Hugo Chavez celebrates 'comrade' George W Bush's conversion to socialism following financial crisis

[RC]

Socialist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez mocked George W. Bush as a "comrade" saying the US president was a left-winger for his lifeline to major banks.

Chavez, who describes capitalism as evil, ridiculed Mr Bush for his plan to buy stocks in American banks despite his widespread criticism of Venezuelan nationalisations.

"Bush is to the left of me now," Mr Chavez told an audience at a debate on the benefits of socialism. "Comrade Bush announced he will buy shares in private banks."

Chavez, who has insulted Mr Bush in the past as a drunkard or the devil, accused him of parroting the words of his aides without understanding the new policies that rely on heavy state intervention.

The Rest @
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/venezuela/3207978/Hugo-Chavez-celebrates-comrade-George-W-Bushs-conversion-to-socialism-following-financial-crisis.html

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Too bad no one in this country is up to the job of seeing reality as it really is.

[ColbertWatcher]

1. Whatever you think of Chavez's politics, you have to admit the guy has a great sense of humor! n/t

[cosmik debris]

2. Comrade Bush has a nice ring to it.

I think I will try it next time I run across a bushbot.

[Peace Patriot]

3. When Rafael Correa was running for president of Ecuador, and was asked what he thought

of Chavez's (then recent) remark at the UN that Bush is "the devil," Correa replied that it was "an insult to the devil."

When Paraguay elected its first leftist president, ever, this year--Ferando Lugo, a former bishop who spent his life serving the poor, and is in sympathy with the social justice goals of Chavez and others--Evo Morales, a leftist, a Chavez ally and the first indigenous president of Bolivia, sent Lugo the following message: "Welcome to the Axis of Evil!"

Context: The Bushwhacks have been trying to destroy Morales' government by funding and supporting a violent white separatist movement. Morales just sent the U.S. ambassador packing, for actively colluding with the separatists.

Chile's leftist president, Michele Batchelet, recently told this joke to a group of U.S. investors: "Do you know why there has never been a coup in the United States? Because there is no U.S. embassy in the United States."

Chile's leftist government, of course, was violently overthrown with the support of the U.S. in the 1970s, ushering in the Pinochet dictatorship, which tortured and killed thousands of leftists, including torturing Batchelet herself, and killing members of her family.

It is rather amazing the sense of humor that these South American leaders have, considering the history between the U.S. and their countries, including recent coup and assassination plots and Bushwhack funding of rightwing groups. It's not just Chavez humorously needling Bush. I think it's because these leaders are speaking from secure platforms of public support, expressed in election systems that are far more transparent than our own. Our leaders rest on a shaky, illegitimate edifice of stolen elections, lies, trumped up wars, and mind-boggling theft against the poor, suported by global corporate predators and war profiteers. Can you imagine Bush, Cheney, Rove, Gonzales or any of them having the self-confidence to joke about Chavez or anyone else? The closest Bush ever came to a joke was when he mock-searched for WMDs under the Oval office rug. And I don't imagine that he would understand why that is not funny. When you slaughter a million people to get their oil, you don't get to joke about it. You have to be at ease with yourself and your conscience, and with others, to tell a successful joke. The South American leaders have that ease. Ours don't.

[dipsydoodle]

4. Hugo's doing what's loving known as

taking the piss. :rofl: