The guy has some good ideas, not crazy about the socialist aspect.

He's also called George Bush the Devil (good for him)

opposes Israeli policies of warmongering, apartheid and genocide

A plus for him.

cut out state support for Catholic education in the schools

Good for him.

restrictions on hostile media

Not a good deal for the people.

rights of the government to expropriate property.

Not a good idea for anyone but the government.

forming alliances with Russia and Iran

Could choose better friends, but the US is certainly no prize at times. He's a socialist, what do you expect?

building up a ...

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The guy has some good ideas, not crazy about the socialist aspect.

He's also called George Bush the Devil (good for him)

opposes Israeli policies of warmongering, apartheid and genocide

A plus for him.

cut out state support for Catholic education in the schools

Good for him.

restrictions on hostile media

Not a good deal for the people.

rights of the government to expropriate property.

Not a good idea for anyone but the government.

forming alliances with Russia and Iran

Could choose better friends, but the US is certainly no prize at times. He's a socialist, what do you expect?

building up a substantial coalition of Central and South American countries.

Why not? It would be great if that coalition was more in tune with American policies but US arrogance has created this situation.

Overall, I think he is doing what he thinks is best for his country and he's trying to look after the interests of Central & South America. He would like to see himself as a saint but that is really stretching it.

I'm not certain about Hugo Chavez. One real problem is not being able to trust what you read and that, certainly, the story is different depending upon who tells it.

@jay8h, for instance, post above, his profile says he's American but his post talks about someone here trying to suspend the Constitution so they can stay in office forever.

I guess that is suppose to be an anti-Obama statement, or maybe it's about the Mayor of New York, Bloomberg, who did change the laws so he could run for a third term -- but he just had to change city laws, not the U.S. Constitution.

So, @jay8h, you wrote a critical statement about someone in your (our) country trying to suspend the Constitution...and it ...

I'm not certain about Hugo Chavez. One real problem is not being able to trust what you read and that, certainly, the story is different depending upon who tells it.

@jay8h, for instance, post above, his profile says he's American but his post talks about someone here trying to suspend the Constitution so they can stay in office forever.

I guess that is suppose to be an anti-Obama statement, or maybe it's about the Mayor of New York, Bloomberg, who did change the laws so he could run for a third term -- but he just had to change city laws, not the U.S. Constitution.

So, @jay8h, you wrote a critical statement about someone in your (our) country trying to suspend the Constitution...and it has ZERO reality, and it's absurd.

So...what are we to believe about Hugo Chavez? Maybe someone like jay8h is reporting the news.

Plus, there's a bit of "the boy who cried wolf." here too. Iraq had nuke and biological WMD's - Iraq linked to Al-Qaeda - Iraq may have helped the 9/11 attack - Iraq may have been behind the frightening anthrax attacks one week after 9/11, etc.

Not only were these all deliberately encouraged lies...but the anthrax in that frightening attack one week after 9/11 was finally traced back to a U.S. military biological warfare lab!

Finally, it comes down to how you see things. Take the old English King Henry VIII for example....he established the church of England (Chavez now also changing what taught in schools: Catholic religion or South America social liberation.).

King Henry VIII also "expropriated property," seizing church lands....killed seven wives...was a fat pig, etc.....yet, somehow he's an "acceptable," historical character rather than being considered a dangerous sociopath.

(King David of the Jews, another bad man....killing one of his own soldiers so he could sleep with his wife....these are not admirable actions).

And, what are the real details. The USA government can "expropriate," land but it has to(allegedly) have reason &pay people.