how cool is hugo chavez??

[Tish-the-Scorpion]

i laughed my ass off at him the other day,seems like he knows our bushy pretty well :D

[Tish-the-Scorpion]

heres the link

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/20/world/main2025874.shtml

[Winslow]

His remarks would have been much more effective without the personal jab.

[TomStillwell]

Isn't this the same Hugo Chavez that made light of the Holocaust? Yeah, he's way cool.

[Tish-the-Scorpion]

His remarks would have been much more effective without the personal jab.yeah i think so too,but it was still hillarious though.i thought the fact that he was defended by a few dems was so pretentiously politically correct.

[Naldo]

Especially cool considering that someone saying the same thing about Hugo in Venezuela would end up in prison.

[Forefinger]

Especially cool considering that someone saying the same thing about Hugo in Venezuela would end up in prison.
And any representative of another country would probably be kicked out of Venezuela.

[Michael P]

Especially cool considering that someone saying the same thing about Hugo in Venezuela would end up in prison.
Would they? Last I heard, he allows a pretty free press.

[Sean Walsh]

i thought the fact that he was defended by a few dems was so pretentiously politically correct.

Actually, it sounds kinda pathetic.

It's a nice gesture, absolutely, but Charley Rangle saying "Don't come into my country and bash my President" just sounds like it needs a "....THAT'S MY JOB!!!" tacked onto the end of it. :p

[Naldo]

Would they? Last I heard, he allows a pretty free press.

Not according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights' "Report On The Situation Of Human Rights In Venezuela". OEA/Ser.L/V/II.118, doc. 4 rev. 2 dated December 29, 2003.

[Tish-the-Scorpion]

Actually, it sounds kinda pathetic.

It's a nice gesture, absolutely, but Charley Rangle saying "Don't come into my country and bash my President" just sounds like it needs a "....THAT'S MY JOB!!!" tacked onto the end of it. :pexactly,the dems are just desperate for votes.if you think Charley Rangle gives a shit about hugo bashing bush then your in serious denile.face it people the dems are done and i mean their fence straddling asses are DONE!.they're never gonna get back in power anytime soon.....fuck the dems i'm not voting for them,or the republicans.and as much as i hate republicans the democrats really don't deserve to be in power either.

the democrats seems to have lost their balls and don't know where they stand anymore.look at hilary, she might be a probable front-runner for the democratic nomination for president in 2008,but she's farther to the right on iraq than even some republicans.democrats have also been too cowardly to take a firm position on the whole gay marriage,and immigration,situsations. if they fail to gain seats in congress it will be due to their lack of clear stances on important issues imho.

[TheTen-EyedMan]

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/images2/hugo_chavez2.jpg

Hugo Chavez joins the Guardian Angels.

[Tish-the-Scorpion]

well he was in harlem,so more likly black panthers than gardian angels.

[Stellar]

ah, Hugo Chavez. his speech was good, but the whole 'devil' thing kind of took all the strength out of it. it was all over the headlines.

i don't know what Venezuela's relations are with most countries right now, but our secretary of foreign affairs pretty much screwed that pooch. remember that three day coupe in venezuala a while back? the first day our secretary of foreign affairs was like:
'I'm glad they overthrew Chavez. the man is a dictator and he had it coming.'

two days later the man's back in power and yup, you guessed, our countries' relations are screwed.

by the by, wasn't the CIA going to....'take him out' ?

[TheTen-EyedMan]

well he was in harlem,so more likly black panthers than gardian angels.


http://www.megacitycomics.co.uk/acatalog/poster_bpanther1_romita.jpg

What's a Nubian?

[Sean Walsh]

by the by, wasn't the CIA going to....'take him out' ?

Y'know, Hugo's comments make more sense if he was in the role of embittered ex... ;) :p

[Spackling Compound]

Y'know, Hugo's comments make more sense if he was in the role of embittered ex... ;) :p

Seems the Chomsky book he was holding is now on the bestseller's chart. Heh, imagine a fat, egotistical blowhard with delusions of grandeur inspiring people to read. Oh waitiminit, nevermind. Forgot about Oprah.

[The Mirrorball Man]

While President Chavez has been elected (and reelected) by the Venezuelan people, and while he seems to be trying to do something against the rampant inequality in his country, he is a demagogue and his human rights record is far from spotless.

President Chávez’ hold on power until 2006 was confirmed by referendum in August 2004. Before the vote, he stepped up efforts to intimidate the hostile privately-owned media and at the end of the year toughened laws against it. Press freedom was eroded a little further.

President Hugo Chávez won a referendum on 15 August 2004 on whether he should be removed from office. The campaign to get rid of him saw a new battle between the mostly opposition-controlled media and the president, who increased his harassment of it.
Chávez declared himself the champion of the country’s poor when he was elected in 1998 and has since hounded the "oligarchic" media at the slightest criticism of his rule, thus encouraging violence against journalists.
A coup d’état briefly overthrew him in April 2002 and the major TV stations did not report the demonstrations calling for his return. An opposition-led general strike from December 2002 to February 2003 that tried in vain to force him out was broadly backed by the main privately-owned media. These stands by the media were used by Chávez as an excuse to chip away at press freedom, which deteriorated further in 2004.

Source (http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=13221)


Human rights violations by the police continue to be reported, including unlawful killings of criminal suspects. Most of these cases are not investigated and the alleged perpetrators are not brought to justice. According to statistics published by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in July 2005, more than 6,100 people were killed by police in 5,500 incidents, between 2000 and mid-2005. Of the nearly 6,000 police officers implicated, only 517 have been charged and less than 250 are under arrest. Local human rights organizations have warned of a pattern of killings, possible "disappearances" and kidnappings in six states (Anzoategui, Capital District, Falcón, Miranda, Portuguesa and Yaracay). Victims of human rights violations, and their relatives, are reported to have been threatened and intimidated by the police.

Human rights defenders continue to face harassment and intimidation. There were concerns over the safety of members of the human rights organization COFAVIC (Comité de Familiares de Víctimas de los Sucesos de Febrero-Marzo de 1989), after their police protection was withdrawn in March 2005. COFAVIC has publicly criticized the authorities for not bringing to justice the perpetrators of human rights violations committed during confrontations in 1989 between the opposition, the police and the military. In November 2002, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights had ordered Venezuela to protect members of COFAVIC after they suffered threats and acts of intimidation.

Persistent social and economic inequalities continue to limit access to the economic and social rights of Afro-descendants and indigenous peoples.

Source (http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGIOR410062006?open&of=ENG-VEN)

[Naldo]

Yeah but he dissed Bush in front of EVERYbody!! Isn't he COOL?!?!?!?!?

[HomerJay]

Heh, imagine a fat, egotistical blowhard with delusions of grandeur inspiring people to read. Oh waitiminit, nevermind. Forgot about Oprah.
You're on fire today.

[king mob]

While President Chavez has been elected (and reelected) by the Venezuelan people, and while he seems to be trying to do something against the rampant inequality in his country, he is a demagogue and his human rights record is far from spotless.



He's a hero to many in the left because "he tells Bush what he thinks". Fine and great, it's nice to see a world leader calling Bush a twat, shame it has to be someone like Chavez.

Ok, he has a right to hate Bush after the US tried to overthrow his democractically elected government, but the man is no hero and he's certainly not got the best interests of his country at heart.

Opening a factory making guns (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5045208.stm) for the worldwide market is another thing which his supporters tend to ignore.

[Comic_Mobsta]

Seems the Chomsky book he was holding is now on the bestseller's chart. Heh, imagine a fat, egotistical blowhard with delusions of grandeur inspiring people to read. Oh waitiminit, nevermind. Forgot about Oprah.Rush Limbaugh too.

[The Mirrorball Man]

Yeah but he dissed Bush in front of EVERYbody!! Isn't he COOL?!?!?!?!?
Oh, I could quote Amnesty International's report about President Bush's administration too. Neither Chavez nor Bush are "cool".

[Naldo]

Oh, I could quote Amnesty International's report about President Bush's administration too. Neither Chavez nor Bush are "cool".

Fine, point being though, is that he did not behave like a head of state. That was a fairly immature performance but not surprising in the least.

[The Mirrorball Man]

Fine, point being though, is that he did not behave like a head of state. That was a fairly immature performance but not surprising in the least.
I agree, but in my opinion, whether heads of state stick to diplomatic etiquette is not as important as what they actually do with their executive power.

[Paul McEnery]

Fine, point being though, is that he did not behave like a head of state. That was a fairly immature performance but not surprising in the least.
Oh, come on.

I've got issues with some of Chavez's policies too, but there's nothing wrong with that performance. It was funny as hell, and told it like it is.

Plus, it played off last week's report that Bush likes fart jokes.

[Ontir]

Especially cool considering that someone saying the same thing about Hugo in Venezuela would end up in prison.

You know, that's what I keep hearing, of late, but it certainly hasn't always been the case. The press was entirely free when Dubya & friends were fomenting a coup against him (and unlike Dubya, he was legally elected), and when that coup went forward, the people of his nation rose up, and ousted the coup to restore him to power. Yes, I have trouble with his Holocaust denial stuff; but I'm not sure if that's sincere, or a political move which A) gets international attention, and B) helps to create an alliance with some other countries at which Dubya's currently rattling his sabre.

The fact is, the World Bank, and the IMF played hardball in Venezuela, expecting them to quickly crumble, and it didn't work. They re-created their nation and economy, effectively eliminating the ultra-wealthy, whove robber-baroned the country for generations, out of the deal, and in reaction the international power brokers are doing everything in their power to denounce them, and make them look as bad as possible, when in reality they're certainly no worse than those they've replaced, and as their focus seems to be on sharing the wealth with their citizens, they may just be better. In our economic system, that, like early 20th century Socialism, can't ever be allowed to be seen in a good light, or TPTB are screwed!

As far as Chavez' comments about the Great Pretender in the White House, he's not said anything I haven't said over the last 6 dreadful years!

[fly on the wall]

Bush as a sulfury stink devil...

Hmmm.

I don't know, Bush is devilish but I always thought the Devil would have smarts and class.

Perhaps we are learning something new about the nature of the Devil, or as Hugo would say "el Diablo".

[Ray R.]

Bush as a sulfury stink devil...

Hmmm.

I don't know, Bush is devilish but I always thought the Devil would have smarts and class.

Perhaps we are learning something new about the nature of the Devil, or as Hugo would say "el Diablo".

Anyone see Bush with a golden fiddle lately?

[BlairH]

how cool is hugo chavez??

About this much [---] (where one unit of "-" is equal to 1mm)

[Spackling Compound]

About this much [---] (where one unit of "-" is equal to 1mm)

Haha..that's what she said.

Aggh...

So the "---" would be probably for the snappy attire he wears. Pretty cool in a Sopranos cum Cuba-chic kinda way.

[spoon_jenkins]

exactly,the dems are just desperate for votes.if you think Charley Rangle gives a shit about hugo bashing bush then your in serious denile.face it people the dems are done and i mean their fence straddling asses are DONE!.they're never gonna get back in power anytime soon.....fuck the dems i'm not voting for them,or the republicans.and as much as i hate republicans the democrats really don't deserve to be in power either.
This doesn't make any sense to me. You're accusing Rangel of fence straddling regarding President Bush? Since when has that been the case with him? Rangel has consistently been critical of Bush. So it's a little weird to jump to the conclusion that Rangel is suddenly kowtowing to Bush (especially at this juncture). If Rangel is opposed to Bush's self-aggrandizing demagoguery, why should he like it coming from Chavez? It would be morally bankrupt for him to endorse someone just because they insult Rangel's political opponent, George W. Bush.

[Comic_Mobsta]

This doesn't make any sense to me. You're accusing Rangel of fence straddling regarding President Bush? Since when has that been the case with him? Rangel has consistently been critical of Bush. So it's a little weird to jump to the conclusion that Rangel is suddenly kowtowing to Bush (especially at this juncture). If Rangel is opposed to Bush's self-aggrandizing demagoguery, why should he like it coming from Chavez? It would be morally bankrupt for him to endorse someone just because they insult Rangel's political opponent, George W. Bush.Either way i don't think he really cares about chaves comments.I generally think he's pandering.

[Tish-the-Scorpion]

You're accusing Rangel of fence straddling regarding President Bush? .NO....I'm accusing the democrats ingeneral.

[HomerJay]

Wow, even Nancy Pelosi doesn't think Chavez is too cool:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060921/pl_nm/venezuela_usa_spat_dc_1

[Samurai]

Isn't this the same Hugo Chavez that made light of the Holocaust? Yeah, he's way cool.Holocaust deniers are the new in thing... haven't you seen how popular Ahmenajad is?

[Samurai]

Wow, even Nancy Pelosi doesn't think Chavez is too cool:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060921/pl_nm/venezuela_usa_spat_dc_1
She and Rangel are only trying to distance themselves from Chavez and Ahmenajad, they don't want to make it seem as if they're too much "part of their gang", even though they've said the same and worse about Bush many times before...

[StoneGold]

Course, then there's the real question: would you have any idea who the hell the leader of Venezuela was if he wasn't such a wacky bastich?

[Calybos]

Chavez was way off base.

It's CHENEY who's the devil, not Bush. Sheesh, get it right, buddy!

[Paul McEnery]

Chavez was way off base.

It's CHENEY who's the devil, not Bush. Sheesh, get it right, buddy!
Yes, but Cheney doesn't do the fart jokes!

[Tages]

She and Rangel are only trying to distance themselves from Chavez and Ahmenajad, they don't want to make it seem as if they're too much "part of their gang", even though they've said the same and worse about Bush many times before...
Obviously they're part of the gang. They've sad bad things about Bush, and so have Third World dictators.

That's all I need for evidence that they're on the same side. Either you're with Fearless Leader or you're with the terrorists/third world heads of state/Democrats.

[Paul McEnery]

She and Rangel are only trying to distance themselves from Chavez and Ahmenajad, they don't want to make it seem as if they're too much "part of their gang", even though they've said the same and worse about Bush many times before...
Same and worse.

If you're going to talk such nonsense, perhaps you'd like to come up with a citation to prove it.

Just one will do.

[StoneGold]

Chavez is cool enough to be a Hank Pym cosplayer, circa the scientific adventurer days.

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/09/capt.sge.qdx38.220906192808.photo01.photo.default-333x512.jpg

[Valmore]

Obviously they're part of the gang. They've sad bad things about Bush, and so have Third World dictators.

That's all I need for evidence that they're on the same side. Either you're with Fearless Leader or you're with the terrorists/third world heads of state/Democrats.

Well crap. That's a six for one, half dozen the other situation if I've ever seen one.

[Tish-the-Scorpion]

She and Rangel are only trying to distance themselves from Chavez and Ahmenajad, they don't want to make it seem as if they're too much "part of their gang", even though they've said the same and worse about Bush many times before...my point exactly....

[Tish-the-Scorpion]

Wow, even Nancy Pelosi doesn't think Chavez is too cool:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060921/pl_nm/venezuela_usa_spat_dc_1
danny glover,Harry Belafonte',and cindy sheehan thinks he's cool.i think 2pac would have liked him too..

[drwho]

Anyone know anything about how Chavez gave gas to poor in Brooklyn went down? How much did he give?

[Tish-the-Scorpion]

Anyone know anything about how Chavez gave gas to poor in Brooklyn went down? How much did he give?from what i remember something like 25 million gallons

[Iangould]

Would they? Last I heard, he allows a pretty free press.

Really Michaeel, next you'll be suggesting he doesn't eat babies.

The guys are just gettign in the right state of mind for when the US invades Venezuela to liberate it's oil ...sorry its people.

[drwho]

from what i remember something like 25 million gallons

How did they decide who got it?

[BlairH]

He's trying to remove term limits, so that he can extend his term through 2010 and beyond:
http://english.people.com.cn/200609/02/eng20060902_299116.html

If Bush tried something like this, there would (rightly!) be revolution afoot. I only hope that Hugo's citizens see sense and reject this affront to their constitution.

[Ontir]

Don't count on it. America's become a nation of lemmings lately. Dubya could probably get away with making himself President for Life at the moment! BTW, does Britain have term limits? Seems to me that Thatcher had at least 3.

[Paul McEnery]

He's trying to remove term limits, so that he can extend his term through 2010 and beyond:
http://english.people.com.cn/200609/02/eng20060902_299116.html

If Bush tried something like this, there would (rightly!) be revolution afoot. I only hope that Hugo's citizens see sense and reject this affront to their constitution.
I don't see why, actually.

In the first place, Bush wouldn't get a third term.

In the second place, we'd be better off if Clinton had had a third term, which he certainly would have.

In the third place, it would simply restoring the country to the way it was before 1948, which would be no bad thing (and in any case, the term limits were brought in simply to prevent popular non-Republicans from getting to stay in power; just as they have been in every instance of term limit implementation).

And in the fourth place, I'd be all for getting rid of term limits in every area of American political life. You don't get rid of corruption by limiting the amount of time that the rare non-corrupt politician can stay in office. All you do is pass power over to the corruption of the political machine, which is exactly the way that corruption has thrived over and over again over here.

Term limits gives more power to the Tammany Halls of this world. And term limits did nothing at all to keep the real power of the neo-cons out of the White House. They owned Reagan. And now they own Bush 2. Term limits is what prevents opposition from growing.

[Iangould]

I don't particularly like Hugo Chavez.

However he illustrates one of the fundamental points about democracy - the voters have the right to be wrong.

While I dislike a lot of his actions and disapprove of a number of his policies I haven't seen any definitive proof that's he's actually broken Venezuelan law.

As long as that remains the case and as long as the majority of Venezuelans continue to support him in elections, there's not much we can do about him.

He's not a model democrat by any means but he's no worse than Vladimir Putin in that regard and definitely better than, say, Musharref.

[Spike-X]

I don't particularly like Hugo Chavez.

However he illustrates one of the fundamental points about democracy - yjr voters have the right to be wrong.

While I dislike a lot of his actions and disapprove of a number of his policies I haven't seen any definitive proof that's he's actually broken Venezuelan law.

As long as that remains the case and as long as the majority of Venezuelans continue to support him in elections, there's not much we can do about him.


But...he hates America/Bush! That's a crime, isn't it?

You'd certainly think it was, to judge by the way some of them fucking carry on like babies whenever anyone dares speak against them.

[Paul McEnery]

But...he hates America/Bush! That's a crime, isn't it?

You'd certainly think it was, to judge by the way some of them fucking carry on like babies whenever anyone dares speak against them.
"How dare you come to my country, my district, and speak against my President" -- Christopher worthless bastard Dodds (give or take a syllable).

Whereas my POV would be, how dare you, Dodds, continue to allow this government to rape the Constitution and allow this criminal administration to continue to murder people and drag the country through the dirt.

Consider me officially on Mike Smash's page after this one.

[Valmore]

Consider me officially on Mike Smash's page after this one.

What, you're going to vote third party now?

[Mike Smash!]

What, you're going to vote third party now?

...join us...

[HomerJay]

"OhmyGod, did you see how Hugo totally dissed the Principal in front of the whole school? He's so cool!"

[TheTen-EyedMan]

danny glover,Harry Belafonte',and cindy sheehan thinks he's cool.i think 2pac would have liked him too..

http://www.theodora.com/maps/new7/venezuela.gif

http://www.jacneed.com/PhotoFile/Harry_Belafonte.jpg

Harry Belafonte sings "HEATWAVE!!!! THIS IS MY ISLAND IN THE SUN!!!!!"

"Hey, did I ever tell you of the time I nailed Dorothy Dandridge?"

http://img.theatermania.com/images/show/img/110729img2.jpg

That's some serious chocolate love there baby!"

[Adam Crocker]

He's not a model democrat by any means but he's no worse than Vladimir Putin in that regard and definitely better than, say, Musharref.

Which begs the question, why does Chavez seem to many more people hot and bothered about his authoritarian tendencies, but not Putin? I mean granted the man sucks, but he doesn't have a Chechnya under his list of accomplishments.

[Phrozen]

Which begs the question, why does Chavez seem to many more people hot and bothered about his authoritarian tendencies, but not Putin? I mean granted the man sucks, but he doesn't have a Chechnya under his list of accomplishments.

I don't like Putin or Chavez or Castro.

[Adam Crocker]

I don't like Putin or Chavez or Castro.

As do many people. That's not really my point, so much as it seems that Chavez attracts a disproportionate amount of attention (and indignation) over his behaviour. Granted I could be completely wrong on on this.

[Phrozen]

As do many people. That's not really my point, so much as it seems that Chavez attracts a disproportionate amount of attention (and indignation) over his behaviour. Granted I could be completely wrong on on this.

Well, Chavez idolizes Castro and likes to be a spectcle on the world stage, Putin being an ex-KGB thug likes to keep his activities inside his own country and quiet.

It is more of a matter that you have to dig farther to find Putin's crap then Chavez.

[Iangould]

It is more of a matter that you have to dig farther to find Putin's crap then Chavez.

No it's more like the media digs up Chavez's crap and trails around after you sticking it under yoru nose at every opportunity.

I mean how much digging did people have to do to hear about Chavez's UN speech.

[gary bolt]

Opening a factory making guns (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5045208.stm) for the worldwide market is another thing which his supporters tend to ignore.

I agree - any country that makes weapons and sells them abroad is just plain evil, sulphur stench and all.

[Phrozen]

No it's more like the media digs up Chavez's crap and trails around after you sticking it under yoru nose at every opportunity.

I mean how much digging did people have to do to hear about Chavez's UN speech.

It is not hard for the media to do so, when he does it in front of the UN General Assembly. Like I said, Chavez likes the world stage, much like Castro. Putin shys away from the media spotlight.

[Paul McEnery]

It is not hard for the media to do so, when he does it in front of the UN General Assembly. Like I said, Chavez likes the world stage, much like Castro. Putin shys away from the media spotlight.
Would you like to explain in exactly which way George Bush's media spotlight hugging was in any way not crap compared to Chavez's.

Go on. Give it a go. I'm sure you can find a way to make Bush's bullshit smell like roses.

[moebius]

I agree - any country that makes weapons and sells them abroad is just plain evil, sulphur stench and all.

You're probably not a big fan of America then, I'd wager.


The reasons Chavez gets so much of our ire is:

1. He's friends with Castro, the number one man we have an irrational hard-on against.

2. He's a Leftist, which means he's not big-business friendly.

3. He's very openly anti-American.

4. He's offering an alternative to US policies in South America, Contra the Monroe Doctrine. Additionally, he wants a stronger non-aligned movement.

5. He's not powerful enough that we have to compromise with him (see: China, Russia).

He's also being a dick RE: Iran and their crazy statements, but all these other things applied even before that craziness.

[Phrozen]

Would you like to explain in exactly which way George Bush's media spotlight hugging was in any way not crap compared to Chavez's.

Go on. Give it a go. I'm sure you can find a way to make Bush's bullshit smell like roses.

You know, in a discussion about Chavez and Putin and their tendencies regarding the media bringing up George Bush in a complete non sequiter.

You post has added nothing to the discussion.

Go away troll.

[gary bolt]

You're probably not a big fan of America then, I'd wager.


The reasons Chavez gets so much of our ire is:

1. He's friends with Castro, the number one man we have an irrational hard-on against.

2. He's a Leftist, which means he's not big-business friendly.

3. He's very openly anti-American.

4. He's offering an alternative to US policies in South America, Contra the Monroe Doctrine. Additionally, he wants a stronger non-aligned movement.

5. He's not powerful enough that we have to compromise with him (see: China, Russia).

He's also being a dick RE: Iran and their crazy statements, but all these other things applied even before that craziness.

I was mostly just trying to point out that it's a bit ironic to criticize Venezuela for building a gun factory with plans to export the product if you happen to be American. There are all kinds of things and people that I like about America but foreign policy isn't one of them.

Since he came in to power Chavez has made lots of major changes in Venezuela so he has to have pissed off some of his people, especially those used to the more US-friendly environment they had previous to his election. I think many countries in the world would like to reduce the influence that the US has within their borders and would probably do so if they had wealth like Venezuela. The poor in his country have benefited from him being there. And I like the fact that he distinguishes between "fair trade" and the "free trade" that the US is pushing. He traded oil for cattle with the Bolivians.

[moebius]

Since he came in to power Chavez has made lots of major changes in Venezuela so he has to have pissed off some of his people, especially those used to the more US-friendly environment they had previous to his election. I think many countries in the world would like to reduce the influence that the US has within their borders and would probably do so if they had wealth like Venezuela. The poor in his country have benefited from him being there. And I like the fact that he distinguishes between "fair trade" and the "free trade" that the US is pushing. He traded oil for cattle with the Bolivians.

Yep. The biggest problem with Chavez in our eyes isn't that he's a son of a bitch, but that he's not our son of a bitch.

[Guapo Méndez]

Chavez?

Utter, total moron.

[Alex]

Chavez?

Utter, total moron.
I hear Mexicans just hate venuzuelans.
....
Not you Guapo, but in general...
Really.
...
RACIST!

[Guapo Méndez]

Not venezuelans.

Just Hugo Chavez.

[Alex]

Not venezuelans.

Just Hugo Chavez.
Yes...and i don't hate eskimos, i only hate Nanook.

[FBHthelizardmage]

Chavez has the great advantage over most ranting third world despots that he's actually pretty damn funny.

[Markavian]

Would they? Last I heard, he allows a pretty free press.
At least 11 reporters ,Editors and Pundits who Are his Critics...Freedom to Say what he Allows isnt freedom at all.:mad: :(

[moebius]

At least 11 reporters ,Editors and Pundits who Are his Critics...Freedom to Say what he Allows isnt freedom at all.:mad: :(

Right, because we certainly don't order reporters to jail for refusing to release their sources...

Oh, wait!

[Markavian]

Right, because we certainly don't order reporters to jail for refusing to release their sources...

Oh, wait!
It was over them critizing his Government and its Policies..If Bush did something like that 20,000 Reporters would be locked away.

[swinebread]

Bush is a terrible president almost the worst in American history IMO, but that does not make a dictator like Hugo Chavez cool.

[moebius]

Bush is a terrible president almost the worst in American history IMO, but that does not make a dictator like Hugo Chavez cool.

True true.

[moebius]

It was over them critizing his Government and its Policies..If Bush did something like that 20,000 Reporters would be locked away.

No, we just wiretap their conversations so we can imprison their sources, when we're not kidnapping innocent civilians and torturing them in far-off lands or contributing to one of the world's highest incarceration rates.

[Guapo Méndez]

Yes...and i don't hate eskimos, i only hate Nanook.


Did I miss anything?

[Iangould]

Bush is a terrible president almost the worst in American history IMO, but that does not make a dictator like Hugo Chavez cool.

But is Chavez a dictator?

He was democratically elected and when the recall vote was called for he ran again and won again.

There's a lot of shady, dubious stuff around him but so far he hasn't been proven to have done anything that's clearly and blatantly unconstitutional.

I really hope he doesn't stand again or that if he does he loses but so long as he has the support of the majority of the electorate, he should probably stay in office.

[Valmore]

I really hope he doesn't stand again or that if he does he loses but so long as he has the support of the majority of the electorate, he should probably stay in office.

Well, you get who you vote for. I mean, Washington D.C. was happy enough to vote in a crackhead for mayor...

[Ontir]

Bush is a terrible president almost the worst in American history IMO, but that does not make a dictator like Hugo Chavez cool.

I've yet to see anything, other than the propaganda, which is devoid of his actual history, which proves he IS a dictator. Where is it, what is it?

[Tages]

I'm not aware of Chavez doing much that is brutally tyrranical. Still, I have a really eerie feeling about the guy, like that as soon as he's out of office we'll find the ashes of the orphanage he burned down in a vault in his basement.