Actually, the whole opposition has been caught in this pickle as they don’t want to give up the few positions they can win so they have to participate in the elections meaning that in spite of their claims of fraud they go ahead an participate anyways.
You are reading my thoughts here OW.
Offcourse the opposition-supporters are badly confused when their leaders tell them that the elections is nothing but a big setup, and the day after the same leaders are asking them for their votes in upcomming elections.
This is a main reason for the total disarray in the opposition camp today.
thks for the heads up, we added you to our peak oil blog roll!
OW--Though I believe that there is a need to act with cool heads to the MCM meeting with Bush, let's not underestimate the seriousness of what is happening.
Try to discern the general pattern.
This Congressman Wolf basically attacked the government of Venezuela on its own soil--stating that the government is not 'democratic'.
This is the day after MCM met with Bush. NOw Bush reiterates his 'worries' about Venezuela.
More, the US government, the US ambassador, and Rep. Wolf all state that they intend to continue funding the opposition.
This is almost a declaration of war. This is ludicrous--we all know what can happen if Venezuela devoted money to 'democracy building' in the US.
Chavez needs to make a definative statement about Sumate's criminality, and the history of the NED and IRI in supporting opponents to democratic reform abroad.
Under no circumstances should Venezuela allow money into the country that is used to influence political action in any way, shape, or form.
This should be done through a cadena--a very solid announcement that reiterates the wrong that Sumate has done, the unpatriotic act that was done by MCM with her meeting with Bush, a man who was closely involved with the coup.
Emotional comments by pro-government officials are not prudent at this point--but a very forceful statement by President Chavez as a reaction to the deliberate provocations is logical, prudent, and necessary to develop a line of demarcation, where it is blatantly understood that under no circumstances can Venezuela allow money from hostile foriegn governments to be used to influence domestic politics.
This discourse about 'democracy building' nature of these organizations needs to be answered.
I believe that Bolivarians make a grave error to diminish the importance of this recent ramping-up of hostility, and the clear violation of soveriegnty, toward the constitutional government.
Chavez's government has been very adept in the past by answering US smears with timely, forceful rebuke--this occasion is no different.
The opposition is split in half, by those that want to vote and those that think that boycotting will win them anything.
Lurking on Noticiero Digital last week you could just see how the lunatic wing is eating their own re: the article where the opo writer admitted minority.
Sometimes you wonder if those people were injected with a miami exile drug or something.
Jim,
In principle I agree but in practice no. I think it is best to let Sumate get money from the US. To be associated with Bush and the US and to take money from them hurts them tremendously amongst the majority of the Ven population. Even many opp people are anti-Bush. Chavez tied the opposition to Bush in the RR with devestating effect.
Of course the opposition propoganda needs to be countered. But it isn't propoganda that will bring Chavez down (unless the US invades or assasinates Chavez which I don't think will happen). This is Chavez's game to lose. As long as he has majority support and keeps winning elections they can hate him but they can't really do anything about him. Even the coup option is being countered by the militia. The only thing that can really screw Chavez now is the economy or poor execution in the Missions.
So what Chavez needs to concentrate on is the economy and the social programs. Right now he needs to put a foot in some peoples behind because the housing is behind schedule, and that is what he is doing.
I think Chavez knows what needs to be done and is on top of the situation .
Good points OW--but the destablization program makes me nervous.
Once a program gets underway, inertia does the rest. Chavez's program of independent nationalism is so dangerous to the capitalist classes that they would even deal with the pain of higher oil prices due to a a precarious political situation for years to come.
Destablization is much more in the interests of the capitalists, than is stablization with Chavez's tepidly socialistic--but strongly nationalist--brand of economic development.
Of course, US elections factor into the mix--thus if the fascist rightwing covert ops/state department people were to do anything, now is the time. This gives enough time before the next election cycle for things to quiet down a bit--because oil prices could reach upwards of $80.00 per barrell will the flow from Ven. being off line for a while.
I could be misconstruing the situation--but I think that the US realizes that it is about to loose Latin America for good. Chavez' style is just too compelling for the regions people to ignore--the vendepatria elites across the Americas are calling for Chavez' head.
Still, I believe that Chavez needs to be cool-headed yet bold, as he has been.
Indeed, the Bolivarians are shrewd strategists--I have faith that they know what they are doing, as they have been sucessful for years while the traitorous, spoiled brat oppostion have been consistently wrong--to the point that they have helped strengthen the Bolivarian program.
MCM was all smiles at her photo op with Bush (the frat-boy killer)_, and the elite and their moral=no-show minions were cheering as though they scored serious political points.
Yet I think that a photo with Bush does not impress a struggling family in Venezuela that associates Bush with the deaths of innocent people and wonton greed.
Hey, maybe we are all wrong and MCM is really working with Chavez and the Bolivarians. She may even be carrying Chavez' baby--to be groomed so as to continue the Bolivarian program well into this century! LOL
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