Posted on 08/13/2004 2:11:28 AM PDT by kattracks
August 13, 2004 -- SUNDAY is a red-letter day for democracy and for the price of oil: Vene zuelans vote on a referendum on whether to recall President Hugo Chavez. Long a friend of the United States and since 1958 one of Latin America's most stable democracies, Venezuela stands at a crossroads, headed for either democracy or Cuban-style socialism.Elected fair and square in 1998, Chavez took office with sky-high popularity on a reform platform. But he has since donned the cloak of political strongman, run the economy into the ground and helped roil world oil markets. Plus, he's a good buddy of Cuba's Fidel Castro.
"Dictator" isn't used very often to describe Latin American leaders anymore — beyond Castro, that is. But Chavez, a cashiered army colonel who was once jailed for his leading role in a 1992 military coup, could make it two.
Though now highly unpopular (30 percent approval), Chavez may well survive the no-confidence vote. Polling is expected to be rife with voter intimidation, fraud and other voting irregularities.
Certainly, his record to date makes that chicanery seem likely. He has already rewritten the Constitution to give himself more power, sucked up power over the state oil company (PDVSA) and stacked lower and Supreme Court(s).
He's also made a good start on purging the armed forces, misusing them for partisan political purposes and social programs. Threats to freedom of the press include physical attacks on journalists.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Bump!
Ping...
Special ping ;-)
I think it would look great in his beard, with a close match nearby.
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