Kerry shut up on Venezuela (Part II, continuation due to length)

[JohnLocke]

Continuation of this:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1693066

[Imperialism Inc.]

1. Just let it die.

Please.

I was the one that requested the locking.
*sigh*

I would like to state for the record that I have every intention of voting for Kerry myself. If others were as 'hurt' by Kerry's continuing remarks on Venezuela, I would just like to encourage them to try to see past this and look at the bigger picture. I am afraid my origninal post has encouraged a few disruptors to show up and adopt an "anti-globalization" strategy for getting people to not vote for Kerry.

If this referendum doesn't happen, and Bush takes the hostile stance I believe he will, there will be a lot more important goings on than this. And, I predict we will see Kerry separate himself from Bush's response.

This post will be the extent of my participation.

[oblivious]

2. It's a beautiful thread.

The geometry, I mean. It has some unusual angles. A thread to be proud of. I wish I had time to read it all.

I understand and agree with your feelings Middlemen, but I also know that Kerry has to prove his willingness to protect US business interests if they're going to allow him to be elected. Gore, too, used to talk pretty tough to countries that were not toeing the US line. I remember he was brutal in his criticism of the Malaysian PM, Mahathir Mohamad, for example.

Kerry's got to prove his worthiness to the powers that be. It's too bad, but that's the way it's always been and that's the way it'll always be. I don't want to fight about it though. Just my worthless opinion.

[Classical_Liberal]

4. If Kerry was truly interested in winning Florida

He would gripe about Vote Purge II instead of pandering to the right wingers in the Cuban community.

[Classical_Liberal]

3. Chavez is democratically elected

He respect freedom of speech and the press and assembly. That debate was mostly bullshit in my view.

[Judi Lynn]

5. People who were reading the earlier thread yesterday

may not have had the time to read a GREAT link from Silverlib, Post #230:

http://www.thirdcoastactivist.org/

Silverlib's snip:

Gathering signatures to remove Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Gregory Wilpert and Martin Sanchez, Venezuelanalysis.com (May 31)
According to union spokespersons, workers at a Coca-Cola plant in Antimano, Caracas, were fired from their jobs for refusing to go repair their signatures, which were included in the anti-Chavez signature drive without their authorization or under pressure. The workers introduced a formal complaint at the Ministry of Labor, and claimed that similar situations were experienced at Coca-Cola plants in the states of Carabobo, Lara, Bolivar, and Monagas. The Venezuelan subsidiary of Coca-Cola is owned by billionaire Gustavo Cisneros, who also owns Venzuela's biggest TV network, and who is believed to be the main economic supporter of the anti-Chavez movement in Venezuela.
According to the pro-government campaign team, Commando Ayacucho, an examination they conducted of the records to be repaired, 5,382 deceased persons were found in the records during the first two days. Spokesperson William Lara said that the Commando Ayachucho would formally request the CNE to remove these names from the registry.
(snip)

THIS is completely important. Thanks to Silverlib. :hi: :hi:

[Vladimir]

6. Actually I feel somewhat responsible

for the fact that this point was lost - I spent so long in that debate arguing that Chavez need not treat RW opposition with kid gloves that I forgot to make this very salient point - the opposition are not playing fair to begin with. The idea that somehow they are being strongarmed is exposed as ludicrous by the fact the the opposition, not Chavez, control the media, the opposition, not Chavez, control the big companies, and that they are perfectly willing to coerce their workers into signing petitions in order to further their own political agenda.

Reminds me of tactics Milosevic used in the 90s of bussing in supporters from rural areas into belgrade for pro-govt. demos under the threat of losing their jobs.