1.   Arturo Uslar Pietri, a novelist and essayist whose literary career became enmeshed with modern Venezuelan politics, died Monday at his home in Caracas.

2.   After half a century in Venezuelan politics, Carlos Andres Perez has retired to his hillside estate near Caracas.

3.   But he did turn Venezuelan politics topsy-turvy.

4.   Democratic Action, until now the kingmaker in Venezuelan politics, dumped its longtime party boss and presidential candidate, Luis Alfaro Ucero, the week before last.

5.   To the poor, he is the impatient savior who is already smashing the clubby machine of mutual favors at the top of Venezuelan politics.

6.   Using the Internet is becoming a regular fixture of Venezuelan politics.

7.   Chavez has radically transformed Venezuelan politics during his two years as president.

8.   Four years after Chavez won a landslide election promising a revolution in Venezuelan politics and society, there is no longer any middle ground in this deeply divided country.

9.   His leftist coalition has transformed Venezuelan politics, virtually eliminating the traditional parties that ruled Venezuela during four decades of democracy.

10.   His opponent, Omar Barboza of Democratic Action, one of two parties that have dominated Venezuelan politics for decades, also was claiming victory.