Venezuela's Chavez has new goal: to be president for life

[LoZoccolo]

CARACAS — Hugo Chavez wants to remain president of Venezuela for life, and this week he began campaigning for Venezuelans to lift term limits so he can run for re-election indefinitely.

"The opposition will not stop our revolution!" Chavez told hundreds of red-shirted supporters at a rally in Miranda state Tuesday night.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/56907.html

C'mon you people, you have to admit that this has gotten ridiculous. If his "revolution" is of the people, wouldn't there be at least one other person who could take his place and further his ideas?

Possible responses from apologists: he didn't really say that, they translated it wrong; what's wrong with being president for life; if people elect him president for life that's his business; I'm thinking we'll hear others...

[msongs]

1. now there's a .............BIG SURPRISE lololol nt

[ColbertWatcher]

27. LOL! I was going to say, how is this a "new goal?"

Nailed it in one, way to go msongs!

[tritsofme]

2. Uncle Hugo knows best.

It is best not to question him.

[IndyOp]

3. Hugo tried this before and the people said no -- one reason I believe

the Venezuela IS a functioning democracy.

Peace.

[DutchLiberal]

5. I believe they said no to the 80 other proposals crammed into the referendum...

But either way you're right: he respected the outcome.

[IndyOp]

9. There were a lot of proposals crammed in that vote - you are correct -

and I am of two minds about term limits.

I think that having term limits undermines democracy because having term limits treats voters as if they aren't capable of deciding to remove someone from office if the person isn't doing a good job and term limits prevent voters from keeping someone who is doing an exceptional job.

Then again, voters can become too comfortable with a familiar name & face -- especially one who has done good for the nation -- and may vote for that person out of loyalty when the nation might benefit from a change.

One final thought: In a nation with many millions of citizens, do we really believe that there is only one person who can do the job?

[DutchLiberal]

20. I don't believe Chavez is the only one who can do the job, but...

If the people want him -and we know the elections aren't rigged- I don't see the problem.

[DutchLiberal]

4. If people elect him president for life that's his business...

All of the elections in which he won were monitored by the EU and Carter Center, and they were certified as honest and democratic. Can you say the same about the 2000 and 2004 elections in the US?

The article you cite says: "so he can run for re-election indefinitely". Our prime-minister can run for re-election indefinitely. Is Holland a dictatorship now?

If Venezuelan people elect him, why should that bother you?

No, seriously: why?

[Vincardog]

8. Because: He is actually making the government work for the people. How dare he?

He's insulted enemies and denounced capitalism as he's turned Venezuela away from the United States and toward Cuba, Bolivia and socialism. He's nationalized companies, taken an unfriendly television station off the air, given food subsidies to the poor and provided free studies for illiterates and high school dropouts in programs known as "missions."

[DutchLiberal]

19. And about that television station: that was giving coup-plotters airtime...

Right-wingers are just so angry when they hear Chavez has cracked down 'free speech'. I'm sure they would say the same if MSNBC was advocating a coup d'etat against Bush.........

[Posteritatis]

23. Yet when people ask about abolishing term limits in the US

Most of the posts on this board scream about monarchies or worse. I find it interesting how much the answer changes when the venue does.

(For the record, I think term limits are silly and antidemocratic. I don't like Chavez, but I do think the spin on this article is ridiculous.)

[hendo]

26. thats because some people here like Chavez

yay for double standards.

[DutchLiberal]

29. I don't know what other people say when it comes to the US. I'm against term limits.

I'm only speaking for myself. If there had been no term limits, Bill Clinton would have won the 2000 elections and the US and the world would have been much better off.

[DonCoquixote]

24. Because

1) anyone, and I do mean anyone who has too long a run of political power can and will become corrupt. It is simple human nature. Keep in mind that when you elect a person for office, you are letting all the people that come with them, even people whose names you will never know, but who benefit.

2) The longer the time period between hand offs of power, the less likely people are to be able to adjust when that person eventually cannot run. In Cuba, Castro wisely realized that he had to step off stage, but what will happen there when you have an entire generation growing up without a change in power? Nobody under 40 there will be able to remember anyone else but Fidel in power, which can and will make things awkward.

[Sex Pistol]

6. One of these days the rotund little fellow from Venezuela will be like GWB,

a bad memory.

[DutchLiberal]

21. He has to start 2 wars first, then. And steal 2 elections. And torture. And...

THEN he'll be like Bush.

[KG]

7. score one for Chavez!

[New Dawn]

10. Being able to be elected more than twice is not "president for life"

That is just anti-Chavez propaganda.

Incidentally, the US founding fathers in the Federalist Papers opposed term limits for the presidency. They said it was anti-democratic to not allow the people to vote for a candidate as many times as they wanted to. It was the Republican Congress after WWII that passed a constitutional amendment limiting the presidency to two terms. The Republican scum legislature here in Nebraska also passed term limits simply to remove the most progressive member from office (Ernie Chambers).

[ulysses]

12. shh! you're ruining the agitprop!

:D

[WriteDown]

40. Wrong....

The “founding fathers” were only 3 guys. I don’t think they spoke for everyone. And George Washington started the tradition of two terms because he felt going longer was too similar to the monarchy.

And term limits were introduced in reaction to FDR trying to stack the Supreme Court. Its unpopular to say, but FDR was a mixed bag.

[ulysses]

11. congresscritters can run for reelection "indefinitely". presidents used to be able to.

It must be a difficult life, being so terrified of leftists.

[leftstreet]

13. OMG!! OMG!! The Leftists are coming!!!111 n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

17. !

:evilgrin:

[Joe Chi Minh]

36. Next thing you know they'll be introducing a free national health service!

[mudesi]

14. Misleading, false subject line

He wants to lift term limits. There is a difference.

[Joe Chi Minh]

37. That's a shame. I was greatly heartened by the header, thinking

Ugo was thinking further ahead.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. Well, it looks like the Venezuelan people get to decide if they want him.

Democracy is so unpredictable.

[AnOhioan]

16. Thanks for playing....now try it again without the propaganda

[RaleighNCDUer]

18. "...he began campaigning for Venezuelans to lift term limits... "

Well, what kind of dictator is THAT? Ain't he spozed to just say "No more term limits" and that's that?

He has to CAMPAIGN for the people to VOTE on the issue?

Sheesh.

They just don't make dictators like they used to.

[Canuckistanian]

22. Why do I keep thinking about Woody Allen's movie Bananas?

I keep thinking that Fielding Mellish is masquerading as Chavez. IN THE PRESS.

[LoZoccolo]

32. In addition to that, all citizens will be required to change their underwear every half-hour.

Underwear will be worn on the outside so we can check.

[hendo]

25. Chavez doesnt really care for the people

all he cares for is his own power.

[Joe Chi Minh]

39. Not as much as his right-wing predecessors. But then, they set the bar so high,

didn't they?

[Solano]

28. If it's constitutional, let him do it

If the people of Venezuela approve of limitless elections, more power to them. It's their right.

[Bacchus39]

30. its prohibited, so the referendum would be on changing the constitution

as if anybody is surprised by this.

[EFerrari]

31. Your subject line is ridiculous. Eta: Wow, it isn't yours, it's McClatchy's.

Sorry. That's amazing. They're usually better than that.

[RethugAssKicker]

33. Your subject line is BS Propaganda.... Running for office

more than 2 times is not becoming president for LIFE !..

You purposely mislead.

[EFerrari]

34. That's McClatchy's headline. You can leave comments at the link in the OP.

[Joe Chi Minh]

35. Hooray! Viva Ugo!

[Vogon_Glory]

38. No Man Should Be Indispensable

The idea of anyone becoming "President for Life" raises my hackles. I do NOT believe that representatives, senators, or presidents should be allowed to serve for life. No man is indispensable; if Venezuelans want Hugo Chavez' revolution to continue, let it continue under somebody else. I hope that the Venezuelans voters vote "No!".

[dipsydoodle]

41. You conveniently missed out "seeks voter approval"

Dickhead.