What do you think of Hugo Chavez?

A general question, Im just looking for other opinions on the guy, and what he has/hasnt done for his country, including foreign relations.

We've obviosuly heard about him alot in the news lately; but I havent taken the time until now to try and do a little research on him and develop an opinion. Its hard to find infor on him that isnt heavily slanted one way or the other.

So, have at it, I hope this might be helpful to other people as well.

I would rather live under Chavez than BushCo!

FREE AKs FOR ALL!

chavez is doing good things for his country's poor--to the disgust of the moneyed class there and here. no wonder the administration wants to get rid of him

No fool. And I don't get the impression that he suffers fools gladly.

...since the Pat Robertson crap.

But I DO know he didn't lie his country into an illegal and immoral war, steal two elections, and play the guitar while a major city in his country sank into the sea.

and post #9 too.

i also laud his land reformation plan.

dp

to read and discuss their national Constitution can't be all bad.

From all I can tell, his main "fault" is that he refuses to abet greedy capitalists.

He was elected. his people seem to like him enough that they prevent his overthrow. Our government should respect that.

I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to Venezuelan politics. I have a hard time believing anything negative our government has to say about him since our government is full of lying war profiteers who lust over Venezuela's oil.

...oh and if Pat Robertson hates you that means you are doing something really right in this world. If I were Chavez, I'd wear that like a badge of honor.

Lucky bastard

What can you say bad about him? He played our little coup-game perfectly and then went right on and undid our "pot-bangers crusade" attempt to recreate the chilean 'success' from 30 years ago.

Chavez rocks.

He's a better man than bu$h could ever DREAM about being.Bu$h sucks.

he puts the people over corporations , I like that .

He is famous for his long spontaneous speeches that can go hours. He has instituted land reform which will put idle land bought from the wealthy back into agricultural production and provide homes for the Venezuelan dream. People were expecting great things from Lula in Brazil, but he was weakened by entrenched power. Chavez has fought the media that universally blast him as it was taken over for the benefit of the wealthy just like in the USA.

http://www.zmag.org/weluser.htm is a good place to read about important news from around the world. There is a section on Venezuela on the left side under the section for the Middle East.

There is also a good website for Venezuela at http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/

He is a fine president and he is highly popular in his country. He is probably more despised by the USG than any leader in the world, including Castro, because he is advancing socialism throughout the US territory of South America. He raised the taxes from 15% to 30% on oil extracted from his country and it funds many programs including bringing in teachers and medical care from Cuba.

assassinate him and he still lives. Now he wants to give the country's assets back to the people. He gets a thumbs up from me. He is up against the cruelest and most corrupt people in the universe, which means he has to be really tough.