I have been following president Hugo Chavez ever since he made that remark about smelling sulfur in the air after a Bush visit to his turf. Not surprisingly, the US corporate media writes him off as a madman, and the reporting is skewed to hide the fact that he is popular in his own nation and around the world. But what I had not realized is the extent to which the CIA has operated in the past, and is operating now, in Venezuela trying to upset Chavez's cart. Here's some info about the recent constitutional referendum, with links to articles about CIA activities.

http://www.libertytreefdr.org/democracyNews.php#news56

Here are a few articles from the proposed constitutional revision that was not passed:
Article 21: Prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and health.
Article 64: Establish adequate housing as a right for all Venezuelans.
Article 87: Create a social security fund for Venezuelans who are self-employed or employed in the informal sector.
Article 90: Decrease the workweek from 44 hours to 36 hours.
Article 103: Mandate that all public education, up to and including university, be free of charge.
Article 272: Require the penitentiary system to orient its work towards the full rehabilitation of prisoners and to respect their human rights during incarceration.

Guess where Citgo gasoline comes from???

Venezuela. Citgo Petroleum is wholly owned by the Venezuelan national oil consortium. Apparently a fair number of Americans are boycotting Citgo to get back at Hugo Chavez for calling our presidente satanic... Is there a Citgo in Flagstaff? I'm buying all my gas there from now on. Citgo says they're committed to "the general public throughout the United States" in addition to a few other interests:
http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Newsroom/Query.aspx?SiteName=Citgo&Entity=PRAsset&SF_PRAsset_PRAssetID_EQ=103343&XSL=PressRelease&Cache=True&SubMenu=Releases

Also, another tidbit that I didn't hear at first: Apparently the United Nations audience gave a "resounding" round of applause to Chavez's remarks about Bush. And people in Harlem cheered... I don't know which people, but I cheered too.

I am fascinated by the heaps of insults piled upon Chavez, even by democrats in this nation. For example, Nancy Pelosi called him a "thug". OK. He's a thug that the U.N. agrees with. And considering how Bush has treated the U.N., they have every reason.

Chavez called a spade a spade, and because that spade happens to be a PRESIDENT of a powerful nation it is not acceptable in "polite" conversation.....but isn't it time that we stopped being so polite and got the thieves and murders out of the Whitehouse? There's all this commentary about how Chavez should have a civilized discourse with Bush--but discourse is impossible because Bush (et al) speaks only doublespeak. Bush will stick to his script because he is not smart enough to take on Chavez. Even if Chavez IS a barbarian thug.