>>>>>>>>>>>>>>http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hugo-chavez-passionate-but-polarizing-venezuelan-president-dead-at-58/2013/03/05/42525790-afdd-11e0-90e1-c12867691ae6_print.html
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>Very sad news. He brought together Latin America in a way no other leader had. The alliances being forged at the end of the 2000s were unprecedented, and a real threat to western imperialist aggression.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>There's a good movie to watch on Netflix:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>South of the Border
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>Another good one on Netflix:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>Ecuador
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>Real eye-openers if all you ever hear/see is mainstream media.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>You are kidding right? Sad loss? Now I know you're a lunatic.
>>>>>>>>>>>Do you think Chaves is a evil or it's strange a conservative man like R.Hodgin like Chavez?
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Don't expect nuanced foreign policy judgement from the US right. You're better off thinking of them as a small child. They either really like you or really hate you and there is nothing in between. Because (like Castro) Chavez chose not to run his country for the benefit of US business etc he is hated.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>There is nothing I could say (I wouldn't anyway because my view would be from the perspective of living in this country) that would come close to the opinions of two Venezuelans I know.... both are recent immigrants here. I thought Bush hatred was extreme but they are in an entirely different class....I do know a few others who are much more tame in their opinion, but still not fans. Of course, they did leave their country and have close family still residing in Venezuela :)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Not quite sure what that means TC
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Avoiding "nuanced foreign policy judgment" :)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>No I meant do you mean they hated Chavez ? or Bush
>>>>>
>>>>>They hate Chavez more than anyone hated Bush which is pretty unbelievable....
>>>>
>>>>I have noticed something interesting. Now that Bush is out of office I don't hate him at all. I still think he was a lousy President (maybe more accurate to say he let lousy people like Cheney and Rumsfeld guide policy) but as a person he is fine. Maybe he was a little overwhelmed by the office and now he can be himself again.
>>>
>>>Unlike the current president's selections of lousy, immoral and totally unqualified people...
>>
>>I am not going there, John. At the beginning of the year I made a vow to be nice to people and to avoid confrontation. So far I am mostly sticking to it, and it's nearly spring. I am happier this way.
>
>
>Remember John - liberal whining and name-calling is OK. Conservatives and patriots can not do the same because it's mean and makes liberals feel disenfranchised.

Not going there, either, other than observing in passing that most of us are patriots. I love this country as much as you or John do. The disagreement is only over policies.