Caracas - After receiving power to rule by decree and moving to abolish the country's presidential term limits, President Hugo Chavez intends to stake a claim on a new frontier: the country's clocks.
During Chavez' seven-hour weekly radio broadcast on Sunday, he revealed he would order all of the country's clocks to be set half an hour forward on January 1, 2008.
Chavez claimed the move would have positive effects on metabolism through extended sunlight exposure, and enable people to perform better at work and school.
The move is intended to correct a measure from 1965 when clocks were set back to encourage energy use in the oil-rich country, according to Science Minister Hector Navarro. He said scientific studies showed the move had a negative effect on performance in schools and workplace.
'All Venezuelans will profit from this,' Navarro said.
The new time will put Venezuela only 4.5 hours behind Central European Time instead of five hours.
Just last week, Chavez unveiled plans to amend 33 articles of the country's constitution and pave the way for him to remain in power indefinitely. Under the 1999 constitution enacted shortly after Chavez assumed power, he is obliged to step down when his current second six-year term ends in 2012.
Earlier this year, he nationalized the oil industry and received approval by the National Assembly to govern by decree.


This just gets better and better...

Yes, oldphart,

Mr Chavez is setting himself up as Dictator for Life. He "nationalized" that countries oil infrastructure (read, seized for himself) as well as Venezuela's electrical grid, he has also seized Venezuela's BANKS for himself, oops nationalized Venezuela's banks, as well as the television stations.

You beat me to this one, oldphart. I read today about Chavez's activities. What'll happen is that he'll quickly bankcrupt Venezuela and "his" citizens will suffer for it, dammit.

I have a feeling that many Venezuelans would like to set their clocks ahead 7 hours at the beginning of his weekly addresses also.

Now, now, guys. We all know that no socialist "reformer" would ever make himself "dictator for life", or enrich himself, at the expense of his people. That just isn't done. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

I want to know when the common man or woman is going to benefit from what is happening there. When will they leave the 19th Century?

If the people elect him again and again then so be the fate of the populous.

As for the time, that seems like more of an exercise of power than anything else.

I can't say I'm a big fan of Chavez, but I'm really not sure what is so crazy about this maneuver. He's just instituting a kindof Daylight Savings Time...big friggin deal. That's not exactly a step toward dictatorship.

I can't say I'm a big fan of Chavez, but I'm really not sure what is so crazy about this maneuver. He's just instituting a kindof Daylight Savings Time...big friggin deal. That's not exactly a step toward dictatorship.

We're not worried about whether or not Chavez wishes to institute a kind of Daylight Savings time, it's the fact that he has seized the oil, banking, electrical and broadcasting infrastructure for himself, as well as taking the short road to dictatorship.

Dammit.

if the venezualans don't want him, they will eventually get rid of him.

oh no... not the... *gasp*... clocks!!
anything but 1/2 an hour forward!!
The horror!!
That madman!

</sarcasm>

Try reading the whole article. The time change is just one part of it.

"Just last week, Chavez unveiled plans to amend 33 articles of the country's constitution and pave the way for him to remain in power indefinitely."

:rolleyes:

That is interesting. I wonder what most Venezuelans think about it?

Personally, I am more concerned about civil rights in America than in Venezuela.

:thumbs:

We're not worried about whether or not Chavez wishes to institute a kind of Daylight Savings time, it's the fact that he has seized the oil, banking, electrical and broadcasting infrastructure for himself, yeah that bastard takes it all for himself while the people of venezuela have no oil, banking, electrical or braodcasting infrastructure...

Carefull what you all say about Mr. Chavez. His new bossom buddy is Sean Penn the self proclaims voice of the true left movement. I wonder is woman beating is legal in Hugo's backyard?

it's the fact that he has seized the oil, banking, electrical and broadcasting infrastructure for himself.....

?!?!????

And you learned this from.............who?

Sept. 1, 2007, 11:21AM
Venezuela may ground baby names like Superman

By JORGE RUEDA
Associated Press



CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelans have a penchant for creative naming, with some parents giving their children unusual names like Hersony, Nohemar — or even Superman.
But such odd names might be turned down by the civil registry if Venezuela approves a bill barring parents from giving their children "names that expose them to ridicule, are extravagant or difficult to pronounce," or that raise doubts about whether a child is a girl or a boy.
The National Electoral Council in the past week laid out that proposal in a draft bill circulated to city offices in Caracas.
If approved by the National Assembly, the bill could let authorities turn down names like some of the more unusual monikers currently on the voter rolls: Edigaith, Yorleth, Mileidy, Leomar and Superman.
When opponents of President Hugo Chavez last year sought to question the accuracy of the voter rolls, they noted that even "Superman" was listed. But electoral officials confirmed there are in fact two Venezuelans by that name registered to vote, and one of them was interviewed on state television.
Many of the unusual monikers in Venezuela come from unusual spellings of English names such as Maikel or Jhonny. Other names are of uncertain origin such as Orlayny or Jesshy.
Venezuelan law already has a similar measure saying registry authorities should not accept names that would expose children to ridicule. But the issue until now has been left up to the discretion of individual bureaucrats.
Some Venezuelans think it makes sense to crack down a bit.
"I agree with putting limits on people who don't have a sense of the ridiculousness," said 58-year-old office worker Alfredo Blanco.
But 27-year-old housewife Mariana Gonzalez said she thinks it is no one's business except the parents how they choose to name a child. "Before all else should come common sense."

LOL... Venezuela is a "hoot" to keep up with.

I think they were trying this in Mexico a while back, weren't they? Except it was more about cultural erosion and they wanted to make it a law that every child's middle name at least had to be a traditional Spanish/Mexican name...

Chavez might turn out to be a corrupt dictator,who knows,but whats the alternative in these countrys,right wing bully boys who murder at will and fuck everyone apart from themselves,he should get a chance to pull Venezuela out of the third world.

From today's radio address....

By CHRISTOPHER TOOTHAKER, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 44 minutes ago

CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez said Sunday he could continue governing until 2027 if voters do away with re-election limits because he needs more time in office to establish a socialist economic model in Venezuela.




Umm Hmm.

I think a round number of "till 2050" would be better... just in case he lives to a very ripe old age.

Wow. Looks like Chavez has gone off the deep end.

A Citgo by my dad's house recently changed its name to "Liberty Gas U.S.A."

Still cracks me up whenever I drive past it.

yeah, ever notice how gas stations and car lots are covered in American flags (or just one huge one). They know who dies to keep the business running...gotta pay respects...

From today's radio address....

By CHRISTOPHER TOOTHAKER, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 44 minutes ago

CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez said Sunday he could continue governing until 2027 if voters do away with re-election limits............

He clearly indicates that he will allow the voters to choose.

Bravo, Chavez.

Yes, oldphart,

Mr Chavez is setting himself up as Dictator for Life.

Speculation.


He "nationalized" that countries oil infrastructure (read, seized for himself)

A gross mis-characterization of events.

"Only a few months would pass after the April 2002 coup before the Chávez presidency would enter another crisis. For two months following December 2, 2002, Chávez faced a strike organized by the resistant PDVSA management who sought to force Chávez out of office by completely removing his access to the all-important government oil revenue. The strike/lockout, led by a coalition of labor unions, industrial magnates, and oil workers, sought to halt the activities of the PDVSA. As a result, Venezuela ceased exporting its former daily average of 2,800,000 barrels (450,000 m³) of oil and oil derivatives. Hydrocarbon shortages soon erupted throughout Venezuela, with long lines forming at petrol-filling stations. Gasoline imports were soon required. Chávez responded by firing PDVSA's anti-Chávez upper-echelon management and dismissing 18,000 PDVSA employees. Chávez justified this by alleging their complicity in gross mismanagement and corruption in their handling of oil revenues, while opposition supporters of the fired workers stated that his actions were politically motivated."




as well as Venezuela's electrical grid, he has also seized Venezuela's BANKS for himself, oops nationalized Venezuela's banks, as well as the television stations.


Completely false.

"On January 8, 2007 President Chávez installed a new cabinet, replacing most of the ministers. Jorge Rodríguez was designated the new Vice President, replacing José Vicente Rangel. Chávez announced that he will send to the National Assembly a new enabling act, asking for the authority to re-nationalize the biggest phone company of the country (Cantv), and other companies from the electrical sector, all previously public companies which were privatized by past administrations. He is also asking to eliminate the autonomy of the Central Bank."

And:

"On 8 February, 2007 the Venezuelan government signed an agreement to buy an 82.14% stake in Electricidad de Caracas from AES Corporation. Paul Hanrahan, president and CEO of AES said the deal has been a fair process that respected the rights of investors.[99] In February 2007, the Venezuelan government bought a 28.5% stake of the shares of CANTV from Verizon Communications."

Darth, where are you getting your information?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Ch%C3%A1vez

Maybe Chavez is just a leftie attempting to make an honest effort to drag his country out of the third world,but a leftie non the less,so he'll be condemed no matter what he does.

Yeah, why should anyone condemn him for shutting down opposition newspapers and television stations. Why should anyone condemn him for having his bully boys shoot into a crowd of peaceful demonstrators, killing innocent people. Some people just don't realize that Chavez has to break a few eggs in order to make his socialist omelet. Hell, I'll bet those people even condemned that other socialist, Josef Stalin when he had all those evil Kulaks killed. They just don't get it.

Whats the alternative for these countrys,right or left,thats it.

That's not true. They can have a centrist government. Not all governments in Latin America are either right or left dictatorships.

Maybe they're not fair enough.I must admit I never heard anything bad about the Gov in Venezuela before Chavez,looks like hes trying to shrug off American influence in the country.

Yeah, why should anyone condemn him for shutting down opposition newspapers and television stations.

Which papers and TV stations did he shut down?


Why should anyone condemn him for having his bully boys shoot into a crowd of peaceful demonstrators, killing innocent people.

They shouldn't.

"On April 9, 2002, CTV leader Carlos Ortega called for a two-day general strike. Hundreds of thousands[40] took to the streets on April 11, 2002 and marched towards the headquarters of Venezuela's state-owned oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), in defense of its recently-fired management. The organisers decided to redirect the march to Miraflores, the presidential palace, where a pro-Chávez demonstration was taking place. Gunfire and violence erupted between two groups of demonstrators, Caracas' Metropolitan Police (under the control of the oppositionist mayor), and the Venezuelan national guard (under Chávez's command), and snipers were reported from the areas where both opposition and Chávez supporters were concentrated. Various civilians were shot and died in the incident.

Then, unexpectedly, Lucas Rincón Romero, commander-in-chief of the Venezuelan armed forces, announced in a broadcast to a nationwide audience that Chávez had tendered his resignation from the presidency. While Chávez was brought to a military base and held there, military leaders appointed the president of the Fedecámaras, Pedro Carmona, as Venezuela's interim president. Carmona's first decree reversed the major social and economic policies that comprised Chávez's "Bolivarian Revolution", and dissolved both the National Assembly and the Venezuelan judiciary, while reverting the nation's name back to República de Venezuela.

The coup against the democratically-elected Venezuelan government was approved and supported by the government of the United States, acting through senior officials, including Otto Reich and convicted Iran-contra figure and George W. Bush's "democracy 'tzar'" Elliott Abrams, who have long histories in the U.S.-backed "dirty wars" in Central America in the 1980s, and links to right-wing death squads working in Central America at that time.[41] Top coup plotters, including Pedro Carmona himself, began visits to the White House months before the coup and continued until weeks before the putsch. The plotters were received at the White House by the man President George Bush tasked to be his key policy-maker for Latin America, Otto Reich.[41] Television footage of pro-Chavez supporters returning fire on anti-Chavez police was spliced to make it look like they were firing on unarmed anti-Chavez opponents and screened on US television in order to drum up support for Bush's backing of the coup."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Ch%C3%A1vez


Some people just don't realize that Chavez has to break a few eggs in order to make his socialist omelet. Hell, I'll bet those people even condemned that other socialist, Josef Stalin when he had all those evil Kulaks killed. They just don't get it.

You're right when you say some people don't get it, you're just wrong when you think you aren't one of them.

Ever hear of Radio Caracas Television, Vilepagan?

Ever hear of Diario de Caracas?

Maybe you have been too busy being an apologist for Chavez to keep up with the news.

Ever hear of Radio Caracas Television, Vilepagan?

Ever hear of Diario de Caracas?

I must assume that these are two media outlets that you claim Chavez shut down. BTW, you stated that Chavez shut down "newspapers" and "TV stations". You've only mentioned one of each.


Maybe you have been too busy being an apologist for Chavez to keep up with the news.

Typical, Frogger. When you can't back up your claims with facts, you resort to taking a cheap shot at the person you disagree with. Try doing a little research and you wouldn't have to resort to that tactic quite so often.

The irony is that I backed up my claims by "keeping up with the "news". You did not.

Perhaps you should read up on Venezuela's new, Law of Social Repsonsibility In Radio and Television. Here is what Human Rights Watch had to say about it.

“This legislation severely threatens press freedom in Venezuela,” said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. “Its vaguely worded restrictions and heavy penalties are a recipe for self-censorship by the press and arbitrariness by government authorities.”

Perhaps you should read up on Venezuela's new, Law of Social Repsonsibility In Radio and Television.

I did. What's your point? If your point is to denigrate Chavez I'd say you're not making a good point since he didn't write the law, nor did he pass the law. You'd have to take issue with the Venezuelan Congress about it if you don't like the law.

Frogger, I have no special like for Hugo Chavez, but if you're going to attack him can't you at least attack him for something he's done?

First you accuse him of having people shot, which is apparently untrue and five minutes worth of reading would have made that clear to you. Then you accuse him of shutting down "newspapers" and "TV stations" and post nothing to back up your claims. Now you seem to be implying that he passed the LSR when in fact that was done by the legislature. Frankly, there's plenty to dislike him for if you're looking for things to dislike about him without making stuff up.

If you'd like to know more about the LSR I recommend this site:

http://www.rethinkvenezuela.com/downloads/medialaw.htm

Vile, here is also some interesting reading on Venezuela...

http://www.freedomhouse.org/modules/publications/ccr/modPrintVersion.cfm?edition=7&ccrpage=31&ccrcountry=141

Vile, here is also some interesting reading on Venezuela...

Interesting stuff OP.

Let me be clearer. I don't like Chavez and I think the Venezuelan people would be better off if he weren't President. However, I still see no reason to post falsehoods about the man.

Interesting stuff OP.

Let me be clearer. I don't like Chavez and I think the Venezuelan people would be better off if he weren't President. However, I still see no reason to post falsehoods about the man.
Fair enough... I'm actually kind of following the situation in Venezuela pretty closely. I'm just curious and want to see when/if the "Bolivian Revolution" turns from a experiment in Socialism, to a totalitarian dictatorship. It's like reading a history book without knowing the ending.

BTW - I try to post only researched facts in this post... if there are inaccuracies in my postings, please let me know.

Fair enough... I'm actually kind of following the situation in Venezuela pretty closely. I'm just curious and want to see when/if the "Bolivian Revolution" turns from a experiment in Socialism, to a totalitarian dictatorship. It's like reading a history book without knowing the ending.

I agree, it's an interesting situation to monitor.


BTW - I try to post only researched facts in this post... if there are inaccuracies in my postings, please let me know.

I didn't mean to suggest your post was in any way untruthful, it's just that some people dislike him so much they won't verify anything they hear that's bad about him before they repeat it.

Out of curiosity OP, how do you feel about the US Government interfering with, or attempting to overthrow the elected government of another country?

Out of curiosity OP, how do you feel about the US Government interfering with, or attempting to overthrow the elected government of another country?
\


If you had spent a widdle more time listening to FOX News and the
many segments that Little Sweetie Pie Maria Conchita Alonso did,
to explain thru firsthand experience,the notoriety and abusive
corruption of Chavez,similar in many respect to Castro,then maybe
you wouldn't be self-effacing about this expected turn of events.

Butt then,you're more interested in bustin and ban'n heads
over some little daffodil slight of proclivity,run amucks.

Ever hear of Radio Caracas Television, Vilepagan? a TV station that helped to engineer the military overthrow of the elected president of Venzuela? Then refused to cover his return to power?

In the US that station would not have had its liscense revoked, it would have been shut down and its owners/editors imprisoned for sedition.

They are lucky that free speech was valued more in their country then in the US.
Ever hear of Diario de Caracas? A pro-chavez paper?

What are you getting at frogger?

Interesting read, even if it is a month old.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/venezuela/story/218474.html