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Miraflores Palace via Reuters
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez blows a kiss from the door of an airplane before departing to Cuba at Simon Bolivar airport in Caracas on Dec. 10. Chavez flew to Cuba for cancer surgery, vowing to return quickly, but has not been seen in public since.
MIAMI -- It’s been 40 days since anyone has publicly seen or heard from Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez.
Keith Rosenn, a law professor at the University of Miami with extensive experience in Latin American legal affairs, asks what is on so many minds: Did Chavez die at some point after flying to Cuba on Dec. 10?
“It’s possible Chavez could be dead for a substantial period of time before we know he’s dead and why he died,” Rosenn said. “He’s in Cuba after all.”
Chavez, in Havana suffering from an unspecified type of cancer, has been treated repeatedly by doctors on the communist island.
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The life of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez from his rise as a lieutenant colonel after his failed coup attempt in 1992.
The Venezuelan leader not only shares a special relationship with brothers Fidel and Raul Castro, but his socialist revolution is modeled in many ways after the Cuban system. Fidel ruled the country from the end of the Cuban revolution until he ceded power to Raul in 2006.
It’s highly unusual for Chavez to be gone from public view this long “for someone who craves attention,” Rosenn said.
Now 58, Chavez has seldom been out of the public eye since he assumed power in early 1999.
A former lieutenant colonel in the Venezuelan military, he grew up poor, only to wind up nationalizing and controlling his country’s vast treasure: oil.
Since assuming power, it’s estimated his country has pumped more than $1 trillion of oil onto the open market, while at the same time sharing his nation’s riches with like-minded leaders in Bolivia, Nicaragua, Peru and Cuba.
If Chavez is dead, his brand of socialism, so-called “Chavismo,” could live on “if the Chavistas who remain, remain united and are committed to his missions,” said Susan Kaufman Purcell, director of the Center for Hemispheric Policy at the University of Miami.
But the mood could shift, she said. Chavez’s power base lies among the poor, the very people who “were lied to” in the past about Chavez’s health, Purcell added.
“People were not prepared for this because Chavez suggested he was cured of cancer when he wasn’t,” she said.
Chavez handily won re-election in October 2012 but was a no-show at his Jan. 10 inauguration.
Despite his openly anti-American rhetoric, American officials will maintain a hands-off policy on Venezuela, predicted Aimee Arias, chair of political science at Florida Atlantic University.
“The U.S. and Venezuela have had a tense relationship, but the business relationship with oil has continued pretty much in place, and barring any sort of unconstitutional change or undemocratic situation after Chavez's death, I would assume that will continue,” she said.
If Chavez is indeed dead, Arias said Chavismo would have a hard time going forward without its founder.
“The movement is named after him, after all,” she said.
More Venezuela coverage from NBC News
Vice President Nicolas Maduro, a former bus driver, is currently in charge.
Some Chavez opponents, such as recent presidential candidate Henrique Carpriles Radonski, contend that Chavez missing his own swearing-in should trigger a new election within 30 days.
But Rosenn, a constitutional lawyer, interprets the document differently.
“Article 231 says that the elected candidate is to be sworn in as president on Jan. 10, but then the last sentence says if for any unforeseen reason he can not take the oath, then he will be sworn in before the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, but it doesn’t say when,” Rosenn said.
And therein lies wiggle room for Chavez’s backers.
Despite calls for calm from both Chavistas and the opposition, it’s the threat of destabilizing violence that concerns Venezuela watchers in the U.S. most.
After all, unrest in the fourth-largest oil exporter to the United States could have a big impact on Americans.
And with Venezuela’s economy already in disarray and oil exports down by 30 percent in the past 15 years, no matter who is in charge, times ahead in that country are likely to be tough.
“If he’s dead,” Purcell said, “Chavez leaves behind a country that is in pretty bad shape.”
Follow NBC News correspondent Kerry Sanders on Twitter.
Related stories:
Venezuela's ailing Chavez unable to attend swearing-in, officials say
NBC's Kerry Sanders answers questions about Chavez re-election in Venezuela's elections
Venezuela's Hugo Chavez wins 3rd term, vows to deepen socialist revolution
Leave a Comment:
Socialism is dead and this is another example it does not work......
An un named source told me he died 3 weeks ago.
No-one told Obama Socialism is dead.
Nor the Repubs who are the biggest takers C-Man !!!
I wonder if Mr. Obama "retired" to the closet at night to read the book Chavez gave him.
Maybe a special envoy, headed by Mrs. Clinton, would perk Mr. Chavez up.
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Still waiting on a NEWSFLASH that Mrs. Clinton will be testifying on Benghazi.
All these Wanna be Americans still sucking lemons from their thrashing in November ! Them white folks is mighty racist.
Maybe we have forgotten that Chavez was elected by Venezuelans not Americans. They love him there; he was generous to the less well off, the people we have ignored for a long time. But let’s face it, we treat all of South America the same way, with contempt.
Chavez is dead and his people installed a puppet government !
Time for the economic hit men to move in, corrupt the regime, have the IMF and World bank saddle Venezuela with huge loans and interest payments so they can take de facto control of the country.
It's the real American way. Which is what Chavez resisted and is the reason we have such problems with his regime. It's also why his people love him. A politician that is for the people? Don't want any of that radical $hit catching on here by Gawd!
24% unemployment, no jobs. They really dont love him. Dont believe the hollywood crowd. It is pretty miserable in Venezuela.
Chavez has already wrecked the Venezuelan economy, the same way Castro wrecked the Cuban economy, and the same way Obama is wrecking the US economy. Arrogant narcissistic dictators all three.
Chavez is not a socialist. He is a communist. There is a difference. Socialism can function as a representative government, as it does in Norway. Communism is always dictatorial.
Workingpoor-2370498, Chavez is far ahead of you on that suggestion. Venezuela is already saddled with debt at sky high interest rates, much higher than anything the IMF demands. Over 15%! That's credit card interest rates. The actual American and IMF way is offering subsidized loans with much lower interest rates than would be gotten on the open market. The ex-post facto analysis shows many of these loans should not have been taken, but is that the fault of the IMF? Nope, no more than all the people who bought Venezuelan bonds forced Hugo Chavez to explode Venezuela's debt over the last three years.
I have no idea of whether or not Chavez is dead nor in fact do I care. However I do know that cancer can destroy a person's immune system and if by any chance Chavez has also contracted Cholera the odds would be against him. Also if even half of the comments in another article are true about Cuba's health care system why would anyone go there for care unless it is to be sure that their real health condition is hidden. Anyone who really studies socialized medicine would be terrified which is why I can't support Obamacare and this is not an attempt to change the subject, but private health care even if it is self pay is better than government controlled health care. And yes I have several insurance designations and would run like hell from any HMO.
The sad and pathetic just can't comment without bringing up Obama, no matter what the subject. I really think that many of these so called Obama haters really have a crush on the guy and will make any and all attempt at bad-mouthing him to cover up their sexual fantasies.
Morons like Common Man and ldo and JohnCarter can't seem to get enough of Obama. I'll bet these characters have giant Obama posters in their bedrooms and jerk off to them.
Of course the World Government hates Chavez; he was freely elected and took back his country for the people of Venezuela out of the hands of the World Government, something our "elected leaders" are too afraid to do. Then he started educating his citizens and nationalizing the country's assets instead of having it owned by foreigners who bought the assets for extremely low prices from extremely corrupt regimes during the previous governments.
It's funny how our media suddenly cares about Venezuela when someone like Chavez comes to power and makes claim that the country is in bad shape, when it was in even worse shape when the World Government was exploiting it. That is why their Coup de Etat against him did not work, because ordinary Venezuelans brought him back to power by overtaking the regime and putting them on the run (they probably came to the US where we have made a bad habit of protecting dictators who are unpopular in their own countries).
That is why many Venezuelans even here support they guy. Anyone who believes everything the media says is gullible, the same media that sold you on two wars and is trying to sell you on a third. The Carter Center said Venezuela has the freest elections in the world, that's right, freer than the US.
And Venezuela is also one of the happiest countries in the world. But you won't see that with our media here which pushes the agenda of the World Government even against the interests of ordinary Americans by misleading reporting.
Just to add to the above, Columbia which is in much worse shape than Venezuela and a US ally, never makes the news (of course unless the Secret Service is sleeping with prostitutes). Don't you ask yourself why?
Workingpoor is right; regime change is all laid out in the book Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins, however I would not consider the US Government the World Government. Our government just takes orders from the World Government, whether Obama is elected or Romney is elected, so in other words, it doesn't matter who you elect. So if you wonder why our military is used in random places like Vietnam or Iraq, or soon to be Iran, even though the American people don't want it, don't forget where the orders are coming from. The foreign influence George Washington speaks of pervading the government is very real.
Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government.
-George Washington
The same Obama haters would probably be full of praise if Bush was president and vice versa for the supporters. Double standards on both sides of the isle.
No one told me that we had a Socialist government in the US now. Granted there are always the idiots who are saying that, who'll use any pathetic means to toss a jab at Obama. But thankfully they are easy to spot and even easier to pity.
You'd never pick on the retarded kid down the street, right? Same thing here.
It sounds very much like a "IMF" project. That is, a Impossible Mission Force mission, as seen on TV. May we all guess, tyrrant uses false story to deceive world, and save his own ass, and re-emerge as a new person through the Witness Protection Program. Sounds paranoid right? Follow the bank records and see for yourself, True or False?
Dead or alive it doesn't matter. Chavez is no longer capable of leading the country and taking on the tasks of his position. So, if indeed he is alive, he should step aside for the good of the people. The medication he would need to take to treat his cancer is very powerful and would render him incapable, physically and mentally, to do the job. Time to move on.
I am from Venezuela, still have family there, sisters in the medical profession, one doctor, all of them with simply terrible stories and traumas of the socialist 'paradise' the Chavistas has brought about to this uniquely most beautiful land of plenty and now facing poverty levels not seen before Chavez - to the extent that the Central Bank no longer shares data as it used to (I used to work with both the IMF and Inter-American Bank).
Venezuela has chased virtually ALL foreign investments. It now has to import ALL it needs - at painful prices. Inflation is out of control. Crime is the highest in Americas - higher than Mexico, and Caracas is certainly more dangerous than Baghdad. ALL my sister's colleagues in the night shift ER last year were kidnapped for ransom - a huge local racket which also involves the police. ... and on, and on, ...
Reflecting on all this, and on my adopted country, there are no shreds of doubts as to why I am a Republican - I entrust onto the faith of the individual and the community, then onto enslavement to an indebted government.
Maliente....White folks are racists?? A few are. So what? Ever check out the racism amongst blacks, illegals and latinos? It's over 87%! Nearly 9 out of every 10 intensely dislike or HATE white Americans. Now isn't that the pot calling the kettle black!
1.4 ....
I hope you're not holding your breath for that. I'm not!
I knew all the RWNJ's would be out in full force screaming "Socialism is Dead"... yes that brand of Socialism. The type that the Leader siphons off all the excess funds intended to grow the country. Once again Google Socialism and you will find that in its purest form takes care of its people and insuring jobs that return money to the State and once again the People. More and more people are realizing it is not the Boogeyman System that the nut jobs would have you believe. And when they start naming failed countries that experiment with it...they are Countries like Venezuela that are corrupt and do not manage their resources and it will not work that way.
The Venezuelan government has been borrowing large sums from the Chinese government to be paid back, not in cash, but in natural resources...mostly oil. The way the Chinese are stockpiling resources is akin to the survivalist mentality exhibited by extremist groups. Ever wonder what their grand plan is?
I have a old Friend, owns a large business in Venezuela, lives in Altmedia, ; he tells me that Chavez will be dead within 30 days, already in and out of a coma; he says that with him gone, there may be hope to get their country back from Communism, if not Venezuela is doomed.
January 23rd.... you really should keep up..... It was scheduled days ago....
Big Bob was seen spewing hate when he said:
Care to back up that ridiculous claim? Is that the figure you use to support your own racist beliefs?
It's like a smorgasbord of logical fallacies in here. It'll make a nice teaching tool when I do my final "Fallacies Bonanza" with my daughter next month. Do they not teach reason, persuasive writing, and critical thinking in public schools anymore? Alas.
Chavez is either dead or so ill that he cannot perform his duties. He is a classic narcissist, and couldn't stay away from cameras this long if it were up to him. I'd like to be able to hope that the Venezuelan people would take this opportunity to make real change, but there have been too many examples of trading in one tyrant for another. So I'll just hope that, whatever happens, they can find a way to make things tolerable and be at peace with themselves.
It would be nice to go 40 days and not hear from Obama. 4 years would be a blessing from God.
It would be nice if we didn't have to see your and those like you. Your self aggandizing, feckless, narcissistic , bigoted, homophobic, xenophobic, ignorant comments for 4 years too. Now that would be a blessing !!!!!
The little "dick--tator" has CANCER, it is of no wonder "why" he is absent, he is probably wasting away in the best hospital room (charity ward over here) with some of the "best" cancer specialists money can buy at his miserable side. The "powers that be" are getting every political position filled by like minded "dick --tators" in order to assure the people of Venezuelan's are kept is desperation and misery. Someone will "step up" and claim the throne for themselves and the people will cheer (those bussed in for that purpose) and all will be well while they rape the resources of the country and impoverish it's people even more.
As the media does with Fidel Castro, they are doing now with Chavez...until the old SOB shows alive again.
I guess God decided its time to take the bad guys out one by one. And he has done such a great job with his health care system he has to go to Cuba for treatment.
This just in: Hugo Chavez has been sighted in DC, and is expected to attend his buddy's party!
@andrew - only issue with IMF...u need to read the fine print..
To bad Obama can't just leave the country and disappear.
Socialism is dead and my take on it using the former USSR and China as examples is , Its easier for a bad guy to get rich and have power by being a CEO that is appointed by another goup of power hungery thugs
And yet any form of government that allows the common man to have a voice is a form of socialism.
Big money is going to get control of Venezuela’s oil one way or another. If they can't bribe you they'll kill you.
I wonder if he is starting to smell sulfur? Health care must really be bad in his Country for him to go to Cuba!
Socialism is dead indeed--now all we need is news that both Castro and Chavez have gone on to become food for the daisies. It would make for proper recycling.
Ask Russia, Iran, or Cuba what happened to Chavez---there you will get the truth.
BTW: To others-- "Pulling the Race Card is "dead"", making those kind of excuses for any President/Politician is outrageous. That is too easy.
Good god, man. The economic hitmen we're talking about don't care a whit about deperation or misery. They're after their percentage. you're trying to humanize something that's just statistics.
confused-3012211 (1.14):
I wonder how long it would take someone intelligent to respond to the anti-Obama ignorant crowd. Your response is 100% correct.
Too bad there aren't more people like you....................
Real classy. The Obama attacks started flying by post 1.2.
Who is this article about again? Who am I kidding.
Agenda driven people spew hate 24/7 and in all venues possible.
No Big deal about Chavez. Just another Obama supporter
There are a bunch of Obama supporters out here Gabriel. He won by over 5 million votes. You do know he won by a greater margin than any recent presidential election.....or do you still think Romney won? You probably do.
Hopefully that dictator, Chavez, has kicked the bucket. I can think of another dictator who should follow him.
it would be nice to go 40 days and not hear from obama. 4 years would be a blessing from god.
Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama
Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama
Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama
Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama
Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama
Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama
Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama
All work an no play makes Jack a dull boy.
'Chavez has already wrecked the Venezuelan economy, the same way Castro wrecked the Cuban economy, and the same way Obama is wrecking the US economy. Arrogant narcissistic dictators all three."
1. Obama didn't wreak the economy Bush did
2. Obama was elected so he's not a dictator
3. Name one socialist program Obama has enacted?
4. You sound stupid.
Be careful who you call stupid. You don't exactly sound like the sharpest knife in the drawer
Hitler was elected, and Hitler was a dictator.
The Obamacare program is a socialist program.
We can argue about who wrecked the economy, but there is little basis for debate that in the four years that Obama has been in office, he has done nothing to help bring the economy back. The improved economic performance that we have witnessed during the last two quarters, has been in spite of Obama, not because of him.
Yes, Bob, Obamacare is socialist. Yet EVERY, I repeat: EVERY major Conservative, anti-socialist, anti-Communist, pro-Capitalistic party in the free world is 100% for Universal Healthcare to a degree FAR beyond Obamacare! EXCEPT the health-industry-owned American GOP. While we're at it, also socialist is public education, public roads, street lights, red lights, public libraries, public police, public fire departments, etc. Educated anti-socialists recognize that these things, including good health, contribute to the success of capitalistic societies. Why don't you?
come on, this all a game. it has been since the start he never had cancer if hes dead its not because of cancer.you can bet something else is going on with him OR cuba.
Hugo Chavez is still in intensive care in Cuba, and now there is a travel moratorium because of the cholera outbreak in Havana. It is doubtful Chavez will ever see Venezuela alive again.
The taxidermist said he would be ready by next Thursday.
Wow nothing like going to the mecca of healthcare during the cholera outbreak for treatment. Americans who think Chavez was legally elected are too stupid for independent critical thought on any level. Nationalizing is another word for stealing everything that belonged to someone else. He stole all the television networks and radio stations or anything else that stood against his brand of change. He indtituted a gustapo mandate to the provincial police dept.s The only resistance is a token amount to keep anyone from doing a real investigation into the countries domestic problems. Venezuela has become a 3rd world dump with rolling power blackouts and a populace that has gotten poorer by the day under his regime.Venezuela used to be a beautiful well run country with a good economy and a balance of natural resources to fuel it's future. It is no different than when Saddam Hussein Hitler, Stalin, Polpot or Ahmadinejahd claims or claimed to be elected.
Wish that forcast would be for oblamo .. that being silent,he he.! ya ll know they are buddies, right..Would be great never to hear his lying words..ever
Come back when you can make an intelligent remark cause you just made a damn fool of yourself.
Cholera in Havana?? How did that happen??
Cuba a Great Place for Communist Trash to Come to an END! Good Riddance Hugo. Somewhere Sean Penn is Crying over his "hero." Wrong choice Sean. Can Hussein be far behind?
Please elaborate, what Hussein are you talking about, the dead one from IRAQ, or the pres. of the USA? If the latter, your time is quickly running short. In a few hours, He will be swearing in to a lie, To Uphold The Constitution Of The United States, that is, Exept the 2nd Admentment.
I know how the Venezuela people feel. We elected a "President" who disappears just when adult decisions must be made!!!!!
lee-936758 do you mean decisions like killing Osama bin Laden?
We knew where UBL was, yet, that POS couldn't find the nerve for 6 months to pull the trigger. No wonder he couldn't reach a decision in 7 hours as he watched 4 of our fellow Americans die in battle. O is no leader; he's the mocker-in-chief, procastinator-in-chief, and blamer-in-chief
Hopefully you called Bush a bigger POS for simply giving up catching Bin Laden and turning his back on the troops in Afghanistan in 2003.
Then again, if Bush didn't leave us stranded in Afghanistan to go to his war of choice in Iraq, you wouldn't be able to attack Obama about something that should have happened at least 7 years prior to him even becoming President.
Please take your fake outrage elsewhere.
I would take Bush in a New York minute over oblamo...
Bush is an American..oblamo is the most un-American president the United States has EVER had...
Think we can get CUBA to invite oblamo down to visit for a couple of months ..? Yea.!
With their Doctors, lol They might be able to help oblamo..OUT...!
Spoken like a true dumbass yankee.
Bush never turned his back on anybody; his troops, of which I am one, love him to this day. He was a REAL leader. O couldn't lead a group of sailors to the red light district.
We went into Iraq because intel of the day told us they had WMD and were prepared to use it. It was a global coalition that made that determination, even including Dems who a couple of years later faked outrage.
I am outraged...and it ain't fake. The POS was never qualified to be CINC; he watched as 4 Americans needlessly died. Then, he covered it up.
Obama, a true war criminal.
Thats a bare faced lie and you now it and I doublt you ever were in the military. He lied about sending the troops over there with the proper equipment and the died because they did not have the right stuff. People were sending things to their sons to help them while Bush spent many hours in Crawford diddling sheep probably. As to Bin Laden they had him trapped in Tarra Borra and aske for permisssion to eradicate him and they did not get the go ahead from Washington so he escaped. Add to that after 911 we the American people could not fly and while that was in effect Bush let all the Suadi's and every one of Bin Ladens people fly out of the country. You are posting crap you read not facts.
While you were still in your momma's tummy, I was serving my country under Reagan through Bush II. Clinton crippled our defense and our intel...that was the crappy hand Bush was dealt. He didn't complain or blame anyone else; he dug in his heels and went to work. He built a defense that could once again project American might. He kept us safe...you know, so you could go nite-nite with your teddy. His policies, still in effect today, enabled us to kill UBL. Clinton had UBL and let him go.
Obama, a true war criminal.
Barack Obama couldn't carry George Bush's lunchbox.
Hugo died weeks ago and with this outbreak it is an excuse for his minions to use this as a excuse to by time and get his political party firmed up before they is death and tout him the great leader who cares about his people !
I had a hard time writing that last part, threw up in my mouth !
He probably took Cholera to Cuba.
I had a hard time reading your post.
From the earlier post: "The taxidermist said he would be ready by Thursday."
Correction: To get his arm up for the swearing in ceremony, the taxidermist noted that it would be Friday, instead.
Yeah socialism is dead. Look at how bad China is doing as compared to the US.
Son, China is communist, not socialist. Please attempt to read more.
LOL, we need better education in this country.
Hey TEAPARTYSNUFFER. Many people on this board cannot relate to what your handle implies, but I do! I bet you think you are one badazzed dude/dudette if you pronounce, by your screen name, that you "snuff," (kill) "Tea Party" people. I am not a Tea Party member, nor am I republican, but I am also not an idiot like you. You should be banned from this forum forever you moron. Plus, your post shows just how ignorant you really are.
While I was reading:
China's transition from a planned economy to a mixed economy with an increasingly open market environment, a system termed by some "market socialism";[98] the Communist Party of China officially describes it as "socialism with Chinese characteristics". China adopted its current constitution on 4 December 1982.
Wikipedia
.....but it seems the more they involve themselves with capitalism, they appear to be shedding socialist programs in pursuit of money.
teapartysnuffer is not the one breaking the COC. YOU are.
BTW: "Snuff" also means "sniff".
Snuffer dude--are you really this guys son--Son, China is communist, not socialist. Please attempt to read more.
If so you should teach him that the world is mostly gray and not all black and white. There are different degrees of socialism, on a scale of one to ten, the US is about a 4--medicare, social security, etc. There is no communism, it's an impossible system, and their is no pure democracy--
Beth-440386.
You know that "sniff" is NOT what he/she meant, otherwise they would have used "Teapartysniffer." Meaning they "sniff" out Tea Party people. How many people say, "wow, just take a snuff of that food, it really stinks?" They of course use "sniff." What are you, their mother? You're just as stupid as they are, if not more so!
Calyps OK it seems you want to differentiate socialism from communism, then see how Sweden, Canada and Finland are doing.
China is communism with a fairly homogeneous society where the leaders or elders hold much influence. Given that there market system is now a controlled capitalism which means the people can operate on the capitalist model but if they do not listen when supreme leaders yell jump they tend to disappear.
Wow Bonebreaker ... don't you have anything more intelligent in your repertoire than name calling? I'm so ... not ... impressed. And I so DO stand by my comment that YOU are the one that needs banning.
Beth-440386.
You cherry picked the last sentence in my post, just as ignorant people do when they are trying to make a point that is invalid. The previous 4 sentences showed where your logic was disputed and my point made very well. Your retort, claiming I have a limited repertoire, is about as far off base as is your attitude, (which by the way is horrible), and you should refrain from trying to match wits with a far superior person as it only makes you look weak and much more ignorant.
Naw...China is the PAYDAY loan Company of Choice for oblamo..oblamo will be Dead and gone by the time
American Taxpayers can pay back HIS loans...Too Bad Americans couldn't Impeach him before he runs up More Debt and Loans..IDEA..!!!Folks!!!
Teapartybluffer, you are not only an ignorant dumbass, but also a pos.
Bone -- you are right . I do "cherry pick" I "cherry pick" the name calling.
The OP was not the one doing it -- YOU were. You seem to think you can prove your superiority by degenerating everyone else. You fail. You are not superior.
(As, btw, does "Richard".)
Anyone who must resort to name calling is truly "unarmed" in a rational discussion, and so I back away ... I wouldn't want to take advantage any further.
Feel free to have the last word ... the field is yours.
I think Venezuela is going to stay attached to South America. Those who think Venezuela is going to drift into the Atlantic oean raise their hands...
Wouldn't it have to transit the Caribbean first?
Colorado,,,,,,,,,,,, buy a map.
If it separates I'm afraid it might capsize ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Like Guam.
Mc Gusto...maybe you're confused as to the boundaries of the Caribbean, re-check your map and then look up Caribbean. By-the-way...Guam hasn't capsized...it always looked that crappy!
All men are equal when death comes for them. If he died I bet he was a whiner at the end.
After reading the part of this article that says their economy is doing bad and oil exports are down, I need to re-read it all over again.
If oil exports are down 30% it doesn't mean much since the price of oil has tripled in 15 years.
I don't like misleading articles.
But after all, it is NBC News.
Can we tie this into gun control somehow? I bet they can.
Well, it is significant if they've been increasing their spending each year. And, don't forget inflation.
Barry-NJ they haven't increased it more than we've had.
Sean Penn is now in complete control of the country. Mr Penn says he is also controlling his country’s vast treasure: oil.
Actress Maria Conchita Alonso calling him a 'communist a**hole'. While she branded him a communist she claimed he humiliated her in front of other people by calling her a 'pig'.
I guess when Chavez finally stops breathing air someone good could be breathing then Obama will declare a national day of Mourning for his mentor. Maybe Obama should go to Cuba and give old Hugo a big ole' slopppy kiss goodbye.
ef you ihateliberals. It's a piece of sh*t like you that makes the planet unpleasant. I reckon you dad whacked off into a flower pot and raised a blooming idiot.
What is with certain conservatives and insisting on seeing Obama as best buddies with Hugo Chavez. He accepted a handshake from the guy, that's called diplomacy. Your irrational hatred of Obama, thinking him equal to Hugo Chavez is exactly the kind of fodder Hugo Chavez loves.
Hugo Chavez and Obama are as far apart politically as two people can reasonably be. But the constant crying wolf by some conservatives could eventually lead to the election of someone like Hugo Chavez in America. When you accuse anyone not in Grover Norquists camp of being a communist. people stop caring what you are saying.
@ lou leid:
No, it's monkeys in suits that make the planet unpleasant. Chances are you don't your real father............just uncles.
Andrew Hvatum (10.2)
Let's all remember that the conservatives are still licking their wounds from the past two presidential elections. They don't know how to think and feel any other way. They show their ignorance and hatred loud and clear in this column (and just about any where else, too).
@calyps You bit on that one. Now explain to me the major difference between communism and socialism.
Differences between: Communism and Socialism
The Communists believe that as soon as the working class and its allies are in a position to do so they must make a basic change in the character of the state; they must replace capitalist dictatorship over the working class with workers’ dictatorship over the capitalist class as the first step in the process by which the existence of capitalists as a class (but not as individuals) is ended and a classless society is eventually ushered in. Socialism cannot be built merely by taking over and using the old capitalist machinery of government; the workers must destroy the old and set up their own new state apparatus. The workers’ state must give the old ruling class no opportunity to organize a counter-revolution; it must use its armed strength to crush capitalist resistance when it arises.
The Socialists, on the other hand, believe that it is possible to make the transition from capitalism to socialism without a basic change in the character of the state. They hold this view because they do not think of the capitalist state as essentially an institution for the dictatorship of the capitalist class, but rather as a perfectly good piece of machinery which can be used in the interest of whichever class gets command of it. No need, then, for the working class in power to smash the old capitalist state apparatus and set up its own—the march to socialism can be made step by step within the framework of the democratic forms of the capitalist state.
teapartysnuff, gez what a LEG
Explain to you! Who the hell are you!! Oh I know, You are some self important nothing. Nobody owes you anything. Now go get your shine box!!
Lou Leid, I have no idea what set you off but this article is about Hugo Chavez and speculation about his life or death. Your comment has nothing to do with that and is highly inflamatory.
If you must spew hate, talk to the mirror, not go on the 'Vine. Even though I'm highly Liberal, and you seem to dislike those who hate people like myself, at least I think that's what you meant although I'm really not sure, please go somewhere where people like yourself go.
jackieboy --get off your hyper-emotional, liberal soapbox. We all have our opinions, and the right to express them.
"Hugo Chavez's disappearing act fuels speculation about Venezuela's future"
Hard believe that things could be worse for Venezuela once Chavez reaches room temperature.
They will be cheering in the streets.
ac, You are wrong about that. A lot of Americans hate Chavez, but in his own country he is quite popular. Don't forget, he was elected by popular vote.
Right. A lot of westerners thought that Stalin was popular in the USSR, until he died, and they were confronted with images of the Russian people celebrating in the streets.
Has anyone .. I don't know, even casually .. paid any attention to what is really at stake here:
A RECENT U.S. GEOLOLOGICAL SURVEY IN 2010 PUT VENEZUELA'S RECOVOVERABLE OIL DEPOSITS TO BE TWICE THAT OF SAUDI ARABIA (513Bn just in the Orinoco Basin - easily twice that of the Saudis) - BY FAR THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD.
The U.S. and China may go to war over it after it is clear that Chavez is dead.
SO?
Who is geographically closer?
America.
And if we can rid ourselves of the liberals in AIr Force One we can negotiated with the new government of Venezuela.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves_in_Venezuela
Boots on the ground, baby!
I am from Venezuela, still have family there, sisters in the medical profession, one doctor, all of them with simply terrible stories and traumas of the socialist 'paradise' the Chavistas has brought about to this uniquely most beautiful land of plenty and now facing poverty levels that not seen before Chavez - to the extent that the Central Bank no longer shares data as it used to (I used to work with both the IMF and Inter-American Bank).
Venezuela has chased virtually ALL foreign investments. It now has to import ALL it needs - at painful prices. Inflation is out of control. Crime is the highest in Americas - higher than Mexico, and Caracas is certainly more dangerous than Baghdad. ALL my sister's colleagues in the night shift ER last year were kidnapped for ransom - a huge local racket which also involves the police.
Reflecting on all this, and on my adopted country, there are no shreds of doubts as to why I am a Republican - I entrust onto the faith of the individual and the community, then onto enslavement to an indebted government.
Hey Jose!
Congratulations- you have now swung from a Communist Leftist leader all the way to the Republican/Fascist right! I guarantee you that half of your newfound Republican comrades here would sent you back to Venezuela in a Texas minute just on the basis of your first name. You might enjoy living in Miami with all the anti-Castro Cubanos.
While boning up on facism I came across an interesting snippet, "Fascism advocates a state-controlled and regulated mixed economy; the principal economic goal of fascism is to achieve autarky to secure national self-sufficiency and independence, through protectionist and interventionist economic policies.[10] It promotes regulated private enterprise and private property contingent whenever beneficial to the nation and state enterprise and state property whenever necessary to protect its interests."
Our sitting POTUS grabs entire swaths of our economy, auto, heatlh care, banking, student loans, and you are dense enough to equate the other side of our stupid political paradigm with facism. Amusing that your name includes the term observer but obviously you lack the ability to be observant. What Jose did is make the logical jump towards personal liberty. What you did is classic and expected among liberals, become angry when a person you deem as a member of your polital caucus, uses their brain and a little critical thinking and distances themselves tyranny. Liberalism is, and sadly so, always tyranny when it runs out of groups to demonise.
@Neutral Observer 1 ... You really live in a cartoon world! ... go back to the comforts of your video games.
... oh, by the way, I do not live in Miami, I live in the Northeast, work for a financial firm, and I am also self-employed and I volunteer greatly to others in need.
Once again exceptional Americans cast covetous eyes on what belongs to others; are we so inept that we cannot make do with our own bountiful resources ?
@Rodd Star ... Thank you.
Jose, I understand how you feel about your country. As I watch the US slide down hill. Venezuela is full of resources, but the ignorant masses don't see past the free beer/food that Chavez gave them. It is a beautiful country and has much to offer, agriculture, tourism and industries of all kinds. Chavez has lined his pockets and the pockets of his cronies. The country is suffering from lack of investment. Poverty feeds crime and no one wants to go there. He controls everything, media, airports, business, banks, jobs...........everything. I only hope and pray that when he dies, freedom will come return. Anyone that thinks Chavez is great, must live off a government check. Have a wonderful day and know that many are hoping for Venezuela to be free again.
@JuJuBe101 ... I tremble with tears as I write this. (I do not know if it is good for me - physically - to continue going back to this blog, but there is so much pain.) I keep thinking of the regular middle-class, and below, friends and people my family knows who have lost everything under Chavez - their modest abastos, their kioscos, their negocios, (all small hole-in-the-wall businesses), and soon enough their very modest apartments and being forced to move in with other family members; only to have chavistas take over their business locales, and their homes. ... To see the OBSCENE PARADE of exotic high-performance cars and luxury vehicles (there is such thing as limousine liberals!), all owned by the new, corrupt chavista elite, La Nueva Oligarquia Chavista, along with their large guarded estates ... well, where are the commentaries, the World over, on the HYPOCRISY OF LIBERALS!!
Jose, if you only knew how much I know about what you are saying. Don't give up hope. There is a middle class in Venezuela and the universtiy students that are educated. They may be the key to the return of freedom. Just as your relatives are there, they can bring about a new Venezuela. It is going to be hard, but I believe. Many poor people have also seen that living off the government is not really living. I hope all the best for Venezuela. Chavez is the cancer that he himself is dying from.
@JuJuB101 ... Thank you.
Thank you for conveying your personal experiences, as well as those of your friends and family, with the Chavez regime. Unfortunately, the Neutral Observers of the world arent't listening. They're too busy talking.
Thank you, Jose and Jujube, for telling us how hard it is to see your native country taken over by the Chavistas and their corrupt, cult-of-personality president; "limousine liberals, and Chavez is the cancer he is dying from", indeed! Thank you again for sharing, and giving us a glimpse of what cult-of-personality governing, and political favoritism can lead to.
I still can't imagine the US going to war over Venezuela, no matter what the circumstances. Even if you think that the Iraq war was a just a ploy to grab oil, that didn't work out, and we have a new administration in charge that isn't as willing to use force.
Regardless of Venezuela's resources, I'm pretty sure the official US response will remain the same, regardless of what goes down there: distant shrugs and rolling eyes.
And if you're suggesting that China might want to invade (and that we would fight them off), that's equally unlikely; China does not have the military capacity for an overseas invasion.
Dumb Chavez!!!
He should have come to the US for treatment, but his big ego was on the way!!! I doubt that US government would refuse to give any one (including a criminal) a medical visa. Cuba hospitals do have some experimental treatments for cancer, but they do not have the money to have the required state-of-the-art equipments for diagnosis and treatments.
He should have come to the US first, and if we can not help him, he can go to Cuba with the best US doctors and the equipments (US goverment would not prevent the export of any medical devices).
Yes, he should have come to the US for treatment. Cuban medicine is actually pretty good ... it is one true success story of the revolution. But, it isn't on par with the US. But, on the domestic front, going to the US for treatment would be difficult politically. How can you base your regime around hatred of the US, and then go there for life-saving treatment?
Hopefully the Chavez dictatorship in Venezuela is coming to an end. Maybe, just maybe, the people will get their country back from Chavez and his communist cronies. The people of Venezuela want and deserve freedom and democracy. With the Chavez tyranny apparently coming to an end, hopefully their dreams will be fulfilled.
As I said earlier, Chavez was elected by popular vote, more than once. The people of Venezuela clearly chose him as their leader. You may dislike him and his political beliefs, but you shouldn't assume that his people agree with you.
I always vote for the dictator on the ballet, if, that keeps me and my family from being shot. Remember how Saddam Hussein was the only person running for President? Vote for me or Die.
underemployed...
Voter fraud & voter suppression the same way O'Bagger won!!!! The people of Venezuela would tell you if their "BELOVED" Government allowed them to use the Internet!!!
I assume that you are referring to Obama? Please present proof of your claims. I'm especially interested in what measures were used to suppress voters for Romney?
Barry...........
Simple, MEDIA BIAS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By the way, did you vote for the Pedophile Melendez?
Lee.. ah yes, the Sara Palin Theory: if I can't get validation of my looney tunes Teabagger ideas in any media outlet other than Fox, it's the fault of the "Lamestream Media", right?
neutral...
At least Fox viewers knew 77% of Americans taxes were going up! No theory there, just something your media forgot to tell you.... facts.... Well we all know uninformed Lemmie's are gooood trolls
Assuming that there is "media bias", that hardly counts as suppression. It doesn't matter what the papers say. People are still free to vote for the candidate of their choice. If you want to talk suppression, consider the laws requiring photo ID and Florida's actions cutting voting hours.
Actually, it does matter what the papers say.
In case you haven't noticed, corporations spend billions of dollars every year on advertising, because they know that they can use the media to influence consumer behavior. The advertising department at CBS can tell you precisely which demographic each of their programs appeals to. They know it by age, race, gender, and any other matrix that you want to use.
I hope that you are not idiotic enough to suggest that the Advertising Department at CBS knows how influential their broadcasts are, but the News Department does not. These people know exactly what they are doing.
The news media permitted Obama to make the 2012 election all about contraception, Bain Capital, and Ann Romney's horse, and they didn't say a word. They ignored a military style attack on a US diplomatic outpost in Libya. Candy Crowley interfered in a debate that she was supposed to be moderating.
Now that the election is over, Obama is claiming that it was all about the economy, and once again, the media doesn't question him.
Now anyone who opposes Obama gets a lot of questions. They also get called racist, and sexist, and crazy, and ignorant. Noone ever opposes Barack Obama for civic minded reasons. Opposition to Obama is always based on partisanship, selfishness, or racism.
The truth is that Obama owes the media a great deal. They actively supported him throughout the campaign. Whether it's gun control, health care, spending, or foreign policy, the issue that Obama thinks is important just happens to be the issue that the media thinks is important, and they always side with him.
We have the media to thank for this miserable President.
Venezuela needs to be put back in a true democratic and capitalistic state like it was when I was last there.
Hugo Chavez is a piece of dead crap anyway.
The military there needs to be stripped and restructured from the top down.
The people need to get off of their asses and work.
AND THE COUNTRY NEEDS TO BE WEANED FROM SOCIALISM.
I love this country.
And I hate what Chavez has done to it.
Silly me. And here I thought he was elected by the people of Venezuela.
Yep, just like all of the bottom feeders of this country did Barry.
He was electec by only the votes they counted. It doesnt mean much.
@guy-2789881 ... with the opposition limited to only one and a half hours of daily campaign commercials while Chavez had unlimited 24/7 'unofficial' exposure on virtual ALL channels; with the Electoral Counsel in charge of monitoring and counting ballots all controlled by Chavistas; with no foreign monitors allowed, including those from the European Union this time; etc., etc., ...
yes, guy, you are indeed S-I-L-L-Y ...
Yes! Let's use the CIA to replace him with a tin-pot dictator who sell out the country to U.S> industries! Wow, that's Sooooooooo 1950.
Barry and Neutral Observer, you two really are naive, Obama trolls. Your comments are lame. Go back and read Jujube's and Jose V's comments. And grow up and get real, tools.
Barry and Natural Observer: I'll make a bet with you. Venezuela will be in worse shape when Chavez is gone than Chile was when Pinochet left.
The country can still have massive social spending without rampant cronyism, oppressive regulation, nationalism of private resources, and protectionism. It isn't that socialism can't work, it's the attitude that capitalism and business needs to be suppressed and punished for its own sake that doesn't work. You can see that everywhere in Venezuela; Chavez was able to pay for good social programs for the poor thanks to the oil revenues, but his attitude toward the business sector degraded the rest of his people.
Socialism is only affordable with the surplus generated by capitalism.
I think he ran into a CIA agent in a dark alley....
We can only hope.
"fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, um er, rot in hell hugo!"
Whether or not Chavez passed away, his ideas are quite alive, especially in the USA. Repugnicans are actively seeking to turn the country into a police state where your freedom and privacy are curtailed by government intrusion, all under the guise of anti-terrorism and immigration reform. Moreover, pork-barrel projects, tax breaks and similar government handouts for the rich have made wealth redistribution a reality -- from the poor to the rich, that is, which is just how Repugnicans prefer it.
You are interesting AL.
Everything you say is backwards.
TOTALLY backwards.
Really, you need to seek help.
And I am not just making a smart ass remark this time.
You really need help.
and the democrats think they can take all the guns. Good luck with that. Its a shame that poor people dont hire many employees. Ive only worked for rich guys. no more rich guys, no more jobs. Just govn handouts. Everybody is equally miserable except the dear leaders. What a system.
The majority of jobs are created by small businesses. The majority of small business owners are not rich. They are often quite comfortable, but they are not rich. The rich do not create jobs. Small business owners create jobs. We don't need rich guys. We need enterprising small business people who genuinely love this country, unlike the rich who only exploit this country. It isn't the small business owners who are using Swiss bank accounts or stashing their money in the Caymans to avoid paying taxes. It is the rich, who think the country owes them just because they are rich. Small business owners understand that you have to put something in to get something out. The rich think we owe them without them having any obligation to give anything back, be it jobs or taxes.
You are mostly right. However, it is a prosperous middle class that creates jobs. Without a market, no one hires. It doesn't matter if the tax rate is 0% or 50%. If there's no demand for your product or service, you don't hire. If there's demand, you hire, even if your marginal rate is 50%. And, to create real demand, you need a large middle class with money to spend.
Typical liberal liar. When all else fails turn around what you are doing and blame it on the other guy. With all the BS Obama has done in the last 4 years it is totally idiotic for someone to still be in love with him. Most of the Dems I know have turn their backs on Obama. They want to know why their taxes have risen and where all the jobs are.
I know my paycheck suddenly became smaller by $175.00 a week after the first of the year.
As for Chavez, why are his loyal citizens sneaking into the USA if he is so great. Sure he won the elections. U vote for him or you die. Yes that a choice.
You haven't told us which of your deductions went up? FICA went back to its previous level after two years at a lower level, a tax cut which many conservatives hated, by the way. If you were maxing out your FICA, then of course they went back up after the first of the year.
Without providing us with details, you're just ranting.
Mr Al Kyda, you have a head full of messed up wiring, and short circuits. I could argue about your ridiculous notions, but it would be a waste of f#$king time. You are not part of the answer, but you are part of the problem.
Al--you're a flippin idiot.
Underemployed--good post, but you left out the other half. It is partly the super rich, and the other part is the entitled crowd that thinks everything should be free, and no effort required, nor personal responsibility. Just like the rich, the entitled crowd thinks they don't have to put anything back in.
President Chaves is NOT DEAD. I have a daughter in Venezuela and if he had passed away I would be one of the first to know about it.
Drama is part of Latin American politics. From what I understand he underwent a serious surgery and is doing everything he can so that he will be able to be sworn in. I am not communist nor am I a right winger. As President Obama stated the Cold War is over.
We can expect to see a lot of positive changes between Latin America and the US in the years ahead that will benifit us all. As China, Russia and the other communist countries have learned money is what make the world go around.
Believe nothing of what you hear and only half of what you see. Once the US and Latin America get out of the paronoia our hemisphere will be a powerhouse to compeate with the EU, Asia and other emerging countries.
Nice.
You never GO to Central and South America do you?
Drama is a great way to put it, but in the Americas corruption is the issue.
I have been from Chihuahua to Peru.
And it is all the same.
The people are good, but they don't mean crap to the politicians.
And in the US it is about to be the same if we don't free our self from liberals guidance.
My ex wife is from Nicaragua.
Cenandega.
If you have never been to this part of the world you might want to re-evaluate what you say.
Chavez is a big fat ass dictator and worse.
Venezuela deserves better.
@ veiwer-Ready
You can't blame all the stupid sheep liberals when all they watch is bias main stream (State Media) that only shows the ruling party lives, and not the 70% of the people living in slums...
Why? Is she a part of the political inner circle?
Part of the problem is that none of the Venezuelan people even know if Chavez is alive or not. So even if you had a daughter there - even if you lived there yourself! - you wouldn't necessarily know if he was alive.
As for your other arguments, we're kind of already a power on par with the EU. Not to mention that their financial crisis is much worse than ours (so far). I too am optimistic about the future, though that future probably doesn't involve close cooperation between the US and Venezuela.
That stupid Che Guevara wannabe is dead, lets hope Castro isn't too far behind. I say good riddance. Now lets move on to more worthy news, like what the Kardashians are wearing or what they had for brunch! Now that's NEWS!
Oh by the way. I worked on the BP oil spill and was one of the major people involved. When the US President stated that the well can't be killed from the top my answer to him was "I dont believe in the word can't".
It is time the American people get off their tails and all work together to get our country where it should be, on top. We have some of the brightest, hard working people in the world. Yes we are in debt due to two wars. We will overcome this. Americans need to quit pointing fingers and get to work. We have the best tech, the best workers and some of the best ideas. Get over the drama. If you do not like the way our country is heading then vote!!! or run for office. Our leaders have a good track record of running around tell other countries how to run their countries we need to practice what we preach. Some where we lost touch with religion. If you look at every major power over the years once the people quit going to church the country started to fall apart.
I dont care what church you attend but if we all started living like we should you would see a lot of good things happen. After all our country was founded on In God we trust.
Er... that thing about major powers losing when people stopped going to church is patently false. Some of the mightiest empires in the world began their decline despite a very religious population, and some others built their rise despite rather lax religious beliefs. America itself has become continually more secular and less religious over the entire period it was becoming the strongest and richest country on Earth.
I do rather like the rest of your post, though. However, I believe in the power of man and myself. God didn't build this country, humans did. And humans will keep it strong, despite our difficulties.
One last thing if the State of Louisiana and the Federal gov would have listened to me the BP well would have been shut off a month early...
Well, you're just a He-man woman hate'n HERO aren't you. In that case and analogous with your mode of thinking, if the Army had listened to me before I retired, we could have defeated Al Queda, Saddam, Hitler, Hirohito, King George and Attila the Hun all at once. They should have just sent Shwarzanegger, Stallone and myself to get the job done. We wouldn't be in debt because they could have paid me in beer and oiled up naked women. But alas, they did not take my advice, so I need to buy my own beer and dream about hot, naked, oily women.
I hope they roasted his ass on a bed of hot Cubana coals.
Then shipped his ass back home, and the plane crashed on the way over.