The sources you quote there claiming that Chavez is running a dictatorship are not exactly neutral sources, one is an extremely high-profile member of the right-wing opposition party in Venzuela and the other the rabidly anti-Castro Miami Herald.
You cannot possibly be called a "Dictator" when you have won four Presidential Elections on the spin - especially when UN official observers have reported that the elections were above board.
It is not a question of "seeing" Chavez as a Dictator or not, he is simply not one. Claiming that he is a Dictator would be as ridiculous as claiming that George W Bush was a Dictator. Some unhinged person might claim it but that does not make it true.
What's more, you also need to remember that Chavez accepted the results of the regional elections earlier this year when his party got an absolute belting at the hands of the opposition parties - hardly the sort of thing that a genuine Dictator like Robert Mugabe would do.
He also accepted the referendum defeat in 2007 of his proposed changes to the constitution that would have embedded Socialism right into the heart of the constitution. Again, not something you would get from a Mugabe/Hussain.
Now, there is no doubt on my part that Chavez is becoming more of a megalomaniac the longer he stays in power and is threatening to nationalise everything that moves, but that makes him a Socialist (which he proudly admits to) rather than a Dictator.
Once the Venezuelan electorate have had their fill of Chavez then they can vote him out at the Ballot Box - not something that the citizens of Zimbabwe, Iraq, North Korea, Azerbaijan or even, sadly, Cuba can do.
As for your mates in the Venezuelan oil industry, well, its hardly a surprise that they are not fans of Chavez since he nationalised the oil industry back in 2003 and uses the proceeds from the country's booming oil sales to fund his social programs!!! Bit controversial that one.
I don't know anything about Chavez, he may be a dictator he may not but winning an election in some countries doesn't mean you are the popular choice of the people.
Robert Mugabe recently "won" an election.
It's a start, but now lets get really serious. The appointment of Qatar places FIFA straight into Toytown, in the future The World Cup will go to the highest bidder when it's supposed to be about football. I would like to see us get together with football Countries like Germany, Brazil, Argentina, reluctantly France, plus emerging football nations like USA, Australia, South Africa, plus the Scandinavian Countries, and launch a rival competition where qualifying Countries take turns to host the games. Leave Blatter and his cronies to find another way to scrounge a wealthy lifestyle. Lets think outside the box, and move world football ahead.
Said the same thing myself the other day Grandpa. No-one elected FIFA in the first place, they do not own football, if half a dozen genuine football nations break away, watch the whole house of cards come tumbling down...
[cite]Posted By: southamptonaddick[/cite]I don't know anything about Chavez, he may be a dictator he may not but winning an election in some countries doesn't mean you are the popular choice of the people.
Robert Mugabe recently "won" an election.
Surely this answers that point?
[cite]Posted By: Ormiston Addick[/cite]
You cannot possibly be called a "Dictator" when you have won four Presidential Elections on the spin - especially when UN official observers have reported that the elections were above board.
And this is the point I was trying to make about 100 posts ago - SD will never accept it so we have to agree to differ.
[cite]Posted By: Leroy Ambrose[/cite]Just because you don't perceive their 'success' as a barrier to others, because of your more rounded viewpoint, doesn't mean that it isn't a barrier.
[cite]Posted By: Chizz[/cite]There's a player in Charlton's U-16 team who goes to a public school. Just thought I'd place that cat among the various pigeons on here.
Frank Lampard is another public school boy, anyone know any others?
Frank Lampard is another public school boy, anyone know any others?[/cite]
[cite]
Point proven then...[/cite]
Not sure I follow you there AA?
Anyway, in case I was not clear, I mean does anyone know any other public school boy footballers? I have a feeling Michael Owen could be but I might be talking bollocks.
Frank Lampard's school: In 2009 the school made national headlines when it appeared that only 22 students out of 37 taking the International Baccalaureate had gained a place at university despite paying fees of up to £22,000 to attend the school. However, the headmaster confirmed at the Annual General Meeting of the Society of Old Brentwoods held on September 19, 2009 that ultimately only one of the pupils had failed to get a university place.
The headmaster attended the final of the men's singles at Wimbledon rather than results day.
Comments
The sources you quote there claiming that Chavez is running a dictatorship are not exactly neutral sources, one is an extremely high-profile member of the right-wing opposition party in Venzuela and the other the rabidly anti-Castro Miami Herald.
You cannot possibly be called a "Dictator" when you have won four Presidential Elections on the spin - especially when UN official observers have reported that the elections were above board.
It is not a question of "seeing" Chavez as a Dictator or not, he is simply not one. Claiming that he is a Dictator would be as ridiculous as claiming that George W Bush was a Dictator. Some unhinged person might claim it but that does not make it true.
What's more, you also need to remember that Chavez accepted the results of the regional elections earlier this year when his party got an absolute belting at the hands of the opposition parties - hardly the sort of thing that a genuine Dictator like Robert Mugabe would do.
He also accepted the referendum defeat in 2007 of his proposed changes to the constitution that would have embedded Socialism right into the heart of the constitution. Again, not something you would get from a Mugabe/Hussain.
Now, there is no doubt on my part that Chavez is becoming more of a megalomaniac the longer he stays in power and is threatening to nationalise everything that moves, but that makes him a Socialist (which he proudly admits to) rather than a Dictator.
Once the Venezuelan electorate have had their fill of Chavez then they can vote him out at the Ballot Box - not something that the citizens of Zimbabwe, Iraq, North Korea, Azerbaijan or even, sadly, Cuba can do.
As for your mates in the Venezuelan oil industry, well, its hardly a surprise that they are not fans of Chavez since he nationalised the oil industry back in 2003 and uses the proceeds from the country's booming oil sales to fund his social programs!!! Bit controversial that one.
Robert Mugabe recently "won" an election.
Surely this answers that point?
And this is the point I was trying to make about 100 posts ago - SD will never accept it so we have to agree to differ.
Frank Lampard is another public school boy, anyone know any others?
Point proven then...
Not sure I follow you there AA?
Anyway, in case I was not clear, I mean does anyone know any other public school boy footballers? I have a feeling Michael Owen could be but I might be talking bollocks.
In 2009 the school made national headlines when it appeared that only 22 students out of 37 taking the International Baccalaureate had gained a place at university despite paying fees of up to £22,000 to attend the school. However, the headmaster confirmed at the Annual General Meeting of the Society of Old Brentwoods held on September 19, 2009 that ultimately only one of the pupils had failed to get a university place.
The headmaster attended the final of the men's singles at Wimbledon rather than results day.