Venezuela's Chavez Defeats Recall; Foes Reject Results (US wants recount)

[papau]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-chavez17aug17.story
Venezuela's Chavez Defeats Recall; Foes Reject Results
Leftist leader draws 58% support in balloting endorsed by monitors. Oil markets are relieved.
By Carol J. Williams
Times Staff Writer

August 17, 2004

CARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez convincingly defeated a recall effort, election results showed Monday, ending more than two years of efforts to eject him from office in a vote that international observers deemed free and fair.
<snip>

In Washington, State Department spokesman Kurtis Cooper urged Venezuelan electoral officials "to allow a transparent audit to address any concerns and assure Venezuelan citizens that the referendum was free and fair." He stopped short of accepting the observers' endorsement.

Earlier, another State Department spokesman said the high turnout marked a victory for Venezuelan democracy. "The importance of this process is ensuring that the will of the Venezuelan people be heard," said Tom Casey. "The idea behind the referendum process and the referendum was to provide for a solution to Venezuela's political crisis that all parties could live with."<snip>

Voters in Sunday's balloting used a complicated new electronic touch-screen system and also underwent digital fingerprinting to prevent multiple voting.<snip>

[denverbill]

1. Wow. Every dirty trick in the Republican book being used.

Couldn't win a fair election. Tried a coup which failed. Then tried a recall which failed miserably.

Next step: assasination. We can't have these damned leftists raising taxes on the extremely wealthy to help the starving can we?

[yolatengo]

2. sore loserman!

Gee Bush, NOW you want recounts? NOW you want to "count every vote"?
NOW you want paper trails and vote integrity software? NOW you don't
TRUST your vaunted touch screens and electronic, no receipt voting systems?

Huh, that wouldn't make you a f*cking HYPOCRITE, would it?

In Dec, 2000, I was in a protest in front of the White House (not
protesting the then occupants, but letting my voice be heard,
with dozens :eyes: of others, protesting the anti-democratic SCOTUS
decision). We chanted: "count every vote, every vote counts!" and
"there is TIME for DEMOCRACY". We were met with Freeper jeers
of 'Sore Loserman!'. Just when I think these fascist *ssholes can't
GET anymore shamelessly hypocritical, they prove me wrong.

Let's face; the world over, the Republicans HATE DEMOCRACY.
They ONLY like it when the outcome FAVORS them and they want
it EXTERMINATED if it doesn't.

They got totally b*tch-slapped by their OWN crappy machines in
Venezuela, so what do they do? Cry like little babies because they
couldn't CHEAT themselves another victory. Watch for all of
Venezuela to PAY with their churlish revenge.

Bigby

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Steve Bell (Guardian Utd): Venezuelan referendum

Editorial cartoon by Steve Bell from the Guardian Unlimited (UK), dated Tuesday August 17

[LeftistGorilla]

4. The US....

hates their freedom....