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Subscribe to RSSVenezuelan President Hugo Chavez faces his first serious challenger after 14 years as head of state. If he wins, voters will have affirmed his socialist agenda – Chavez uses the huge profits from oil experts here to benefit the poor. NBC's Kerry Sanders reports.
Updated at 11:06 p.m. ET: CARACAS - With 90 percent of the votes in, President Hugo Chavez was declared the winner in the Venezuela presidential election Sunday night. Chavez received 54 percent of the vote to serve an unprecedented third term after he changed the country's constitution, NBC News reported.
Jubilant Chavez supporters set off fireworks as the results were announced. Election officials said opposition challenger Henrique Capriles won 45 percent of the vote.
Earlier in the day, Chavez said he would accept the results of the country's election, whether he wins or loses.
"We'll respect the results, whatever they are," he told reporters after casting his vote in Caracas. He also said voters were turning out in massive numbers in Sunday's election.
The vote was widely viewed as the toughest electoral challenge of Chavez's nearly 14-year-old presidency. Chavez was greeted at the polling center by American actor Danny Glover and Guatemalan Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchu.
The vote was an all-or-nothing contest between two camps that deeply distrust each other and question whether the other side will respect the results of the election. The stakes couldn't be higher.
With a Chavez victory, he will have a free hand to dominate Venezuela for six more years on top of the 14 years he has already been in office, letting him push for an even bigger state role in the economy and cement his legacy.
Enric Marti / AP
People line up to vote in the presidential election in Caracas, Venezuela, on Sunday. President Hugo Chavez is running against opposition candidate Henrique Capriles.
If Capriles had won, it would have likely meant an abrupt shift in foreign policy, an eventual loosening of state economic controls and an increase in private investment -- though a tense transition would likely have followed until the inauguration in January.
Venezuela vote: Oil wealth to trump calls for change?
As voting got under way, Chavez tweeted: "Bless you Oct. 7th! We will write another page in history in the coming hours!!"
His challenger also took to social media. "Today we decide the future of our Venezuela, let's all go to vote thinking that we can and that we will be better. Vote for you," Capriles tweeted.
Ramon Espinosa / AP
People wait to vote in the presidential election at a polling station in Caracas, Venezuela, on Sunday. President Hugo Chavez is running against opposition candidate Henrique Capriles.
Some Venezuelans were nervous about what might happen if disputes erupted over the election.
"Nobody trusts the other people, especially when it's their political rivals," said Maria Villareal, a teacher and Capriles supporter who stocked up on groceries Saturday. "We're in a divided country, and I think Chavez is the one responsible."
She and other critics of the president say Chavez has inflamed divisions by labeling his opponents "fascists," "Yankees" and "neo-Nazis." During Chavez's final rally Thursday in Caracas, he shouted to the crowd: "We're going to give the bourgeoisie a beating!"
David Hernandez, a Chavez supporter, agreed the mood was tense, but he blamed the opposition.
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The life of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez from his rise as a lieutenant colonel after his failed coup attempt in 1992.
"Chavez is going to win and Capriles will have to accept his defeat," Hernandez said, standing next to his parked motorcycle on a downtown street. "If Capriles doesn't accept his defeat, there could be problems."
Violence flared sporadically during the campaign, including shootings and rock throwing during rallies and political caravans. Two Capriles supporters were shot to death in the western state of Barinas last weekend.
Close in the polls
Capriles, a centrist state governor, edged toward the still popular Chavez in final polls thanks to a vigorous campaign that united the opposition.
Jorge Silva / Reuters
Venezuelan presidential honor guards line up before casting their vote during the presidential elections in Caracas on Sunday.
Chavez has used record oil revenue to support ideological allies around the world, while preaching a fiercely anti-U.S. line, so the election will be watched eagerly from the United States to Belarus and Iran.
Across the poor neighborhoods where Chavez, a flamboyant former soldier, draws his most fervent following, loyalists prepared to blow bugles and trumpets in a predawn wake-up call for voters.
NBC's Kerry Sanders answers reader questions about the elections
Opposition sympathizers banged pots and pans in a protest against Chavez on Saturday night, creating a racket in the upscale neighborhoods of eastern Caracas. In the city center, which is more pro-government, the noise was drowned out by supporters playing his campaign music and shouting his name.
"I ask political actors from the left, right and center to prepare emotionally to accept tomorrow's results. It's not going to be the end of the world for anyone," Chavez said at a last-minute news conference at the presidential palace.
The 58-year-old president staged a remarkable comeback from cancer this year. But he could not match the energy of past campaigns - or the pace set by his 40-year-old basketball-loving opponent.
With just days left, candidates make final appeals ahead of Venezuela's election
Most well-known pollsters put Chavez in front. But two had Capriles just ahead, and his numbers crept up in others.
There was a risk of violence if the result is contested.
There were no formal international observers, although Venezuela invited a delegation of the UNASUR group of South American nations to "accompany" the vote.
Local groups planned to monitor and both sides say they trusted the electronic, fingerprint vote system. The opposition said it would have witnesses at all of the 13,810 polling centers from tiny Amazon villages to tough Caracas slums.
Enormous challenges
Chavez accuses the opposition of plotting violence and planning to "reject the people's triumph" when he wins, but says that effort will be defeated. Some opposition activists fear he could refuse to step down if the result goes against him.
Victory for Capriles would have removed the most vocal critic of the United States in Latin America, and could have led to new deals for oil companies in an OPEC nation that pumps about 3 million barrels a day and boasts the world's biggest crude reserves.
Capriles wants to copy Brazil's model of respect for private enterprise with strong social welfare programs if he is elected -- but he would have faced enormous challenges from day one.
For a start, he would not have taken office until January 2013, meaning Chavez loyalists might throw obstacles in the way of the transition.
He also would have to develop a plan to tackle entrenched high inflation, price distortions and an over-valued currency, while surely butting heads with the National Assembly, judiciary and state oil company PDVSA -- all dominated by Chavez loyalists.
Venezuelan elections: Face off between the showman and the lawyer
Another big task would be to figure out the real level of state finances. Last month, a Reuters investigation found that half of public investment went into a secretive off-budget fund controlled by Chavez and had no oversight by Congress.
A look at some hidden emerging market winners, despite the 20% decline for the BRICs in 2011, with CNBC's Amanda Drury. JPMorgan Adrian Mowat's also reveals your emerging market itinerary for 2012.
The president has denounced his foes as traitors and told voters they plan to cancel his signature social "missions," which range from subsidized food stores to programs that build houses and pay cash stipends to poor women with children.
Tens of thousands of new homes have been handed over this year, often to tearful Chavez supporters at televised events.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
A Socialist dictator who divided his country by labeling the other side "neo-Nazis and fascists" -
WAIT !!
Are we talking about the U.S. or Venezuela ?????
Chavez will win, two reason, the voting will be rigged or he will have his opponent arrested for some bogus reason. And yes I am a pessimistic.
odumbo wants to do the same thing here. anyone against him is a racist. if he wins another term he will push to be allowed to be re-elected because he has more to do(destroying America and our way of life.
Chavez will just rig this election like he did the last one. I do believe the Venezuelan people are starting to see the true Chavez and what his inflammatory nature is causing. He only wants to do business with countries who deny its citizens human rights, and are under huge UN sanctions. Wake up Venezuela and pick someone else before your country becomes even more unfavorable.
The outcome of that election has already been determined.Our problems will start when we vote Obama out and he pulls a Chavez on the American people. You believe that O'Bama will go peacefully? He's to close to destroying this great Country, he's reaching for the brass ring now. I hope your prepared........ Just look at the picture of Chavez I can almost hear him yelling "FORWARD"
[quote]Yevrah Kahn
odumbo wants to do the same thing here. anyone against him is a racist. if he wins another term he will push to be allowed to be re-elected because he has more to do(destroying America and our way of life.[/quote]
It was either a governor or a mayor in a state that called for Obama to server a third term without having to be re-elected. This was when Obama was trying to get elected for the first time.
Yeah, the article calls it his "rule" as if a president is a "ruler." What Chavez is is a national hero who put an end to the state sponsored death his predicessors used to "rule" the country. He has been elected in free, fair and certified elections ever since. Despite the propaganda leveled against him by the Facist Press in the U.S.A and the Imperialistic policies of the government of the U.S.A Go, Hugo, Go.
Hugo supports President Stinky (BO), and Stinks supports Hugo. The only way eirther one of them wins is fraud.
Two peas in a pod; BO=HC
Take a good look, people. This is what a real socialist looks like. Of course, you will also find tin-foil hat folk in the US who claim that Obama is as anti-American as Mr Chavez, so there's no hope for you, but for the rest who are not quite as blind, the differences are obvious.
When you read what Hugo has done to Venezuela, and what Obama wants
to do here, It sounds the same.
Like so many others here I thought this article was about Obama vs Romney. If we can get Obama out of office and disrupt his plans to turn this country into a USSR "wannabe" we and future generation of American's will be much better off. Remember one thing, this election is not just about what goes on today in this country but what kind of future our kids and grand kids will have and live under.
The more desperate Obama becomes the easier it is to see what and who he is. He is a socialist at the least and a communist at the worst trying to disarm this once great country making us venerable to other countries in so many ways. You have to ask yourself why he would stop the import of Canadian oil and favor oil that has to be shipped through very troubled waters in the Middle East. Why would he make Israel almost without any protection against a very unfriendly Middle East. He has un stabilized every country he could and when we have a Ambassador murdered and raped instead of having a meeting he decided to appear on Lettermen. He considered the entire event as a "bump in the road". If it was one of my family members killed in such a manner I would take that as a personal insult. Four American's killed and he considers it a mire "bump in the road".
Well, doesn't that sound familiar? One side slandering the other with over-the-top labels? Both sides are guilty, but from my limited exposure (not having TV), I'd have to say the Democrats are being more divisive than the GOP this go around, but not by much.
The Venezuelan opposition is right about one thing though: Vote for you. To my mind, that means not voting for either crappy party. Pick the candidate you really want, not the mainstream choices everyone thinks we're stuck with.
The vitriolic paranoia being spewed here by the opponents of President Obama is amazing. So the President is out destroy the country and he's a dictator, huh? If he's such a dictator, why hasn't he been able to just rule by decree? Where is the assault on the "free market"? The last time I checked, corporations have earned RECORD profits every year he's been in the White House. The wealthiest members of our society have never been wealthier, AND the stock market value has DOUBLED since he became President. Meanwhile the poor have become poorer. Where, I ask you, is the "socialism" and "dictatorship?"
There are serious problems that the President has do a better job at addressing. I disagree with him on a whole host of public policy issues, but it saddens me to see and hear the mindless diatribes coming out of the mouths and pens of the under-informed, the misinformed and the hateful. When challenged, most of them can not mount an intelligible explanation of why they believe what they believe.
Good Ol'Dog, you do us all a disservice. Very sad.
Those comparing Chavez to Obama (as a socialist) are a desperate and comical lot.
Name one instance where the state (under Obama) has taken property from its private owners and socialized it. Name one instance where the Obama Administration has abolished private market transactions and substituted state planning as the mechanism for distributing resources and products. You can't because he hasn't.
Finally, didn't I just see Romney during the debate claim that he will maintain and strengthen social security and Medicare (both socialist programs)? You all on the extreme right a bunch of pathetic hypocrites in my book!
Gee, I wonder who got to program the voting machines?
Chavez will win - by hook or crook.
Cloward-Piven strategy
It's not who votes that counts, it's who counts the votes. Speaking of which. When are we going to do away with the (not necessary any longer) Electoral College, and let the popular vote decide our elections? We do now have the capacity and technology to count every person's vote don't we?
What about health Ins? Socialized under Obama
O'Baggers love affair with UNIONS (destroying private business) bankrupting Cities, small towns and The U.S economy? Your guy is no better than Chavez in my book!!
Romney claimed to MAINTAIN & STRENGTHEN SS & Medicare not TAKE 700 Billion dollars to advance his social agenda.
I don't know whats the problem O'Bama has admitted to being a Progressive and Socialist!!!
Compared to the diebold voting system of the USA and the infamous "hanging chad" which has been proven to be tampered with, Venezuela has a fingerprint system with a paper receipt that must match the screen where the voter has cast his vote on. At the end of the day the tally of receipts and the tally of the computer results must match. The system of voting has been acclaimed as the best electoral system by international observers, the UN and our privious president, Jimmy Carter. Ever since Chavez has been elected Presendent, the Bolivian Revolution has completely eliminated illiteracy, extreme poverty has been reduced from 60% to 25% in 14 years, over 250,000 new homes have been built for the poor, the GDP in the USA was 1.5 in the last quarter, in Venezuela it was 5.+! Venezuela has national free health care, national free education, free computer lap tops in schools per student, over 12 universities have been built, etc. All of this has been accomplished with the revenues of the Venezuelen oil industry. Before the Bolivian Revolution came into power the oil revenues were going into the hands of the oligarchs and the trans national corporations. If I were a Venezuelen I know who I would vote for. Is it a perfect country? Show me a perfect country. So, before you give your uneducated opinion on a sovereign country, educate yourself on the wide range of facts from different sources excluding Fox news, CNN, MSNBC and the rest of the corporate media who do not see facts but oil. In this America that I was born in and love, we are outsourcing jobs while unemployment is rampant, millions of homes in foreclosure, un- affordable education, unafordable healthcare. our infrastructure is decayed, multiple wars are depleating our economy and we are losing our sons, daughters, grandchildren, etc. Let's take care of our homeland issues before sticking our noses in the issues of another country.
Be prepared for the same sort of political upheaval in the US if Obama looses. His supporting allies like the New Black Panthers and any other slum/hood gang will take to the streets in his name and create riots.
I welcome the riots if it brings about the Obama Regime's removal from office.
One and Done! God bless America!
I was waiting to see how long it would take some dumbass to make this about Obama. Glad you didn't disappoint me.
Eventually, all dictators get shot, hung, or beheaded.
He took GM from the bond holders and gave it to the Unions
ObamaCare
What rock have you been living under?
As a Venezuelan-American I have eternal hatred for Liberals, and most Democrats, for the blind devotion and support they provided this autocrat; this narcissistic megalomaniac.
... in particular how Liberals in this country, over so many years, so callously chose to ignore Chavez's naked usurpation of diverse democratic powers; the jailing of political opponents and judges who dared contradict him; the persecution and harassment of ordinary citizens who dared to vote against him (thousands lost their jobs due to well World-published - and government-bragged - release of names of citizens who voted against him in referendums.)
... in particular my hatred (and many like me) will always be eternal for Liberals and the 'beautiful people' of this country (and elsewhere) - the Oliver Stones, the Sean Penns, the Kevin Spaceys, et.al. - so drenched in their narcissism they live unawares of the stench of the cartoonish world they inhabit; which in itself is fine if not for the fact that given circumstances like these they end up as collaborators in hurting and oppressing thousands of human beings.
Last election Chavez gave away washing machines to buy votes. This election Obama is giving away everything (millions to companies that fail, whole companies to unions, cell phones, student loan forgiveness, mortgage forgiveness, food stamps, welfare etc etc) to buy votes for his re-election. Yep, Chavez and he are two of a kind.
Having liven in Venezuela for 3 months several years ago, it is one of the most beautiful country's I have ever seen; the poor are having large family's, while the middle and upper class have much smaller family's, the poor now outnumber the other classes, they control the voting block, Chavez has seized huge amounts of private property, oil production and manufacturing all state run now; he has promised to re-distribute the wealth, free homes, free food, free medical care, and a generous monthly payment to the poor; who do you think is going to win.(sound familiar)
The truth is does not matter who is elected....if someone warm to US is elected...Chevron, BP, Exxon and the rest of big boys will come back in and make $$$$....nothing will be given back to the people.....Nigeria, Iran, Iraq, Equador, Saudi Arabia....complete joke...... Even in the US...after Katrina...the people get the shaft....
.... it means so much....hell we go to war over it and label it "freedom"
So lets take this BIG BS and put it in proper perspective.
As I read some of these fear mongering posts about Obama,I can't help wondering if people actually believe this tripe.I am a Republican and don't like Obama but I know that he would never be capable of permanently changing Americans way of life and freedoms.This article is about Venezuela's presidential election not the United States of America election.
Thank you Victoria from NJ,
After all the propaganda against Chavez few peoples know that Venezuelans elections are a lot more democratic than the US's.
To all apologists of Chavez and those who try to diminish his crimes by implying that alternatives are no better ... you all simply do not get it .. do you?
You all live in sheltered, cozy, little and simplistic worlds of platitudes, where the mere mention of 'boogey-man' names of big-oil companies is enough to obscure heinous crimes of autocrats as Chavez - whereby in Chavez's case you all seek to water-down his oppressive presence in inflicting suffering on millions by making it on par to cartoonish images of big-oil.
@just a cleaning lady
You are living in a state od denial if you really believe that. Every country that fell into a dictatorship had people like you that refused to see the truth. Your government is taking more of your freedoms and liberty away each day. Obama is accelerating that process. Wake up before it is too late.
To Jose V. If healthcare for the poor, free education, and a roof over your head means opression to you, opresse me, please!
Well if all of you Fascists neo cons want to live under a Bridge and be slaves to Capitalist Plutocrats Vote for Robme/Lyin Ryan.
If you want a chance and you want your children to have a chance at the American Dream Vote straight DEMOCRAT this November. Obama/Biden the Sane Persons Candidate.
Throw the American Taliban out of office
Zathrose: You certainly fit with your republican heroes R&R. You lie like a trooper.
He did nothing of the kind. GM asked for the bailout because despite the nonsense from Romney that they should do a normal bankruptcy reorganization GM knew that wasn't possible during the meltdown as there wasn't money available for such a plan. Bush provided the first 85 billion for all the auto makers including 17 billion for GM with no strings attached, Obama provided the final 33 billion but required substantial concessions by labor. A white republican gives 17 billion to bail out GM and no cmments but a black president gives an additional 33 billion to finish saving the company and he's a socialist. GM's debts greatly exceeded it's assets had they followed Romney's plan the bond holders would have received nothing. Had GM been able to succeed in a normal bankruptcy it's pension obligations of 130 billion would have been assumed by the U.S. pension guarantee corporation backed by tax payers. Like a true republican better to screw the taxpayers out of 130 billion than the bondholders who accepted the risks due to the high interest rates GM paid.
TARP presented by Bush and passed by congress Oct. 3rd, 2008 one month before Obama was elected. It included the following 85.3 Billion to automakers. 79.3 billion financial institutions. 50 billion to Citigroup. 45 billion to Bank of America. 69.8 billion to A.I.G. 50 billion to Homeowners. 15 billion to small business. 55 billion TALF. 100 billion public-private. Man what socialists those republicans are.
Obamacare doesn't abolish any private business transactions. Anyone with insurance can keep it only those who refuse to buy insurance are required to the same as being required to have auto insurance. Socialism requires all to have the same. Under Obamacare you can have as much or as good an insurance coverage as you want you just have to have it. Hard to blame a president of being a socialist when he succeeds in passing his major presidential campaign promise he hardly hid his desire to create Obamacare, If people didn't like it they shouldn't have voted for him. Most of those opposing Obamacare do so because they listened to lies from the right. When told the individual parts most support them. Even Romney admits he supports many of Obamacares parts and supports their implementation at the state level. Romney said his healthcare plan should be a model for the nation he only backed away due to republican opposition. Now it sucks for the nation but would be great if all states implement it. Are you people really that brain dead? Obamacare was modeled on Romneycare. Both Obama and Clinton campaigned on reforming health care, the only difference with Obama is he succeeded.
Apparently you still live under one.
To Victoria from NJ, as somebody that was BORN IN VENEZUELA, lived there until 25, and have lived in the USA for the past 8 years, you have no idea of what you are talking about. You didn't live there, you didn't see what we had before Chavez and you haven't seen what my country looks and functions like, today. You are very naive to be repeating stuff that you hear from others (NOT YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE) so if you have an opinion, make sure you really know what it's going on. It's just ridicuolus to see how people that lives so comfortably and SAFE in the US and had NEVER experience having a gun to your face twice a week while at work (AS A PROFESSOR AT ONE OF OUR UNIVERSITIES WHICH WAS ONE OF THE BEST SINCE 1960's -way before Chavez-, where I was able to enter because of my good grades and performance in high school........ AND NO, I am not a "rich, high society person from Venezuela", grew up in a decent mid to low income neighborhood that became a very dangerous neighborhood in the last years, yes, I had 2 of my neighbors shot to death at night while I lived there) and have the nerve to talk with such certainty of what great this man is and how good his programs are...... please, don't embarrass yourself.
CAPRILES IS, the best candidate we have EVER had the chance to see, to run for president IN MY COUNTRY. LOOK HIM UP. A decent, intelligent, honest man. And Venezuela is with him.
Obama & Eric Holder = extorting millions in tax payer $ to force States to fight against NO ID VOTING -
Then even when the VOTERS agree with the states & VOTE with their state leaders -
what does
Obama & Eric Holder do? Extort millions in more tax payer $ to drag US States through the Courts again appealing decisions that VOTERS passed in their own home states.
Take Pennsylvania & Wisconsin after 2 years of hell BILLIONS from the thug Unions VOTERS thought they had a voice & VOTED against NO ID VOTING and against UNION thugs....Only to have Eric Holder get some liberal judge (IN Both States) to VOID what the voters decided.
Just think Americans Obamas 1st agenda after 2012 election...
Stack the Courts with Leftest Judges!
To hell with States rights To hell with stupid VOTERS.......
If Obama doesn't like an outcome ........ He'll use his judges
(& our tax dollar) to make them STFU....
i hop Chavez wins or Venezuela's oil will go to private companies and the people of Venezuela will live in poverty .It is what Iran did after Islamic revolution ,took the oil from British companies and returned to the Iranian people that is why they want the Iranian government down.
If you break the law in any regime does not matter what is democracy or totalitarian or monarchy you will pay the consequences. 30 years lived in a communist country (no drugs ,no stealing, no killing , no pedophiles, no prostitution ,but family, friendship, love and compassion for each other.The ones that the communist regime put in jail are now the corrupted leader of our nation.This is the future of venesuela if Chavez looses.
First, I'm surprised tin-foil is not in short supply these days with all of these right wing anti-Obama socialist conspiracy nuts. LOL.
Second, everyone knows that Chavez will win as it will be a rigged election. Power for 14 years and a credible threat comes along to challenge it? Of course he will rig it.
Third, connecting the first two, there is simply no equivalency between an American election and an Venezuelan election (or any other third world process). In one, there is a people that vote with lots of oversight and review (even if some portion of the populace is teabagged crazy) and the other a bearded dictatorship supported by oil and other middle east madmen (though, arguably, adept politicians). Let's be real and honest.
Good luck to the Venezuelans!
Obama/Biden 2012!
Zathrose,No our freedoms are being whittled away by the Supreme Court.Matters not who our figurehead is.
To Jo From NJ: CAPRILES comes from the old oligarch structure of Venezuela. I have followed not only Chavez's campaign but Capriles as well. The majority of Capriles's funding comes from the bankers who escaped Venezuela with the people's savings. Do you deny that? His campaign representative was caught on video receiving thousands of dollars for his campaign. You say you are from Venezuela so you must know that there is an ongoing investigation on this allegation. Not to mention his father's involvement in taking campaign money against the laws established by the CNE. To deny that Venezuela has seen some incredible advances in the quality of life to its people is to deny reality. Do you remember Perrarina which is dog food that the Venezuelen people had to eat because of lack of food? You can read about it in la revista Producto 1990. (remember the Caracazo?) As a Latin American I acknowledge the contribution that Venezuela is giving in the form of leadership in all areas that benefit humanity. I don't have to be from Venezuela to see this. When I see a campesino articulate an ideology that benefits all the classes of his country, it is to be commended because we know from the past that governments who are controlled by the oligarchs maintain their people uneducated, poor and excluded from the process of a middle class income and education. I am sorry my friend but Latin America for the last 500 years has been sucked dry by oligarchs and empires. Latin America is a force to be reckoned with. Mercosur is now the 5th largest economic block in the world with Venezuela becoming a full member. ALBA, a group of Latin American countries that have formed a mutual partnership in banking, imports, exports of their individual resources is a mighty force that will benefit and protect the sovereignty of their individual nations. These are facts and research; not me repeating what I hear as you stated. And as the noble people from Venezuela say, NO VOLVERAN! I have never had the experience of having a gun to my face and that was truly unfortunate. You say that I live comfotably and safe. I almost lost my job because of manpower cuts but didn't because of outsatnding job performance but the agency that I work for is in peril of closing, my husband has lost a full time job and now we are getting ready to foreclose our home because of the motgage fraud that was perpetuated by the bankers and Wall Street against the middle class families. I am just bring in some of the facts and not hearsay. I stand up for the good of humanity no matter what country... I am a citizen of the world.
It is amazing to me that Obama has any support at all from Americans who oppose a socialist system in America! Because that's exactly what Obama has planned for us!
Obama's mentor Frank Marshall Davis, a registered communist... wrote in his book that the quickest way to redistribute wealth in a country is to increase its debt! Obama has increased our debt by $6 trillion! What more proof do you need????
Romney/Ryan 2012, because we can't afford 4 more years of a socialist/communist agenda!
Good Ol' Dog ...A Socialist dictator who divided his country by labeling the other side "neo-Nazis and fascists" -
WAIT !! Are we talking about the U.S. or Venezuela ?????
If the coin has head on both sides the probability of being the US or Vene is equal. But Vene has not gone to war everywhere. Vene is just playing cage rattler and under dog. But we need people who keep us on the roll other wise we will end up having couch potato policy. Do nothing! Vene never said he does not want to sell his oil to US or help US families who need heating when ever winter comes around.
We should concern ourselves with those silently sponsoring the conversion of our youth to Islam and funding expansion of mosque in the US. Do not expect a significant terror act to come from Vene. They are mostly Catholic and do not worry much.
Isn’t it interesting that despite all those handouts and sweet talk by Chavez, there is a chance that he may lose this election?!
Perhaps, sitting in the traffic for hours and going nowhere fast, in a car fueled by cheap gasoline from Chavez, while everything else is falling apart is starting to lose it’s appeal.
I hope our people in Washington are watching what’s going on in Venezuela; they may learn a thing or two about how not to run the country.
JOSE: Some of us would die for this country. I am retired military. Since you are so discusted with some of us and hate Hugo Chavez so much....
I have a suggestion.....
go back home and fight for what you believe. Good or bad, I will live and die in this country.
Then again, I don't have to be a genius to figure what part of Venezuelan society you are from.
Sound exactly the same as the Cuban refugees who fled Castro. I learned my Spanish from Cuban exiles. Some of the most arogant elitists I ever knew. They caused their own demise. So did the old Venezuelan regimes.
Sounds like the same way all countries do business, including here in the U.S.
@Arian1
"i hop Chavez wins or Venezuela's oil will go to private companies and the people of Venezuela will live in poverty"
From what I have read that will happen if Chavez does stay in office. It is my understanding that he has failed to invest in maintaining his oil industry and production is dropping. One recent article I read stated "He is killing the goose that laid the golden egg".
This shows the fallacies of both the far left and the far right thinkers. The right feels that corporations are good and can and should be trusted, and the left feels that corporations arent to be trusted at any cost.
While many corporations are run by greedy individuals with no concern for any but themselves, they do tend to hire people who know what they are doing. People who know what needs to be done to keep the oil flowing. The left tends to discount those people for their ties to the big corp so rather than hire a person with years or decades of oil experience they go hire a college grad who may have good knowledge but no real world experience. They understand the theory, but when it comes time to get their hands dirty they dont have a clue.
I hope Chaves loses, and also hope the new guy is smart enough to trust the oil companies to fix the issues, but distrust them enough to keep them on a very short leash.
Will never happen.
And btw, if you read any of Wikileaks, you will find that the US tried pressuring Venezuela to not sell oil at a reasonable price to earthquake ravaged Haiti. We are a perfect example of the impossibility of trusting oil companies to fix issues while keeping them on a short leash.
@Debi,
I dont know if what you say is true, but it is believable as our political system is the best the corporations could buy.
As for "Will never happen", no it wont as long as the two extremes keep us fighting one another. I like to think there is hope of finding a centrist position and fixing things rather than giving up and throwing in the towel. Nothing will change if we keep believing that it wont.
Yeah, right! Sure he will. Just as soon as he gets done blaming the results on the Yankee imperialists that he will think were responsible. As such, it would not surprise me if he called the results invalid, asks for a recount, then declares himself the winner!
Sorry tom-1768340 –
Neither of my parents in Venezuela even graduated from high school. And yes we did live in the ranchos (the slums). My father was a mechanic and I initially learned English from translations of English-Spanish auto parts shipment materials and boxes of parts. I was the second in my family to obtain a college degree, after my sister who eventually became a doctor. I spent almost two years working and saving to attend first year engineering school in the U.S. (Virginia Tech), and from that point on I was totally on my own – working for engineering firms, who sponsored my green card, and even worked on defense contracts with the U.S. Air Force (Rome, NY). … One thing has been a constant, which has been truly inspiring for me, and that is the generosity of spirit of people in this country despite the exceptions of ignorant people like you, with trite knee-jerk platitudes as guide in judging situations such as Venezuela.
If the socialist loses in this election he and his minions will scream "voter fraud" and try to nullify the election. Then his thugs and their organizations will create chaos by protesting at the other party's offices and will try to force their will through their Supreme Court. Imagine how bad it will be in Venezuela if Chavez loses, too!
"We're in a divided country, and I think
ChavezObama is the one responsible."Looks like they ate well under Chavez.
Similar to what happened in Bush v. Gore.
Jose V - well said, and I share your view on liberals. They've indirectly been responsible for the rise of most dicators and butchers in the last 75 years and most of the wars we've had. In addition to Sean Penn and Kevin Spacy, you forget another sorry sh_t-head, Danny Glover who "greeted Chavez" at the poles. I really wish these celebrities would shut the friggin hole in their faces and move to some of the despot run countries that hate the USA just like they do. They do not deserve the freedoms that have allowed them all to become millionaires, and they are some of the sorriest excuses of human slugs. Enough said.
Why is it that when people don't like the results of an election they immediately insist thatt he election was rigged. Unless you can provide some demonstrable PROOF that the election was rigged then you will just have to accept that the majority of Venezuelans want Hugo Chavez as their president. Also, it says he won by a 54% maority, that is a lot, but not an overwhelming amount. If he were going to rig an election, why not say he had won 75% or 90% of the vote? We must support democracy, even if we don't like the result of that democracy. I don't like Hugo Chavez; I think he erratic and unpredictable and he is not a good leader. BUT I respect the choice of the Venezuelan people, and he is that choice until some PROOF can be shown that his selection was some how illegitimate, illegal, or rigged.
I don't think that the election of Chavez got to do something with Obama, even Chavez mention his support to him if he is reelected. The fact of the matter is that Obama do not see him like a treat , is another tiny country like Iran, however , Chavez is opening the door to Iran creating a new geo-political map, very dangerous the stability of the region .Romney do not share the same vision of Obama and he is a new treat for Chavez.
The problem with liberals is that most are not. They are leftists. Collectivists and statists. Lenin's useful idiots who either have no grasp of history or else are in deep denial that collectivism leads to tyranny. Chavez won the election, what a surprise....now his supporters in the SLUMS of Venezuela can rejoice that their pittance of government goodies will continue.
That's a real shame. Sorry to the people of Venezuela!!!!
Sounds like the Obama administration. The US Congress is still waiting for an explanation about the Libya terrorist attack. So much cover-up.
Yevrah Kahn Comment collapsed by the community
odumbo wants to do the same thing here. anyone against him is a racist. if he wins another term he will push to be allowed to be re-elected because he has more to do(destroying America and our way of life.
I'M GLAD THERE IS MORE THAN I THAT SEE THIS !!!!!!
Another huge blow for American conservatism, my hat's off to President Chavez, keep up the good work, would you my man!
Comparisons of Chavez to Obama sound absurd. Chavez actually gives the poor something. Obama does not. Gary Bonner said:
and Marlen said:
The two do not compare at all. Obama's form of "communism" is a phony type espoused by certain America haters who just want to see America destroyed. He is not trying to start revolution here. Obama just wants us out of the way so that middle eastern countries can consolidate some sort of Islamic empire. Notice that every middle eastern country where we have gotten rid of their strongman has been replaced by a weak government that is soon overthrown by Islamic extremists. Obama's purpose is to hand these countries to Islamic extremists and get us off the world stage. It has everything to do with Islam and nothing to do with communism or socialism. Our poor ain't got nuthin' commin' from him!
Good question..
Then again Chavez and Obama are buddies as Chavez has endorsed him.
Obama and Chavez are not buddies. No doubt we're pouring the usual sums into opposition parties to defeat him in the election. The US is as committed as ever to getting rid of Chavez for the benefit of the oil industry. The comments Chavez made - that you refer to - are nothing more than a bit of political mischief by Chavez.
And this article is just american propaganda.
If Chavez's challenger wins he best be careful and well guarded.
If Capriles challenges big oil as many other South American leaders have done , he best be very careful indeed. As most of them have found themselves SPLATTERED on MOUNTAINSIDES . The big boys and Jackals play for keeps.
Hugo Chavez and Jimmy Carter both endorse Obama - the Russians are licking their chops just waiting for Obama to be re-elected so that he can use his new "flexibility" - four Americans including our Ambassador are killed in our Embassy in Libya after the White House repeatedly refused their requests for increased security - and after a militant attack on 9/11 that took Obama a week to call "self-evident".
Yes sir !! Our country is in good hands !!
Well put Good Ol Dog. November is coming.
So the terrorists attack during a Democratic presidents term and the right wing wants to blame him, but a terrorist attack occurs during a Republican presidents term and he isn't blamed, but praised...hmmmmm!
Same old Pentagon/ CIA propaganda .............
What an absolutely retarded comment. I really pity you if this is how you go thru life.
Yes Chavez did endorse Obama and called him a "good guy". I saw it on the news in his own words. Compared Romney to his opponent as 'extreme and dangerous'. They probably aren't buddies but I would call them birds of a feather.
It's easy for Chavez and BO to give away other peoples money -- If they had to tap into their own checkbooks I don't think they would be that generous. Just goes to show that the weak will vote for whoever will give them the most and they don't CARE that it's those people getting up everyday to answer the bell (WORK) and pay taxes. Another shining example of Chicago politics. Shame on those that vote for their own self interest and not in the interest of the country, their families, children, and grandchildren. Karma's a beotch people, don't let it put a pox on your house.
Terry said: "So the terrorists attack during a Democratic presidents term and the right wing wants to blame him, but a terrorist attack occurs during a Republican presidents term and he isn't blamed, but praised...hmmmmm!"
GWB didn't blame the towers coming down as the result of an insulting video -- your idiots in the WH did and it took several days for them to walk it back after they sent Susan Rice, Clinton, Carney, Nuland and others daily on TV claiming it's all because of a video that 4 Americans were MURDERED! Please don't comment when you don't know what you're talking about, it just makes you look stupid.
Actually that leader of IRAN (ackma blah blah blah)
has also endorsed Obama .
just one of thousands of little side stories the MSM has omitted to protect Messiah Obama.
I'm so sick of the Obama Lemmings in here calling GOP "conspiracy" nuts
Visit DRUDGE REPORT every day for a week see how dishonest & corrupt the MSM is.
Re: "I'm so sick of the Obama Lemmings in here calling GOP "conspiracy" nuts" well, then quit acting like a bunch of nuts! How can anyone call anybody lemmings when there is still a fox news and a millions of foxbots who regurgitate everything they hear without giving a thought to the implications? If I wasn't living in this silly ass country I'd be laughing at your stupidity. The corporate media hasn't ignored O'bomber's support from our chosen enemies (what has venezuela done to be our enemy? Offer us cheap gas after Katrina hit, only to be scorned by bushman?)
Based on past and recent history, I don't wonder if Chavez will rig the vote, I wonder how much propaganda the CIA has infused into this election as they have in the last two venezuelan elections? For those of you who haven't discovered truth in reporting as done by the way-too-limited independent news sources in the US. If more people looked for the truth instead of allowing corporate news to spoonfeed them propaganda for the state, the number of uninformed posters on sites like these would diminish dramatically.
Right on MIKE X. I admire Chavez He helped his poor people a lot! USA wants their private oil companies to take over; and put those por people in teir place.
Yeah, J E Burton, he really helped his people! They have constant rolling electrical blackouts and he, himself, had to go to Cuba for medical treatment because his country's system is a disaster!
Hey Mike, are the LEMMINGS the (L)eftist (E)stablishment (M)ass (M)edia? Just seems to fit!
I am glad he won. The Secret Service is not since that means Venezuela is not turning into a US puppet anytime soon, therefore they are not welcome and no cheap prostitutes like Colombia and any other US ally in the region.
And I'm sorry, the US is a bigger dictatorship when your only options are the right wing and extreme right wing. At least you can choose between left wing and right wing in Venezuela. Jimmy Carter said Venezuela has the freest elections in the world.
Gotta love how the NeoCons stole two elections followed up by Obama duping the left, and now we have Obama who might lose because he absolutely failed his base when it came time to carry out his promises, or the extreme right wing Romney who will sell to any and every interest to win.
Doesn't really matter who wins in the US because Manifest Destiny is alive and well.
To many people in South America have long memories of the treatment they received from the US school of the Americas in Carolina. Where they trained every dictator and death squad from south america.
Same thing happening in Iraq and Afghanistan where you have been soooo casual about civilian deaths and torture. You have lost both wars and those chickens have not yet come home.
That story ain't over yet by a long shot. In England they just opened a court case, this many many years after the English torturing the People from Kenya when they occupied it. Same can happen to you.
I hear conservatives brag about how much they love America,
they have made in China flag decals all over their cars and they wear their
patriotism on their sleeves just as they do their religion, rubbing it in
everyone’s face all day long. But do they really love this country or is it
just plastic patriotism, all show and no substance?
Let’s take a look at America and exactly what the
conservatives like and dislike about. Back in the 17th century the
Pilgrims came to America seeking freedom from religious persecution, so one can
say that freedom of religion is one of our founding principles. Do the
conservatives believe in freedom of religion? NO! Well only for Christians,
they believe that this country is a Christian nation and only that only
Christians should be free to practice their religion openly and that is not freedom
of religion. Okay so that is one aspect of America they don’t like and are
always trying to change.
Our Constitution states that all men are created equal. Do
the conservatives believe that all men are created equal? NO First of all they
do not believe that non-Christians should have the same rights as Christians.
George H. W. Bush said, “I do not believe that atheists are patriots and they
should not be considered citizens.” They also don’t think that the indigenous
people of this land are equal, nor do they think they should have the right to
practice their own religion or speak their native language. The same goes for
the descendants of the slaves they brought over from Africa or the migrant
workers who pick their fruits and vegetables and clean their houses. Strike
two!
How about the Frist Amendment of the Constitution, "Congress
shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof." Well obviously they don’t like that, they are
constantly trying to get Congress to pass laws that would respecting the
establishment of Christianity in our public schools, our places of employment,
our courts, etc. Throughout the 20th century they fought to erode
the separation of church and state by sneaking the word god into our national anthem,
onto our money and even into our electoral system which Article VI, paragraph 3
of the US Constitution clearly forbids, “no religious test shall ever be
required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United
States”. Strike three!
What about Freedom of Speech? Only if it applies to their
speech, when anyone else tries to speak out they call them traitors and “anti-American”.
What of Freedom of the Press? Again, only Fox news can bad mouth Democrats, if
anyone of the other news agencies says something bad about a Republican president
then they are committing treason in the eyes of the conservatives. Strike four
and five!
Do they like our natural spaces? Our scenic beauty? Our forests
and lakes? Well only if they can exploit them for a profit, if anyone even
mentions conservation the conservatives call them tree hugging hippies or label
them “eco=terrorists”. Strike six!
How about our neighbors to the north and south, Canada and
Mexico? LOL, I don’t even think I need to address this one; the conservatives
want to put a big wall around this country so none of “those people” can get
in. Strike seven.
So what exactly do the conservatives “love” about America
other than the made in China plastic flag decals they plaster all over their
made in Japan cars?
deprogrammer,
Im not going to lie to you, I could not finish reading what you wrote. I made it through 3 paragraphs and and found tooooo many flaws in your argument. I am an independent but if I were to write a rebuttal to you, I would ask....why do liberals hate religion and their creator, why do they murder babies, why do they not support our troops defending our freedom and support illegal immigrants, why do they believe in handouts to those undeserving.
Terry,
I think it is the way the President responded to the attack. That is the real problem. He did nothing, and our own citizens we're slaughtered by an angry mob. Am I the only one who see's a problem with this?
I like how Chavez changed his nations constitution so he can hold on to power. And called his opponent a "Nazi". That's how Rome made its transition from democracy. Caesar's term was up, but he said oh well, I'm staying. And he killed anyone who thought otherwise.
The truth is, the left (Chavez, and Obama) are about expansive government control. While the right is about NECESSARY government power, but not unlimited.
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!
Of course he did. I could have told you that last week.
(wink, wink,,,,secret handshake)
Chris from Yucaipa
Pity me, amusing all I did was state a fact and now you toss out insults and pity.
No need to pity me, I will retire comfortable along with knowing I didn't and wouldn't vote for Obama if he were in a 1 man race.
As for the dictator of Venezuela, it's a shame he has such remorseful control of a nation of people that cannot stand up for themselves for the fear of Government retribution at every level. Too bad he didn't kick the bucket in Cuba before endorsing Obama.
But not to worry here in the good ole USA, freedom of choice and freedom of speech for which I defended for 9 years of my life gives me the right to say and do as I please without fear of Government.
So save your pity for your own future skippy, you will need it as you apparently haven't got a clue.
John Doe-2241225
John, I agree with your post but I just want to clarify.
Rome was a kingdom from about 750-510 BC. It was then a Republic from 510-30 BC. From then on it was an empire.
As the Republic unraveled, so did Rome.
We see that here today. It's a shame that so many don't understand that we are a Republic and NOT a Democracy. Our Founders and framers warned us of the "excesses of Democracy" and the "Tyranny by the Majority". There iis a sugnifican difference between a "form" of government and the "type" of government. A Republic is not only dissimilar to a Democracy, it's antithetical.
We are a Representative Democracy which simply means we have periodic free elections.
ROMNEY/RYAN 2012 FOR REAL AMERICANS©
Deprogrammer, I am an independent and mildly conservative. I can tell you with 100% certainty that I believe all your so called points are wrong in that you try to paint all with your same brush! I would and could refute them all but I am short on time at the moment. Many hard corps conservatives try to do the same thing and they are just as wrong. Just because different groups in this country do not share the same ideology does not make them evil people. I think most of your points were ignorant and counterproductive! But the beauty of this country is that we are free to disagree with each other. No offense intended. Just stating a different point of view. Have a good day.
The U.S. And 50% of the idiotic populace support the dictator. Go figure.
South American lemmings..... the north American lemmings "poor" relatives................
"the north American lemmings "poor" relatives"
yep , you would think the lefty lemmings would help out their relatives , you know like Barry helps his brother , oh wait , nevermind
OdumbodaPrez, Sounds like the USA and President Nobama. Sad. Good Debate.
And, maybe Danny Glover will do us all a favor and stay their with his buddy.
Of course, Obama is jealous of Chavez because he has more people looking over his shoulder as the votes are counted.
I love seeing the Reich Wing cry when things don't go their way. Despite their claims to want freedom, they don't cry when the Patriot Act or NDAA is passed (by Bush OR Obama), but they only cry when we don't relentlessly attack sovereign nations or when an election does not go their way because people in other countries don't have a right to determine who their president is. What a bunch of sheep.
Dictator? So, tell us your conspiracy in detail.
Between someone who think with logic and another who said "God told me to do it", it would take no brainer to pick.
In this day and age, so many GOP members told the world that they don't believe in science and yet sit on top of Science Committee for a whole country, that tell you how much good job they really are doing.
If I want something similar to Muslim, I would have move to Middle East. Thankfully, I am not that person and I don't want US to turn into "lite" version of that society.
Compared to the diebold voting system of the USA and the infamous "hanging chad" which has been proven to be tampered with, Venezuela has a fingerprint system with a paper receipt that must match the screen where the voter has cast his vote on. At the end of the day the tally of receipts and the tally of the computer results must match. The system of voting has been acclaimed as the best electoral system by international observers, the UN and our privious president, Jimmy Carter.
Ever since Chavez has been elected Presendent, the Bolivian Revolution has completely eliminated illiteracy, extreme poverty has been reduced from 60% to 25% in 14 years, over 250,000 new homes have been built for the poor, the GDP in the USA was 1.5 in the last quarter, in Venezuela it was 5.+! Venezuela has national free health care, national free education, free computer lap tops in schools per student, over 12 universities have been built, etc. All of this has been accomplished with the revenues of the Venezuelen oil industry. Before the Bolivian Revolution came into power the oil revenues were going into the hands of the oligarchs and the trans national corporations.
If I were a Venezuelen I know who I would vote for. Is it a perfect country? Show me a perfect country. So, before you give your uneducated opinion on a sovereign country, educate yourself on the wide range of facts from different sources excluding Fox news, CNN, MSNBC and the rest of the corporate media who do not see facts but oil. In this America that I was born in and love, we are outsourcing jobs while unemployment is rampant, millions of homes in foreclosure, un- affordable education, unafordable healthcare. our infrastructure is decayed, multiple wars are depleating our economy and we are losing our sons, daughters, grandchildren, etc. Let's take care of our homeland issues before sticking our noses in the issues of another country.
I wonder how many millions the CIA poured into that election, to create a political climate more favorable to the oil companies, the rich and the greedy and other global parasites. I did notice no mention of the coup we sponsored a few years back or the well-documented funding we pour into right wing parties, unions and other puppets of US imperialism, never mind the horrors of the US sponsored dicatorship that Chavez replaced with democracy.
I also notice I see the same exact article posted in every US news outlet, which means none of these news agencies wrote this story. That - in turn - means this is not a news story, its propaganda.
I think its laughable when the blowhards in Washington bang on about 'democracy' and then trashes up countries that introduce democracy, but the people don't vote for pro-american puppet parties. No doubt Washington is far happier with Brazilian 'socialists', since they are well-documented for taking international bribes from bankers, corporations and those shady people in the intelligence industry. I guess corruption is a necessary requirement for 'American-style' democracy.
I hope Chavez wins. Because if nothing else, I love it when third world countries make fools out of the parasites in washington, Wall Street and elsewhere. I love it even more when they kick those parasites out, redistribute the wealth and do good things for the people. I wish we could do the same.
Mediasavvy....you could fulfill your wish just go to Venezula and help Chavez, or better yet if Obama gets elected again you can stay here and collect your welfare check, but not at my cost...I will keep my Guns, Freedom, and Money, you can keep the change............
Stan.....
That would be the dope (Biden) & change (O'Bamma) and I'll keep my God, not bow down to Obammas god allah!
mediasavvy - Do you agree with Sean Penn that American reporters who speak poorly of President Stinky's (BO) pal, confidant, and mentor should be jailed?
So you're a basement dweller incapbale of earning a living, and think that others should give to you? Then you're a PERFECT supporter of Stinks (BO).
lee: You do realize Allah is just the Arabic word for god? That their god is the same as your god?
You're all nuts worshiping a sky fairy anyway, but at least get your hatred based on the right things.
AG99%er
Is that you Barry. How you feeling after the Romney smack down? In the Bible allah = false god!
The Bible doesn't even mention Allah, since the Koran wasn't written until several centuries later. Not the brightest, are you, lee?
Then again, you probably haven't actually read the Bible, have you?
In addition to the propaganda there are the paid trolls who trash Obama and Chavez in unison so as to make it appear there is some sort of consensus but these trolls are just that, paid trolls and useful idiots.
The only parasites are the people that vote to keep the empty suit in the WH so they can pick the pocket of the taxpayer and wait for their next check, phone, sec 8 housing, medical care, and food stamps. That's the real parasites, you know people like you!
AG99%er...
the Bible warns about worshiping false Gods. Even though I'm not the brightest here, as you pointed out the koran was written centuries later. allah = false god!
lee: <sigh> Read the Koran, if you'd actually like to learn what it really says instead of listening to other people tell you what they want you to believe. The Koran is very, very clear that it's talking about the same god, the god of Abraham. Unless you think Abraham worshiped someone else, there is no room for assuming it's not all the same fairy tale. The Koran even references many of the same events and people in the Old Testament. It's just another chapter in the same mythology, kind of like the Mormons who wrote yet another chapter.
Better yet, free yourself from these fairy tales altogether. In any event, it should have no bearing on who you plan to vote for.
(I'm out the door now so you'll have to continue your tirade against Obama or whatever you're upset about alone.)
I knew that was you Barry.Must be tee time...
Conservatives: I've watched C-Span cover elections for over a decade.....Guess what 2 programing changes they've made?
1. They used to interview & highlight the top 10 Best Sellers on the NYT best seller list -- oddly, when the top 10 best sellers were CONSERVATIVES week after week - They changed the format from Best Sellers to errrr Most Diverse or some chit.
C-Span is just as left as the rest of them. Chuck Todd cut his leftest teeth at C-Span. & they are also subsidized by us in our cable bills!
2. C-Span used to show almost every presidential campaign rally either live or taped. I've seen one Ryan rally (& it was excellent) but ZERO Romney rallies...
its like they know if the American ppl get to see Mitt without the MSM slanderous spin ~
I hope I wrong but I tried to find programming to see Romney Rallies & all I got was little "clips" that had been edited ....
I don't think the leftest MSM conspire per'say but they do ALL have ONE AGENDA Get their socialist (elitist) BHO re-elected at any price.
To be balanced, remember that Chavez was also an instigator in an unsuccessful coup attempt in the 90s.
Lee you failed in Reading Comprehension didn't you? AG99 stated, correctly I might add, that Allah IS the Christian god. Allah and "God" are the same mythical entity. Do you know why the Bible even mentions false Gods? It is to keep people none too bright, apparently such as yourself, from being none the wiser as to the lies it peddles and the truth that it distorts to the maximum.
Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are religions based upon the same Father-religion. Well it was not even a religion, it was a set of principles and teachings laid out by Jesus. Each religion has Jesus' teachings in it but at the same time they are distorted, buried, and misconstrued by the Men who sought to change history in order to manipulate people into fighting against their Brothers and Sisters on false pretenses. As they say, to the victors go the spoils and that was the goal.
If one religion were to gain entrapment of the World that religion, and those at the top of that religion, would literally have the entire wealth of the world at their fingers.
That may a bit crazy but I do not think it is out of the question. Even if that is not what the original founders/distorters of those traditions meant for their religions to be used for, modern man has no problems using religion as tools to get what they want.
Christ would ex-communicate the entire Evangelical party from his congregation as heretics if he were alive to day. They have taken God and used him to their own personal advantage. The same thing happened to the Knights Templar. They became too powerful and threatened to take over the Church itself and so were cast to the wolves during the Crusades.
Today organized religion is not religion, almost all organized religions are cults based on manipulation of people not quick enough to realize they are being manipulated. By that I do not mean stupid people, but being stupid makes it easier on them. What I mean is those that are not self-aware enough to realize subtle manipulations from their Pastors, Priests, Imams, and Rabbis that are used to make you believe what they tell you.
Islam is a perfect example of this because it is much larger and has a larger number of fanatics. The only reason Bin Laden was able to turn so many against us was because he was able to manipulate his followers into believing that we were the Devil. Here in the States Christianity is also doing the same thing by turning it's followers against social topics it has no interest in seeing come about because they view it as weakening of the Church's unfounded acclimation over areas of life.
Allowing Gays to marry lessens the Church's control over marriage even though they have no claim to the institution. Allowing abortion lessens the Church's authoritarian views over it's claim to creation. Diminishing the Church's power in our Government directly lessens the Church's power to control it's interests.
The Church is playing you and you are dancing to their tune unknowingly but willingly. Just as the fanatics that join Al-Qaeda are being played by the Imams. Just as Israelis are being played by their Rabbis into accepting that there can be no peace between them and Muslims, that manipulate them into becoming incensed by the ramblings of a Government that has always cried wolf (Iran, they have claimed to be on the brink of nuclear weapons for 20 years).
If you really believe in Christianity then all you have to do is live by Christ's teachings and nothing else. The Bible is a fabrication. You do not even have to be a Christian to live as Christ did, I am an Atheist yet I try to live as Christ wanted his followers to because I think he had the right idea. Never return violence in kind, return it with peaceful gestures, with forgiveness. Never treat anyone in any way that you would not have yourself treated regardless of the offense.
The Golden rule is present in both the Torah and in the Qua`ran but most Christian's would never know it because of the manipulations of their Church. Yahweh = Allah and Allah = God.
Geowil:
I too am an atheist trying to live by Christ's teachings.
Fanatical religious zealots may not have much of a choice in their fanaticism. I've been reading about a possible "god" gene and how many of us may have been created with it.
I am surprised that Chavez's opponent is still alive. I would have thought he would have met with a mysterious accident by now. Don't worry, this tyrant will somehow control the ballot boxes to make sure he wins. I wish this country well and hope it somehow gets out of the clutches of this maniac and into real democracy.
Mysterious accident? Where's that statement coming from? I must have missed some history (legit question). What is real democracy? Is that where only the filthy rich can look at running for a candidacy?
How would you know he is a tyran ?? Do you live there ?
when are you going to wake up to the fact that you are a brainwashed propaganda believer ?
Hugo Chavez is not perfect, but at least, he has done A LOT for his people and for south america !!!!!
HE IS A PRESIDENT FOR THE PEOPLE AND NOT FOR CORPORATIONS LIKE YOURS, IS !!!!
My Name Is Barry Obama and I would vote for Chavez a few times!
Chavez has nothing to worry about from the poles or votes, he can fix the vote in his favor,only when armed troops show up on his door step will this mouthy,crude ,commie throw back have anything to worry about!
Fear not Chavez fans he has his money hiden and a means of escape planned out incase America every elects a real native born son who will stnad up to overseas punks like this!
I suspect that our President Stinky (BO) wishes that we were more like his mentor's country so he wouldn't have to worry about silly distractions like elections.
Stinks is a dictator at heart.
Stevejc42.....Obama is working on it! What do you think he and Eric Holder have been doing the last 2 years
Bullying AZ- Bullying -Pennsylvania BULLYING - Wisconsin Bullying - Ohio
costing tax payers hundreds of millions we don't have just to fight Americas own AG to keep States Rights...Can any Obama Lemming in here defend that Please?
We need jobs & Eric Holder/Obama are crippling
STATES RIGHTS & STATES BUDGETS to pave the way for
EASIER CHEATING at the Voting booth?
Please defend that you 2 faced Omama Zombies!
You piss yourself over Mitts taxes but Yawn when Obama uses OUR tax $ to serve HIS own personal agenda?
Voter suppression tactics are only being implemented where the state in question is unfortunate enough to have a fascist teabagger governor. All of these laws are designed to restrict voting rights for minorities, a group that votes heavily for dems. Now what we're you babbling on about rights? Educate yourselves, learn the facts and quit spreading empty rhetoric as if it has meaning.
Voter suppression by requiring that a voter be an American citizen. Yup, gotta stop that silliness. Let's just forget about having a vote, let's just crown Obama king or Emperor or whatever and be done with it.
if he looses odumbo will hire him, just one more illegal alien
I reallly like the conspiracy theories.....Not one of those posting such can prove anything..
ohhh..pick me...pick me.....i can....WATCH
chicago is famous for;
1. pizza
2.mobsters
3.crooked politicians
I can PROVE it is a FACT that obama certainly isn't a pizza
( see told ya i could )
Chavez want Obama to be pres. Chavez is a tin horn dictator who tryes to keep his people down, be hard for anyone else to win because he can rig the polls.
keep licking those windows there sunshine, your speacil..........................
IAscooterTramp ----
Please read post #6.2 and defend your Messiah BHO please?
I'll go get coffee I'm guessing you wont be able to.
I'll look foward to a childish insult like we get from Barry & Joe
waste-excuses-greed-dishonesty - Union thugs- corruption out the ass- etc
Obamas 1st term yeah I want 4 more years of this.
"Please defend that you 2 faced Omama Zombies!"
@Love2troops
Kinda funny you talking about childish insults.
As for your points, Obama, (I do give you points for using his real name) he and the DNC have done a few indefensible things. There's the whole beer summit, the high stakes healthcare gamble when jobs should have been the priority, Support of Union leadership that is corrupt as the corporations they negotiate with, and if I think long enough I can come up with more. I am not blind to his faults. I also knew when I voted for him that Gitmo wasnt gonna get closed or the troops werent going to get the order to come home the day after election. I see the faults, But can you see the faults of your side?
Trickle down. It is actually a good theory and I agree with it. Where is all the trickle down from all the tax cuts going back to Reagan? Greed, that where it went. Those tax cuts had no strings or conditions attached so the corporations pocketed the money rather than passing any reasonable percentage down. Its like standing and feeding a horse carrots. All you get is a fat lazy worthless horse. If you put the carrot on a stick you can get the horse to work.
The big bad unions. We all know the story. They protect lazy and worthless workers from getting fired. I can see the truth to that, but how can the right at the same time support the corporate process of bonuses for workers who trashed not only the banks they worked for, but our economy as well. Sorry if someone screws up that bad they should be fired, not given a retention bonus. It really sounds more like an entitlement, it doesnt matter if your doing good or bad you just have to be here sucking up oxygen.
Entitlements? The best way to cut those back is to get people working. Yanking the rug out from under people when up to 700 people are applying for a single job is nuts. How is it going to help the economy? Taking money out of consumer hands will lead to less demand and less jobs. Yes there are some jobs out there that are going unfilled, but what ever happened to companies training their own workforce? No today they expect Government funded schools to do it for them. Where is the outcry about that?
Deregulation, Republicans cry to anyone who will listen that regulations are killing business. I can agree as I have seen it for myself, but everyone has seen what Deregulation can do. We deregulated the banks and they took unholy risks with our money and futures and LOST. I personally feel the answer sits somewhere in the middle, but when given the two choices we are given today I will take the policy that leads to slower growth than one that risks collapsing the system again.
How about Republicans admit where they are wrong and what they intend to do to fix it rather than worrying about a birth certificate or what religion he is. I recently got an email about why we should choose Romney for president. Here are my favorite reasons off that list;
1. He is drop dead gorgeous.
How shallow can we be? I dont care if a candidate is a horror show cyclops, I just care that he has answers and can do the job.
2. He cant speak in a black preacher voice when needed.
WTF? Its hard to defend against claims of racism when the TP is sending this around in emails. What does this have to do with leading our nation?
So come next month I will vote for Obama. Is it because I think he is perfect and does no wrong? Absolutely not! I would have loved a chance to vote for someone better. Sorry but Romney wasnt it.
Chavez is my main man.
Look out the Kenyan god king will send US Military to aid Chavez to overthrow his government, too or just keep giving everything away to create his 47%...plus.
Danny Glover: stay there--you play games in your movies and are the biggest COWARD...disgusting...aiding and abetting sedition against the nation your earn millions off of real Americans: bet your would pee your pants if you had to do something real...other than bow to EVIL...
At least we know what you are and what you support EVIL...your eternal soul is bought and paid for DEVIL direct: have fun with the man who declare the Kenyan as his son...and that is was doing great controlling and taking down the USA so he didn't have to do anything with his other Communists...
Roberto Clemente died...helping others...why is it the wrong people...yet you live...?
Well Bush wasn't exactly a model to look up to. Send troops to another country, start a war, call it a conflict, ruin the country, kill the citizens, ruin many US soldiers psychologically, get some of them killed and blame it on phony WOMD that were a threat. Of course Chavez is going to prefer Obama for President of the biggest influence in the western world!
A basketball-loving Venezualan president, now that's one for the books. Go Not Chavez!
Huh,..whaddaya know,.. I always thought that rectal syphilis problem was going to 'unseat' Chavez.
Oh well,..viva Henrique Capriles!
One thing for sure Chavez is eating well these days ! In recent photo`s he look like a walrus ...
easy there....lets leave those poor walrus's out of this..no sense insulting them..............
Maybe Chavez got some of the Food Stamps for Fatties Obamas
been throwing around like prize money the last 2 years lol
While Michelle MANDATES i.e. dictates/forces "healthy" food on schools (XTRA tax $ expense)
She says nothing about what Food Stamp Fatties can purchase...Candy-Chips-Pop-ice cream-fast Food-
Apparently Michelle doesn't give a damn if her OBEISE food stamp voters are healthy or not
Typical Limo Leftest she exploits the poor Rich Limo Leftest always do
People of Venezuela are as tired of their Communist president as we are of ours.
the intelligent ones anyway..............
this clown said two weeks ago, "I really like Obama, I think he's a good guy"..... well, there ya go. Chavez hates the United States, is a comunist dictator but LIKES Obama. Go figure
Sooooooooo, 2 socialists get the chance to go DOWN his fall. God bless continental American Freedom! Cariles /Romney 2012!!!
and Fingerprint voting? Really Seth and Amy? God, do you know if we had fingerprint in USA? voting whites would be disenfranchised.
that dude running against Chavez better watch his back. Chavez is crazy enough to have him killed.
hes not the only one...i mean really.. forward?.... as in..... " bend forward, im not done yet"?................
Henrique Capriles, there is a very good chance he is a "Dead Man Walking"; or soon to be.
I hope Chavez never finds out who didn't vote for him! The article states two of Capriles supporters were killed last week.
from the picture its pretty clear that stud chavez will get the female vote, right ladies?.................:)
U know just like here if obama wins it's shows how dumb the electorate is...Stupid is as stupid does!!DAHHHHHH
Chavez would fit right in to the Democorrupt party. Divide the people. Sounds familiar.
I'm sure this is a disappointment to MSNBC.
Civil war coming to your own country soon. Just watch the preview.
CA, We do fear that you are right .... recent conversations and a quick read of this board are telling. More and more citizens here have no time for reason and discourse ... and no tolerance for any compromise.
We used to be friends with a great many people in another nation who had gone through such a period in the 1970's. They saw a bloody civil war and two (opposing) dictatorships before they even began to get it sorted out. Many lives were lost and when it was all said and done, they were right back where they started ... because it all solves nothing.
Is this what we all want here? Apparently, a great many do.
Buy guns and ammo. It is coming.
@IA. Scooter Tramp, you know, a Chicago Deep Dish Pizza DOES sound mighty tasty right about now.
@ CA-395175 and Connecticut Yankee-2296367 You two are spot on and the thing is that it is going to be a global and very violent and bloody version of what happened at the end of the second century A.D. in what is now China (and what was then referred to as the Han Empire/Dynasty).
@ The Voice of Doom, How many times do I have to say this to people? The middle and fringe people are also be worked with the same forces that are working the left and the right to manipulate the masses and the same thing is true for all of the religions, anti-religions, philosophies, and other places of learning. The flat-out truth is that the New World Order controls them ALL and NO group (like the so-called 9/11 "truthers," ACORN, NRB, etc.) or individual (Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Barack Obama, etc.) has YOUR best interests at heart. They are special interests and, here is the worst part - not only are THEY responsible for the special interest groups but, gasp, WE are also responsible for the special interest groups, too. We are ALL to blame for making things that we THINK are the solution to the ills of the world but, in reality, it only serves to further our own selfish agendas and it also serves to enslave us further, keep us divided, keep us in perpetual gridlock, keep us in perpetual, plutocratic, global slavery, and it denies us the right to truly think for ourselves, let alone truly defend ourselves or even be conscious or responsible for our own actions in our lives. All of the so-called "uniters" are liars as well as hypocritical, judgmental, arrogant, narcissistic, egotistical, egocentric, egomanaical, intolerant, narrow-minded elitists who want to destroy the world. You can not trust the federal government to take care of your needs. You can not trust your states to take care of your needs. You can not trust your counties, parishes, provinces, prefectures, or other administrative districts to take care of your needs. You can not trust your cities to take care of your needs. You can not depend on corporations to take care of your needs. You can not depend on groups, societies, foundations, networks, alliances, confederations, and the like to take care of your needs. You can not depend on religions, anti-religons, or other ways of thought to take care of your needs. You can not even depend on each other, let alone yourselves, to take care of your needs. I know who can do it but no one will listen and we will all die. Anarchy is not what I advocate or support. What I am supporting is reality. We are all going to die and we will die quickly due to our divisive, intolerant, hypocrisy. Your beliefs in evolution and related philosophies can not save you, for they were the reason why you were brought here to this dilemma in the first place. Do not trust the left, right, middle, or fringe, period. Do not trust ANYONE, not even yourselves. You have been warned.
You see that Barack? Might be a message in that. You may get elected in 2012 but when your agenda becomes obvious you'll be impeached.
My vote would absolutely go to President Hugo Chavez, he's made changes in the country...good, productive changes...Not like our idiot president, who's changes consist of running this country further into the ground!
Aurora,
You apparently have never lived in Venezuela. I have, I was born and raised in Venezuela, and my family has suffered. You can't work in Venezuela unless you sign a paper saying that you support the government in every way. You also get a check if you sign the paper that you'll vote for Chavez. How is that Democracy? My family are all part of the opposition and they have all signed that paper in order to provide for their families.
Mom 101, Is that check something they receive on voting day after they have been to the ballot? Is your family fairly affluent, or were they struggling with the day-to-day? Can I ask how they have suffered? Do you mean through oppression from the nationalist government or by way of the hideous inflation or something else? I'm not asking these questions be an ass. I'm asking for YOUR insight.
Aurora - my understanding is that MOM101 is right - I met a really sharp young man from Venezuela recently. He is not really a politically active guy, but very bright, and explained to me what a mess the country is in due to Chavez's social programs. cautioned against some of the programs Obama is bringing about. And, his mother is a physician who as done very well with a guaranteed income under the Chavez social medicine system - but even she believes it is a horrible drain on the country and the people. I don't think you are quite right to suggest that Chavez and Obama are so different, they aren't.
We have our own Hugo Chavez. Following Saul Alinsy's advice to the letter, Obama is the greatest divisionary person in the world today. He intices different groups into anger. Sooner or later that anger will boil over to the point of revolution which is exactly what he wants, how else to achieve monarchial status ?
"Local groups will be monitoring and both sides say they trust the electronic, fingerprint vote system"
I wish the USA could afford a fingerprint vote system,but it would probably be "judged" un-constitutional.
yeah, it probably would be judged un-constitutional. The "ultimate" voter ID card, right there on your finger tips. I wonder what everyone is afraid of, you can't even get a drivers licence in this country without a thumb print, so what is the big deal about having to do the same thing to vote?