U.S. says Chavez subverting will of Venezuelans

[cory777]

Source: Reuters

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is using autocratic powers to subvert the will of the people, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday after the socialist leader said he would rule by decree for a year.

On Thursday, Venezuela's National Assembly is due to grant Chavez the authority to fast-track laws in a move that undermines a bloc of opposition lawmakers who join parliament next month.

Chavez, a leading U.S. critic, has ruled by decree three times before during his 11 years in power and says he needs the authority again to deal with a national emergency caused by floods that killed 40 people and left almost 140,000 homeless.

"This is the fourth time that President Chavez has employed one of these decrees. He seems to be finding new and creative ways to justify autocratic powers," said State Department spokesman Philip Crowley.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1518042920101216

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[fasttense]

1. As if the U.S. State Department cares about the will of the people.n/t

[bemildred]

17. Indeed. nt

[dipsydoodle]

2. See also in Latin America Forum yesterday

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x45922

[14thColony]

3. Between this and International Press Freedom Day

has the Department of State created a new Undersecretary for International Irony? If so, they seem to be doing a great job.

[dipsydoodle]

4. I do like that

Undersecretary for International Irony. :rofl:

[corpseratemedia]

7. good one!

[EFerrari]

14. Leave PJ alone!

LOL

[Joanne98]

5. Mitch McConnell is subverting the will of Americans! Say something about that!

[newfie11]

6. Did bush open the white house up to famlies of katrina

Did Amerika pick up the bill to house katrina victims in 5 star hotels?

Get real!!!!!!!!!

[timo]

13. no

only in super 8's and la quintas......we did A LOT of remodel work on those afterwards!!

[rfranklin]

8. So Chavez is basically using "signing statements?"

Now, who was it that used those to subvert the will of the United States' people recently?

[jefferson_dem]

10. "Hugo may be a tyrant...but he's our tyrant"

Bah.

[EFerrari]

15. Close. He asks the legislature for a limited period

of these powers in order to accomplish a goal and they have to approve it. So, it's not secret and it's agreed upon first.

[Yupster]

19. Not to compare anyone with Hitler, but

just as a historical aside from this old history teacher, Hitler's dictatorship was legal.

After the Reichstag Fire, the German parliament signed The Enbabling Act, giving Hitler the right to rule by decree for a limited time. Each time the time period came up, the Reichstag formally met and renewed Hitler's dictatorship, even during the war.

[EFerrari]

20. What does that even mean? The rule of law is bad?

[jefferson_dem]

9. The US is right...

Unless, of course, the reality behind this march toward petty autocracy is just 'lost in translation'... :sarcasm:

[lunatica]

11. Does Congress get to grant the President extra temporary powers here?

It seems like they do. Oops! So why shouldn't the Venezuelan National Assembly be able to do the same?

[kgnu_fan]

12. US is suberting will of people, everywhere...

[EFerrari]

16. Cablegate has shown that PJ is a serial fabricator for State.

Even if I didn't know better, I wouldn't believe a word that came out of his mouth on any topic. LOL, he is the one who came out the very worst, he's Hillary's Fleischer.

[JVS]

18. It's not like our government does a bang up job with that whole will of the people either.

Unless we view corporations as people

[Enrique]

21. Venezuela appreciates Philip Crowley's concern n/t