www.vheadline.com Posted: Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 1:27:18 AM By: Charles Hardy

VHeadline.com commentarist Charles Hardy writes: I've got some bad news for the opposition to the government of President Hugo Chavez Frias.  In spite of the hundreds of thousands of signatures that the Coordinadora Anti-Democratica has collected once again and in spite of the information that Datanalisis might release from another one of its telephone surveys, I have information that could be of value that was not gathered by randomly-selected phone calls to people who live outside the barrios, and who are wealthy enough to have telephones in their homes.

• For whatever it might be worth, it is simply based on un-scientific conversations with people in the streets.

Here's the bad news:  in my daily contact with people in Venezuela, I have the impression that those who were with Chavez in 1998 are still with him today; and, those who didn't like him then, still don't like him now.  The problem for them is that he won the 1998 elections by an almost two to one margin.

And here is even more bad news:  Some who still don't like Chavez are now not ready to support the opposition either because of the effects of the strike/stoppage which they imposed on the country.

Two cases to consider: 

There is a small businessman in the eastern part of the city who has never spoken well of Chavez.  However, the greatest part of his yearly income is in December.  Last year, he could not operate his business because of the lockout imposed by the opposition.  He still damns Chavez.  But only AFTER cursing the opposition.

A few days ago I spoke to the owner of a grocery store that was looted during the April 11 coup.  The establishment is now open again and, with new shelves and remodeling, it is brighter and more pleasant than ever.  The owner, while not happy with the looting, was pleased with the low interest loan the government gave him.  The establishment was also looted in 1989, at which time no help was given by the government to recuperate.  The store, by the way, has not observed the "strike" called by the opposition.

And here are some other items worth considering:  I asked one bricklayer for whom he would vote if there were elections today.  He replied, I always vote for the Adecos.  I pursued the point since the Adecos don't have a candidate at this moment.  He replied, "it really doesn't matter since Im not registered to vote and haven't voted since Carlos Andres was President!" ... he's definitely on the side of the opposition, but don't count on his vote.

I also talked to a woman who said she voted for Chavez, but was the only one in her family to do so.  She said she would not vote for him again.  You can't put uneducated barrio people in positions of responsibility, she said.  Maybe she's right.  But maybe the barrio people aren't as uneducated as she thinks they are.  I sensed she was afraid of barrio people, which may indicate the opposition propaganda is making an impact.  On the other hand, I talk to barrio people who are feeling more and more insulted by the opposition and who are hardening their pro-government position.

There is also a strange reaction that should be noted.  When I ask opposition people for whom they would vote, the answer that I usually receive is, for whomever the Coordinadora Democratica puts forward ... I can't get them to name a candidate.  It's a response similar to the man who says he always votes for the Adecos and I get the feeling that these people have simply surrendered their opinion to the leadership of the CD and their hatred for Chavez would lead them to accept anyone.

That is certainly a plus for the CD ... but it is a dangerous attitude for intelligent voting.

These remarks are only my personal observations ... but, having lost all confidence in the professionally-slanted opinion polls regularly released, I think they're worthy of consideration.

• I still think Chavez would win any election if he were allowed to be a candidate.

Only time will tell whose analysis is correct.

Charlie A native of Cheyenne, Wyoming (USA), VHeadline.com columnist Charles Hardy has many years experience  as an international correspondent in Venezuela. You may email him at: hardyce2@yahoo.com

www.vheadline.com Posted: Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 3:42:54 AM By: Oscar Heck

For readers outside Venezuela, this is not a joke.  This is really happening.

VHeadline.com commentarist Oscar Heck writes: I was watching TV here in one of the Caracas barrios (slum areas) this afternoon between 3 and 5 ... as most typical "males" might do, I was flipping back and forth between RCTV, Venevision, Televen, Globovision and Venezolana de Television.

It was "cartoon time" on Venevision, Televen and RCTV, news on Globovision and government programming on Venezolana de Television (discussions with and engineer and an economist -- also the live broadcast of the inauguration of a new high-tech customs operation ... reminds me of BBC in the 80s and early 90s). Venezolana de Television  is the government-run TV station in Venezuela.

• As part of their news highlights, Globovision was covering the government's present legal action against the privately-owned TV stations (those named in the previous paragraph- including Globovision).

I thought to myself, that finally, they're going to stop transmitting anti-Chavez propaganda ... especially since court proceedings have already been opened, which may lead to the 4 private TV stations losing their operating licenses.

To my surprise, when the commercial break came, they were showing anti-government propaganda again!

Now, the Coordinadora Democratica (the anti-Chavez opposition coordinating group) was inviting "all Venezuelans" to go march the streets to show their support for 'the people of PDVSA' ... more specifically, to support the thousands of PDVSA employees that have  recently been fired because they refused to show up for work in support of the opposition's "stoppage" and sabotage of PDVSA.

Here are some of the slogans, inciting people to take the streets:

• "Come, all Venezuelans, to march the streets in support of the people of the petroleum industry..!"
• "For the defense of  freedom!"
• "For the defense of democracy!"
• "For the defense of the nation!"
• "We are all PDVSA"

Now they want their jobs back! Huh!

Would you rehire an employee that suddenly arbitrarily decided to not show up for work for several weeks?

Would you rehire an employee who broke your equipment (before leaving on an unplanned extended Christmas vacation) and left with the keys that control the main operations center in your refinery?

I wouldn't.  I would be a fool to do so! Would you?

Now, here comes the worst part of it all:

I switched channels to see if this propaganda was being aired on the other 3 private stations.  I was floored!  They were passing the same propaganda every 10 minutes or so ... during cartoon time!

The opposition ... Ortega, the two Fernandez's, the Coordinadora Democratica and most all other anti-Chavez opposition members, have been calling themselves "civilized, democratic, peaceful"

...my foot!

They tried unsuccessfully to shut down the educational system. Since they did not succeed ... I suppose they decided to shove political anti-Chavez propaganda down the throats of children during their cartoon time.

• For readers outside Venezuela, this is not a joke ... this is really happening.

How much lower can the opposition go to? I can only imagine!

Oscar Heck oscarheck111@hotmail.com

www.vheadline.com Posted: Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 1:11:38 AM By: Will West

Date: Sat, 8 Feb 2003 00:52:38 -0800 From: Will West thewillies@cox-internet.com To: Editor@VHeadline.com Subject: A Letters to the Editor Submission

Dear Editor: The (perhaps fatal) damage Chavez has inflicted upon Venezuela's democratic form of government is unforgivable.  It is my belief that, in the long run, maintaining a healthy, functioning democratic form of government (including a "loyal opposition") will do more to increase and ensure the prosperity of all Venezuelans than any amount of heavy-handed economic tinkering.

Comparisons between Chavez and Hitler are obvious -- not with regard to the scale of the evil they represent, but with regards to the similar patterns their careers have followed thus far.  Several observers of the Venezuelan situation have noted this similarity, but let me mention one more example:  Both Hitler and Chavez have used gangs of armed thugs to intimidate (and worse) those who disagreed with them.  Hitler had the S.A., the brown shirts, while Chavez has his Bolivarian Circles (who have been used to intimidate and harass the free press, attack and kill protesters, etc.).  How can educated people reconcile support of Chavez (as a benign socialist?) with his use of Hitlerian (fascistic) tactics?  Can any good can come of this practice?

It seems as if many of Chavez's most vociferous supporters in the "Letters" area of VHeadline profess ideologies to the extreme left.  Although there is nothing necessarily wrong with being a leftist, it is the extremity of their position that seems to allow them to overlook Chavez's many negative aspects and to justify his actions.  Their devotion appears to be driven more by their own ideology than by any real resemblance between Chavez and a benign leftist head of state.

Do the ends Chavez envisions justify the means means he has chosen? 

What price is he willing to have his people pay in order to enforce his will? 

Is any price whatsoever acceptable? 

Where does Hugo Chavez Frias draw the line between acceptable means of political/economic change and unacceptable?

I ask these questions in order to give your readers who are Chavez apologists a way to determine for themselves if the label "extremist" (for whom the ideological end ALWAYS justifies the means) fits, or if their ideology is leavened with some modicum of humanity.

• Lest anyone believe that I am some kind of right-wing, whacko extremist, let me say that I have never been accused of extremism (I lack the energy).

The only area in which my views even approach extremism regards my belief that functioning democratic forms of government are far and away superior to all others when it comes to ensuring the greatest degree of human happiness and prosperity for the largest proportion of people.  I would be greatly relieved if more Chavistas shared this belief.

Sincerely, William West thewillies@cox-internet.com

www.vheadline.com Posted: Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 1:02:17 AM By: Dawn Gable

Date: Sat, 08 Feb 2003 02:45:28 +0000 From: Dawn Gable morning_ucsc@hotmail.com To: editor@vheadline.com Subject: Reply to Hector Dauphin-Gloire

Dear Editor: I have to say that I agree wholeheartedly with Hector Dauphin-Gloire that the 'Revolucion' is what is important. Chavez has said it himself ... and it is definitely all of our responsibility to continue the 'Revolucion' with or without him.

However, I do not believe that Chavez is beaten. and I do think he can be the one to see the 'Revolucion' through to consolidation. He is a great figurehead ... he is bold, sincere, direct, personable, friendly and he has the vocal style of a minister ... he is the head. There may need to be changes in who is feeding him direction and advise ... he could also use a good PR and a better speechwriter to help him keep his foot out of his mouth.

But a kinder, gentler version of Chavez in the form of some puppet 'chavista' will get the 'Revolucion' nowhere. While I was traveling around Venezuela, and asking every person I happened to meet along the way, the most frequent response I got was that Chavez needed to "put on his pants" (which means "get tougher") ... not Chavez needs to be more willing to compromise.

I agree that he has achieved more than most leaders dream, just by bringing about the 'Revolucion' and awakening the spirit of the masses once again, helping to create a more welcoming atmosphere in LA for-like minded leaders.

I think that in the end ... if he is constitutionally forced to leave ... he may do something like what you have suggested. He may throw his support behind someone on the left while he takes a rest in Cuba. But, if we 'Revolucionaries' do our job, he will only be on a short vacation and will return to Venezuela, as the 'Revolucion' gains strength.

But Chavez can not just resign and walk away.  Never.

That would ... at least symbolically ... be an abandonment of the 'Revolucion' and it would be seen by his supporters as personal abandonment. Like I said before, they already think that he is not fighting hard enough for them ... and he has lost some support over allowing the media to run rampant etc.

If he were to walk out, the 'Revolucion' would die.

Happily, we are not at the point that these decisions need to be made ... Chavez is still alive and strong ... not only in Venezuela but in the whole world.

Hasta la victoria siempre!

Dawn Gable morning_ucsc@hotmail.com

www.vheadline.com Posted: Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 1:22:38 PM By: Roy S. Carson

As if it were not enough for them to SPAM major media outlets in North America and around the world with a barrage of propagandistic distortions of what's really happening in Venezuela, opposition lunatics have turned their troubled minds on attacking VHeadline.com as the Internet's leading English-language source of independent news & views about Venezuela.

Responding to a reasonable request from VHeadline.com to stop peddling obvious untruths in a flurry of emails, we received an indignant response from self-styled "Venezuelan citizen and writer"  Marianella Febres-Cordero, using an appropriately illustrative handle lunaticaa@cantv.net expressing her venom over our use of the word 'bullshit' ... a fair and accurate description of the untruths that she and her cohorts are attempting top foist on the outside world.

Asserting (untruthfully) that we had blocked her "friend", Febres-Cordero says the original letter-writer had sent us a "cry of help for Venezuela:

"...her answer is that this bullshit has the color of the oil you consume. She is a very brave woman, who like many women in Venezuela, wants to live in a country that has the freedoms that you enjoy and has fought this 'regime' with fierce determination. This is a very tiring fight against a tyrant who poses as a democratic President but is no more than a hoodlum who has broken and raped every law in the democratic book. I certainly did not vote for him but millions of people that did have repented because he was a deception (for them, I always knew what he was). If he should happen in your country and believe: anything is possible! you would do anything to try to oust him like we are trying very hard to do. This cry for help is legitimate. It comes from the bottom of our hearts and souls because we are horrified of our future. We love our country, we want to live here with our children and the children of our children. I hope Sir or Ms. that you never have to go through what we are going through at the moment in Venezuela and I hope that if you cry out for help people out there don't call you a bullshitter."

Let's examine the background of what has happened:

VHeadline.com is bombarded on a daily if not hourly basis with a plethora of messages from all sides of Venezuela's political panorama ... and this on top of a constant flow of hackers' attempts to introduce computer viruses into our system to do untold damage.  Thankfully our firewall has prevented all sabotage attempts to date.  Behind the scenes this weekend, organizations such as Resistencia Miami (where else?) are exhorting their deluded fanatics to deluge us with more of their BS propaganda.

A fairly large percentage of the letters we receive can immediately be binned as coming from sorry souls whose capacity to string something meaningful into words devolves into hatred and bigotry worthy of a member of the Klu Klux Klan in the deep deep South or an Ulster Protestant hardliner on a visit to the Vatican.

• The delete button works overtime but we do get occasional pearls representing both sides, which invariably find their way into electronic print in our Letters section.

This last weekend, however, the opposition propagandists went into overdrive stringing their hype onto a very fragile thread of a municipal inspector who happened to pass by a building where suspicious activities were going on.  The fact that the lady official was a close relative to the Executive Vice President bears little or no relation to the subject but was the cherry on the cake for Globovision reporters bristling to get out of the starting gate on yet another opportunity to slam the government.

Imagine the same situation in downtown Parishville.  Let's say a St. Lawrence County dog catcher noticed something suspicious going on inside a building late at night when most folks would be safely tucked up in bed, or perhaps watching a late night TV show.  Let's say he sees a lot of luxury automobiles parked close by and hears the sounds of ribaldry from within ... an illegal gambling den, perhaps.  Who knows?  Perhaps with excessive zeal, he goes into the building and is met by a burly bouncer.  He shows his ID as the county dog catcher and asks what's going on.  The bouncer does his business and bounces the dog catcher right back out on the street, hurling voice words of abuse in an easily identifiable rejection of the proper inquiry.

Let's take it a stage further:  What would/should the county dog catcher do after he's picked himself up from the sidewalk and readjusted his collar and the seat of his pants?  My immediate thought is that he would get on his cellular phone to report the incident to law enforcement officers who would come to the rescue?  The cops would come, the bouncer might try the same 'attitude' with them, but he would swiftly find himself and any of his supporters behind bars waiting for an appearance before the night judge or an overnight in the cells with a court appearance and a fine to follow.

But that's where reality ends. 

We're not talking about Parishville in New York State.  The allusion was to Sucre County in Miranda State, Caracas - Venezuela.  Our 'dog catcher' translates as municipal officer Maria Francia Rojas and she suddenly finds herself in an opposition wheelspin worthy of a high-speed 4WD on a dirt track.  Talk about hype.  Calling for law enforcement back-up, Rojas set in motion an opposition propaganda dream-scenario with three car-loads of police officers arriving to "rescue the damsel in distress."

But woops, the incident scene was quickly identified as where the opposition was hiding voting papers collected last Sunday and since, purporting to be a democratic referendum on President Hugo Chavez Frias' continued rule.

Credit Globovision's rapid response ENG team with speed as they sped to the action-camera location with live video footage of an 'international incident' vying for the airwaves with headline importance of an already begun Iraq War bombardment.

And rightly so, the story fizzled out as it became patently clear that the bouncer should properly have told the municipal 'dog catcher' what was indeed going on.  It could have ended without a mention given such circumstances, but...

We have to remember that this is Caracas in the year 2003.  Little incidents can be blown out of all proportion ... and they were!

Within hours we were bombarded with email messages claiming that President Hugo Chavez Frias had himself ordered a raid on the opposition voting list HQ, that Chavez-controlled police had attempted to seize the documents and that they had only been saved through the prompt reaction of 'neighbors' ... a.k.a. opposition thugs.  The emails were peppered with obvious lies and distortions as though we at VHeadline.com had not been aware of what was going on, with our own reporters covering the breaking story and evaluating its newsworthiness.

The incident in itself was NOT newsworthy, but the opposition distortion of events that followed IS news.

It's the reality of what's happening in Venezuela each and every day as the opposition continues to follow the path of anti-constitutionalism in a complete and utter rejection of anything and everything that has to do with Democracy as it is known to the outside, civilized world.

Sad, sad, sad!