Reply #85: There have been no Chavez's in a long time

[rman]

all the 'dictators' in Latin America were supportive of US interests at the expense of the local population (that's why there are so many poor people in Venezuela and other Latin American nations) - and those were obviously supported by the US. Just look at all the US supported military coups in Latin America.

Chavez is the first head of state in a long time who is not only opposing exploitation of his nation by US corporate interests (same interests that practically own the US government), but who also managed to stay alive and stay in power in spite of all the efforts to get rid of him. Most others who have tried, have met an un-timely and violent death. A lucky few merely got overthrown, to be replaced by a US-friendly military dictator.

That's what history teaches, and Chavez is definitely no republican in any way shape or form - he's a lefty, a progressive.


(I'm not citing any sources because those have been posted on DU many times over already.)