I know blogs are just opinions, but I wish writers of blogs would inform themselves before writting. This is no more than a speil of uninformed commentary. I would list them with correction but there are so many... I wish readers would please go inform them selves of the facts in this world after reading this and compare them to this misinformation.

Binder...whats yer point?

Why is Chavez crazy? Is name calling your only argument? Let's see what he said: he called Bush the Devil. Ok, how is that different from Bush calling countries an "Axis of Evil"? He said the US is harboring a known terrorist (the guy who blew up a Cuban civilian plane); well, that's true. He says the US govt may have a hand in 9/11. Well, there is something very fishy with the official "explanation" of 9/11. So, what do you have apart from "crazy"? I am not a big fan of Chavez either, but if all you have is name calling, you might want to save yourself the time. Maybe you could take up reading for instance; Chomsky wrote a great book called Hegemony or Survival. It's well argued, well documented, and does not contain any name calling. You could learn a lot...

Excellent article - very entertaining commentary! Keep up the great, witty, blogging!

Apprarently the author IS informed here, and apparently the previous poster, Mr. Binder is uninformed and ignorant of real life.

Any speaker who starts his speach with a leftist, anti-American, pro-communist book, or anything by Noam Chomsky obviously is one of the ignorant and misinformed.

Trans Asian Axis

I don't think Bush is the devil, the devil's smarter than Bush.

Chavez just insulted the devil.

In your quote below you equate the questioning of U.S policy with "hatred of their own country"

"The second is the culpability of the extreme left in America and people like Noam Comsky for providing encouragment and an appearance of legitimacy to Chavez. As long as he has their hatred of their own country to bolster his position there will be continue to be people who take him seriously no matter what craziness he spews.

This love it or leave it stuff is so oldschool..
It ain't that simple cowboy.

and i know the "gatekeeper" is too insecure to put this up on your website...i tried at least

What's really funny about this is that the blog writer seems so cock-sure of himself. The guy doesn't even know that the world's largest democracy, yes you read it right WORLD's LARGEST is also a member of NAM. And with so many personal attacks in the blog this line just before the feedback column says:
Personal attacks are not allowed. Please read our comment policy.
Truly, truly funny. keep it up and you just might enter the loony heaven.

Yes...the test are conclusive...the left has gone so insane that they are actually embracing those who spend every waking minute thinking of ways to kill us or destry our way of life all because their side is incapable of running a competent candidate for president...

Sad but true...

Hey, if you live in the USA it seems no amount of name-calling (axis of evil) or blatant lying (Iraq has WMDs) can be held against you. For the rest of the world, this doesn't seem to count.

Please give me one verifiable example where Chomsky is being "ignorant" or has been "misinformed" in this book. Or in any other actually. But be warned... you'll have to actually read him.

SumDude....

Does the rest of the worl matter when assholes are trying to kill us???

Fools....

chavez wants to kill us? the mighty venezuela? oh dear god. can we blow them up now?

wait, wait, he actually tried to kill us? damn. i didn't even hear the bullet. must have been going really fast.

you worry too much. just relax.

Zing you almost had me their...It would have been interesting headlines to read about both the Iranian and Venezuela scum bags being shot in a hold up at either an adult bookstore or bathhouse during their visit to NYC!

what? don't get it.

"..blatant lying (Iraq has WMDs)..."

SumeDude - I think this article covers the fact that the UN is rather worthless,so, what makes you think that their inspectors are educated enough to find such weapons?

" didn't even hear the bullet. must have been going really fast."

Well, you know what they say... It's the ones that you don't hear that kill you. Or maybe you don't... Did you serve for your country, Zing?

Dave,

Right on!! Hugo Chavez is a crazy f*ck and if he hated the US so much why does he try to emulate our country so much? Oh wait, that's because Castro whispers BS into his ear...

Chavez is not a dictator. He was elected president of Venezuela by a clear majority, which is more than you can say for our president.

As for him calling Bush the devil, many Americans agree with Chavez. What do you call a man who goes and bombs another country and kills over a 100,000 of its citizens for no discernible good reason at all?

Terrorist? War-monger? Asshole? I think devil is just fine.

If you compare the speeches of Bush and Chavez, Bush comes across as a moron with a tin ear for his audience, while Chavez is witty and incisive, and got a massive ovation, unlike the polite applause for Bush.

And Chavez actually reads intellectual books, while our president is a dunderhead.

Venezuel is lucky to have Chavez as prez. We are most unfortunate in ours. We were deranged to have voted for him.

guppy: "Did you serve for your country, Zing?"

nope, we haven't had a real, honest war since i've been of age. have not had the opportunity, nor the desire. i briefly entertained thoughts of joining up in 2004, but figured that under current management, i would probably get stuck listening to staind all day... enough to drive a man crazy.

This commentary must have been written by someone who doesn't read other peoples' commentaries--or keep up with any news, only propaganda.

Chavez, as usual, was RIGHT ON--as we used to say in the 60s. Especially in regard to the needed UN reforms. And the blogger would have to eat his words if VERIFIABLE ELECTIONS were a requirement for membership--that would exclude the USA, as well as the country where I live, Mexico. It would not exclude Venezuela, whose elections have been verified by the Carter Center, the OEA and the European Union since 1998.

Try getting out more--leave the computer keys to someone who does.

The devil, if he ran things, would suspend elections as has happened in Chavezland. This is so no world body would see how corrupt things are there.
Hugo, the purpose of the United Nations is to promote peace not to foster hatred. At least the stupid axis of evil comment was made at a state of the union address. If Chavez wishes to condemn us in his back yard that's one thing. His comments shows disrespect not only to Bush but to the world body.

"Chavez is not a dictator. He was elected president of Venezuela by a clear majority,"

So what? The same thing could be said of Hitler. Changing the constitution to extend his term and issuing decrees extending his power to take over economic sectors and private property is disturbing to most people.

If Bush did the same thing you'd go apeshit and everyone knows it. You have no principle or morals other than pushing blind, stupid propaganda. When someone on the left does it it's OK though, anything is OK as long as your political philosphy wins.

This commentary must have been written by someone who doesn't read other peoples' commentaries--or keep up with any news, only propaganda.

Or by someone who wrote it primarily working from the craziness in Hugo Chavez's speech and the other material in the links cited in the article, plus established and verified facts about the current situation in Venezuela. You might want to read a newspaper sometime.

Chavez, as usual, was RIGHT ON--as we used to say in the 60s. Especially in regard to the needed UN reforms. And the blogger would have to eat his words if VERIFIABLE ELECTIONS were a requirement for membership--that would exclude the USA, as well as the country where I live, Mexico. It would not exclude Venezuela, whose elections have been verified by the Carter Center, the OEA and the European Union since 1998.

The OEA is a US government group - part of the Federal Election Commission. You think they don't oversee US elections too? US elections include monitoring by both political parties and by independent observers and there have been very few instances of proven fraud despite lots of ridiculous allegations.

In the article I also stipulated the Rule of Law, which means an independent judiciary - one of the things Chavez has done away with in Venezuela, along with a free press and the leadership of opposition parties.

Dave

Binder...whats yer point?

His point is that he can't actually dispute anything int he article with facts, so he's going to whine on for a pointless paragraph and then run away.

Dave

I see this article has brought out the Chomsky-zombies in force.

YA: Why is Chavez crazy?

I have no idea. But his speech reads like something written by a lunatic, rambling, jumping from topic to topic, and largely just ranting.

YA: Is name calling your only argument?

No, but it's the fun part.

YA: Let's see what he said: he called Bush the Devil. Ok, how is that different from Bush calling countries an "Axis of Evil"? He said the US is harboring a known terrorist (the guy who blew up a Cuban civilian plane); well, that's true.

I never raised this issue in the article. Not everything he said was idiotic - as I pointed out in the part about UN Reforms.

YA: He says the US govt may have a hand in 9/11. Well, there is something very fishy with the official "explanation" of 9/11.

Only to those who prefer conspiracy fantasies to reality.

YA: Maybe you could take up reading for instance; Chomsky wrote a great book called Hegemony or Survival. It's well argued, well documented, and does not contain any name calling. You could learn a lot...

Sorry, I have actually read most of the book - or as much as I could stomach. It's utter drivel based on gross mischaracterization of fact designed to serve an anti-American, anti-capitalist and anti-freedom philosophy. Chomsky can't make a reasoned argument to save his life and wouldn't know a fact if it bit him on the ass.

Steve:This love it or leave it stuff is so oldschool..
It ain't that simple cowboy.

When did I ever say anything like 'love it or leave it'. Chomsky is welcome to stay in America and spew hate and disinformation for all eternity. It doesn't mean we have to listen to him or respect him or take him seriously.

Steve: and i know the "gatekeeper" is too insecure to put this up on your website...i tried at least

Who is this magical 'gatekeeper' you refer to?

MOH: The guy doesn't even know that the world's largest democracy, yes you read it right WORLD's LARGEST is also a member of NAM.

I'm fully aware that India is a member of NAM and of the G15. However, the group IS dominated by third world nations govered by dictatorships regardless of the fact that they have some other members as well. That's just a fact.

MOH: And with so many personal attacks in the blog this line just before the feedback column says: Personal attacks are not allowed. Please read our comment policy. Truly, truly funny. keep it up and you just might enter the loony heaven.

That applies to attacks on other commentors, not criticism of public figures like Chavez. But I'll make a note that you want to shut down free speech, just like Chavez did when he shut down the Venezuelan newspapers.

Dave

This is not a dialogue, and Dave appears to be either CIA or Naval Intel. He has an Anderson Cooper like wit and deft touch as he waffles about the truth before bending the light and make it appear to be a straight line. Hugo Chavez is a breath of fresh air. He has said what many people from many countries have felt about George Bush and U.N. for years. Are we so defensive, so weak in our institutions and beliefs, that we must attack such a man so savagely, instead of searching for the truth and wisdom in his words. Isn't a dialogue about differing viewpoints and working towards a convergence of ideas, how can we have a dialogue if we all beleive the same thing?

Different is good. Ask Chavez back. Read the history of the CIA and the U.S. involvement in South America. Read how Kissinger was involved in the Military coup in Chile that overthrew the democraticly elected leader. Read how Kissinger can't go to France or he will be arrested. Read about the narco wars in Colombia and Bolivia and maybe you'll understand why Mr. Chavez is a bit angry about the hypocrisy of Mr. Bush in offering democracy at the point of a gun? How many Iraqis do we have to kill to make them free and democratic? And we wonder why North Korea and Iran aren't getting in line to get some of that tasty new Democracy with freedom fries?

I know you write in a 'controversial' style to seem opinonated and passionate and to try to inspire response, but really a well reasoned argument would make a better effort than to simply write off arguments you don't understand as crazy, or insane. Only a fool beleives he knows everything and can learn nothing from anyone else for he knows all. So I offer you this morsel of truth, George Bush is not satan!!! Satan is actually Ann Coulter, shave her head and I'll bet 5$ you'll find 3 sixes.

Regards,

Dave

Chavez is a perfect example of something my hero P.J. O'Rourke said. The US is a stunning 19-year-old girl, and the Third World is an infatuated 14-year-old boy. They are obsessed with us and we're oblivious to them. They'll do everything they can think of, even turning communist, trying to get our attention.

Wow, this thread tears it. This site is populated by a bunch of wacko leftists on the lunatic fringe whose hatred for Bush and the current administration actually OUTWEIGHS the instinct for self-preservation.

When the coalition of countries that is forming and building to destroy the U.S. finally attacks, you nutjobs will die just right alongside conservatives. Not only will you not get a pass, they'll probably take you out first.

Incredible.

Vic

YA says, in #3:

He said the US is harboring a known terrorist (the guy who blew up a Cuban civilian plane); well, that's true.

Not quite.

His name is Luis Posada Carriles, and according to this article from the BBC, "He was twice acquitted by Venezuelan courts of plotting to bomb the plane."

Chavez is grandstanding for his buddy, Fidel, on this issue.

Chavez is a demagogue and a thug.

I am an American who has been living and working in Chile South America for many years. I have watched the rise of Hugo Chavez and his consistently changing behavior as he slowly reveals his true nature and agenda to become a full fledge dictator. He is doing all he can to change South America to fit into his ongoing agenda.

A couple of big moves Chavez has made here in South American that the north has over looked that will have serious and long term effects for both North and South America are.

1) The establishment of the Telesur TV network that was set up last year by Chavez and is financed by Venezuela's government. The Telesur network officials claim it is to be a Latin alternative to large media outlets like CNN. It is now being broadcast 24 hours a day into Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Cuba, Equator, Uruguay, as well as Venezuela. Chavez said, "The Telesur network is part of an awakening of our peoples," Fidel Castro said "the channel is a key step toward regional integration".

Some critics call Telesur a way to spread anti-American propaganda in South America - an accusation strongly denied by Venezuelan Information Minister Andres Izarra, the station's president.

"It's an initiative against imperialism," Izarra said. "That shouldn't be interpreted, however, as an initiative against the American people."

I have watched this station with interest. I have seen only pure hardcore anti-American propaganda coming over my TV. There was a news report in the Santiago Times about a TV executive that had reported his crew had discovered hyper-second subliminal messaging was found flashing during its broadcast with American flags burning. I tried to find more on this report but the story went dry.

The other scary move by Chavez is his formalized deal with Russian to manufacture AK47's in Venezuela. Russia has already granted Venezuela the licenieng and next year will be installing two large factories in Venezuela. One is to manufacture the upgraded AK47 automatic rifles with night scoops, and the other factory is to manufacture the ammunition and rifle launched grenades. Chavez has told the Venezuelans that he wants at minimum of 1 million armed citizens ready at all times to defend the country. Trouble with this is that it is not the whole story. Chavez plans to be every anti-American guerilla fighters military arms provider throughout Latin America. Over time and through the course of further events down here, when occasion so warranted it, Chavez would even support and supply weapons to bring down the last die-hard countries in Latin America who still have positive relations with the US, like Chile, Peru, and Mexico. I fear that he will start with Columbia and support the drug load rebels to bring down a country that clearly supports the US.

Dave said:

"Hugo Chavez is a breath of fresh air. He has said what many people from many countries have felt about George Bush and U.N. for years."

Hugo Chavez is a breath of fresh air?!

Really, what kind of uninformed statement is that? Do you even know what he is DOING in his country?

Do you know he shut down the opposition newpapers?

Do you know he enacted a law to imprision people who dare to criticize him (while he comes here and spews forth his bile)

Do you know he is arming Marxist militias in neighboring countries?

Do you know he imprisons anyone who dares to oppose him in an election?

Do you know that he rewrote his country's Constitution so that he could essentially be president for life?

You are sorely uninformed. Just because he says some nasty things about Bush...you fawn over him like a schoolgirl. Get a brain.

"Chavez is not a dictator. He was elected president of Venezuela by a clear majority,"

You liberal morons have ignored the fact that Bush not one BUT TWO elections and continue to Bash him everday day...but about Chavez you whine..."oh we cant discredit him he was elected by his people"

Liberals are insane!

beats stupid

Hugo Chavez is the richest man in the world. How do we come to that fact. First, Chavez, sicne he took hold of the presidency of Venezuela has systemically changed the governmental structure. He has packed the congress and courts with his backers. He has rewritten laws into the Venezuelan constitution giving him complete power over the country resources. Chavez answers to no one when it comes to how and where he spends the counties oil wealth. All of this wealth is completely in his hands and under his cotrol. How much dose this wealth amount to in US dollars.

Let's do some simple 4th grade arithmetic. But first I suggest the reader first take a seat and buckle up. It is reported that Venezuela may have reserves of about 350 billion barrels if all their known heavy and light crude is counted. But wait, there's more, a lot more. Palast reports a US Energy Department expert believes Venezuela holds 90% of the world's super-heavy tar oil reserves - an estimated total of 1,360,000,000,000 (1.36 trillion) barrels. Let me repeat that - 1.36 trillion barrels. That alone is more oil than Hubbert believed 50 years ago lay under the entire planet.

But lets leave the 1,360,000,000,000 (1.36 trillion) barrels out of our equation for now and use the 350 billion barrels to keep things conceptual. Oil sells today for around $62 dollars a barrel. When multiplied by 350 billion barrels we find Chavezs personal checking account is worth 21.7 trillion dollars.

350,000,000,000 x $62 = $21,700,000,000,000
350,000,000,000 x $50 = $17,500,000,000,000
350,000,000,000 x $40 = $14,000,000,000,000
350,000,000,000 x $10 = $ 3,500,000,000,000

Either way you slice it, Chavez is the riches man on the planet, 434 times richer then Bill Gates. Is it any wonder why Chavez is now setting up constitutional changes to allow him to remain president of Venezuela until 2025. Do a google search if you don't believe us.

I was doing three things at once, just in the door after another fulfilling twelve hour work day, when CSPAN replayed Chavez's speech.

I heard the female translator's voice but didn't know what the event was.

I initially mistook the translation to be some reporter repeating a Howard Dean speech or some other Reality Based (tm) sermon.

Then I actually watched the tube and saw it was old Hugo up there. And he closed with a Chomsky book.

Karl Rove, you magnificent BASTARD!

In response to JustOneMan statement that "Chavez is not a dictator. He was elected president of Venezuela by a clear majority,"

Yes, Chavez did find a way to get democratically elected. However there still remains unanswered questions by the Chavez political machine concerning heavy ballot tampering as report by several international election monitoring agencies, including several from liberal European concerns.

Why is the likely hood of ballot tampering a truth being hidden from the world. It must be remembered that Chavez led an attempted military coup to take control of Venezuela in 1992 that failed and many people were killed. Chavezs quest for power, at any price, has already been clearly marked with blood.

If he is willing to lead a military coup in 1992 that was assured of causing the deaths of many, then rigging elections with ballot tampering in is second attempt at power 1999 is childs play.

Chavez is a communist. Communism is a lie and a proven failed system that can not support itself. Russia and Cuba are proof of that. Casto has always had to live on handouts from other states. Russian handout and now handouts from Chavez. Communist China has had to embrace capitalism as it clearly saw its rewards when Hong Cong was retured to them. They had to lean to keep the golden goose alive. It it was not for capitalism and free enterprise in the first place, Hong Cong would remain a slum and Chine would not have learned a thing of its value.

Chavez does not have the skills to lead any capitasm enevers to grow and sustanin his people and he will never bother to lean them, he has too much oil money to think about and spend and lots of oil money to carry is delutional, Casto enfested dream. Funny thing is that without the wealth of capitalism buying the oil in the first place Chavez wealth would not otherwise exist. What a paradox of disalutional misfits making the rules as they go.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It is happening before our eyes.

But it is eash to spot the hard core lefties that have never achived any success in the free interprise system or even understanding how the capitalism system works. They will tell you however all about how bad it is. The blind leading the blind.

However Chavez is not included in the blind leading the blind. He leaves that to the people of Venezuala and supporting lefties from other shores. Chavez clearly knows and sees what he wants. Absolute POWER baby.

Re #27;
"This is not a dialogue, and Dave appears to be either CIA or Naval Intel."
- Dave Sknothear

Nope, Nalle has never served.

MCH, I serve in the ongoing war against ignorance and foolishness - which I guess makes us enemies.

Dave

This is not a dialogue, and Dave appears to be either CIA or Naval Intel.

While I do have friends and relatives in both lines of work, it doesn't take a background in covert intelligence to see the obvious - just a willingness to look beyond the partisan propaganda.

Hugo Chavez is a breath of fresh air. He has said what many people from many countries have felt about George Bush and U.N. for years.

Actually, I acknowledge that this is true. He's both entertaining and he has a constituency to speak for. They're all socialists and fascists of one kind or another, but they certainly share his hatred of the US.

Are we so defensive, so weak in our institutions and beliefs, that we must attack such a man so savagely, instead of searching for the truth and wisdom in his words. Isn't a dialogue about differing viewpoints and working towards a convergence of ideas, how can we have a dialogue if we all beleive the same thing?

In most cases I'd agree with you, but not in the case of someone like Castro or Chavez or Kim - all of whom have demonstrated that they have no regard for the welfare or rights of their people. They're dictators and there's no excusing their abuse of power. Do you negotiate with a poisonous snake?

I know you write in a 'controversial' style to seem opinonated and passionate and to try to inspire response, but really a well reasoned argument would make a better effort than to simply write off arguments you don't understand as crazy, or insane.

That's more a characterization of his behavior than whatever arguments he presented. Of course his argument was mostly 'bush is a devil', and that's not exactly intellectually impressive. I've already written at length on the specific abuses of the Chavez government - you can read those articles here on BC. This article was just something lighter to poke a little fun at the ridiculous Chavez road show.

So I offer you this morsel of truth, George Bush is not satan!!! Satan is actually Ann Coulter, shave her head and I'll bet 5$ you'll find 3 sixes.

Technically that would make her the Antichrist, but I'm willing to believe it.

Dave

Your comment about the movement of the non-aligned being dictators is just totally of. There are tonnes of democratic states in there - with fair and free elections and googles of freedom of speech.

And many many of the states listed in the movement of the non-aligned are allies of the U.S.

I just wanna say it's just funny all these people who name call instead of debate - doesn't apply to everyone here as some people have tried to make objective points both ways but sheeesh.

Your comment about the movement of the non-aligned being dictators is just totally of. There are tonnes of democratic states in there - with fair and free elections and googles of freedom of speech.

Then why did they elect Castro as their leader for 3 years, and why do they let the agenda basically be set by Castro, Chavez and Ahmadenijad?

Here's the truth about the NAM. It was founded by Nehru so India is still in it, but India is about the only major nation left in it unless you count Indonesia or Pakistan. It started out with some principles, but in the 1960s it came under domination by Soviet-bloc states and became anything but non-aligned, and that soc ialist/totalitarian domination has continued since that time.

The current incarnation is more of an alliance than non-aligned. It's basically a club for countries which hate America and oppress their own populations, though a few legitimate governments have stuck with it. I bet they won't stay with it much longer if it remains the Hugo-Mamoud show it seems to be turning into.

Take a look at the membership sometime - it's on Wikipedia. What self-respecting country would want to be in that group of rogue nations?

Dave

Shotta, isn't NATO the only formal alliance the US is currently part of? No NATO states are in the NAM.

Dave

Chavez speech and behavior leads me to believe he is a twenty year old college student enchanted by lefty causes. Holding up the Chomsky book is the dead giveaway.

Oh, only if it were true. College students eventually grow up, become economically productive, have families, and learn something from life. (Except for those who continue to wear tie dye and rent houses with a large group of other lefties in some campus slum and work at Wild Oats.) Hugo is stuck!

Jimmy Carter admitted that he lied about the legitimacy of the Venezuelan elections that saw Chavez elected, out of fear that criticism would trigger widespread bloodshed. Our good ol' country Christian boy has pissed away his credibility with his inability to tell the truth about the murders, poll closing, voter intimidation, and ballot tampering that took place in the election. Jimmy lied and admitted it. But today's college kid lefties ignore that fact, because in their morally impaired minds, the ends justify the means.

I have friends in SA...the description of Chavez' abuse of the country, clampdown on opposition, setting himself up as dicktater for life holding the checkbook and with no checks and balances...using his TV station to propagandize the surrounding bloc of nations...it's all TRUE and there are many people of these countries worried about the political and economic impact if these stinking ideas and ideology take hold.

Hugo Chavez is a danger, but primarily to independent thinkers in Venezuela who don't toe the line, and then to surrounding countries, and only indirectly to the USA. He should be watched but nothing else for now.

Re Karl Rove as magnificent bastard...Yes!!! great point. I am waiting for the leftie wackoes to see how Assmydinnerjab and Chavez do some good for Bush as the American people are reminded of the Axis of Crazy that is out there and who hate us...then the lefties will turn it into a conspiracy theory that Rove masterminded this brilliance. Ha! All the right has to do is sit back and shut up and let the dicktaters speak and the lefties to show their love for them. Priceless...especially this close to the election.

Hmmm. Let's really screw up the political scene. Karl Rove vs. Hillary in 2008! THAT would be so much fun to watch.

And, based on the above, how would Chavez and the rest of the world react to that kind of race? We're in for a lot of political changes around the world in the next couple of years.

The willingness of Chavez and Ahmadenijad to openly chastize and taunt the US is testimony to the failure of the neocon/Bush foreign policy. An administration which sought to intimidate foreign powers with military intervention and preemptive warfare has had exactly the opposite effect. The bumbling and ineffectiveness in Iraq and Afghanistan has diminished tha stature of the US military around the world.

Chavez and Ahmadenijads open chastisement of Bush is the bitter fruit of a failed belligerency. I bet the US Warrior Class never even considered the possibility of failure. I bet that they thought that aggression was the answer to everything and all they had to do was crank up the saber rattling. Fools.

Calling Bush a devil is nothing more than what at least half of the US electorate does every day ... when we're not calling him worse. Ol' Hugo is the wanna-be dictator of Venezuela. So? Dubya is the wanna-be dictator of the US. He's certainly doing his damnedest to claim excemption from being subject to US law & the constitution. I wouldn't be surprised if he even tries, come 2008, to declare that due to 'wartime' emergency security issues, he's suspending the elections & remaining in office. Hugo is no worse than Bush - but at least he does read something more challenging than "My Pet Goat" - AND he doesn't take 3-week vacations every 6 weeks, AND he can pronounce "nuclear" and make his subject & verb numbers match, which is more than Junior can manage.

Likewise, Bush is the one who started the name-calling: Axis of Evil, Hitlers, Appeasers, etc. Turnabout is fair play; if he can't stand select smears & some painfully true observations being applied to himself, he shouldn't start it to begin with. Having opened himself up for such, however, the least he can do is take his own medicine like a man instead of the whining craven he is.

As for this overriding fear among the right that we are the target of worldwide invasion/destruction plots: you spineless wussies, get a life! That's pure Karl Rove alarmist BushShit, and you know it. Trying to retain power thru fearmongering is the lowest form of cheap, tacky, racist tactics. Yes, racist: right down the line with Brodie's rantings about wogs perpetually lusting after and raping white womens. Only crystal-pure cowards & deserters like Bush & Cheney, who were so afraid of combat or danger they weaseled out of their rightful share of military service but are now armchair warriors thirsting for blood (as long as they or theirs are well protected & never in danger of actual harm, & it's other people's blood - or their disciples like Rumsfield, Limbaugh, and other such heroes big in the mouth, miniscule in action) only these yellow, spineless sorts go around in perpetual fear of evil plotters. The rest of us, those who are actually the ones in harm's way & likely to get it on the chops because WE don't have the advantage of secret security bunkers, the Secret Service to protect us, etc., we all go about our lives & business, and most of us shrug off the dire warnings of wogist threats to our lives & Amurrikan Way of Life.

As for Chomsky, I'll bet just about every author who ever lived would kill for the kind of publicity he got! I would.

Clavos - re: Comment #30.

Did he mention the name or is it specific in the news reports that he's referring to Luis Posada Carriles?

I thought he was referring to the bombing of Cubana 455 in 1976 which killed 73 people (including almost the entire Cuban National Fencing Team). It was carried out by Orlando Bosch (a Cuban exile with strong ties to CANF), Bosch was later pardoned by - you guessed it - George Bush Sr.

Wow, that's really great you understand everything and your opinion is always the greatest.

Hm, I love you man, you're such a genius!

The tenor of the pro-Chavez comments don't actually say a whole lot about Chavez himself, except to the extent of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." Not "I like Chavez because of his policies," or "I like Chavez because he's done such-and-such," but "I like Chavez because he hates Bush."

Likewise, though, Dave, I'm not ready to pronounce Chavez "crazy" based on the rhetoric of one speech. I don't think he's crazy at all. I think he's a showboat who knows how to play to his people. Do you really think he was attempting to speak to the world in his UN speech? Of course not. That was for Venezuela and his other Latin-American supporters.

Come on, folks. You're not thinking.

Is Chavez a good guy? No he is not. There is a certain bizarreness to the attempted coup of '02, but his reaction to it was apparently to consolidate and expand his powers. He announced that another coup attempt had been fioed in 2004, with little evidence of any such thing. The recall election of 2004 contained very credible reports that he was cutting off government services to anyone who signed the recall petitions. And the same human rights organizations that criticize the Bush Administration also criticize Chavez.

The fact that Chavez doesn't like Bush is no reason to decide he must be A-OK. Al Qaeda doesn't like Bush, either.

On the other hand, Chavez strikes me as a man who knows precisely what he's doing. If he sometimes seems paranoid, I think it's because it makes for good copy and because he manages to make his supporters believe him. It also provides him with convenient excuses, like screaming "imperialist infiltrators!" when banishing U.S. organizations and cutting all ties to our military. And I don't think calling Bush "the devil" and pushing for Venezuelan seating on the Security Council is him being crazy...it's him rallying his support in Latin America.

Crazy would be implying that Chavez doesn't quite have a grip on what's going on around him and what he's doing. And boy, does he ever.

But come on. "He criticizes Bush so he's all right with me!" Just makes you sound silly.

One other thing, though: Chavez is not in any sense a threat to the United States. He's a pretty bad guy, but let's not blow him out of proportion. There's no reason to involve us in another stupid and useless fiasco like the Nicaraguan Contras.

Who said anything about liking Chavez? I don't like Chavez; I just don't condemn him for calling Bush names. Dubya's a big boy; he can take care of himself by having Rove start a smear campaign against Hugo, for all I care. Chavez is merely being good copy, is all. If he didn't do you think the sensationalistically-oriented MSM would give him a second's notice? Of course not: he'd be relegated to the position of just another banana-republic quasi-dictator. Kind of like Kim, who doesn't even have good working rockets, just a lot of hot air & temperament. So he puts on a bombastic Jimmy Swaggert act, pulls out a book & waves it around, calls a few names, and gets headlines & his picture on the cover of the Rolling Stone to send to his mother. Smart. And like I said, at least HE can pronounce "nuclear" correctly.

Dave, for god's sake, why did you provide a purchase link that that craptacular book? Isn't it enough that you mentioned the international left's new darling thinks people should buy it? Just how much market penetration are you hoping to get that pedantic sophist?

I agree with Michael West, though I'd like to point out Chavez's histrionics keep his popular mandate at home high. If one doesn't want Chavez-es mucking up the world, making efforts to rectify the economic situations that propel them into legitimate electoral mandates is a lot more useful than calling them crazy and tsk-tsking over that the world is coming to.

Deano,

Actually, BOTH Posada and Bosch were arrested by Venezuelan authorities at the time for the Cubana bombing. Bosch was released by the Venezuelans without ever being convicted, while, as I said previously, Posada was tried and acquitted twice (but not released) in Venezuelan courts. He later escaped, and came to the US.

Both now live here in Miami. Take your pick.

BTW, Re CANF. Practically EVERY Cuban exile who came in the first wave (early 60s) is a member of CANF, which is primarily a lobbying organization on behalf Cuban-Americans, though it has been associated with violent acts in the past. Nearly all of my Cuban friends are members. Since the death of its founder, Jorge Mas Canosa, it has floundered, but still exists.

MJW,

Good analysis of Chavez in 52 & 53.

The only thing I would quibble with you about is your assertion that he's not a threat to US.

At present, no. But he's working very hard to appeal to and subvert the poor of other LatAm nations, as you mention in your comments.

Unlike Castro, this guy has the economic clout to make some real inroads in other countries. I think we should take him seriously, using our influence and economic incentives to help the LatAm nations deal with their poverty problems before Chavez spreads his revolutionary message too well.

Oy. Let's not get started on the CANF and the uesless and stupid-ass sanctions they insist upon. But that's another story.

Thanks for the clarification Clavos! I suspected we were talking about the same event but for some reason Posada's name escaped my memory...

Thanks Clavos (#57), but I still don't agree. I can far too easily see us getting involved in another Nicaragua here (except that the Sandinistas were even less of a threat to us than Chavez), and that would be a ridiculous mistake. Although I would certainly agree with your solution of beating him to the punch in helping the Latin American countries deal with poverty.

MJW 58,

I suspect you and I would mostly agree there (wet foot/dry foot, the embargo, e.g.), but you're right; it's for another discussion.

Bush needs to get Chavez to make more speeches. As a result of this speech Bush's approval ratings appear to have jumped 7 points or more in the latest approval polls. He's in the mid 40s for the first time in more than a year. Go Hugo.

Chavez is correct that the General Assembly has no power. This is by design. My humble suggestion for reforming the UN is to simply eliminate the General Assembly altogether. I'm sick of their whining and stupid impotent resolutions, and if the whole body was finally banished we'd be done with it.

I would be willing to bet just about any amount of money that I am the only person posting here who has actually gone to Venezuela several times and sat down with Hugo Chavez to talk about what's needed in Latin America (I live in Mexico) and the world today.

Getting information from the horse's mouth sure beats getting it from the horse's other end--the propaganda machine of the Bush administration....

Before one shoots his/her keyboard off with opinions, it would be useful and also ethical to find out what's really going on in Venezuela. Where, by the way, NO elections have been suspended--for any reason. Where the Supreme Court is considerable less partial than the US Supreme Court (although I was glad to see the US version finally show some spine in regard to the inhumane treatment of prisoners in Guatanamo). Where people's opinions are freely voiced and peaceful protesters are NOT dragged away in paddy wagons like they are in NYC.

As for leftists dying right next to folks on the right at the hands of US enemies--some of us leftists are not going to be dying anywhere near the US. Some of us left the belly of the beast many years ago.

WARNING WARNING
FACIST PROPAGANDA in #64

PS - Marthe - I would also love to hear about your face-to-face meetings with Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny and Big Foot I am sure they will as truth filled as #64

I see. Anyone who actually behaves like a responsible citizen of the world we live in, and puts his/her money where his/her mouth is (to buy airline tickets to Caracas and chase down information) is now a liar?

Don't pay any attention to JustOneMan, Marthe. We regard him as a cute joke.

"We regard him as a cute joke."

What? I thought we agreed on pathetic joke. I must have missed the last memo.

One must always challenge the source of information on this site...Marthe what travel agent did you book your tour with..Id like to have a face to face with him also...

Oh wait a minute I just found expedia has some last minute deals on "face-to-face" meetings with world thugs, tyrants and dictators!

Wow I can wait to report back to you all....

PS A responsible citizen of the world? Since you a from Mexico can you help us keep some of your relatives from entering our country illegally..isnt that what good world citizens do..respect other countries' laws and borders?

I LIVE in Mexico.

I am a US citizen. Since birth.

I do not find your racism and xenophobia cute or funny.

Nor do I find racism and xenophobia ANYWHERE cute or funny.

There are too many comments on this forum that trivialize life. Maybe in the US life no longer has any value?

I imagine you find racism and xenophobia about as cute and funny as the rest of us find totallitarianism, government theft of property and assets and the throttling of free speech - all of which are practiced in Venezuela.

Marthe. Are you here to tell us that Chavez did not nationalize agricultural and industrial resources in Venezuela, shut down opposition newspapers, subvert the supreme court and override the rule of law with government fiat, rewrite the constitution to strengthen his rule and make it possible to jail political opponents, and also work to incite revolution in neighboring countries?

Because if you're trying to tell us that these known and documented facts aren't true, then we can just save time and not read your little snippets of propaganda.

I suggest you take a little time to read some of the concerns about Venezuela at Human Rights Watch, particularly in the area of changes to how the courts and laws work, the muzzling of the free press and the prosecution of government critics for treason.

Dave

Martha why would you choose to live in a country where people are kept in poverty by the upper classe - people like yourself who can afford to fly around the globe to meet with thugs and crooks---

Dont lecture me --- how many maids and garders do you have tending to your hacienda...PS why do you keep your US citizenship why not become a Mexican...

Wow, JoM. That was just cruel - and so on target I had to giggle.

Dave

Dave,

I see nationalization of resources as a positive step here in Latin America--in Mexico Lazaro Cardenas nationalized the petroleum resources in 1938.

In Venezuela Chavez did not create the national petroleum company PDVSA--but he has forced other countries' petroleum companies to cooperate in joint ventures with it. And to pay the hundreds of millions of dollars in back taxes and royalties that they owed. Since they are still operating in Venezuela, they must view the operation as being in their interest.

Unused agricultural land may be expropriated (not nationalized) by the state. That's not a novelty--in the US the state may expropriate any land under what is called "emminent domain".

All opposition newspapers are alive and operating in Venezuela. None have been closed. If you have info to the contrary, post it here.

The Supreme Court has not been subverted--unlike in the US. "Overriding the rule of law with government fiat" is a phrase which makes absolutely no sense, linguistically or otherwise. Are you perhaps not a native English speaker, and would like to repost that phrase in your first language?

There is nothing in the Venezuelan Constitution that was created in 1999 that indicates an increase in presidential powers (perhaps you are thinking about passed laws, not the Constitution?), jailing political opponents or inciting revolution in neighboring countries. Do you have a copy of the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela? I do.

These well-documented facts--show us the doumentation. Don't just tell us that we should believe that The Usual Suspects have been rounded up and are guility.

As for Human Rights Watch--do a little research about where they are coming from. It's always disappointing to find out that funding for such groups at HRW and Reporters without Borders is not free of influence.

A good example of what I am talking about: Last week's scandal about the reporters from the Miami Herald that were fired because they were being paid by the US government to write anti-Cuban propaganda. Fidel is no dummy--when he asked one of those very reporters in public in response to a rude question "¿Quien te paga?"--he knew who was paying him.

Another good plan if you're wanting to try to write about Latin America would be for you to learn Spanish. That way you would be able to read websites in that language as well as the Venezuelan opposition newspapers. The Washington Post and Fox News are not what we call primary sources in journalism.

Just One:

For your information, I live with a campesino family in a small village. I employ no maids nor gardeners. I volunteer my time forming community theater groups and livestock cooperatives. When I was managing a local English language school I employed only Mexicans as teachers.

You are also living in a country where the people are kept in poverty by the upper classes. Look at the tax reforms and the gini coefficient analyses since the Bush coup d'etat.
Inform yourself. Even if it means increasing your vocabulary and spending some time finding out what certain economic concepts actually MEAN.


I am as entitled to keep my US citizen as anyone else. I also have every right to lecture you. At least I am not calling you a liar.

"Bush coup d'etat"

That summed it all up...

So rather than address the issue that Mexico is a poverty factory with no one caring to lift their citizens out of poverty you blame Bush....

Gee by your embellished resume I thought you would have included your aids and cancer research...

Please stop the nonsense...you sound like some little rich girl trying to piss off her parents...

Thanks Dave!

Martha Ray --

Labor Department data shows the U.S. Gini Coefficient is rising. If the current trend continues, then the American income gap will resemble that of Mexico by year 2043

Thanks to "your" people entering this country illegally we are doomed...Ill blame Bush for not taking military action ie guns and tanks - to keep the invaders from the south from destroying my childrens future...

I fear its to late because not only do they cross the borders in droves the have fertiliity rates equal to cochroaches and mice...

Thanks to you and your ilk we are doomed!

As a Venezuelan Citizen living in the United States, I am impressed with all the comments supporting Hugo Chavez speech at UN. Let me tell you that, I feel very embarrassed and every moment, I think and ask myself, How? and Why? the Venezuelans, and the country has to have a president like him. All my family is in Venezuela and even though I am here, I know what is happening in my country being ruled by this person. That the reason, when I see comments like that, it convincing me about how the American people doesn't valuate the great country where there are living, independently of the president o whatever the person who is on charge, this is a great country and that is the reason every day you see more immigrants and there are a big jealousy about the United States. A poor people in my country is no the same as a poor people here in USA. Venezuelan poor people doesn't have running water, electricity, direct gas, house, car; absolutely anything, and in Venezuela doesn't exist so many non-profit organizations that could help them like there are here in USA. That is why I criticize Chavez, Why a president is more interesting in having a problem with USA who he calls the imperialism and be a friend of those governments (non democratic) instead of been advocate in solve the Country main problems, specially services (electricity, gas water), housing, In Venezuela the electricity fails every moment, if you are going to take a shower and there is no water, and the roads and highways are full of holes like the moon killing so many people in car accidents, also the high degree of insecurity where the people have to live enclosed in their houses because they don't know in what moment somebody is going to assault them and robe their belongings. This is the country that Mister Chavez who is the president doesn't see and the Americans and all the people who support him don't know because they never have been or lived in it.

Gee Martha Ray must have left -- her servants have just come pool side with some Margaritas and nachos!

Marthe and Dave,

First, Marthe, while I would generally say that something must be wrong if I agree with JustOneMan about something, exaggerations like "Bush coup d'etat" aren't going to clear up people's impression that you are a propagandist.

That said, ten minutes on Google demonstrated that the second most circulated newspaper in Venezuela (El Nacional) is opposed to Chavez. If he's shut down others, those shutdowns wouldn't be terribly effective in comparison.

However, research in the other areas is not promising for Chavez. Certainly looks like only members and allies of Chavez and his party were permitted on the Constituent Assembly. And that loyalism was apparently a big criterion for appointment to the Supreme Tribunal of Justice....

And I can't find any information about "where Human Rights Watch is coming from" that would make me question their veracity. Care to shed some light?

Jose...I wish the best for your family...thank you. You are a true friend of the American people...

Dave a google search of Martha Ray supports your hunch she is a blatant Marxist propagandist...

"viva la Regan"

JOM is not a "cute joke"; he's a foul-mouthed, gutter-minded, puerile jerk, and this is the last response I intend to make either in acknowledgement of or to him. He's not worth my time & effort, even to reprove.

Now now Nancyyyyyyyy!

Oh, I think he's ADORABLE! Oh, he just makes me smile and giggle with the things he says. I just wanna pinch those JustOneCheeks...

I agree, Nancy. He's a troll to be ingnored.

Michael, election fraud is a form of coup d'etat--whether it's in the US or in Mexico, in that it is seizing power by illegitimate means.

The delegates to the Constituent Assembly in Venezuela in 1999 were ELECTED the process, and that the president campaigned for his candidates--not that he appointed them.

Of course we know that all presidents in the US campaign actively for their party's candidates--and they appoint the Supreme Court justices, as well.

Let's keep this clean. If you are going to debate--provide information and supporting data, don't just accuse me of propagandizing (not that I do not have a perfect right to do so, the same as everyone else who has posted).

You might start YOUR analysis of Human Rights Watch here.

This is the first link in a Yahoo search that raises the question of their funding. I think it is very important to have transparent funding for NGOs, as many are "wolves in sheeps' clothing".

Jose, If all your family is in Venezuela, may I ask why you are in the US? I am also curious as to where you learned English. The reason I ask, is because many Venezuelans in the US are folks from families of privilege who form part of the Miama Mafia and who have funded paramilitaries attempting to overthrow the democratically-elected government of Venezuela. Apparently you did not read my comment where I mentioned several visits to Venezuela....I am sorry to hear that the potholes in the streets upset you so much. They open like troughs here in Mexico during the rainy season as well, and although they are irritating, they are much less so than human rights abuses, rampant poverty, racism, etc. Potholes are part of living in the Third World, and although I have lost several tires to them, they are a small price to pay.

I see nationalization of resources as a positive step here in Latin America--in Mexico Lazaro Cardenas nationalized the petroleum resources in 1938.

Then you've confirmed my suspicions that you're a marxist stooge.

In Venezuela Chavez did not create the national petroleum company PDVSA--but he has forced other countries' petroleum companies to cooperate in joint ventures with it. And to pay the hundreds of millions of dollars in back taxes and royalties that they owed. Since they are still operating in Venezuela, they must view the operation as being in their interest.

Prior to the 1990s Venezuela could hardly operate its oil fields. They then brought in 33 outside companies which operated in concert with the government and made enormous infrastructure investments to make the oil fields productive and profitable. Chavez is now in the process of seizing the assets these companies created at their expense and returning the entire system to state control. Putting aside the fact that this amounts to theft and is likely to result in a return to massive waste, fraud and corruption, it could also lead to a backlash against Venezuela from the major oil companies who still control distribution and refining of the oil.

Unused agricultural land may be expropriated (not nationalized) by the state. That's not a novelty--in the US the state may expropriate any land under what is called "emminent domain".

And we're fighting that abuse of government tooth and nail here in the US right now. Property ownership is one of the most basic and fundamental human rights. Any government which voilates it is criminal, including the US government. And BTW, sugar cane plantations are not 'unused land'. They're land that people own and make a living off of.

All opposition newspapers are alive and operating in Venezuela. None have been closed. If you have info to the contrary, post it here.

Their doors have not been closed, but their mouths have. Are you familiar with the new "Laws of Social Responsibility" which make it a criminal act to publish criticism of the government?

The Supreme Court has not been subverted

Actually, the ENTIRE court system has been subverted, as has the electoral system. Huge numbers of opposition aligned judges have been fired and the Supreme Court and the rest of the courts have been stuffed with Chavez toadies. What's more, the rule of law has been completely suspended and Chavez is now ruling by direct presidential edict.

--unlike in the US. "Overriding the rule of law with government fiat" is a phrase which makes absolutely no sense, linguistically or otherwise.

Then I suggest you study language a bit more. The meaning should be obvious to most people.

Are you perhaps not a native English speaker, and would like to repost that phrase in your first language?

Odd, I was going to ask you the same thing. Perhaps you've been in Mexico too long or read too many Noam Chomsky books and have lost a basic understanding of English vocabulary.

What do you call it when the government executive is empowered to issue orders with the force of law without going through a legislative process? Oh, I know - you call it happy pseudomarxist dictatoriship, the only kind of good government.

There is nothing in the Venezuelan Constitution that was created in 1999 that indicates an increase in presidential powers (perhaps you are thinking about passed laws, not the Constitution?), jailing political opponents or inciting revolution in neighboring countries. Do you have a copy of the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela? I do.

Actually, I do have a copy somewhere around here. It's as long as the Patriot Act, which is a pretty bad sign, and it's not a very enjoyable read.

As for increasing presidential power, that part is pretty damned obvious. I guess you haven't read your copy. Did it not increase the presidential term from 5 to 6 years and allow the president to serve 2 terms instead of one? And Chavez is now working to extend that for more - presumably unlimited - terms. Oh, and it also gave the president the power to disband the national legislature. Methinks that's a bit of increase in power.

These well-documented facts--show us the doumentation. Don't just tell us that we should believe that The Usual Suspects have been rounded up and are guility.

I've already pointed to documentation, and you said you have a copy of the constitution, so you could start by reading that. As for the usual suspects, some have been rounded up, but others have been shot, so no one is rounding them up ever again.

As for Human Rights Watch--do a little research about where they are coming from. It's always disappointing to find out that funding for such groups at HRW and Reporters without Borders is not free of influence.

True, they are far too left-leaning and critical of the US. Which makes it doubly significant when they take a country like Venezuela to task since they are politically inclined to be sympathetic to it.

Interesting that you ignore the gross violations of voting rights in Venezuela. Basically no election since 1999 has been fair. The CNE which oversees elections has been taken over entirely by Chavez supporters and they determine how the elections come out. The classic example being the recall election where over half the anti-Chavez votes were disqualified on no real grounds so that he wasn't removed from office.

I know that every floweing of marxism makes your heart warm, but the abuses and oppression which come with it are inexcusable to those of us who actually believe in human rights and individual liberty and prefer not to support dictatorship just because it mouths the right ideological slogans.

BTW Marthe, how do you know I don't speak or read Spanish? I live in Texas, and it sure would be a useful language to know living here...

Dave

Dave,

As usual, you provide zero documentation for your statements.

Chavez has seized no petroleum company assets; show me the documentation for that statement.

As for opposition press, if you had ever BEEN in Venezuela you would know that the opposition media criticizes Chavez 24/7. And no one has been jailed for that. Show us the name of one jailed oposition journalist or publisher--and the source for that name.

Your statement "the Supreme Court and the rest of the courts have been stuffed with Chavez toadies. What's more, the rule of law has been completely suspended and Chavez is now ruling by direct presidential edict" had the wrong president's name in there: the name is BUSH.

Not only am I a native speaker of English, I have a doctorate in English from Univ. of Massachusetts and am a specialist in Foreign Language Teaching. For that reason I asked if you were not a native speaker. Your statement makes no sense in the English language.

You do not have a copy of the Venezuelan Constitution. And you could not read it if you did because:

You do not speak Spanish.

And as for calling Lazaro Cardenas and me marxist stooges--you had better not open your mouth this side of the border with comments like that about Cardenas. He may not be alive, but there are millions who are. He is considered to be a hero in Mexico--right up there with Hidalgo, Morelos, Villa and Zapata.

And I am very much alive and am certainly not a "stooge" of any idealogy. Show us some proof.

And let's see it in Spanish.

I agree with everything Hugo Chavez said at the UN the other day, except one thing. Bush is not the Devil. According to the Bible, "The Devil Hath Power to Assume a Pleasing Shape". There is nothing pleasing about George W. Bush.

marthe - you're pissing into the wind here...defamation and disinformation have been US SOP for dealing with all left leaning elected governments in central and south America since the 50s

don't look for truth or reason here

Chavez said Bush is the Devil Incarnate;

Hugo might be "crazy" -- but even a broken clock is right twice a day.

===========

And just for the record:

This week's appearances from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad & Chavez DID SHOW that they BOTH COME ACROSS AS MORE INTELLIGENT & MORE ARTICULATE than ANYONE in the Bush administration.

Bush is an International Embarrassment.

Sorry, #91 shoulda said by "SHARK" -- I'm having trouble with my browser/modem hookup via string + tin can.

=============

Oh, and did I mention that Bush is Satan?

=============

PS: To Marthe -

Heckuva job doggin' our resident GOP Propagandist.

And don't worry: DaveNalle calls everyone a "socialist leftist" -- he's one of those funny, all-too-common Americans who is scared shitless because HE HAS SO MUCH TO LOSE.

Marthe,

I was born (of American parents) and raised in México. Como adulto, he trabajado mas de tres décadas en empresas mexicanas, y por supuesto, hablo español.

I find it interesting that you mention Cardenas' expropriation of the British and American oil companies as being a "positive step", but fail to mention that Pemex, the state oil company, is easily the most corrupt arm of one of the most corrupt governments in the Americas, and has been since shortly after the expropriation.

You picked a poor example, corazón.

he's one of those funny, all-too-common Americans who is scared shitless because HE HAS SO MUCH TO LOSE.

What better reason could there be to to be opposed to socialism?

Marthe Raymond

It is easy to see your passion for socialism. Volunteering your time to help lessor-developed communities in the third world is a very good thing. All of us who support capitalism can take a lesson from that. For it is in our hearts that we can overcome so many of our differences.

I am a US Citizen living working in Chile. I am not a socialist Marthe, I am a capitalist. I too live in a small town here in Chile, however I do employ a maid and a gardener to help me keep up with those duties and they are both happy to have this employment. As for my small export company I have had to spend a lot of time and effort in finding and training employees that are willing to grow and learn new working standards and skills that the developed world maintains as a minimum. If I want my company to be able to compete in the developed world, then my employees need to operate at that standard.

The idea of an employee incentive plan in receiving better pay for learning and growing to understand and practice these minimum standards is not a concept that Chilean workers have ever really been offered by most all employers here so it is a concept they have the hardest time actualizing. I have finally established a small working crew that has the desire to learn new skills and reach the higher standards. They work as a team and achieve a standard of excellence that they would not have otherwise had the opportunity to realize. Not only am I proud of them, but they have found new pride in themselves.

As for those who choose not to grow and reach this higher standard, they have no place in my company. Now as harsh as they may sound, let me explain the main reason they choose not to grow. The socialist government of Chile offers such good benefits including government housing and full medical to low-income workers that they have grown so accustom to them they would not go out of that box. As for those who made the choose to grow, they are making income 2.7 times greater then state benefits even though they had to give up their government housing and medical support. They now can afort better and larger houseing for their families and are fully insured with medial benefits that offers a greater ranges of doctors and services then the state offered them.

I am not going to fault someone who has lived his whole life growing so accustom to the comforts of state handouts that have lost their spirit to grow and achieve more, some people want to be taken care of, but I can not praise that system. In contrast, the greater income being received and enjoyed by those willing to grow should not be held against them, and I do praises them for there choose to grow.

You see Marthe, I believe capitalism raises the human spirit of creativity and hope better then socialism does. I am not going to deny that capitalism has its problems, it does, and a lot of that has to do with the human heart or lack there of. But like capitalism, socialism too has problems and that also has to do with the human heart or lack of.

Your thinking that the US upper class keeps people in poverty is not sound. The US has the largest "middle-class" of any county in the world. It is this middle class that is the most innovative and creative forces in socicty that has ever been know to man. Most people in poverty in the US are there because of choose just like those who don't work for my company here in Chile. For the truly poor, widowed and orphaned in the US as well as the world, we need our hearts to lead us.

I wish you well in Mexico.

Franco

As usual, you provide zero documentation for your statements.

I've already provided links to the HRW site. I can provide other sources if you like too.

Chavez has seized no petroleum company assets; show me the documentation for that statement.

Sure, no problem - courtesy of the BBC

As for opposition press, if you had ever BEEN in Venezuela you would know that the opposition media criticizes Chavez 24/7. And no one has been jailed for that. Show us the name of one jailed oposition journalist or publisher--and the source for that name.

Patricia Poleo, jailed for 6 months last year for writing critically about a government official. How about Ibeyise Pacheco who was jailed in March for criticizing the state military buildup. Or Marianela Salazar who was charged with slandering the VP of Venezuela? Or perhaps TV reporter Marta Colomina who was attacked and terrorized by Chavista thugs? Here's a link to the order sent to the Chavez government by the Inter-American Court on Human Rights.

You can keep up with the apologetics and excuses, but the facts are the facts.

Your statement "the Supreme Court and the rest of the courts have been stuffed with Chavez toadies. What's more, the rule of law has been completely suspended and Chavez is now ruling by direct presidential edict" had the wrong president's name in there: the name is BUSH.

So you have no actual ability to refute these facts - you can verify them at the HRW website, btw.

Not only am I a native speaker of English, I have a doctorate in English from Univ. of Massachusetts and am a specialist in Foreign Language Teaching. For that reason I asked if you were not a native speaker. Your statement makes no sense in the English language.

Odd, it makes sense to me, but maybe not understanding straightforward statements is something I need more than my lowly Masters in English to understand.

You do not have a copy of the Venezuelan Constitution. And you could not read it if you did because:

You do not speak Spanish.

Again, how do you know I don't speak Spanish? Do you assume this about all Americans? I'll admit Spanish isn't my best language. I can read it and understand it when spoken, but I can't speak it at a high level of competence. Russian, French, German, Latin Vulgate and Anglo-Saxon are a different story.

But the point is moot, because as someone else pointed out the Venezuelan constitution is widely available in English translation and I have in fact had a translated copy since I wrote another article on Chavez last year.

And as for calling Lazaro Cardenas and me marxist stooges--you had better not open your mouth this side of the border with comments like that about Cardenas. He may not be alive, but there are millions who are. He is considered to be a hero in Mexico--right up there with Hidalgo, Morelos, Villa and Zapata.

I don't believe I mentioned Cardenas anywhere here. Though his policies were certainly destructively socialist.

I do find it amazing how the marxist apologists come out of the woodwork when you mention Chavez. It's rather reminiscent of the paid bloggers the Chinese government sent to comment on another recent post on BC.

Dave

Hmm I wonder if anyone in Venezuela could even AFFORD to buy that stpid Chomsky book. Probably not thanks to Chavez' mismanagement of the nation's economy and it's oil fortune.

marthe - you're pissing into the wind here...defamation and disinformation have been US SOP for dealing with all left leaning elected governments in central and south America since the 50s

don't look for truth or reason here

Troll, there are plenty of socialist governments which don't abuse the rights of their people and build up massive militaries to intimidate their neighbors. There's a difference between reasonable, democratic socialism and a marxist dictatorship. Chavez practices the latter while masquerading as the former.

Dave

This will be my final post on this thread, so it will not be necessary to reply.

As usual, Dave has presented zero docuemntation for any of his slanderous statements. That Venezuela's government TOOK BACK oil fields (BBC reference) indicates that those fields were THEIRS. They were not assets of any petroleum companies. Nice try, but completely bogus. And nice try saying you are putting documentation and then not doing so. Most of us can read, thank you.

Has anyone ever showed you the difference between apples and oranges?

I would be happy to look at documents in French, German, Latin or Old English that prove your statements. The point is: They do not exist--if you want to pontificate about Latin America, you have to be fluent in Spanish. That's the deal. Punto.

And yes, a doctorate does trump a master's. If it didn't, why would anyone get one?

Clavo, You missed the nail (yes, pun intended). Cardenas took back the petroleum fields that were being exploited by foreign companies. The fact that Cardenas was the last credible Mexican president is not HIS fault. He put the infrastructure in place for Mexico to manage its resources. The crooks that have sold out Mexico's patrimony (vendepatrias como Salinas and Fox) were not put in power by Cardenas. Guilt is not retroactive in this case, and logical thinking is clearly not your strong suit.

Franco, I do not believe I mentioned the word SOCIALISM anywhere in my posts--nor capitalism, for that matter. If I wanted to mention them, I am perfectly able to do so--and since I did NOT, it's logical to assume that idealogy is not the issue I have been addressing.

What I have been addressing--and which Chavez addressed in his UN speech and which he addresses every day--is the issue of moral behavior/social justice. Bombing the crap out of half the planet's people is WRONG. Starving more than half of the planet's people is WRONG. Slapping people in jail who have commmitted no crime is WRONG. In fact, everything that the US government has done since Bush took office through election fraud has been WRONG.

Anyone who can morally justify one single act or policy of the Bush government, have at it!

This will be my final post on this thread, so it will not be necessary to reply.

Since you're mostly being deceptive and argumentative, I realized several posts ago that you were too closed-minded to waste time on, except that it would be irresponsible to let your lies stand uncontested for those others who are reading here.

As usual, Dave has presented zero docuemntation for any of his slanderous statements.

Really? Are you incapable of reading HTML links? Perhaps that's the problem. You click on the parts of the text in blue and it takes you to the source. I've provided multiple sources of documentation, including a link in my last post to legal documents pertaining to journalists jailed for political reasons in Venezuela.

As a rule, when you lie, you shouldn't lie about things which anyone can scroll up 3 posts and see are obviously there.

That Venezuela's government TOOK BACK oil fields (BBC reference) indicates that those fields were THEIRS. They were not assets of any petroleum companies. Nice try, but completely bogus. And nice try saying you are putting documentation and then not doing so. Most of us can read, thank you.

I provided the link to the BBC story. If you weren't so hideously biased you would realize that while the oil in the ground may belong to Venezuela - excep that seizing it violated long-term contracts with the oil companies involved - they also seized the infrastructure and hardware on the sites which was mostly owned by rental companies who have now sued Venezuela for $55 million for breach of contract and the return of their property. More suits are expected to follow.

I would be happy to look at documents in French, German, Latin or Old English that prove your statements. The point is: They do not exist--if you want to pontificate about Latin America, you have to be fluent in Spanish. That's the deal. Punto.

Bullshit. Almost every relevant document is available in English translation, and if it were not and it were important to have an exact translation I know plenty of people who could translate it for me. Remember, I live in Texas.

And yes, a doctorate does trump a master's. If it didn't, why would anyone get one?

Damned if I know, though my doctorate did let me teach college for 20 years, underpaid and overworked though I was. And I knew plenty of English doctoral candidates while I completed my MA and your arrogance and closed-mindedness is pretty typical. Not that things were all that much better in my department, but at least there the Marxists had learned to reason at least a little bit.

What I have been addressing--and which Chavez addressed in his UN speech and which he addresses every day--is the issue of moral behavior/social justice. Bombing the crap out of half the planet's people is WRONG. Starving more than half of the planet's people is WRONG. Slapping people in jail who have commmitted no crime is WRONG. In fact, everything that the US government has done since Bush took office through election fraud has been WRONG.

Only one of the things you mention can even vaguely be laid on Bush, and one of them applies to Chavez more than it does to the US. Lots of people are doing things wrong. It's farcical for the world's leading dictators to presume to lecture America on such issues.

Anyone who can morally justify one single act or policy of the Bush government, have at it!

There are lots of things Bush has done which are morally justifiable, like providing tax relief at home and massive foreign aid to Tsunami victims. But I don't see much point in defending Bush policies to someone who can't recognize a real dictatorship when she sees one.

Dave

I lied. That was my penultimate post.

This is my laugh of the day:

"There are lots of things Bush has done which are morally justifiable, like providing tax relief at home and massive foreign aid to Tsunami victims. But I don't see much point in defending Bush policies to someone who can't recognize a real dictatorship when she sees one."

Tax relief for the rich--and sticking it to the shrinking middle and expanding lower classes--really morally justifiable. The US aid to tsunami victims was mostly PRIVATE money rounded up by Bush Padre and Bill Clinton. And then there was that SUBLIME MORAL VICTORY: the evacuation and protection of New Orleans. You forgot that one.

Piss poor moral behavior/social justice record for almost 6 years in office, by anyone's standards.

Dictatorship? I am not the one living in a dictatorship and unwilling to recognize it.

And this really was my last word.

Tax relief for the rich--and sticking it to the shrinking middle and expanding lower classes--really morally justifiable.

With your complete and willful denial of reality on Venezuela I should have expected this as well. If you bother to look beyond what the left propaganda is feeding you, you'd know that the middle class isn't shrinking and the lower class isn't expanding and the tax cuts, poorly designed though they were, didn't increase taxes for anyone and reduced taxes the most for the poor because they included an increase in the exemption which took more poor people completely off the tax rolls. It's a reminder that my work is never done that this sort of ignorance persists.

The US aid to tsunami victims was mostly PRIVATE money rounded up by Bush Padre and Bill Clinton.

Really? Maybe you should subscribe to a newspaper or something. They do ship them to Mexico. US Private aid to the Tsunami victims was $480 million. Government aid was $1.33 billion.

And then there was that SUBLIME MORAL VICTORY: the evacuation and protection of New Orleans. You forgot that one.

Did you ever actually live in the US? You seem not to be terribly familiar with the country and how it works. Initial response to any disaster, including evacuation is the responsibility of local authorities. This is indisputable fact. Mayor Nagin and Gov. Blanco ignored the evac plan for New Orleans. That was the root of most of the subsequent problems.

Piss poor moral behavior/social justice record for almost 6 years in office, by anyone's standards.

Only true if you have some sort of perverse vision of what morality and social justice are. Bush's administration has certainly stumbled plenty, but compared to Chavez and his deliberate subjugation of Venezuela Bush has been a saint.

Dave

Chavez remembers Arbinez - Allende - ... - the Sandinistas

is strengthening his position other than prudent - ?

la suya es una caja "de paranoia constantemente justificada"

I'm not sure that being provocative is really strengthening his position. He ought to also keep in mind the countries in the region which have good, stable democracies and have been given nothing but support and friendship by the US.

Dave

(or should that be 'el suyo es un caso...etc' - ?)

which countries are those Dave - ?

Mostly the ones Chavez is planning to invade and/or encourage socialist revolutions in.

But it seems like a lot of countries in the region have solved the kinds of problems they had a decade or two ago with socialist dictators. They aren't perfect, but Costa Rica, Bolivia, Uruguay, El Salvador, Argentin, Brazil, and Chile all seem to be more or less on the right track. Well, Bolivia slipped recently. Under Evo Morales they seem likely to head to the same dark place as Venezuela.

Dave

Marthe,

It is you, not I who missed.

You are so full of socialist rhetoric you conveniently ignore the fact that it was Cárdenas, who as a member of the PRM, (the party which evolved into the PRI) set the stage for the PRI to enjoy a monopoly on Mexican politics for more than 70 years by dividing the party into competing interest groups, thereby creating a one party monopoly called by Mario Vargas LLosa, "La dictadura perfecta."

As for the so-called "vendepatrias" you refer to:

Beginning with Miguel De La Madrid and going through Salinas and Fox, Mexico's middle class has become the fastest-growing in Latin America, the peso has been more stable than at any time in the last 30 years, foreign investment (and therefore jobs and tax revenues) are at all-time highs, and today, México is the wealthiest country in Latin America.

But, most significantly, the PRI's stranglehold on politics has finally been broken; with this summer's presidential election the most closely scrutinized in history and, despite AMLO's protestations to the contrary, the most honest election in 70 years.

Cárdenas' other contribution to the Republic, agrarian "reform", has resulted in a complete loss of individual property rights for the campesinos, which has kept them impoverished; resulting in, among other things, the mass migration to US and the out-of-control growth and impoverishment of the D.F. and other urban centers.

No, your Marxist viewpoint gives you a very unrealistic view of mi Patria. About as unrealistic (and blind) as the PRD's and AMLO's.

One more thing: in your original post, you list several Mexican heroes from history. Where's Benito Juárez, the greatest of them all?

Dave says,

Well, Bolivia slipped recently. Under Evo Morales they seem likely to head to the same dark place as Venezuela.

Count on it. Evo's mentor is Hugo.

*countries in the region which have good, stable democracies and have been given nothing but support and friendship by the US*

=

*Costa Rica, Bolivia, Uruguay, El Salvador, Argentin, Brazil, and Chile*

quoted for revisionist content

Ay, clavo, you have forced me to become a liar. But your ignorance or deliberate deceptiveness--not for me to say which--cannot go unpunished.
Chavo--er clavo, no sabes ni jota de México.

1. Since 1929, when Calles consolidates his power, Mexican presidents appointed their succesors (some even contend that Zedillo appointed Fox in 2000 and that this year Fox appointed Calderón--after first trying to appoint his wife and then Creel). Cárdenas took office in 1936. He appointed, in the interest of UNITY--not division--a conservative, Ávila Camacho, in 1940. He did not "set the stage" for the PRI monopoly. It already existed in 1929.

2. Did you Google Mario Vargas Llosa? Bet you have not read any of his books. He has swung waaaaay to the right in his old age--which is why he suits your idealogy, but when he made the "perfect dictatorship" comment, he was younger and left-leaning.

3. Miguel de la Madrid took office in 1982. His sexenio was a disaster: En diciembre de 1988, la moneda mexicana iba a devaluarse en total un 3.270% desde diciembre de 1982. That's 3 thousand, not 3!!!!!!! the way numbers are written in the Romance languages. Then came Salinas, who artificially sustained the pesos in order to bring about NAFTA and his illusion of becoming president of the World Bank. Zedillo let the peso float in his first month as president in 1995 and that led to The Error of December and the Tequila Effect. The peso went from 3.3 to the dollar to 11 point something during his sexenio, backing down to 9.50 when Fox took office. The peso is right around 11 to the dollar now. You do the arithmetic--what percentage has the peso lost since December 1995? ¡Vaya estabilidad!

4. Jobs? Fox promised 1,400,000 per year. The total in 6 years: 1,200,000--mostly without benefits.

5. Tax revenues? You've got to be kidding. The budget has been kept from collapsing the past several years by SUPPOSEDLY (there is no transparency regarding revenues here) injecting ALL of the windfall petroleum profits. Nobody knows--except that they did not go into Pemex infrastructure. Or anyplace else where they might be traced. We are talking 20 billion dollars in the past 2 years alone. In Venezuela, one may not like where the windfall profits have gone--but the process has been transparent. Here in Foxilandia, hah!

6. Richest country in Latin America?????By what measurement? In the past six years the average growth in Internal Brute Product in Mexico: 2%, by official