Reply #38: the fact that he rules by decree?

[northzax]

that? the fact that the congress gave him the power to rule by decree?

the fact that he is creating a hyper-militarized state aligned against an external enemy, and that every problem is blamed on that external enemy? come on. Given the practical history of Latin American strongmen, hell, strongmen from any resource rich country, from the left and the right, at what point do you start noticing the parallels?

where is the practical line between the state and the person? it's a cult of personality, is it not? for better or for worse? or can you document the strong governmental institutions that Chavez is building to continue his bolivarian revolution when he retires in, hold it, when is his latest version of the presidential term up? 2012, isn't it? after promising to retire in 2010 wasn't it? under the Constitution of 1999?

tell you what, I will give 5-1 odds on a $50 bet that Hugo Chavez will still be President (barring a coup or assassination) in 2013. Or do you think he will listen to his own constitution and retire? would you like a piece of that action? anyone?