Dems should make a formal plea for economic help from Hugo Chavez.

[Rex]

Someone, maybe Carter or Clinton, should ask Hugo Chavez for help. Maybe some cheap gas to combat the Robber Barons? I mean these people mock a woman who lost a son in Iraq. Let's piss them off for a change.

[NaturalHigh]

1. The media would eat them alive.

[Seabiscuit]

11. I despise that excuse. It lost us elections in 2000, 2002 and 2004.

What's wrong with the truth and standing on principles????

Obviously, wimpy, paranoid compromise hasn't worked.

[alittlelark]

2. Those that did would be 'swiftboated' faster than a, uh

swiftboat.

[mntleo2]

3. It might be a good idea for

An activist group to try it though....especially like if perhaps from low income health clinics or people from non profits were to publically raise the question to him. I like that idea actually....If anything perhaps it would embarrass our government into giving real help rather than welfare for the rich. Might be a good politcal move actually, lol

Cat in Seattle

[tjdee]

4. He has offered it.

There's a link in LBN.

Chavez has already offered fuel and water (and food?).

I expect Bush to refuse or ignore it and pretend no offer was ever made.

Offer? What offer?

[scarletwoman]

5. I love Chavez, but that's a REALLY stupid idea.

You've apparently missed the threads where Chavez has already offered to arrange for cheap gas and fuel oil for the poor and elderly in the U.S. (look on the "greatest" page), as well as offering help for the victims of Katrina. Which is nice, if unrealistic.

But NO sane politician would invite a foreign leader to interfere in our domestic affairs (effed up as they are). That's just nuts.

sw

[FreedomAngel82]

6. So you'd rather have people starve?

Nice.

[Rex]

7. Some Dems would see it as an political opportunity

guess those days are gone.

[scarletwoman]

12. WHATpolitical opportunity?

You think the "Democratic Party=Commies" meme isn't widespread enough yet? You wanna pump up the volume on that one?

The relentless mainstream propaganda against Chavez has effectively demonized him among the vast majority of ignorant Americans. If they have any awareness of Chavez at all, their "knowledge" of him is that he's a Commie thug dictator -- and you think it would be to the Democrat's advantage to call on him for "help"?!?!

Sheeeeesh... :eyes:

[scarletwoman]

9. Nice false dichotomy. You've just failed logic 101.

If Democrats want to make sure that people don't "starve", there are plenty of ways to accomplish that without Chavez. Get real. We're not a third world country (yet).

[More Than A Feeling]

8. Um, no and here is why:

Much as I would love to see our honored Democratic former presidents conducting our foreign policy, there's the minor detail that they are not in power.

This would be no better (from a framework of government perspective) than if the rumors concerning Reagan/Bush's secret deal with the Iranians to keep the hostages until after the election of 1980 were true.

Bottom line, private citizens, acting of their own accord, do not have the ability to conduct official business on behalf of the United States. That goes for both parties, in my book.

[Rex]

10. Well then they get their corporate sponsors to do something

This is a business deal and could at least strengthen some part of the Dems, Jesse Jackson said Chavez was no threat to America. Simple oil as aid deal. What are the Republicans gonna do, btw? Turn off mics and not allow Dems to use Congressional chambers? Call the cops to bust up Dem meetings? Deny and shoot down any investigations into Bush & Cheney?

[wli]

13. they're already doing a lot of those things n/t

[More Than A Feeling]

15. Has nothing to do with what Reps will/won't do

This is basic government structure we are talking about. I believe that we have hired public officials to conduct foreign policy and other such things for us. If they don't do what we like, we get new ones, we don't start usurping their official functions for ourselves. This is as fundamental as checks and balances.

Corporate sponsors are in the same boat as Carter/Clinton, except I trust them less. Again, private citizens.

I don't care if this strengthens Dems or not. (personally, though, I don't think it would) This type of thing is larger than party, it goes to the very principles of government.

[high density]

14. Economic help?

Is this thread just posted here to make DU look bad, or what?