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Reminds me of the fifties dipsydoodle Dec 2012 #1
authoritarian policies, suppression of dissent is Obama talking about various Occupy here lunasun Dec 2012 #2
Yeah that too. Actually I was wondering how many drones........ socialist_n_TN Dec 2012 #63
That's messed up Kolesar Dec 2012 #3
I don't think ANYONE has it right about Chevez and Venezuela. randome Dec 2012 #5
Yes. It's a big topic. Kolesar Dec 2012 #6
Obama AND Hillary are dumb on Cuba flamingdem Dec 2012 #24
Hillary's brother, Hugh Rodham's wife....Maria Victoria Arias mithnanthy Dec 2012 #42
Oh that's interesting, I've known about her influence for years flamingdem Dec 2012 #43
I edited my post.. mithnanthy Dec 2012 #46
That's good stuff Kolesar Dec 2012 #49
The Hugo Chavez Show is very informative Carnage251 Dec 2012 #11
For being "ineffective and erratic", Hugo certainly has accomplished quite a bit 99th_Monkey Dec 2012 #35
Yeah, I don't really care about his personality. randome Dec 2012 #41
Don't be so intellectually lazy, by comparing the two men. HoosierRadical Dec 2012 #66
+ 1000 - well said. nt 99th_Monkey Dec 2012 #78
"Intellectually lazy" is the perfect description for all of the anti-democracy trolls bitchkitty Dec 2012 #102
wow, the people support him when he's gained control of all branches of gov., wordpix Dec 2012 #125
Hugo knows that the US/CIA is utterly determined to unseat him somehow 99th_Monkey Dec 2012 #149
oh yeah, the US wants to unseat him and he's the CIA's prime target (sarcasm) wordpix Dec 2012 #174
If Chavez were ineffective, roody Dec 2012 #116
Chavez is neither a monster or the Second Coming, what he is ... HoosierRadical Dec 2012 #65
Why does my opinion of Chavez even matter? MyNameGoesHere Dec 2012 #98
he has changed the Constitution and chipped away at democracy and rights of citizens wordpix Dec 2012 #124
The people of Venezuela got it right and it is no one else's business. The Chavez sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #131
And it ain't the only issue he has never got right. Daniel537 Dec 2012 #48
President Obama didn't start "those three" Kolesar Dec 2012 #154
Authoritarian like extrajudicial killing, kidnapping and imprisonment? Ash_F Dec 2012 #4
Authoritarian like only allowing abortion when there is a threat to the life of the pregnant woman Carnage251 Dec 2012 #8
The US is 47 on that list happyslug Dec 2012 #20
Chinese leaders aren't so great either but we never see them getting called out.. flamingdem Dec 2012 #23
and the Chinese leaders were 'picked' not elected but are the business buddies lunasun Dec 2012 #85
Well, he created the community councils that have given Venezuela real democracy(from the ground up) Ken Burch Dec 2012 #27
And is the opposition pro-choice? JackRiddler Dec 2012 #140
Obama has no moral high ground to be calling Venezuela authoritarian Ash_F Dec 2012 #32
I assume you are aware that Venenuela is predominately Catholic country dipsydoodle Dec 2012 #34
That documentary wasn't that much of an indictment. ronnie624 Dec 2012 #64
Virtually all Latin American countries have strict anti-abortion laws. Ken Burch Dec 2012 #91
It would seem impossible for anyone to be unaware of Latin American Catholicism. Yikes. n/t Judi Lynn Dec 2012 #92
Chavez has had decree powers for much of his tenure. joshcryer Dec 2012 #96
The candidate you were backing was appealing to them as well. Ken Burch Dec 2012 #97
Yeah, I doubt you could get elected there being pro-choice. joshcryer Dec 2012 #100
There's a difference though, in observing that Chavez may have taken social conservative positions Ken Burch Dec 2012 #101
The thing is Obama gets bashed here for that "pragmatism." joshcryer Dec 2012 #103
'lighter-skinned people' King_David Dec 2012 #127
I was talking about a situation where you have LGBT rights and you also have Ken Burch Dec 2012 #133
most of the poor in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay are lighter skinned Bacchus4.0 Dec 2012 #136
OK, I was specifically talking about Venezuela. Ken Burch Dec 2012 #146
no, the indigenous populations in those two countries are quite small Bacchus4.0 Dec 2012 #147
It still applies to Venezuela, though Ken Burch Dec 2012 #150
sure, I would just point out that the current VP Maduro is a homophobe Bacchus4.0 Dec 2012 #152
You'd have to concede, though, that it would be a loss for Venezuela to end up Ken Burch Dec 2012 #166
not really, nobody has ever argued for austerity Bacchus4.0 Dec 2012 #168
The decree powers have always been very limited, both in scope and duration, ronnie624 Dec 2012 #109
He's used them beyond that scope before. joshcryer Dec 2012 #118
So having watched the video... Ash_F Dec 2012 #115
He's right about Gaddafi. leftlibdem420 Dec 2012 #123
And Homeland Security and Loyal Party Mayors tama Dec 2012 #38
yes, that is exactly it, I know someone whose house was searched by Chavez' men twice wordpix Dec 2012 #126
Anonymous internet anecdotes are useless here. Ash_F Dec 2012 #128
I am not revealing the names of my friends whose entire family fled Chavez for their lives and due wordpix Dec 2012 #138
First they were searching their homes, now they're kidnapping them off the streets. Ash_F Dec 2012 #157
read this to get it straight: it was Chavez' thugs TWICE at the father's home and wordpix Dec 2012 #173
20% of crimes in Venezuela are attributed to the police, and that number Bacchus4.0 Dec 2012 #156
And this is relevant reply, how? Ash_F Dec 2012 #158
because you said that Venezuela doesn't do that, you are wrong. Here is your quote Bacchus4.0 Dec 2012 #159
Try reading for comprehension Ash_F Dec 2012 #162
in your first response you also said the military leans right, nope Bacchus4.0 Dec 2012 #164
No, the military leans left so they kidnapped him. Ash_F Dec 2012 #167
correct, the military leans left. You should have stopped there Bacchus4.0 Dec 2012 #170
The military kidnapped Hugo Chavez in 2002 Ash_F Dec 2012 #171
You educated (sic) yourself. You are wrong that the military leans right. Bacchus4.0 Dec 2012 #172
I am furious with him too Proletariatprincess Dec 2012 #7
Yeah, we also should never criticize North Korea and their political prison camps Carnage251 Dec 2012 #10
It's not him(although there was no excuse for Obama to aid and abet the Honduran coup) Ken Burch Dec 2012 #17
I know my history and I don't see Obama attempting a coup in that country Carnage251 Dec 2012 #50
If you really UNDERSTOOD that history, you'd understand Ken Burch Dec 2012 #86
Venezuelans are more than familiar with US butting into their country's personal business. Judi Lynn Dec 2012 #88
Thanks for the eloquent images, Judi. n/t. Ken Burch Dec 2012 #90
So glad to do it. Can't believe people are arguing who are unaware of this OLD, OLD conflict. n/t Judi Lynn Dec 2012 #93
+1 mecherosegarden Dec 2012 #44
Venezuela has nothing in common with North Korea or Syria. Ken Burch Dec 2012 #99
...except for supporting them brooklynite Dec 2012 #135
I agree with President Obama on this. Pterodactyl Dec 2012 #9
Why? Tempest Dec 2012 #12
And I hear the trains are always on time, too. Pterodactyl Dec 2012 #13
Chavez has nothing in common with Mussolini. Ken Burch Dec 2012 #15
Let's go through the list. Pterodactyl Dec 2012 #18
He called George Bush the devil, and I've always appreciated him for that flamingdem Dec 2012 #25
Yeah, we'll see if the new guy is any better when Chavez kicks the bucket. Pterodactyl Dec 2012 #59
I'm more partial to his description of Bush being a donkey...LOL HoosierRadical Dec 2012 #67
eres un burrro! flamingdem Dec 2012 #68
"allies with rogue nations" ie: Nations the U.S. hates Tempest Dec 2012 #29
Yeah, I'm easily annoyed by dictators, theocrats and terrorist sympathizers. I'm just like that. Pterodactyl Dec 2012 #61
Since Chavez is none of those things, your annoyance is misplaced. n/t Tempest Dec 2012 #74
I was talking about Hugo's terrorist allies (FARC) and his theocrat oil buddies in Iran. Pterodactyl Dec 2012 #81
The FARC is a Marxist guerrilla political formation, not "terrorists"... Comrade Grumpy Dec 2012 #145
FARC is engaged in an armed conflict to overthrow the Colombian democratic government Bacchus4.0 Dec 2012 #148
They are a political-military formation. Comrade Grumpy Dec 2012 #153
they conscript child soldiers to fight and die, and girls as sexual slaves Bacchus4.0 Dec 2012 #155
Hey, I gotta trust Barack and Hilary on this one. Pterodactyl Dec 2012 #177
So you don't like his health regime and his, and his supporters, style of dress? fasttense Dec 2012 #37
Fatherland & Homeland Pterodactyl Dec 2012 #56
You have no fucking clue what you're talking about. The word patria is used in every Spanish Guy Whitey Corngood Dec 2012 #76
"Fatherland" is just a word-by itself, it means nothing. Ken Burch Dec 2012 #95
Actually, you can say that at about many Latin American countries RZM Dec 2012 #169
I don't agree with you. mecherosegarden Dec 2012 #45
They might want socialism, but that does not mean it is a good thing. Pterodactyl Dec 2012 #57
As foreigners, It's not our place to say if it "isn't a good thing"-we're not Venezuelan. Ken Burch Dec 2012 #84
They criticize other countries all the time in Venezuela. We can do it, too. Pterodactyl Dec 2012 #104
The diffference is that nobody in Latin America has ever tried to overthrow OUR government. Ken Burch Dec 2012 #112
I would think criticizing instead of overthrowing would be an improvement. Pterodactyl Dec 2012 #120
By many measures, the people are better off under Chavez Tempest Dec 2012 #28
Obama and Hilary know the score. I trust them to judge Chavez. Pterodactyl Dec 2012 #62
Did you trust Mrs. Clinton during all those years she supported her friend Hosni Mubarak? nt Guy Whitey Corngood Dec 2012 #77
Of course! Are you saying Clinton and Obama were WRONG? Pterodactyl Dec 2012 #80
Duh! So you support some dictators then. I thought you said above thread you were "Mr. Democracy". nt Guy Whitey Corngood Dec 2012 #82
Yes...they were wrong to not immediately back the Egyptian Revolution. Ken Burch Dec 2012 #87
Oh, great! First you criticize Obama, now you're slamming Carter! Pterodactyl Dec 2012 #105
It's Democratic Underground...NOT "DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS MUST NEVER BE CRITICIZED Underground". Ken Burch Dec 2012 #111
Don't feed it. /nt Ash_F Dec 2012 #113
Carter, BTW, was BANNED from watchdogging the last election in Venez. THAT's how "democratic" wordpix Dec 2012 #139
Duh! Of course I support the policies of the Obama admin. Pterodactyl Dec 2012 #106
Great now that you've admitted your hypocrisy. We can move on. nt Guy Whitey Corngood Dec 2012 #110
He should just shut the hell up about Venezuela. Ken Burch Dec 2012 #14
Totally agree, and we almost had a Republican coup here flamingdem Dec 2012 #22
Obama must realize Stewland Dec 2012 #16
People in this thread are misreading what Obama is saying, typically. joshcryer Dec 2012 #19
How so? Tempest Dec 2012 #30
Case in point. joshcryer Dec 2012 #31
Oh, please. Time after time you refer to tyranny and you use bitchkitty Dec 2012 #114
Um, no, I don't. joshcryer Dec 2012 #117
Um, yes, you do. n/t bitchkitty Dec 2012 #121
Nope, chavismo is an ideology followed by chavistas. joshcryer Dec 2012 #122
And means nothing other than support for socialism and human equality. Ken Burch Dec 2012 #151
Venezuelans just put paid to your "chavismo" talk in the latest elections. JackRiddler Dec 2012 #143
Obama is another oaf on Latin America flamingdem Dec 2012 #21
At a time when we can't even protect our children in the USA what is Obama doing dissing flamingdem Dec 2012 #26
He needs to stop John2 Dec 2012 #51
Obama was in Colombia in April, went to Chile too I believe and Mexico Bacchus4.0 Dec 2012 #142
how is Chavez protecting his people with the highest murder rate in South America Bacchus4.0 Dec 2012 #141
I never thought I would see a Chavez thread as a refuge from animosity. Lasher Dec 2012 #33
Venezuela furious at Obama's comments on ailing Chavez dipsydoodle Dec 2012 #36
This message was self-deleted by its author bitchkitty Dec 2012 #39
Riiiiigght. "Authoritarian". In *Venezuela*. (Not here.) So sez the 1 billion dollar man. n/t Smarmie Doofus Dec 2012 #40
Exactly! It's not like Chavez asked for the power to rule by decree hughee99 Dec 2012 #54
Yes, Mr. Pres., Venezuela's future belongs to Venezuelans Daniel537 Dec 2012 #47
The President's remarks have infuriated the Venezuelan people, not just Chavez. amandabeech Dec 2012 #129
The emerging Latin American Democracies... bvar22 Dec 2012 #52
Let's not forget that Chavez was the excuse to let the right wing thugs take over in Honduras flamingdem Dec 2012 #53
It's telling that Zelaya was first taken to a USA military base after being deposed. He was byeya Dec 2012 #55
Haven't South and Central America recently organized an OAS-like hemispheric byeya Dec 2012 #58
I'm not sure but it was discussed flamingdem Dec 2012 #69
Thanks for the information byeya Dec 2012 #73
yes, its known as CELAC but hasn't done anyting at all yet Bacchus4.0 Dec 2012 #144
President Obama You Are WRONG! HoosierRadical Dec 2012 #60
We need to kick his ass on this one flamingdem Dec 2012 #70
There are so many things we must due to ... HoosierRadical Dec 2012 #72
Me too. I listened to his remarks and they aren't as bad as I thought at first flamingdem Dec 2012 #75
Like all autocrats he has done some good and some bad jzodda Dec 2012 #71
Shame on Chavez's authoritarian policies and shame, double shame on his suppression of dissent indepat Dec 2012 #79
McCarthyite tripe. David__77 Dec 2012 #83
Tough crap, Venezuela. Don't allow yourself to be ruled by such a ridiculous dictator Pretzel_Warrior Dec 2012 #89
Take some time to educate yourself with the facts. You'll have to do some reading for that, Judi Lynn Dec 2012 #94
Post removed Post removed Dec 2012 #107
Your concern is noted. Please feel free to share more of your concerns, and enjoy your stay. nt msanthrope Dec 2012 #108
Does Pres. O know anything about Venezuela? roody Dec 2012 #119
He's getting more like Smirk every day Doctor_J Dec 2012 #176
What utter nonsense. Venezuela is more free than this country. sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #130
Sorry our President is behind the times in South American policy. Cleita Dec 2012 #132
CELAC: Will it be able to sustain itself? byeya Dec 2012 #134
The DU chavistas are furious too n/t Bacchus4.0 Dec 2012 #137
"But he did say U.S. policy was aimed at ensuring "freedom" in Venezuela." limpyhobbler Dec 2012 #160
USA loves authoritarian regimes in Bahrain, Yemen, Qatar, etc. limpyhobbler Dec 2012 #161
I am still waiting for the now-free-to-act-like-a-Dem Obama to show up Doctor_J Dec 2012 #163
Maybe maņana, amigo, maybe maņana. nt Zorra Dec 2012 #175
Hugo's cancer has reportedly metastized into his bones Zorro Dec 2012 #165
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