CRUCIAL EDIT: it appears as though I was horribly misinformed, or just horribly misunderstood. Chavez has not been relected YET. However, the year 2021 is the year he will remain in office if he is re-elected. Jumped the gun on that one guys, I apologize. The rest of the information, barring that, is in fact, correct.

also... He has now formally made friends with Iran. so I officially declare liking him makes you crazy. Because, you know, it makes lots of sense to like someone who is friends with someone who has nuclear missles and wouldn't mind using them against the U.S., well anyone for that matter...

News flash, "presidente" Hugo Chavez de la Republica de Venezuela has been re-elected. Based on his re-election, Chavez has come to the conclusion that he belongs extendedly in the office of "el presidente" as part of his further missions to institute socialism into the venezuelan government. He will now, as of being "re-elected" , stay in office until the election of the year 2021.

a few facts about chavez, heres a good list for ya:

1. In the early 90's, 92 I believe, chavez attempted a military coup of the venezuelan government. which he was arrested for.

my opinion: This is your first , pretty obvious hint of bullshit, most militarily ran governments don't work out so well, I.E. cuba, former military argentina (which is now known as being the cause of Los Disemparencidos* in the 70's and 80's, a group of people who vanished without a trace, most of which were never found again, the rest permanantly scarred physically due to torture or emotionally scarred.), most third world african countries such as liberia, rwanda, sudan...

2. Hugo was displayed in a prison in public. He had a little cage.

my opinion: A mistake on the part of the government. This only made them look bad and his cause look good. Hugo, if it was your idea... good work asshole, because it helped your political future.

3. Chavez was pardoned by the next elected president for all crimes against the government

my opinion: fucking bullshit

4.Chavez changed the term of president to 6 years, extending his term

my opinion: Hugo justifies this with a referendum that allows voters to to vote on his presidency, and whether or not he should still be in office. This happens every two years. Now this is a brilliant idea, good for it. The only problem I see with it is that it may just be another ploy ( much like the public display of imprisonment ) to justify his cause.

5.Chavez has declared his presidency until 2021

my opinion: all these things put together just seems to be adding up to something... although he hasn't really don't anything that jepordizes the democracy and well being of the people at this point, other than some economic reform laws that hurt business owners.


In all honesty, I don't think he's really done anything at this point, good or bad, except change things to better his politcal future, and make himself look good. It is noted that he's done a little for medical and education reform, which venezuela needs badly.( all schools are private, and most people can't afford to send their kid to a school, let alone a university or college, which have no credibility anyway except for possibly the univeristy of caracas) The poor are still poor and getting poorer, the rich are still getting rich, it's as simple as that. And while I'm far from socialist at all, the obvious goal for any economy or government is economic fairness. Everyone should have equal oppurtunity to earn their money. But it's not like that. The poor sell second hand goods and food on the corner, an average wage that I grasped from people was about four dollars an hour, and the infastructure in metropolitan and rural areas is horrible. This can be partly blamed on chavez, for contuining the building of Ranchos in caracas and metropolitan areas. Ranchos make up just about 60% of the city of caracas. I know this, because I've seen it. The projects of new york or compton or any "ghetto" have nothing on this. They're everywhere... The garbage system is poorly handled as well. Good luck seeing a clean street.

Hugo Chavez has spent more time on creating enemies with the United States and other countries, and creating allies that are about as valuable as 1 unit of the venezuelan currency (2150 per dollar, you do the math) then he has spent trying to better venezuelas economic situation. He has so much power with his oil. Instead of telling us to fuck off, he could be making more money by negotiating instead of rasing prices just to piss us off. He's been in office for 8 years now, and will be for another 15, and I doubt he will do anything good for the economy. I can't really know that for sure, but I just don't see him doing anythign but cause trouble...

Liberal media loves chavez, but that's an automatic, given his bad relationship with Bush. Chavez constantly talks about going to war with us. I heard himself say it on these little public announcments he does everyday, he says it atleast once a week... I don't know about you guys, but I tend to not be friends with the guys who want to shoot me. And the truth is, a big part of the downfall is the oil, but that he should deal with because he "cares for the people" so much.


The venezuelan government is now far more militaristic then it used to be... according to everyone I talked to. I never heard differently.

Basically, my main issue with chavez, is he's setting himself with the ability to be a dictator, not coming through on his promises, and yet the media loves him when they shouldn't... there is nothing really that spectacular about him that a revolutionary hasn't done better in the past, other than he called an american president an Asshole.. I can name LOTS of people who've done that...


In Conclusion:

He's done nothing good , nor bad. I dont' trust him at all... you can't tell me that a leader of a country just saying that he's going to stay until 2021 , even with a new vote every 2 years to see if he should stay, isn't pretty suspicious of him trying to grab some more power. I'm convinced.

3 hold on tightly | let go lightly