Chavez and diplomacy don't mix...

[DeepIron]

Need a good chuckle today? Here's a compilation of insults, epithets and yes, even a word of praise (for Mugabe of all people) from Hugo "The Insulter" Chavez:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7090600.stm

[Torpedo Fodder]

I think we can safely say this guy is basically the presidential equivilent of an internet troll, always stirring up s**t just to draw attention to himself.

[SUBMAN1]

Yawn

[AVGWarhawk]

All quotes have no substance at all. Just attempting to agitate and could possible get others to think about the world in a different light if he did not act like a kid in the school playground.

[DeepIron]

Somebody wake up SUBMAN1... ;)

I think we can safely say this guy is basically the presidential equivilent of an internet troll, always stirring up s**t just to draw attention to himself.

Some kind of "macho" thing? Want to look good in front of the 'homies' or what? I guess if he looks BIG enough, his countrymen will forget the fact that his government is stripping them of all their rights and "freedoms'...

Even Castro had some class when he bashed the US all these long years...

[Torpedo Fodder]

Some kind of "macho" thing? Want to look good in front of the 'homies' or what? I guess if he looks BIG enough, his countrymen will forget the fact that his government is stripping them of all their rights and "freedoms'...

Well with oil near $100 a barrel, he has enough cash to institute massive welfare programs, essentially bribing poorer people into liking him, so I don't think his tirades are simply about distracting his own people. Of course, it may become a problem for him to keep that cash flowing even if oil prices don't drop, since his policies are driving skilled oil workers out of the country (http://www.careerjournal.com/salaryhiring/industries/energy/20070629-millman.html)

[DeepIron]

Of course, it may become a problem for him to keep that cash flowing even if oil prices don't drop, since his policies are driving skilled oil workers out of the country (http://www.careerjournal.com/salaryhiring/industries/energy/20070629-millman.html)

"Since Mr. Chávez took power in 1999, Venezuela's oil production -- according to U.S. government statistics -- is down to 2.4 million barrels a day, from 3.1 million barrels a day, despite high prices. (Venezuela has consistently accused the U.S. of undercounting PdVSA's production in recent years.)"

Interesting point and article...

[P_Funk]

Well with oil near $100 a barrel, he has enough cash to institute massive welfare programs, essentially bribing poorer people into liking him...Sometimes I think people are far too cynical. Whatever the real outcome I don't think you can doubt Chavez's intentions entirely. Twisted he may be, but wholly self-serving? I doubt it.

But yea... his sound bites are way cooler than Bush's.

[Konovalov]

I think we can safely say this guy is basically the presidential equivilent of an internet troll, always stirring up s**t just to draw attention to himself.

Spot on. Couldn't have said it any better. :up:

[Torpedo Fodder]

Sometimes I think people are far too cynical. Whatever the real outcome I don't think you can doubt Chavez's intentions entirely. Twisted he may be, but wholly self-serving? I doubt it.

Experience has taught me to be cynical about people's motivations, especially politicians. May he does care something for his charges, but given his consolidation of power to himself, his efforts to create a "cult of personality", and of course his past attempt to sieze power at gunpoint, I don't doubt for a second his primary motivation is personal power.

[bookworm_020]

Proof that intellegence and politics don't co exist!