First, why would a "dictator" hold a vote, to amend a constitution to remove term limits so he could keep running for president. Why wouldn't he just declare himself president imperpituity?
Second, even if he held a vote, couldn't he just rig it? Especially since the final vote tally margin was razor thin, wouldn't it have been easy for him to "flip" the results?
For some strange reason I'm starting to think Venezuela is closer to being a democracy, than a dictatorship
Hugo is no "dictator" according to lefties.....it was a fair election....
the Venezuelan recall referendum of 2004, according to the Center for Security Policy, "the [Hugo Chávez] regime delayed and obstructed the recall referendum process at every turn. Once the regime was forced to submit to such a referendum, moreover, it used a fraud-filled voting process to ensure victory. The government did everything—
including granting citizenship to half a million illegal aliens in a crude vote-buying scheme and “migrating” existing voters away from their local election office—to fix the results in its favor. (Sounds just like the plans of the US Democrats)
The outcome was then affirmed and legitimated by ex-President Jimmy Carter’s near-unconditional support." "Jimmy Carter ignored pleas from the opposition and publicly endorsed the results, despite the fact that the government reneged on its agreement to carry out an audit of the results."[17] The Carter Center claims to have carried out the audit.[18] What a great American, go Jimmy, go!
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In August, 2006, following reported differences with Chávez during his recent international tour, Presidential Secretary Delcy Rodríguez was replaced by Adán Chávez, the brother of Hugo Chávez.
Adina Bastidas was appointed Production and Commerce Minister less than two weeks after she was fired as vice-president.[43] coming after weeks of protests against Chávez's economic policies,[44] was seen as a further radicalization of Chávez's government, according to the BBC
Human rights organization Amnesty International has catalogued a number of human rights violations under Chávez's administration.
April 9 and 11, the government required all radio and TV stations to transmit numerous speeches by President Chávez, other government officials, and other programming favorable to the Government, even shutting the signals of the stations who refused, in an attempt to block coverage of the demonstrations and ensuing violence
The National Assembly approved by a simple majority the controversial Law on the Social Responsibility of Radio and Television, or gag law, which, in effect, makes the private radio and television system part of the state, which controls its schedules, programs and content.
President Chávez announced that the operating license for RCTV — Venezuela's second largest TV channel which has been broadcasting for 53 years — will not be renewed.
The Economist reports that "Mr. Chávez has grasped all the powers of state into his own hands, and eliminated all independent oversight of his government.
The United Nations reported in 2005 that Venezuela had the highest number of deaths by gunfire per capita in the world.
How could this be mis-understood as the actions of a dictator?
In the eyes of the left...Hugo is just a great great leader
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Why do so many American lefties really love the guy...what makes so wonderful...why do they stick up for Hugo?
Well, its obvious why....hes on their side....he hates Bush too....
Chávez's foreign policy conduct and anti-Bush rhetoric has occasionally reached the level of personal attacks. In response to the ousting of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in February 2004, Chávez referred to U.S. President George W. Bush as a pendejo. In a later speech, he made personal remarks regarding Condoleezza Rice, referring to her as a "complete illiterate" with regards to comprehending Latin America.
Another ally of the US left....
