Protests, coup rumors in Venezuela (Mayor of Caracas Asks Catholic Church to Exorcise Chavez)

Chicago Tribune ^ | February 10, 2002 | T. Christian Miller

[RedWhiteBlue]

CARACAS, Venezuela -- President Hugo Chavez on Friday faced his most serious challenge since coming to power, after a week of tumultuous protests that spurred calls for his removal from civic leaders, military officials and ordinary citizens.

Coup rumors have surged, and blood-red graffiti calling for Chavez's death popped up along major highways. The mayor of Caracas asked the Roman Catholic Church to conduct an exorcism of the former coup leader.

[RedWhiteBlue]

I give him less than one month.

[Cicero]

It's the curse of South America. First they get oppressive right-wing dictators, then they throw them out and get oppressive left-wing dictators. Periods of free and honest government are very few and far between. The whole sorry situation is pretty well summed up in Conrad's greatest novel, "Nostromo."

Chavez makes Peron look like a positive genius of good government.

[StopDemocratsDotCom]

I HOPE!

[brickdds]

It's the curse of South America. First they get oppressive right-wing dictators, then they throw them out and get oppressive left-wing dictators

Chavez is a left wing dictator, but was proceeded by a stable, albeit corrupt democracy for 40 years; the longest stable democracy in South America. It is good to see the Venezolanos are finally reaching critical mass with this clown. If not for the fact that there are so many poor people there whose vote counts as much as the educated, he would not be in this position. They simply viewed him as representing the lesser of two evils without much foresight. Nearly 10 years ago the people in this country made an eerily similar decision blinded by their own ignorance and the mantra "... it's time for a change."

[steve50]

I agree, month tops. An Exorism(sp), wow, why didn't we think of that

[vbmoneyspender]

The problem they have in Latin America is that they are looking for the gov't to solve their problems. And they think that that can be done by making the gov't less 'corrupt'. People, though, have been looking for such a magic formula as long as gov'ts have existed and they have never found such an elixir and they never will. The point that has to be made is that any gov't that isn't limited is going to be corrupt and is going to get more corrupt as time passes. I wish people would stop focusing on this idea of 'solving corruption' and instead focus on limiting gov't so that they can be self-reliant and free and rich.

[steve50]

Well said.

[dfwgator]

Can you say "Allende"?

[Chapita]

At least the Venezolanos look upon their government with more honesty than do many Americans theirs!

If Americans were honest, we would realize that the left has corrupted this country totally!

Political Correctness is simply 'cultural' marxism and the social services are simply payment to the 'voting masses'.

One man - one vote means to enroll as many as possible into the social service army!

[livius]

Very true. In its own way, Venezuela was one of the bright spots down there. I hope they can get Chavez out now, while they still have a democracy - even, as you point out, a somewhat limping one - to preserve.

[L`enn]

he has told impoverished supporters bused in from hamlets and cities across the country that the wealthy, the church, businesses and the media have become obstacles to his attempts to make life better for the poor.

I must have missed hearing about Carville being sent to Venezuela to help Chavez. Where have we seen this before?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!!!