Chavez foes, backers create vocabulary in war of words

washingtontimes.com By Patrick Moser AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

     CARACAS, Venezuela — Divided by a crippling strike, this country is engaged in an uncivil war of words between supporters of President Hugo Chavez and those who want to force him from office, creating a protest-specific vocabulary. Top Stories • Bush hints at new aid for North Korea • Malvo linked to four sniper attacks • Democrats hang on to gavels • Democrats lack unity on tax-cut alternative • Mugabe denies plan to retire early, leave Zimbabwe • SUV risks drive up cost of insurance for owners • Snyder squeeze

     The following are some of the expressions that have been heard regularly since the strike began Dec. 2:      •Chavistas: Supporters of Mr. Chavez      •Squalid: Term used to describe opponents of Mr. Chavez, who once called his foes "a squalid minority." Opposition T-shirts proudly state: "Squalid for Venezuela."      •Talibans: Used by either side to describe hard-liners in the opposite camp.      •Dictator, murderer, terrorist: This is how strike leader Carlos Ortega describes the president.      •Putschists, fascists, oligarchs: Mr. Chavez's description of Mr. Ortega and other strike leaders.      •Bolivarian: A term Mr. Chavez uses frequently and adds to the formal name of the country. It refers to the intellectual legacy of Simon Bolivar, the 19th-century South American liberator from Spain, whom Mr. Chavez claims as his inspiration.      •Circles of terror: The opposition's term for Chavista groups called "Bolivarian Circles."      •National democratic cacerolazo: The opposition's description of daily pot- (or "cacerol"-)banging protests.      •National active strike: The work stoppage as described by the opposition.      •Discovery Chavez: Opposition nickname for state television.      •Coupvision: Chavista nickname for private, anti-Chavez TV.      •Democratic kit: Whistle, national flag, sneakers, jeans, shirt in the national colors and a bottle of water — essential gear for anti-Chavez demonstrations.      •"He's going, he's going.": Opposition slogan.      •"He's going he's going to stay.": Chavista slogan.      •"Chavez is driving them mad.": Chavista song and slogan.      •"The madman has little time left.": Opposition slogan.      •Scab: Opposition term for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after he sent a boatload of fuel to Venezuela.      •Liars: Term used by media on both sides to describe each other. Also shouted at foreign reporters during opposition marches.      •"Free the bear": Refers to the bear that adorns bottles of Polar, the local beer that is unavailable as a result of the strike.