Chavez calls Venezuela vote mandate for socialism (click here)
By CHRISTOPHER TOOTHAKER, Associated Press Writer Christopher Toothaker, Associated Press Writer – Mon Feb 16, 3:31 am ET
By CHRISTOPHER TOOTHAKER, Associated Press Writer Christopher Toothaker, Associated Press Writer – Mon Feb 16, 3:31 am ET
CARACAS, Venezuela – President Hugo Chavez says a referendum victory that removed limits on his re-election is a mandate to intensify his socialist agenda for decades to come. Opponents warn of an impending dictatorship.
Both sides had called the outcome of Sunday's vote key to the future of this South American country, split down the middle between those who worship the president for redistributing Venezuela's oil riches and those who see him as a power-hungry autocrat.
"Those who voted "yes" today voted for socialism, for revolution," Chavez thundered to thousands of ecstatic supporters jamming the streets around the presidential palace. Fireworks lit up the Caracas skyline, and one man walked though the crowd carrying a painting of Chavez that read: "Forever."
Josefa Dugarte stared at the crowd from the stoop of her apartment building with look of dismay.
"These people don't realize what they have done," she muttered.
With 94 percent of the vote counted, official results showed the amendment passing 54 percent to 46 percent, an irreversible trend, and opposition leaders accepted the results. Tibisay Lucena, president of National Electoral Council, said turnout was 67 percent....
Both sides had called the outcome of Sunday's vote key to the future of this South American country, split down the middle between those who worship the president for redistributing Venezuela's oil riches and those who see him as a power-hungry autocrat.
"Those who voted "yes" today voted for socialism, for revolution," Chavez thundered to thousands of ecstatic supporters jamming the streets around the presidential palace. Fireworks lit up the Caracas skyline, and one man walked though the crowd carrying a painting of Chavez that read: "Forever."
Josefa Dugarte stared at the crowd from the stoop of her apartment building with look of dismay.
"These people don't realize what they have done," she muttered.
With 94 percent of the vote counted, official results showed the amendment passing 54 percent to 46 percent, an irreversible trend, and opposition leaders accepted the results. Tibisay Lucena, president of National Electoral Council, said turnout was 67 percent....
Interesting still, is the fact Venezuela supplies a low income heating oil assistance program in the USA.
Low-Cost Heating Oil. (click here) The Oil Heat Program allows needy Bay State residents to purchase one-time deliveries of discount home heating oil. The program works through local fuel-assistance agencies. Over the years, the program has provided millions of gallons of low-cost fuel to thousands of low-income and elderly households in Massachusetts. For more information, go to http://www.citizensenergy.com and click on Oil Heat Program. Or call toll free 1-877-JOE-4-OIL.
...No one knows that better than former Massachusetts Representative Joe Kennedy, who runs the non-profit Citizens Energy Corp., which provides discount heating oil to Americans in need in 15 states and the District of Columbia. The charitable work of Kennedy -- eldest son of Robert F. Kennedy, godson of John F. Kennedy, and nephew of Senator Edward Kennedy -- is not without controversy, primarily because the discounted oil is provided to Citizens Energy by the Venezuelan government of fiery US critic Hugo Chavez....
