BREAKING: CARACAS, Venezuela = Constitution referendum is said to be too close to call.

The celebrants have gone home in Caracas, after an official announcement that their would be no official announcement at the planned time. The referendum seems to be too close to call still. The planned announcement was to be made when a threshold percentage of votes were reported. The oputcome apparently was still in dispute at that point. Commander Zamora asked that people await an official announcement with patience.

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Venezuela Constitution
http://www.wvva.com/News/index.php?ID=18924

CARACAS, Venezuela - In Venezuela, a referendum on whether to change the constitution is said to be too close to call.

Venezuelans went to the polls Sunday to vote on proposed amendments that would cement the power of President Hugo Chavez and put an end to presidential term limits.

Both the government and opposition say the margin is very close.

Vice President Jorge Rodriguez said from Chavez's campaign headquarters: "We will respect the result, whatever it is -- even it's by one single vote."

Opposition leader Julio Borges is likening the vote to a photo finish.

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Dec. 2, 2007, 9:44PM
Venezuelan vote too close to call
JOHN OTIS - Houston Chronicle South America Bureau
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5346328.html

CARACAS, Venezuela — The result of Venezuela's referendum on constitutional changes that would give President Hugo Chavez vast new powers was too close to call, government and opposition leaders said Sunday.

Vice President Jorge Rodriguez called the results "close" but the National Electoral Council withheld announcing any results.

Andres Velasquez, one of the opposition leaders pushing for a "no" vote, said the Chavez team "is trying to create rumors to present themselves as the winners."

At stake is a wide-ranging rewrite to 69 of the constitution's 350 articles. ............

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BREAKING: resultado “reñido” y pide esperar “con paciencia” boletín del CNE

Comando Zamora anuncia resultado “reñido” y pide esperar “con paciencia” boletín del CNE
http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=72682

El vicepresidente ejecutivo, Jorge Rodríguez, anunció en nombre del Comando Zamora, que el resultado del referendo sobre la reforma constitucional “está muy reñido” y llamó a esperar “con paciencia” el primer boletín del Consejo Nacional Electoral. Ratificó que reconocerán “sin chistar” los resultados emanados del CNE.

“Queremos decirle al mundo entero que como auténticos demócratas que somos, exhortamos que debe esperarse el boletín emanado por el CNE (…) Pareciera que el nerviosismo está en otras partes imponer una matriz diferente a la que el CNE debe decir. Está reñido el resultado, nosotros le comunicamos al país que el resultado está reñido”.

..........

Venezuela referendum too close to call
02 December, 2007
By IAN JAMES, Associated Press Writer 11 minutes ago
http://www.localnewswatch.com/skyvalley/stories3/index.php?action=fullnews&id=210377


CARACAS, Venezuela - Hugo Chavez sought to cement his power and end presidential term limits in a vote Sunday that the government said was too close to call.

..... some polling stations were still open to allow voting Sunday night, hours after the official close, and the electoral council was still awaiting results from 20 percent of them ....

The changes would help transform the major U.S. oil provider into a socialist state. They would create new forms of communal property, let Chavez handpick local leaders under a redrawn political map, permit civil liberties to be suspended under extended states of emergency and allow Chavez to seek re-election indefinitely. Otherwise, he cannot run again in 2012.

.......................

Just when I thought this was over, after a long, interesting night waiting for official results and doing discourse analysis.
Now, is there going to be an exit polls controversy?

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Yes to Venezuelan constitutional referendum: exit polls
Mon, 03 Dec 2007 05:58:05 GMT
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/152093.html

Caracas, Dec 3 - Three exit polls have projected that the 'yes' vote had won in the referendum on constitutional overhaul as Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) announced delay in the initial results.

The surveys were carried out by PLM Consultores, Datanalisis and the Venezuelan Data Analysis Institute, or IVAD, according to the Spanish news agency EFE.

The results were leaked to the press even though Venezuelan law prohibits the publication of exit polls before the release of official results.

PLM Consultores said that 54 percent of the public had voted 'yes' to 46 percent 'no', Datanalisis gave 56 percent to the 'yes' option and 44 percent to the 'no' choice, and IVAD said that 53 percent of the votes had been cast for 'yes'.

............

CNE chief Tibisay Lucena earlier told reporters that the referendum would allow Venezuela to give 'a lesson on democracy to the whole world,' adding that there had only been 'four or five' isolated incidents at polling places.

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Venezuela in tight vote on Chavez's powers
Sun Dec 2, 2007 10:48 PM EST
By Saul Hudson and Ana Isabel Martinez
http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-12-03T034755Z_01_N02357212_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-VENEZUELA-REFERENDUM-COL.XML

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was in a tight vote on Sunday in a referendum on scrapping term limits on his rule, and the opposition called on the leftist leader to accept an unprecedented defeat if he loses.

Vice President Jorge Rodriguez said the vote was "close," and opposition leaders questioned the government's data that put Chavez slightly ahead.

...........

Three government ministers earlier said that exit polls and early counts by party members showed Chavez winning by between 6 and 8 percentage points, but government officials said that lead had narrowed.

Opposition leaders said the government's numbers were wrong.

"They are trying to create rumors to present themselves as winners, as victors," Andres Velasquez, an opposition leader said. "We want to deny it categorically, emphatically."

Small groups from both sides celebrated on Sunday evening but the government and opposition leaders called for calm.

.........

This report has a clue on who leaked the early results, "Earlier, three ministers, who asked not to be named, said the margin was between six and eight points." That report was broadcast by Reuters, and in this thread on DU: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2390745

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Officials say Chavez ahead in tight Venezuela vote
Posted 32 minutes ago
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/03/2108081.htm?section=justin

If approved, the referendum vote would allow Mr Chavez to run for re-election indefinitely. (Reuters: Jorge Silva)

Venezuelan government officials say President Hugo Chavez looks headed for a narrow win in a referendum on scrapping term limits on his rule.

But opposition leaders say the vote is too close to call.

Exit polls and early counts by party members show the race tightening with Mr Chavez ahead by as little as four percentage points, senior government officials say.

Earlier, three ministers, who asked not to be named, said the margin was between six and eight points.

Vice-President Jorge Rodriguez has told reporters the vote is "close".

Hugo Chavez on path to become Venezuela's 'elected dictator'
BY ALYSSA GIACHINO - DAILY NEWS WRITER - December 2nd 2007, 11:16 PM
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2007/12/02/2007-12-02_hugo_chavez_on_path_to_become_venezuelas.html

President Hugo Chavez may have eked out a narrow win Sunday in his reform bid that would solidify his power and allow him to rule for life, government officials said.

Exit polls showed the constitutional referendum winning by fewer than 4 points, government sources said. Such a small margin is new for Chavez, who was reelected last year with 63% of the vote.

The public is deeply divided and protesters have clashed in recent weeks. Opponents charge the reforms are a power grab by Chavez, while supporters say the changes will benefit the working poor.

...........



In New York, tempers flared at the Venezuelan Consulate, where Chavez supporters and opponents waved the Venezuelan flag and shouted slogans at one another.

Police barricades kept the groups separated, and no arrests were made.

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Election may tighten grip of Hugo Chavez
By TYLER BRIDGES and PHIL GUNSON
McClatchy - Dec. 02, 2007 10:15 PM - http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/387118.html


CARACAS, Venezuela | President Hugo Chavez’s backers and foes claimed victory ...

Although no official results had been announced as of early Sunday night, supporters of the president took to the streets in joyful “victory” caravans while some opponents claimed a win and others said privately that they had lost the hotly contested national plebiscite on amending 69 articles of Venezuela’s Constitution.

......

After the polls closed it appeared that perhaps only half of the registered voters had turned out for the referendum. Many Chavez opponents had called on voters to stay home to avoid legitimizing a result that they believed was preordained.

The low turnout left opposition leaders shaking their heads.

“It’s inexplicable,” said Carlos Guillermo Arocha, a leader of the Primero Justicia political party, adding that he expected Chavez to further radicalize his leftist-populist policies if he indeed won the election.

Low-income Venezuelans said they expected that Chavez, with a victory, would continue showering government benefits on them.

...........

"Low-income Venezuelans said they expected that Chavez, with a victory, would continue showering government benefits on them."

Geezus, are we a nation of bigots? That's disgusting.

:rofl: Hugo, the "elected dictator." :rofl: :rofl: That's just plain oxymoranic. :rofl:

:shrug:

For Venezuela, tension mounts with close vote
By Simon Romero - International Herald Tribune - Dec 2, 2007
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/03/america/03venezuela.php


CARACAS, Venezuela: From the unusually quiet streets of this capital to the hushed tones of state television announcers, Venezuela was on edge Sunday night as voters awaited the outcome of a contentious referendum that would give President Hugo Chávez sweeping new constitutional powers.

Hours after the polls closed, the government still had not released official results, causing political leaders to speculate that the vote was too close to call.

That would be a stunning development in a country where Chávez and his supporters control nearly all of the levers of power.

"The result will be quarrelsome," Vice President Jorge Rodríguez said in comments broadcast on national television.

Both supporters and critics of the president pointed to exit polls in their favor, suggesting a disputed outcome to the vote. Electoral officials said official results could be released late Sunday evening or early Monday, after reports from polling stations around the country trickled in here.

...............

Venezuela vote too close to call
By Martin Arostegui - Dec 3, 2007
http://washingtontimes.com/article/20071203/FOREIGN/112030062/1003


CARACAS, Venezuela — Opposition leaders sounded victorious as last-minute vote counting indicated a sound rejection of President Hugo Chavez's proposals to alter the constitution in order to establish a communist state in Venezuela ...

"We know the results," said Manuel Rosales, opposition leader and governor of the province of Zulia, speaking before what looked like a victory party at the opposition's "No Block" headquarters in Caracas.

...........

No official results had been announced by midnight, and opposition leaders held back the figures they said would indicate a triumph as an estimated 80 percent of votes were counted.

....

As midnight approached, he said that 20 percent of polling stations had yet to close owing to late voting .....

A defeat would not only cripple the authoritarian administration of Mr. Chavez, but reverse a regional plan in concert with other presidents such as Bolivia's Evo Morales and Ecuador's Luis Correa to turn South America into an anti-U.S. bloc aligned with Iran.

Venezuelans Reject Chavez's Plans for Socialist Constitution
By Helen Murphy and Matthew Walter - Dec. 3
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a0NWKnnn9ZBg&refer=home


Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez suffered his first electoral defeat in nine years as voters turned down his plan to overhaul the constitution and tighten his grip on power.

Chavez's proposal to revamp the 1999 constitution was rejected by voters, the national election regulator said today in Caracas. Some 16.1 million people were eligible to vote.

The loss signals waning support for Chavez's drive to bring socialism to the region's fourth-biggest economy by concentrating power in his hands and ramping up state control of people's lives. Voters refused to abolish presidential term limits or allow government censorship during declared emergencies. Chavez also sought the power to shorten the work day to six hours from eight, curb the power of states and cities and end central bank autonomy.

``This is the first significant setback that Chavez has ever had,'' said Adam Isacson, director at the Center for International Policy in Washington. ``He has lost popular support. He has lost support of some of the army and the poor.''

He has also lost confidence of investors. .........

Chavez loses vote on new powers in Venezuela
Mon Dec 3, 2007 12:32 AM
http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-12-03T053214Z_01_N02357212_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-VENEZUELA-REFERENDUM-COL.XML

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez lost a tight vote on Sunday in a referendum on giving him new powers and scrapping term limits on his left-wing rule.

The national electoral authority said early on Monday the "No" camp won 51 percent of the vote compared to the pro-Chavez "Yes" camp's 49 percent.

It said the trend could not be reserved and declared Chavez the loser.

..........

Chavez called the referendum vote "a photo finish."

Venezuela Hands Narrow Defeat to Chávez Plan
New York Times, United States - 5 minutes ago
By SIMON ROMERO - Dec 3, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/03/world/americas/03venezuela.html?em&ex=1196830800&en=3330a5f22ab3c742&ei=5087%0A


Voters lined up Sunday in Caracas, Venezuela, to cast ballots in a referendum to give new powers to President Hugo Chávez.

The results were a stunning defeat for a leader who was trying to extend already broad powers and lead his country in a radical new direction.

The commission said 50.7 percent voted against the referendum and 49.3 percent voted in favor. The results were all the more surprising given that Mr. Chávez and his supporters control nearly all of the levers of power.

“The result is quarrelsome,” Vice President Jorge Rodríguez said in comments broadcast on national television.

Opposition leaders were more upbeat. “Tonight, Venezuela has won,” said Manuel Rosales, governor of Zulia State and the opposition’s candidate in presidential elections last year.

Through the night supporters and critics of the president pointed to exit polls in their favor, suggesting a disputed outcome. Electoral officials said complete official results could be released early Monday, after reports from polling stations around the country trickled in here.

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"The results were all the more surprising given that Mr. Chávez and his supporters control nearly all of the levers of power." --NYT

Let's play the "What's Wrong With This Picture?" Game. Spot the disinformation in this sentence.

Full knowledge of how screwn we are, by these corporate news monopolies, can make a person hate. I'm trying not to feel hate right now. Oh hell.

**I HATE THE NEW YORK TIMES!!!**

:hide:

Yellow Journalism. Absolutely pathetic

and artfully coordinated propaganda in all probability, or at least the result of lots of effective propaganda.
The analysis was also something entertaining (for anthropologists, anyway) to do while awaiting the results.

I left out some of the worst offenders. The first grade award for spelling went to charlotteconservative.com.

"Chavez is selling a lie that has failed 5 times before and this may be the turning point were the ignorance he peddles it to wakes up."

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: