Who’s The Bigger Dictator, Bush or Chavez?

[antiimperialist]

Dec. 3, 2007
Firedoglake

Although there certainly is an authoritarian streak in Hugo Chavez, at least he bothered to ask:

Humbled by his first electoral defeat ever, President Hugo Chavez said Monday he may have been too ambitious in asking voters to let him stand indefinitely for re-election and endorse a huge leap to a socialist state.

I understand and accept that the proposal I made was quite profound and intense," he said after voters narrowly rejected the sweeping constitutional reforms by 51 percent to 49 percent.

Would-be dictators are usually not quite so democratic about achieving their goals. As Charlie Savage reports in today's Boston Globe, they're usually more like this:

President Bush this month issued his first signing statement since the Democratic takeover of Congress, reserving the right to bypass 11 provisions in a military appropriations bill under his executive powers.

The principles involved here are pretty much the stuff of 10th grade civics classes. You don't have to have an advanced degree in Smelly Left Wing Hippy Studies to appreciate that there is something profoundly flawed with our larger political narrative, where Chavez plays the role of dangerous, democracy-hating strongman and Bush just wants to protect the babies from the terrorist bogeymen.
http://firedoglake.com/2007/12/03/whos-the-bigger-dictator-bush-or-chavez/

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. There is absolutely no comparison

Chavez has operated fully within the bounds of his nation's constitution. Bush... not so much.

[Lint Head]

2. Bush put the dick in tater.

:dem:

[datadiva]

3. Easy one, the Chimperor for sure. n/t

[Faygo Kid]

4. Yep, it's clearly Bush, who lost in 2000 and 2004 - but rigged it the other way

After Chavez admitted he lost an election, there is no longer any doubt or comparison.

It's Emperor George.

[tom_paine]

5. If there was a question before, there isn't one now. Bushler.

Can anyone imagine Bushler accepting electoral defeat (we all know now that our supposed "victory" in 2006 was nothing of the sort, in terms of bringing criminals to bay and restoring the Old American Republic) that thwarted his goals?

No way. He would do what he had to do to change the outcome. Period.

No doubt now. No doubt now.

[trusty elf]

6. Homeland Über Alles

[trusty elf]

7. Dubious Seizer!

[Prophet 451]

8. It's not even a contest

Chavez, like him or not, has acted within the boundries of law at all times. Bush hasn't.

[donilo]

9. pictures

Hey folks - GREAT PICTURES!!!!!! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl::rofl: :rofl::rofl: :rofl::rofl: :rofl::rofl: :rofl::rofl: :rofl::rofl: :rofl::rofl: :rofl::rofl: :rofl::rofl: :rofl::rofl: :rofl::rofl: :rofl::rofl: :rofl::rofl: :rofl: