Well? Now what for Chavez and Venezuela?

[Guaranteed]

:shrug:

[seriousstan]

1. He serves the rest of his term.

[MADem]

3. Yep, he'll have to find a philosophical successor by 2012. It's not like

VZ has an absence of people interested in the political process.

[Guaranteed]

4. I think he can still move forward, though.

What he's doing isn't over, in the least. I think he just needs to learn from this, not scare people so much.

[Cleita]

2. Not only that, the CIA can put it's plans for a coup

on the back burner again. Amazing how democracy works when people are allowed to exercise their freedom with an unhindered vote.

[glowing]

5. Close vote.. seems to me that the people don't want the same leader

forever or with so many powers... but they don't want to go backwards either... they like the direction... So, hopefully, they will continue on the right path and be wary of wolves in sheeps clothing...

[killbotfactory]

6. The reforms will probably be tried in peacemeal fashion

and democracy will continue for the Venezuelan people.

This is the first real loss for Chavez, and he can accept defeat gracefully, hopefully the opposition can do so as well in the future.