Chávez: "The ball has landed in the centre of the White House,"

[G_j]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4994764-111259,00.html


'I've passed the exam ... and there is no going back'
Chávez survives with pride and support intact

Dan Glaister in Caracas
Tuesday August 17, 2004

The Guardian

After a hard night of celebration, which saw bands of supporters of President Hugo Chávez traversing the capital in pick-up trucks and cars, beeping horns and waving red flags, many Venezuelans simply wanted to get home.
"Look at my eyes," said Sosscún Niño, one of a small crowd reading the headlines at a newspaper kiosk in central Caracas. "I've been up all night waiting for the result. Now I'm going home."

Mr Niño had been at the Miraflores Palace, Mr Chávez's official residence, to hear the 50-year-old president claim victory in the referendum on whether he should be recalled - sacked.

"This was spectacular. There's no other word for it - spectacular," he said. "You have to be a little cautious, but this was a sincere expression of the will of the people. It was magnificent."

..more..

[Old and In the Way]

1. Damn, I'll bet it was a really great celebration. Wish I could have been

there.

Congrats to the people of Venezuela who have shown us how to do Democracy!

[Eloriel]

4. I'm so happy for them -- and relieved.

Tonight it seems to me that for once, somewhere in this poor old world, something has gone wondrously right. Does my heart good.

Viva Chavez. Viva Venezuela!!

[Kanary]

5. They have every right to be jubilant...... would that it were also us

Their nightmare is over, and I wish that ours was, also.

Kanary

[G_j]

6. yes, I envy them right now

hopefully we will find a way to a brighter day also.

[jdj]

2. I'd sleep in teflon pajamas if I were him.

The U.S. is desperate to get rid of this guy, just like they were
Aristide.

[G_j]

3. speaking of Aristide

boy did that get swept out of sight and mind!

But for a few folks in the Black Caucus it would seem that nobody cares at all.

[AP]

7. Kerry didn't forget about Aristide. He made some powerful comments about

Aristide in the last debate, and at least once since then.

[K-W]

8. Now if only he would get on the ball with Chavez

Its time we stopped pissing on Latin America.

[AP]

10. I have a hunch that Kerry's attitude towards Chavez will work

for both Chavez and Kerry.

If you listen to the spin from the opposition, they're actually starting to claim that the US wanted Chavez to win.

[G_j]

9. that is good news

thanks!

[Djinn]

11. but but but

he's a dictator, a commie, a tyrant, the memo from McDonalds said so! (sarcasm off)