Greg Palast on Chavez and why Cheney and Robertson hate him

[AllyCat]

This is a good read by the man who worked so hard to document the Florida election debacle.

Interesting how they take a man elected by 80% of the populace (twice) and turn him into a dictator.

http://www.gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=452&row=0

[malaise]

1. Just the truth

Viva Chavez!

[wake.up.america]

3. I don't think Chavez is the greatest guy in the world, but that is ...

no reason to take him out.

So, if you are not morally against assassination, do not forget an
assassination of Chavez would make a lot of South Americans angry.

Where do people like Pat get off on thinking that people in Venezuela would allow such behavior? This is true, even if a certain number of them do not care for Hugo. This is typical narrow-minded Americanism.

I think even rational thinking individuals in America would not like it if someone from Iraq or North Korea took out Bush.

[leesa]

34. Why do you dislike Chavez?

[peacetalksforall]

5. Yes Viva Chavez! We have to remember a few things about U.S. -

Latin American relationships.

It starts with U.S. aid and who benefited.
It starts with loans from the U.S. and World Bank entities.
It starts with having mostly well to do leaders of European heritage being elevated to offices with the help and cooperation of the U.S. and its agencies.
It starts with looking the other way if the leader was in the military or a dictator.
It starts with replacing elected leaders with dictators.
It starts with bribing and controlling the leaders.
It starts with little oversight about who really benefits from the aid.
It starts with phony and environmentally dangerous wars on drugs.
It starts with pushing our cause in our media and keeping the public dumb about our role or making us look like saviors.'
It starts with a form of commercial and deal breaking commercialism.

And its heating up.

Our diplomats, military, and the Rev Moon are taking over Paraguay.

THE POINT IS -

Chavez is elected, Chavez is sharing the wealth with the people, working on literacy and medicine for the people - AND MOST OF ALL - HE IS STANDING UP TO THE U.S. - SOMETHING THAT FEW, IF ANY, LEADERS HAVE DONE.

We should say a prayer or whatever non-prayer people do that Latin America can become and remain morally and pridefully strong. Let them evolve into democracy or whatever form of government is right for them - with justice for the little people.

[Denton123]

35. Can someone tell me what the deal is with Chavez?

I don't get it. Robertson hates everyone but white Christians but what is so special about Chavez?

[ProudDad]

39. O.I.L.

[rrrevolution]

9. Inherent Problem With Democracies Is People Elect Who They Want

Not necessarily the person who is best for the job.

Look at what is happening in Iraq, if the election were totally free of US influence there is no question that Iraq would elect all Islamic Religious figures by a wide majority, and it would look almost identical to Iran.

This is true even though others would bring more freedom and rights to the people.

but you cannot force citizens of a democracy to vote for the best candidate -- Exhibit A is Bush.

[malaise]

30. Maybe but we have the right

to elect who we want and not who Washington wants - we are sovereign countries. Perhaps someone should redefine democracy as electing the person who will defend Washington's interest while citizens of said country starve and sit by and watch as oil and electricity prices soar.

I'm sick of this planet.

[enough]

2. Great article

snip>

This land reform, by the way, was promoted to Venezuela in the 1960s by that Lefty radical, John F. Kennedy. Venezuela's dictator of the time agreed to hand out land, but forgot to give peasants title to their property.

But Chavez won't forget, because the mirror reminds him. What the affable president sees in his reflection, beyond the ribbons of office, is a "negro e indio" -- a "Black and Indian" man, dark as a cola nut, same as the landless and, until now, the hopeless. For the first time in Venezuela's history, the 80% Black-Indian population elected a man with skin darker than the man in the Jaguar.

So why, with a huge majority of the electorate behind him, twice in elections and today with a nearly two-to-one landslide victory in a recall referendum, is Hugo Chavez in hot water with our democracy-promoting White House?

Maybe it's the oil. Lots of it. Chavez sits atop a reserve of crude that rivals Iraq's. And it's not his presidency of Venezuela that drives the White House bananas, it was his presidency of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC. While in control of the OPEC secretariat, Chavez cut a deal with our maximum leader of the time, Bill Clinton, on the price of oil. It was a 'Goldilocks' plan. The price would not be too low, not too high; just right, kept between $20 and $30 a barrel.

snip>

[win_in_06]

4. Although Robertson has apologized

the damage has been done.

[rman]

7. With his apology, Robertson repeated the lies about Chavez.

'dictator, terrorist, nuclear'

[Nothing Without Hope]

16. Exactly - see the WaPo report in this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2034407
Thread title: WaPo reports Pat Robertson has apologized for his fatwa on Chavez - BUT

He even denied he called for assassination until he saw that he couldn't get away with it.

[mindfulNJ]

6. It always comes down to oil.

Always.

[rman]

8. more generally: resources.

but indeed; always.

[Denton123]

36. I like the picture

Do you think that the rest of the country notices that the majority of people they see at these anti-war rallies aren't "typical hippie liberals" but a wide cross section of American culture?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

10. You are so cynical. Shame on you. n/t

[AllyCat]

41. Here's more about the OPEC/Bush coup from the Beeb in 2003

"Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had advance warning from Opec of last month's failed coup attempt against him.

The call from the organisation's secretary general, Ali Rodriguez - an old friend of Mr Chavez - was crucial in saving his government and probably his life."

---snip---

"Rodriguez warned Chavez that if an oil embargo were to happen, the Bush administration would not tolerate Mr Chavez in control of Venezuela's oil production.

As the world's fourth largest oil exporter, Venezuela replaced Saudi Arabia as America's chief foreign source of oil during the last embargo in the 1970s."

--snip--



http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/1985670.stm

[Al-CIAda]

11. .

[cliss]

12. Well, then Greg Palast and Pat Robberson are in competition

On the radio this morning, Pat Liarson came on. He said, "Yes, I apologize, but this is really a good thing. It's finally putting the focus on a situation that has been largely ignored by the United States".

Liarson was glad that the US public is finally recognizing that Chavez is a dictator, and he's "dangerous". This is also the reason why I believe Blabberson is acting on his own.

The Pentagon would rather work in secrecy, to try and take out Chavez. They DON'T want a huge amount of attention focused on him.

Why not?

a) Chavez was democratically elected by a landslide; he's not a dictator. So that makes Liarson a liar.

b) Chavez is sitting on an enormous amount of oil. Doesn't Robberson think Americans can add 2 + 2?

c) If Chavez is assassinated, like he wants, guess who did it?

It's time for Robertson to be put out to pasture.

[xxqqqzme]

18. since the US has tried to

get rid of Chavez 3 times now - the coup, the 'strike', the 'referendum' all financed w/ our tax dollars - I've been surprised he hasn't been 'taken out' w/ a bullet or mechanical failure of a small plane. That Chavez has already called the US on their sloppy attempts and expects a bullet next should be obvious. It is to him which is why he publicly called them on it.

[Nothing Without Hope]

13. Also see Robertson's lying non-denial denial and this compilation of

Chavez threads:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2034407
Thread title: WaPo reports Pat Robertson has apologized for his fatwa on Chavez - BUT

The compilation of threads included in the linked post on the WaPo article includes links to two great threads of Robertson cartoons. Here's my favorite, and it meshes well with the message in this current thread. I have the greatest respect for and gratitude to Palast. I hope his investigations are on firmer financial ground than they were - the Bushies were trying to shut him down with specious - but expensive - legal attacks.

[genius]

14. My favorite part was this comment about the giving of land to the people

"This land reform, by the way, was promoted to Venezuela in the 1960s by that Lefty radical, John F. Kennedy."

[Nothing Without Hope]

17. Here's a DU thread on Chavez giving land back to indigenous people:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1689644
Thread title: Venezuela's Chavez Presents Land Titles to Indigenous Groups
NNN0LHI LBN Tue Aug-09-05 08:44 PM

[genius]

15. Nominated for Greatest.

Thanks for posting this.

[ElectroPrincess]

19. Oh but MSNBC says different ...

Just this morning a MSNBC talking head said that "no one" can be sure Chavez was Democratically elected?!?

The Rove approved RW lies and spin on Chavez is gearing up to full operation.

Damn the whores in our Corporate USA Media Machine (NBC, MSNBC, CNN, ABC, CBS, etc.) BTW, Ever notice that ALL of them are On Message to never miss an opportunity to destroy the reputations of Liberal (or even some moderate) Democrats?

[Peace Patriot]

20. The Venezuela recall election (sponsored in part by your tax dollars,

and occurring as the result of a recall provision in V's Constitution that Chavez helped write and pass) was monitored by hundreds of international election monitors, including the Carter Center, ALL OF WHOM verified it as transparent and accurate.

The Venezuelans have OPEN SOURCE CODE in their electronic voting system--unlike us stupid peons here in the U.S. who let Bushites gain control of our election system with SECRET, PROPRIETARY PROGRAMMING CODE.

Chavez is one of the good guys. Strong believer in democracy, justice and peace. After Robertson called for his assassination, he offered to help the poor in the U.S. with lower gas prices and medical care! You gotta love this guy.

Viva Chavez! Viva Venezuela!

[Kurovski]

21. Didn't President Carter verify the election results in Venezuela?

Further more, didn't Carter say during the U.S. 2000 election theft that his team would have never taken on the task of verifying the 2000 election due to the way it was conducted?

[Gidney N Cloyd]

23. Right. Carter said our process wasn't transparent enough

[Kurovski]

25. And it still isn't.

which is why the argument "You have to prove wrong-doing before making the accusation of election fraud" is such baloney.

If the way we vote is not transparent, it must be made so, and Americans can charge "fraud" all they want until everything is out in the open and verifiable.

Charging fraud is not the same as charging murder.

There is no such thing as innocent until proved guilty when voting methods are hidden, and suspicious activities take place.

Leaders owe Americans a transparent, verifiable vote or they are utterly worthless to our Democracy.

[StaggerLee]

22. boo!

Oh, are we supposed to feel threatened by Chavez?

Ain't gonna happen.

Wankers.

[malaise]

29. Too funny

The exit polls actually worked in Venezuela - did that talking head mention Ohio??

[ProudDad]

40. MSNBC is full of sh*t

In all the posts that have mentioned that bastard son of Bill Gates and General Electric, I've never heard anything resembling the truth of anything.

Why be suprised that they spin lie after lie...

[Nikki Stone 1]

24. Is part II available yet?

Thanks for the post

[AllyCat]

42. I don't see it out yet. Looked at the Baltimore Chronicle site, but nada

Hopefully, will be out soon. I'm anxious to read it.

[Joanne98]

26. Homeland security does everything but look for terra-ists.....

I'll NEVER forgive the Dems who fell for this. Especially Lieberman.

Secret contracts were awarded by our Homeland Security spooks to steal official Venezuela voter lists. Cash passed discreetly from the US taxpayer, via the so-called 'Endowment for Democracy,' to the Chavez-haters running today's "recall" election

[OzarkDem]

27. He has their number

Upper class Venezuelan women (and those who fancy themselves as such) have an unusual habit of dressing and grooming themselves to look exactly like hookers. Its really bizarre. They'd make a US beauty pageant queen look like a nun.

[Helga Scow Stern]

28. NPR was spouting anti-Chavez propaganda. n/t

[smoogatz]

31. ¡Viva Chavez!

Though I fear the odds are against it.

[Al-CIAda]

32. .

[NAO]

33. Greg Palast's book "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy" is a MUST READ

He has uncovered many things nobody else has even looked into. His irreverent style makes reading his book fun and absorbing.

He has exposes of Enron, Pat Robertson, the 2000 debacle, corporate maleficence and much more. The audio book is read by the author, so he can intone it with the requisite wit and sarcasm. He also did a DVD which is excellent and is only $9 on Amazon.com

[Theduckno2]

37. What is the typical 'take" of an oil exporting country?

Is 15% too little (seems so) or is 30% too much? Maybe it's just the law of the jungle, soakem for every nickel you can get.

[TankLV]

38. Nicely put in a condenced form - but old news to most of us.

[Al-CIAda]

43. .