Venezuela's Chavez slams Bush for cutting vacation after hurricane

[Judi Lynn]

Venezuela's Chavez slams Bush for cutting vacation after hurricane

September 01, 2005, 09:28 gmt


President Hugo Chavez
© AFP Andrew Alvarez
CARACAS (AFP) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez blasted US President George W. Bush for waiting until after Hurricane Katrina hit the United States to end his vacation in Texas.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez blasted US President George W. Bush for waiting until after Hurricane Katrina hit the United States to end his vacation in Texas.
At the same time, Chavez, a leftist leader who frequently lashes out against Bush, expressed sympathy for the storm's victims and repeated his offer to send aid workers to the devastated southern US states.

And Citgo, the US subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil giant PDVSA, announced it would donate one million dollars to US aid organizations helping hurricane victims.

"For four days there were warnings that (Katrina) was going to make a direct hit, and the king of vacations at his ranch only said 'you must flee.' He did not say how," Chavez said, charging that the United States had no evacuation plans. "It's the rancher mentality."
(snip/...)

http://www.bakutoday.net/afps/english/shared/int/050901072853.mg3xn29z.html

[Be Brave]

1. Ha! How embarrassing!

The so-called leader of the free world being chastised by Chavez!

[wli]

2. Let's face it: we'd be 100x better off with Chavez as POTUS than Bush. n/t

[mknmehappy]

31. You want a Communist as President?

Are you serious?

[Occulus]

34. "communist"

:rofl:

You do realize, if we had nationalized the oil interests long ago, we wouldn't be seeing the prices we are today, don't you?

[IChing]

37. No we want a fascist like your president

are you serious?

[madmom]

38. Chaves when elected had a bigger % of vote than bush did... 56%, to 52%

[JimmyJazz]

41. Chavez Speaks the Truth.

:)

[VegasWolf]

73. Bush heard that Chavez wrote a book, now Bush is busy writing

"See Spot Run! Run Spot Run!"

[Zhade]

110. It's a pop-up book, at that!

Hopefully our new "friends" won't have too much trouble with the pop-ups, as I'm sure they're slavering over the idea of a book written by that miserable traitorous piece of human filth in the White House.

[krkaufman]

100. Ummm... I may be missing something....

... but where are you getting the information that Hugo Chavez is "a Communist"? (And, if you could provide a reference to your contextual definition of "communist", that would be good, too. Thanks.)

[Zhade]

105. I don't think you want links from NewsMax and Faux News...

Just sayin'.

[Zhade]

104. "Communist" - what's next, "strongman thug"?

Windansea, is that you?

Here's an idea - why not spend some time slamming your beloved president, instead of a man you clearly know dick about?

Idiot.

[Cha]

107. Oh please, Step away from the

right wing talking points!!

[marbuc]

113. The Communist tag

is cold war era terminology, and generally reveals lurking freepers for what they are. Chavez is socialist to be sure, but Venezuela has free elections, free press, and freedom of speech, and while their resources are nationalized, the economy and political system is basically open. By the way, many third world, resource rich countries are nationalizing their resources to prevent exploitation by unscrupulous multi-nationals.

[Judi Lynn]

116. Might I add, the oil was nationalized well before Hugo Chavez

was elected. I think a lot of people assume he's the one who did it, so I wanted to throw this in behind your post for those who don't know.

[katsy]

120. Who's a communist?

Chavez?

Get an education.

[goforit]

129. LOL!! Katsy...tell it like it is!!

[KansDem]

124. "Communist" is soooo last century...

The new boogieman hell-bent on taking away your freedom is "the terrorist." "The Terrorist" will subject you to new Godless, oppressive lows that will deprive you of your way of living--the "American way"... haven't you been listening to the Neo-Cons?

Here's a short primer:

1945-1989--"Communism" is the boogieman (Pres. Ike warns of "military-industrial complex").
1989-1993--"relative peace" as Berlin Wall has fallen. Neo-Cons frantically looking for new boogieman to continue looting US Treasury...
1993-now--New boogieman, "The Terrorist," appears as first WTC attack occurs (with help from the FBI)... Then comes 9/11 and Iraq invasion. Neo-Cons now happy the US Treasury can continue to be looted...

Get with the program!

[goforit]

131. roflmao!!!!.....Commie, eh?....Yep, the Poppy Bush era for sure.

:rofl:

[CAcyclist]

132. A Democratically Elected President, Yes

if that's what you mean by communist.

Not like the former Trotskites who make up the basis of PNAC on Bush's team. Not those communists.

[hyphenate]

Compared to Bush

Chavez is a saint!

And what's wrong with a little communism? For crying out loud, ANYTHING is better than what we've got now!!

[NorCalDem]

137. Do your Homework happy!

a.) Chavez is not Communist, to say so is ridiculous!

b.) The economy of Venezuela is growing faster than almost any other economy in the world thanks to Hugo.

c.) Chavez actually cares about the poor (he is Populist afterall) whereas Bush does not care about them at all.

d.) Chavez won both the election and referendum in his country by significant majorities (8% I believe in the original election, more than that in the referendum) which makes Bush calling his 51/49 victory a "mandate" sound absolutely ridiculous. Estimates have Chavez's approval rating at well above 60% (as compared to Bush's 39%).

e.) Oh yeah, and welcome to DU! Hopefully you'll be sticking around awhile :D

[I concur]

39. Let's face it: You wouldn't be able...

...to criticize a POTUS with Chavez as Pres.

[nickgutierrez]

40. How so?

I mean, pretty much the whole of the media in Venezuela is owned by opposition.

[manic expression]

44. Let's face it: You have no idea what you're talking about

How is there no free speech in Venezuela? How? Yeah, you can't prove it, because there IS freedom of speech in Venezuela....

Nice try, but your reactionary filth doesn't fly.

[I concur]

49. Really...

...well, I'VE BEEN there since Chavez took over and I goddammed well know what I'm talking about: I teach South American history! El Caudillo Chavez is a murdering scumbag and that's not "reactionary filth" but real facts, AH!

[DrunkenMaster]

51. Ummm...yeah

You sure seem unbiased and reasonable. I'm absolutely going to take your opinion at face value and not engage in any critical analysis whatsoever....which I'm sure is a trait you value in your students as well.

[I concur]

55. Food for thought

here: http://www.vcrisis.com/

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

58. That site is a piece of garbage. One of their main writers is a

British bellhop who's probably never been to Venezuela. (On edit I should have said it's run by this jackass). He's also a frequent poster at "free republic". I guess I have to say I don't concur. Keep trying though.

[Name removed]

61. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

62. BWWWAAAAHAAAHAAAAAAA!!!!!!

Vete pa'l carajo so pendejo. Tu vives en Venezuela tanto como yo vivo en Afghanistan.

[I concur]

71. Ignorantia legis neminem excusat!

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

75. OK stop you're killing me here. I'm not supposed to be laughing out loud

at work. Latin????? This ain't the 17th century and we ain't in church. For the record I only pointed something out and you started w/ the name calling bullshit.

[Say_What]

74. Looks like the VenGusanos hit the board ;-)

:hi:

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

76. And apparently very well versed in Latin. LOL! n/t

[manic expression]

77. Claro!

y vivo en Rwanda. Este tonto no sabe nada para Venezuela. Cuando Chavez ayuda la gente, dice que hay opresion. Cuando hay tierra y liberdad por la gente, dice que esta mala. Dice que hay no justicia, cuando hay mucha justicia (mas que en EEUU).

Seriamente, esta ridiculo.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

78. Saludos, como esta el clima por alla en Rwanda en esta epoca? n/t

[I concur]

82. How about, French...?

(in your case)
Ils n'ont rien appris ni rien oublie'

[NorCalDem]

140. Buddy, just stop! You're making an ass out of yourself! n/t

[manic expression]

88. Muy bien

Como Afghanistan ;)

[I concur]

80. Chingarro!

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

83. Dude, come on. What language is that now? There is no way you live and

work over there.

[I concur]

89. Il n'y a pa a' dire...

Buh-Bye!

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

91. Coño gracias chamo, de corazon. No me reía así hace tiempo. n/t

[manic expression]

92. Umm...

Too bad we're talking about LATIN AMERICA, and so we are speaking SPANISH (that's what they speak there). Maybe if we were talking about France, you'd have something there, but you don't.

[CAcyclist]

136. I Think This Is Where He Got It (Freepers reviewing movies - yuck)

http://www.mrcranky.com/movies/traffic/27.html

01/15/01: Impressive...most impressive.
Posted By: Jack-Em-Up_JACKAL

This film was quite good. It even teaches you fun Spanish phrases like "chingarro." Ah yes.

Outstanding direction and cast, all around. Cheadle and his partner (both of whom were also oustanding in Out of Sight), and Miguel Ferrer were REALLY good, but the standout is Benicio Del Toro. How cool/talented is he? Hopefull, this film will give him the praise he deserves-- he looks surprisingly old in this film, with a steady stare. I'm putting him in the same rank as Ed Norton for chameleon-like acting talent AND the ability to choose INTERESTING & trippy roles (the unrecognizable and incromprehensible Fenster in Usual Suspects and Hunter's lawyer in Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas and now this).

However, this movie DOES feature a cameo by California Senetor Barbara BEEOTCH Boxer and unfortunately, she does not get bitch-slapped, which must have been an oversight.

Now, excuse me while my daughter become my white suburban daugther pursues her dream to become a crack-ho and I don Elvis sunglasses and a goatee so I can work in Mexico. Chingaderras, everyone. Chingaderras indeed.

[Name removed]

65. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[marbuc]

101. vcrisis

is an Anti-Chavez site, and unreliable at best as a source. I work on Venezuelan issues and like Chavez, but I'm open minded. Come back with some reputable info, and I'll listen.

[Zhade]

114. 11 posts, and you understand logic.

See, not all low-count posters are freepers! Just the guy you're responding to, of course.

Welcome to DU!

[NorCalDem]

142. Welcome to DU DrunkenMaster

you're analysis will be appreciated on this site, unlike that of our friend "I concur". :D

[Frederik]

57. Sorry

You actually don't have a clue.

[I concur]

59. Save your apologies...

...for your "hero" Chavez; he's going to need folks like you in his corner when news of his atrocities finally break.

[Say_What]

67. BWAHAHAHAHAHA

care to provide some credible evidence of Chavez' atrocities?

[I concur]

72. I did...

...care to examine them objectively?

[Say_What]

90. Sorry. vcrisis.com doesn't count as CREDIBLE!!

:spank:

[DrunkenMaster]

93. Its Crap

The very fact that I Concur tried to use it as a cited source shows the weakness of his/her rhetoric.

[Zhade]

119. It shows his freeperishness.

NT!

[Zhade]

117. He said "credible", not "incredible".

I know reading comprehension is not your guys' thing, but you should really try a little harder.

Vcrisis is not, and has never been, an acceptable source on this board.

Try again, if you can. Hint: NewsMax and Faux News not credible, either.

[MisterP]

103. the gusanophone's record keeps skipping

[Frederik]

86. Those news are going to break

any day now :rofl:

[JimmyJazz]

66. I know for a fact that he is not an evil dictator - if he were, he would

have been put there by an illegal coup backed by the CIA/US government and we would have him in our back pocket.

[manic expression]

81. Really?

and even though Chavez' "take over" was a democratic election, and although the REAL "take over" was a coup (which THE PEOPLE resisted and defeated), you still blame Chavez? You are hopeless. A murdering scumbag who helps the people and protects the wellbeing of his country over the base aims of Uncle Sam? Yeah, a real scumbag, if you're a neo-con (or a reactionary).

Take your delusions elsewhere.

[Say_What]

85. Lemme guess...

you teach SA history in Miami or perhaps in Fort Lauderdale suburb *Westonzuela* where the ultra-rich Venegusanos who bailed from Venezuela are paying cash for all those *very* expensive homes!!

:rofl:

[Crunchy Frog]

95. I bet you've never even been outside your parents basement.

Why don't you go back under the freeper rock that you crawled out from under.

[Zhade]

112. Yeah, Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure you have.

Suuuuuuuuuuuuuure you do.

Why don't you go watch some more Faux News? You're not fooling anyone, you know. Not one bit.

[marbuc]

134. I've been there also

and I'm quite certain I know what I'm talking about.

[CAcyclist]

135. So Frigging What?

I've had some pretty piss-poor teachers before. I'll take Noam Chomsky over you any day.

Some people who live here think we actually live in a democracy; so much for the wonders of "being there".

Chavez speaks the truth.

[NorCalDem]

139. Have you talked to the masses there? Probably not! n/t

[JimmyJazz]

46. I'm not trying to be mean, but maybe you need to stop

believing everything the right tells you. Contrary to rw propaganda, Chavez is not another "evil" dictator. And, he clearly seems to care more about the people hit by the hurricane than our guitar pickin' "leader."

[I concur]

50. Read the previous post

[DrunkenMaster]

52. I read it

and it is entirely devoid of informational content.

[I concur]

54. ...oops, try this:

"http://www.vcrisis.com/"

[mountebank]

60. I will, if you try this....

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com

And see a debate between writers for the 2 sites here:

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/articles.php?artno=1081

VCrisis doesn't have a monopoly on truth so when you toss it out as such, expect to be excoriated.

[I concur]

68. Trying to avoid a continuous flame war

but comparing Chavez to an enlightened despot is IMHO like comparing * to Thomas Jefferson. Nations south of the Rio Grande have long had a political tradition of "The Man on Horseback" dictatorship. Yes, there are a few exceptions (Benito Juarez being one) but for every good exception there seems to be a Somoza or Castro (incidentally, Brazil even had an emperor--Dom Pedro). Chavez is just the latest in the line of dirtbag despotism...and just because he's critical of the U.S. and its current illegitimate head of state, doesn't make him any cleaner.

[goforit]

143. Bada bing!!!....Great come back.

[JimmyJazz]

63. delete -

I can't do this right now. :(

[Say_What]

69. vcrisis.com??? You call that credible??

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[NorCalDem]

141. http://www.vheadline.com

[Frederik]

56. There is more freedom of speech

in Venezuela than in the US. The opposition controls all the media and are calling for the ouster of Chavez on national TV. Can you imagine that in the US?

The plotters of the 2002 coup attempt against him are not even in prison. How's that for a "dictatorship"?

Venezuela is more democratic than the United States.

[0007]

64. Total nonsense!

[Say_What]

79. ROTFLMAO!!! Then how is it that the 'opposition' nearly took down the

Venezuelan economy?

Keeerist, get a grip on reality!

[Zhade]

108. Except that's a lie.

If you were right - and you are so laughably NOT right - then Chavez never would have allowed the opposition press in Venezuela, which btw calls him things like "monkey", to remain open and free to spew their vitriolic lies.

But then, since it's clear you don't know what the fuck you're talking about, I doubt your oh-so-insightful analysis - I'm sorry, I meant your crock of shit - will sway those of us here who actually do know something of the world outside our borders.

[Cha]

111. Yes we would...next

talking point.

[NorCalDem]

138. Venezuela's media is freerer than ours!

God damn it Bush supporters, do your fucking homework before you come trying to trash our discussion boards!

[redqueen]

126. I'd vote for him in a heartbeat!

:bounce:

All these trolls... do they think they're fooling anyone? :eyes:

[madeline_con]

3. Hugo should run for office here.

"... the king of vacations ..."

:applause:

[Sabriel]

23. He can be a write-in in 2008

Depending on who the Democrats run, of course....

[bearfan454]

53. He would win too ! Oh I forgot Diebold only lets repukes win. nt

[Cha]

118. That has LEGS~!

"THE KING OF VACATIONS"

[slay]

4. "The King of Vacations"

I like it. :)

[SpiralHawk]

9. It's the one thing Bush does well

Go AWOL

[Child_Of_Isis]

5. king of vacations at his ranch

:rofl:

I can't help but love this guy!

[aquart]

6. Hugo simply cannot resist temptation.

I wonder what else he does for fun.

[meganmonkey]

10. I couldn't either, in his position

He has so much good material to work with!

:)

[Media_Lies_Daily]

17. He seems to also enjoy...

...exposing the NeoCon attempts to overthrow him.

If I were Chavez, I would take every opportunity to rub Herr Busch's nose in the crap he creates.

[izzie]

7. Poor Bush he will have to give up one of his bike rides

Any thing bad happens in this country and Bush is always away from his job. And I was right he had cut money in the budget for that city. And was not the floods in No. Dak. a few years ago some thing to do with what the Army Eng. had done to the river to make it easier to ship stuff?

[Is It Fascism Yet]

8. Bravo! Well said! The King of Vacations indeed! Chavez rocks! N/T

[Krupskaya]

11. For crying out loud...

This guy is the best Democrat the party never had.

[defiant1]

21. LoL....

Ain't that the truth.

:rofl:

[redqueen]

130. Amen!

:D

[0007]

12. I love it!

What can junior say?

[Mad_Dem_X]

13. Figures it took a non-US politician

to speak out about Junior and his vacations. Kudos to Chavez!

[AllyCat]

25. Where are the Dems? I 've heard not a peep from their vacationing

selves either. jeez...

[Prodemsouth]

29. "We must not upstage W..that would not be polite and nothing

is more important than being polite, Mr Rove said so. Don't be so picky..Katrina is only the worst natural disaster to hit the US in our life times. What should you except from us other than sitting and smiling stupidly.- signed Pink tutu Democrats

[all.of.me]

14. fabulous!

[1932]

15. I was just thinking about this today. Why didn't FEMA help with evacuation

If you were poor and had no car or money for public transportation, it would have been impossible to leave before the storm hit if you wanted to leave.

There was absolutely no plan for helping those people get out.

It doesn't seem like there's much of a plan now, after the storm, either.

[reprobate]

32. Mad George removed FEMA from natural disaster planning and put them ....

.....under Homeland Security. Their job now is strickly anti-terrorism. So don't blame FEMA, there's only one person to put the blame on and that's George the Fuckup.

An old philosopher once said: That man is so stupid, he could fuck up a crowbar. That's our George.

[fujiyama]

16. HAHA

I'm starting to like Chavez more and more.

[lateo]

18. Could you imagine if FDR took that much vacation during WWII?

We are in a time of war...a fact that we are reminded of constantly by Bush. But the asshat Bush is taking more time off than any other president in history.

[Rabrrrrrr]

36. Or if Clinton had taken that much vacation during peace and prosperity?

Or even if Clinton had taken in 8 years what Shithead McCokespoon takes in one year?

[Cha]

125. Sorry, chimphead didn't start

the War On Iraq so he couldn't take anymore vacations..there's a provision that the idiot son gets to have his usual 90 days a year.

And, If we're in "war time", why isn't anyone asked to make any sacrifices but the poor?

[LynneSin]

19. I'm really digging Chavez

I'm sure he's not the worlds perfect leader but compared to our commander cuckoobananas he's definately miles ahead!

Bush was given the warnings about this Hurricane but choose to "fiddle his violin" while the rest waited

Shame on you Bush

[goclark]

20. Chevez for President of US

I love the way he slames the Chimp.
He tells it l;ike it is and he seems like a leader.
That is something we need, a LEADER.

[Ganja Ninja]

22. BUY CITGO GAS!

I really like this guy.

[RedCloud]

24. Duro gallo, No Joda.

[David__77]

26. Chavez is truly a heroic figure.

Aside from the fact that is too forgiving of his opponents and too lenient with traitors to his country, I highly respect him. I thank him for his concern and assistance to the people who are certainly not helped enough by an imperial government bogged down in foreign wars of aggression.

[Arkana]

27. A "leftist leader?"

This must be the AP.

[Lilith Velkor]

121. That's not an insult

It's an accurate desciption. Viva Chavez!

[daleo]

28. Chavez knows Bush would have at tough time invading now.

Imagine Bush/PNAC trying to pull off an invasion of Venezuela now, with hundreds of billions needed to rebuild New Orleans. I think the Bush military plans (for Iran too) have to be put on the shelf now.

The U.S. has lost a major city, in a way worse than anything short of a nuclear attack could do. There isn't the money or political will for more war. I think this will force an end to the Iraq occupation too.

[Peace Patriot]

30. Buy Hugo Chavez's book!

The Baku Today article has a link at the top, taking you to a site where you can buy Chavez's book...

http://www.monthlyreview.org/venezuelanrevolution.htm

UNDERSTANDING THE VENEZUELAN REVOLUTION

Hugo Chávez Talks to Marta Harnecker

by Hugo Chávez and Marta Harnecker
translated by Chesa Boudin


"Marta Harnecker’s interviews with Hugo Chávez began soon after one of the most dramatic moments of Chávez’s presidency—the failed coup of April 2002, which ended with Chávez restored to power by a massive movement of protest and resistance. In the aftermath of the failed coup, Chávez talks to Harnecker about the formation of his political ideas, his aspirations for Venezuela, its domestic and international policies, problems of political organization, relations with social movements in other countries, and more, constantly relating these to concrete events and to strategies for change.

"The exchange between Harnecker and Chávez—sometimes reflective, sometimes anecdotal, always characterized by their passionate commitment to the struggles of the oppressed—brings to light the process of thought and action behind the public pronouncements and policies of state.

"The interviews are supplemented by extracts from Chávez’s most recent pronouncements on the ongoing transformation in Venezuela and Latin America, an analysis by Harnecker on the role of the military, and a chronology.

"Hugo Chávez has become a symbol of defiance of U.S. imperialism throughout Latin America. His importance for the future of the region makes this book essential reading."


"Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter One: Roots
Chapter Two: A Peaceful Transition, A Painful Institutional Birth
Chapter Three: The Military in the Revolution and the Counterrevolution
Chapter Four: The Slow March Toward an Alternative Economy
Chapter Five: Sovereign and Independent International Policy
Chapter Six: The Middle Class, Communications Strategy, and Dialogue
Chapter Seven: A Political Party at its Height
Chapter Eight: The April 11 Coup


"About the Authors
"HUGO CHÁVEZ was elected president of Venezuela in 1998, re-elected under a new constitution in 2000, and won a large majority in a 2004 recall referendum.

"MARTA HARNECKER is director of the Center for Research on Popular Memory in Latin America (MEPLA) in Havana and author of Venezuela: Militares Junta al Pueblo and numerous books on the Latin American left."

October 2005

ISBN:
1-58367-127-7
$15.95 paper

232 pp.
20% discount if you buy it at the above site.

-----------

The Baku Today article concludes as follows:

"The United States and Venezuela have had a testy relationship under Chavez, who Washington has branded a 'negative force' in the region.

"The Venezuelan leader has accused the United States of wanting to assassinate him and has called Bush a 'jerk.'"

http://www.bakutoday.net/afps/english/shared/int/050901072853.mg3xn29z.html

-----

What strikes me about Chavez is his honesty and courage! I also like his sense of humor, and savoir faire. He replied to Pat Robertson's call for his assassination by offering cheap gas and free medical care to America's poor!

I haven't read his book yet but I've read a lot about him. His was a military man who was at one time TEMPTED to take over Venezuela in a military coup, but CHANGED HIS MIND and ran for office instead--and won. He then joined with others in writing a real Constitution for Venezuela that would empower more of its people--Venezuela's vast poor population which had never been represented in government--and also began cleaning up Venezuela's highly corrupt institutions. (This looks to be the content of Chapter Two: "A Peaceful Transition, A Painful Institutional Birth.") The majority of Venezuelans responded with a passion for democracy--which seems to be Chavez's main love as well. Democracy.

He has had the same approach to economic reform: peaceful, methodical, fair-minded and determined. No flaming radical he. No rifle toting revolutionary. Chapter Four: "The Slow March Toward an Alternative Economy." The key to that alternative economy is the use of some of Venezuela's oil revenues (long ago nationalized) to help the poor, by building and staffing schools (including adult education--literacy, job training), medical clinics in poor neighborhoods (to which Cuba has donated medical staff), community centers, and seed money for small businesses to stimulate creativity, entrepreneurship and independence among the poor. It is a program not unlike Lyndon Johnson's "War on Poverty"! And Chavez has decidedly NOT combined this program for the poor with punishment of the rich. He has NOT confiscated anybody's Jaguars--or lands or other riches. Venezuela's rich oil elite loathes him for not allowing THEM to hog all of the oil money--but they cannot accuse him of violence, repression or unfairness.

Common decency--common sense, compassion. These seem to be what Chavez is about.

The thing about Bush and his Cartel puppetmasters and their minions is that you can almost always discern the truth of a situation by assuming the opposite of what they say. Far from being a "negative force" in Latin America, Chavez is the most POSITIVE force that has come along in decades. He is of course a "negative force" against greed, exploitation and violent repression--which have characterized U.S. policy toward Latin America for centuries, and have been a specialty of members of the Bush Cartel. Their most recent outrage was their coup against the democratically elected president of Haiti. For a rundown on Nixon-Reagan-Bush activities in Latin America--including U.S. support for vicious dictators in Chile, Argentina, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and other places (it will stand your hair on end!), see
http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/us-presidents.html

Chavez is a "negative force" as to the Bush Cartel's bloodthirsty designs upon Venezuelan oil--and also as to their arms and drug dealings throughout Latin America. (If poor people have enough to eat and a decent life, and the dignity of political power and civic pride, they cease to be easy prey for U.S.-backed and other gangsters.)

Chavez's calling Bush a "jerk" reflects his straightforward approach to dealing with the U.S. He is not afraid of these thugs. And Venezuelans have his back. When a U.S.-sponsored coup was tried, tens of thousands of Venezuelans poured into the streets and PEACEFULLY prevented it. What has been happening in Venezuela is extraordinary, and provides some lessons to us in the north as to people power and community organization.

Wouldn't it be something if one of our Democratic Party leaders stood up and said this: Bush is a jerk! --and began to truly represent the opinions and interests of the majority of Americans? And wouldn't it be great if we were united and organized enough to keep him or her alive?

We have a somewhat different set of problems here than they have in Venezuela--although poverty and fairness, and the greed and insanity of the rich, are at the heart of it all, there and here. While the Venezuelans have been working on democracy--and most particularly on having honest elections--we in the U.S. have been denied the right to vote. Bushite companies (with the collusion of corrupt Democrats) have actually taken over the election system itself--with electronic voting that is run on SECRET, PROPRIETARY programming code. So we literally CANNOT elect who we want to. I think we have to start there.

[Megahurtz]

33. "king of vacations at his ranch"

:rofl:

[Rabrrrrrr]

35. ROTFL!

You go, Chavez!!!!!!

I wish our media here would tell the truth like he does.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

42. Does he give seminars?

I'd like to have a few of our elected Dem's learn how to spank the opposition from him.

[Cha]

127. "Does he give seminars?"!

Great idea! We should recommend them in essence to most of our senators.

[Skittles]

43. THANK YOU PRESIDENT CHAVEZ

for having the GUTS to say what most of OUR so-called "leaders" amd corporate media WILL NOT SAY

[JimmyJazz]

47. I'm hoping more foreign leaders will speak out against Bush.

He's totally incompetent and they know it.

[Igel]

45. Aug. 25 Katrina made landfall in Florida.

When Chavez is saying it was predicted to make a direct hit on NOLA, everybody but Chavez was predicting it would go NW over Florida. And it quickly fell to a category 2 storm when it hit the Gulf as south as it did, contrary to predictions.

Let's dispose of the NOAA. Chavez is, obviously, psychic, and could do the world a much greater service by going into weather forecasting.

But wait. He thinks like us. He must be infallible.

[tilsammans]

48. You go, Hu-Go! You go, Hu-Go! You go, Hu-Go!

Tellin' it like it is!

[0007]

70. I can't get the link to work Judi Lynn, I think it has been pulled.

junior doesn't need Hugo telling him what to do, eh?

[Judi Lynn]

94. Here it is, 0007. I finally found it, this time at Yahoo.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050901/pl_afp/usweathervenezuela%3B_ylt=A86.I1_HvBZDdHMAngUPLBIF%3B_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for bringing it up: I didn't know the link had pooped out!

[0007]

97. Thanks

:hi:

[understandinglife]

98. Gave it 5 stars! And, thanks for posting. And, you've certainly ...

... attracted a few in need of more than an education to this thread ....


Peace.

[Judi Lynn]

102. It's almost as if we have to fight for every column inch of actual

information we can find, as our right-wing propagandists REALLY want to suppress everything outside their own designs. What we learn isn't always easy to find, is it? :hi: :hi: :hi:

[0007]

84. Did Hugo Chavez screen all these folks like junior does?

Has anyone ever seen a crowd this large for George W. "Coward" Bush?


A murdering Communist scum bag = NO - A popular elected president = YES

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

87. How ignorant. You can clearly see from that picture that

they are all COMMUNISTS!

[0007]

96. Gee! There should be at least one good scare left in the

mere mention of the word "COMMUNISM" 'eh? 0h, well, I guess the new buzz word, "TERRORIST" will just have to do, 'eh?

[Judi Lynn]

109. Thank god there are visiting posters who can protect us from COMMIES!

[whatever4]

99. Gosh

Wish we cared as much about what our own leader said. This man, he says a few pointed, true words and the world's all over him, but no one expects much of anything meaningful from BushCo. He repeats his words over and over. Funny.

Play theme music, "Lowered Expectations", picture Bush

[Cha]

106. Speak It, Chavez!

The link "can't be found"..maybe it's getting a lot of hits?

What if we didn't have Chavez tellin' it like it is?

Watch your back, Chavez..the bushwa eliminates what they "just don't like".

[Judi Lynn]

115. It disappeared from the original spot, zidzi, but it showed up at Yahoo.

Rat cheer!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050901/pl_afp/usweathervenezuela%3B_ylt=A86.I1_HvBZDdHMAngUPLBIF%3B_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

[Cha]

128. "Called bush a jerk"!

Chavez is being way too nice!

Thanks, Judi Lynn!

[redqueen]

122. Yeah... I got that, too... I'd like to read the rest of this.

Viva Chavez!

[Judi Lynn]

123. HERE'S THE LINK NEEDED FOR THE STORY!

It died at the first location, but it has been reincarnated at Yahoo:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050901/pl_afp/usweathervenezuela%3B_ylt=A86.I1_HvBZDdHMAngUPLBIF%3B_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

[redqueen]

133. Sweet!

Thanks Judi Lynn...

I'm rating this one for sure. :)

[d_b]

144. The new democratic opposition

Viva Chavez!