Chavez To His People: You’re A Traitor
Having all the diplomatic tact of his best bud Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (the hemisphere’s idiot) told his people today that if you don’t vote for his constitutional reform on December 2, then you are a traitor. In his own words . . .
“He who says he supports Chavez but votes ‘no’ is a traitor, a true traitor.”
The changes to the Venezuelan constitution that he calls ‘reform’ will eliminate term limits for the president, and more. The changes effectively render the votes of the people meaningless, since he won’t face term limits and the people on the ground running the local governments will be hand picked by him, not the people. Thereby setting himself up as a lifelong dictator like his other best bud, Fidel Castro. This is his goal.
The proposed revisions would do away with presidential term limits, extend terms from six to seven years, let Chavez appoint regional vice presidents and eliminate Central Bank authority, among other changes. Critics warn he would also have the power to shut down Venezuelan newspapers, television and radio stations by declaring a state of emergency, and the government could detain citizens without charges during such a period.
Chavez has already taken over, nationalized, U.S. companies Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips in Venezuela. He has already taken over or shut down TV networks and newspapers who were critical of his administration and who aptly characterize his proposed changes as a legislative coup to be dictator for life.
And this is the guy that we should trust to supply our Navy bases with fuel? I don’t think so.
Update 11/24/07: According to the first poll in Venezuela on this Chavez’s ‘reforms,’ he is losing ground. Voter turnout for the Dec. 2 initiative is growing and, according to the poll, increased voter turnout trends against Chavez. It is something to watch.
Today’s Special
Two turkeys get pardoned. From the Rose Garden President Bush granted a pardon to May and Flower. They’re going to Disney World. Meanwhile, U.S. Border Agents Ramos and Compean remain caged.
I also thank everybody who voted online to choose the names for our guests of honor. And I’m pleased to announce the winning names. They are “May” and “Flower.” They’re certainly better than the names the Vice President suggested, which was “Lunch” and “Dinner.”
Due to the WGA strike, the next Democratic Party debate, co-sponsored by CBS and the DNC, scheduled for Dec. 10 may be cancelled. Hostess (?) Katie (the tart) Couric just can’t get a break. Good news though for Sen. Clinton. She was the first to announce that she wouldn’t cross a picket line. The less debates she has to attend the better. Coming from Hillary, there is one position you can count on her not changing.
“It is my hope that both sides will reach an agreement that results in a secure contract for the workers at CBS News, but let me be clear: I will honor the picket line if the workers at CBS News decide to strike,” Clinton said.
Mayor Lino Donato of Poteet, Texas has to register as a sex offender for charges relating to two underage girls. According to the 1000 feet rule barring sex offenders from places where children go, he would be prohibited from going to City Hall.
Free sandwich to the person who identifies the mayor’s political party affiliation.
Former French President Jacques Chirac has been placed under formal investigation for embezzlement of public funds. He apparently received his embezzlement training as mayor of Paris for 18 years before moving up to the big time, the United Nations “Oil For Food” program as President of France.
Being Offended Never Goes Out Of Season
On the subject of Race Relations, there seems to be no shortage of people looking to be offended. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not saying that there aren’t problems associated with race. Clearly there still are problems. We don’t live in a perfect, color-blind, world yet. A recent incident here in Pensacola, FL comes to mind. But when people of responsibility make accusations that foment racial tension, it just makes the hair on my back (which my wife will attest to) stand up.
Thomas Sowell calls it being belligerent. I agree and for those doing it, I see it as having a chip on your shoulder. Neither of which will earn you brownie points with the police in the course of their duties. It may even lead to you being killed.
Case in point is U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill), from the 7th district in Chicago. He was pulled over by police for what he claims is ‘driving while black.’ He was given a $75 ticket for a moving violation. Davis says . . .
“I hope that this was some kind of isolated instance, but I know in my heart of hearts, I know that it’s not”
He fails to see that the duties of that officer are to protect himself and others with whom he could have had a head-on collision. Hearken back to former Rep. Cynthia McKinney, who committed battery on an officer for doing his job, keeping the capitol building safe and secure. She said it was because she was black. This, in a building where intruders have come in and shot and killed people. There is no measure of understanding from people like McKinney and Davis, other than, I’m black so leave me alone.
Davis says . . .
“There was just no reason I could conjure up other than the fact that there were four black people in a car.”
Oh really? What about swerving over the center line in the wee hours of the morning? He ought to be thankful he wasn’t given a breath test. Had he been drinking, and there is no evidence that he was or wasn’t, his ticket could have been much worse.
By contrast, Thomas Sowell has his own experience of DWB, Driving While Black.
Twice within the past few years, I have been pulled over by the police for driving at night without my headlights on. My car is supposed to turn on the headlights automatically when the light outside is below a certain level, but sometimes I accidentally brush against the controls and inadvertently switch them to manual.
Both times I thanked the policeman because he may well have saved my life. Neither time did I get a ticket or even a warning. In each case, the policeman was white.
and
Recently a well-known black journalist told me of a very different experience. He happened to be riding along in a police car driven by a white policeman. Ahead of them was a car driving at night with no headlights on and, in the dark, it was impossible to see who was driving it. When the policeman pulled the car over, a black driver got out and, when the policeman told him that he was driving without his lights on, the driver said, “You only pulled me over because I am black!”This was said even though he saw the black man who was with the policeman. The driver got a ticket.
There needs to be some distinction between driving while black and driving while being a jerk.
CBS2 Chicago | Driving While Black | What Color Is Articulate?
A Political Thanksgiving
On this Thanksgiving, Monica Crowley offers ten reasons to be thankful, politically speaking, that
we live in this time in our nation’s history. I’ll add an eleventh reason to Monica Crowley’s list that we should be thankful. 11. That we live in the United States of America, where our freedom makes it possible to publish a list in the first place.
It’s called Thanksgiving for a reason, so let’s offer our gratitude to the following people, who have made life in America so much richer — and more interesting — over the past year:
1. The men and women of the United States military. Against some rough odds — in Iraq and Afghanistan in particular — our armed forces are doing the heavy lifting of freedom. They are the ones who stand between us and the jihad. And they volunteer to do it. They choose to give up their families, their friends, better paying — and much safer — jobs, and in some cases, their lives to fight America’s enemies and to do everything they can to protect American life and liberty. For your selflessness, sacrifice, bravery, and humility: thank you.
Giving Thanks To Our Military
They volunteer and put it all on the line for us. Both they and their families have earned and deserve our support. Remember that while watching the game and carving the turkey not only today, but every day. While your family is together at the table, say a prayer for those 160,000 of our finest Americans and their loved ones that are not.
Writers Guild Strike Brings Out The Re-runs
Is it just me or have you also not missed a moment of Hollywood’s output? It is beginning to feel like a great pall over a segment of the media has been lifted. Frankly it wouldn’t bother me one bit if they ever returned to do that work.
In keeping with the re-run theme, and to show my solidarity with the WGA, here is one I found of Saddam Hussein hanging around in the archives.
Another of my favorites is the moment Al-Zarqawi met his 300 lb. bearded virgins. Only they weren’t real virgins. They use that hymen replacement surgery down in hell.
And this one is another of my favorite movies. It shows what happens when the best military on the face of this planet finds the enemy. In this case it is a few Islamofascist terrorists. Can you say Blackhawk?
Thanksgiving Episode of NewsBusted TV
Came across this web TV series just in time for Thanksgiving. I’m guessing that this will be a regular feature here at The Lunch Counter. Should give the folks at goLeftTV1 something to squawk about. It is material like this that tends to bring out the very best in them. Brought to you by NewsBusters.
1 goLeft.tv is a production of Air America radio host and BIG LAW trial attorney Mike Papantonio of Levin-Papantonio, Pensacola, FL.
Aid Begins To Arrive In Bangladesh
Saudi Arabia and the United States lead the way in relief to the devastated areas. Oh, and nothing from Venezuela, Iran, China, or Russia. As usual, that ‘evil,’ (according to the hemisphere’s idiot, Hugo Chavez) United States responds with ships and helicopters to act as the delivery agent and coordinator.
How bad is it?
The confirmed death toll stood at over 3,100 but officials feared it could run into many thousands after all the victims in isolated areas were accounted for.
The head of the Bangladeshi Red Crescent, a part of the global Red Cross federation, said he believed between 5,000 and 10,000 people had died.
Edwards In Denial Over Iran
As he did in the CNN sponsored debate last week, planted questions and all, Sen. John Edwards feels it is more important to deny that Iran’s Quds Force, also known as the Iranian Guard, are terrorists than to agree with President Bush.
When asked whether he believed the Iranian Guard to be a terrorist organization, Edwards answered instead how he felt about the Senate vote.
“There was no reason for the Senate to vote on the question to begin with,” he said. “I think it was a mistake. I would have voted no had I been in the Senate, and I think it’s very important … to show real strength against Bush and Cheney on this particular issue.”
When a reporter told Edwards that rival Barack Obama has said he would have voted against the resolution even though he believes the Iranian Guard is a terrorist organization, Edwards responded: “I stand by what I said.”