New York gets Venezuela cheap oil

PoisonPete2

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Re: RE: New York gets Venezuela cheap oil

jimmoyer said:
Hope concentrated on one man is doom assured.

Answer - what a crock! So many successful changes occurred with a single figurehead and by the work of many followers. Read a little of the world's history. Please.
 

jimmoyer

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Genghis Khan, Attilla the Hun, Hitler, Stalin, Nero, Nebachadnezzer, Ivan the Terrible, Napoleon ....

And let's not just stay with world leaders, let's also look at the tyranny of the mob, like the Visigoths, the Vandals, the Viking mercenary group (not all Vikings), the Pogroms in almost every European and Asian village, The Christian Crusades, The European settlers in the Western Hemisphere, the Turks causing genocide on the Armenians in the 1920s....

And then the grade B tinhorns of every Pharoah, King or Czar you've ever read about.

Common denominator ?

No Term limits. No tradition of a Cincinatus. No tradition of a leader stepping down.

Your own country would never accept such hubris from any Prime Minister to ensure his own term until 2030, would it?

Almost all parliamentary systems develop a tradition of pressure to end a leader's time in office in what is technically a non term limit. It's a culture of expectation that causes the Parliament to call for Question.

We've all waited forever for Plato's Philosopher King.

It's the Second Coming.

Talk about a crock ?
 

PoisonPete2

Electoral Member
Apr 9, 2005
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Re: RE: New York gets Venezuela cheap oil

jimmoyer said:
Genghis Khan, Attilla the Hun, Hitler, Stalin, Nero, Nebachadnezzer, Ivan the Terrible, Napoleon ....

Answer - a fine list. Add to these others who spearheaded radical change. Such persons as; Jesus Christ, Mohammad, Charlemagne, Bhudda, Ghandi, Robespierre, Galalao, Mandala, Aristotle, Martin Luther King, Martin Luther, Washington, Bolivar, Einstein, Plank.

One man can make all the difference between the success and failure of a cause, of a philosophy, of a world view.

Chavez may just be such a man. Why do you not embrace his efforts at social equality and justice? Why do you not rail against fascism and the hegemony of corporate globalization? No, I quess you don't. How sad :(
 

jimmoyer

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Do you see the difference between our two lists beyond the obvious ?

The difference between your list and mine:

1. almost every leader you mentioned held no office of government.

2. Washington put himself on a term limit in the tradition of the legend of Cincinatus.

3. Robespierre ??? This man, of the Reign of Terror, ought to be on my list, not yours. You've fuzzied up the point of this recent exchange being about term limits which certainly check the power of any one man. It isn't about leaders who effect change in general. It's about putting any one executive branch leader who holds governmental office on a term limit.

4. Charlemagne was THE GOVERNMENT governor, the King so to speak with no term limit but his own death, just like Chavez, the long awaited Philosopher King of your dreams.


And I certainly will agree with you about global corporations, fascism (mostly about the unchecked non-term limited ONE MAN).

Let there be a sunset on any one man.

Even of good men, there should be.

Of all who hold the executive branch office.

Your man has accomplished what Putin of Russia seeks to do.

This is where the precious Venezuelan vote went.

A democracy that votes a man into office who then seeks to change the rules to keep the office for life is no longer a viable democracy, my gullible friend.
 

PoisonPete2

Electoral Member
Apr 9, 2005
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Re: RE: New York gets Venezuela cheap oil

jimmoyer said:
Do you see the difference between our two lists beyond the obvious ?

Answer - yes, you focus on the negative, while I emphasize the positive.

quote="jimmoyer"]
1. almost every leader you mentioned held no office of government.

Answer - when I took exception to your statement
jimmoyer said:
Hope concentrated on one man is doom assured. [end quote] I answered " - what a crock! So many successful changes occurred with a single figurehead and by the work of many followers. Read a little of the world's history. Please."

That became the premise to defend or refrute. I made no mention in the premise of 'holding office of government". your statement was completely bogus and now you whine and try to create non-sequetor arguement.

quote="jimmoyer"]
You've fuzzied up the point of this recent exchange being about term limits which certainly check the power of any one man. It isn't about leaders who effect change in general. It's about putting any one executive branch leader who holds governmental office on a term limit.

Answer - total crap. It was never about 'term limits' until you twisted the frame of the debate.

quote="jimmoyer"]
4. Charlemagne was THE GOVERNMENT governor, the King so to speak with no term limit but his own death, just like Chavez, the long awaited Philosopher King of your dreams.

Answer - Charlemagne brought unity to a vast area, and set up regional governments, providing people with an opportunity to have voice in their affairs. Though he could barely write, he established systems of education. In his conquests, he led the battle. I would hope that Chavez has some of the qualities of Charlemagne, one of the world's greatest leaders.

jimmoyer said:
And I certainly will agree with you about global corporations, fascism (mostly about the unchecked non-term limited ONE MAN).

Answer - you wouldn't recognize fascism if it bit you in the ass.

jimmoyer said:
A democracy that votes a man into office who then seeks to change the rules to keep the office for life is no longer a viable democracy, my gullible friend.

Answer - another total crock. Where do you get these assumptions from - the American Press? (note I did not say 'free press')

Now try to read through the following with some level of understanding. :D

Chavez was voted into office in 1998 with a promise of Constitutional change. He got almost 60% of popular vote against 8 other parties including the entrenched and well-financed elite that had controlled the country for decades. Those fascists massacred hundreds of people in Caracas just before the massacre in Tiemen Square (1989). It got no American press coverage. That elite has never forgiven him his victory and today is doing everything possible to tumble him. Sadly, the U.S. government and mass media have joined in this very undemocratic effort

Chavez was voted in with the new Constitution in 2000. I was witness to the election. People wept with joy. There was great jubilation.

The opposition (read 'power elite') accuse Chavez as being a communist because of his close association with Cuba. Is George W. Bush a communist because the U.S. has close ties with China? Chavez's hero is Simon Bolivar, not Marx or Lenin. Bolivar liberated much of South America from the Spaniards, but he was also concerned about another colonial power, saying that "the United States appears to be destined by Providence to plague Latin America with misery in the name of liberty." It is a concern Chavez shares. After the April 2002 coup against him, Condoleezza Rice warned Chavez, NOT THE COUP LEADERS, to "respect constitutional processes." This from a war-monger.

A second accusation is that Chavez is a dictator and will limit freedom of expression very shortly. This has been said since 1998 when he was just a candidate for the presidency. To date, there is not one deprecating word against Chavez that has not been printed or spoken. Prior to Chavez many Venezuelan daily newspapers were government-censored, leaving blank pages. The largest media conglomerate in Venezuela is still in the hands of one very rich dude (a vocal opposition financial supporter).

Chavez himself proposed the idea of a presidential referendum midway through the term and had constantly voiced it as the constitutional way to remove him. Such a referendum was written as a cornerstone of the power of the People over government. The American-backed opposition rejected the idea of the referendum and did everything possible to avoid it: the two-day coup; a two-month lockout/strike by big business and by many well-paid executives and workers in the national petroleum industry; and, millions spent on media campaigns against him.

International news releases often refer to Chavez as "a former lieutenant colonel who led a failed bloody rebellion in 1992." This would be similar to continuously identifying President Bush as "a former National Guard captain who avoided service in Vietnam, had a bout with alcoholism in his youth and snorted cocaine in his father's White House." All true but hardly relevant to current events.

There has been recent elections in Venezuela in which Chavez' party won 114 seats and allied parties won the other 53 seats. There were over 200 sanctioned international observers at these elections and everyone was in agreement that the elections were fair and open. It would not be unbelievable that there would be calls for Chavez to serve for life after such a victory. Some of his supporters have called for Constitutional change to allow him to run for a third term. The opposition actually have started a smear campaign (boosted by the American media) that it is his intention to claim authority and suspend the Constitution.

Now Chavez has been elected twice by landslides. He has respected the Constitution by defending his presidency through a referendum. Constitutional change, including the terms of the President, can be enacted by a vote of 66% of the National Assembly followed by a majority of votes in favour through a National referendum. If he choses to call for such change, he is so popular that he would likely win, but he would do it according to the Constitution. The USA has similar laws governing constitutional change within their Constitution (or did you not know that)./ That is where things like 'The Fourth Amendment' comes from. It is called CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY'. Unfortunately Bush has not been in compliance with his own constitution and should be impeached. Now who is really GULLIBLE. I think it is you, buying into the bullshit of Bush and a captive media.

A wide gulf exists between what is printed in the U.S. newspapers and what you can witness in the barrios and villages of Venezuela. Adults are entering literacy programs, senior citizens are at last receiving their pensions, and children are not charged fees to enter the public schools. Health care and housing have improved dramatically. There is a new program called 'Junk for Food' in which the people bring in litter, metal, old clothes (you know 'junk') and get food vouchers in exchange. This country used to be littered like a cesspool, but is beginning to get cleaned up. If this keeps going Venezuela may be as clean as Munich or Dubrovnik (two of the cleanest cities I have ever seen). People are beginning to take pride in their country.

Chavez is trying damned hard to make the changes he promised to the People. He is doing so against an opposition composed of the deposed former government, multi-national corporations, the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, and the American government and its agencies. During the latest election campaign the opposition started using tactics of direct terrorism, blowing up an oil pipeline. I hope that the popular support does not go to his head to the point that Chavez declares himself Caesar, but if the People determine that Constitutional change is appropriate, then more power to him.

If you really want to know what is happening in Venezuela, go and spend some time there. Don't rely on the propaganda of the American press. Talk to the people in Venezuela, the street people, the small shop keepers. Talk to a barber, they like to 'tell it like it is'.

I just got back from Venezuela. It was a great time, with the exception of having to spend three hours in the USA (twice) between connections, and having to go through 3 security checks of that fascist regime (Bush's gestapo).
 

jimmoyer

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Jim Moyer:
A democracy that votes a man into office who then seeks to change the rules to keep the office for life is no longer a viable democracy, my gullible friend.[/quote]

PoisonPete2:
Answer - another total crock. Where do you get these assumptions from - the American Press? (note I did not say 'free press')

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So, PoisonPete2, would that influence your vote if the candidate told you he was going to seek the office for life?
 

PoisonPete2

Electoral Member
Apr 9, 2005
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Re: RE: New York gets Venezuela cheap oil

jimmoyer said:
Jim Moyer:
A democracy that votes a man into office who then seeks to change the rules to keep the office for life is no longer a viable democracy, my gullible friend.

PoisonPete2:
Answer - another total crock. Where do you get these assumptions from - the American Press? (note I did not say 'free press')

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So, PoisonPete2, would that influence your vote if the candidate told you he was going to seek the office for life?[/quote]

------------------------------------------------------------------

ANSWER - of course it would influence my vote but it may not sway my vote. That would depend on the candidate.

Of course you even got that all twisted up. If Chavez sought a constitutional change, it would be to remove the 2 term restriction (which wasn't even in the orignial US Constitution). He would still face the electorate every six years, so your follow-up question is bogus and misleading.

Please note that Canada has NO Restrictions on the length of service for a Prime Minister so your absurdist rhetoric and ridiculous 'bogey man' tactic --- well -- it's just silly.

I assume, from the brevity of your response and narrow selection of 'follow-up' that you didn't actually read my last posting. It included a section that generally answered the present question.

so I get to quote me 8O
"Now Chavez has been elected twice by landslides. He has respected the Constitution by defending his presidency through a referendum. Constitutional change, including the terms of the President, can be enacted by a vote of 66% of the National Assembly followed by a majority of votes in favour through a National referendum. If he choses to call for such change, he is so popular that he would likely win, but he would do it according to the Constitution. The USA has similar laws governing constitutional change within their Constitution (or did you not know that)./ That is where things like 'The Fourth Amendment' comes from. It is called CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY'.

and, YES, I would likely vote Chavez into office, based on his record, if I could vote in Venezuela. If quality people such as Chavez were available, I would support constitutional change.
 

jimmoyer

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Venezuela plans legislation to extend Chavez term till 2030

www.chinaview.cn 2005-12-07 10:43:44


CARACAS, Dec. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- New deputies elected to Venezuela'sNational Assembly, to be sworn in January, will legislate to keep President Hugo Chavez in office until 2030, National Assembly President Nicolas Maduro said on Tuesday.

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And the technical point of the Prime Minister having no term limit is untrue in the defacto not de jure tradition of the parliament and forcing the issue of Question.

In Britain there is an 11 year outside limit if Question or Vote of Confidence is not called.

The DEFACTO tradition of Canadian political life insists the leader stands for a new vote every so often, very much unlike your MAN OF THE PEOPLE who has a term all the way to 2030.

Your 6 year term is no longer.

You'll vote for an executive office position to have a lifetime term ?
 

PoisonPete2

Electoral Member
Apr 9, 2005
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Re: RE: New York gets Venezuela cheap oil

jimmoyer said:
Venezuela plans legislation to extend Chavez term till 2030
www.chinaview.cn 2005-12-07 10:43:44
CARACAS, Dec. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- New deputies elected to Venezuela'sNational Assembly, to be sworn in January, will legislate to keep President Hugo Chavez in office until 2030, National Assembly President Nicolas Maduro said on Tuesday.

ANSWER - your link did not function. I very much doubt such legislation will occur. If it did then there would have to be a National referendum for it to be constitutional. If that occurs then it is done by democratic process, and that is the business of Venezuela. If it is not done according to the Constitution, then, according to their Constitution, that government would cease to have political authority and the people have an obligation to rise against it.

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jimmoyer said:
And the technical point of the Prime Minister having no term limit is untrue in the defacto not de jure tradition of the parliament and forcing the issue of Question.

Answer - That mumbo jumbo is total garbage. Attacking something that was not said is not very clever at all. I said "Please note that Canada has NO Restrictions on the length of service for a Prime Minister." Please understand that 'length of service' and 'term limit' are not synonimous terms.

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jimmoyer said:
In Britain there is an 11 year outside limit if Question or Vote of Confidence is not called.

Answer - This has no basis in fact. A Parliament has a maximum duration of five years, but in practice general elections are usually held before the end of this term. The maximum life has been prolonged by legislation in rare circumstances such as the two world wars. As there is no Constitution in Britain, an Act of Parliament becomes law after ratification by the House of Lords and accent by the Monarch. In practice, legislation cannot be delayed passage for more than a year by the House of Lords, and the assent by the Monarch has been a formality since the signing of the Magna Carta. There are no recognized parties in British tradition, and there is absolutely no restrictions on the length of service for a Prime Minister.

Don't be misleading folks with your fancy words.

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jimmoyer said:
The DEFACTO tradition of Canadian political life insists the leader stands for a new vote every so often, very much unlike your MAN OF THE PEOPLE who has a term all the way to 2030.

Answer - Total crap followed by a LIE. Don't use words you do not understand. Please. There is no "DEFACTO' tradition of Canadian political life" It is called a Constitution that defines the limits of the term to the standing government in Canada, but does NOT limit the number of times a person may serve as Prime Minister.

You are lying to say "unlike your MAN OF THE PEOPLE who has a term all the way to 2030." To take a remote possibility spread by anti-Chavez propagandists, and then try to pass it off as a current reality is a lie. Don't you lie to me or anybody. It is totally ignorant.
 

PoisonPete2

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Re: RE: New York gets Venezuela cheap oil

jimmoyer said:
Man, just do this:
1. Go to GOOGLE.
2. Type in : Chavez 2030.
or
1. Do a search in any major newspaper.
After that, we can go over parliamentary procedures and term limits and misunderstandings.

Answer - and the credible site was??? Some suggested the legislation had already passed, others indicated that the legislation was before the National Assembly. Many of the sites had 'the Democratic Front' as the source of the information. This is a satirical political forum.

The National Assembly doesn't sit until January, so how can this be anywhere. Until I hear Chavez say it, it will remain propaganda.

But to state it as a given fact, as you did, is beyond propaganda. It is a lie. Now try to get back to reality and offer a reaction to the charity Chavez has shown Americans through providing cheap oil, and avoid things you know nothing of, because lies will be challenged vigorously and ignorance will be highlighted.
 

jimmoyer

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Weak response.

For credible sources, I can see you didn't do a valid search in any major newspaper.

And you got to quit this crap about accusing me of lying to you. Get some class.

Look man, I know you're passionate on the issue of Chavez, and there's no doubt in my mind that American skullduggery was both immoral and strategically stupid and this guy is using it to his advantage, as it is his right, as he grabs for all the gusto.
 

PoisonPete2

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Re: RE: New York gets Venezuela cheap oil

jimmoyer said:
Weak response.

For credible sources, I can see you didn't do a valid search in any major newspaper.

And you got to quit this crap about accusing me of lying to you. Get some class.

Look man, I know you're passionate on the issue of Chavez, and there's no doubt in my mind that American skullduggery was both immoral and strategically stupid and this guy is using it to his advantage, as it is his right, as he grabs for all the gusto.
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Answer - no! Actually you avoid 'point-by-point' challenge of my postings because you know little of the subject outside of propaganda that you appear to swallow without any review. Then you speal that crap out as if it some form of gospel truth.

If you support a lie by spreading the lie, then quess what?? ' Get some class - and a dictionary.

I spend time in Venezuela a few times a winter. I'll be timing my next trip so that I can do a stop off at Carnival in Trinidad on the return flight. (It also avoids landing in the USA). There have been such tremendous improvements in the lives of the people since Chavez came to power that it is very uplifting for me. Have you not felt joy over seeing a joyful person?? Then people like yourself come along and, for some very bizarre reasons, slam someone who is raising his people up, bringing health services and education to the poor, creating food programs such as 'cans for the country' and 'junk for food', all while lending assistance to poor nations close to him and afar (USA). Instead of respecting Chavez for: upholding the Constitution (read it, its very democratic, if not a little paranoic), respecting a free press, resisting conglomerate piracy while building a free-market economy, reducing corruption among government officials while building a professional civil service and representing his country on the world stage by speaking out against aggressive invasions, and economic imperialism; you would rather support an opposition elite who, during 50 years of power murdered thousands of citizens using the army and death squads, pillaged the nation of its wealth in alliance with multi-national corporations and the U.S. government, turned a blind eye at rampant bank fraud and borrowed against unstable oil revenue for private interests leaving a legacy of crushing debt.

But the opposition is strong (rich and well connected) and they suck in a lot of idiots, morons and blind followers with their propaganda. I can see how Chavez may harden against such resistance and lose his focus on the benefit to the people.

I think you should respond to this posting point-by point and show everybody where you stand, or shut your pie-hole. No running off on a tangent. Do what I do, and show some class.
 

jimmoyer

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Free press ?

There?

He dominates the air waves down there. Imagine if Bush had his smirking visage all day long on major TV outlets?


Many of the other beneficial things he is doing, I wish him well.

I'm starting to suspect you of being too invested emotionally in embracing Chavez as an antidote to the much hated Bush Amerika Corp.

Relax a little. How dare anybody question this great and wonderful leader? Why they must be CIA or crazy, or brainwashed?

This guy is charming. Even saying the things you like to hear. He knows that. You know that. Let's see how he does.

Maybe Putin will change his constitution too and get another term of office.

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/18302

I find the above link a very balanced point of view, even knocking the things you hate, but also a much more nuanced view of who Chavez is.
 

jimmoyer

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http://hrw.org/english/docs/2003/05/21/venezu6065.htm
-------------------------------------------------


Venezuela: Protect Journalists, Revise Radio-TV Law

(Caracas, May 21, 2003) — The Venezuelan government is not doing enough to protect journalists from violence, Human Rights Watch said in a new reportreleased today. Human Rights Watch also urged the government to protect freedom of expression by ending its ongoing investigation of the country’s private television networks, and dramatically revising its proposed law to regulate the contents of radio and television broadcasts.

The draft law is a recipe for state control of the broadcast media. Its onerous, vaguely-worded restrictions and heavy penalties threaten Venezuela’s broadcast media.

José Miguel Vivanco,
Executive Director
Americas Division
Human Rights Watch


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Related Material

Venezuela: Caught In The Crossfire Freedom of Expression in Venezuela
Report, May 1, 2003

Venezuela: Media Freedom Threatened
Press Release, February 19, 2003

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The launch of Human Rights Watch’s report coincides with renewed public debate in Venezuela over draft legislation that the government of President Hugo Chávez has introduced on the “social responsibility of radio and television.”

“The draft law is a recipe for state control of the broadcast media,” said José Miguel Vivanco, executive director of the Americas Division of Human Rights Watch. “Its onerous, vaguely-worded restrictions and heavy penalties threaten Venezuela’s broadcast media.”

The draft legislation would impose stringent and detailed controls over radio and television broadcasts, greatly limiting what could be aired during normal viewing hours. Under the guise of protecting children from crude language, sexual situations and violence, it would subject adults to restrictive and puritanical viewing standards.
 

jimmoyer

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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002400494_ventv25.html


New Latin-focused TV station transmitting with Venezuela's support

By THAIS LEON

The Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela — A new TV station backed by Venezuela's government began transmitting yesterday in various countries across Latin America, carrying praise by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, the U.S. actor Danny Glover and others.

The Telesur network, which organizers call a Latin alternative to large media outlets like CNN, was being seen in Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Brazil and Cuba as well as Venezuela, Chávez said.
 

jimmoyer

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When he takes over all the private television stations for a talk—forming a "national network"—he is usually on his own:

Hello, my friends! A very good evening to you. National network. No time limits. We've gone back to the original strategy. We'd made a change, a curveball on the outside corner for a few weeks with the Thursday national networks, but no, tonight we're going back to the original pitch; that is, whenever it's convenient, every time it's convenient. It could be one national network a week, or three or four a week, according to the dynamic of events. Or once a month. We'll see. We'll evaluate as we go according to what might be happening in Venezuela and the world. And also, no time limit. It's nine fifteen, and I think we'll end around midnight.


www.analitica.com/bitblioteca/hchavez /cadena20010615.asp.
 

PoisonPete2

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Gee, so much verbage and so little content. When Bush wants to lie to the public, he gets air-time on the national networks. He does this thing on radio every weakend.

United States supports radio transmission around the world. Have you not heard of 'radio-free America'?

The Rev is absolutely correct. Major media outlets in Venezuela are in private hands. Why would Chavez not establish a government station. Canada has one. Britain has one. America has Fox.
 

jimmoyer

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Chavez likes Thursday nights to be national network night.

Know what that means?

You wouldn't even let your own Prime Minister do that.

CHAVEZ :

Hello, my friends! A very good evening to you. National network. No time limits. We've gone back to the original strategy. We'd made a change, a curveball on the outside corner for a few weeks with the Thursday national networks, but no, tonight we're going back to the original pitch; that is, whenever it's convenient, every time it's convenient. It could be one national network a week, or three or four a week, according to the dynamic of events. Or once a month. We'll see. We'll evaluate as we go according to what might be happening in Venezuela and the world. And also, no time limit. It's nine fifteen, and I think we'll end around midnight.

Link to this address was posted earlier in this thread.

I wonder what you think Chavez is saying here?