Chavez: "Bush Has Called Me Worse Things"

[sabra]

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1538296,00.html

Chavez: "Bush Has Called Me Worse Things"
In an exclusive interview with TIME, the Venezuelan leader defends his harsh rhetoric—and adds some more

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez caused a stir this week during his visit to New York City, denouncing President Bush as "the devil" in a speech at the U.N. General Assembly and, during a visit to Harlem the following day, calling him an "alcoholic." In an exclusive interview with TIME's Tim Padgett, Chavez defended his controversial rhetoric as a necessary part of his leftwing revolution's effort to counter what he calls Bush's "global imperalism."

"Bush has called me worse things — tyrant, populist dictator, drug trafficker, to name a few," Chavez said. "I'm not attacking Bush; I'm simply counterattacking. Bush has been attacking the world, and not just with words — with bombs. I think the bombs he's unleashed on Baghdad or Lebanon do a lot more harm than any words spoken in the United Nations."

On the growing support in Latin America for his brand of "21st-century socialism," Chavez said: "After seeing the failure of Washington-backed capitalist reforms in Latin America, I no longer think a third way between capitalism and socialism is possible. Capitalism is the way of the devil and exploitation. If you really want to look at things through the eyes of Jesus Christ — who I think was the first socialist — only socialism can really create a genuine society."

Chavez expressed confidence that the U.N. will vote to give Venezuela a non-permanent seat in the Security Council next month. "It's because of the moment we're living right now, the need to block the cannons of the U.S. empire," he said. "The U.N.'s members believe we can have the most impact on that debate. The U.S. fears Venezuela's presence on the Council because it knows we'll be an independent vote for the Third World."

[kentjay]

1. he`s got a grear point,

while the right wing fanatics will have a field day with his rhetoric.

[William769]

2. There is a misprint in that article.

"leftwing revolution's" should be nutwing revolution's.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

4. Obsessed much? n/t

[William769]

5. as much as the other side doing all the posting.

I'm just responding. :hi:

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

6. Responding to whom or what? n/t

[William769]

7. To the bullshit.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

8. With some of your own? n/t

[William769]

11. I don't know why you feel you need to give me so much attention.

I'm not the one posting as I said earlier I'm just responding.

But I do have my boots on because it is pretty damn deep here.

But then again we know why you are giving me so much attention, don't we.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

12. Every time somebody says Chavez there you are.

It's almost impossible to miss. Usually you seem to post lame one liners, but I think I know why you give Mr Chavez so much of your time.

[William769]

14. So what you are saying, I am suppose to be quiet

And just let this love fest happen? I THINK NOT!

And if I'm always there and you know it, well then you always must be there. But since it's you I guess thats ok. I just love these double standards.

ON EDIT: I think you missed this thread http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2197446&mesg_id=2197466

But then again it was probably something you didn't want to point out.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

17. I knew it. You're just playa hatin'. n/t

[shanti]

16. oh, just put him on ignore

that's what i do...

[William769]

19. and thats suppose to hurt my feelings?

NOT!

[shanti]

21. no

it relieves us from reading your shite. *slamming the door on you*

laytah, dude.

[Binka]

45. Ha Ha Ha Is He Still Spewing Nonsense? Mr Newbie? Ha Ha Ha

Brand new to the board and racked up 1000+ in record time and has his profile disabled. I watched him when he first arrived because I could see this coming miles away. He thinks he is so clever. I didn't have to log out to know who we are talking about. Captain OBVIOUS! Gawd my ignore list is HUGH! I'm series!!! :evilgrin:

[stepnw1f]

27. seriously... it's getting rather old... (nt)

[EarthNeedsHope]

31. Poverty has dropped 1/3 in Venezuela

When was the last time poverty dropped so quickly in the United States? FDR?

[classysassy]

33. Nuts

most of them are on the right.tossing invetives at President Chavez is down right rightwing bs,the man was elected not selected as our rightwing icon of the.

[gratuitous]

3. {Gasp!} Did you hear what Hugo said about George???

Why do I feel like I just walked into a cluster of junior high school girls? Kos has it exactly right: Who cares if Hugo doesn't like George? Is it imperative that every world leader bow and scrape before George? And considering the hostility the Bush administration has shown to the legitimately elected leader of Venezuela, if Chavez wants to call Bush "el diablo," he seems to have a case to make.

Only in the United States, in the rarified atmosphere of the inner circle of media elites, is it "news" or "scandalous" that a whole bunch of people all over the world don't like Bush and his corrupt cabal very much.

[Bridget Burke]

15. Have you been passing notes in homeroom again?

I'll tell the teacher.

[gratuitous]

20. Nuh uh!

And what if teacher finds out you've been smoking in the can again?

[MrPrax]

23. Right said...

Yes...that is one of the GREAT ironies of America...a people who make self-aggrandizing statements about freedom and democracy, but who have a rather bizarre and inscrutible ultra-deference to ELECTED leaders...very distasteful and shows a lack of political maturity and confidence of Americans rather than their leaders.

They seem to have taken the class monarchical canard about supporting the 'office' and not the man way too seriously to the point of blind loyality...certainly not the stance of republican citizens elsewhere like France.

:shrug:

[indepat]

9. All who lean to the left bad, very bad: all to the extreme right good, very

good. The Repuke mantra: All liberals must be slimed and all right of Genghis Kahn must be glorified.

[bemildred]

10. Pelosi called him a "thug".

Not the first time I've seen that either. So he has a point. You want to dish it out, you ought to be prepared for a response in kind.

[NashVegas]

38. Pelosi Will Change Her Mind

If/when we have a Dem president and/or congress who is in a position to horse trade with Hugo.

[Jacobin]

13. To my knowledge, Chavez hasn't tried a coup d'etat on Bush

Accordingly, any whining from the Bush camp about Chavez name calling will be ignored by me as insignificant

[Taoschick]

29. No,

The coup Chavez staged in 1992 was against President Pérez.

That gives him very little crediblity in my book.

[Solon]

35. President Pérez was then impeached, removed from office, and Chavez...

was pardoned, your point?

[Taoschick]

41. He led a coup

That failed.

If oil prices drop, he's going to follow in Perez's footsteps. His opponents will drum up a little trial and take care of him as well. If the money isn't flowing, Venezuela isn't going to tolerate him for long.

[killbotfactory]

43. That may be why he is using oil money to diversify the economy.

Q: What happens when the oil money runs out, what happens when the price of oil falls as it always does? Will the Bolivarian revolution of Hugo Chávez simply collapse because there’s no money to pay for the big free ride?

Chávez: I don’t think it will collapse, in the unlikely case of oil running out today. The revolution will survive. It does not rely solely on oil for its survival. There is a national will, there is a national idea, a national project. However, we are today implementing a strategic program called the Oil Sowing Plan: using oil wealth so Venezuela can become an agricultural country, a tourist destination, an industrialized country with a diversified economy. We are investing billions of dollars in the infrastructure: power generators using thermal energy, a large railway, roads, highways, new towns, new universities, new schools, recuperating land, building tractors, and giving loans to farmers. One day we won’t have any more oil, but that will be in the twenty-second century. Venezuela has oil for another 200 years.

http://www.progressive.org/mag_intv0706

[shanti]

18. here ya go:

"Bush has been attacking the world, and not just with words — with bombs..." that's it in a nutshell.

[ConcernedCanuk]

32. "Ding - Ding" !! - ya nailed it -

.
.
.



"Bush has been attacking the world, and not just with words — with bombs..."

that's it in a nutshell.

yup

[Pastiche423]

22. I believe in speaking truthiness

Chavez spoke the truth.

[bemildred]

24. Venezuela's Chavez takes on Bush in U.N. trip, saying 'what must be said'

---

But Chavez accused the U.S. of keeping his doctors and his security chief from coming to New York by not granting them visas.

“They're attempts to persuade me not to come, because some people would like for me not to come, but I come. I come to say what I think must be said,” Chavez said.

The Venezuelan has said he did not prepare a script for his speech to the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, but rather went in with ideas and spoke spontaneously, as is his custom.

Chavez described himself Thursday as a friend of the American people, and announced Venezuela would boost sales of discounted heating oil to poor Americans. But, he insisted, “we're enemies of imperialism” – his shorthand for the Bush administration.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20060922-0047-outspokenchavez.html

[KaptBunnyPants]

25. Damn you Chavez!

How dare you make me read time magazine!

[Cha]

37. REally!! "Time" musta thought

it would make a good read to get an "exclusive interview"!

[DemExpat]

26. Makes good sense to me.

:thumbsup:

DemEx

[stepnw1f]

28. Kick (nt)

[eppur_se_muova]

30. Our Great Leader did that? Well, color me speechless! nt

[upi402]

34. BushCo assisting the Chavez coup, kidnap, imprisonment, and tried to kill

But HOW DARE a little brown outsider criticize our fearless leader?

[killbotfactory]

42. It's like a bully getting mad when someone challenges him.

"How dare you fight back!"

[Cha]

36. That's right! Chavez is

fucking Counterattacking! And yeah calling bush the devil is nothing compared to dropping bombs on Iraq and Lebanon.

[burrowowl]

39. You are damn

correct!
Especially loved Chavez physical effects!

[Cha]

40. One of the physical effects you speak

of?..:)

?x=262&y=345&sig=IQENRb3JGwKnH31BeWQJQQ--

[Andrushka]

44. Damn right

"I think the bombs he's unleashed on Baghdad or Lebanon do a lot more harm than any words spoken in the United Nations." - Very, very true. But you would think that joking that someone was the devil was on a par with those actions, judging by some of the anti-Chavez hysteria going around.

By the way, I saw a rightwing moran on another site I visit today saying that it (Chavez's brilliant address) was a "temper tantrum." You think these people even bothered to watch the whole thing? Mah - I know the answer anyways.

[Cha]

48. The winger should have caught

chimpy's roast garden tantrum/pissyfit if he thinks Chavez' speech at the UN was a "temper tantrum".

Here's one of the better looking pics from that day..




http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2144953

[Straight Shooter]

46. Chavez shouldn't get into a pissing contest with a skunk.

No one has smearing down to an exact science like the bush/rove administration, which explains why otherwise knowledgeable people still have the bizarre notion that Chavez is a dictator, as if he were never democratically elected.

Chavez is right more often than he's wrong. And we can never ever say that about the bush administration.

[The Backlash Cometh]

47. OMIGOD! The R-W Christians are going to freak out when they read this

A socialist who is steep in Christianisty and remembers that it's all about giving. I knew in my heart there was something different about the Christianity I learned in Central America and the way it's taught by the right-wingers in the U.S., but I never realized that when the clash between socialism and capitalism came, that those differences would play a major role.