Look I hate feeling kinda like Cassandra so could you read this thread

[Melodybe]

because I think that Hugo Chavez is very important and we should be paying attention to him.

Stop being so racist for just a second and actually give a great leader who also happens to be hispanic a moment of your time.

I think that Chavez maybe the anti-Bush.

While I also agree that it is bad to idolize any leader, I also think that Chavez is doing and saying all of the right things.

I think that it would be really great of our own political leaders met with him.

I bet Dean and Chavez would get along famously.

So here, please read this thread and give Hugo a chance:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4808484

[riverwalker]

1. I agree

I saw the interview with Koppel. Fascinating. Ted prodded him with "you call yourself a revolutionary, what are you revolting against?"
Chavez: Injustice, poverty, ignorance.

[Melodybe]

2. I know, I think that people in the US have been brainwashed into thinking

that Latin America only has criminals to offer.

Hey, if they are criminals like Robin Hood, it beats the genocide of Bushco anyday.

[lildreamer316]

3. Are you Kidding? He made me cry last night.

It was so cathartic to see a person of power and world recognition call the bs for what it was and be so very refreshingly honest.I couldn't help myself.

[Melodybe]

4. I was great wasn't it, if you check the other thread

I have an article about him and a link to the transcript of Nightline.

I just love him.

I was serious about him meeting with Dean, I think it would be a great idea.

[kineneb]

5. I like his style - flat out truth to power.

Especially the part about taking extra time to speak his mind. He is disliked by the very small minority of extremely wealthy in Venezuela and loved by the huge majority of the poor. Anyone who pisses in the wheaties of the rich gets my endorsement.

[Melodybe]

6. Love your last line LOL!!

[Melodybe]

8. kick cause I want my other thread on the greastest page

I want to get the word out on Chavez, I feel they might try to swiftboat him.

[aquart]

9. And he clearly has a dry wicked sense of humor.

Offering oil to our poor? I adore him for that alone.

[Melodybe]

10. I know he rules, if you don't like Chavez, you just don't know about him

[Melodybe]

11. i meant nominate the other thread but I guess this one is going in a

different direction.

Whatever has Chavez love makes me happy.

[LoZoccolo]

7. I love your lead-in where you accuse us of being racist.

I don't find it to be a cheap and manipulative tactic at all. It's not like the accused would be the first and best person to refute that and completely ignore the rest of your post on grounds of flagrant incredulity or anything.

[HamdenRice]

12. OK Seriously, here's the problem with Chavez ...

I think Chavez has his heart in the right place and I think he is very brave and truthful when it comes to talking about international power relations and justice.

The problem with Chavez is execution. There are many sympathetic to Chavez accounts of what is going on in Venezuela, and it is chaotic and ineffective. He thinks he can do it all himself, from nationalizing the oil industry to fixing potholes and taking care of every individual Venezuelan's complaints. As a result there is a lot of missed follow through.

Let's face it: there are great political leaders who need to delegate management to others. Chavez reminds me of Tanzania's Nyerere, who was a great thinker, writer, speaker and rallied his people, but the plans he implemented were unworkable. At least he had the grace and democratic instincts to retire.

Mandela was a moral authority, political negotiator, brilliant analysis and speaker. But he delegated the day to day running of the government to the current president, Thabo Mbeki, and let his ministers, who were all competent, run their departments.

If Chavez can learn to hire great progressive Latin administrators and give overall guidance to them, he could still become a great leader in Latin America.