Insider Report: Diplomat: Chavez 'Buying' D.C. Lawyers

Insider Report: Diplomat: Chavez 'Buying' D.C. Lawyers

Special From NewsMax's Most Informed Sources
Sunday, June 4, 2006

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Headlines (Scroll down for complete stories):
1. Diplomat: Chavez 'Buying' D.C. Lawyers
2. Schwarzenegger Pulls Ahead in Polls
3. Paul Harvey Finally Leaving Radio?
4. Crist Holds Lead in Florida Governor's Race
5. We Heard: Tammy Bruce, Katie Couric

1. Diplomat: Chavez 'Buying' D.C. Lawyers

A high-ranking Latin American diplomat tells NewsMax that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is using his country's oil billions to buy influence in Washington.

"Everyone thinks Chavez is a dummy, but he's smarter than that," said the diplomat, who has contacts throughout South and Central America.

"He's been putting many major Washington, D.C.-based law firms on his payroll."

The diplomat suspects that's the reason why Washington has gone soft on Chavez's antics. He cites the following examples of Chavez's behavior:

Chavez has called for a "jihad" against American influence, and recently said the Bush administration was "eroding the possibility of peace and life" on Earth.
In mid-May, the Chavez government announced that it was considering selling its fleet of U.S.-made F-16 fighters to Iran – and a week later Chavez said he would buy Russian-made fighter jets.
Chavez has repeatedly claimed that the U.S. is plotting to overthrow him. In March, he said he wanted to prepare his military for a "war of resistance" against U.S. troops – and in December a Chavez ally alleged that authorities had foiled a plot by opponents and the CIA to topple his government.
Chavez has forged a close relationship with Cuban Communist Fidel Castro, and sent tens of thousands of young Venezuelans to Cuba for indoctrination.
Venezuela has sheltered groups with ties to Middle Eastern terrorists and has allowed Venezuelan weapons to reach Colombian guerillas, according to a senior U.S. official.
Chavez has been accused of interfering in presidential elections in Peru and Nicaragua and funding an anti-democratic movement in Bolivia, which recently nationalized its natural gas industry.

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The Latin American diplomat did not name any law firms that are on Chavez's payroll, but told NewsMax that the Venezuelan leader had access to billions of dollars through Petroleos de Venezuela, the country's national oil company, and evidently agrees with Lenin that capitalists can be bought.

Finding out which lawyers Chavez has hired would be difficult, since law firms do not have to disclose their private clients. But the diplomat said a Congressional investigation would quickly uncover how Chavez is paying off both Republicans and Democrats in Washington.

2. Schwarzenegger Pulls Ahead in Polls

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's approval rating has gone up and he now leads both of his potential Democratic challengers in the November election, a new poll reveals.

As State Controller Steve Westly and Treasurer Phil Angelides square off for the Democratic nomination for governor in the June 6 primary, Schwarzenegger leads Westly by a 44 percent to 42 percent margin and is ahead of Angelides, 46 percent to 39 percent, according to the Field Poll of likely November voters.

A Field Poll in February had Schwarzenegger in a virtual dead heat with both Democrats.

The governor is now viewed favorably by the same percentage of voters – 46 percent – as view him unfavorably. His numbers have especially improved among independent voters – 46 percent now view him positively, compared to only 34 percent in February.

The new poll "shows continuing improvement for Governor Schwarzenegger," Steve Schmidt, his campaign manager, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

"The Democratic race is dead even, and the governor is enthusiastic and excited for the campaign to begin."

Schwarzenegger's re-election prospects appeared shaky after voters rejected his slate of special ballot measures in November. But since then he's gained support by promoting efforts to protect the environment and improve education and transportation in the state.

Schwarzenegger recently ended a 17-day standoff with the Bush administration by agreeing to send the California National Guard to the Mexican border. His reluctance to send troops had been seen as popular among Hispanics in the state.

Now his campaign team has hired Arnoldo Torres, an anchor with the Spanish-language TV network Univision, as a senior adviser.

And Schwarzenegger plans a cross-state bus tour to jumpstart his campaign after the primary.

"I will personally campaign by walking door-to-door, meeting people where they work, talking and listening in coffee shops and living rooms," he said in a letter to supporters.

Tom Del Beccaro, head of the statewide GOP County Chairmen's Association, told the Chronicle about Schwarzenegger's improved poll numbers: "Things are gelling; people are returning to him.

"We might have been disappointed in our team, but we see the other team has shown up – and we certainly don't like them."

3. Paul Harvey Finally Leaving Radio?

Rumors are swirling that 87-year-old radio legend Paul Harvey is preparing to leave the air – a move likely to deliver a heavy blow to the ABC Radio Networks' bottom line.

Harvey's daily programs "News & Comment" and "The Rest of the Story" are heard by 15 million listeners on 1,100 stations – twice the listeners Howard Stern had before he left terrestrial radio – and he reportedly brings in 10 percent of the network's $300 million in annual ad billings.

Harvey has been with ABC for 55 years, and is still only five years into his latest 10-year contract, according to Forbes magazine.

But ABC broadcast personality Curtis Sliwa says staffers have been told that former Senator Fred Thompson, who has filled in for Harvey, is being groomed as his permanent replacement.

John McConnell, head of programming, has denied the rumors and said Thompson is not being prepared to replace Harvey.

And Harvey himself, at a recent luncheon, said: "I'd retire, only I have never found anything else that I would rather do."

4. Crist Holds Lead in Florida Governor's Race

Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist is maintaining a significant lead over his leading challenger in the race for the Republican nomination for governor in the Sunshine State, a new poll discloses.

Among Republicans who said they would vote in November, Crist led Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher by a margin of 51 percent to 31 percent.

Rep. Jim Davis led State Sen. Rod Smith in the race for the Democratic nomination, 49 percent to 16 percent.

The poll by Bay News 9 was taken in the Tampa Bay area, home to both Crist and Davis.

And in a head-to-head race, Crist wins handily, with 46 percent of the vote to Davis' 35 percent.

The Crist campaign recently aired its first TV ad of the season, with the candidate proclaiming: "I'm Charlie Crist, and I love Florida."

5. We Heard …

THAT radio talk-show star Tammy Bruce's program is coming to a Baltimore station that will feature women hosts almost exclusively.

The 50,000-watt station being renamed WVIE – suggesting "women's view" – will also air Dr. Laura Schlessinger, Laura Ingraham, Dr. Joy Browne and the Satellite Sisters.

"Women have a strong listener base when it comes to the nature of what's happening in the country," Bruce, a former president of the National Organization for Women, told the Baltimore Sun.

"You don't have to agree with these women, but women's voices, especially as things change, more accurately reflect turning points in culture – revolution, if you will."

Bob Petit, the station's general manager, said: "Women have the same interests that men have – politics, health, family, education. I'm not targeting women – I want a woman's perspective."

THAT NBC's bottom line perked up when Katie Couric made her last appearance on the "Today" show.

The network charged $110,000 for a 30-second ad spot that cost media buyers $50,000 if they bought spots for the show last year, AdAge reports.

Couric's May 31 finale was watched by 8.4 million people, the largest "Today" audience since the day after the 2004 elections.

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