Will he come to the US for treatment?
Wow, 2011 is an awesome year. Bin Laden dead, Castro leaves office, Hugo about to die, and Obama proves his Nobel Peace Prize worthiness.
Don't celebrate, a bigger asshat could take over
Can someone explain to me why so many Americans have such a hard on for hating the man? I realize he's not shy about not liking us, and that his socialist standing is anathema to American conservatives, but really what gives?
Has he tried to overthrow our government or something?
He stole an election from his people to keep himself in power and then he crushed anyone who opposed him.Can someone explain to me why so many Americans have such a hard on for hating the man? I realize he's not shy about not liking us, and that his socialist standing is anathema to American conservatives, but really what gives?
Has he tried to overthrow our government or something?
Can someone explain to me why so many Americans have such a hard on for hating the man?
I forgot about the earthquake machine. He's a looney tune.According to a Venezuelan immigrant that I indirectly know, the guy is quite a polarizing figure back in Venezuela. The Venezuelans of European descent (which constitute most of the middle / upper class) hate him, bash him in the media (back when they were able to do so) and have tried to overthrow him. The indigenous population (slight majority / most of the lower classes) love him for his socialist / handout policies.
Naturally, we can identify with the Venezuelan opposition rather than Chavez's base, which seem bent on a nationalization spree and are actively working towards real socialism and making Chavez a perpetual dictator. It is also in our national interest for Venezuela to allow foreign investment (which the opposition would encourage) due to their natural resources.
He is also the figurehead of a greater anti-west movement in South America and is actively supporting terrorist activities against our ally Columbia.
Chavez, himself, is trying to become the 21st century Castro. IMO, he can safely be ignored, the less we assert ourselves down there, the less ammunition he has to use against us. Plus, he makes for some good lulz when he visits the UN or speaks of our Earthquake Weapon that we used to destroy Haiti (to justify "invading" them).
So you and Craig are OK with de facto totalitarian regimes. The socializim parts OK by me if that's what the people want.
Not at all, I'm just trying to understand the spittle drenched hate that is common whenever his name comes up. I don't personally approve of totalitarian regimes, but we're friends with and business partners with regimes more oppressive than his. I'd wager a guess and say you're probably more free in Venezuela than Saudi Arabia.
How does his grip on, and abuse of, power affect America? Revolutions are common down there, if it gets bad enough he"ll be overthrown.
So is that it, we just don't like his government? No connections to al Qaeda? No kidnapping and torture of American citizens? No US ships "accidentally" attacked/sunk?
Given what our country did to Latin and South America during the 70s and 80s, and that we've tried to "remove" him at least 3 times, I'd say he's justified in not liking us. Was just hoping to hear something a little more tangible and relevant than him not wanting to leave office and messing with elections. I have no idea if the claims of him stealing elections are true, there is plenty of election impropriety here in the States so I feel weird judging the process elsewhere.