El Diablo is dead. Can you smell the sulfur?User provided
El Diablo is dead. Can you smell the sulfur?
Made popular 73 days ago in Politics
Obama, US lawmakers see 'new chapter' in Venezuela after Chavez's death

U.S. officials quickly cast Hugo Chavez's death as an opportunity for America to rebuild a relationship with Venezuela and for the country itself to pursue “meaningful democratic reforms," with President Obama heralding a "new chapter" in the Latin American country's history.

Chavez, who had been battling cancer since 2011, died Tuesday after 14 years in power. An election is expected to be held in 30 days – the transition marks one of the first major challenges for newly appointed Secretary of State John Kerry.

Obama kept a measured tone in a statement released Tuesday evening.

"At this challenging time of President Hugo Chavez’s passing, the United States reaffirms its support for the Venezuelan people and its interest in developing a constructive relationship with the Venezuelan government," Obama said. "As Venezuela begins a new chapter in its history, the United States remains committed to policies that promote democratic principles, the rule of law, and respect for human rights.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill were less reserved.

“Hugo Chavez was a tyrant who forced the people of Venezuela to live in fear,” Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a written statement. “His death dents the alliance of anti-U.S. leftist leaders in South America. Good riddance to this dictator.”

He said that, while not guaranteed, “closer U.S. relations with this key country in our Hemisphere are now possible.”

Royce’s Democratic counterpart on the committee, Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., also said Chavez’s death is an “opportunity” for the people of Venezuela to “chart a new course.”

“This is a moment to review and renew our relationships with Venezuela and nations throughout the Americas based upon fundamentally shared values that bind our entire hemisphere,” he said.

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., expressed hope for a peaceful transition “with real, meaningful democratic reforms.”

Animosity between Caracas and Washington was rising even in the final hours before Chavez’s death.

Vice President Nicolas Maduro claimed “historical enemies” of Venezuela were behind Chavez’s cancer diagnosis. The Venezuelan government also expelled two U.S. diplomats from the country – accusing them of spying.

The State Department rejected the allegations and suggested it did not bode well for the future of U.S.-Venezuela ties.

“Notwithstanding the significant differences between our governments, we continue to believe it important to seek a functional and more productive relationship with Venezuela based on issues of mutual interest,” State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said. “This fallacious assertion of inappropriate U.S. action leads us to conclude that, unfortunately, the current Venezuelan government is not interested in an improved relationship.”

The statement was released before Chavez’s death was announced.

Several other members of Congress issued statements in the minutes following reports of Chavez's death. Rep. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said he looks forward to promoting “a free, democratic and pro-American government in Venezuela.”

At least one member of Congress, Rep. Jose Serrano, D-N.Y., had effusive praise for Chavez.

“It is important to remember that he was democratically elected many times in elections that were declared free and fair by international monitors,” he said. “President Chave

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Will obama be lead El Diablo of the west?
Yes, bobo is more evil than Chavez. Now he will want Venezuela to be as evil as he wants this country to be.
0%
Yes, I think obama gave chavez cancer since obama is the cancer of this country.
7.7%
No, obama is the El Diablo of the world.
15%
All
77%
This is not a scientific survey, click here to learn more. Results may not total 100% due to rounding and voting descrepencies.
User Comments
bish66
Posted 72 days ago
0 up votes, 0 down votes
I have no idea what you try to ask with the question "Will obama be lead El Diablo of the west?", but it does not seem to matter much since it is - again - no poll, because there are no alternatives.
We know by now that you see Obama as the ultimate evil. Can we move on or is that your only topic in the world?
lightdude
Posted 72 days ago
0 up votes, 0 down votes
@bish66 I can't hear you with you head up your butt.
bish66
Posted 70 days ago
0 up votes, 0 down votes
@lightdude
the problem is less with your ears, more with the vacuum between them.
You are not able to write correct English sentences, you have no idea what the purpose of a poll is, you have no manners and you get rude if criticized. Either you are a juvenile or senile. Or plain stupid.
yaja429
Posted 70 days ago
0 up votes, 0 down votes
no, bish, the only stupid person on this poll is the you for thinking that Obama has any merits as a president.
bish66
Posted 70 days ago
0 up votes, 0 down votes
@yaja429
I'm no fan of Obama and I never voted for him. I would have preferred Hillary Clinton or McCain or Romney to him. I don't think that he has a good idea about what he's doing and he surrounded himself with mostly clueless people. His plan for the economy is not working, his foreign policy sticks closely to Bush's play book and he isn't even a good speaker.
Merits? Well, he does know how to sell his image to the public and he's amazing in raising/laundering funds for his campaigns. He is not the devil, because the horned one is clever and not an amateur like Obama.
Based on my comment, there is no indication whatsoever that I'm a fan of Obama (which I am not), so I wonder why you are insulting me.
lightdude
Posted 68 days ago
0 up votes, 0 down votes
@bish66 Oh, boo hoo. If you don't like it, go somewhere else before you break a nail.
bish66
Posted 68 days ago
0 up votes, 0 down votes
@lightdude
does your mother know that you are using her computer again? You clearly are a kid.
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