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Boss Hugo 5
So far everything I have predicted Hugo Chavez would do he has done, and every act has caused his country to lean more and more toward a dictatorship. He has nationalized every major industry and has censored all media outlets, seeing to it that nothing that would portray him or the country in a negative light gets out on the airways. He, through his political hacks, tried to enact legislation that would have eliminated term limits or the need for elections at the presidential level, virtually ensuring his status as a dictator with only his lifespan as a limit. Sound familiar? Sorry Bush haters, but you all know that it's not Dubya and even FDR would have capitulated at the end of his fourth term having won WWII. No, it sounds like every other despot from Hitler to Hussein. The saving grace of the Venezuelans ended up being the Venezuelans themselves as they soundly defeated the attempt to sanctify Boss Hugo and allow him to shove his idea of Venezuelas future down the next two generations of the poeple's throats. It is rarely the will of the people to give a man that type of power and I am curious as to what Hugo will do next in his attempt to rule that country ad infinitum. One thing is certain though, and that is that the people of that country have spoken their minds and it appears that they will not go quietly into the night as many others in similar situations have. A friend of mine who works in the Oil industry lived in Venezuela for a little over two years before transferring to, I believe it is Bahrain. He said he preferred the people of Venezuela, but never felt safe there with military personel armed with machine guns patrolling the streets and hanging out in Taco Bells. Even with all the problems in the Persian Gulf region he said he feels MUCH safer there even if the people aren't as friendly toward Americans. There is always a certain feel in air just before a bar room brawl breaks out and I'll bet that's what it felt like in Venezuela. I'll have to ask my friend. I hope the people of Venezuela, and the rest of the rational world, are beginning to see Hugo for what he is and not allow him to step too far onto the stage. He is not interested in being a supporting actor and I fear there isn't much he won't try to place himself in the leading role of the play on whatever stage he is allowed to step and only the Venezuelans have the power to see to it, at this point, that he remains a bit player on the world stage. Here's to hoping they continue to typecast him. 22 comments from 12 users
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posted by
TSM
on Dec 3, 2007 at 02:27 PM
has censored all media outlets http://www.commondreams.org...
"I understand and accept that the proposal I made was quite profound and intense," he said after voters narrowly rejected the sweeping constitutional reforms by 51 percent to 49 percent. --Hugo Chavez, showing more political intelligence and maturity in one sentence than George W Bush has shown in seven years
posted by
randomfactor
on Dec 3, 2007 at 02:54 PM
Chavez accepted the results of an election. Bush went to court.
posted by
NancyII
on Dec 3, 2007 at 04:16 PM
HA...keep defending Hugo and comparing him to Bush....All the chickens will come home to roost and there'll come a day you'll rue those words. Bush is on his way out regardless of anyones opinion, can you say the same about Hugo? And have you folks been paying attention or are you just continuing to resist anything a conservative says? The last time this came up someone commented it was just the US opinion so I posted links to articles outside the US but no one commented on that. We have a slew of ostriches right here in the US and they're not on the conservative side. posted by
jfrancais
on Dec 3, 2007 at 04:17 PM
If Senor Chavez has censored media outlets in Venezuela, he has done a pi$$ poor job of doing so. They are his biggest critics in Venezuela. As much as I am against his quest for indefinite power the guy is not a Hitler or Hussein. Does anyone have any suggestions to improve the lives of Venezuelans? Neo-liberal polices (i.e. privatizing oil companies) were not working. Should he continue with the status quo?
posted by
jfrancais
on Dec 3, 2007 at 04:23 PM
Hugo will be out 2012. It's not about conservatives or liberals as far as I'm concerned. I can't really relate to either. I'm sure there are people who dislike like him on the international front just as people dislike our head of state. I find his ideas to be quite innovative. If they work, that remains to be seen. I think it's foolish for Venezuelans to rely on multi national corporations (American ones, too) to address illiteracy and other social (oh oh bad word) ills. Chavez leaving office in 2012 only makes his policies more credible.
posted by
NancyII
on Dec 3, 2007 at 04:28 PM
Common Dreams.org
(Self proclaimed)
Breaking News & Views for the Progressive Community.
posted by
NancyII
on Dec 3, 2007 at 04:31 PM
IF he leaves in 2012.
posted by
jfrancais
on Dec 3, 2007 at 04:39 PM
Well, the chickens will come home to roost, as you say. Just as they did for the oil companies. posted by
TomW
on Dec 3, 2007 at 05:15 PM
I'm glad Chavez lost though it bothers me that the numbers were so close. In a few years, we'll see how his party is doing.
posted by
Lingtaowoo
on Dec 3, 2007 at 07:11 PM
Alot can happen between now and then...this man has priors at doing he darn well pleases and saying what he wants to say and to whomever...and he really doesn't care who or whatever nation he gets angry..yup,alot can happen
posted by
randomfactor
on Dec 3, 2007 at 07:31 PM
Nancy, I'm not completely convinced Bush will leave without being dragged out. And if *ANY* of the Republican front-runners is elected, it may not make a lot of difference if Bush flees to Paraguay or not in 2009. Remember how Rudi "Sex on the City" JulieAnnie offered to suspend elections so he could stay on after his term expired? . In terms of presidencies, I'm willing to bet Chavez will be in the top half for his country. Bush is still going to run dead last here. posted by
RoyTullis
on Dec 3, 2007 at 07:36 PM
I will believe that Chavez is out when he goes and not before. He still has a lot of strength with the military (they never had it so good) and I still feel he has an ace up his sleeve. An election or a popular vote means nothing to this jerk.
posted by
drilnliftcrude
on Dec 3, 2007 at 08:10 PM
Add to the list: The liberal bloggers at TBC. (Could there be a connection to the Gallup poll on mental health?) posted by
marsh
on Dec 3, 2007 at 08:17 PM
I have no doubt Hugo Chavez will have a little "Reichstag fire" before his term is out, or will return shortly after his mandated departure. He's a megalomaniac and I know of only one cure for such people.
Personally, I think we have enough to worry about at home, but for the record, the man (HC) will end up a dictator (if he isn't officially one already) or die trying. Bush, on the other hand, has a small fortune to retire to. You may not like Bush, and Bush may have some pretty egregious faults, but he is not Chavez, and he won't make dictator. Put that in yer pipe and smoke it; being a dictator is a lot of work! Marsh posted by
NancyII
on Dec 3, 2007 at 08:32 PM
RF...Your'e not convinced Bush will leave office without being have to be dragged out? You're kidding of course. Or you must mean in spirit. Even the left can't accuse Bush of being a true dictator since he WILL be required to leave office. Unless you know something the rest of us don't that is. If he's a real dictator we're sure spending a lot of Mz Hil-reys time and someones money on wasted campaigns. posted by
TomW
on Dec 3, 2007 at 10:37 PM
I've said it before and I'll say it again, Chavez is too much like Bush for my taste.
posted by
jfrancais
on Dec 3, 2007 at 10:59 PM
news flash: Chavez made Dictator! Unlike Bush, he's actually popular in his country (unless we're playing the rigged votes and I have a Venezuelan friend that doesn't like him game). Chavez is required to leave office, too. They do have a constitution, too you know( that actually allows for revocation of terms if citizenry is not satisfied)? He'll probably introduce another similar referendum before he leaves office but the Venezuelan people will decide. Chavez policies have empowered poorer Venezuelans, disenfranchised the oligarchs, and shakened up an old system that wasn't working. posted by
myxlnt1
on Dec 4, 2007 at 12:59 AM
I'm surprised we haven't gotten involved by now. Remember Iran---Costra? Shoot,, maybe we are.
posted by
mattloch
on Dec 4, 2007 at 12:45 PM
By the way Moto, Chavez has censored the "major" media outlets in his country because they were lying about him. If stations here were saying the same thing about Bush, he would be shutting them down and suing them for slander. They should be counting their lucky stars he's only censoring them for their behavior.And for the record, he put up the Constitutional Amendment for a vote, instead of pushing it through (or issuing a "signing statement") like other, less prinicpled leaders have in the past. We'll see what happens between now and the end of his term, and if he steps down or decides to stay (like Putin is deciding right now). posted by
TSM
on Dec 4, 2007 at 03:21 PM
Chavez has censored the "major" media outlets Not at all true. The major opposition media sources are still in full, unhindered operation. Including the country's largest media company, still being run by one of the coup leaders. If he were in the U.S., he'd be in prison for treason.
posted by
motopoet
on Dec 5, 2007 at 03:18 PM
AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH You people wear me out! Hugo's policies make sense since he will be gone in 2012(I'm taking bets on that right now too Random)but Bush policies dont even though he will be gone next year? Are you listening to yourselves? The media there were LYING about him? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? The media here lied about Bush in BOTH electioon campaigns and he didn't shut THEM down. Dan Rather is still seen as a hero by some liberals for being so brave in the face of the onslaught of those seeking the actual truth! The hypocrisy of the Bush haters knows no bounds. Anyone who tryly thinks there is some comparison between Chavez and Bush shouldn't be voting because they do not understand the differences between socialism and democracy. Bush is history in 08 and that is the way it is. I'm taking bets on anything other than that happening too. You want to defend Chavez, go ahead, that's your prerogative, but don't tell me he isn't like Hitler and Hussien. Remember what darlings they were in their early days? posted by
TomW
on Dec 5, 2007 at 03:33 PM
Mark, lemme just say that if you think that socialism and democracy are mutually exclusive or have anything to do with one another, maybe you're the one who shouldn't be voting. The big hint is that we practice socialism here in America and Chavez' proposal was defeated in a democratic election.Actually, no, lemme continue. Tell me one lie that told about Bush that was negative. The TANG story has been totally confirmed. The document itself was false but it was a fake of a real document. If Bush served out his term in the TANG, it should have been easy to prove. As for Bush being history in 08, it's actually not until 09, but I'll not trick you into placing a bet on that. If you want to know at least one big difference between Hitler, Hussein and Chavez, only one of them didn't receive aid and comfort from the Bush family during their rise to power. How's that? I'll not defend Chavez because as I've said, he's too much like Bush.
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