How a Full Blown Dictator Works His Way Into Power

[Obama 2012 1,714]

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http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/12/17/venezuela.chavez/index.html?hpt=T1

(CNN) -- Venezuela's lame-duck National Assembly has granted President Hugo Chavez the power to pass laws by decree for the next 18 months, the website of state-run Venezuelan Television reported Friday.

Critics say the 56-year-old president sought the power in order to push his agenda through the legislative body. Elections in September weakened the ruling party's hold on power, and ruling by decree would provide Chavez with a way to circumvent a less friendly national assembly for a full year, they say.

The new lawmakers are to be seated January 5.

But Chavez has said he was seeking the powers in order to be able to respond to recent flooding that has left thousands of people homeless.

Heavy flooding and mudslides in late November claimed at least 21 lives in the state of Miranda and displaced more than 32,000 in Falcon state, authorities said.

At the time, Chavez reportedly allowed 20 displaced families to temporarily live in structures on the grounds of his Miraflores Palace, VTV said.

Lawmakers are also considering reforms that opponents say will make it easier for Chavez to clamp down on critics. Two of them -- changes in the the Organic Telecommunications Law and the Social Responsibility in Radio and Television Law -- are garnering much attention. A proposed new article in the Organic Telecommunications Law calls for the creation of government-run internet hub.

Critics say such a hub could be used effectively as a censorship tool, and they have brought comparisons to China, Cuba and Iran.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

No surprise--as some of us (those born in India--such as myself--particularly) have seen this in a neighbouring country (THRICE!).

[peejay 327]

Is that the same as our presidents' "executive order"?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Is that the same as our presidents' "executive order"?

well figuring our executive order is illegal when it doesn't apply to the President and staffing the executive branch and setting rules, I'd say now when they are talking about him passing actual laws by decree......

[spookyturtle 9,465]

I'll take Obama over Chavez. Hell, I'd take Bush or Carter over Chavez.

[Peikko 1,575]

All Obama needs is a nice catastrophe and he too could be a Chavezian dictator. I'm quaking in my boots!

[peejay 327]

All Obama needs is a nice catastrophe and he too could be a Chavezian dictator. I'm quaking in my boots!

Obama is no Chavez. No cojones.

[luckytxn 2,263]

He pretty much has always had his way so why be surprised that he is given dictator powers?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Obama is no Chavez. No cojones.

So on some level you respect Chavez more than Obama. Wow.

[Peikko 1,575]

It's typical of the logic on display daily on VJ. Good stuff