CNN is announcing that Hugo Chavez has conceded a narrow loss on his bids to amend the Venezuelan Constitution to allow him to run for endless re-election runs, setting longer terms for his elected office, and dozens of other amendments intended to push forward what he claims are needed for his socialist state. Elections were held Sunday, December 2, on these issues.

Before and during the election, Chavez stated repeatedly that he would accept the voters' decision, whatever that may be. He also praised the voting system as being the best, etc, and kept out many traditional outside observers.

However, he spent a considerable portion of the time making the US his piñata for pushing his agendas. He consistently framed and blamed the US as the bogeyman and plotter against him and his agendas--and of course the Venezuelan people--including accusing any 'no' voters of being Bushbots, accusing the US of interferences (including a 'discovered CIA memo'), accusing CNN of trying to encourage his assassination due to a coverage glitch where his face was left on the camera but a byline was still covering a murder, and threatened that any interference by the United States in the election would lead him to halt sales of oil to the United States.

It will be interesting to see if he exploits the loss over the next few days or later by blaming US 'interferences,' etc, and takes any actions against the US that it seems he wants to do anyway or will accept the result honestly.

Voters reject Chavez's referendum - CNN.com

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Around 200,000 Irish immigrants served in the Union and Confederate armies in the American Civil War, often forming their own regiments and, at times, fought each other. At Fredericksburg, the Union’s Irish Brigade faced the Irish McMillan's Guards of Cobb's 24th Georgia entrenched in a sunken road behind a stone wall. Ordered to make a suicidal charge, it became one of the most famous events of the Civil War. The re-enactment portrayed in the movie Gods and Generals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qVCxEupPag

He has 5 years to either get a slimmed-down version of this passed, or just bully-in his reforms.

This was a mere bump in the road for him.

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Maybe democracy does work, at least sometimes.
Popularity of candidates rises and falls, Chavez has simply found the limits of his popularity, he can still get legislation through, but it looks like term limits will end his presidency, although the leftist backlash should still power Venezuelan politics for years to come, especially with the oil fueled revenue stream pouring in to Caracas.

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“The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine.”

Senator Thad Cochran, Mississippi (R)
on McCain

“I decided I didn’t want this guy anywhere near a trigger.”
Senator Pete Domenici, New Mexico (R)
on McCain

“My anger did not help my campaign ... People don’t like angry candidates very much.”

McCain on McCain

His rhetoric against the US was just for domestic effect, IMO. I doubt it will go further than that.

He already has the mandate to push through his social reforms, although he cannot do it by decree and he has four years and thats it.

As far as im concerned this was democracy in action, high turn outs, and important meaningful issues at stake. I only wish democracy in Canada was this vibrant.

Andrew

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Ethanol is a fabulous solution to our energy dilemma because it will provide more fuel for us to drive around and look for food.

-- Unknown

Well, if we hadn't interfered so many times in South America, and if we hadn't done things such as rig elections, assassinate leaders unfriendly to America, and all the other indiscretions perpetuated in the name of the Monroe Doctirine, his fears would be unfounded and it would be impossible for him to use those fears as a method of state control.

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"Old Man Antonio smiles 'You've learned now that in order to know and walk you have to ask questions.' He coughs and lights another cigarette and out of his mouth come these words that fall like seeds on the ground."

Thank you, USPOL, for User CP Controls.

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...yet somehow I am left with a distinct feeling this is not the end of the road for Chavez when his term ends.
I think this election was basically a call on his bluff - meaning the people believed that the reforms was all, for lack of a better term - bullshit.
I read alot of the reforms and to me it was pretty transparent that he was putting things in there that he had no intent to keep and the people saw through it.

Although this is far from over, it is surprising that he has allowed these results to stand (so far). I expected this election to be a flat out hi-jack. Maybe he wanted to give the democratic system there an air of legitimacy so he can grab power down the road without raising as much suspicion.

I think this is an excellent occurance. I generally like Chavez's general direction in many areas, but some of it is dumb, and some of it is really bad. This will slow him down, I hope, and when things go slower, they go better.

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"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9

Chavez is"el diablo malo"! This issue is "no terminado".

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"My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to
change it." -- Barack Obama

Every election or vote in Venezuela under the leadership of Chavez has been above par, with high turn outs, and without any evidence of fraud. The democratic system in Venezuela has a much higher air of legitimacy that either of the last two american presidential elections. Why are you surprised?

Andrew

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Ethanol is a fabulous solution to our energy dilemma because it will provide more fuel for us to drive around and look for food.

-- Unknown

Because in the last week he has openly threatened anyone who disputed the results and threatened to eject foreign news corespondents. Those aren't the statements of a person planning a fair election. You want to trust him, be my guest.

He threatened to respond to any foreign influence in the election, and to any media that reports fraud without evidence. Seems fair to me. There were observers from dozens of nations, including the US, and he has never interfered in elections previous to this one.

Andrew

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Ethanol is a fabulous solution to our energy dilemma because it will provide more fuel for us to drive around and look for food.

-- Unknown

In Ven. Chavez supporters typically reside outside the cities. His opponents typically reside within the cities. From what i am reading there was a massive campaign by students to get people to vote no. I truly love to see democracy in action like this. I have never experienced anything like it in Canada. There is never any participation, no rallies, no passion, very little turn-out, etc... (im assuming by the turnouts we see in the US there are similar problems)...

Why don't we care (not us in this board, but our populations in general)? Why do we not experience democracy like they do in Venezuela or Bolivia?

Andrew

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Ethanol is a fabulous solution to our energy dilemma because it will provide more fuel for us to drive around and look for food.

-- Unknown

Because the middle class is the opiate of the masses.

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"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9