The right is, as usual, gnashing its teeth over Hugo Chavez and the protests against Bush in Argentina. But let’s step back for a moment: how far have we fallen when a leftist Latin American strongman is more persuasive in the international arena than the freaking President of the United States?
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And how deep can we dig in the ditch that you give this prick more than short shrift? Unless, of course, you throw away your “Che” tee shirts.
Uh, Chávez is a democratically elected leader, like him or not. “Strongman” has an implication that this is not so, usually meaning, “American-friendly dictator.” Saddam Hussein, in the 1980s, was typically called a “strongman” in the American press, as was Manuel Noriega.
Indeed, considering Bush’s shenanigans in the electoral arena, Bush is more apt for the term “strongman.”
Lemme see …
1) I don’t own a Che t-shirt.
2) Your first sentence was incoherent.
3) The guy’s TV bans and chummying up to Fidel Castro (something Pierre Trudeau did, so he’s not alone here) are asinine, but he hasn’t bothered to do something really asinine, like invading Iraq or robbing the poor to give to the rich.
Most corporate news coverage of Chávez (like most corporate news coverage, especially of US foreign policy) completely ignores historical context, in addition to lying about the present. Most Latin American nations have a history of having their governments tampered with– to varying degrees– by the US.
The latest coup attempt against Chávez (in 2002, I think) had US fingerprints all over it. Most of our coverage of the event came directly from or was influenced by hard-right anti-Chávez media outlets who controlled practically all information coming out of Venezuela. Furthermore, it was US money that backed the recent right-wing ‘recall’ effort– an effort that was rebuffed by Venezuelan voters.
This isn’t about Ché, or Castro, or any other misrepresented historical (or current) Latin American figures. The protests in Argentina were against the fascistic and neocolonial economic policies fostered by the IMF and the World Bank, two organizations that are partly based in the US. Furthermore, regarding historical context, most Latin Americans know who they have to thank for helping the corrupt right-wing dictatorships that have kept their nations in tatters for decades, and they can clearly see that the Bush administration is the epitome of such Machiavellian influence.
The difference blogging and news:
http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4074298
Chavez is hardly the most important man in the southern hemisphere, and it’s not hard to get 10,000 people demonstrating — at gunpoint!
“at gunpoint!”
Huh? Did I miss where Argentina (or Venezuela for that matter) has degenerated into a dictatorship that forces people into demonstrations, North Korea-style? Last I checked it was a democracy. People are free to demonstrate or not according to their own free will.
Could you provide some actual evidence for this ludicrous statement?
Just because we have made ourselves dependent on Venezuelan oil doesn’t mean we get to decide who the people of that country elect as their leader. Every 16 mpg SUV helps in a small way to maintain this dependence on the evil Chavez government.
As an aside, those Bushloving people who applauded Shrub’s unilateralist approach seem to have thin skins when the rest of the world criticizes this policy. Get tough guys — it’s high noon and they’re either with us or against us.
Every time one of these tinhorn leftwing dictators gets into power they wrap everything as tight as a drum.
The last election is not what matters, it’s whether or not there will ever be another. Don’t hold your breath.
Frank, you just make shit up.
…at gunpoint.
Frank, how many left wing governments have to be voted out before you realise they aren’t communist dictators. Australia, Spain, New Zealand, UK, Scottish assembly, Eire, France, etc, etc.
Well, that’s the right wing way, isn’t it? If the facts totally refute you, then just pull something out of your ass. I did get a chuckle, however, out of the choices made by the reporter in writing up quotes: Bush and Stephen Hadley. A lot of veracity there, ya dig.
Oh, and don’t you just love this line:
Among the ways Chavez has chosen to tweak Washington s nose is by embracing Cuban President Fidel Castro, who was not invited to the summit because he is not democratically elected.
Maybe Castro could have hired Katherine Harris and that Quimbo from Ohio to get him into the conference.
Hey, Bryan, if you can vote them out, they’re not dictators: See also North Korea, Cuba, Zimbabwe, PRC, Libya, shall I go on?
“The last election is not what matters, it’s whether or not there will ever be another. Don’t hold your breath. ”
According to Wikipedia, Chavez won elections in 1998, 2000, and the recall in 2004. No sign yet that he has suspended future elections. Provide evidence, or shut up Frank. Your position is one of ideology, not fact.
Yes Frank, all those countries you mentioned are communist dictatorships. Chavez does not preside over one. Pleeease get it!
OK, I’m sorry, Chavez is really a nice man and I shouldn’t have called him a dictator. Please convey to him my sincerest apologies, since you are no doubt in a better position to contact him than I, travelling in the same circles and all.
Frank, you are just bizarre. People voted Chavez into office. In another country. Without being put under duress. In a couple of years they might vote him out again. Pleeeeeease start to get this concept!
PS, furthest away from UK I have been is either Tenerife or Cyprus. They did have socialist governments at the time I was there, but not because of my holiday-making activities. Honest!
Hey, Bryan, I apologized for calling him a dictator, and I asked you to convey to him my apologies. What do you want from me, blood?
BTW, Bryan, Carter’s Poll - watching capabilities are somewhat suspect, to say the least, But that’s a whole other thread.
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