Venezuela's Chavez calls Palin a confused beauty queen

[kskiska]

Source: Reuters

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, renowned for colorful insults of world leaders, called U.S. vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin a confused "beauty queen" on Friday after she said he was a dictator.

Chavez, a leftist who often mocks U.S. President George W. Bush, invoked the advice of Jesus Christ on how to handle the slights by Palin, the Republican governor of Alaska and a former beauty pageant winner.

"I saw the vice presidential candidate, there she was talking about 'the dictator Hugo Chavez.' The poor thing, you just feel sorry for her," he said during a televised broadcast.

"She's a beauty queen that they've pulled out to be a figurehead. We need to say as Christ did: Forgive her, she knows not what she's saying."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed2/idUSTRE49N88V20081024

[AnnieBW]

1. A broken clock

Is right twice a day.

[EFerrari]

18. A record you might aspire to.

[davidinalameda]

33. I couldn't have said it better myself

[KingFlorez]

2. LOL

He's right on the mark about that.

[Nambe]

19. The stereotypical pageant groupie gone corrupt with a repug judge.

Jugo and I must read the same books. That is the Bard of Avon, isn´t it.

[stillcool]

3. Oh Hugo...stay out of it...

[smurfysmurf]

8. I wouldn't stay out of it if I were called a dictator

Especially if I won two elections and a referendum and the law-breaking ex-Mayor of Wasilla messed with me.

[stillcool]

12. Hugo is a rallying cry for the right..

whatever he says is blown up beyond recognition.

[LanternWaste]

62. And they'd still rally behind something with or without Chavez there--

And they'd still rally behind something with or without Chavez there-- regardless of what he says or does not say. Much like many posters here...

So it makes little to no difference what words he utters.

"whatever he says is blown up beyond recognition." Much like is done here on DU

[EFerrari]

13. I admire a man who stands up for himself. Not to mention, he's right.

Why do you think he should stay out of defending himself?

Seriously. Should those little brown people all just stfu?

[fascisthunter]

21. you got that right... and Chavez is NOT a Dictator

so he has more than a right to say as he did!

Chavez would make a powerful ally...

[ensho]

45. true - Obama would be stupid not to make friends with him

nt

[stillcool]

27. you know as well as I do..

how the name Hugo Chavez can light up the right wing like nothing else. I've had enough of the 'socialist', 'communist' crap.

[EFerrari]

34. Have you? Then I'm sure you can relate to how he must feel

being attacked by right wing idiots all these years.

[stillcool]

36. Yes I can..

I suppose it is my fear of this turning into an Obama/Chavez love-fest frenzy for the media. Pardon me.

[EFerrari]

38. I understand that. It won't happen. Chavez has gone out of his way

to avoid talking about Obama. He's a smart person. And, anyway, Bin Laden already endorsed McMore. :)

[primavera]

35. So?

They're idiots. Why do we need to kowtow to their lunacy? Chavez is certainly not perfect, but he's no dictator, and is farther away from becoming one than the Bushista junta we've had here for the last eight years thanks to those very same right-wingers. I'll be damned if I'll let them tell me what I can and cannot say for fear of upsetting their delicate sensibilities. Let them eat shit, god knows they've earned it.

[stillcool]

37. I was expressing my fear...

of how these sentiments would be tied to Senator Obama's socialist/communist accusations. Excuse me for expressing those fears.

[primavera]

44. I understand where you're coming from

And a part of me perceives the wisdom of it, but I think a bigger part of me is coming to the conclusion that one of the major reasons why we are where we are in this country is because liberals have failed to challenge the right-wing (who evidently feel no constraints upon the delicacy of their speech) when they chuck out their absurd allegations. It's become the perfect trump card for the right-wing: whenever they're on shaky ground, all they have to do is claim "Oh yeah? Well you're a socialist!" and that effectively ends the discussion as liberals flee in terror from being labeled as the dreaded "socialist." The equating of socialism and communism was absurd when McCarthy first fabricated it; it's trebly absurd now with the Cold War long since dead and buried. Yet we've become so intimidated that we won't even stand up and call ourselves liberals. Why aren't we throwing this back in their faces and pointing out that social democracy (which does not have - and never has had - anything to do with Stalinist communism) is the preferred form of governance of the world's most culturally and economically developed nations? Where in that is there anything to be ashamed of? On the other hand, the ideas expounded by the right-wing have found their expression historically in oppressive dictatorships from Pinochet to Mussolini to Hitler to Pol Pot and so on. And I'm supposed to hang my head in shame? I don't think so.

[stillcool]

60. You know..standing up to Republicans..

is not the problem. It is dispelling the media myths one week out from an election. Hugo Chavez will still be here next week when we choose the next President.

[Better Believe It]

50. If your so fearful of right-wingers guess we can't count on you to fight them

Well, most of us aren't hiding under our beds out of fear.

[stillcool]

59. jeezus... are you human?

[roody]

40. ROFL--That's the first I've heard that hilarious comment.

"Let them eat shit, god knows they've earned it."

[msanthrope]

48. Stillcool, do you think the rightwing will like us anymore

if we don't mention Chavez????

If nothing else, hasn't this election proven that no matter how honorable we are, no matter how 'prudent', no matter how reasonable....

the rightwing is just gonna do and say what they want, with no reference to reality, respect, or decency?

So yeah, we will still be honorable, prudent, and decent, but we WILL NOT do it in reference to them, or with any hope that they will act rationally.....

Let 'em bitch about Chavez--Bush and Powell tried their little coup, it didn't work.....

[EFerrari]

57. Omg. That was Powell.

I never put it together but of course it was.

[stillcool]

61. Since Obama is already a Communist and Socialist..

I suppose expressing dread about Hugo making comments on the election that is little more than a week away is out of the realm of understanding.

[Judi Lynn]

69. Please do post those links you've got to Hugo Chavez' communist identity.

I've never seen them, and DU'ers have never seen them. You need to open our eyes for us.

Also, whatever Chavez is politically has nothing to do with our Presidential election. Grow up.

[stillcool]

70. Are you serious?

Hugo Chavez has been repeatedly called a communist in print and televised media, and by damn near every politician in this country. I don't get why it is that you do not understand perception vs. reality. I am all grown up..thank you very much, and am well aware of this countries activities regarding intervention across the globe, and how difficult it has been for Hugo to accomplish all that he has. Perhaps I erred in my thinking that one week away from an election, Hugo's words might be used against Obama. How many DU'ers do you speak for anyway?

[medeak]

22. agree...

hope Madonna keeps her trap shut as well

[Canuckistanian]

4. He does have a way with words, I'll grant him that

:rofl:

Sarah Palin is an American joke.

[devilgrrl]

5. What a cad!

:sarcasm:

[EFerrari]

16. "Hugo Chavez dissed my beauty queen!"

:rofl:

[Sabriel]

23. "I dissed a girl...and I liked it!" n/t

[fascisthunter]

6. awesome!!!

[bitchkitty]

7. Viva Chavez! n/t

[Politicalboi]

9. He's the only one

To speak his mind about Bush and Palin.

[EFerrari]

15. And that's why Bush hates him. n/t

[machI]

58. He says what the rest of the world thinks

[L0oniX]

10. ROTFLOL ...Hugo Chavez owns. n/t

[John Q. Citizen]

11. Hugo, my pre teen daughter said that Palin acted like a beautiy queen, this was before

I told her that Palin had been in A Miss Alaska contest.

So Hugo and my daughter see the same thing here apparently.

I figure it's a valid description.

[unkachuck]

20. great minds think alike!....n/t

[EFerrari]

14. LOL!

:rofl:

[2Design]

17. lol n/t

[silverojo]

24. He's only half right: She's confused

But she's no beauty. :puke:

[Kalifornia.Kid]

25. Yugo Hugo - straight to hell and take Palin with you.

[Judi Lynn]

26. Nope, it's Volkswagen Hugo, thanks.

As for telling Hugo to go to hell on a Democratic message board, you could hopefully have spent your time in better ways trying to learn something about _Bush's history with Venezuela, and Richard Nixon's relations with Venezuela, and US right-wing policy with Venezuela, and with ALL of Latin America FIRST before trying to show how little you know about it.



Beep.

[biglefthander]

31. Word.

Chavez is just the latest So. American leader to be demonized by the right-wing because he wont let our corporations come in and rape and pillage his country like they used to...read Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins and see how our government and its corporate clients really spread "democracy and free enterprise" to the developing world.

[Cleita]

54. Yep, I witnessed the rape and pillage first hand when I lived in

South America in the forties and fifties. I hope Hugo's influence spreads throughout South America so that American and British corporations can never rape and pillage again.

[EFerrari]

56. Welcome to DU, biglefthander.

:)

[Pastiche423]

28. Reading comprehension problem?

Why would he take Palin to hell w/him? He already said what millions of other have - she knows not what she says.

Methinks you are on the wrong board.

[GreenTea]

30. Chavez is right on the fucking money , most international leaders are much more astute, with

greater perception than Americans, who tend to depend on their corporate media (television), as their guide, which blurrs their vision of what is true & what to believe...

Chavez is usually right on the money...still some people who call themselves progressive democrats hate him, why? Because Chavez puts Bushie down, who in the fuck is more deserving of put downs than Bush, as Bush himself constantly points his totalitarian finger at Chavez.

Because Chavez is a what....a "leftist", what does that mean, exactly.... a liberal is what it means, a socialist perhaps, a progressive for sure.... well as it turns out, I and many other caring people fit that exact description...Although, Chavez is a practicing Christian (Catholic) and I certainly am not...religion is a fucking joke, a "crutch for the weak minded" as I see it...But, nobodies perfect.

Bush and the republicans despise Chavez for bring a socialist, for not being a conservative puppet, or imperialist or republican dominated, so you agree with Bush & the republicans? Yet the republicans have no problem endorsing socialism for the rich, the banks & corporations with bailouts & subsidies (corporate welfare) but that kind if socialism is OK with you?

Bush is a greedy liar, a fascist, imperialist a hater of the poor, who cares for absolutely no one, a tyrant, a dictator, who stole elections, (Chavez was elected by 68% of Venezuelans)....but still you say the idiot Bush who lies about EVERYTHING and is wrong about EVERYTHING - is somehow right about Chavez? A leader Bush has tried to kill, wants murdered, so BushCo & the corporations can steal Venezuela's oil?

Get fucking real!

You're saying Chavez' socialism for the poor of his country is wrong? Or as John McCain put it, "taking from the rich to help the poor".

The same uninformed democrats who call themselves progressives even hate Chavez, when they actually agree with him, as with Palin. Why?

Tell us, who in this world has been 100% correct about everything?

[fascisthunter]

47. FAIL

[LanternWaste]

63. You appear to be missing a...

You appear to be missing a "K"

[TankLV]

66. Take your repuke talking points and shove em up your ass...

but don't take that personally, we still love you...

[Pastiche423]

29. Now there is a man that speaks the truth...

She knows not what she's saying. Can't get more truthier than that!

[Union Thug]

32. Chavez continues to rock. GO GO HUGO!

[IndianaGreen]

39. Viva Chavez!

Hugo rocks!

[XemaSab]

41. My only response:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQdhMSEqhfg

[Peace Patriot]

42. It is so refreshing to hear a world leader SPEAK THE TRUTH!

So many of them are so mealy-mouthed, compromised, corrupt, two-faced, in need of interpretation and the reading of entrails.

Chavez says what he thinks, and he is particularly good when he says what he thinks about the fascists and idiots who have been running things here, promoted and propped up our Corpo/Fascist 'news' monopolies. He speaks colorfully and thus makes it impossible for them not to report it.

He also says what lots and lots and lots of other South Americans think, including most of their leaders. And this is very important to understand about Chavez. He is well-liked, closely allied with the other leaders, and--because of who he is, an irrepressible personality who speaks the language of ordinary people--he says publicly what other leaders are saying privately. This has been proven time and again. Our Bushwhacks and Corpo/Fascist media try to paint him as "isolated"--a loose cannon caudillo who isn't taken seriously. They paint this picture for propaganda purposes, but it is a very big mistake to believe it. For instance, just after Chavez made his remark at the UN that Bush is "the devil," and he was facing reelection in Venezuela, the Bushwhacks sent a dictate to other leaders that they must "isolate" Chavez. Lula da Silva then made a point to visit Chavez for a big ceremonial opening of the new Orinoco Bridge, just two weeks before the election. Lulu's endorsement of Chavez, and his middle finger to the Bushites, couldn't have been clearer. Rafael Correa, who was running for president of Ecuador at the time, when asked about Chavez's remark, replied that it was "an insult to the Devil."

These kinds of things don't get reported here, or they are reported in a sort of Corpo/Fascist haze of disinformation, lack of context and black holes where information and context should be. Chavez is close friends and allies with Lulu, with Correa, and with all the many leftist leaders of South America. He knows what they're thinking; he knows what they're saying to each other; and the views we hear from him are pretty much the collective view. It's just startling to hear it said. I've noticed, too, that it's often said with humor--like when he said, the other day, "How are you doing, Comrade Bush?" (--on US bank nationalizations). The humor deflects some of the sting. Can you imagine Bush or Cheney or any other Bushwhack having the self-confidence to make a humorous remark like that about Chavez, or anyone? Chavez's self-confidence comes from the fact that he is speaking commonly held views--the views of other leaders, the views of millions of people. The Bushwhacks represent 20 super-billionaires, and their views can't really be told to the public. So we get twisted lies and puppet-speak--nothing genuine, nothing from the soul, and nothing indicating a sense of humor. They don't speak for the public. They speak to fool and lie to and bully the public.

It's great to hear honest speech in the political realm. I like Chavez for this. And of course I often agree with him--so, for me, he's easy to like. I realize, too, that he lives with a Bushwhack bull's eye target on his back, every day. I am impressed with his courage, and his grace under pressure. Chavez being able to joke about Bushites reveals a certain objectivity--a philosophical attitude amidst the dangers he must live with--that is quite admirable.

[ensho]

46. kick

nt

[EFerrari]

49. Greg Palast asked him if he thought Bush wanted to take Bolivar's sword.

Chavez said, "It's too big for him. He couldn't carry it." :)

[Peace Patriot]

55. LOL! I hadn't heard that one!

:rofl:

[subsuelo]

43. Viva Chavez

[Larkspur]

51. I love Hugo!!! Love this zinger of his at Palin and the Repukes...

"She's a beauty queen that they've pulled out to be a figurehead. We need to say as Christ did: Forgive her, she knows not what she's saying."

Good one Hugo!!

[bhikkhu]

52. Compare/contrast with Putin's response

to Palin's various remarks about him. There is much that I like about Chavez, but he isn't really the cool diplomat...more at home with Whack-a-Mole than chess, on the world stage.

[Vidar]

53. Viva Chavez!

[KansDem]

64. He might have said, "a confused *former* beauty queen."

...but other than that, he's right on the money. :thumbsup:

[TankLV]

65. It's OK Hugo - I call her a lot worse...

[BreweryYardRat]

67. Not the biggest fan of Chavez, but he's on the money here.

Nicely said.

[PfcHammer]

68. Chavez!

My man.:thumbsup:

[Cha]

71. Yeah, she's confused all right..she thinks

nobody notices she lies her head off.

Muchas Gracias, Senor El Presidente Chavez!