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Subscribe to RSSTens of thousands of people wept openly in the streets of Caracas over the death of their "Commandante," President Hugo Chavez, while exiled Venezuelans in the U.S. cheered after learning of the socialist leader died.
CARACAS — Condolences flooded in from all over the globe and more than 100 countries will be sending emissaries to Friday's funeral for Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, who succumbed to cancer on Tuesday after a 20-month battle.
Even Washington will be represented, despite the contentious relations between the two governments. Just hours before the 58-year old president died, Caracas expelled two American military officials attached to the U.S. mission for allegedly committing acts to "destabilize" the Chavez government.
Friday's funeral and burial will be more formal than Wednesday's procession of his casket through the streets of Caracas.
For ten hours, an estimated one million Venezuelans followed the coffin for miles as it traveled from the military hospital where Chavez died to the Military Academy, where he studied to become a paratrooper.
Grief-stricken followers lined the streets as the coffin of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez was carried from the hospital to the military academy where he will like in state until his funeral on Friday. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
It was a parade of emotions, with men and women of all ages weeping openly. As the caravan moved slowly through the streets, mourners tossed flowers, flags and red caps with Chavez slogans on the casket until it was completely covered in a mound of mementos. Chavez's immediate family rode in the funeral procession.
Overnight, thousands have stood in line to pay their last respects, many wearing the bright blue, red and yellow colors of the country's national flag. As mourners filed past the coffin, there were scenes of genuine sadness and dismay. Some people prayed while others saluted his remains. His supporters are devastated but also promising to keep his revolution alive.
"Comandante — rest in peace. We'll carry on your fight," said Cesar Trompiz, a university student who appreciated what he called Chavez's "powerful connection" to the country's poor. "He was one of us. He looked like us. He spoke like us," Trompiz added.
'Without you, we're nothing'
Guillermo Hernan and members of his family traveled from Chavez's hometown in northwest Venezuela to pay their respects. He helped his elderly mother walk past the casket as she wailed, "Without you, we're nothing." Hernan said that Chavez taught him to love his country.
"We were orphans before Chavez. We had no father and we had no motherland. Chavez became our father and gave us the right to our homeland," said Hernan. In his 20s, he said the government's policies have helped his family with housing and education.
While the depth of the grief for millions here cannot be understimated, Chavez was also a polarizing figure for millions of other Venezuelans vehemently opposed to his leftist policies and close political allegiances with countries like Cuba and China. The two sides are known to clash verbally and some observers had feared that Chavez's death would spark civil unrest. But since Tuesday's announcement, the opposition has toned down its political rhetoric — urging the president's enemies to be respectful of Chavez's grieving family during this difficult time.
However, many expect politics as usual to crank up as soon as the nation's seven-day official mourning period ends.
Under the Constitution, a national vote must be called within 30 days of the office being vacated and, from then, the election must take place 30 days later. Although no specific date has been announced, one source reports that Venezuelans may be going to the polls to decide on Chavez's replacement during the second weekend in April.
Ricardo Mazalan / AP
Slideshow: Supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez across the Americas mourn his death.
Related:
Hugo Chavez's last words: 'Please don't let me die,' general says
Socialist socialites: Hollywood mourns Hugo Chavez
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With the exception of Sean Pencilhead, Dummy Glover and a few other socialist freaks America could careless about you room temperature dictator and your "fight".
"But since Tuesday's announcement, the opposition has toned down its political rhetoric -- urging the president's enemies to be respectful of Chavez's grieving family during this difficult time."
In other words, celebrate privately.
I am just sorry it wasnt us who got him. Yay, the idiot is dead!!!!!!!
"In other words, celebrate privately"
In other words, mourn privately.
The dicatator went away! The dictator went away! The dicatator went away! This devil who brought Islamic terrorists cells to all of the Americas..both North and South,is one of the biggest disasters in the history of our hemisphere. Like Hitler who wanted to rule for a 1000 years.This tyrant wanted to rule forever.Both have met their just desserts.Too bad in both cases it didn´t happen much earlier!
"Si se puede!"
Good riddance to a prick that did nothing positive for his country. And who cares what the elite media and the out of touch Hollywood crowd thinks, they don't have the slightest idea what happens in the real world in our country or Venezuela
I agree Sean Penn is totaly clueless, if commies take over like he wants, I wonder how he will feel if they took all his wealth and he wasnt a celebrity anymore and had to go get a real job? My guess is like most ultra liberals his tune would change once he was affected.
On the National news yesterday Diane Sawyer lied to the USA about Venezuela being a major supplier of crude oil to the USA. In fact the Venezuela government buys over 25 billion dollars of refined gasoline from the United states each year to subsidize the faltering refinerys in Venezuela. The refinerys there are not capable of producing the fuel needed for their automobiles. Sure gasoline is a few cents a gallon there but with out the government purchases it would be a different story. Our mass media in the USA are lying to us and this sham report by Diane is a prime example
Our presidents lie to us too, so why wouldnt their puppets the media do likewise?
Can't speak to the exact amount but if you remember the Citgo commercial with Joe Kennedy (another idiot) who said the people of Venezuela are giving us cheap heating oil. Well guess what, the oil companies are all government owned down there. I know because I know people who live there (Venezuelans citizens). We do buy cheap heating oil from them but again, do not know the exact amount.
Lies, lies
Your telling me that you'll be true
Lies, lies
That's all I get from you
Tears, tears
I shed a million tears for you
Tears, tears
And now you're loving someone new
Someday I'm gonna be happy
But I don't know when just now
Lies, lies, breakin' my heart
You think that you're such a smart girl
And I'll believe what you say
But who do you think you are girl
To lead me on this way, hey
Lies, lies
I can't believe a word you say
Lies, lies
I'm gonna make you sad someday
Someday you're gonna be lonely
But you won't find me around
Lies, lies, breakin' my heart
They should finish the "our father" crap with "who art in hell".
They are mourning his death but laughing inside as they are happy he is gone and not in control but I think the new president will be worst. All this is a show as if they didn't do it they will probably be killed so they are doing it against their will.
"Our father???" Sick.
Thats how all dictators are referred to by those who couldnt eat without permission and in spite of the economic destruction they incur while looting their countries treasury. Chavez is worth 2 billion $$. Gee, wonder where he got that? Look at N Korea. Same narcissistic sickness. These guys get off on controlling life and death, while pillaging their country.
Reminds me of N.Korea last year with Kim's funeral. Wailing and gnashing of teeth for a dictator. Just wish Fidel would hurry up and take a dump.
And obama could get cancer soon.Then go on obamacare and get crap treatment.
He has joined his counterparts, Hussein, Kadafy,, Bin Laden etc..
He is very popular for a man deemed as a dictator by the U.S.
Guess he just ran out of time before he could give his two billion to his people.......
Yep, VERY popular per the narrow scope of Politically Correct Media Elite Reporting. For the rest us, no matter American or Venezuelan, he is a despotic Dictator.
Hate to hear about any body dieing because they have loved ones that are still living even tho I did not know him.You only know what the media says and 90 percent of the time it is not the truth.
I have friends in Venezuela and called them yesterday. No one is mourning his death. There are quiet celebrations in some areas.
Wait, don't say so, the Poltically Correct Media Elite, have us all believing "everyone" are mourning the death of "god father" Chavez. I am shock, is there really a different thinking out there beyond the narrow scope of Politically Correct Media Elite Propaganda?!?!?!
Of course, Despots, Despot-Wanna-Bes, Marxist, haters of Individual Rights and Limited Government all see Chavez as their "Father", as a god. Those of us who cherish Individual Rights and Limited Government know better.
You have to appreciate "the common man" who was a "man of the people" and "protector of the poor" who dies a multi-billionaire. Sheeple would be so humorous if they were not so pathetic. Looks like a bunch of obama worshipers trying to re-elect him even after he is dead.
obvious the state controlled clowns at MSNBC are deeply hurt by his passing.
Yep, the worth of the Chavez family in 1998, less than $1 million, the value of the Chavez family now, around $2 Billion (this does NOT include hidden assets not publicly known).
However, it is correct, Chavez is a "man of the poor". Afterall, he created many more poor people in Venezuela during his Despotic Rule while amassing billions out the state coffers and state run companies stolen from the private sector for his own family personal use. The perfect Castro model, make millions of your own people poorer while amassing billions for your own family's personal use.
How is that any different than the people in our government who go in and come out much richer, who get to take part in insider trading with no recourse and have created more poor in our country than at any other time? They also get huge benefits for the remainder of their lives, yet they represent "us"?
The day before 9/11, we couldn't account for over $2 TRILLION and have lost how much more since then? Where do you think that money went?
But yeah, our government is the "good guys" and Chavez is the "bad guy".
Sleepinsadie, pointing out the Despotism of the Chavez Regime does not mean I am defending the Kakistocracy Regime of Barry Soetoro. We all already know Soetoro stoled millions thourgh the "Stimulus" for his own Political Henchmen. That being stated, and actually having lived in both Venezuela (Caracas for 4 years) and more than half of my life in the USA ( lived in 3 more countries). The extend of Despotism of Chavez far exceeds the remaining "check & balances" hanging by a thread against the Kakistocracy Regime of Barry Soetoro.
Venezuela had the freest media press in all of South America prior to the Chavez Regime, only to become the most restrictive (even more so than in Bolivia and Ecuador now). That jail in Petare is full of Political Prisoners who are only guilty of not knowtowing to Chavez Henchmen and/or wanting basic human rights.
Hey Kurt - my comment was more directed at navyvet and the "sheeple", "obama worshippers" stuff.
While I agree about this administration (President Obama), the missings > $2 Trillion was under the previous administration (President Bush).
Until we, the public, as a whole get past this my party/your party bs, we will continue down the same path we are currently on.
I know Chavez did shady stuff, but that doesn't mean I'm blind to our government doing some of the same - hell, look at our media now too, it's ridiculous, there are hardly any real "journalists" anymore; we can also detain Americans and not charge them with anything while whisking them away to some off-country facility.
Our government can keep us focused on an us vs. them with this type of thing, while the real us vs. them is actually us (the public) vs. them (the people running our government).
Sleep, agree with you, about our Politically Correct Media Elite "Journalists". Ironically, they mourn the death of the Despot who has done so much to restrict Press freedoms. Venezuela, for all its faults, was once knows to have the freest media press of all Latin America only to be crushed and restricted by the Chavez Henchmen.
You are correct, we can now detain Americans and legal immigrates not charge them with anything. Just look at the case of the Legal Coptic Christian Egyptian Immigrate not a Poltical Prisoner of Barry Soetoro. Barry Soetoro first accused him of a causing the Terrorists Attacks at our Consulate in Benghazi. Of course, it turned out to be totally false and Soetoro got caught in the lie. So out of revenge, the day after election, he had this totally innocent sentence to prison for one year. Of course, Soetoro would rather release ILLEGAL immigrates over Innocent Legal Immigrates jailed for Political Revenge. As Soetoro released thousands of illegal immigrates this past month, yet keeps an innocent legal immigrant locked in prison as his Political Prisoner.
Kurt, while we do agree, you do realize that it's not just President Obama, right? You realize that his ability to now detain an American with no cause is done so easily due to President Bush, right?
Our entire government is the issue, not the Republicans or the Democrats, but both. If President Obama would have come in and rolled back what the previous administration had done, would you applaud him for it? I mean, I know it wouldn't happen, as the next administration will just continue and add onto the power/control also, regardless of which party it is.
this numbnut (chavez)has probably been dead for months now, they just had to wait for the right time to break the news to the rest of the world, hope the fires of hell are hot enough for your liking you POS. maybe sean penn, michael moore and the rest of the socialist/communist loving hollywood elite can join you soon
Did anybody "Notice" that President Obama had the flags at the U.N. in New York flown at Half-Mast?
This was one of Obama's current - friends of Communism!
The guy was an irritant to US. He insulted our goverment, exhibited hostility to "US Imperialism". he was not diplomatic at all.
Butt, he looked after poor venezulans, which made up 75% of the population. so, he was a hero to them... Its tough to expect poor people to think like we do here in US.
Anyways, I feel bad he is gone even though I did not like his attitude towards US.
There are some real mofos in the world I do not mind seeing six feet under.
Idiots, all of you.
Venezuela has been the U.S. second largest supplier of crude oil for many years, including 2012.
Second only to Canada.
And after aquiring Texaco, are the second largest oil company in the U.S., under the banner of Chevron.
Chevron gives millions to supplement the education budget, annually.
Chevron is responsible for millions of U.S.A. jobs, nationwide.
The list goes on...
I'm just saying, if you gotta hate someone, couldn't you find someone who's really worth hating...?
Idiots, all of you...!
Your ignorance is embarrassing.
Bluebarn, the only ignorant one is this exchange is you.
Chavez ransacked the VZ treasury, stole billions from the people of VZ to pay off generals to keep his power, took the wealth of anyone he wanted, nationalized anything he felt like taking, killed his political opponents, poured millions into anti-democratic governments, and played Robin Hood on the backs and checkbooks of many who had to flee the country because of political persecution and personal threats and intimidations.
This country was one of the few in South America with the internal riches, an educated populace and a thriving economy to move everyone in the country ahead. Oh wait, that was before this jackass highjacked the country's economy, chased out free enterprise, annexed multi-national assets, grabbed individual property, and handed off his country's largesse to idiots who actually think communism is a valid political choice.
No one gives a rat's ass that the oil and assets Chavez steals daily from the VZ people bankroll Chevron. He was and is a punk. That he is dead is a very good thing except for his family. We should all be having a parade.
Perhaps now, the Venezuelan people - those who actually are still living in the country outside of jail - can remove the bulletproof glass from their cars, can get money out of their ATM's without paying 15% to this jerk's personal account, can buy foreign products, and help elect smart people with character to reclaim their country's rightful place in the world pecking order.
But I wouldn't expect you to understand because you have no clue.
CENTER FOR ECONOMIC AND POLICY RESEARCH
_______________________________________—
Chávez's Legacy
By Mark Weisbrot
_______________________________________—
This article was published by Al Jazeera English [http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/03/20133663030968692.html] on March 5, 2013. If wants to reprint it please respond to this email.
_______________________________________—
Bertrand Russell once wrote about the American revolutionary Thomas Paine, "He had faults, like other men; but it was for his virtues that he was hated and successfully calumniated."
This was certainly true of Hugo Chávez Frias, who was probably more demonized than any democratically elected president in world history. But he was repeatedly re-elected by wide margins, and will be mourned not only by Venezuelans but by many Latin Americans who appreciate what he did for the region.
Chávez survived a military coup backed by Washington [http://southoftheborderdoc.com/2002-venezuela-coup/] and oil strikes that crippled the economy but once he got control of the oil industry, his government reduced poverty [http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/reports/venezuelas-economic-recovery-is-it-sustainable] by half and extreme poverty by 70 percent. Millions of people also got access to health care for the first time, and access to education also increased sharply, with college enrollment doubling and free tuition for many. Eligibility for public pensions tripled. He kept his campaign promise to share the country's oil wealth with Venezuela's majority, and that will be part of his legacy.
So, too will be the second independence of Latin America, and especially South America, which is now more independent of the United States than Europe [http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/reports/obamas-latin-america-policy-continuity-without-change] is. Of course this would not have happened without Chávez' close friends and allies: Lula in Brazil, the Kirchners in Argentina, Evo Morales in Bolivia, Rafael Correa in Ecuador, and others. But Chávez was the first of the democratically-elected left presidents in the past 15 years, and he played a very important role; look to what these colleagues will say of him and you will find it to be much more important than most of the other obituaries, anti-obituaries, and commentaries. These left governments have also made considerable advances in reducing poverty, increasing employment, and raising overall living standards – and their parties, too have been continually re-elected [http://www.cepr.net/index.php/op-eds-&-columns/op-eds-&-columns/chavez-election-not-so-different-from-the-rest-of-south-america].
For these other democratic leaders, Chávez is seen as part of this continent-wide revolt at the ballot box that transformed South America and increased opportunities and political participation for previously excluded majorities and minorities.
Continuity in Venezuela is most likely [http://www.cepr.net/index.php/op-eds-&-columns/op-eds-&-columns/venzuelans-will-vote-with-their-wallets]following Chávez' death, since his political party has more than 7 million members and demonstrated its ability to win elections without him campaigning in the December local elections, where they picked up five state governorships to win 20 of 23 states. Relations with the United States are unlikely to improve; the State Department [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2013/02/204955.htm] and President Obama himself [http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2012/president/candidates/obama/2012/12/14/venezuela-criticizes-obama-comments-chavez/iqshNV5j1hgSpSjLC3khtL/story.html]made a number of hostile statements during Chávez's last months of illness, indicating that no matter what the next government (presumably under Nicolas Maduro) does, there is not much interest on Washington's part in improving relations.
_______________________________________—
Mark Weisbrot [http://www.cepr.net/index.php/mark-weisbrot/]is co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, in Washington, D.C He is also president of Just Foreign Policy [http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/].
Now you can also subscribe to a monthly roundup of all the articles written by CEPR staff. Update your subscriptions here: [http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/967/profile/login.jsp]
The Center for Economic and Policy Research is an independent, nonpartisan think tank that was established to promote democratic debate on the most important economic and social issues that affect people's lives. CEPR's Advisory Board includes Nobel Laureate economists Robert Solow and Joseph Stiglitz; Janet Gornick, Professor at the CUNY Graduate Center and Director of the Luxembourg Income Study; and Richard Freeman, Professor of Economics at Harvard University.
Center for Economic and Policy Research, 1611 Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: (202) 293-5380
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http://www.cepr.net
That's all anyone needs to know.
But then again, perhaps I should ask my friends who were forced to leave the country under threat of arrest. Or those who had their companies taken. Or those there who can only nod and remain silent for fear of their lives.