Hugo Chavez was a socialist, a foe of the United States, and the President of Venezuela. He died Tuesday.
Chavez battled cancer, and was 58. His Vice President says The West, and more specifically, the United States, was behind the death of Chavez. Hugo Chavez considered as much to be true when a number of South American leaders found themselves battling cancer.
Hugo was a revolutionary, an authoritarian, and for the perception by the people, he was battling the great enemy to the end. That is what dictators do. They don't govern. They remain in perpetual revolution. The enemy was corporations, bankers, capitalism, and the opposition that dared to speak in an "anti-government" manner.
Sound familiar?
When Hugo Chavez became president of Venezuela in 1999, in changed the country, sending it into a communistic direction under his hard-line socialist policies.
Chavez was known for his lengthy speeches on everything from the evils of capitalism to the proper way to conserve water while showering. He was the epitome of leftism, and the first of what would become a wave of socialist presidents to come to power in Latin America.
Loved by Hollywood liberal Marxists, the presidency of Chavez in Venezuela changed the country's international relationships, placing a wedge between that country and the United States, as he buddied up to Castro's Cuba.
From conspiracy theories (like his line about America's earthquake machine) to downright despotism, Hugo Chavez was constantly in the news, and constantly sending Venezuela in a downward spiral economically, and politically. Freedom was fast becoming a distant memory as long as Hugo Chavez remained alive.
The dictator's health, however, was one foe he could not combat with fiery speeches. Though his regime remained silent about the worsening health of Chavez, bits and pieces leaked out, and the world knew that Chavez was on his last revolutionary stand. After four surgeries in Cuba (the last one being last December) he slipped into secrecy, out of public view, with only a few snapshots making a public appearance last February.
Though those around Chavez claimed he was pulling through, this week the truth finally reached us. Hugo Chavez's health had been a dire situation, and now, he is dead.
Chavez leaves his country devastated by his leftist policies, populated by a people that were oppressed against heavy-handed politicians, and a private media who opposed him.
CNN reports that he concentrated power in the executive branch, turning formerly independent institutions -- such as the judiciary, the electoral authorities and the military -- into partisan loyalists. He used the judges to get his way, barring all opposition through legal means, and calling up his enemies on trumped-up corruption charges.
Chavez also targeted any media that dared to oppose him, forcing one major broadcaster and dozens of smaller radio and television stations off the air.
Hugo's hate for what he called "imperialist" United States, flowed regularly through his speeches, once accusing President Bush as being the "devil" in front of a U.N. Assembly, saying, "The devil came here yesterday. And it smells of sulfur still today."
Despite wealth from their oil industry, Chavez scared off investments by business interests, and created an expensive network of domestic social programs that was hindering the growth of the nation's economy.
Chavez's death may eliminate Iran's foothold in the Americas, and place Cuba in a dire situation since now they may lose their oil lifeline at below-market prices.
The appeal of Hugo Chavez was largely the result of him being considered a good speaker, sounding like an ordinary Venezuelan, rather than a bureaucrat, encouraging voters to react positively.
Historically, that is a trait shared among the most ruthless authoritarians.
I wonder if Chavez ever considered using a teleprompter?
As CNN put it, the revolution that Chavez led, was not a successful one, at first. "He founded the Revolutionary Bolivarian Movement, or MBR-200, in 1982. A decade later, on February 4, 1992, he led a failed military rebellion against then-President Carlos Andres Perez. He also made his first public appearance in front of the television cameras."
"Compatriots, sadly for now the objectives that we proposed were not achieved in the capital city," he said. "That is to say, we here in Caracas did not succeed in gaining power. You did it very well out there, but now is time to avoid more bloodshed. Now is time to reflect and new situations will come."
Chavez served two years in prison before then-President Rafael Caldera granted him amnesty.
Chavez went on to form a new political party, the Fifth Republic Movement, which carried him to a presidential election victory in 1998. His fiery campaign speeches blamed the traditional parties for corruption and poverty.
He remained in continuous revolutionary-mode since he gained control of the country, blaming the forces of the opposition for any failures. The authoritarian grip of his government tightened with each passing year, as he nationalized various functions and industries. Armed with his re-written constitution, affirmed shortly after he took power in July of 2000, Chavez's charismatic speeches kept him victorious in elections that often seemed to defy logic.
He won re-election in 2000, survived a recall election in 2004, and won another six-year term in 2006.
Chavez secured another re-election victory in October, describing his win as "a perfect battle, and totally democratic."
A coup in 2002 gave Chavez the excuse he was looking for to impose accelerated authoritarian policies.
He clamped down on broadcasters, and other media, while imposing liberty-killing policies.
Consolidation of power in the presidency became a theme in Chavez's reign.
His detractors accused him of being authoritarian, populist and even dictatorial for having pushed through a constitutional reform that allowed indefinite re-election, according to CNN.
The narrative in Venezuela under Chavez was consistent with the ruling tendencies of most authoritarians in history. He consolidated power at the executive level, disregarded his legislature (and accused them of being broken when they did not follow his lead), used executive actions to make sure his policies went into place, used all the influence he could to sway the courts, and disregarded the Constitution that existed labeling it as antiquated and out of fashion. . . hmmmm, for some reason that all sounds very familiar.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Hugo Chavez, influential leader with mixed record, dies at 58 - CNN
Hugo Chavez Mouthpiece Says U.S. Hit Haiti with Earthquake Weapon - Fox News
CIA CANCER: Vice President Says "Historic Enemies" Gave Cancer To Chavez - Secrets of the Fed
Chavez battled cancer, and was 58. His Vice President says The West, and more specifically, the United States, was behind the death of Chavez. Hugo Chavez considered as much to be true when a number of South American leaders found themselves battling cancer.
Hugo was a revolutionary, an authoritarian, and for the perception by the people, he was battling the great enemy to the end. That is what dictators do. They don't govern. They remain in perpetual revolution. The enemy was corporations, bankers, capitalism, and the opposition that dared to speak in an "anti-government" manner.
Sound familiar?
When Hugo Chavez became president of Venezuela in 1999, in changed the country, sending it into a communistic direction under his hard-line socialist policies.
Chavez was known for his lengthy speeches on everything from the evils of capitalism to the proper way to conserve water while showering. He was the epitome of leftism, and the first of what would become a wave of socialist presidents to come to power in Latin America.
Loved by Hollywood liberal Marxists, the presidency of Chavez in Venezuela changed the country's international relationships, placing a wedge between that country and the United States, as he buddied up to Castro's Cuba.
From conspiracy theories (like his line about America's earthquake machine) to downright despotism, Hugo Chavez was constantly in the news, and constantly sending Venezuela in a downward spiral economically, and politically. Freedom was fast becoming a distant memory as long as Hugo Chavez remained alive.
The dictator's health, however, was one foe he could not combat with fiery speeches. Though his regime remained silent about the worsening health of Chavez, bits and pieces leaked out, and the world knew that Chavez was on his last revolutionary stand. After four surgeries in Cuba (the last one being last December) he slipped into secrecy, out of public view, with only a few snapshots making a public appearance last February.
Though those around Chavez claimed he was pulling through, this week the truth finally reached us. Hugo Chavez's health had been a dire situation, and now, he is dead.
Chavez leaves his country devastated by his leftist policies, populated by a people that were oppressed against heavy-handed politicians, and a private media who opposed him.
CNN reports that he concentrated power in the executive branch, turning formerly independent institutions -- such as the judiciary, the electoral authorities and the military -- into partisan loyalists. He used the judges to get his way, barring all opposition through legal means, and calling up his enemies on trumped-up corruption charges.
Chavez also targeted any media that dared to oppose him, forcing one major broadcaster and dozens of smaller radio and television stations off the air.
Hugo's hate for what he called "imperialist" United States, flowed regularly through his speeches, once accusing President Bush as being the "devil" in front of a U.N. Assembly, saying, "The devil came here yesterday. And it smells of sulfur still today."
Despite wealth from their oil industry, Chavez scared off investments by business interests, and created an expensive network of domestic social programs that was hindering the growth of the nation's economy.
Chavez's death may eliminate Iran's foothold in the Americas, and place Cuba in a dire situation since now they may lose their oil lifeline at below-market prices.
The appeal of Hugo Chavez was largely the result of him being considered a good speaker, sounding like an ordinary Venezuelan, rather than a bureaucrat, encouraging voters to react positively.
Historically, that is a trait shared among the most ruthless authoritarians.
I wonder if Chavez ever considered using a teleprompter?
As CNN put it, the revolution that Chavez led, was not a successful one, at first. "He founded the Revolutionary Bolivarian Movement, or MBR-200, in 1982. A decade later, on February 4, 1992, he led a failed military rebellion against then-President Carlos Andres Perez. He also made his first public appearance in front of the television cameras."
"Compatriots, sadly for now the objectives that we proposed were not achieved in the capital city," he said. "That is to say, we here in Caracas did not succeed in gaining power. You did it very well out there, but now is time to avoid more bloodshed. Now is time to reflect and new situations will come."
Chavez served two years in prison before then-President Rafael Caldera granted him amnesty.
Chavez went on to form a new political party, the Fifth Republic Movement, which carried him to a presidential election victory in 1998. His fiery campaign speeches blamed the traditional parties for corruption and poverty.
He remained in continuous revolutionary-mode since he gained control of the country, blaming the forces of the opposition for any failures. The authoritarian grip of his government tightened with each passing year, as he nationalized various functions and industries. Armed with his re-written constitution, affirmed shortly after he took power in July of 2000, Chavez's charismatic speeches kept him victorious in elections that often seemed to defy logic.
He won re-election in 2000, survived a recall election in 2004, and won another six-year term in 2006.
Chavez secured another re-election victory in October, describing his win as "a perfect battle, and totally democratic."
A coup in 2002 gave Chavez the excuse he was looking for to impose accelerated authoritarian policies.
He clamped down on broadcasters, and other media, while imposing liberty-killing policies.
Consolidation of power in the presidency became a theme in Chavez's reign.
His detractors accused him of being authoritarian, populist and even dictatorial for having pushed through a constitutional reform that allowed indefinite re-election, according to CNN.
The narrative in Venezuela under Chavez was consistent with the ruling tendencies of most authoritarians in history. He consolidated power at the executive level, disregarded his legislature (and accused them of being broken when they did not follow his lead), used executive actions to make sure his policies went into place, used all the influence he could to sway the courts, and disregarded the Constitution that existed labeling it as antiquated and out of fashion. . . hmmmm, for some reason that all sounds very familiar.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Hugo Chavez, influential leader with mixed record, dies at 58 - CNN
Hugo Chavez Mouthpiece Says U.S. Hit Haiti with Earthquake Weapon - Fox News
CIA CANCER: Vice President Says "Historic Enemies" Gave Cancer To Chavez - Secrets of the Fed
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