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HUGO CHAVEZ’S TOP aides accused the opposition and the media of using the Venezuelan president’s poor health to wage a “psychological war” to destabilise the country, as the cancer-stricken leader struggled with a severe lung infection.
The hardline stance was adopted after Vice President Nicolas Maduro returned from a visit with the ailing Chavez in Cuba, where he is suffering from complications more than three weeks after undergoing cancer surgery.
Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said a “severe pulmonary infection” that Chavez developed after the surgery had led to a “respiratory insufficiency” requiring strict adherence to his treatment.
Villegas then leveled the charge that the president’s health had become the target of a campaign to destabilise the government and finish off its socialist revolution.
The government “warns the Venezuelan people about the psychological war that the transnational media complex has unleashed around the health of the chief of state, with the ultimate goal of destabilising the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,” he said in a televised statement.
Demands for details
The statement came amid rising demands at home for a detailed accounting of Chavez’s condition and whether he is fit to take the oath of office January 10 for another six year term.
Venezuela’s constitution calls for new elections to be held within 30 days if the president is unable to take the oath of office or dies during his first four years in office.
But Maduro and National Assembly speaker Diosdado Cabello, the regime’s number two and three leaders, made clear on their return from Cuba that they were not preparing for a transfer of power.
“Here there is only one transition and it began at least six years ago and it was decreed by comandante Hugo Chavez,” Maduro said, referring to the launch in 2006 of the president’s socialist revolution.
Maduro and Cabello spoke on Venezuelan state television, as they toured a coffee packaging plant in Caracas that had been taken over by the state.
Rumours of power struggle
Both men went out of their way to deny rumors of an internal power struggle between them, with Maduro saying they had sworn before Chavez that they would remain united.
“We are here more united than ever,” said Maduro, who is Chavez’s handpicked successor. “And we have sworn before comandante Hugo Chavez, and we reaffirmed to him today in our oath … that we would be united with our people.”
Referring to the reported rift, Cabello said the opposition would have to wait “2000 years for that to happen” and said “no conciliation is possible with this opposition.”
Maduro accused the opposition of “lies and manipulation, a campaign to try to create uncertainty.”
“We know that the United States is where these manipulations are being managed,” he said. “They think that their time has come. And we have entered a kind of crazy hour of offensive by the right, here and internationally.”
It was unclear whether Maduro was referring to US-based Venezuelans or the US government.
Earlier in Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland denied claims that US officials were meddling in Venezuelan affairs, but acknowledged they had been in contact with Venezuelans “from across the political spectrum.”
“There’s no ‘made-in-America’ solution here. This has to be something that Venezuelans have to do,” Nuland said.
“The message we are giving to Venezuelans of all stripes (is) that we want to see any transition be democratic, be constitutional, be open, be transparent, be legal within Venezuela, and that it has to be decided by Venezuelans.”
Recovery has been difficult
Chavez was re-elected October 7 despite his debilitating battle with cancer and the strongest opposition challenge yet to his 14-year rule in Venezuela, an OPEC member with the world’s largest proven oil reserves.
But he has not been seen in public since he underwent a long and complicated surgery 23 days ago for a recurrence of cancer, and officials have acknowledged that his recovery has been difficult.
The rector of the Central University of Venezuela, Cecilia Garcia Arocha, proposed sending a team of medical experts to Havana to assess his condition. Opposition leader Antonio Ledezma said it should include opposition figures.
Cancer was first detected by Cuban doctors in June 2011, but the Venezuelan government has never revealed what form of the disease he is battling.
Information about his progress has come in vague, often upbeat comments and tweets by Maduro and a handful of other aides and close allies.
On Thursday, Maduro, who spent five days in Havana, said Chavez was “battling” for his health.
“We ask once more for respect for president Chavez fight to fully regain his health in a complex situation,” he said.
Snowflake generation.
@Seán Dillon: I’m no fan of Hook, he’s a loudmouth know-it-all. I’d have absolutely no problem whatsoever telling him that to his face either, if I were unfortunate enough to have to opportunity. I’d expect to get some back in response though. If you can’t take it, don’t give it.
@John Considine: as he’d say you’re entitled to your opinion. That’s what I personally like about hooks shows, you don’t have to agree with him all the time or even ever.
@neilo: It’s a derogatery term for people who stand up for themselves.
@Sean Conway: It’s a derogatory term for people who can’t stand up for their arguments
@Daniel Rea: Isn’t that why people are afraid to speak out. because your boss wont give you another contract. and who’s going to pay the mortgage. sad but true.
The sooner George Hook is brought back the better, we need someone like him who is not afraid to speak his mind on air and not be afraid of the politically correct (loonies) contingent out there.
@Charles Coughlan:
Absolutely …george to me is brill.straight from the hip like mick o leary of ryanair..
Pity our politicians dont take a leaf from his book
@Larry Whelan: yes he can be good but I think we all needed a break from him for a while. His whinging voice was starting to sound like an air raid siren as he built himself up into apoplexy over the latest perceived outrage.
@Charles Coughlan: amen to THAT!!!!
I don’t like the guy…I thought he was brutal as a rugby pundit…but I salute anyone who says it like it is in today’s society.
@Larry Whelan: They can afford to talk in that manner when they are backed by billionaires.
@Sean: love George, he tells it like it is, there is an on/off button on all devices – which everyone has the freedom to use should they be utterly shocked at programme content. Bring back George hook.
good on you George.
Delighted and the sooner george hook is back on the air the better….. the more listeners for newstalk, yates and hook were the only two worth while (kennys not bad either in fairness!)
I don’t listen to the radio since there’s this internet thing. But while we’re on the subject I seem to recall a certain Cork radio personality who whipped his lad out on an airplane and started pleasuring himself. After a six month hiatus he was back on the radio. Hook isn’t even in the same universe. What’s wrong with people? Get over it. Snowflakes indeed.
@Virtual Architect: Long time ago that was, he assaulted no 1 so why bring it up? He wasn’t doing it on air and besides who hasn’t knocked one out while on a long flight.
@neilo: so switch the dial and keep it moving. Problem – don’t like hook.
Reaction – b!tch about it online.
Solution – don’t listen to him.
Quite simple really.
@Let free speech live: is it not the same thing Louis CK did? Also, wasn’t a long haul flight. London to Cork as far as I remember.
- Newstalk argued that Hook’s personality is central to the tone of the programme and the audience would be familiar with his “larger than life, gregarious and outspoken persona”
Sounds like whoever wrote this also penned Al Porter’s ‘apology’
@Guy Incognito: hook’s regular listeners probably aren’t the easily offended types so this description is okay.
The complainant in this case is a sh@& with nothing better to be doing with him or herself
@Guy Incognito: do you know for fact the same person wrote both or are you just slandering for the craic?
@Luka Savić: Sorry for triggering you Luka
@Luka Savić: Do you know for a fact what “slandering” means or are you just throwing it around to look clever?
@Neal Ireland Hello.: I’m satirising Guy Incognito.
@Guy Incognito: “Sounds like whoever wrote this also penned Al Porter’s ‘apology’”
What utter b0ll*cks .. Hook was hounded pout during a witch hunt, which was covered by all media .. Whereas almost silence on Al Porter .. Haven’t heard mrs pc himself Matt Cooper say much on Porter, compared to shows devoted to anti Hook rhetoric.
The pure hypocrisy of the social commentators, media and PC brigade as Hook made some comments about a sexual assault of a man on a woman, and was punished for it as it suited the social commentators, media and PC brigade narrative .. Al Porter is gay, so f all really in the media about his as it does not fit the social commentators, media and PC brigades..
And before you go even more, I cannot stand Hook and usually disagrees with his views and have sent some choice texts to him in the past. He may and possibly should have lost of job before for other comments, but no it was this one because its suits the narrative.
@Irish Bob: Cooper has his head so far up his own backside he makes Chris Donohoe sound good.
At least Newstalk have seen the light. Now let’s get the rest. They’re like a very nasty virus.
@Harry Roberts: Agreed. Cooper is now the most aggressivly PC presenter on air. It has ruined his show as he used to be a little more questioning. Read somewhere that he is looking for a new job so is proving his liberal/leftie credentials. Must be looking to compete with Fintan or Una in the IT.
@Guy Incognito: It was a joke. Calm down.
What George says on air pales into insignificance compared to what some other celebrities have been getting up to.
@John Quill:
What George say on air is similar to what the majority of the adult population say
Just change the channel if you don’t like what you hear.
Sitting at home waiting for something to lodge a complaint about.
I’d like to punch them in the face.
@John ward: The only problem with that, is that there are limited spaces available on the public airwaves, and, like in other countries, they are slowly being amalgamated into one or two big owners.
@John ward:You too seem like one any parent would be proud of. Why change channel Because a bully says you should
@Guy Incognito: sounds like someone loves the Dil.
Good man George..
@Luka Savić: Dil who?
Nice one, George, the only broadcaster worth listening to.
@Guy Incognito: slander? It’s a joke don’t get your knickers in a twist Dil.
God .. I miss you George .. That One at lunchtime is brutal !
I’d be fairly liberal, but I have to say, I love listening to Yates and enjoyed Hook when he was on air. Much better than listening to the crap 10 song playlists the other stations are churning out these days.
@Darren Bates: Could not agree more. And I’m definitely one of those libtard snowflakes- there are just too many signs for me to ignore it. Still, I did enjoy listening to George. He is very much a grandad figure, sure he’d say the wrong thing sometimes, but it was out of innocent ignorance, never malice. Hope he returns. Yates is good too!
@Number 14: Oh there you are! I have a bone to pick with you… I have only one account here mister! So there.
@Number 14: I feel a friendship blossoming!
@anthony campion: “Thats showbizz baby!” – Eamon Dunphy
‘Newstalk argued that Hook’s personality is central to the tone of the programme and the audience would be familiar with his “larger than life, gregarious and outspoken persona”’
So , then its ok for him to call people ‘shits’? Don’t see the logic there. Plenty of other broadcasters are like this but don’t refer to their listeners as ‘shits’. Glad to see the back of him and everything he represents (in a word, mediocrity)
@andrew: It’s okay to call people shits when they’re acting like shits…
@andrew: in a word yes, IF they act as such.
@Guy Incognito: what about his jokes though? Do you think they’re funny?
@Luka Savić: Got anything to back that up or are you just slandering for the craic?
We need more George hooks and the radio.
I’m sick of pc cheer leaders like mat Cooper. …
If only he was al porter the comments would be closed
There is one or two big sh*ta at Newstalk all right…..
Hookie boy always was a guttersnipe. Expecting anything better is silly.
What amuses me is that Hookie boy is as derogatory if not more derogatory of his admirers as he is off his detractors.
There is a living fossil quality to Hookie boy. It’s like he is a living remnant of thre 1950s. I can see why he has such a nostalgic appeal to the old reactionaries.
Expecting any better of Hookie boy is just silly.
@Fiona deFreyne: you can keep saying Hookie Boy all you like like a stuck record but it doesn’t change the fact that Newstalk had to reinstate him and get rid of the PC zombies. Because people like his straight talking and can’t stand Donohoe or any of his clones.
Clearly changing the dial works.
@Fiona deFreyne:
He called them a shit. Have you ever heard an adult call someone a shit in their life? Have you managed to get through life without calling someone a bad name. Earlier this afternoon you were saying all of our politicians were moral pygmies. Was that meant as a complement?
@Fiona deFreyne: ever think of changing the dial so you personally don’t have to listen to hook? You have a choice, so get give it a rest.
Sorry Hook was not on during the Circus that went on for the last week Our elected playing a game with the people they left in dire streets They all should be ashamed of themselves But that is only .for those with scruples This is not hindsight I posted the outcome 5 days ago and said that they would not retract t heir insults to Wallace and Daly who were right for years
Snowflake pc brigade….go and f….off.
This is disgraceful. It is protectionism of the media by their own. Irrespective of what the tweeter stated, there is a greater onus on the presenter to respond in an acceptable fashion. In this Hooke failed miserably and that should have been reflected by the BAI’s decision. What is the point of having regulators if they do not regulate properly and fairly? This type of regulation has already been seen in the banks etc.. Self regulation (or near enough) is akin to self protectionism. You can’t make exceptions just because you like someone. That is inequity at its best/worst. Hooke has run his show like his own personal soapbox, without giving those that he castigated a fair right of reply. Given that his bias was usually broadcast without any representative of those that he was doing down, present, then a fair right of reply was next to impossible. Even if he gave those an opportunity at another time to reject his bias, it is not equivalent to being able to respond at the initial broadcast. Statements even if biased carry greater weight when they go unchallenged, not to mention that the same audience will not be there on a different day.
I get why some people like listening to him as he is not “vanilla” like a lot of other presenters but I for one can’t stand his shows. He invites guests on who are quite often experts in their fields and then spends the whole interview interrupting them so he can lecture everyone on why he is right or trying to distil a complex statement down to two words that are not even relevant to the topic. Same old stories about his life rehashed a thousand times. I respect him for not being afraid to give an opinion but jesus he can bang on with the best of them. I for one will gladly take Ivan Yeats over him when stuck in the car on the way home!
@number14: Faceless and nameless, you’re a brave mouthpiece.
@Luka Savić: Yeah well, I’m sick of your unfunny bollocks.
@anthony campion: Do
Silly old man enjoy your comfortable retirement in Foxrock. L
I really think Hook is enjoying the notoriety and controversy.I wish he would just retire and go away.he IS a gruff arrogant old man and has done his time.
Get lost george please and leave us all alone.
You are like a cranky old neighbour.
Come on George Hook get back on air and make more of these morons run home to mammy.
have your say