Do you have a favorable, unfavorable or mixed view of President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela?

[Douglas Carpenter]

Poll question: Do you have a favorable, unfavorable or mixed view of President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela?

[Taverner]

1. Overall he's been very good for Venezuela

And the man is no dictator. I think he made some big mistakes (shutting down FoxNews Venezuela) but all leaders who take drastic actions to solve large problems end up making some mistakes along the way.

Overall, I give him a B.

[Fresh_Start]

2. I think he is a dictator.

But I don't necessarily think a Dictator is the worst type of leader.
A benevolent Dictator is better than a number of other alternatives.

[Solon]

4. Factually you are wrong...

Chavez was ELECTED by open and fair elections, with international observers, in fact, they had more accountability than any federal election in the United States in the past 7 years.

[Fresh_Start]

5. There's nothing inconsistent between elected and dictator

its what you do with power that makes one a dictator.

[ieoeja]

7. Maybe you should use "tyrant" instead. n/t

[Fresh_Start]

10. I looked at definition of tyrant

I don't think it fits. I think Chavez does some good as well as some horrendous things.

[Taverner]

12. The word you are looking for is autocratic

Not dictator.

Presidents and elected officials can rule autocratically. They aren't, by definition, dictators.

[TankLV]

35. um - sure - OK

do you even know how to comprehend?

You made up your mind and not even websters can alter it - must be another faith based idiot...

[Taverner]

9. Well he did win both elections fairly

So that would make him not a dictator.

Now he may practice autocratic rule, and he does. Not all the time, but there have been times he has. I don't agree with this, but the Venezuelans do.

[Fresh_Start]

13. Look up dictator. It doesn't depend on elections

its more about operating without regard to established law.

[Taverner]

14. Well he operates according to established law

But then again, so did Hitler.

But in each case, he changed the law before acting.

[TankLV]

34. Define "dictator" please - we're all sitting enthralled waiting for your answer...

not...

[arcos]

3. Favorable-leaning mixed... nt

[Douglas Carpenter]

17. fair enough...that's more or less how I feel too

[closeupready]

6. Having been to Venezuela prior to his taking office, I'd have to give him a B-.

He has loony ideas, but he seems to be doing what Venezuelans, by and large, approve of, so no, he's no dictator.

[sniffa]

8. so when are you enListing!!!!1!?

aLL this taLk about invading venezueLa is insane!!!1!

[Douglas Carpenter]

29. I certainly hope no one has that in mind

[partylessinOhio]

11. * hates him so I love him! Sorry he won't be speaking at the UN but the

smell of sulfur is still there.

:applause:

[enid602]

15. GWB

Hugo Chavez would be nothing without George W. Bush. He owes his rise, his notoriety and his extraordinary press coverage to one George W. Bush. When people on this form ask if GWB has ever been successful at anything, they overlook the fact that GWB, in a brief six years has singlehandedly brought back labor unions, socialism and the Left. Thank you, GWB.

[RethugAssKicker]

18. and what is wrong with labor unions, socalism and the left ???

I favor all three

[enid602]

20. nothing

Nothing (absolutely nothing, we need them now as never before), but they were all dead in the water prior to GWB.

[Cleita]

16. I lived in South American some of my life and am familiar with

so-called banana republic and tin pot dictators. I even met a couple on board ships. The worst ones are the ones that our country love. I have a more positive than negative view of Chavez. I feel he really is trying to get change, and change that is good for both Venezuela and South America at large. We don't like it because it means we have lost one of our resources on foreing lands to suck dry. He's a bit blustery at times but he's not playing to us as his support anyway, but to his base. And his base loves it, especially when he calls Bush the devil. American business and political influence in Venezuela in the last century didn't make us very popular there.

[Douglas Carpenter]

21. unfortunately, Americans are frequently completely unaware of what policies

go on in their name. Therefore they have no context in understanding any of the complaints against the U.S. that are common knowledge throughout most of the rest of the world.

[Judi Lynn]

22. It really makes you wish they would break down and start trying to get themselves educated A.S.A.P.

on U.S./Latin American history and the actual relationship, BEFORE they start giving us the benefit of their opinions.

If they don't know what they're talking about, they simply are howling in the wind. They need so badly to have contact with reality.

They can't stay drunk on propaganda forever, hopefully.

Nixon, as a U.S. representative, was unpopular when he made a trip to Caracas as Eisenhower's Vice-President.



Adoring fans greeted his motorcade, didn't they!

[Douglas Carpenter]

23. I wish they would too.

but with the pathetic nature of the American media -- it would take an exceptional person to take it upon themselves to educate themselves in matters that don't confront them in day to day life.

And therefore it is a lot easier to suck in the silly sound bites, follow their emotions rather than evidence and surround themselves with comforting fairy tales.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

26. I was lucky. I went through a school system where we spent a whole year on

the Western Hemisphere countries outside the U.S.

As a result, I knew from an early age that (to quote St. Ronnie) "They're all different countries down there," and that each one had a fascinating history.

I get the impression that the typical North American thinks that Latin America is all like Mexican border towns, all the way down to Tierra del Fuego.

[Judi Lynn]

28. Very surprised to hear you found a system in the States which actually taught anything at all

about any country south of the border. Very rare, as you know!

It's a shame most kids usually grow up so ignorant of people who are not all that far away!

[Douglas Carpenter]

19. /

[Judi Lynn]

24. The part which really counts is a large majority of the VENEZUELAN PEOPLE have

a great opinion of THEIR OWN PRESIDENT. Why ANYONE here in the States believes it's his/her business whom the Venezuelan people elect after knowing their OWN needs, and HIS own record on addressing those needs is astonishing, isn't it?

What it still boils down to is the very same old facist red-baiting crap. Anyone who doesn't see the U.S. right-wing as chosen by God to control the entire earth, make ALL of the rules, take ALL of the profits, and hand out favors to their collaborators around the world is seen as an enemy of the state, and the very first day they can finally get control, they will start killing off the ones who don't support them. It's absolutely clear the U.S. right-wing means to take over. Everything. Everyone they perceive as being in the road is despised, and would be doomed if they could only manage it.

What a bunch of clowns.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

25. Compared to the brutal right-wing psychopaths that the U.S. has supported

over the years in various Latin American countries (Pinochet, Rios Montt, Duvalier, Somoza, Batista, Trujillo, Galtieri, Stroessner), Chavez looks like a saint.

Do I like everything he has done?

No, but it's none of my business anyway. We've got our own wannabe dictator, and I refuse to get all excited about some guy whose major "sin" appears to be bringing the rich oligarchs and oil companies under control.

The Venezuelan people, unlike us North Americans, have a demonstrated ability to get rid of government figures they don't like.

I am appalled at the people on DU, most of whom appear to be either 1) ignorant of Latin American history, or 2) personally influenced by a pissed-off rich person from Venezuela, or 3) still gullible enough to believe everything in the corporate media.

I wonder how these people who are so concerned about democracy in Venezuela would have reacted after Pinochet overthrew Allende with U.S. backing in 1973, or after the Argentine generals declared their "war on terror" and killed 30,000 of their own people?

I bet they would have been cheering the right-wingers on, telling other DUers that "Pinochet had to get tough to save Chile from Communism" or "General Galtieri needs to take a firm hand with these terrorists."

[killbotfactory]

31. That's exactly what they say about US-sponsored atrocities

It's all excused as part of the cold war (anyone who didn't like US corporate was a commie), or to keep those stupid elected leftists from "ruining" their own countries.

[pudding man]

27. If only for having some semblance of balance ...

If only for having some semblance of balance in the world, Favorable.
Besides, the UN humor-rant on "The Devil Bush" was priceless!

[Douglas Carpenter]

30. one kick

[Greyhound]

32. Generally favorable. K & R. n/t

[TankLV]

33. Favorable. Definitely.

[Douglas Carpenter]

36. just one more kick

[Vidar]

37. Very favorable. His policies benefit his people rather than the corporations,

something almost forgotten in the US.