What is so bad about Hugo Chavez?

[tablemtn]

It may be worth pointing out that Venezuela is nowhere near the most dangerous country in Latin America for journalists. In terms of the sheer number of journalists murdered or kidnapped, Honduras has the lead, followed by Haiti, Mexico, Guatemala, and Colombia.

Chavez is a blowhard and is very self-absorbed, but he's not any more of a "dictator" than quite a few other presidents or prime ministers around the world.

[Mathguy]

Claiming the US caused the Haiti earthquake with some sort of tectonic wheapon doesn't exactly endear me to him.

[Moth]

Originally Posted by TheCaliforniaBear

Many people in the USA do not think too highly of Hugo Chavez. And politicians in the US Government are always slamming him and speaking badly of him.

So I must ask. What specifically is so bad about the guy? What exactly is the reason that we should hate him?

None really.

Chavez is a watered-down Caudillo who is guilty of political chicanery, suppression of the press, economic mismanagement, and a cult of personality. Consequently, his democratic credentials are suspect if not nonexistent.

Now, of course this mostly has consequences for the people of Venezuela and they did elect him after all. They made their bed and all that.

But...Chavez has this persistent and annoying habit of putting himself on the international stage, albeit in a rather clumsy way. He makes nice-nice with Iran, keeps Castro afloat for yet another decade, spews a lot of anti-Yankee venom, etc.

And some of ours, particularly GWB, had or have a habit of taking the bait and elevating the man to a level of importance far beyond justification. He is of little importance and we should treat him as such. One thing I credit Obama with doing- ignoring him.