Herr Hugo’s Hottest Hits…
For those that don’t believe in my mantra of Sovereignty Matters this is the first in many posts that’ll illustrate my point.
When all nations embrace their sovereignty they can then engage in the real diplomacy that may very well solve some of the worlds problems. The honest accounting of the worlds leaders is important to all. Hugo Chavez would do well to buy into that concept. Instead he acts like a spoiled brat screaming “Look at me Look at me”!.. People are in real need in his country and has a real chance to do something and what does he do ? He saber rattle,attacks the Venezuelan Constitution, and plays the clown to other adoring anti-Americans as if he’s addicted to it. The reality is he’s a dictator who failed at his attempt to lead a coup, got duly elected and is now assuring his power. He shows the ego drive of many of the dictators of the past. When will we learn ?
Some of Hugo’s Latest…
Spain’s King Juan Carlos told Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez to “shut up” as the Ibero-American summit drew to a close in Santiago, Chile.
The outburst came after Mr. Chavez called former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar a “fascist”.
Mr. Chavez then interrupted Spanish PM Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero’s calls for him to be more diplomatic, prompting the king’s outburst. BBC
As for this particular article, go figure Herr Hugo calling anyone a fascist.
Mmm pot calling the kettle….
“But I’m a great bullfighter – ole!” Hugo Chavez.
He’s a great bull something….Some more quotes from the dictator.
What about the Revolution ?…
Venezuelan consumers are increasingly facing periodic shortages of basic food products as the economy shows signs of overheating amid record revenues from an oil boom.
Reuters
One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution ; one makes a revolution in order to establish a dictatorship.
George Orwell
Updated*** Found this at Daniels (VZ Insight[my title in links]) Some interesting pics and post.
Eric: I’ll call it hints of history. Many dictators were elected / appointed fairly. The surprise comes later which is often part of the plan of many elected officials. My use of “herr” and dictator was meant to cause alarm and interest as well as thinking on behalf of the reader. Since I don’t blog in Spanish I target the US based Chavistas who can’t find Venezuela on a map and are blind to so much, as well as my own grasping something that’s happening in the neighborhood. I think things like the child names registry (think that was dropped) the time zone change (that was dropped) and some of the propaganda just reeks of totalitarianism of past places and times. Of course there is the constitutional debate. I don’t discount his popularity I’m just leery of what he’s going to really do with it. I’ve said it before so I guess I should put up or shut up that I have views on US/LA relations that aren’t stereotypically Right or jingoistic. Appreciate the commentary and I’ll try to be more complete in my posting.
You know I’m no fan of Chavez, but I do encourage you not to throw around the term “dictator” or the title “herr.” Doesn’t it strike you as contradictory that you wrote, “The reality is he’s a dictator who… got duly elected”?
He definitely runs the country in an authoritarian manner, but he does so with overwhelming popular support. Sure, some of this support results from using a lot of public funds to plaster the subway with propaganda, manufacture millions of pro-Chavez shirts and hats, and give massive “Christmas” bonuses to government employees right before elections (this happened prior to last December’s presidential elections, and will likely happen before the Dec. 2 vote on the new constitution). But only the delusional opposition in his country doubts that he is genuinely popular. I think it is fair to say (as I just did) that he runs the country in an authoritarian way, and even that he has a totalitarian mindset. But he is not a dictator and this is not a repressive regime. Yes, the opposition claims it is (like Daniel’s blog, which I know I referred you to but have since lost a lot of respect for), but some tear gas and rubber bullets really ain’t that extreme. As for using the word “Herr” before his name, well, I think it is time that the Hitler references are put to rest.
As for the rest of your post, I support your comedic approach to Chavez. It is a circus down here, with both pro- and anti-government forces contributing. In regards to the food shortages, however, this is primarily the result of huge increases in consumption by the lower classes. Chavez is undoubtedly redistributing a lot of the oil wealth to the poor, and they are consequently eating better than ever. The place to criticize Chavez here is that he is not doing enough to turn Venezuela’s agricultural sector into an important productive sector, but this is a criticism that can be made of all his predecessors as well.
And I think that criticism offers the best way of looking at Venezuela. The main issue facing the country is not democracy/authoritarianism, nor is it capitalism/socialism. This is an oil state first and foremost, and finding a way to break from the massive corruption and incompetent management that results from such an economic profile is by far the single most critical problem. Chavez is doing nothing to ween Venezuela off its dependence on oil exports, and I think that should be the basis for one’s deepest criticisms of his administration. Sure he is authoritarian, sure he is crazy. But I really only think those two things are very meaningful insofar as they affect his approach to the economy.
And it is worth keeping in mind that the alternative to Chavez right now is not some great democracy, nor is it great economic policy. At least in the midst of all this incompetence Chavez is giving more money to the poor than his predecessors. It ain’t the solution this country needs, but the opposition surely isn’t offering a solution either.