Chavez affirms that he is a dictator.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Oncle Boris
There are many countries where such limitations don't exist, and they seem to be democratic well enough.

But when the leader of a country changes the constitution in order to increase his own power (or the duration thereof), it's not a particularly democratic move.

Answer: what do you think would be the response to a proposal by Bush to remove term limits?

[pchang]

I think it would get bi-partisan support because then, the Democrats could run Bill Clinton again.

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Answer: what do you think would be the response to a proposal by Bush to remove term limits?

I'd be cool with it. If the American people don't like it, they can vote him out.

[Winston]

Chavez is just the latest evidence that most leftists don't mind dictators too much, as long as they're sufficiently loony.

[Barnabas]

This thread goes to show no argument for Chavez being a dictator has been given

[Winston]

My impression is, it doesn't really matter, as far as the leftists are concerned.

[Odin]

"The people will vote away thier rights." -Ben Franklin.

[Fake Boris]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
But when the leader of a country changes the constitution in order to increase his own power (or the duration thereof), it's not a particularly democratic move.

But one has to be a leader to make the move. So your position is akin to saying that any increase in term limits is antidemocratic.

Answer: what do you think would be the response to a proposal by Bush to remove term limits?

This is irrelevent sophistry, but I can answer anyway if you like it. There would most likely be a negative reaction, but then so what? that would hardly make him a 'dictator' by the reasonable standards of the word. Unless the election was rigged.

[Barnabas]

Venezuelans can still vote away their president.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Brachy-Pride
This thread goes to show no argument for Chavez being a dictator has been given

Persecuting dissidents:

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/07/08/venezu11299.htm

Restrictive Press Laws:

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/03/24/venezu10368.htm

Court Packing

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/12/14/venezu9864.htm

If its not a dictatorship yet, the institutional basis for one is definitely being laid. The dropping of term limits must be seen in that context.

[pchang]

Not proof

You obviously can't trust a clearly right wing reactionary biased organization like hrw.org.

[Kidlicious]

Re: Chavez affirms that he is a dictator.

Originally posted by Oerdin
No surprises to anyone who hs been intellectually honest here. Chavez has announced that he intend to yet again rewrite the Venezualan constitution to extend his stay in office and to give himself more power. WOW, WHO COULD EVER HAVE GUESSED? Nope, no one called this one.

Chavez now says he wants to stay in office at least until 2030 and he wants to yet again redraw electorial districts in order to give his party yet more seats; any honest person would call that still more gerrymandering from the man who created the most gerrymandered state in the western hemisphere. I honestly can't see why anyone would be stupid enough to support a man who is obviously a dictator at heart.

It's not like the Venezuelan people don't want him to continue as president.

[Flubber]

Re: Not proof

Originally posted by pchang
You obviously can't trust a clearly right wing reactionary biased organization like hrw.org.

[Flubber]

Re: Re: Chavez affirms that he is a dictator.

Originally posted by Kidicious



It's not like the Venezuelan people don't want him to continue as president.

I actually have little problem with a country not having or dropping term limits.

But I do have some difficulty when it is done to benefit a currently sitting president. The chance for abuse is there when the person elected to the top job can change the rules pertaining to the top job


So term limits meh . . . Its the rest of the stuff going on in Ven. that seems more alarming. It appears that Chavez is positioning himself for a long terrm as leader and I don't know that he is necessarily concerned with having popular support to remain there.

This one is a "stay tuned"

[Odin]

Chavez is showing some disturbing signs, but whether it is just your typical 3rd World populist athoritarianism or something worse it's hard to say.