The former soldier and self-styled revolutionary is favored in the polls to beat rival Manuel Rosales after building a solid political base through a social development campaign financed by oil revenues.
Chavez supporters flooded Caracas thoroughfares waving flags and banners, congregating in different parts of the downtown a day after Rosales sympathizers held a similar march to close his campaign in the capital city.
"We are confronting the devil, and we will hit a home run off the devil next Sunday," said Chavez, who ruffled feathers in October by calling President Bush the devil in remarks at the United Nations.
"On December 3 we're going to defeat the most powerful empire on earth by knockout," Chavez said.
Donning red like most of his supporters, Chavez delivered a two-hour speech marked by his signature combination of fiery leftist rhetoric and crowd antics typical of pop music concerts.
He spent nearly ten minutes trying to see which of four groups of demonstrators could cheer louder -- then told them all to be quiet.
"Whoever talks first will turn into a donkey," he thundered, only to break into his unmistakable giggle.
more at the link. this is two pages:
chavez is running against bush? lol. funny how people require an enemy to try to win support.
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 18
-JC
So it really is a bitch living in Venezuela, eh! Thanks for sharing your personal experience. I say this because surely you would not speak of American(s) in that tone KNOWING the border is open both ways.
If one really felt like you do, I would think they could not wait to flee for fear of their lives!
Adios. An give Hugo my regards as you work on his campaign.
I understand his grip may be slipping, in more ways than one.
I just will never understand that political whore Rangel taking the offer for the oil then bad mouthing him, after he left, for the things he said about Bush.
Hell, Rangel and his ilk have said as many derogertory things themselves. Why be hypocrits?
The insight and intellegence of your remark should make it clear to all why much of the world is wary of America. Good job. Thank you for spotlighting my point. Too many Americans, like you, seem to be unable to handle differing views, except by spewing hate and derision.
I have children that I love very much, but I don't turn a blind eye to their shortcomings either. I wouldn't abandon them because their thinking or behavior left something to be desired; sorry to dsappoint you, but I won't abandon America either. Just like my babies, she is mine. She is far from perfect, so I will work for her growth. Her view of herself is often perverted, so I'll keep attempting to clean the mirror. May-be if we get a clear look at ourselves, we'll judge, engage, others from a point of grace; perhaps we might even become a true voice of peace and understanding?
I only know what I hear about Venezuela, but I can tell you from personal experience, living in Texas is a bitch. It is a bastion of narrow minded, self-absorbed, hate everybody who doesn't fit in "my" box" attitudes and behaviors. Dallas has the dubious distinction of being the angriest, most hateful place in the country. Are you a Texan Grateful?
As for not "fleeing for fear of my life", Christ admonished us not to hide our light, and God assures us that we have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. So, my friend, you're stuck with me. I believe in the ideals America expounds; more importantly, I believe in our power and ability to live up to them.
As for living in Texas, it makes you sound kind of crazy. That's like me as a black man saying that I'll stay in the heart of Dixie, despite all the hatred that I feel there because I don't want to "hide my light". LOL. Of course, people in Texas aren't trying to kill you, so I guess it's not that bad.
I believe in the ideals that America expounds too. Capitalism and the protestant work ethic, the right to bear arms to defend yourself, and only the strong survive. If you have the wrong principles to defend, then you aren't really going anywhere.
I'm not touting Chavez' sanity; I'm question ours. I don't care how you frame it, hate only perpetuates hate. Well I love him like I love you, not knowing either of you. I support a return to rational thinking, I support a move towards solving our collective problems, and a move away from devisive name calling and ridicule.
Crazy to stay in Texas? Probally, but you stay where you're planted and play the cards you're dealt, 'til the door opens and time comes to move on.
As a black man, living in America, you avoid the south because of the hatred you feel there? An American uncomfortable in America. Hummmmmmmmmm Perhaps a reassessment is in order? Sounds like there are some threats right here at home you haven't "outlived". Could be you're the one whose wheels are just spinning.
BTW: Murder in Texas is often not personal; folks here will shoot at anything that moves.
Yes, you're right, there is something wrong with the fact that I might not feel comfortable in the deep, deep, deep south (I just used it as an example, I have, in fact, never set foot in the south because i've never had reason to). But that doesn't signal something wrong with me, that signals something wrong with the people who dislike me for the color of my skin and nothing else (it's ok to hate me because I had got your sister pregnant and ran off, for example). But that still doesn't mean that I'll sit there like an R-tard staring the bastards down. I'm gonna move on with my life instead of bithcing about how crappy it is to live down south, while paying rent and shopping at the piggly wiggly. I I don't like Willicoochie, Texas, then damnit i'm gonna move my ass to a place I will like and feel comfortable in, not whine, whine, whine about how "Texans shoot anything that moves", and "Dallas is the angriest, most hateful place in teh country." but continue to remain there like a dotard, continually cursing the place in which I live. That's illogical.
How about some substance to the remarks - obvioiusly we have fallen WAY short of your IDEAL of Chavez. Seems a pretty simple choice to me toots.
Is there all these negative vibes coming at you because you are here (uninvited and forgot to sign the guest book) as a "Native" American (ie. Indian or Mexicano)?
Oh, I see now. You're one of those that likes Chavez types because in your eyes I'm sure he'd be happy to send you a healthy "Reparations" Check cause your grandparents were hung from trees.
You sound kind of like stuck in the 60's (1860's). Toots ; WE owe you NOTHING except an OPORTUNITY! Take it or leave it - it's for the kids.
As far as shooting anything that moves, move to LA. The gang-bangers will delight in shooting you in your house while you sit on the couch. Or gun your kids down as they walk to school and get caught in a cross-fire.
Might make TEXAS look pretty good.
Chavez wins re-election by wide margin
By IAN JAMES, Associated Press Writer
CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez won re-election by a wide margin Sunday, giving the firebrand leftist six more years to redistribute Venezuela's vast oil wealth to the poor and press his campaign to counter U.S. influence in Latin America and beyond.
ADVERTISEMENT
Challenger Manuel Rosales conceded defeat but vowed to remain in opposition. During the campaign, Rosales accused Chavez of edging Venezuela toward authoritarian rule and warned the president could undertake even more radical policies if re-elected.
Minutes after the results were announced, Chavez appeared on the balcony of the presidential palace singing the national anthem. He pledged to deepen his effort to transform Venezuela into a socialist society.
"Long live the socialist revolution! Destiny has been written," Chavez shouted to thousands of flag-waving supporters wearing red shirts and braving a pouring rain.
"That new era has begun," he said, raising a hand in the air. "We have shown that Venezuela is red!... No one should fear socialism... Socialism is human. Socialism is love," Chavez said. "Down with imperialism! We need a new world!"
Since he first won office in 1998, Chavez has increasingly dominated all branches of government and his allies now control congress, state offices and the judiciary. He has called
President Bush the devil, allied himself with
Iran and influenced elections across the region.
Chavez also has used Venezuela's oil wealth to his political advantage. He has channeled oil profits toward multibillion-dollar programs for the poor including subsidized food, free university education and cash benefits for single mothers. He has also helped allies from Cuba to Bolivia with oil and petrodollars.
He now promises to solidify his social program.
With 78 percent of voting stations reporting, Chavez had 61 percent to 38 percent for challenger Rosales, said Tibisay Lucena, head of the country's elections council. Chavez had nearly 6 million votes versus 3.7 million for Rosales, according to the partial tally.
Turnout among the 15.9 million eligible voters was 62 percent, according to an official bulletin of results, making Chavez's lead insurmountable.
"We will continue in this struggle," Rosales told cheering supporters as he conceded defeat.
Some supporters at his campaign headquarters wept, while others were clearly angry.
"We have to do something," said Dona Bavaro, a 36-year-old Rosales supporter. "My country is being stolen. This is the last chance we have. Communism is coming here."
Rosales, a cattle rancher and governor of western Zulia state who stepped down temporarily to run against Chavez, focused his campaign on issues such as rampant crime and corruption, widely seen as Chavez's main vulnerabilities.
A top Rosales adviser, Teodoro Petkoff, said the voting was carried out in a "satisfactory manner." He said some irregularities had occurred but most were resolved. Another member of the Rosales camp had accused pro-Chavez soldiers of reopening closed polling stations and busing voters to them.
Even before polls closed, Chavez supporters celebrated in the streets, setting off fireworks and cruising Caracas honking horns and shouting "Chavez isn't going anywhere!"
Earlier, Chavez loyalists jarred voters awake hours before dawn in Caracas with recordings of reveille blaring from truck-mounted loudspeakers.
"We're here to support our president, who has helped us so much," said Jose Domingo Izaguirre, a factory worker who waited hours to vote. His family recently moved into new government housing.
Rosales supporters accused Chavez of deepening class divisions with searing rhetoric demonizing his opponents.
Alicia Primera, a 54-year-old housewife, was among voters so passionate about the choice that they camped out overnight in voting queues.
"I voted for Chavez previously. I cried for him," Primera said. "Now I'm crying for him to leave. He's sown a lot of hate with his verbiage."
The campaign has been hostile, with Chavez calling Rosales a pawn of Washington and Rosales saying he was on the alert for fraud. Rosales' campaign had endorsed the electronic voting system as trustworthy — as long as no attempts were made to thwart it.
More than 125,000 soldiers and reservists were deployed to safeguard the balloting.
In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Janelle Hironimus stressed "the importance of a free, fair and transparent process."
Conflict and ambition have marked the rise of Chavez, 52, from a boy selling homemade sweets in a dusty backwater to a failed coup commander in 1992 and now a leader who could set the tone of Latin American politics for years to come.
Constitutional reforms he oversaw in 1999 triggered new elections the following year that he easily won. Loyalists helped him survive a 2002 coup, a subsequent general strike and a 2004 recall referendum.
Chavez says he would convene a commission upon re-election to propose constitutional reforms, likely including an end to presidential term limits. Current law prevents him from running again in 2012.
The president insists he is a democrat and will continue to respect private property — though he has boosted state control over the oil industry and has said he might nationalize utilities. Venezuela is the world's fifth largest oil exporter and soaring oil prices have made it the continent's fastest growing economy.
Chavez has pledged at least $1.1 billion in loans and financial aid to Latin American countries in the past two years, and billions more in bond bailouts for friendly governments as well as generously financed oil deals. But the largesse has proved a weakness at home, with polls suggesting many Venezuelans believe the aid impedes efforts to address the country's own problems.
Chavez, who says
Fidel Castro is like a father to him, has built increasingly close ties with Cuba, sending the island oil while thousands of Cuban doctors treat Venezuela's poor for free.