Hugo Chavez Dies At 58

[jacee]

Could be that he was a well-intentioned individual who just didn't know enough to set a path for his country that would better ensure a long term future.

There may be disagreement about how to "set a path", but Venezuala has an inalienable right to set its own path.

What exactly was your point in listing all those countries?

Just for reference, re oil and conflict

[Total U.S. Imports of Petroleum (Top 15 Countries) (thousand barrels per day)

http://www.eia.gov/petroleum/imports/companylevel/

Country Dec-12 Nov-12 YTD 2012 Dec-11 YTD 2011

CANADA 3,131 2,843 2,955 3,009 2,796

VENEZUELA 1,092 1,070 952 868 951

SAUDI ARABIA 1,032 1,325 1,359 1,310 1,195

MEXICO 1,016 1,065 1,031 1,064 1,206

RUSSIA 523 445 477 552 624

IRAQ 462 489 474 380 459

COLOMBIA 379 465 432 508 433

KUWAIT 254 276 308 231 191

NIGERIA 248 501 441 534 818

ALGERIA

ECUADOR

UNITED KINGDOM

ANGOLA

CHAD

BRAZIL

The U.S. has had pretty friendly (and mutually beneficial) relations with Canada and Mexico. Can't find anything they've done to mess up Azerbaijan. Yeah, they might be supporting a rather despotic regime in Saudi Arabia, but that doesn't mean the U.S. is interfering in their internal affairs.

Ya, now the rest of the list.

Iraq, for example.

Here's a suggestion... if you're going to quote a source, try not to refer to ones that toss around the word "imperialist". Makes someone look like a rabid nutcase.

It's worth debating.

Oil Imperialism

But whatever ... Venuzuela has a right to its choices, and there is no excuse for Harper's disdainful, immature and and tasteless remarks:

Venezuela slams Harper for blunt, insensitive, impertinent remarks on Hugo Chavezs death

OTTAWA Venezuela has sent a formal protest to the Canadian government for Prime Minister Stephen Harpers insensitive remarks on the death of President Hugo Chavez.

Harper issued a statement that offered condolences to the people of Venezuela, but not the family of the flamboyant 58-year-old leftist leader,who died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer.

A statement from a senior Venezuelan government official says a card of protest was sent to Ottawa after Harper expressed what he called insensitivity at a time when their country is grieving.

...

At this key juncture,I hope the people of Venezuela can now build for themselves a better,brighter future based on the principles of freedom,democracy,the rule of law and respect for human rights, Harper said in a statement Tuesday evening.

That's just being a moronic jerk using a man's death as an opportunity to go on an ideological rant.

Hugo Chavez never did anything against Canada to deserve such disrespect from us.

We don't pay Harper to schill for the oil industry.

We pay him to be a statesman ... with some manners.

What a friggen goof.

Edited March 8, 2013 by jacee

[jacee]

Hey HARPER!

Not only are you a nasty pompous ass and a tool of the oil elites, unlike Chavez who understood that resources better serve the needs of the people ...

You must be JEALOUS of Chavez's democratic legitimacy and accomplishments:

Democracy: Hugo Chavez and Venezuela vs. Stephen Harper and Canada

' Finally, the Earth is rid of that megalomaniac dictator who dared to equitably share oil wealth. Venezuelans at last have a shot at true democracy.'

Thats been the narrative over at Maclean's since Hugo Chavez passed away on March 5 after a battle with cancer.

A new infographic titled The state of Democracy in Canada & Venezuela portrays things a little differently.

First up is a chart comparing what percentage of Venezuelan voted for Chavez to Canadians for Prime Minister Stephen Harper in the four consecutive elections both men won. Chavez consistently received a larger portion of the populations support by margins of 15 to 27 points over Harper.

Next is a glowing assessment of Venezuelas 2012 election by former U.S. president Jimmy Carter.

Of the 92 elections that weve monitored, I would say the election process in Venezuela is the best in the world, the elder statesman said.

That was followed by negative observations of national polls in Canada.

Towards the end of the infographic are a number of the Chavez governments impressive accomplishments that many people might not be aware of.

That list (not independently verified)

Free education from daycare to university

5th in the world in % of university students

Reduced unemployment by 32%

Reduced poverty by 44%

Reduced food imports by 60%

Cut infant mortality in Venezuela by half

Cut child malnutrition by half

Reduced inequality by 54%

96% of the population has now access to clean water Increased the number of health clinics by 169.6%

Tripled the number of doctors

Reduced public debt by 31%

We should be asking ourselves ... Are 'western' leaders like Harper who serve the resource-extraction industry elites really interested in 'spreading democracy'?

OR are they only interested in subverting democratic freedom to impose their 'vision' of maximizing private profits of the elites?

Yes, that's a rhetorical question.

Oh and by the way ... HARPER REALLY EXPECTS US TO BELIEVE THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY PERSONAL (PORTFOLIO) PROFIT MOTIVES IN HIS ABUSE OF PUBLIC OFFICE, PUBLIC FUNDS, AND PUBLIC TRUST IN DECISION-MAKING THAT FAVOURS THE OIL INDUSTRY?

Yes that's a rhetorical question too.

But Harper's pompous asinineness has backfired again and exposed his true motives.

Not a pretty sight.

Edited March 8, 2013 by jacee

[scribblet]

Hmm, there's only one (maybe more) 'tool' around here.

[jacee]

Those who wish to contribute sincere condolences from Canadians could try contacting Canada's embassy in Venuzuela:

[email protected]

[Shady]

Congratulations to King Hugo. For accumulating a net worth 10 times greater than Mitt Romney, all while being "president" of Venezuela, and looking out for "his" people.

[GostHacked]

Congratulations to King Hugo. For accumulating a net worth 10 times greater than Mitt Romney, all while being "president" of Venezuela, and looking out for "his" people.

Back one day and no time wasted at all. Good ol' predictable Shady.

[Hudson Jones]

As my friend would say: "Show proof or GTFO."

[August1991]

Several hundred million humans live better in China, and we're arguing about a politician in Venezuela, a lottery-winner on top of an oil well?

Socialism, unions, soviets, solidarity, collectivism don't work - unless you have a diamond mine, or an oil well.

----

As Deng famously asked: "Who cares whether the cat is white or black, as long as it catches mice."

Thank God. We are now debating the colour of the cat.

Edited March 9, 2013 by August1991

[WWWTT]

Ya I guess the oil companies got real pissed off that they couldn't rape the resources so they had no choice but to try and attack Chavez.

Sorry to burst your bubble August,but sharing the wealth works!

Works so good that the oil corporations are smoking mad!

Funny that you would compare Venezuela with another socialist country.

How about comparing one oil rich country with another like Canada?

How come we aren't seeing the same prosperity and growth as Venezuela?

I'm all ears to hear your reasons.

WWWTT

[WWWTT]

Congratulations to King Hugo. For accumulating a net worth 10 times greater than Mitt Romney, all while being "president" of Venezuela, and looking out for "his" people.

Straight back to wanting to get suspended.

That's it Shady,don't let a suspension get in the way of what you want to say!

Man that's freekin funny!!!

WWWTT

[-TSS-]

¨Whatever your views of him were it can be said that in the future it won't be any longer required in general knowledge to know the name of the president of Venezuela.

[Shady]

Straight back to wanting to get suspended.

That's it Shady,don't let a suspension get in the way of what you want to say!

Man that's freekin funny!!!

WWWTT

What? So stating a fact means suspension? Chavez accumulated a large fortune while he was president. I'm sorry that facts like this upset you.

[Bryan]

What? So stating a fact means suspension? Chavez accumulated a large fortune while he was president. I'm sorry that facts like this upset you.

Is it a fact? The only people I've seen making such claims are the Miami Gusanos.

[WWWTT]

What? So stating a fact means suspension? Chavez accumulated a large fortune while he was president. I'm sorry that facts like this upset you.

Well if you want to make up facts,why stop there?

Lets here your best "FACT" about Chavez.

WWWTT

[scribblet]

It's all coming from the same source Criminal Justice International Associates, a risk assessment and global analysis firm in Miami, Fla. who estimates his worth is a couple of billion give or take a bit.

Venezuela’s economic freedom score is 36.1, making its economy the 174th freest in the 2013 Index. Its score has decreased by 2.0 points since last year, reflecting deteriotation in business freedom, labour freedom, and freedom from corruption along with an major increase in gov't spending, prior to the 2012 elections. Venezuela is ranked 28th out of 29 countries in the South and Central America/Caribbean region, and its overall score has recorded one of the 10 largest declines in the 2013 Index.

Inflation is high so IM Hugo Chavez's socialism attempt has failed to achieve what he intended.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/03/05/3268749/the-plundering-legacy-of-hugo.html?NewsWatchCanada.ca#

Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez and his legacy of plunder

Was he also an anti semite - the MSM isn't reporting much on his treatment of jews.
http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/07/17/venezuela-concentration-and-abuse-power-under-ch-vez

The Miami Herald isn't too impressed with him either.

Gotta love the adoration of this guy who did everything the Harper haters fantasize about 'nasty old Harper' doing....

[WWWTT]

Ya I guess all those "comments" are facts to the right wingers!

WWWTT

[Shady]

Ya I guess all those "comments" are facts to the right wingers!

WWWTT

It's sad that you continue to defend a human rights abusing dictator all because of ideology. Pathetic.

[Shady]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gInJOL9tNU

[WWWTT]

It's sad that you continue to defend a human rights abusing dictator all because of ideology. Pathetic.

You are aware that Harper blocked the UN from entering Canada 3 times from making human right reports are you?

WWWTT

[scribblet]

Comments on here are not necessarily fact, but I guess the Miami Herald and all the other papers are wrong. He was just a real sweet guy.

Chavez might have used his oil to buy the affections of people like Mr. Kennedy, but his poor management of the country's oil and the economy has left a mess. As the WSJ said:

Yet when the Chávez era finally drew to a close Tuesday with his death from cancer at age 58, life for Venezuelans had only become worse. As life stories go, the lesson of Chávez's is to beware charismatic demagogues peddling socialist policies at home and revolution abroad.

[GostHacked]

What? So stating a fact means suspension? Chavez accumulated a large fortune while he was president. I'm sorry that facts like this upset you.

Maybe we should talk to your man Dick Cheney, the VP sure was able to rack up money from companies like Haliburton ect.

[sharkman]

Are you saying he personally benefited? I hadn't heard this before, do you have any sources?

[Bryan]

Comments on here are not necessarily fact, but I guess the Miami Herald and all the other papers are wrong. He was just a real sweet guy.

Chavez might have used his oil to buy the affections of people like Mr. Kennedy, but his poor management of the country's oil and the economy has left a mess. As the WSJ said:

Yet when the Chávez era finally drew to a close Tuesday with his death from cancer at age 58, life for Venezuelans had only become worse. As life stories go, the lesson of Chávez's is to beware charismatic demagogues peddling socialist policies at home and revolution abroad.

If you read it in the Miami Herald, that means it's false. The ridiculous crap they print about Cuba (and Venezuela) is astonishing.

[Shady]

Maybe we should talk to your man Dick Cheney, the VP sure was able to rack up money from companies like Haliburton ect.

I sure hope so. He wasn't working there for free. Do you work for free?

[scribblet]

Just because you disagree doesn't mean it's crap. Is the WSJ and Human rights watch wrong to, there are others.

http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/07/17/venezuela-concentration-and-abuse-power-under-ch-vez

Chavez was a despot who gloried in his anti American rhetoric and attacks on Britain. He was a master of propaganda as we can see by the "useful idiots of the Left" who idolize a guy who left his country in a real mess. suppressed journalists, limited free speech etc. etc.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2289326/How-typical-Left-idolise-despot-gloried-attacking-America-Britain.html