The interesting thing about Chavez calling Bush an alcoholic and insane

[1932]

is that he's using a tactic the right wing uses. The tactic isn't simply calling people insane. The tactic is saying about your opponent something you think they'll say about you before they say it about you. In the last two elections, but especially in 2000, Bush said things about his opponent that were lies or exaggerations, but they were things that Gore and Kerry could have said about Bush that not only would have been true, but would have revealed Bush's real persona. One example was the stuff about Gore being privileged and growing up in a high-class hotel in DC. The primary '04 example was calling Kerry a coward who only served in Vietnam for political reasons.

Now, every right wing US-driven coup of a progressive, anti-Wall St, anti-neoliberal elected leader over the last 100 years, inlcuding Guatemala, Chile and Iran, Iraq, Panama, and the attempted coup in Venezuela, along with many other coups and coup attempts, included, at an early stage, allegations of insanity and personality disorders. EVERY ONE.

Chavez going around saying all the things about Bush that he knows the US will do to him in the US media in order to justify (or lower resistance to) a coup pulls that rug out from under the Bush administration's feet, exactly the same way the Bush campaign pulled the rug out from underneath Gore's feet had Gore decided to try to make the very powerful (and easily-made) argument that Bush's class background said a great deal about the kind of politician he was and the kind of president he would be, or, in the case of Kerry, if Kerry made a point of Bush's draft-dodging and ANG service.

So, if Bush rolls out the "Chavez is evil; Chavez is a sociopath" strategy now, a lot of Americans are going to think he's pulling an "I know you are but what am I" response to Chavez's statements and won't believe Bush.

Perhaps Chavez truly believes that Bush is an alcoholic and that he's insane (American foreign policy is definitely insance -- I believe that). Regardless, Chavez is countering what otherwise would have been an inevitable US media/Republican party tactic.

[lvx35]

1. That's sooo true.

I HATE when they do that, and they do it all the time, and some how it works, the other person doesn't use the insult back. Its this bizarre childish fantasyland rule.

[Gregorian]

2. And I really thought Gore invented the internet.

Well, we certainly play by the rules, we Democrats. We're sophisticated, and I speak not for myself. But this is part of why it's so lopsided. They have been getting their illegal jabs in.

I totally agree. We could use a few preemptive verbal strikes. Where is our democratic Rove? I think Hugo is onto something- speak your mind.

[eleny]

3. K&R with thanks

[teryang]

4. Also goes for the "he's like Hitler" propaganda

George H.W. Bush is an avid follower of Machiavelli's prescriptions. Create an enemy abroad to defeat the opposition at home. Machiavelli in turn was a great admirer of the Roman institution of dictatorship, called into being during times of external military threat.

I'm also sure that the Bushes are avid students of the Third Reich which their ancestors and other blue blooded American corporate aristocracy supported avidly. Also create scapegoats at home, liberals, defeatists, homosexuals, intellectuals, socialists, and muslims. It isn't a Pearl Harbor like event (except for possible LIHOP and meaningless commissions), it's a Reichstag like event, to empower the transition to a new form of government.

The similarities between the current bush regime and events that occured during the rise of the Third Reich aren't just coincidental. Accusing your putative enemies of being Hitler like is a wonderful disguise.

The bushes and their coterie of corporatist crooks are absolutely ruthless. Theoretically, neo-cons differentiate between ruthless treatment of foreigners who have no human rights and Americans. The truth is that they are absolutely immoral. Per Machiavelli this is what political rule calls for.

While much ado is made of "compromises" when the ruling clique runs up against the remnants of human decency and the rule of law, every compromise is a product of tension which results in capitulation by more thoughful and traditional leadership. We are on a step by step progression to one party totalitarian rule by an corporatist ideologues.

That George W. Bush has a borderline personality like Hitler, the psychopathic god, is just synchronicity. "Things would be easier, if I was a dictator." "There's not gonna be any program without this bill."

What will be the denouement? His father got away with it all. Somehow, because of his stupidity and arrogance, I don't think W will.

[alittlelark]

5. Our party could learn a lot from him.

Nice is sweet, and pleasant, and polite....


BUT IT WON'T WIN ELECTIONS.

Chavez is NOT speaking POLITELY. He is speaking TRUTH to POWER.


He is speaking the UGLY truth we all know to be true, but are ashamed/ too nice/ too scared of repercussions to elucidate.


VIVA CHAVEZ!}(