I just saw the Chavez United Nations speech over the internet and it appears his audience was applauding him the entire time.

Im hoping that either Chavez or Ahmadinejead wont give our economy or way of life any trouble. Ahmadinejead does not worry me as much as Chavex.

Ahmad is not the actual ruler of Iran. He is more of a figurehead with limited power. It seems Ahmad is willing to deal on certain issues. On the other hand, Chavez is the real deal in Venezuela and it seems as if the guy cannot be reasoned with at all.

The most alarming part of the speech was the end when the audience gave Chavez nearly a standing ovation after he ranted for a half hour that America was the great devil and he smelt sulfur. Somehow I believe there will be consequences and more to this in the future. It does appear that a lot of nations are on the side of Chavez and Ahmad.

Im kind of glad that his personal doctor wasnt allowed to get off the plane at the airport. I got a kick out of that.

While there are some issues that I disagree with Bush upon, stating that America is the great devil and such. Somehow there is no place for that. I really do hope that oil goes to $30 a barrel now and that Chavez&people will suffer as a result. Im sure they will go through lots of cash fast.

I do know a little bit about trading and I can tell you that there is no support for oil at this time. Im happy, I hope it goes to 30 bucks to punish Chavez and Ahmad.

Actually, I heard that Chavez's rant torpedoed Venezuela's chance at a seat on the Security Consul

Now, why would Chavez go off on a rant there when the US is so kind and considerate and gentle and fair? I mean, the US government never meddles with the affairs of foreign governments (especially Latin American countries) and has a well established history of supporting freely elected democratic governments and doing their best at deposing despotic dictators. Why would he rail against a government that possesses more than half the military might of the entire planet when that government uses their forces strictly for bringing freedom to other countries (unlike some governments who are tempted to use such a strong military as a cudgel to obtain what they want with threats). The US is famous for keeping to international treaties and doing what’s “right” as opposed to what’s expedient.

Yeah, that Chavez guy, and all the leaders who applauded his little speech, just don’t get it, do they?

Chavez knows as well as anyone that Bush has a little more than two years left in office. Bush's international policy needs to be relooked at, but I think that the American focus will move to domestic issues as interest rates continue to rise. Once we get our economy and government spending under control, then we'll have the opportunity to look at foreign policy again.

Chavez is a moron. Bush is a moron. I'd like to lock the two of them in a room (maybe in Abu Ghraib?) and let them go at one another.

Wombat88, your point is well taken, but even someone like me who is disgusted not only with Bush but with the long history of US political interference in places such as Latin America finds Chavez a boorish moron who probably accomplished nothing more through his rant than guaranteeing that Venezuala will not get a seat on the UN Security Council. A high price to pay for a few minutes of ranting in the limelight.

Particularly when he's standing in the US.

Bluestraveller, the top concerns of American people.... www.pollingreport.com ....depending on the poll and the question asked, the economy and health care are in the top 5.

A lot of people seem to think that Chavez is right, but that he could have been more tactful. I guess with Castro sidelined, someone has to harangue the Yanqui imperialists.

Hey maybe we should invade Venezuela just to take all their oil, so our prices will come down. Oh thats right thats what you liberals claim Bush did in Iraq.

Gasoline prices have plummeted here in New England...down to $2.34/gallon from $2.90+ at the beginning of the month.

Is this due to the recent oil field discovery they found in the Gulf of Mexico...or is it due to the upcoming Nov elections? Perhaps both? Or is there another reason...I've been busy relocating and have not had time to watch TV or pay too much attention to the news...? Thanks.

IMHO Chavez thinks he is a little fucking Napoleon...this dude is/was a Lt Col in the Venezuelan military...only got to where he is today because of his sensational antics and Hitler style of speech giving...pretty scary in comparison how he rallies the poor and uneducated masses (like Hitler did)...though I just cannot envision the world being over-thrown by the Venezuelans...so I will try to ignore him.

Yet, George W. Bush may not...and this is what Chavez wants. Chavez wants the US to do something against him so that he can garner world sympathy..."look everybody...the big bad bully can't take a little criticism...but look at me and see how courageous I am...now join the fight with me..."

Chavez does not like being under the thumb of United States' policy...notably the Monroe Doctrine which basically says, "hey, keep your fucking hands off this hemisphere...we're the biggest and baddest country on this block...so all this is our turf."

Here's the Wikipedia definition...The Monroe Doctrine, expressed in 1823, proclaimed the United States' opinion that European powers should no longer colonize the Americas or interfere with the affairs of sovereign nations located in the Americas, such as the United States of America, Mexico, and others. In return, the United States planned to stay neutral in wars between European powers and in wars between a European power and its colonies. However, if these latter type of wars were to occur in the Americas, the U.S. would view such action as hostile toward itself.

Bottom line is: Chavez and his soon to be dead buddy Castro find it very easy to mix words when the US is fighting battles in Iraq and Afganistan with real threats in North Korea and other hotspots throughout the world. Get enough little pockets of the world against us and we can be bled dry by a thousand little cuts.

AJ

Hugo Chavez is immensely entertaining. As is Fidel Castro. Good news for the U.S. that in the big scheme of things, they are pimples on a flea's ass (as is Iran).

Kudos to the Bush administration, though, in perpetuating cold war fearmongering to feed defense spending on an UNPRECEDENTEDLY MASSIVE level. Keeps US people employed!

Wombat88; like your style and couldn't agree with you more. Kudos to you. If Bush and his bosses have their way half the worlds population will cease to exist in a very short period of time. Warmongering must end; Warmongers must cease to exist. Bush is just a fucking clown who gets told what to do.

SP

Chavez has big bucks and is throwing them around, like the way he bought up Argentina's foreign debt. Everybody likes the guy who's buying the drinks.

If some other country tried to subvert mine I wouldn't feel too nice toward them either, but hey that's just me. But this guy is a bit off. His style is like a streetcorner punk who thinks the neighborhood belongs to him. He said he was buying a million rifles to fight off the US when they invade (sounds funny, but he really did say it). Guy doesn't watch news does he? (neither does W)
He be better off buying a million pigeons to get stuck in the engines of fighter planes.

What I'm curious about is, with all these things he's doing with the money, what will become of these policies if he were to die? When the handouts stop and he begins to expect repayments there will be quite a few others who will want to see him pushing up daisies.
In a certain James Bond movie a Latin American drug lord tells his puppet-dicator "remember, you're only president for life."

Actually, I found out the reason why Chavez seems to rant so much. Too much coffee. He drinks 12 cups a day.