Chavez offers talks with "black man" in W.House

[CelticKing]

Chavez offers talks with "black man" in W.House

CARACAS, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Anti-U.S. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez predicted on Sunday the "black man" will win the U.S. presidential race and offered to hold talks with him to improve ties between the superpower and one its biggest oil suppliers.

Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee who would be the first black U.S. president if he wins Tuesday's election, said this year he would be open to dialogue with leaders like Chavez -- a remark that was seized on by Republicans as naive.

McCain, who trails Obama in polls, has labeled Chavez a dictator.

Chavez, a socialist who has mocked President George W. Bush and calls ex-Cuban leader Fidel Castro his mentor, has said there is an inevitable clash between U.S. and Venezuelan interests, although he has at times offered to ease bilateral tensions.

"We are not asking him to be a revolutionary, to be a socialist -- no," Chavez said at a political rally. We just want the black man who is about to be the U.S. president to have enough stature for the times the world is living through.

"I send an overture to the black man, from us here, who are of Indigenous, black, Caribbean, South American race," he said.

"I am ready to sit down and talk ... I hope we can, and I hope we can enter a new stage," he said later at another rally.

Most Latin Americans would prefer Obama to win the White House over Republican rival John McCain, according to polls. They have felt largely neglected by the Bush administration as the region swung to the left.

Chavez, who expelled the U.S. ambassador in September, urged Obama to end the Cuban embargo, withdraw troops from Iraq and stop what he called U.S. threats against Iran and Venezuela.

 

[CelticKing]

Another reason not to vote for Obama.

Every enemy of the United States, wants Obama in the office, that alone should give you signs of what kind of candidate the Democrats gave to you guys.


VOTE FOR MCCAIN!!!! VOTE COUNTRY FIRST!!!!!

 

[maxiep]

I make it a point never to buy gas from CITGO.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I see no reason why our government shouldn't at least talk with people like this. Even is they are liars and cannot be trusted, keeping the lines of communication somewhat open seems like a good idea to me, so long as we realize who we're dealing with.

 

[maxiep]

I see no reason why our government shouldn't at least talk with people like this. Even is they are liars and cannot be trusted, keeping the lines of communication somewhat open seems like a good idea to me, so long as we realize who we're dealing with.

Well, we have diplomatic relations--although strained--with Venezuela. You don't have to talk head-of-state to head-of-state for diplomacy to work. We talk to every single country on this planet as well as many extra-governmental organizations. Giving Chavez the prestige of a meeting with the President is a ridiculous move, however, and one that won't serve our interests.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Well, we have diplomatic relations--although strained--with Venezuela. You don't have to talk head-of-state to head-of-state for diplomacy to work. We talk to every single country on this planet as well as many extra-governmental organizations. Giving Chavez the prestige of a meeting with the President is a ridiculous move, however, and one that won't serve our interests.

I'm not so sure I agree.

Let's face it, we're also a country of serious human rights abuse. We have a certain amount of government corruption as well and we have had recent presidents (like the last 2) who were not completely honest. What can't their be some sort of "honor amoung theives"?

Besides, it may set the stage for something good down the road.

 

[¹²³]

Virtually every enemy and every ally is supporting Obama.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Virtually every enemy and every ally is supporting Obama.

Perhaps that can be used to our advantage.

 

[maxiep]

I'm not so sure I agree.

Let's face it, we're also a country of serious human rights abuse. We have a certain amount of government corruption as well and we have had recent presidents (like the last 2) who were not completely honest. What can't their be some sort of "honor amoung theives"?

Besides, it may set the stage for something good down the road.

If you choose to believe the United States and Venezuela are morally equivalent, we're going to agree to disagree.

 

[maxiep]

Virtually every enemy and every ally is supporting Obama.

If I weren't American, I'd support Obama too. He's willing to give up a chunk of America's sovereignty just to get other countries to say nice things about the US.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

If you choose to believe the United States and Venezuela are morally equivalent, we're going to agree to disagree.

I certainly wouldn't go that far. But let's face it, we're no puritans.

 

[¹²³]

If I weren't American, I'd support Obama too. He's willing to give up a chunk of America's sovereignty just to get other countries to say nice things about the US.

How is he going to give a chunk of America's sovereignty?

I am interested.

 

[Денг Гордон]

How is he going to give a chunk of America's sovereignty?

I am interested.

Me too, let's hear this.

 

[maxiep]

I certainly wouldn't go that far. But let's face it, we no puritans.

We don't have to be virginal to not consider ourselves whores.

 

[maxiep]

How is he going to give a chunk of America's sovereignty?

I am interested.

I'll give you one example. Signing the Kyoto Protocols would be giving up a piece of our sovereignty.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

We don't have to be virginal to not consider ourselves whores.

Good line. LOL!

 

[¹²³]

I'll give you one example. Signing the Kyoto Protocols would be giving up a piece of our sovereignty.

Do you think that signing any international treaty equals giving up a piece of USA sovereignty?

 

[maxiep]

Do you think that signing any international treaty equals giving up a piece of USA sovereignty?

No, but one that economically ties our hands behind our back while others are allowed to pollute scot-free is an exercise in stupidity.

 

[¹²³]

No, but one that economically ties our hands behind our back while others are allowed to pollute scot-free is an exercise in stupidity.

I agree it is an exercise in stupidity.

But I don't think it is giving up sovereignty as much as any other international treaty.

 

[maxiep]

I agree it is an exercise in stupidity.

But I don't think it is giving up sovereignty as much as any other international treaty.

Limiting our nuclear arms when we have the ability to still destroy the world a few thousand times over doesn't limit sovereignty. Signing a free trade agreement with other countries doesn't limit our sovereignty. Signing an agreement capping the amount of pollution (and thereby energy) we can produce while not limiting all other countries is giving up soverignty.

If you want another example, the World Court in the Hague is a fine one.

 

[¹²³]

Limiting our nuclear arms when we have the ability to still destroy the world a few thousand times over doesn't limit sovereignty. Signing a free trade agreement with other countries doesn't limit our sovereignty. Signing an agreement capping the amount of pollution (and thereby energy) we can produce while not limiting all other countries is giving up soverignty.

If you want another example, the World Court in the Hague is a fine one.

OK. I am not sure we are on the same page. What is your definition of sovereignty?