Chavez defeated in electoral reform

[Narmer]

Goes to show that democracy is alive and well in every part of South America.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7124313.stm

Chavez defeated over reform vote

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has narrowly lost a referendum on controversial constitutional changes.

Voters rejected the sweeping reforms by a margin of 51% to 49%, the chief of the National Electoral Council said.

Mr Chavez described the defeat as a "photo finish", and urged followers not to turn it into a point of conflict.

Correspondents say the opposition could barely hide their delight and that the victory will put the brakes on Mr Chavez's "Socialist revolution".

 

[Xcellere]

Let me be the first to say THANK FREAKIN GOD.

 

[brxndxn]

Goddamn.. that's so awesome..

Sadly, it's a vote in Venezuela that gives America hope for 2008..

 

[Craig234]

Just goes to prove that Chavez has no respect for democracy and rigged the election. Oh, wait.

 

[Lemon law]

Its always dangerous for a nation to get involved in a cult of personality so I see this as a good thing. But given how close it was, I somehow doubt Chavez will give up.
I seem to recall a recent threat to the effect that if US collusion is proved in that election, he may embargo oil sales to the US.

Time will tell, but Chavez is very popular with the poor and very unpopular with the rich. Making it an explosive issue now and into the future if social reforms are halted.

 

[Beowulf]

Chavez had stated a "NO" vote would be a vote for George Bush. Guess he really underestimated the power of Bush in Venezuela :laugh: Such a ridiculous claim to even make.

There was a low turnout also but even with that it was enough to beat the hardcore Chavistas. These reforms plus his battles with President Uribe and the King of Spain didn't do much to help his cause with many. Right after the vote, he was already making threats to his opponents about not enjoying this victory outloud.

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Originally posted by: Craig234
Just goes to prove that Chavez has no respect for democracy and rigged the election. Oh, wait.

Maybe he didn't have a brother to nullify opposing votes

 

[ntdz]

Thank God.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Narmer
Goes to show that democracy is alive and well in every part of South America.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7124313.stm

Chavez defeated over reform vote

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has narrowly lost a referendum on controversial constitutional changes.

Voters rejected the sweeping reforms by a margin of 51% to 49%, the chief of the National Electoral Council said.

Mr Chavez described the defeat as a "photo finish", and urged followers not to turn it into a point of conflict.

Correspondents say the opposition could barely hide their delight and that the victory will put the brakes on Mr Chavez's "Socialist revolution".

awwww....hehehee..way too funny!!

 

[IronWing]

Good.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: ntdz
Thank God.

:thumbsup:

 

[Saint Michael]

He probably could have rigged the elections, but figured that the rest of the world seeing "democracy" in action in Venezuela would help his cause in the long run. Not only that, but he lost by a very thin margin, which would help him demonstrate that many, many people in Venezuela supposedly support him. Of course, I'm sure plenty of people do, but this looks like a political stunt to me rather than a gamble and loss.

 

[ayabe]

This proves there is still some hope for Venezuela. I believe the part about giving the right to the government to seize private property probably had as much to do with this defeat as allowing him to stay in power indefinitely, but still a victory for common sense.

Russia on the otherhand is a goner.

 

[Vic]

:thumbsup:

Good news. He overreached himself on this one, and the people of Venezuela have finally started to come around and see him for the lying would-be dictator that he is.

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: brxndxn
Goddamn.. that's so awesome..

Sadly, it's a vote in Venezuela that gives America hope for 2008..

:roll:

 

[Jaskalas]

Curious what his next move is.

At least we can no longer hide behind his actions as ?the will of the people?.

 

[jman19]

Originally posted by: Vic
:thumbsup:

Good news. He overreached himself on this one, and the people of Venezuela have finally started to come around and see him for the lying would-be dictator that he is.

:thumbsup:

 

[theeedude]

At least it shows he didn't rig the election, unlike Putin.

 

[piasabird]

Chavez was reelected and will face term limits unless there is a takover by the military or something like that.

 

[GrGr]

Originally posted by: piasabird
Chavez was reelected and will face term limits unless there is a takover by the military or something like that.

You mean like Musharraf in Pakistan? Tell me again how supporting Musharraf, who admits he is wiping his arse with the Pakistani constitution, is ok - but supporting Chavez, who actually roots his decisions with his people, is wrong?

 

[Narmer]

Originally posted by: GrGr

Originally posted by: piasabird
Chavez was reelected and will face term limits unless there is a takover by the military or something like that.

You mean like Musharraf in Pakistan? Tell me again how supporting Musharraf, who admits he is wiping his arse with the Pakistani constitution, is ok - but supporting Chavez, who actually roots his decisions with his people, is wrong?

It's called a double-standard.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Narmer

Originally posted by: GrGr

Originally posted by: piasabird
Chavez was reelected and will face term limits unless there is a takover by the military or something like that.

You mean like Musharraf in Pakistan? Tell me again how supporting Musharraf, who admits he is wiping his arse with the Pakistani constitution, is ok - but supporting Chavez, who actually roots his decisions with his people, is wrong?

It's called a double-standard.

And there's nothing wrong with that.

Musharraf is providing stability and control over Pakistan's nuclear assets.

 

[Narmer]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: Narmer

Originally posted by: GrGr

Originally posted by: piasabird
Chavez was reelected and will face term limits unless there is a takover by the military or something like that.

You mean like Musharraf in Pakistan? Tell me again how supporting Musharraf, who admits he is wiping his arse with the Pakistani constitution, is ok - but supporting Chavez, who actually roots his decisions with his people, is wrong?

It's called a double-standard.

And there's nothing wrong with that.

Musharraf is providing stability and control over Pakistan's nuclear assets.

Musharraf cannot live forever. In theory, he is a public servant that is at the mercy of the people. He is not to hijack the office "to protect Pakistan from committing suicide." Musharraf is a liar and a thief. But the will of the Pakistani people will prevail, not mine.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Narmer

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: Narmer

Originally posted by: GrGr

Originally posted by: piasabird
Chavez was reelected and will face term limits unless there is a takover by the military or something like that.

You mean like Musharraf in Pakistan? Tell me again how supporting Musharraf, who admits he is wiping his arse with the Pakistani constitution, is ok - but supporting Chavez, who actually roots his decisions with his people, is wrong?

It's called a double-standard.

And there's nothing wrong with that.

Musharraf is providing stability and control over Pakistan's nuclear assets.

Musharraf cannot live forever. In theory, he is a public servant that is at the mercy of the people. He is not to hijack the office "to protect Pakistan from committing suicide." Musharraf is a liar and a thief. But the will of the Pakistani people will prevail, not mine.

Indeed, he is both a liar and a thief to the Pakistani people. But he's helping us get their nuclear weapons out of their control and into ours by lying to them and stealing the weapons, and I don't have a problem with that. :thumbsup: