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28 Jun 11 - 09:46 AM (#3177752) Subject: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: pdq Well, I have not heard one word about it in the mainstream news... By Georgia East and Philippe Buteau, Sun Sentinel 6:39 p.m. EDT, June 26, 2011 Sunrise (FLA) A report that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is critically ill in Cuba is giving Ramon Peraza Jr. a dose of optimism about political change in his home country. Chavez, who was last seen in public on June 9, took a bad turn following surgery in Cuba, El Nuevo Herald reported, attributing the information to unidentified U.S. intelligence sources. Peraza, who is studying for his master's degree in business administration, works in his family's Venezuelan restaurant, Café Canela, in Sunrise. He said he immigrated to South Florida about four years ago because students with anti-government political views had no chance of getting jobs. Video: Weston detectives seek identities of two young vehicle burglary suspects The possibility of Chavez having to pass the torch heartened him. "This is a good opportunity for opposition in the 2012 presidential election,'' said Peraza. "Transitions are good for democracy.'' While Chavez isn't at immediate risk of dying, his situation is complicated, the intelligence sources told The Miami Herald's Spanish-language sister publication, according to Bloomberg News. Daughter Rosines Chavez and ex-wife Marisabel Rodriguez were flown in a military aircraft to Havana and the president's bedside late last week, according to El Nuevo Herald. Venezuela's Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro said Saturday that Chavez needs the support of his compatriots in "this big battle for his health," Bloomberg reported. A lack of information surrounding Chavez's surgery for what he said was a pelvic abscess has raised questions about the true state of his health and triggered debates about whether he should be running, from Cuba, South America's largest oil producer. Many in South Florida said they were waiting to see if Chavez would make a public appearance at the annual independence celebration for Venezuela on July 5, where he is supposed to be a main speaker. If he doesn't attend, they said, it could signal his health issues are serious. "People are waiting to know what's happening, what's the reality of the president's health,'' said Carlos Fernandez, of Weston, onetime president of the Chamber of Commerce of Venezuela. He said in 2003 he became a political prisoner of the Chavez government, and faced a 15-year sentence. At that point, he relocated to South Florida. His wife is still in Venezuela he said, along with other family members. He is waiting for a change in leadership to return to his homeland. "Of course, I want to go back,'' Fernandez said through a translator. There is speculation that Chavez's recent silence could be a ploy to stage a dramatic public comeback, especially in light of the upcoming presidential election at the end of 2012. Experts say in the meantime, the leaders could be testing political waters to see what alliances are forming. "The big question is, 'Why the silence?' " said Brian Fonseca, an adjunct professor of political and international relations at Florida International University. "If the silence is intentional, he could be trying to see who's really loyal in Venezuela." Many have criticized the Venezuelan government for failing to release much information about the president's health. Pedro Mena, spokesman for Mesa de Unidad Democrática in South Florida, a coalition of Venezuelan opposition parties, is one of them. "All we know is the speculation that we are hearing. There has been a total lack of reliable, updated information. This is totally irresponsible," Mena said. What would happen if the socialist leader's health were to seriously decline? "Whatever happens — if Chavez dies or is physically incapacitated — it's up to the [Venezuelan] Supreme Court to certify that and the National Assembly to choose a new president until the 2012 elections,'' Mena said. Having Chavez out of the public eye in Venezuela for a couple of weeks has sparked a lot of debate because it's so unusual, said some former Venezuelan residents. "We see him as this immortal figure, so having him out of the country in a hospital is something you don't expect,'' said Carlos E. Nunez, 22, of Doral, who was born in Valencia. "My take at first was this is a political move to get out of the country for a few days. But he's out now for 16 or 18 days, so I don't think it's that. There's something going on we obviously don't know.'' Elizabeth Bruna Pineda, 22, of Weston, who was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, said Twitter updates from Chavez are not enough. "I think the secrecy around his health is completely ridiculous,'' said Bruna Pineda. "He just can't up and leave the country and govern through Twitter.'' Lesly Simón, president of the Venezuelan-American Chamber of Commerce of South Florida, said she believes that all the speculation about Chavez's health only serves to create confusion. "Everyone needs to calm down and wait for the official word. All this speculation hurts the country and keeps everyone on pins and needles," said Simon, who stressed that her organization is not a political group. "I do believe that the [Venezuelan] government needs to be more explicit," she said. "This situation does no one any good." Staff writers Maria Travierso and Deborah Ramirez, photographer Joe Cavaretta and researcher Barbara Hijek contributed to this report. Copyright © 2011, South Florida Sun-Sentinel |
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28 Jun 11 - 10:58 AM (#3177788) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: Bonzo3legs Nothing do do with USAians. |
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28 Jun 11 - 12:24 PM (#3177837) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: Little Hawk There have been rumors of this sort about Chongo too, but they are untrue. He just has a bit of a hangover, that's all. |
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28 Jun 11 - 02:23 PM (#3177875) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: Rapparee Chongo ran afoul of a pair of hedge clippers in the hands of an irate husband, who performed a radical vasectomy. |
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28 Jun 11 - 02:40 PM (#3177883) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: Little Hawk More vile gossip and innuendo! You should be ashamed, sir! |
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28 Jun 11 - 06:28 PM (#3177983) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: Jack the Sailor "Well, I have not heard one word about it in the mainstream news." Maybe because most media outlets do not consider Ramon Peraza Jr's opinion to be news? |
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28 Jun 11 - 07:16 PM (#3177999) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: Sandy Mc Lean Chavez has done a great deal for his countrymen especially against the "big oil" bullies! Sad to hear of his illness! Like Castro he has been vilified in the USA for putting the welfare of his people above the greed of international corporations. |
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28 Jun 11 - 08:27 PM (#3178026) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: Bettynh From Reuters |
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28 Jun 11 - 10:30 PM (#3178057) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: gnu Well said Sandy. He didn't win any points "up north" when he called Bush "The Devil" at the Un but he won a few "down south". |
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28 Jun 11 - 10:32 PM (#3178058) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: gnu .. the UN... Funny how I JUST see yptos when I hit the submit button. |
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29 Jun 11 - 03:22 PM (#3178531) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: Sawzaw ""big oil" bullies" That's Chavez Apr 2009 Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez said his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama was at best an "ignoramus" |
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29 Jun 11 - 03:30 PM (#3178542) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: Jack the Sailor >>Apr 2009 Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez said his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama was at best an "ignoramus" << And why should we care? |
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29 Jun 11 - 03:51 PM (#3178558) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: GUEST Perhaps because he doesn't toe the line when the US tells him to do so?... his socialist and governmental reforms scare the crap out of the big US corporations and the US government?... he's sitting on a shitload of oil? he calls Bush the devil? he calls Obama a lacky to the oil companies? Cruise missiles are $600k a pop. Hugo is next IF you can pay more at the gas pump... and the grocery store. |
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29 Jun 11 - 03:52 PM (#3178559) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: Bonzo3legs I heard he was shagging Cristina Fernández de Kirchner!!! |
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29 Jun 11 - 04:10 PM (#3178574) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: GUEST,999 More power to him. She is beautiful. |
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29 Jun 11 - 04:54 PM (#3178594) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: GUEST Huh? GUEST? Dunno why I tossed my cookie... twice in recent days. gnu |
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29 Jun 11 - 05:04 PM (#3178601) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: gnu More power? With a name like that she sounds like high maintenance. Good work if you can afford it though. Yes, that is sexist and chauvinistic. What's yer point? |
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30 Jun 11 - 12:53 PM (#3179143) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: GUEST,999 The man ain't dead until the lady sings. |
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30 Jun 11 - 01:31 PM (#3179162) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: number 6 I didn't know Cristina Fernández de Kirchner could sing ..... or are you referring to Madonna? biLL |
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30 Jun 11 - 01:32 PM (#3179163) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: GUEST,999 lol |
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30 Jun 11 - 05:28 PM (#3179312) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: GUEST,ollaimh american oil companies called the premier of new foundland "hugo chavez" williams when he wanted the world price for royalities. luckily he stuck to has guns greedy american corporations call anyone who wants to make a profit on their own resourses a soliasist. unfortunately in alberta they still give away their oil for half the world royality, and those torries and their backers now are the government of canada. canada remains the only country in the world without a nationasl energy policy--all to please american oil companies. so lets hope chavez and his policies remain |
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30 Jun 11 - 07:06 PM (#3179353) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: pdq Perhaps people need to be reminded that Venezuela is the fifth largest exporter of oil in the world. It is one of the five founding members of OPEC and gets over $75 billion dollars per year from petroleum sales. Population is 26 million, just two million fewer people than Iraq and Saudi Arabia. During much of the Twentieth Century, before the massive oil finds in the Middle East, Venezuela was the second larget oil producer, exceeded only the the United States. |
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30 Jun 11 - 07:06 PM (#3179355) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: gnu Did you ever get royalties from your shares in Petro Canada? I can't fing my last statement... this boogy's a mess. |
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30 Jun 11 - 10:12 PM (#3179455) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: Sawzaw Hugo just told the truth. He has cancer. miamiherald.com |
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01 Jul 11 - 01:03 AM (#3179524) Subject: RE: BS: Hugo Chavez feeling poorly? From: John on the Sunset Coast Awwww, pobrecito Hugh! |