Posted on 12/09/2012 5:03:45 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Chávez Successor an Ex-Bus Driver, Peripatetic, Hindu-Mystic Devotee By KEJAL VYAS And JOSÉ DE CÓRDOBA
CARACASNicolas Maduro has gone from driving a bus to becoming ailing President Hugo Chávez's handpicked choice to continue his vision of socialism and possibly lead Venezuela, an oil-rich republic of 29 million.
Mr. Chávez, who said this past weekend he has suffered another relapse in his long battle with cancer, named Mr. Maduro as his successor. It was the first time Mr. Chávez talked publicly about who might replace him, prompting many analysts to speculate that the former army tank commander believes himself to be terminally ill.
Mr. Chávez heaped praise on the man who has been his globetrotting foreign minister, as well as vice president, for the last six years. "Comrade Nicolas Maduro, a true revolutionary, a man of great experience despite his youth, of a great dedication to work, and a great capacity to conduct groups, to manage difficult situations. I have him seen him do it," the president said.
Tall, mustachioed, and affable, the 50-year-old Mr. Maduro came up through working class ranksa tale that could help his street credibility with Chávez backers.
In middle school, he was a member of a socialist youth organization and played bass in a rock band called Enigma. He later drove a bus linked to Caracas's subway system, and rose up to become union leader of the subway workers. He eventually won a seat in congress and went on to hold the legislature's top post.
For the past six years, he traveled the globe, cementing Mr. Chávez alliances with anti-American allies like Libya's late Moammar Gadhafi and Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Well at least he's not a community organizer (ha).
Kind of looks like another Saddam Hussein, Obama will be proud.
Chavez wouls pick someone he thinks is like him, of course
Hey, anyone who played bass for a rock band and made it up to supreme dictator of any country....is OK by my books.
So what they’re saying is after a string of other occupations he finally settled on commie thug.
Wow, with that kind of background, he could run for office here. The bar has been placed on the ground by the current occupant.
My favorite movie title for Chavez is also my wish for him re his health, “DIE HARD”.
You need a metal detector to find the bar!
Of course, this might create some shouvel ready jobs?
That would be an insult to all bus drivers.
Is this an approved method of succession in Venezuela or is this just a dictator appointing a successor?
Successor??
In your dreams. The left lasts until killed to the last man.
“The left lasts until killed to the last man.”
Here’s hoping that the Venezuelans have had enough of Marxism, and when Hugo goes to Hell, they return to being a more normal nation that seeks to get along with the rest of the world.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.