Posted on 08/18/2007 11:31:36 AM PDT by Crazieman
The Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez has anointed himself president for life by proposing sweeping changes to the country's constitution.
Setting out his plans for completing his socialist revolution in the oil-rich Latin American nation, he proposing radical constitutional reform which has at its centre indefinite re-election for himself.
In a rambling televised speech reminiscent of his close ally and friend Fidel Castro, Mr Chavez told the national assembly of 33 changes he plans to make to the constitution he introduced in 1999 which will cement his grip on power.
"We have broken the chains of the old, exploitative capitalist system," said Mr Chavez. "The state now has the obligation to build the model of a socialist economy."
The proposals will be debated by the 167-seat assembly, which is unlikely to be particularly heated or drawn out as it is 100 per cent "Chavista" after the opposition boycotted the 2005 elections. Once the assembly has rubber stamped the proposals, they will be put to a referendum.
Mr Chavez is unlikely to struggle in is bid to win the referendum as he has spent millions of dollars in oil revenue in enlarging his power base by bolstering the ranks of state employees and introducing cheap imported goods into shops.
While the president was talking about "the death of capitalism" in Venezuela, the opposition were lamenting what they called the death of democracy.
"The president just tells lies," said Manuel Rosales, the opposition leader defeated in last year's presidential elections. "All he wants to do is turn himself into president for life."
In the new constitution Mr Chavez, 54, scraps the maximum presidential incumbency of two six-year terms, to instead permit seven-year terms with indefinite re-election.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
This is what the dictator Mugabe did and look what happened to Zimbabwe.
Here we go
When I was writing a term paper for a Latin American politics class, I correctly identified Chavez as a dictator, but my leftist professor at UC Riverside put a red line through the word dictator during my paper proposal.
I’m glad Jimmy Carter certified that his initial election was free and fair.
Will the MSM even report this? Will Dianne Sawyer fall deeper in love with Chavez? questions...questions.
Dont you all know the real enemy is the evilbushitler regime. There is nothing wrong with Mr. Chavez, glorious savior of the heroic proletariat of Venezuela/
I remember reading that when the British surrendered at the Battle of Yorktown, their military band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” Maybe we need a reprise of that song these days.
The nice thing about an old formal dance is that after the first couple of steps everybody knows how it's going to go.
Venezuela has gone just about as bad as Zimbabwe. There is a website that shows “Before Chavez” and “After Chavez” photos of many places in Venezuela. The differences are shocking, absolutely shocking................They need a Juan Galt..............
That's unfortunate but a poor choice by you. You should have just written on the topic: "BUSH-HITLER, THE WAR CRIMINAL" and gotten an A+. Libtards eat that stuff up!
bookmarked
chavez ain’t long for this world.
San Francisco City council passed a resolution praising Thugo Chavez as a guardian of democracy..............2001?....they have never rescinded it......nor will they.....
Gee, who’da thunk it?
Third Ayn Rand reference I’ve seen on FR today!
Here’s hoping for a short term.
ping
Send him a copy of the article and a big “I told you so!”
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