What goes around, comes around. You really don't think the world is laughing at us? Bin Laden makes jokes about Bush reading My Pet Goat during 9/11, (how is that "Dead or Alive" thing going anyways?) The French come up with jokes about us everyday, (i.e. How many gears does a G.W. Bush tank have? 5, four in forward and one in reverse in case he wants to attack from the rear.) And now Pat Robertson's favorite world leader, Hugo Chavez is taking shots at W.
On Wednesday during a live broadcast of a cabinet meeting, Chavez called Bush a "cowboy" and said Bush had failed Hurricane Katrina management and evacuation. Chavez said, "That government had no evacuation plan, it is incredible, the first power in the world that is so involved in Iraq ... and left its own population adrift." "That man, the king of vacations ... the king of vacations in his ranch said nothing but, you have to flee, and didn't say how ... that cowboy, the cowboy mentality," said a laughing Chavez.
Chavez, who is applauded by his supporters for his socialist revolution to fight poverty, has offered to send cheap fuel, humanitarian aid and relief workers to the disaster area. Venezuelan state oil firm PDVSA has offered $1 million for relief efforts. Fidel Castro have offered to send 1,100 doctors and 26 tons of medical equipment. Even North Korea have offered sympathy to America. Leave it up to Bush to make the bad guys look like saints. Hell, if Saddam was still in power, Iraq would be sending aid.
For those of you who are going to bash Chavez' political record as soon as you are done reading this, realize that Bush and Chavez do have things in common. Fact, poverty rates in Venezuela have risen under Chavez. Fact, poverty rates in the U.S. have risen under Bush. The poverty rate in 2000 was 11.3% (a 26 year low and the 7th straight year of dropping poverty rates, all under Pres. Clinton for those you not good at math.) In the 8/31/2005 edition, the Census Bureau reports the poverty rate at 12.7% in 2004, the 4th straight year of poverty rate increases (all under Bush, again for those math-challenged people among us.) But don't get down on W, even at 12.7% it is still lower than anytime under his daddy or the hero of all you right-wingers, Ronald Reagan.
Off topic, here is something else to keep your eye on. The United States wants Iran to be reported to the U.N. Security Council, where it could face sanctions. Does this strike up any memories? Just another step.
Article comments
1 - Marc
Why should we care what Chavez has to say?
The only people that will take notice are the portion of the American left that still spout the selected not elected meme and the Bush vacation BS.
"Just another step."
And what would your plan be to solve the Iran problem?
2 - Tom Russell
The french joke us [edited]
3 - Dave
Americans should care cause this guy has control over the oil pipe that's feeding them. And right now that's around 1.3 million barrels per day. How are those heating bills looking for the winter?
link
4 - Aussie-Steve
It seems to me some of you are taking Chavez's attack on Bush personaly. "nobody insults my president" but your president is insulting your country by completely disrespecting your own constitution.
If anybody deserves your defence and respect its the forefathers of your country, the ones who wrote the bill of rights that bush is trodding all over.
Perhaps the U.S should take care of its own backyard before it does anymore meddling internationaly
5 - Nancy
Indeed. Some of us (that is, at least half of all the US electorate, most of whom are convinced Bush stole both the 2000 & 2004 elections) who routinely bash Bush with far worse terminologies, are bemused by the relative mildness of Chavez' epithets. My own personal favorites are 'liar-coward-deserter-craven-fraud-illiterate-fool-asshole-traitor..." well, you get the picture. And I'm not even the most virulent out here. Bush ought to be grateful to Hugo for being kind, 'cause it's more than he's likely to get from his fellow Amurrikins who he's betrayed left & right.