CNN en Español: Official results in Venezuela - NO 58.25% | YES 41.74%

[arcos]

No link yet, just saw it live on CNN en Español. Those are the initial results, don't know how many precincts are in.

If these keeps up, it is a landslide victory for Hugo Chávez.

[fujiyama]

1. Let's hope

the question, "Do you want Bush to serve another four years as president?" will have a similar margin.

[minkyboodle]

2. Viva Chavez

I hope those numbers hold up!!!!!!!

[Kanary]

3. thanks so much for posting!

I finally feel like I can get some sleep now.

This would be such a wonderful victory...... I'm going to hope this holds.

Thanks again!

Kanary

[aneerkoinos]

4. Opposition blogger

confirms:

"The CNE says the No won 58% to 41% with 94% of the results in. If OAS and Carter says this is true, then that's it we lost. But I think this will drag on. Supposedly nither Smartmatic, nor carter nor OAS back the results so far. This is the worst possible scenario in terms of peace for Venezuela.. "

http://blogs.salon.com/0001330/

boo-hoo :D

Viva Chavez!

[AP]

24. Such a bad result for peace that BBC just reported oil prices dropping

That's sarcasm.

BBC said a resounding victory suggests stability should result.

But I think the opposition knew they'd lose all along and their entire game plan was to call their loss the product of fraud.

(And, since when is it Smartmatic's job to certify election results? Or the OAS's, for that matter? At every step of the way, the CNE has ruled in favor the opposition, but the opposition won't accept their certification?)

[truth2power]

49. We lost???

Looks like a win for Chavez, to me. I think that's a good thing. :shrug:

[allemand]

5. Chávez "logró el 58% de los votos"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/latin_america/newsid_3569000/3569014.stm

[aneerkoinos]

6. Chavez 'winning' Venezuela poll

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3569012.stm

"Officials from the National Electoral Council said that, with 94% of ballots counted, Mr Chavez had 58% of the vote. "

[KellyW]

7. even globovision has that result

A las 4:00 am el Consejo Nacional Electoral emitió su primer boletín con el 94,49% de las actas automatizadas obteniendo la opción del No 4.991.483 votos (58,25%) mientras el Sí alcanzó 3.576.517 (41,74%).

http://www.globovision.com/index.php

globovision has been hard core opposition to the government.

[aneerkoinos]

8. oil

dropped from 46,70 to 46,30 barrel.

[KellyW]

9. Here is the story in english...

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=1341

here is a part....

According to the numbers, obtained from a tally count of 94,49% of ballots from automatic voting machines, the opposition failed to obtain more votes that those who wanted Chavez to stay. The "no" option obtained 4,991,483 votes representing 58.95%. The "yes" option obtained 3,576,517 votes, representing 41.74%.

Manual count of votes from rural and low income urban areas where Chavez has widespread support, and where authomatic machines were not used, could increase Chavez's margin of victory.

Delays in the annoucement of the results are believe to be caused by intense negotiations between the Carter Center and the Organization of America States election observing missions with the opposition coalition Democratic Coordinator to convince them to accept Chavez's victory.

[allemand]

10. Viva el pueblo venezolano !

Chavez is speaking now, addressing the large crowd "desde el Balcon del Pueblo, Palacio de Miraflores".

[aneerkoinos]

11. Freepers in denial

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1192332/posts

They have no clue.

[Fed Up]

12. Da freepers say "Paging General Pinochet, your services are needed."

These people are loony. Augusto Pinochet was a brutal right wing dictator, but that's fine with them. Da Freeps are going ape shit as we speak

[erpowers]

41. Freepers are Sad

It is sad that they would prefer a dictator who killed people to a democratically elected president who cared about people. More and more it seems that Republicans do not care for democracy.

[MisterP]

73. heck, they did that with Arbenz, Mossadegh, Allende, the Sandinistas,

Aristide, Goulart, Papandreou, and supported oodles of murderous fiends:
http://home.iprimus.com.au/korob/fdtcards/Cards_Index.html

[pinniped]

14. Yup, Jimmy Carter "rigged" the thing alright.

The level of stupidity over there can only be matched by the bufoons squatting in the wh.

[AP]

26. 2.5 years ago, a majority of DU'ers hated Chavez too.

Kind of embarassing in retrospect.

But I'm glad they came to their senses.

On some levels, perhaps it's hard to blame them since even NPR was lying to them about Chavez. But, they really should have seen the truth.

[aneerkoinos]

29. Is that true?

If so, more kudos to authentic media and people who can change their opinion when deprogrammed from the corporate media make believe.

[AP]

31. The coup opened some eyes. Then JudiLynn's and Magistrates relentless

sensible arguments did the heavy lifting. The Revolution Will Not Be Television put the last nail in the coffin of the "Chavez is a dictator" argument.

It was a long, hard slog to get DU to this point. But it's shameful on some levels that people couldn't see it from the start.

In the fall of 2001, I heard my first NPR story about how Venezueala was a dictatorship. The only other piece of the puzzle you needed to know was that VZ provided the US a lot of our oil. The BS detector should have been bouncing arround 11 for DU'ers.

[aneerkoinos]

34. Narconews

I was following Narconews reporting on VZ even before the coup. Corporate media is mighty foe, and Venezuela has been the first great defeat of the great corporate lie. Not the last one. Keep on fighting.

[Gman]

43. The BS meter was peggd after the first coup attempt

for a lot of us back then.

[oasis]

72. Freepers ignoring the "banana republic" they helped to create in America.

[allemand]

13. Chavez calls it "a present for Bush"...

"Me han informado que la pelota cayo en el centro de la Casa Blanca. Un regalo pa' Bush !"

[whirlygigspin]

15. ...and how will this go over in Miami?

you know, with the jet set crowd?

[cal04]

16. President Hugo Chavez Frias wins the RR with 58.2%

Francisco Carrasquero

Shortly after 4:00 a.m. this morning, National Elections Council (CNE) president Francisco Carresquero went on linked radio/TV to announce preliminary results in yesterday's recall referendum with 94.49% of votes already tallied: President Hugo Chavez Frias got 4,991,483 votes (58.25%) while the opposition mustered only 3,576,557 votes (41.74%).

CNE directors Sobella Mejias and Ezequiel Zamora, known for their opposition allegiances, have launched an objection in a brief press conference following Carrasquero's statement.

Their objection appears to be grounded in scrutineering of the results since the physical voting slips have not yet been delivered to CNE HQ in Caracas and the numbers are based on data from SmartMatic voting machines used in Sunday's process.

Effectively, a recount has been called although there is little likelihood that President Hugo Chavez Frias' 58.2% majority win will be very much affected by what is now down to a paper trail audit.


http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=22443

[arcos]

17. Opposition REFUSES to accept defeat, claims they won 59% of the vote

They claim touchscreen voting machines failed and the government refuses to audit the paper trail. They say they will go to all international institutions to denounce "fraud".

[whirlygigspin]

18. and they know this how?

was that the pre-programmed orginal number?

lol

[cal04]

19. If they won, it wouldn't be

fraud, we know how that works.

[Vladimir]

20. Funny that they are claiming what Chavez got

isn't it? It almost makes you think that they are clutching at the first number that came into their heads when they realised how fucked they were...

[Fed Up]

21. Here is what Pox News wanted to report. boo hoo.

In a major victory for the Bush administration, controversial Venezuelan leader and Castro friend Hugo Chavez has lost his job in a recall election. The White House issued a statement saying that President Bush and Vice President Cheney were alerted to the news and responded with elation. "This is Democracy at work, awesome, let freedom reign," the president said when telephoned about the news by Condi Rice. Vice President Cheney said he hopes Venezuela's new president will dance to his tune and put the screws to Fidel Castro. blah blah blah blah blah.

Sorry, Pox News. We know you wanted so dearly to report that. Now go suck an egg.

[Zorra]

28. Bwaaahaaahaaa! Yes, awesome, let freedom ring!

Totalitarian fascists Bu$h and Cheney are the next to go down as the liberty bell of freedom and democracy rings.

[Dover]

22. From Reuters

Chavez Wins Venezuela Referendum-Preliminary Result
Mon Aug 16, 2004 04:32 AM ET


CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has survived a referendum to recall him, according to preliminary results released by the country's top electoral officer on Monday.
National Electoral Council President Francisco Carrasquero said in a national broadcast the "No" option opposing Chavez's recall had obtained just over 58 percent of the vote, while the "Yes" vote obtained nearly 42 percent.

But two pro-opposition electoral officials questioned the result.

Shortly before Carrasquero made the announcement, two members of the five-member National Electoral Council leadership said they could not back the result.

Ezequiel Zamora and Solbella Mejias, both known opposition sympathizers, said procedural checks had not been carried out on the results as required...cont'd

http://tinyurl.com/5aw3m

[allemand]

27. Many headlines spin it as "Chavez survived"

Over 58 % is not "surviving". It's a resounding victory.

[aneerkoinos]

32. It's a landslide

Chavez has played opposition and US like Barbie and Ken. He led them to believe he would oppose recall when in fact he wellcomed the chance to show the strength of democracy and put the opposition in shame and making it extremely difficult for Bush and oligarchs to continue their destabilizing efforts.

And also forcing Kerry to eat crow.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

50. Now you got me curious.

Who's Barbie and who's Ken there?

[cally]

65. Barbie and Ken are dolls

sold by Mattel. Barbie is curvacious and Ken is her boyfriend. :shrug:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

70. I know who Barbie and Ken are!

I was just musing whether the US was Ken and the opposition Barbie or the other way around. :spank:

[MisterP]

74. oh, I think it's just arbitrary: Ken & Barbie always are made to

go "kiss, kiss" by kids as their heads are thwacked together in imitation.

[0007]

23. Go Chavez go

[ChipperbackDemocrat]

25. A recount? lol!

Chavez polled more votes then he did the last time (58% to 56%) and the "democratic" opposition wants a recount?

What is it about helping poor folks that scares Cheap Labor Conservatives so much?

Just another sign of Crass Warfare on the right.

Paz. Libertad. Derechos Humanos. Those things just don't translate well into Cheap Labor Conservative.

[NeoConsSuck]

30. In the words of Jackie Gleason...

HOW SWEET IT IS!!

Suck on it, NeoCons!

[leftchick]

33. Omg... Did You All See the AP Headline?!?....

"Chavez Apparently Survives Recall Vote"

... could they be any more obvious in their bias?! :eyes:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040816/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/venezuela_recall&cid=589&ncid=716

CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez survived a popular referendum to oust him, according to results Monday, while Venezuela's opposition swiftly claimed fraud.


Backers of the leftist populist president set off fireworks and began celebrating in the streets of the capital in the pre-dawn darkness upon hearing the news from Francisco Carrasquero, president of the National Elections Council.


Carrasquero stopped short of declaring Chavez the outright winner. But vote counts he released showed the firebrand former army paratrooper had a virtually insurmountable 58-42 percent lead, with 94 percent of the vote counted.


Carrasquero said 4,991,483 votes had been cast against Chavez's recall, with 3,576,517 in favor.

[Zorra]

35. AP.....does that stand for Appropriated Press?

Hee-hee.

Fascists lose! Theeeeeeeeee fascists lose!

[WillyT]

36. LOL, My Headline: 'Facists Lose, US World Domination In Doubt'

Oh democracy, you is one BEAUTIFUL Biach!!!

:bounce::evilgrin::bounce:

[Karenina]

37. Kick!

:kick:

[oscar111]

38. moved to media forum

[IndianaGreen]

48. A 58-42 win is called a landslide, AP

Even at 3 AM today CNN Headline News was still repeating the bullshit about Chavez being accused of being authoritarian. No one bothered to point out to the CNN presenter that an authoritarian ruler would not be permitting a recall election.

The only authoritarians in Venezuela are the oligarchs and the media they own.

[allemand]

39. The opposition is already in full spin mode

judging from the headlines at Union Radio:

"silence of the observers"
"coup d'etat"
"massive fraud"

http://www.unionradio.com.ve/default.htm?__redir=1

[Minstrel Boy]

40. "'This is impossible to swallow,' said an opposition leader"

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1573702,00.html

Undoubtedly.

Choke on it, sucka!

"'Hopefully, from this day on, Washington will respect the government and people of Venezuela,' Chavez boomed from the balcony."

Doubtful.



Choke on it, sucka!

[JohnyCanuck]

42. Not to be a party pooper, Senor Chavez, but

do not be surprised that after the abject failure of plan "A", they will now just move on to try whatever they have up their sleeve for plan "B".

"'Hopefully, from this day on, Washington will respect the government and people of Venezuela,' Chavez boomed from the balcony."

[AP]

44. More accurately, "with the failure of Plan J, they will surely move on to

plan K."

[Hawkeye-X]

68. And with the failure of Plan Z...

we're going to double check our plan, starting with Plan AA...

[Jack Rabbit]

45. A victory for the Venezuelan people

A vicotry for the people anywhere is a defeat for Bush, for neoconservatism and for the most heinous forms of globalization.

Venezuela's resources belong to the Venezuelan people and should be used to benefit them.

¡Viva la gente!

[IndianaGreen]

47. That's "Viva el pueblo!," Jack

But you are right, this is a defeat for PNAC/PPI imperialism. Now if we get the neolibs in the Democratic Party to accept the will of the Venezuelan people, instead of echoing the views of the elites, we might start to make some progress in here.

[Jack Rabbit]

53. Thanks, IG

I will defer to your translation in the future.

¡Viva el pueblo!

[IndianaGreen]

46. BBC: Chavez claims referendum victory

Last Updated: Monday, 16 August, 2004, 12:21 GMT 13:21 UK
Chavez claims referendum victory

President Hugo Chavez has claimed a "victory for the Venezuelan people" after the release of results indicating he won a referendum on his rule.

Officials from the National Electoral Council said that, with 94% of ballots counted, Mr Chavez had 58% of the vote.

Opponents rejected the partial results as a fraud, insisting they had won.

But it now seems clear the opposition desire to force him from office failed as previous attempts did, the BBC's James Menendez in Caracas says.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3569012.stm

[NashVegas]

51. kick

kcik

[Matilda]

52. Well, the opposition have lost twice now -

first in the coup, and now in the recall. But somehow I don't think
they're going to go quietly.

The best thing to hope for is that Kerry will win, and do the right
thing and back off Venezuela.

Edit: sp

[allemand]

57. It's clear now why they published the biased exit polls

while the voting was still going on.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=753108&mesg_id=753108

They must have planned that in advance.

"As reported by Venezuela Analysis' Jonah Gindin in "Venezuela's Opposition Resorts to Phony Exit Polls," the (at least in part US government-funded) Sumate didn't have as many exit pollers in poor neighborhoods.  Opposition true believers might be shocked, but neither the leaders of the opposition, nor Sumate or its US funders, are surprised."

http://narcosphere.narconews.com/story/2004/8/16/93330/0241

Rafael Alfonzo of the opposition (Coordinadora Democrática) is citing the exit polls to denounce the official result and is calling for "a new form of struggle" (una nueva forma de lucha), whatever that means...

"Subrayó que no puede ser desconocido el resultado que las encuestas de salida estaban arrojando el día de ayer. "Toda la información que venía saliendo de las actas daba una diferencia de 19 puntos a favor del SÍ".

"No vamos a quedarnos de brazos cruzados, entendemos que debe abrirse una nueva forma de lucha y nueva realidad, bajo ninguna circunstancia permitiremos que los venezolanos se les vulnere sus derechos"."

http://www.unionradio.com.ve/Noticias/Noticia.aspx?NoticiaId=118933

[Vladimir]

61. If they try another coup

I hope Chavez has the sense to give them what they are asking for this time around.

Non circum coitus, as my old rowing club used to say.

[Rose Siding]

54. Viva el pueblo!

Seeing the level of participation yesterday's turnout was an inspiration. They really fought for this.

[IndianaGreen]

63. The white elites don't like "el pueblo"

They are too "brown" and too beneath their social class for their taste:

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

55. Chávez Wins!!! Chávez Wins!!! Chávez Wins!!!

[seventhson]

58. And YOU helped!!! Congratulations Hombre!

With your DU name! It helps!

Everything helps to fight these bastards.

Congratulations.

It is truly a great day for democracy in the world and in Latin America.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

60. Hugo and his people did it all!

Bless you Hugo!

[IndianaGreen]

56. More about Chavez's crimes and the fraudulent election (BBC)

Venezuela was polarised by the surprise victory of Mr Chavez - Venezuela's first president from an indigenous heritage - in presidential elections in 1998.

His opponents, who are mostly white, middle-class and control most of the media and business, say he is authoritarian and has managed a rich economy badly.

Despite the country's oil wealth, 80% of Venezuelans are poor but Mr Chavez has won the hearts of many with extensive school and health programmes, analysts say.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3569012.stm

Those are Chavez's crimes: he is not European-blooded like the elites and he has transferred some of the oil wealth to the poor. Shocking! We can't allow that, it violates everything that America stands for!

:eyes:

[TankLV]

59. We had all better watch our backs. This will be the script for 2004.

We are looking at the repuke playbook when Kerry wins.

They will not relinquish power in a civil manner.

We can never be complacent, nor totally joyful, in victory.

We are looking at the future.

[IndianaGreen]

62. This is a dry run for November... the RW will claim fraud!

Haydee Deutsch, an opposition leader, said fraud had been committed and that the opposition "has no doubt that we won by an overwhelming majority."

Indicating a possible split in the five-member National Elections Council, Sobella Mejia - one of the members who is aligned with the opposition - told a news conference before the tallies were announced that any release of partial figures would be premature and invalid.

There was no immediate reaction from former U.S. President Jimmy Carter or Cesar Gaviria, head of the Organization of American States, who helped monitor the vote.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=551965

[heidler1]

71. My view of the World Political future.

The rich are making a last ditch stand at protecting their possition of privilage. Here in the U.S: The Flat Tax, No IRS, Rape the world,s resourses, No Corp. accountability, Hog tie stem cell research, give more power to the church and so on. The token reward for going along is: Let the peons buy gas guzzlers, let them run their snow mobiles in Yellowstone Park, Let them have Guns of any kind, dig up every last drop of oil anywhere, It's OK to hate whoever, Send our troops to take non players oil, and so on.

This plan is doomed to failure because it is unsustainable and even though they love Bush for breathing new life into the plan it is based on the false concept that "The Rich are better people, just because they're rich."

[nolabels]

64. The Corporate fascist are failing there

With all the thumbs being placed on that small country they are still kicking tails

One of Hugo's biggest initiatives is education of the young. Getting plans and blueprints from people like Castro no doubt. If you stir a hornets nest enough, you will eventually get stung.

This is why republicans bring on un-inquisitive and arrogant candidates, it reflects the kind of crowd they want to appeal to.

Education for the masses is one of their enemies. They talk of rugged individualism until someone does it and puts a chink in their plans.

(snip)
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (MECD) launched a campaign emphasizing the value of education. The coverage of the "Bolivarian Schools", where all-day-long educational, recreational activities and meals are offered, has increased. Integrated Early Child Development has been considered as a priority for the MECD and the Ministry of Health and Social Development.
(snip)
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/venezuela.html

You Go HUGO :yourock:

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

66. Let the commie - thug comments begin in 5, 4, 3............n/t

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

80. I can't help but remenisce about the good old days at the breezy beach

takin in the sun :)

[allemand]

67. Final result expected to be announced in press conference at 1:00 PM

http://www.rnv.gov.ve/noticias/index.php?act=ST&f=2&t=7766

[HuckleB]

69. It's a good day for democracy.

Regardless of the faux claims of fraud.

[allemand]

75. Carter and the OAS recognize the results !!!

http://www.unionradio.com.ve/Noticias/Noticia.aspx?noticiaid=118940

El fundador del Centro Carter, Jimmy Carter, en compañía del secretario general de la OEA, César Gaviria, anunciaron que la misión conjunta de los observadores internacionales reconocen los resultados otorgados por el CNE esta madrugada que le da la victoria al NO, por tanto solicitan a los venezolanos aceptar los resultados que ratifican en el cargo al presidente Hugo Chávez.

[cal04]

76. Chávez Is Declared the Winner in Venezuela

But a diplomatic observer, who did not want to be identified, said late this morning that the O.A.S. samplings are in line with the voting results released by the national electoral council. The president of the council said the government mustered 4,991,483 votes, while the opposition collected only 3.6 million votes.

The diplomatic observer said that representatives of the O.A.S. and the Carter Center had a long meeting with the opposition in the early morning hours and showed them the results, telling the opposition that they thought they were accurate.The opposition was stunned by what they were shown, the official said, and continued to say there had been strong irregularities.

"The opposition is basically saying there was computer fraud, but that's almost impossible," said the official, noting that electronic touch-screen machines were used to record the votes. Antonio Mugica, the owner of the Smartmatic voting machines used in the election, said: "We know that it's impossible. All the machines were O.K. The votes were recorded in all the machines" and were then transmitted to the council.

He added: "The servers are in a highly secure area. The system is impenetrable."

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/16/international/americas/16CND-VENE.html?hp

[ChocolateSaltyBalls]

79. Interesting............

I guess as long as the preferred side wins in a disputed BBV election there is no controversy on DU.

I imagine that if these same machines tabulated a loss for Chavez there would be thread after thread screaming about 'outright BBV fraud' orchestrated by the Bush Crime Family.

Sheesh.

[mountebank]

81. One difference: paper trail.

Their voting machines have one, most of ours don't. This is really all the BBV folks are demanding. An alternate method of accountability.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

82. Interesting indeed

the machines are not owned by a company with numerous ties to Chavez or his people. They come from the USA. But Diebold, Choicepoint etc, are very closely linked to the Republicans. That's the difference.

[allemand]

77. What Carter said (in Spanish)

(AFP)

"Luego de un análisis suficiente de nuestras fuentes de evaluación del proceso podemos decir que nuestra información coincide con los resultados parciales anunciados esta madrugada por el Consejo Electoral", dijo Carter en una rueda de prensa conjunta con el secretario general de la OEA, César Gaviria.

"La votación superó los 10 millones de electores y hay una clara diferencia a favor del gobierno del presidente Chávez", precisó Carter.

http://www.mipunto.com/punto_noticias/noticia_venezuela.jsp?tipo=VENEZUELA&archivo=040816174035.wdxqrncw.txt

[Dover]

78. Massive turnout as Venezuela goes to polls

Massive turnout as Venezuela goes to polls

Fate of president mired in delays and alleged foul play

Dan Glaister in Caracas
Monday August 16, 2004
The Guardian

Venezuela's election authorities struggled to retain control of the country's controversial recall poll yesterday in the face of a massive turnout and delays caused by new technology and absent polling staff.
Around 80% of the country's 14 million registered voters took part in the referendum to decide whether to recall the president, Hugo Chávez.

By midday both sides were privately claiming victory, but a decision to keep polling stations open for an extra four hours meant an official announcement was not expected until the morning.

Mr Chávez will step down immediately and new elections will be held within 30 days if those who answer yes in the referendum gain more votes than he won when he was elected in 1998, and also win a majority on the day.

If the no votes gain the majority, Mr Chávez has promised he will invite his opponents to lunch at the presidential palace...cont'd

http://www.guardian.co.uk/venezuela/story/0,12716,1283927,00.html