My bet is that Chavez will do what the Europeans are doing with the EU Constitution, keep pounding away at the populace while removing requirements that actually force them to hold referendums. Chavez has 4 years to get this done, I can’t see any scenario where it’s not his top priority.

BTW, were it not for the fact that he overplayed the populist card, alienating allies like Columbia, it’s entirely possible he could have stole this election too. Even his base started to see what his real intentions are, to control the bulk of South America through fear and intimidation.

That was the exit polls were coming in at the last time Chavez did this and he ended up winning by that margin. This is the election Carter vetted, even though it was later found out that the tally computer, which was supposed to be able to only count ballots, was switched to one that allowed full access.

My friends say that if Chavez had done the same this time there would have been a revolt by the college students and middle classes. The 51% loss was considered a “compromise.”

Looks like the Cold War will be back soon, only with Russians now able to afford it.