Venezuelan Propaganda: Wasted Money and Effort

Chavez's speech at the UN while colorful and amusing is not becoming of a head of state, in addition it shows a lack of democratic credentials and intolerance. Thankfully, it was the democratic party (the one I most identify with) that set the record straight in particular Mr. Rangle.

It's not just the politicians that have lashed out against Chavez and his meddling and insulting language. The people of the city of Boston (my home town) have also gotten in on the Chavez bashing. Here they are proposing removing the Citgo sign, yes the same one Chavez government had updated and had an elaborate propaganda campaign including taking out adds in major newspapers and holding public relations events. All with the intent to show how Venezuela is improving and investing in the boston area through its ownership of Citgo. But don't forget the oil subsidies thanks to congressman Delahunt.

All it took was a 20 min Chavez speech to undo all the hard work on giving the Chavez government a good name and good will he had been trying to portray.

Click here to see the CNN report.

A big question is why did Chavez give such a hate filled speech? was it that he knew he wouldn't get the UN seat and figured he would say what ever he wanted. Did Chavez actually think such a speech would win him votes? Or is it he doesn't care about the seat but wants to be seen as the leader of nations against the United States in his fictitious war?

In an unfortunate incident deputy Nicolas Maduro was detained for over an hour while traveling with his family. While I am convinced that this was not in retaliation for Chavez's speech this is what is being said in Venezuela and can only help Chavez in the polls. Although I'm sure any help will be small and temporary. Thankfully, the State department apologized for Maduro's treatment. To be honest Maduro deserves to be in jail, but that is for future Venezuelan justice to deal with not for the US justice system to handle.

In other news Chavez claims that it is impossible to have a cordial relationship with Peru and Mexico. This is ironic since the one insulting and meddling in other countries affairs is Chavez, furthermore Peru and Mexico have both stated that they were happy to put past behind them and to restore normal relations with Caracas.

It appears as though Chile will abstaining from voting in Venezuela's bid for the UN security council seat.

On a lighter and happier note the opposition candidate Manuel Rosales campaign team announced that next week they would announce a security plan for the country. His campaign seems to be gaining momentum and on the right track, lets hope it stays this way.

It takes a devil to know a devil!

I have been sort of at a loss as to what to write about in regards to the Chavez's speech in front of the United Nations. In part I was not shocked since this is the sort of speech Venezuelans have been used to for the past 7 years. The only difference back then was that the speech was only carried by Venezuelan media and was directed towards businesses, the media, his political opponents, or anyone else he felt like criticizing at a particular moment. Now he has turned his sights on to Bush.

As I have stated before along with many other Venezuelans, Chavez never wanted to be just the leader of Venezuela, or even Latin America. His sights were set on being a world player hence his associating with Iran, Syria, North Korea, among others. In Chavez's view the easiest way to be that "leader" and grab headlines is by creating a band of countries that are set out to cause trouble and to out do each other in stirring up trouble. Although his latest diatribe against Bush is a little perplexing since I don't see this as a very effective way in getting his prized and expensive UN security seat. In addition, it does nothing to benefit Venezuela or its citizens, if anything it makes Venezuela more isolated. This is ironic since this is what the US administration wants, but it is Chavez that is fulfilling that plan through his rhetoric. Again, those of us that have followed Venezuela for some time will tell you that Chavez is his worst enemy all you have to do is give him a microphone and a camera.

Since elections in Venezuela are going to be held in a few months I am quite happy with Chavez jet setting world, giving away money, and speeches. The more he does this the increasing probability there is he will be out of the presidency.

The unfortunate thing about Chavez and his speeches is that for the past 7 years he has been trying to create a hatred towards the United States, this is actually a Venezuelan state policy. Historically Venezuela maintained a neutral stance in disputes and very friendly relations with other countries. Well that obviously has now changed with Chavez.

I remember when people knew Venezuela for oil and its beautiful women, now its oil and Chavez.

Political intimidation

In a previous post I mentioned how the government has begun to intimidate the opposition presidential candidates. In the case of Manuel Rosales, Chavez supporters will confront the campaign rally and use violence to intimidate them. I also mentioned how the government is using the tax agency (SENIAT) to intimidate the other candidate Benjamín Rausseo (El Conde del Guacharo). Apparently, they closed his theme park "Musipan" down during the day forcing the 2000 visitors out. In addition, 350 people have essentially lost their job (who knows for how long). Coincidentally the day before Rausseo's wife was apparently almost kidnapped in Caracas while going to visit her father in the hospital. According to her reports and that of her bodyguard six men on motorcycles surrounded her SUV and pulled out their guns. Fortunately, the heavy traffic and her quick minded body guard found a group of national guardsmen nearby and the armed me fled the scene.

Fair elections in the Venezuelan revolution - Chavez style

The election battle has officially begun with the Venezuelan government using all its resources, money, and institutions to help the Chavez campaign. However, most of these methods are a blatant abuse of state power and institutions, hence constitute a violation of campaign rules.

A fellow blogger Bruni has a collection of abuses in the media where every government program or institution is promoting Chavez's reelection.

Another fellow blogger Bruni fellow blogger Katy, with the help of some brave soles in Venezuela are documenting the advertisements on the streets and on public buildings promoting Chavez and his campaign.

Then of course we have the polling war which has been a reoccurring theme in all elections most notably the fake polling firm North American Opinion Research. But even more established firms are having difficulty.

But nothing shows the abuse nature of the Chavez government, underhanded campaign, and illegal methods as the blatant persecution against the other candidates. Yesterday the Venezuelan tax office closed and opened an investigation against the theme park owned by presidential candidate Benjamin Rausseo (El Conde). In addition, the government has suggested they might open an investigation looking into the financing of the Manuel Rosales campaign. So who exactly is going to look into the financing of the Chavez campaign and the already blatant abusive nature of his campaign?

Atrevete with Manuel Rosales

Please visit this link to access the official campaign web site for Manuel Rosales.

For those of you voting keep this in mind “que vote abajo para que salga de abajo” - Manuel Rosales in reference to his party, Un Nueveo Tiempo, being on the bottom of the voter ballot, whereas Chavez and his parties are at the very top.

FYI, there is a chorus of people saying "Atrevete" so you may want to keep your speaker volume down, it is also a little annoying after a while.

Elections Chavez style

Chavez and Venezuelan elections

It is apparent that the Chavez government can no longer be bothered with maintaining the facade of democracy and institutional independence. Yesterdaythe head of Chave's reelection campaign announced that on the ballot Chavez's name will appear in the upper left hand corner. Why is it the campaign manager the one announcing where Chavez will be placed on the ballot? Shouldn't the CNE be the one announcing this. I can only assume now that Chavez, I mean the CNE, will place Manuel Rosales in the upper right hand corner. So as to create the sense of the political left vs. political right, or is it that they think Venezuelans are so stupid as to vote for the first candidate on the ballot?

Chavez and Mexican elections

The UN, international observers, and the OAS endorse and congratulate Felipe Calderón as the new president of Mexico, however, Chavez does not!. No comment necessary on this one

Chavez and Ecuadorian elections

Apparently in Ecuador the "leftist" candidate Rafael Correa is being accused of being financed by the Chavez government. The questions pertain to his multimillion dollar campaign.

Chavez and the UN elections
Today the government announced that they are confident that they will get the UN, of course all that traveling, showering of money and contracts wasn't to lobby. What I find interesting is that the "sealed" votes for Venezuela were announced by Chavez, not the country itself. However, the voting is secret so who is to say Chavez will get his expensive throne in the UN.

Just to wrap up the Chavez democratic election summary lets not forget the meddling Chavez did in the Mexican elections and the Peruvian elections. Oh ya and his desire for a single political party.

Will Chavez cancel the elections?

Reading an article penned by Seth Antiles titled "Venezuela Election outlook" he states the following:

Canceled Elections: There is a possibility that if Chavez knows that he is significantly behind in the polls, he would invent an excuse to postpone or cancel the election. One possibility is that he might claim that the integrity of the Venezuelan election is being subverted by the United States, forcing him to declare a state of emergency and the cancellation of elections.

So what pretext could Chavez create to cancel the Dec 3rd elections if he knew he was going to lose the elections?

Well the National Electoral Board (CNE) has been using the fingerprint machines developed by Cogent Systems by the way one of Cogents biggest customers is the CNE along with US Homeland Security. One of Cogents partners or clients is also a company called Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), which has an interesting history in the Chavez regime. Back in 2001 and 2002 when Chavez's goal was to take control of Petrolios of Venezuela (PDVSA) one of the claims was that Intesa was being used by SAIC to spy on PDVSA hence was a national security threat. This was explicitly written by Martin Sanchez, who now heads the consulate in Chicago, IL, on July 15, 2004 for the Venezuela government media stating:

Venezuelan government officials believe SAIC was using INTESA for espionage purposes in Venezuela due to its strong ties to the Pentagon, the CIA and the NSA. Its current and past board of directors include former NSA president Bobby Inman, former Defense Secretary Melvin Laird, former head of the research and development division of the Pentagon Donald Hicks, ex-Secretary of Defense William Perry, ex-CIA Director John Deutsch, and ex-CIA director Robert Gates. William B. Black Jr. served at Assistant Vice President at SAIC for three years after retiring from the NSA in 1997. Black later returned to the NSA as deputy director in 2000.

While canceling elections because Cogent has a client-customer relationship with SAIC, due to a national security threat is so far fetched it is simply laughable. However, as the Chavez government has proven over the past 8 years they have shown how they distort and make up stories to suit their needs. Might I remind the readers of the ludicrous claim that the US had developed plans to invade Venezuela with the now famous "Plan Balboa" with Chavez going as far as to telling Ted Koppel's on ABC Nightline he would give him the proof (which he didn't). To read more on "Plan Balboa" click here. By the way Plan Balboa was a Spanish, not US, military training exercise.

So is it likely the fingerprint machines are controlled by the Cogent, SAIC or the CIA, of course not. The only people controlling them and the electronic voting machines is the Venezuelan Government. Is it possible the government will spread the rumor and lie that they are being controlled and subsequently cancel elections if Chavez's numbers are low? of course!

Some random Rosales campaign news

So I have felt rather uninspired to write anything lately, to many things to do and unfortunately I don't have a ghost blogger like the other Venezuelan bloggers to take over when they are busy ;).

Today Manuel Rosales was campaigning in the state of Vargas when it was interrupted by a small group of people apparently supporters of Chavez who were throwing rocks. However, what is more disturbing is that the police force responsible for public safety and security refused to stop the aggression. It was instead the local community that had to take matters into their hands to confront the aggressors. Again a prime example of who the aggressor is and the sorry state of public security force.