Chavez's cheap oil for US poor angers Washington

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/chavezs-cheap-oil-for-us-poor-angers-washington/2005/11/24/1132703314620.html

Venezuela's President, Hugo Chavez, has pulled off his greatest public relations coup yet in his campaign to irritate the Bush Administration with a deal to supply cheap fuel to thousands of poor residents of Boston and New York.

To the anger of many in Washington, Citgo Petroleum Corporation, a company controlled by the Venezuelan Government, will supply more than 45 million litres of oil at 40 per cent below market prices.

The deal is one of the most spectacular moves yet in Mr Chavez's attempt to market his "21st-century socialism" using his country's oil wealth.

While it will not change many minds in Washington about his populist and autocratic regime, Caracas hopes it will bolster Mr Chavez's claim as the coming leader of an anti-capitalist Latin America. Mr Chavez, who once dubbed President George Bush a "genocidal madman" and led a huge anti-US protest earlier this month, first proposed his fuel offer in August when oil prices were at a record high after Hurricane Katrina.

...more...

Brilliant!

.. but I'm anti-corporatist.

You go, Chavez! Humanity rocks!

Chavez is great.

El caca de toro BUSHitler es pendejo, puta, bugarone y comer mierda!

Ok I probably REALLY screwed that up, BUT I FLUNKED MY 2nd YEAR OF SPANISH!

Mierda de toro Bushitler es un pendejo, but otherwise you hit the target. Lucky for me I took a 9 month crash course in Spanish in the womb.

If he wants to help the poor good for him. God know this administration doesn't give a crap about them.

was here not to visit with the bushies but to check out NO where his foundation was donating money to rebuild homes and Chavez is helping with energy costs. Both leaders confronted bushie. When Charles spoke he told bushie that he had a "responsibility" and it was clear that Charles did not think he was living up to it. Hopefully the rest of the world will continue to confront the selfish little boy the fundies selected.

look back at this period and try to explain why US power began declining rapidly. South America is unifying and actually looking after their own people, while the US is ruled by a group of 21st century robber barons, exploiting the population in every way they can think of.

...has done more for the American People than "president" George W. Bush ever has--and no doubt ever will.

After all, the US looks after their own. :sarcasm:

If the US government doesn't like it, they can come up with their own program.

BTW, Mr. Chavez, can you send some of your oil to Canada? People up here need it too, particularily on the native reserves.

perhaps refering simply to anyone who stands in their way - again?

Didn't Jesus say something about helping the poor? Good thing Chavez paid attention in Sunday School Class, because it's clear that Bush didn't.

You know the fundies will have said us LIBERALS have twisted that around...

Of course that won't stop them from trying, but really there is really no way they could successfully twist this. Chavez wants to help our poor by providing cheap product, and BushCo is pissed about it. Really no way to spin that. In fact our team could have a field day with this, if really wanted. "Chavez comes to the rescue of poor in the U.S. because Bush won't." or "Chavez steps up to the plate to help America's poor and forgotten. Where's Bush?" or my favorite "Chavez has a plan to save America's poorest families money on rising energy costs, because Bush doesn't care about the plight of his nations poorest citizens." We could make Bush look really bad, if we put some effort into it. They can't spin this into a positive light. This topic is only going to make them look bad.

To the "LOVE AMERICA OR LEAVE IT!" 30%ers out there, well, fine! Buy me a one way ticket to Venezuala, THEN WE WILL TALK! At least it's a REAL democracy...

I dare not stumble over there (so as to not need to bathe with some Brillo), but has anyone over there come right out and said "FUCK THE POOR--IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD HEAT, TOUGH SHIT!!!!!!".

I've only seen the "political stunt" mems so far...I want to hear what they're REALLY thinking

"I dare not stumble over there (so as to not need to bathe with some Brillo), but has anyone over there come right out and said "FUCK THE POOR--IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD HEAT, TOUGH SHIT!!!!!!"."

The fat racist pillhead has more or less said this on his show...ranks up there with "the homeless are homeless because they want to me" or his statement that nobody has a right to be healthy.

I've been lurking in religious chatrooms...scary...many there think Pat Robertson was right and the LIBERAL press is out to get him...

VIVA CHAVEZ!

Like people actually CHOOSE to be poor or homeless?! Well, if that's the case, I'd like to recommend to you repukes to TRY IT FOR A DAY! See if YOU like eating raman noodles for all 3 meals. Or try staying warm with a 2 week old copy of the NY Times. Just like being gay, it's a CHOICE! :sarcasm:

If we can't win back Congress in '06, I say we all defect to Venezuala...seriously...

Lu

Those who are benefitting from Chavez' largesse I am sure do not care whether he is bad or good. They just want to stay warm. Chavez is poking his finger in Shrub's eye and it makes for good PR. Whatever his reason it certainly points up Shrub's failure to his own country, as if he hadn't done enough already to make the poor poorer.

his campaign to prove neoliberalism doesn't work and his project to alleviate misery and reduce the polarization of wealth, and reduce poverty, and to allow more people to realize their full potential?

If that bugs Bush, than too bad, but I don't think he's doing to bug bush.

Clearly, they're referring to the Bush administration, but why don't they come out and say it? I read the entire article looking for sourcing on who was angry, as the headline states. And it's not in there.

Too bad. Tough luck. Fuck you, Busholini Cabal! :grr:

that our tax dollars are now being funneled to for "charitable" efforts should be embarassed at not promoting this sort of program themselves.

It's a shame a foreign leader has done more for the poor here than Bush has

(BP has some "green" policies)

amongst other things...

Its got be driving them nuts!!!

...at least Chavez A) isn't an asshole like Saddam (like there were NO OTHER dictators on EARTH!) B) he's prepared to NOT be taken out by these neo-KKKon turds. If DUHbya and co. think they can go in guns-a-blazzin' in Venezuala like they did in Iraq, THEY ARE SADLY MISTAKEN...

Venezuala moves their money to EUROS. Chirst, even BILL FREAKIN GATES DOES TOO! Hey freepertards trolling here, IS ANY OF THIS SINKING IN, YOU MORONS?!

Lu