Well, it turns out that the Left may have just stolen an election in Venezuela. The media has tuned out on this story, after proudly reporting that Hugo Chavez won a resounding victory, once former President Carter blessed the results as fair. The big story in the mainstream media was the rebuke to President Bush, since Chavez was Fidel Castro's best friend in the hemisphere, and had trounced his opponents in the recall election.

In the days following the recall election, stories began to surface that the election results were inconsistent with polling results conducted before the election, and with exit polls conducted on election day. Interestingly, Krugman argued in his alarmist column that exit polls should be used as a check on the honesty of the results on election day, to see whether the fix was in. If for instance, an exit poll showed Kerry ahead on Election Day in Florida, but Bush won the state in the actual tally on November 2nd, then we would know, Krugman told us, that the results were suspect.

Linky

Venezuela's economy grew at least 10 percent for a third year in 2006 as President Hugo Chavez used record oil income to boost government spending and subsidies, sparking a jump in consumer demand.

Gross domestic product, the broadest measure of a country's production of goods and services, expanded 10.3 percent this year, Central Bank President Gaston Parra said in a statement, without giving the fourth-quarter figure. The economy grew 10.2 percent in the third quarter, 10.2 percent in the second and 10.1 percent in the first.

``The expansion of internal aggregate demand was, for a third consecutive year, the main reason for economic growth,'' Parra said. ``Expanding supply capacity in the medium term will determine the sustainability of economic growth and control of prices.''

A 51 percent increase in government spending in the first nine months of the year helped boost sales of cars, mobile phones and food. The economy has grown at least 10 percent for six quarters and 10 of the last 11 quarters.

Linky

So, Chavez takes advantage of *gasp* high oil prices to spend more, triggering an increase in demand in the country, and that's to his credit? If an American company did that, you'd be calling for their heads for inflationary oil pricing. Get your f-ing story straight.

You do realize that oil companies spend billions, right? Why don't you criticize them for helping the economy the same way that Chavez does?

You bang the drum for a socialist, but stick your tongue out at capitalists. Stalin and Lenin must be applauding down in Hell.

__________________
2010 528Xi
I demand justice.
Or, if there must be injustice, let it be in my favor.

Reynold's Wrap: it's not just for hats anymore.