There are others I think are OK, and ones I don't like, but all and all, it's NOT as a bunch of you assert a right wing cabinet/senior appointees. Not even close.

I'm so tired of the ignorance of those like you, making fallacious claims on matters you clearly know nothing about.

[defendandprotect]

61. And when others outside DU ....

and within DU say, "we hope we are wrong" ...

is all of that also "rhetorical device" --?

And besides the many criticisms of appointments outside DU and within DU by those

who support Obama, how much criticism are you hearing from right-wingers about them?

Fred Barnes was beside himself with joy the other day on C-span-!!


And we are a "bunch" .... outside of DU and here st DU ... but those here at DU who

can't abide free speech and criticism of the Executive appointments are pure in

purpose?

Gates is a Republican neo-con who was a primary player in the "October Surprise."

HRC is part of DLC leadership and the DLC is the "corporate wing" of the Democratic

party dedicated to moving it to the right.

Same for Rahm Emmanuel -- who also has further complications in Israeli interests.

Warren, Paulson, new bank to take in toxic debts of private banks to be paid off by

taxpayers? Federal Reserve making economic decisions in offering bailouts to private

banks rather than Congress making these political decisions.

Obama also retreated from Single Payer health care long ago.


But, let me guess ... none of this is of concern to you?

Including DLC-corporate influences on Democratic Party?

[DissedByBush]

41. Power hungry

Chavez's Enabling Act allowing him to rule by decree, corruption during the recall vote in order to keep him in power, trying to amend the constitution so he can stay in power after 2012.

Bush probably wished he could get away with as much as Chavez did to exercise power and keep it.

[Judi Lynn]

42. His last enabling act - like the ones used by previous Vene. Presidents, ended some time ago.

Why didn't you know about that?

Please provide sources for your charges of Chavez' corruption during the recall vote.

Your own country's own Presidents had no term limits until the right-wing changed it all after FDR, a beloved, effective Democrat died during his fourth term. Why are you unaware of that?

[DissedByBush]

45. I know it ended

And Chavez made sure to leverage it extensively just before it ended.

For the recall, remember how his people published the names of everyone who signed the petition? Chavez' goons are known for getting violent towards his opponents. The Carter Center certified the election, but that is highly doubtful. The EU wouldn't even oversee the election because Chavez put too many restraints on them. That means the Carter Center worked under those restraints, which means any results are meaningless.

Yes, I know we recently had term limits, and they are a good thing. They are why Reagan did not get a third term. Our country was not meant to have a king. It was meant to have three branches, each ensuring the other does not gain too much power. But now that term limits exist anyone who tries to get them lifted is obviously power-hungry.

[Bacchus39]

54. it was like 3 months ago, and he decreed some laws that were rejected by the Ven people

your boy is an idiot.

[stillcool]

28. and Hugo would know..

our history of intervening, and subverting left leaning governments around the globe. History provides more than enough evidence that a single election will not produce an about-face of more than 50 years of empire building foreign policy.

[churun]

29. "Venezuelanisms"

People in Venezuela say "La Misma Miasma" as a very sutile way to say "La Misma Mierda".

[IndianaGreen]

31. I think Obama's silence about Israel's massacre in Gaza is what prompted the "more of the same"

outburst by Hugo. Time will tell! Two days to go! And what I hear is that Obama will break with past policies regarding Latin America. I hope so!

[defendandprotect]

62. I think the "massacre" in Gaza by Israel has the world's disdain ....

[zelta gaisma]

32. besides being in danger for being...

an African-American . I wonder is he possibly in danger from this idea here. "Barack Obama .... was at risk of being killed if he tries to change the American "empire.""

[defendandprotect]

34. Progressive ideas are always dangerous in corporate-America ....

[John Q. Citizen]

35. Since Obama never mentioned the issue of American Empire, it's my guess that

he isn't planning on addressing it.

I think it's good for everyone to bring up this issue, because it's invisible to most Americans, even as it's plain as day to the rest of the world.

[stillcool]

43. If he had addressed it..

we wouldn't be seeing him take the oath on Tuesday.

[John Q. Citizen]

50. That is likely.

[Bette Noir]

38. How to put this delicately...

Hugo Chavez is a loon.

[timtom]

46. Stop and think:

is there ANYTHING that Obama has or has not done in preparation to assume the presidency that would lead anyone at all to make such a statement?

Anything?

[madrchsod]

40. well i hope that barack has a different out look on hugo than bush did

it`s rather embarrassing to have venezuela/citgo provide heating products to the poor in the usa

[geek tragedy]

49. He shouldn't try to overthrow him or meddle in Venezuela's politics.

But, Chavez is hardcore anti-American in his politics.

[Bacchus39]

55. yes, he should absolutely ignore Hugo n/t

n

[struggle4progress]

47. It looks like The Company boys may have been playing mindgames with Chavez:

See the following post, concerning two stories in El Universal on 16 Jan

Searching the English language page of El Universal is producing some odd results
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8099802&mesg_id=8102073

Chavez reacted on 17 Jan

[Judi Lynn]

52. Thanks for the suggestion to look more deeply. It always pays off!

We could sure use far MORE information around here, as an antidote to a hell of a lot of ignorant speculation and 1950's-styled label tossing and childish hostility.

[struggle4progress]

57. Update

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=405&topic_id=11051&mesg_id=11069

[defendandprotect]

64. Beware of MOCKINGBIRD ---

[bitchkitty]

59. And mind games with DU. n/t

[defendandprotect]

63. Quite different from the way Naomi Klein sees recovery in Latin America ...

this sounds like MOCKINGBIRD "news" --

[RCinBrooklyn]

51. Reading the quote, I can't help feeling that this is an issue of poor translation.