Supporters rally in show of support for Hugo Chavez

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Supporters rally in show of support for Hugo Chavez
Associated Press | Updated: January 10, 2013 22:36 IST

Caracas, Venezuela: Thousands of cheerful supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez rallied outside his presidential palace on Thursday in an alternative inauguration for a leader too ill to return home for the real thing.

Backers wearing T-shirts with the slogan "I am Chavez" waved flags while upbeat music from Chavez's last presidential campaign blared from speakers, proclaiming: "Chavez, heart of the people!"
`
~snip~
Vice President Nicolas Maduro, whom Chavez designated his chosen successor last month, said that even though it isn't an official swearing-in, Thursday's event still marks the start of a new term for the president following his re-election in October.

"A historic period of this second decade of the 21st century is starting, with our commander leading," Maduro said.

Read more: http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/supporters-rally-in-show-of-support-for-hugo-chavez-315926

[Judi Lynn]

1. Disinformation still clouds the US debate on Chávez's legacy in Venezuela

Disinformation still clouds the US debate on Chávez's legacy in Venezuela

Despite 14 years of catastrophist predictions for Venezuela, oil wealth has been successfully turned to social purposes

Mark Weisbrot
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 9 January 2013 10.30 EST

Imagine that you went to see the Steven Spielberg movie Lincoln, and all you got was the viewpoint of Southern white slaveholders during the civil war. That is analogous to what you are getting from almost all of the major media coverage on Venezuela.

Last week, the New York Times did something it has never done before: in its "Room for Debate" section, it offered differing views on Venezuela. In the 14 years since Hugo Chávez was elected president of Venezuela, the Times has offered many op-eds and editorials against Venezuela – including its own editorial board piece supporting the 2002 military coup (from which it later backpedaled without acknowledgment or apology). But the Times has never seen fit to publish even a single op-ed that contrasted with their editorial line (or reporting, for that matter) on this oil-rich country.

This contrasts with almost every medium-sized to large newspaper in the United States – from the LA Times, Boston Globe, or Miami Herald, to even the neoconservative Washington Post, and scores of other mainstream city newspapers, which have all published at least one op-ed offering another side of the story. It's worth revisiting this debate that lately appeared in the Times' online edition because it sheds light on some of the problems with what we read and hear about Venezuela.

Moisés Naím argues that Venezuela, whose economy grew about 5.5% in 2012, is headed for "an economic crisis of historic proportions". (Well, at least he said "headed for a crisis". Anita Issacs, a political scientist included in this debate, bizarrely refers to "Venezuela's tanking economy" – possibly like the "United States' tanking economy" in 2004).

More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/09/us-debate-chavez-venezuela-legacy

[jwirr]

2. Standard "Exxon" still seems to have a lot of power with the media. Chavez was instrumental in

removing them from the oil business in Venezuela. All for the good.

[SoCalMusicLover]

3. Chavez Is Probably Dead

The government set up by him, is trying to get him inaugurated, so they can avoid holding elections.

They are trying to make it appear as if Castro's chosen successor will be allowed to take over, once his death has eventually been made public.

Fun stuff in the Latin America dictatorship.

[Judi Lynn]

4. To whom do you imagine you're speaking?

"Castro's chosen successor"? Really?

Do yourself the honor of learning about the subject you're trying to discuss.

[SoCalMusicLover]

9. Yes, His Chosen Successor

Here's an article from PBS about the very subject.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/01/chavez-successor.html

[Judi Lynn]

13. You need to pay closer attention, don't you?

Do you automatically swallow what a headline writer throws up at the top of an article?

Take your time, and pay attention to the facts, not the spin.

[Bacchus4.0]

5. thats what I am thinking now, no elections need be held if Chavez is alive

and he is not required to swear in. My understanding is that elections must be called if a president dies in the first four years, elections must be held but the VP becomes president if the president dies in the last two years of the term. So they can remain in power 6 more years simply by maintaining that Chavez is "recovering".

Funny how Chavez railed against imperialism but his country has just become a colony of Cuba.

[The Magistrate]

15. Damn, Sir: That is One Humongously Stupid and Ignorant Comment

It must have taken some real work and thought to pump out something so totally devoid of sense and reason.

[bitchkitty]

18. I don't think he thought it up, it's just a talking point.

And it didn't take much work to pump it out - he's had plenty of practice.

[The Magistrate]

19. Still, Ma'am, It Was Quite a Pile, and Deserved A Chromo....

[bitchkitty]

20. :) n/t

[Bacchus4.0]

22. not nearly as stupid as inaugurating a dead man, ma'am. n/t

s

[JackRiddler]

11. How many times have you declared him dead?

[Judi Lynn]

6. Chavez supporters rally in Caracas without the main man

Chavez supporters rally in Caracas without the main man
10/01 19:19 CET



A mass of red clad supporters on the streets of Caracas led a party atmosphere on the day their president was scheduled to be sworn in for a new six-year term in Venezuela.

But there was no Hugo Chavez – still hospital bound in Cuba.

Political allies gathered at the rally. The presidents of Uruguay, Bolivia and Nicaragua were among the crowd which had started to congregate from early morning.

“The Supreme Court spoke to all Venezuelan people and the entire world. What else? Chavez can come in and out of the country whenever he wants,” said one supporter in the crowd.

More:
http://www.euronews.com/2013/01/10/chavez-supporters-rally-in-caracas-without-the-main-man/

More photos from today:

[center]









[/center]

[polly7]

8. Great pictures! nt.

[Judi Lynn]

14. Thanks for your post. The people don't really look like mindless idiots, do they?

Wingers have attempted to claim people who approve of his record are "cult" people, or radicals, or greedy, lazy idiots, just as they attack Democrats in our own country.

[center]





[/center]

[polly7]

16. They look like lovely, energized, passionate people and I don't understand Spanish, but the

signs look very nice. I love the depth of emotion on their faces, though the set of photos you posted further down is quite sad to look at ... they're worried, such a difference from the total joy we saw just a few months ago.

Those winger photos give me the heebie-jeebies.

[Judi Lynn]

17. I just went back to take a look for a sign. Saw one I could read,

"Ahora mas que nunca con Chavez" which means "Now, more than ever, (we're) with Chavez".

You're right about their expressions.

On edit:

Also, "Chavez, Nuestro lider" is "Chavez, our leader".

[polly7]

23. Thank you for the translations! nt.

[Judi Lynn]

7. Venezuela stages inauguration rally without Chavez

Venezuela stages inauguration rally without Chavez
AFP Updated January 11, 2013, 8:46 am

CARACAS (AFP) - Tens of thousands of flag-waving Venezuelans packed central Caracas Thursday in a fervent inauguration day rally for President Hugo Chavez, who was too sick in Cuba to make it himself.

Fighter jets streaked the length of this mountain valley as allies from around the region, showered praise on the cancer-stricken leader one after another and pledged their undying support.

"Long live Chavez!" shouted Vice President Nicolas Maduro. "Long live the people of Bolivar."

A sea of red shirts and flags, the color of Chavez's socialist movement, filled the avenue in front of the Miraflores presidential palace where participants were to take a symbolic oath for Chavez.

The crowd delivered a booming rendition of the national anthem and roared with approval for the tributes from leftist leaders like Bolivia's Evo Morales, Uruguay's Jose Mujica and ousted Paraguayan leader Fernando Lugo.

More:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/-/world/15795515/venezuela-stages-inauguration-rally-without-chavez/

[Judi Lynn]

10. Supporters of ailing Hugo Chavez rally at alternative inauguration

Supporters of ailing Hugo Chavez rally at alternative inauguration
Published on Thursday January 10, 2013
Ian James and Christopher Toothaker
The Associated Press

CARACAS, VENEZUELA—Tens of thousands of chanting supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez rallied outside his presidential palace Thursday in an exuberant symbolic inauguration for a leader too ill to return home for the real thing.

Chavez to miss swearing-in

Backers wearing T-shirts with the slogan “I am Chavez” waved flags while upbeat music from Chavez's last presidential campaign blared from speakers, proclaiming: “Chavez, heart of the people!”

The government organized the unusual show of support for the cancer-stricken leader on the streets outside Miraflores Palace on what was supposed to be his inauguration day. With Chavez out of sight in a Cuban hospital fighting a severe respiratory infection more than a month after cancer surgery, his swearing-in ceremony has been indefinitely postponed, despite opposition complaints.

“We came to show support, so he knows his nation is with him,” said Anny Marquez, a secretary and voluntary member of a civilian militia that Chavez has built in recent years. “We're with him in the good times as well as the bad.”

Some wore paper cutouts of the yellow, blue and red presidential sash to show they were symbolically swearing in themselves in Chavez's place.

More:
http://star3.topscms.com/news/world/article/1313070--supporters-of-ailing-hugo-chavez-rally-at-alternative-inauguration

[center]





http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/Q6Q3HrHl0uZTozh6MHQ.hQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0xMDI0O3E9Nzk7dz0xNTM2/[/center]

[JackRiddler]

12. Bump!

[bitchkitty]

21. Truly heartwarming.

God bless Venezuela!

Rarely does it happen, but sometimes in the world, a leader emerges who inspires this kind of love and loyalty. I hope that their prayers are answered.

[Judi Lynn]

24. Chavez lived, Chavez lives and Chavez will live

Chavez lived, Chavez lives and Chavez will live

Venezuela's president may be on his way out, but the government is working hard to ensure that his legacy lives on.

Girish Gupta January 11, 2013 15:42

CARACAS, Venezuela — "I'm Chavez. We're all Chavez. There's millions of us," said Gloria Torres, an ardent red-clad supporter of Venezuela's ailing socialist leader outside his presidential palace.

"Chavez is a Latin American sentiment that will never die," she said.

Since President Hugo Chavez announced that he was suffering from cancer in June 2011, Torres has led prayer vigils for the self-styled socialist’s health in her Caracas slum. Given events of the past month, however, she seems to have failed in her aims.

Chavez missed his inauguration Thursday, the first Venezuelan president to do so. This was thanks to his ongoing battle with cancer, specifically an operation on Dec. 11 which was followed by unexpected bleeding and a respiratory infection.

The ubiquitous television and radio personality has not been seen or heard from by his countrymen since then, fuelling fears that he will never again govern Venezuela.

More:
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/venezuela/130111/president-hugo-chavez-cancer-legacy