Um...will I blow up DU if I report that Hugo Chavez is rooting for Ahmadinejad?

[Bicoastal]

Source: HuffPost/AP

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/12/iran-election-chavez-wish_n_214926.html

Venezuela's socialist leader wished his hardline Iranian counterpart good luck in his re-election bid in Iran's presidential ballot Friday.

Speaking to supporters Thursday, Hugo Chavez called Mahmoud Ahmadinejad "a courageous fighter for the Islamic Revolution, the defense of the Third World, and in the struggle against imperialism" - a reference to the US government's foreign policy. (AP)

I'm on the fence about Chavez, but I absolutely cannot stand Ahmadinejad; I can't believe a sensible person would actually want him re-elected.

[MADem]

1. Naaah. It'll just prove a point, is all! Totally unsurprising!

The Supreme Leader, who makes all the real decisions, ain't rooting for Mah-moooooood, either.

I'm guessing if the polls don't come in the way the Guardian Council would like, they'll fix 'em so they do!

Just Keeeeeeeding.....but, no, not really!

[YOY]

2. Oil.

I'm sure it fits in there somewhere.

[BoneDaddy]

3. Not from me

Liberals have always made the mistake of siding with people who the right considers enemies. It is often not thought out and is often ridiculous. Whereas I do not consider Chavez anywhere near the threat the right does, he isn't exactly a "good guy" by any standards.

[Mika]

15. "always"? Broad brush much? n/t

[BoneDaddy]

28. True

I should not have said "always", perhaps very frequently liberals tend to make the enemy of my enemy my friend.  Is that better?  What are your thoughts?

[Renew Deal]

4. Makes sense. Chavez is another one that thrives on chaos.

He loves having boogeymen.

[BoneDaddy]

7. "thrives on chaos"

I like that. What many people do not understand is that left or right, conservative or liberal, the attraction to and abuse of power is often frequent. Because Chavez is labeled "bad" by the conservative right movement, the left often runs to defend.

[Ernesto]

21. FEAR FEAR FEAR!

(bush/cheney)

[Chulanowa]

5. He'll say the same for the next guy in charge of Iran, too

Were you expecting "I hope the fucker loses, and loses hard!"

[cali]

10. um, let's see. He could have said nothing. Or he could he have

said that he wishes all the candidates luck. Nope, sorry, he did not have to give Ahmadjidiot glowing props.

[hfojvt]

12. Amadinejad (sp) is not in charge of Iran

And why not be against him?

[cali]

6. no, but you'll certainly get folks who will rationalize and defend the stalwart

support Chavez has for Ahmadjidiot.

[BuyingThyme]

8. The President of the United States declared both of them enemies.

If you're wondering whom to blame, now you know.

[EFerrari]

24. Chavez support is so strong, I can't find a single story

including this one at YNET where he declares his devotion.

lol

[RelativelyJones]

9. Not at all. Lots of DUers know Chavez is an ass.

[Posteritatis]

16. And lots think his ass emits naught but rainbows (nt)

[DBoon]

11. Chavez will say ANYTHING to piss off the US govt

I think he just really enjoys his own rhetoric

[paulsby]

13. therefore

by your logic...

chavez is not a sensible person.

fwiw, ... he isn't

[Captain Hilts]

14. Well, at least idiots are clumping now, so it's easier to avoid them! nt

[lapfog_1]

17. That's OK, so are the Neocons

which is odd, considering their statements...

but not odd at all when you know their ultimate goals...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/12/right-wing-neocons-rootin_n_214698.html

[blindpig]

18. They have this one thing in common:

They are both anti-imperialist.

Nothing wrong with that.

Oh yeah, oil too, which both allows them to get away with it and paints a big target on their backs.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

19. This is the worst thing to happen since Obama complimented Reagan.

I'm poutraged.

[billyoc]

20. No more than you usually do.

:evilgrin:

[Deja Q]

22. Given Chavez' own pig-headed extortion against Obama, no you won't blow it up.

(if anybody cares to go back a couple months, it was reported that Chavez praised President Obama's words... and then gave out a list of desires that, if not fulfilled, would lead to Chavez calling Obama a fake liar, blah blah blah.)

Give me a real good reason to support Chavez.

[EFerrari]

27. If you recall, Obama said Chavez supported terrorists in Latin America.

A baseless charge. Chavez defended himself. He did not blackmail Obama as you claim.

On the other hand, the United States is harboring terrorists that are wanted for crimes in Latin America. Go figure.

[EFerrari]

23. YNET says that's an AP story but it's not up at AP.

Weird.

Can anyone else find it?

[leftstreet]

25. I can't find the story anywhere

:shrug:

[EFerrari]

26. Figures.

lol

[bridgit]

29. Well, they're both participants in the democratic process so why wouldn't he?

[Vidar]

30. No . That falls into the 5% of Chavez' actions of which I don't approve.

[readmoreoften]

31. Oh. YNET said that AP said it. Okay, now give a link to the AP article.

But even if he said it, I don't really give a shit. I'm way to the left of Chavez these days and politicans make lots of stupid political alliances: Obama with Lieberman, every US prez with the House of Saud, etc.

[Patsy Stone]

32. They are referring to a statement from Thursday, reported on Friday

Not today. The only version of the AP story I could find is via FOX: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,525934,00.html

Here's one from today, with a brief mention of Chavez at the end; although it's still unclear when he made the statements he's said to have made in this article -- today, last Thursday, a week from next Tuesday?

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IRAN_ELECTION_WORLD_VIEW?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT