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The Force is With Me
Venezuela Referendum: Chavez Wins Vote To End Term Limits
CARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez won a referendum to eliminate term limits Sunday and vowed to remain in power for at least another decade to complete his socialist revolution. Opponents accepted defeat but said Chavez is becoming a dictator.
Fireworks exploded in the sky and caravans of supporters celebrated in the streets, waving red flags and honking horns. Thousands of people gathered outside Miraflores Palace, where the former paratroop commander appeared on a balcony to sing the national anthem and address the crowd.
"Those who voted 'yes' today voted for socialism, for revolution," Chavez said. He called the victory _ which allows all public officials to run for re-election indefinitely _ a mandate to speed his transformation of Venezuela into a socialist state.
"Today we opened wide the gates of the future," he said. "In 2012 there will be presidential elections, and unless God decides otherwise, unless the people decide otherwise, this soldier is already a candidate."
With 94 percent of the vote counted, 54 percent had voted for the constitutional amendment, National Electoral Council chief Tibisay Lucena said. Forty-six percent had voted against it, a trend she called irreversible. She said turnout was 67 percent.
NOTE: Cutting to the chase .. here's what right-wing Americans can't stand ..
Voters on both sides said the referendum was crucial to the future of Venezuela, a deeply polarized country where Chavez has spent a tumultuous decade in power channeling tremendous oil wealth into combating gaping social inequality.
Chavez supporters say their president has given poor Venezuelans cheap food, free education and quality health care, and empowered them with a discourse of class struggle after decades of U.S.-backed governments that favored the rich.
more at link --
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/15/venezuela-referendum-vote_n_167053.html
With capitalism only the rich matter .. and only they get bailed out from the consequences of their own greed.
67% turnout .. and oh yeah ..elections in Venezuela have far more integrity than election in the US.
CARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez won a referendum to eliminate term limits Sunday and vowed to remain in power for at least another decade to complete his socialist revolution. Opponents accepted defeat but said Chavez is becoming a dictator.
Fireworks exploded in the sky and caravans of supporters celebrated in the streets, waving red flags and honking horns. Thousands of people gathered outside Miraflores Palace, where the former paratroop commander appeared on a balcony to sing the national anthem and address the crowd.
"Those who voted 'yes' today voted for socialism, for revolution," Chavez said. He called the victory _ which allows all public officials to run for re-election indefinitely _ a mandate to speed his transformation of Venezuela into a socialist state.
"Today we opened wide the gates of the future," he said. "In 2012 there will be presidential elections, and unless God decides otherwise, unless the people decide otherwise, this soldier is already a candidate."
With 94 percent of the vote counted, 54 percent had voted for the constitutional amendment, National Electoral Council chief Tibisay Lucena said. Forty-six percent had voted against it, a trend she called irreversible. She said turnout was 67 percent.
NOTE: Cutting to the chase .. here's what right-wing Americans can't stand ..
Voters on both sides said the referendum was crucial to the future of Venezuela, a deeply polarized country where Chavez has spent a tumultuous decade in power channeling tremendous oil wealth into combating gaping social inequality.
Chavez supporters say their president has given poor Venezuelans cheap food, free education and quality health care, and empowered them with a discourse of class struggle after decades of U.S.-backed governments that favored the rich.
more at link --
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/15/venezuela-referendum-vote_n_167053.html
With capitalism only the rich matter .. and only they get bailed out from the consequences of their own greed.
67% turnout .. and oh yeah ..elections in Venezuela have far more integrity than election in the US.