Chavez Wins:

[RMNIXON]

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez appeared headed for victory on Sunday in a referendum on allowing the leftist to rule for as long as he keeps winning elections, government-linked sources said, citing exit polls.

Three exit polls showed the anti-American leader won by between six and eight percentage points in a vote where turnout was low, the two sources said.

If his victory is confirmed, the referendum vote on a raft of reforms would allow Chavez -- in office since 1999 -- to run for reelection indefinitely, control foreign currency reserves, appoint loyalists over regional elected officials and censor the media if he declares an emergency.
Chavez has said he wants to rule for life and turn the major oil exporter into a socialist state.

The opposition was skeptical of the government sources' exit poll data.
"According to our information, it is a statistical tie," said Leopoldo Lopez, a popular mayor of a Caracas municipality. He did not give details of any exit polls, other than to say the difference was "two points up, two points down."
Most pre-vote opinion surveys predicted a close vote on the package of constitutional changes that the opposition and even some former longtime allies say is authoritarian.

Pollsters had said a low turnout would favor Chavez, who activated a state-backed get-out-the-vote campaign against an underfunded, fragmented opposition.

The left-wing leader, a fierce critic of the United States and close ally of communist Cuba, has never lost a national vote and had predicted he would win by at least 10 points.

Chavez wins Venezuela vote: sources - Yahoo! News

Let the looting begin, but I doubt it will last a lifetime Hugo, so get your special police force ready. Productive people do not function as productive slaves for long. And then political oppression is the only thing to hold the shit together.

[PetriW]

Well, question is if he's better or worse than his predecessors though who were ousted because of corruption and the inequalities their policies created. I'm leaning toward that he's better than them... but then I'd also say I wouldn't want to live there. At least he's successfully combating poverty so far.

[SoFlaJDM]

Originally Posted by PetriW

At least he's successfully combating poverty so far.

oh he is?

i'd sure like to see some proof of this

[PetriW]

Should change the title to Chavez loses btw.

Saw the thing about poverty on tv in a decent program but according to the wikipedia (yes, I know there are better sources) the poor and extremely poor are down to 34% now, compared to 48% in 2002 (39% in 1995, so he didn't start good ). They interviewed a wide range of people and it seemed like many extremely poor had gotten jobs and were very happy, while some who had jobs before weren't all that riled up about the changes because they felt while it was nice that more people could decide it didn't lead to better efficiency, and so on.

[7960]

Without the overhaul, Chavez will be barred from running again in 2012.

My Way News - Chavez Loses Constitutional Vote


..... we'll see.

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by 7960

Without the overhaul, Chavez will be barred from running again in 2012.

My Way News - Chavez Loses Constitutional Vote


..... we'll see.

I have a feeling even if he doesn't get the legislation he needs by 2012 he won't so easily give up his seat.

[7960]

Originally Posted by JaJae

I have a feeling even if he doesn't get the legislation he needs by 2012 he won't so easily give up his seat.

becoming a dictator would have lost some of its appeal if it was easy.