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Ear to the Ground

Smackdown in Venezuela

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Posted on Feb 11, 2011
Venezuelan State Television

The brawl was broadcast across the country as Socialist Party legislator Henry Ventura tried to remove rival Alfonso Marquina, facing camera, from the speaker’s podium.

In a brawl broadcast live on television and radio, Venezuelan legislators exchanged blows as members of President Hugo Chavez’s United Socialist Party tried to remove an opposition member from the parliament’s speaker’s podium.

Video of the melee was seen and heard across the country through a direct link-up system often used by Chavez to broadcast his speeches. The transmission was cut after the violence began. —JCL

Al-Jazeera English:

Venezuelan legislators from the socialist party of President Hugo Chavez and their rivals have exchanged punches in parliament.

The fist-fight on Thursday began after Socialist party legislator Henry Ventura tried to remove an opposition member, Alfonso Marquina, from the speaker’s podium.

The pair were soon joined by several other legislators and parliamentary employees who shoved and punched one another for several minutes.

“We came to work in peace, like we always do, and we hope that we are not subject to aggression for the words we say, like we were just now,” Nicolas Maduro, the foreign minister, said.

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By Litl Bludot, February 15, 2011 at 11:36 am Link to this comment

rollzone,

among other things, his people saved him from a CIA etc. thug coup.  You
know, the people who vote him in office by over 60%.  The ones who have
better education, healthcare, land reform, access to their own country’s wealth
(rather than the rape and pillage of US global corporate fascism) He declares
emergencies when the people are suffering, recently clearing out a few posh
hotels for people who lost homes in floods.  Here in the US, he gave heating oil
to our old and poor in harsh winters, as he does for other countries.

Perhaps you could explain why you’re so ignorant about the US role in
destroying societies, cultures, ecosystems and anyone who happens to try to do
something about it.  The incomparable damage we are doing to our planet, our
humanity is overwhelming and clear to anybody who has a soul left.

Report this
Peter Knopfler's avatar

By Peter Knopfler, February 12, 2011 at 1:33 pm Link to this comment

Anger management failed HUGO´S thugs attack opposition
leaders, usually at night, in the dark, the wolves
attack, this time in brazen public, “It´s a good day to
woup somebody´s ass!” THE HALLS OF JUSTICE OR JUST US!

Report this
Tesla's avatar

By Tesla, February 12, 2011 at 12:30 pm Link to this comment

A similar opposition if it existed in this country
would find itself infiltrated and usurped by one or
more of our “alphabet agencies”. Members and
sympathizers would be slandered, blackmailed and
possibly imprisoned.

I have no delusions about Chavez being a saint or
that he is incapable of vindictiveness on some level.
But please, explain to me, what if anything does he
do that our leaders haven’t done or currently aren’t
doing?

The American exceptionalist attitude makes for
morally bankrupt hyperbole coming from both our right
and left.

Report this

By rollzone, February 12, 2011 at 9:55 am Link to this comment

hello. this is why we need Jesse Ventura on the floor,
in the house. so, Litl Bludot, you have your moment-
explain to all us corporate plebes what is so
fabulously good about leader Chavez…

Report this

By Inherit The Wind, February 11, 2011 at 10:19 pm Link to this comment

Perhaps the good people of Venezuela will decide THEY don’t want to live 30 years under Hugo Mubark/Hosni Chavez.

Report this

By Litl Bludot, February 11, 2011 at 6:17 pm Link to this comment

typical headline for Truthdig.  Coming to see it as another frenemy site. 
Pretending to be on the side of truth, transparency, democracy, but in reality, a
propaganda machine for the corporate fascists.

Chavez, like other latin leaders in Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Brazil, are not taking
the neo liberal BS anymore, so our “security” apparatus has made it clear that any
slander directing at these countries leaders would be appreciated.  Truthdig is
obliging.

Disgusting.

Report this

By TDoff, February 11, 2011 at 5:07 pm Link to this comment

Geez, you can use some of this same text when you do your article on GOProud at the conservative CPAC meeting, as I understand that several of their leaders exchanged blows, also.

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