Hugo Chavez Dead at 58.

[damngrumpy]

Chavez was involved in a democratic revolution. as such yes there are bound to
be some human rights violations as we would know them I don't disagree with
that. Put in context he had little choice, in such a change. The fact is he was an
elected President more than once therefore try as one might he could not be labelled
a dictator. Hugo was pushing the country left and had a coalition with others in the
region that is also true.
His revolution was a lot better than a one filled with bloodshed in the streets.
After Hugo what happens? If the poor come out to vote the revolution will continue
and there will be constant friction. I am more concerned with a division that is not
so civil and there is nothing civil about a civil war which is possible.
I both liked and disliked some of his actions. Clamping down on military people who
were opposed to him is fair game, the country has a long history of right and left
intrigue and he was not going to stand for it. Some cry foul and they are likely right.
It is also known that there was a long spell of real right wing nasty people who ran the
place for a while and it was time for a change.
It all comes down to the idea that we are better off without this kind of government no
matter on who's side of the fence we're on.
Over all he did more good than harm in my opinion. Those who claim he was a Saint
can't agree there.

 

[earth_as_one]

Hugo Chavez won Venezuela's 1998 Presidential election with a solid 56.2% of the vote. He was re-elected in 2000 after reforming Venezuela's constitution with a 59.76% majority, indicating growing popularity.

In 2002, wealthy Venezuelans attempted to overthrow Chavez with the support of the US based NED [the National Endowment for Democracy], Department of Defense (DOD), and other U.S. assistance programs. Americans provided training, institution building, and other support to individuals and organizations which were understood to be actively involved in the unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the Chávez government and replace it a pro-US dictatorship. Chavez stepped down in order to avoid further bloodshed and was quickly brought back to power within a few hours by mass demonstrations in support of the Chavez government.

In 2006, Chavez was re-elected with 63% of the vote.

Even though Chavez was re-elected to a fourth term in 2012, he was too sick to attend his own inauguration.

Chavez political philosophy emphasized the importance of education, the creation of civilian-military unity, Latin American integration, social justice, and national sovereignty. In many ways this is not a particularly different set of principles and ideas to those of any other Enlightenment or national liberation thinkers.

 

[Cliffy]

Ah, but he pissed off the Yanks, so he must have been a bad guy. The media at home vilified him, character assassinated him just as sure as cancer killed him.

Just an observation: most of those who hated him on here are ex military. I wonder what the correlation is.

 

[gopher]

I suppose this thread could be a memorial thread where people can pay their respects and acknowledge all the good things Hugo Chavez did for Venezuelans specifically as well as Latin America and the world indirectly.

Under Hugo Chavez's leadership, his government rewrote Venezuela's constitution to increase protections for indigenous peoples and women, and establish the rights of the public to education, housing, healthcare, and food. The new constitution called for dramatic democratic reforms such as ability to recall politicians from office by popular referendum, increased requirements for government transparency, and numerous other requirements to increase localized, participatory democracy, in favor of centralized administration. It gave citizens the right to timely and impartial information, community access to media, and a right to participate in acts of civil disobedience.

Chavez's land reforms turned unused land into farmland for the poor and middle class.

He made oil companies pay fair royalties to the government, which raised capital for all his socialist activities, like building and modernizing schools, universities and hospitals.

Venezuela definitely progressed thanks to his leadership. That is why he got so much support from the lower economic classes in that country. The rich may not have been happy with him at the helm but in a democracy the majority rule.

RIP

Ah, but he pissed off the Yanks, so he must have been a bad guy. The media at home vilified him, character assassinated him just as sure as cancer killed him.

Just an observation: most of those who hated him on here are ex military. I wonder what the correlation is.

Venezuela's media vilified and character assassinated him, are you saying?

Or are you referring to the right wing American media?

 

[Cliffy]

Venezuela's media vilified and character assassinated him, are you saying?

Or are you referring to the right wing American media?

The right wing media will vilify anybody who puts the interests of his/her people before corporate interests. Hugo was vilified by the US and Canadian media, which really tells me he wasn't anywhere near as bad as they made him out to be.

 

[gopher]

The right wing media will vilify anybody who puts the interests of his/her people before corporate interests. Hugo was vilified by the US and Canadian media, which really tells me he wasn't anywhere near as bad as they made him out to be.

Ah, OK. Now I read ya.

Throughout the world he was considered a great leader for his progressive reforms which included sharing oil profits with Native Americans in Venezuela and giving free oil resources to the poor in the USA. That was excellent on his part.

 

[earth_as_one]

Chavez was involved in a democratic revolution. as such yes there are bound to
be some human rights violations as we would know them I don't disagree with
that. Put in context he had little choice, in such a change. The fact is he was an
elected President more than once therefore try as one might he could not be labelled
a dictator. Hugo was pushing the country left and had a coalition with others in the
region that is also true.
His revolution was a lot better than a one filled with bloodshed in the streets.
After Hugo what happens? If the poor come out to vote the revolution will continue
and there will be constant friction. I am more concerned with a division that is not
so civil and there is nothing civil about a civil war which is possible.
I both liked and disliked some of his actions. Clamping down on military people who
were opposed to him is fair game, the country has a long history of right and left
intrigue and he was not going to stand for it. Some cry foul and they are likely right.
It is also known that there was a long spell of real right wing nasty people who ran the
place for a while and it was time for a change.
It all comes down to the idea that we are better off without this kind of government no
matter on who's side of the fence we're on.
Over all he did more good than harm in my opinion. Those who claim he was a Saint
can't agree there.

Chavez won popular elections. He did not come to power by a coups... although he attempted it. While Chavez was no saint, he was also not the evil man as portrayed by our MSM. Chavez was a revolutionary similar to Canadian revolutionary Tommy Douglas. Cliffy and Gopher's observations are accurate regarding Chavez's image assassination. I suggest you forget everything you've read in Canadian/US newspapers or saw on Canadian/US TV.

The basic facts indicate that Chavez was a colorful personality.... like him or hate him
Hugo Chávez - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

BBC News - Obituary: Hugo Chavez

 

[damngrumpy]

Oh without a doubt Chavez did far more good than harm but some of his practices
were outside the norm. I suggest he was elected democratically and he was for the
average person. I also believe his revolution will survive it was democratic and it
was supported by the people.

 

[Walter]

I suppose this thread could be a memorial thread where people can pay their respects and acknowledge all the good things Hugo Chavez did for Venezuelans specifically as well as Latin America and the world indirectly.

Under Hugo Chavez's leadership, his government rewrote Venezuela's constitution to increase protections for indigenous peoples and women, and establish the rights of the public to education, housing, healthcare, and food. The new constitution called for dramatic democratic reforms such as ability to recall politicians from office by popular referendum, increased requirements for government transparency, and numerous other requirements to increase localized, participatory democracy, in favor of centralized administration. It gave citizens the right to timely and impartial information, community access to media, and a right to participate in acts of civil disobedience.

Chavez's land reforms turned unused land into farmland for the poor and middle class.

He made oil companies pay fair royalties to the government, which raised capital for all his socialist activities, like building and modernizing schools, universities and hospitals.

I don't believe a word of your drivel.

 

[earth_as_one]

Assuming it was all true, Walter... would it change your opinion?

(BTW, read the links I referenced above....)

 

[Walter]

Venezuela is in a better place.

 

[bill barilko]

Throughout the world he was considered a great leader for his progressive reforms....

Not in any of the dozen I've been in since he was elected-including his closest neighbours Trinidad & Colombia.

Note-They hated his guts there even as they made tonnes of hard currency because of his idiotic bungling.

Of course that's not you want to hear is it-real life experience isn't nearly as heart warming as the CBC cant and mendacity that succours you.

 

[earth_as_one]

World leaders react to death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez

World leaders react to death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez - latimes.com

 

[shadowshiv]

I agree with EAO, let him and any others have this thread for a memorial.

If you want to attack any of their posts, just quote them in the other thread.

If this ends up becoming a memorial thread, then I hope that everyone will keep it respectful. The reason I say this (and in official capacity) is that there was a thread that was deemed a memorial thread a couple of months ago (I cannot recall who it was, sorry) and someone had started posting disparaging remarks about that individual. Now, everyone is entitled to their opinions, but please do so in another thread (if one was made, as I have not had a chance to peruse the forum much yet) if it is going to get "heated". Thank you in advance.

This is not directed towards anyone, and the only reason I quoted this post of Bear's is that he mentioned about it possibly being a memorial thread.

 

[earth_as_one]

Comments by Sean Penn and Oliver Stone regarding Chavez:

Today the people of the United States lost a friend it never knew it had. And poor people around the world lost a champion," Penn said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter Tuesday. "I lost a friend I was blessed to have. My thoughts are with the family of President Chavez and the people of Venezuela. ... Venezuela and its revolution will endure under the proven leadership of Vice President Maduro."

"South of the Border" writer-director Stone also issued a statement to the entertainment industry trade newspaper.

''I mourn a great hero to the majority of his people and those who struggle throughout the world for a place," Stone said. "Hated by the entrenched classes, Hugo Chavez will live forever in history. My friend, rest finally in a peace long earned."

Stone, Penn mourn death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez - UPI.com


Former U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy II offered his prayers Tuesday to the family of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, saying he cared deeply about the poor and helped nearly two million Americans through the former lawmaker’s heating assistance charity.

Kennedy, who heads Citizens Energy, said Chavez cared about the poor at a time when “some of the wealthiest people on our planet have more money than they can ever reasonably expect to spend.”

Ex-U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy Praises Chavez’s Work To Help Poor | WBUR

Why Can't Big Oil Match Hugo Chávez?

Four years ago, Hugo Chávez scored one of the more impressive p.r. coups of the new century when he started delivering free heating oil to low-income Americans. Even if it was political opportunism, as conservative critics insisted, it got home-heating fuel to hundreds of thousands of yanquis during the past four winters, when the price was often skyrocketing. On Monday, however, with world oil prices plunging, the Venezuelan President decided to suspend his large-scale, multistate U.S. program in order to tend to financial concerns at home. Then on Wednesday, at the urging of U.S. politicians whose constituents had come to rely on the oil, Chávez reversed himself and said the heating oil would keep flowing this winter.

All of which raises the question: If Chávez can keep donating fuel even as his oil revenues tumble, why can't any U.S. oil companies step up to do the same?

Why Can't Big Oil Match Hugo Chávez? - TIME

 

[petros]

Vios con Dios.

 

[Nuggler]

RIP Hugo baby.

Ah, the memories.

Memorialially speaking

:evil4:

 

[EagleSmack]

Comments by Sean Penn and Oliver Stone regarding Chavez:

Today the people of the United States lost a friend it never knew it had. And poor people around the world lost a champion," Penn said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter Tuesday. "I lost a friend I was blessed to have. My thoughts are with the family of President Chavez and the people of Venezuela. ... Venezuela and its revolution will endure under the proven leadership of Vice President Maduro."

"South of the Border" writer-director Stone also issued a statement to the entertainment industry trade newspaper.

''I mourn a great hero to the majority of his people and those who struggle throughout the world for a place," Stone said. "Hated by the entrenched classes, Hugo Chavez will live forever in history. My friend, rest finally in a peace long earned."

LMAO... Sean Penn and Oliver Stone! Seriously!

Former U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy II offered his prayers Tuesday to the family of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, saying he cared deeply about the poor and helped nearly two million Americans through the former lawmaker’s heating assistance charity.

Kennedy, who heads Citizens Energy, said Chavez cared about the poor at a time when “some of the wealthiest people on our planet have more money than they can ever reasonably expect to spend.”

Kennedy helping the poor. The poor already get free heating assistance. Kennedy's Oil Program helps people who are lower middle class who gladly will take the free oil. Meanwhile Joe Kennedy... who already is worth millions... pulls down a $600,000.00 salary from the people of Venezuela. He is one of those wealthiest people on the planet and he has no intention of sharing his wealth. But he will surely share the wealth of the poor of Venezuela with Americans who live far better than them.

 

[petros]

Soon they'll be burning "green" domestic NG for free with Federally subsidized furnace upgrades.

I wish was poor and had my utilities direct so I could open my windows to get fresh air in the house in January.

 

[EagleSmack]

Soon they'll be burning "green" domestic NG for free with Federally subsidized furnace upgrades.

.

I would say they have that already. Those houses that have NG.

Dedicated to the memory of Chavez...

Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez and his legacy of plunder - Editorials - MiamiHerald.com