Zogby poll: Hugo Chavez has 35% lead over opponent

[antiimperialist]

But...but... I thought he was an oppressor who denied citizens of their liberties and was hated by many...

Venezuelans love their president. Period.

Oct. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez leads his closest rival ahead of the Dec. 3 vote by 35 percentage points in a Zogby International poll, the fourth survey this month suggesting a landslide win for the president.

link

[EFerrari]

1. Yes, they do. Viva Chavez.

[Vidar]

2. Go Hugo!

[struggle4progress]

3. Chavez 51.5 Rosales 22.7 (Opinión Pública Consultores 10/10 - 10/15 MOE 3%)

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/13562

[robbob]

4. Better send in Ollie

Ollie North to the rescue! He's in the area anyway, isn't he?

[annabanana]

40. He's already there.. telling them "don't elect this guy"

seriously. . .

[Zorra]

5. He must be doing something pretty darn good for the people

of Venezuela to have that big a lead in the polls.

"Since taking office in 1999, Chavez, 52, has used a record oil windfall to spend about half the national budget in healthcare and education services as well as food subsidies for the nation's poor."

[UrbScotty]

6. Imagine Bush doing that (nt)

[anotherdrew]

7. on oil revenue

"Chavez has used a record oil windfall to spend about half the national budget in health care and education services as well as food subsidies for the nation's poor."

how could a responsible leader spend the money otherwise?

now remember, as bush said, "the oil in Iraq belongs to the Iraqi people" and the profits are "supposed" to pay for government and direct services to them.

here in America, who does the oil belong to? First: nationalize all domestic oil and gas production, permit only modest profits that all go to the U.S. treasury. Nationalize the big oil companies, let them set low modest profit levels and transfer the funds made to the treasury. This would enable one heck of a nice tax cut for everybody, and keeps gas prices as low as possible, and to some extent controllable if need be, all in a transparent way.

[1932]

34. ExxonMobil made 10 billion in profits...a record. Meanwhile health care

in the US is more expensive than ever. There are failing schools everywhere. The US has among the highest infant mortality rate in the world. US colleges are no longer the best in the world. The American middle class has seen their wages stagnate. If you were born poor it's becoming increasingly likely that you'll always be poor.

USA! USA! USA!

[krkaufman]

9. While oil profits in our country go ....

... into Fat Bastard's belly.

[Andrushka]

8. Good

And good that there are multiple polls being done - the more that are made that show the reality that Chavez still has majority support, the less chance the US-backed opposition can whine and lie about fraud after the election; I read recently that a poll commissioned by certain elements sympathetic to the anti-Chavez camp had the closest rival almost catching up to Chavez, making it look like Chavez actually didn't have the great support after all.

[Flanker]

10. True

I took a picture of a publicity ad in the regional newspaper Panorama (biggest in Zulia) vrey comical specially the sloppyness.



I will see if I can scale the image for the site.

[Pastiche423]

11. Yea Chavez!

[Judi Lynn]

12. You're going to have visiting right-wing trolls grinding their teeth, antii...

Now it's going to take their whole day trying to beat us into submission!
Very good news, and not at all shocking, of course. Welcome to D.U.

[tblue]

14. Let them grind on this

[Judi Lynn]

16. Beautiful crowd view. One large sea of red. Great visibility for outdoor

events.

Wonderful picture. That President is the first one they've ever had who was there to HELP them.

[rman]

33. Size of that crowd looks similar to that of the Rolling Stones concert

on the beach at Rio de Janeiro; well over a million people.

[Bridget Burke]

41. Has Bush EVER made a similar public appearance?

I'm certain that Chavez has plenty of security. Some is evident in the picture.

But Bush only appears before selected groups: hard-core Republicans or soldiers who don't have a choice.

[Selatius]

49. There must be between 25,000 to 50,000 in that photo alone. n/t

[rman]

13. k&r

[tblue]

15. He's more popular than * ever was. The people of Venezuela 'get it'

unlike many Americans.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

17. Aren't You Getting A Bit Carried Away With This Glorification?

Just because he's an enemy of your enemy, does not make Hugo any less of a loose cannon, potential nutcase.

While some of his policies may be good, and certainly better than georgie's, not all of them are in line with U.S. Liberal thinking, and I am not sure I would exactly want a guy like that running This country.

Comparing him as better than george is No Comparison, because anyone would appear more acceptable than King G at this point.

[Judi Lynn]

18. You would do yourself a favor to take time to learn a little about

Venezuelan history. Far, far different story from the conditions you were blessed to experience growing up in your own country.

It was only as far back as 1989 when a President beloved by the American right-wing ordered his soldiers to fire into crowds of protesting poor in Caracas, in the massacre known as "El Caracazo."

You'd do well to start learning about US policy in the Western Hemisphere, and the consequences of its destructive actions on Latin American and Caribbean countries, rather than taking potshots of people who have made themselves acquainted with the facts.

Glorification has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the posters in this thread. These DU'ers are damned serious people, who have a very clear picture of what has been happening.

[Binka]

21. Ah Now The Grinders Are Accusing Us Of Glorification

I didn't realize there were so many 12 year olds on DU, they just don't give up and their arguments against Hugo get more ridiculous as time passes. Thank you for ALL you do JL to keep the truth a spreadin'.:hi:

[LostinVA]

38. Yup, didn't take long, eh?

[1932]

35. And you can bet Venezuelans are very happy with Chavez, their democracy

and the direction their country is heading for reasons that have very little to do with being the enemy of Bush (except, insofar as that means putting the interests of Venezuelans ahead of Wall Street).

[Ken Burch]

19. He has to be better than Rosales

Rosales is the leader of an "anybody but Hugo" coalition that runs the gamut from extremely watered-down and cowardly right-wing social democrats to people who would really rather have a Venezuelan Pinochet if they had their druthers.

Rosales' program calls for austerity and "encouraging foreign investment", which, of course, is code for accepting the right of global corporations to demand more wage cuts, suppression of unions, and the removal of any and all environmental safeguards.

Anybody who still thinks globalization can be progressive needs to look at what most of Latin America was like before Chavez and Evo Morales were elected to lead their countries.

You'll see the globalist future in Latin America's past.

[tkmorris]

20. Fair enough

But you haven't quite made your case. Could you provide examples of his policies that you personally find fault with?

[Binka]

22. I Just Blew Tea On My Monitor!

You rock.

[Richard Steele]

25. Not in less than 3 hours, apparently.

[Adelante]

50. There is something perplexing to me

Maybe you can help me understand the housing issue. If I've got it right, under Chavez fewer than 200,000 houses have been built, while Mexico, for example, has built 3 million houses in a roughly comparable period. Chavez's solution to the housing shortage is a deal to have China build Venezuela's houses, I read recently. Is this sensible? I mean, what good does it do the housing industry in Venezuela to import housing? Wouldn't it be better for Venezuelan workers if the money went into construction by Venezuelans? Thanks for explaining.

[tkmorris]

54. Ah, you read the Time article then?

If so, you are aware that it is a particularly hairy problem, one that cannot be solved easily. Probably the most difficult issue is where to put any new low-income housing. Tearing down the existing barrios would displace untold thousands of people, who would be far worse off then they are now while awaiting housing.

One recent idea, floated by Caracas mayor Juan Barreto, would have had the government take control of a couple of golf courses near enough the city center to provide a logical place to build low-income housing. The current owners of the property would have been compensated, but the idea was disturbing to people who strongly support private property rights.

FWIW, I don't see widespread governmental eminent domain type seizures as a good idea either. It does illustrate the problem though, in that there simply aren't large tracts of available land on which to build which can be both easily acquired by the government and would make logical locations for the lower income workers that currently occupy the barrios.

One thing Chavez has been doing which has been very useful but does not show in the new construction figures is the creation of a program which allows barrio residents to acquire title to the land they occupy, thus giving them a stake and a voice in these communities. This new ownership also opens the door to borrowing money against it's value for improvements to existing structures. It's not a perfect solution by any means but it has had a very real and positive effect.

I have no real opinion on the Chinese building deal. It seems to be tied in some fashion to new contracts with China to supply them with Venezuelan oil, and the project will be mostly financed by China, which seems advantageous to Venezuela. On the surface it might seem better for Venezuelan builders to get such a contract, but given the goal if it gets more homes built sooner it's still a win for the people.

Chavez has aimed to get 150,000 new homes built by the end of the year, and while they will likely not meet that goal they do seem to be building as fast as they can and may get reasonably close.

No one can snap their fingers and solve the housing problem in Venezuela. All you can do is look at what Chavez and his government are actually doing there in their attempts to alleviate the pressure. Obviously there is a lot of work left to be done, but so far I like what they are doing.

[Adelante]

57. Yes, I like this one

"creation of a program which allows barrio residents to acquire title to the land they occupy, thus giving them a stake and a voice in these communities. This new ownership also opens the door to borrowing money against it's value for improvements to existing structures."

I read a book called "The Mystery of Capital" about five years ago that made the argument that the poor actually have already accumulated the assets (self-built housing; informal businesses) necessary as a base for credit and investment, but it's not been formalized in property law in developing countries.

[happydreams]

69. It really is interesting how this property is "given" to the

barrio residents. I suppose its assumed that they already have "earned" title to it by their years of slaving for the capitalists. That's how I would argue it.

[happydreams]

67. This is something important that you mention:

One thing Chavez has been doing which has been very useful but does not show in the new construction figures is the creation of a program which allows barrio residents to acquire title to the land they occupy, thus giving them a stake and a voice in these communities. This new ownership also opens the door to borrowing money against it's value for improvements to existing structures. It's not a perfect solution by any means but it has had a very real and positive effect.

Title to the property is very important. It will be interesting to see what provisions there are for transfer of the title.

This also shows that Hugo isn't a purist when it comes to socialism.

[Flanker]

71. I don't think you understand what current socialism is

Venezuela will keep the current system of trading capital, just that it will be severely molded from above.

[happydreams]

75. What is it about people who never learn to be polite? I mean

your comment was rude. Telling me I don't know what "current socialism" is and then going on to correct me on something I never claimed anyway.

Dude, or dudess. Go take a course in human communication before you get a masters in socialism.

[Flanker]

78. I apologize, I did not mean to be rude

nm

[Judi Lynn]

55. It would appear you're dealing with disinformation.

This article presents a slightly clearer picture, although there's no reference to Mexico, unfortunately:

Venezuela and China Signed Agreement to build 20,000 Houses

On Monday 21, Venezuelan Ministry of Housing and Habitat and Chinese Citic Group signed an agreement to build 20,000 houses in Venezuela that will be finished by 2008.

The Venezuelan Minister of Housing and Habitat, Ramón Carrizales, and the Vice-president of the Chinese Ciatic Group, Liang Chuanxin, signed an agreement that will offer housing solutions to Venezuelan people, informed the Ministry of Housing and Habitat (Minvih). Carrizales informed that 945 million euros were invested in this agreement, and Venezuela will finance 25 percent while the other 75 percent will be financed by the Chinese part.

“The main idea is to build small towns in several regions of the country as well as in the satellite towns near Caracas to ease the overpopulation problem in the Metropolitan Area.” Furthermore, he explained this agreement establishes that 80 percent of the workers hired for the development of the project must be Venezuelans.
(snip/...)

http://www.venezuelasolidarity.org.uk/ven/web/2006/articles/china_houses.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This article does not indicate the TOTAL number of new housing built in any given time period so far. The fact another country built MORE seems perplexing, and not relative in any way, if the numbers can be established for each country.

Mexico is not undertaking the large load of OTHER projects simultaneously. It's difficult to grasp where Mexico enters the picture here.

Housing is only one very small part of a massive project involving programs in many different areas, all appearing to be progressing right on schedule, bringing the needed change they were planned to produce.

[Adelante]

56. Mexico entered the picture

Because I live in Mexico and knew the number. All righty?

However, I would say there is some measure of relevance in that these are two Latin American, oil-producing countries in which the governments have, in a similar time period, faced housing shortages for which they needed to come up with solutions. I am glad to see the workers for the China project will be mostly Venezuelans, so thank you, but if 200,000 houses in eight years is "right on schedule," then so be it.

[Flanker]

61. There is a difference between Mexico and Venezuela

First. one is 4 times bigger, second Fox housing is mostly a financing scheme, workers still pay for them just that the government handless the building, and financing.

Those 200,000 houses are given for free or at ridiculously cheap price. To count the whole picture you need more than just that two data, that said the government was not pleased with their results, this year they hope to build 120,000 and next year 150,000 From what I can recall they will spend almost 10 Billion dollars (I dont recall exactly) how much has the gov of Mexico spend?

[Adelante]

65. Agreed, there are differences

I don't know what Mexico spends on housing, either. The prices on the financed houses, as I understand it, are similar between Mexico and Venezuela, in the $20,000 range. There are a number of housing programs in Mexico for low income home-buying. I know only two families personally who have built houses with government financing, as opposed to buying pre-built houses in a financed development. One is a woman head of household with four kids who cleans houses for a living. I doubt if she makes more than two bucks an hour, but I don't know for sure. She built a lovely two-story home. The other is a couple, the husband a cab driver, the wife cooks food and sells it to laborers from the front of the house, so I guess her income is informal. They built one story three years ago and added the second floor this year. In both cases, they pay off the $20,000 at $70 a month, with no down payment, so even for the single house cleaner, it beats paying rent. In both these cases, the houses are really great, well-constructed with modern systems, but there have been some issues in the housing put up by developers in some areas working on the cheap resulting in structural weakness, so that has to be watched very carefully. Anyway, Fox hasn't been all that much of a success as president in many areas, but 3 million new houses for people who could never own a house before is pretty good.

[Flanker]

72. True but the 200,000 figure is for government built, but given freely.

There are other programs for excellent financing, but not as organized and the results are not as readily available.

[Adelante]

73. Is that right?

Perhaps I misinterpreted then if that's the total free and not the overall total. Thanks a lot for the correction.

[happydreams]

68. Excellent post. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[Vidar]

23. Still sounds damned good to this socialist.

[w4rma]

24. I like Chavez because of what he has done for Venezuela.

I could really care less about him attacking Bush. I only see that as a neccessity to try to keep Venezuelans on guard against another Bush coup against him.

And don't try to paint him as some sort of dictator. They have as much or more free speech in Venezuela as we do here in the U.S. There is not a single journalist imprisoned in Venezuela for their journalism or even for something else as an excuse. And he is definitely not a communist. (I don't support communism, it is a poor idea in theory and in practice to give all the power to a government.) He is a hybrid socialist-capitalist. The free market is doing great in Venezuela.

[liberalmike27]

29. Hugo Demonization

Hugo is just another example of a guy the media likes to demonize. He is great for his people, and he likes to help the poor. This is the antithisis of good corporate policy, which depends on the abuse of the poor, low pay, bad working conditions, and plenty of unemployed folks living in squalor to keep wages down.

Anytime the media is trying to demonize someone, the truth is likely much different. One should resist television and radio corporate accounts of anyone. I remember that we lost a good candidate in 2004 because of an enthusiastic scream due to a successful widespread demonization.

[rman]

31. Which glorification are you talking about?

And what is the basis for your assertion that Chavez is a "loose cannon, potential nutcase"?

[Bridget Burke]

42. Define "loose cannon"

And "potential nutcase" while you're at it.

Whether or not you want Chavez to run THIS country, it appears that most Venezuelans want him running theirs. That's what matters.

[Solon]

46. Hey! There is no glorification going on around here...

By the way, tomorrow we are flying Chavez up to New York in a Black Helicopter to be installed as the GREAT, ETERNAL LEADER of the Communist Socialist Republic of Earth, which will be headquartered in the former U.N. Headquarters. The next day, we are taking away all your guns, and the day after that, your religion.
:sarcasm:
Hey guys, did I miss anything on the right wing hysteria checklist?

:)

[Binka]

63. Yes Forced Partial Birth Third Trimester Abortions

Men too!

[Solon]

74. Are you talking about Post Birth Abortion for men only?

Just askin'? ;)

[Vogon_Glory]

26. Hugo Chaves Has Something * Doesn't

I may not be too fond of Hugo Chavez, but I recognize Chavez as a popular leader with widespread support from Venezuelan voters. Hugo Chavez has something * doesn't--a clear mandate from the Venezuelan electorate without the need to resort to tampering with voter rolls or hacking electronic voting machines.

After eight years of Repuglican misrule, I doubt that that the GOP will ever have the level of support in the USA that Chavez has in Venezuela.

[alcibiades_mystery]

27. DICTATOR!!!!!

:eyes:

[Binka]

30. He Beats Old Ladies, Kicks Dogs, & Farts In The General Direction Of His

Auntie! :silly:

[ChairmanAgnostic]

28. it's not a true democracy if they elect someone we don't like.

what is so hard to understand about that? Oh, yeah, and it is our oil.

[Toots]

32. His country is in the best shape it has been in my lifetime

They are out of debt and have billions in surplus and all the necessary things are being fixed or built. Things like hospitals and schools and roads and electic plants. The great divide between rich and poor is being torn down. Chavez is doing what a President of the People should be doing while Bush* on the other hand is doing everything against the people imaginable.

[Nederland]

51. True, but

...its difficult to give Chavez credit for that. It's rather easy to run a surplus and get lots done when the price of oil (the government's primary source of revenue) triples during your term. Unless you can convince me that Chavez is responsible for the rise in the price of oil, I'd have to say that he just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

[druidity33]

59. really?

How much did the American people benefit when ExxonMobil and the Other Big Oil Corps.(e) were raking in record profits these last few years? Have you seen a change in the American infrastructure that would indicate * is using the taxes on these companies to give back to the people? ('What taxes?!', i say) Any American companies have low cost fuel for poor people? The list could go on and on...

I'll fucking give Chavez credit for the good shit happening in Venezuela... not difficult for me AT ALL.


:headbang:

[Toots]

64. It is what he did with the money that matters or don't you get that?

What happened in America during the same time period? Roads are in worse shape as are our schools and hospitals and yet a few, very few, are experiencing riches unimaginable. Exxon just reported third quarter profits of $81,000.00 per minute and they pay no American taxes because they are registered as a foreign corporation. America could also have benefited from high oil prices but they chose instead to kill people..

[rman]

70. That may be true only if you ignore the fact

that Chavez has a completely different policy as to how to spend oil revenue than previous Venezuelan governments.
If there'd still be a RW govt in Venezuela the increase of the price of oil would not have made any significant difference for the poor of Venezuela.

[NorthernSpy]

36. Chavez' %pt LEAD is bigger than Bush's entire approval rating!

Who's got the "mandate" now?

[LostinVA]

37. And... here we go!

October follies...

[NotGivingUp]

39. Hooray for Hugo Chavez!!!!

[Zorra]

43. Exxon Mobil says its profit rose to $10.49 billion

in the third quarter, making it the second largest quarterly profit ever for a publicly traded U.S. company.

Current poverty rate and guidelines

The official poverty rate in the U.S. has increased for four consecutive years, from a 26-year low of 11.3% in 2000 to 12.7% in 2004. This means that 37.0 million people were below the official poverty thresholds in 2004. This is 5.4 million more than in 2000. The poverty rate for children under 18 years old increased from 16.2% to 17.8% over that period.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_the_United_States

See? The system works!
:sarcasm:

[goforit]

44. Reality hits hard. Where and when will Exxon return good works to society?

[goforit]

45. Way to go Chavez, You were wrong about Bush being the diablo, it's Cheney.

[stepnw1f]

47. He's a Real Thorn in the Eye of a Right Winger

Hey righties.... stop trying to smear the man unless you have FACTS to back up your CRAP!

[Selatius]

48. That Communist Dictator is rigging the polls!

He's scaring the people into voting for him! If you don't vote for him, men come to rape you up the ass and burn your home and beat on your family!

We must liberate the Venezuelan people from another Joseph Stalin. He must be a dictator because he called GWB "el diablo!" And he survived a military coup supported by the US against him. Only an iron-fisted leader could survive a wrenching coup d'etat! And we've got to liberate that oil for American SUVs for when you need real power to buy groceries and drop off the kids to soccer practice!

"Freedom is on the march!
Ein Volk!
Ein Reich!
Ein Fuehrer!"

:sarcasm:

[yurbud]

52. somebody ought to do a Chavez vs. Bush poll here

that would make the tards shit themselves.

[stepnw1f]

60. I Was Thinking about Posting a Poll

I think I will...

[Judi Lynn]

53. Some interesting observations from a frequent Venezuela traveler:

Saturday, September 3, 2005

Venezuela's Chavez Avoids Class War

By Sergio Pareja
Law Professor

~snip~
"But what is Chavez doing that you hate so much?" I asked. "What, specifically, are his governing policies?" The answers I received, while purely anecdotal, were telling. In general, the wealthy criticize his taxes and social programs, many of which are remarkably similar to U.S. social programs.
I discovered that, for the first time in Venezuela's history, the government is truly enforcing its tax laws. What does this mean from a leader who claims to be a "21st century socialist"? I asked my cousin, a successful orthopedic surgeon, what he now must pay in income taxes under Chavez. "10 percent to 15 percent of my income," was the response— not quite the wealth redistribution I'd envisioned.
I also learned that one of the biggest complaints about Chavez is that he has raised the national minimum wage from about $25 a week to about $40 a week. For live-in household servants, the rate increased from about $15 a week to about $25 a week.
To put this in context, this is what it costs to have somebody work for you from before sunrise until after dinner. Servants cook, clean, do laundry, watch your children, and basically do anything you ask them to do.
What else has Chavez done? In exchange for oil to Cuba, Castro has sent teams of Cuban physicians to Venezuela. Chavez then sends them into poor neighborhoods to provide free health care for people who have never seen a doctor in their lives.
In addition, he has built vocational schools in poor neighborhoods so poor people can learn skills that will allow them to earn more. The wealthy view this as raising the cost of labor.
What else has Chavez done? The Chavez government uses its oil wealth to hire workers to engage in public works projects, such as fixing potholes in roads, keeping parks clean, and improving public buildings. For example, the government is building the first-ever public subway system in Valencia. People of means complain that "only poor people will use it."
The government also has started a housing program for the poor through which the government works with builders to build livable, low-cost housing. It works with banks to provide long-term, low-interest loans to home buyers.
The feeling I got in Venezuela last month is that people with money still have money. I saw an abundance of new expensive cars on the road. One of my uncles continues to build and run high- rise apartments and hotels at a healthy profit.
I saw a complete freedom to speak out against the government, with daily newspaper articles and songs on the radio calling for Chavez's ouster. It made me question our freedom here in the United States. With so many people here opposed to the war in Iraq, and with some brilliant anti-war songs being written, why haven't I heard even one of those songs on the radio?
I am painfully aware that Chavez may ultimately turn out to be a cruel and corrupt dictator. That has been the history of Venezuela, and it certainly could happen again.
However, by giving a voice to the poor, Chavez also may have prevented a bloody class war. I have seen that Venezuelan war coming for years.
(snip/...)

http://www.abqjournal.com/opinion/guest_columns/386659opinion09-03-05.htm

[Judi Lynn]

58. Adding personal info. of the man who wrote the article I posted

immediately above this post:

Venezuela's Chavez Avoids Class War
Professor Sergio Pareja
http://lawschool.unm.edu/faculty/pareja/index.php

Interesting person.

[TankLV]

62. Damn "dictator" - how dare he lead in an open election!!!

Only Nazi Repukes are allowed to lead!

[happydreams]

66. This is the country to watch for

comparing democratic socialism to plutocratic fascism in the US. Let's just sit back and watch things unfold. Watch the health, education and welfare of Venezuelans improve and then watch the people respond with their support.

I used to wonder why the fascists feel the need to squelch even the smallest example of success when it comes to democratic socialism. They fear that it may spread and expose their own incompetence and corruption.

Why does someone have to take with force what can be accomplished with deeds? Hugo's power comes from the people.

[Judi Lynn]

76. US Works to Delegitimize Venezuela's December Presidential Election

US Works to Delegitimize Venezuela's December Presidential Election
by Chuck Kaufman
October 28, 2006

I participated in a delegation of US citizens and residents who met with Venezuelans from across the political spectrum from September 30-October 8, 2006 in Caracas, Venezuela. The delegation, sponsored by the Venezuela Solidarity Network and Marin (CA) Interfaith Task Force on the Americas looked at factors influencing the December 3, 2006 presidential election with a particular emphasis on the US government role in that election. The official delegation report will be posted to www.vensolidarity.org.

The delegation was met with courtesy by every Venezuelan organization we interviewed ranging from Sumate, the best known opposition group, to the Vice Foreign Minister for North American Relations on the government side. Only at the US embassy were we met with barely minimum courtesy. The US ambassador refused to meet with us. His Political Officer had us shown to empty room with folding chairs set in a circle. Across the hall was a well appointed unused conference room. We were not even offered water in sharp contrast with our meetings with Venezuelans who always offered us coffee and water.

Venezuela is politically polarized. We witnessed the extremes of this during a dinner with lawyer and author Eva Golinger. Some very drunk opposition supporters recognized Golinger as author of The Chavez Code and a strong Chavez partisan. Some of them surrounded our table and began screaming at Golinger and the delegation, calling us "assassins" "Cubans," and "Argentines." The verbal abuse went on for long minutes until waiters ejected the most out-of-control anti-Chavez woman. We were later told that she worked in the Attorney General's office, highlighting one of the many contradictions arising from the fact that Chavez' Bolivarian revolution came into power democratically through the ballot box rather than by force of arms. Armed revolutions generally sweep opponents out of government jobs and places of influence such as the media, but in Venezuela many in the opposition are still in the civil service and most of the media is virulently anti-Chavez.

The one issue that unifies both the opposition and the supporters of the government is rejection of the Bush government's foreign policy. Nearly everyone we met with criticized President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The opposition uniformly volunteered that statements from the White House or State Department strengthened Chavez and, of course, supporters of President Chavez remember the attempted coup of April 2002 and the ongoing US hostility to the democratic advances they feel they have made.
(snip/...)

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=45&ItemID=11282

[KamaAina]

77. 35-point lead? Who's running against him, Alan Keyes?

or some other U.S.-backed Bushbot, perhaps? :P