US nervous about Chavez (BBC)

[mom cat]

US nervous about Chavez

By Jill McGivering
BBC state department correspondent


Many in the United States will be watching keenly as voters in Venezuela cast their ballots in Sunday's referendum which decides whether or not Hugo Chavez will continue as president.

Baseball fan Chavez often rails against US imperialism
They may have mixed feelings.

President Chavez's relationship with the US has been notoriously discordant but turmoil in Venezuela could also cause unwelcome disruption in oil supplies.

The Bush administration and the Venezuelan leader have struggled to co-exist.

The relationship has long been dogged by allegations of American interference in Venezuelan politics and complaints about US funding for opposition figures.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3567324.stm

[markses]

1. I knew Chavez had the referendum easily in hand

When I heard a story on NPR Marketplace about how Wall Street is actually hoping for a Chavez victory, contrary to all evidence. The story made me laugh and laugh. Those Wall Street guys, always hedging their bets at just the right time. They know Chavez is gonna take this one down. End of story.

[scarletwoman]

5. From Forbes: Venezuela Oil Official Predicts Stability

http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/ap/2004/08/15/ap1505270.html

The president of Venezuela's state-run oil company said Sunday the country's oil industry will enter a new period of stability and growth following vote on whether Hugo Chavez must step down.

"For the oil industry, this event will contribute to stabilization," said Ali Rodriguez, the president of Petroleos de Venezuela S.A., or PDVSA.

"At last our oil workers can work without the constant pressure of these (political) campaigns," added Rodriguez, suggesting that Chavez would defeat the recall vote.

<snip>

"PDVSA is in the best conditions to meet investment plans," said Rodriguez, adding that the mammoth company intends to invest $37 billion over the next five years.

Foreign oil companies are also ready to move forward with investments, he said.

Chevron Texaco Corp. plans to invest $6 billion in a heavy crude refining project and Exxon Mobil Corp. intends to build a $3 billion petrochemical plant. Both companies announced the investment plans this month.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Chevron & Exxon, eh? The first question is, are these Texas oil interests, or the remants of the old Yankee/Rockefeller/Standard oil interests?

If they are part of the Texas camp, I wonder if they'll stay committed to investing in the PDVSA with Chavez remaining in power?

sw

[Judi Lynn]

12. Isn't that horrid? They have NO scruples. Thanks for the laugh! n/t

[bahrbearian]

2. We shouldn't have to tolerate him ????

"They add all these things up and feel they shouldn't have to tolerate such a government even if he's won seven elections in the last five years."

Oh yeah, democracy can get in our way.

[patdem]

3. WOW..and bush* hasn't won one in 4 years!! intollerable!!!

Power to the PEOPLE!!!!

[Judi Lynn]

11. Not even one! If he loses this time, Bush will be the only pResident

to have served completely unelected! What an accomplishment!


Bush sneaking by Chavez
at the Monterrey Summit.

[Tight_rope]

7. Not only is Bush affraid of the word Democracy...he also can't spell it!

[bluestateguy]

4. When do the results start coming in?

[Ediacara]

6. Polls Close at Eight O'Clock Venezuela Time

Which IIRC is in the Atlantic Time Zone (Canadian Maritimes, one hour ahead of the east coast).

[mom cat]

8. Actually, not till midnight! The turnout is so big they added four hours!

A big turnout is never good for the elite! :toast:
I hope it's a fucking landslide! :party:

[Ediacara]

9. Gotcha!

I misunderstood the story, and thought that the four hour extension extended the polls until eight.

And yes, according to this map:

Venezuela is in the Atlantic Time Zone, so polls close at 11 EDT and 8 PDT..... unless of course Venezuela doesn't do daylight savings time, then they'll close at 12 EDT and 9 PDT.

In any case however, we might not get any results until tomorrow morning because of the huge turnout, and probably very high number of rural votes.

[nolabels]

10. Are doing the projected winner thing yet ?

I am going to wear that DVD out :evilgrin:


WORK IN PROGESS!
MOORE:

Was it all just a dream?

GORE:

God Bless you Florida! Thank you!

MOORE:

Did the last four years not really happen?

Look, there's Ben Affleck, he's often in my dreams. And the Taxi Driver guy! He was there too! And little Stevie Wonder, he-- he seems so happy like-- like a Miracle had taken place. Was it a dream? Or was it real?

It was election night 2000 and everything seemed to be going as planned.

ANCHOR:

In New York, Al Gore is our projected winner <cut>
The Garden State is GREEN for Gore <cut>
We project that Mr. Gore is the winner in Delaware <cut>
This state has voted with the winner <cut>

DAN RATHER:

Excuse me one second, I’m sorry to interrupt you Mike you know I wouldn't do this if it weren't big: Florida goes for Al Gore.
(snip)
http://www.viscidity.com/fahrenheit/transcript.htm