Longtime Hugo Chavez critic Jackson Diehl leads his Washington Post column today (9/27/10):
Debate in Washington about Hugo Chavez —to the extent that it exists—generally centers on whether the Venezuelan strongman is a genuine threat to the United States or a buffoonish nuisance who is best ignored.
This narrow debate over Chavez’s rule in Venezuela is something FAIR has documented on the country’s top op-ed pages.
Of course, Diehl’s point is that Chavez is a genuine threat, so anyone who takes the other position—that he’s merely an annoying buffoon—is naive.
These tools don’t know the first damn thing about Venezuela. Just look at what socialism actually means for peasants and workers…
“How the Media Mislead the Public about Venezuela,” http://www.cepr.net/index.php/op-eds-&-columns/op-eds-&-columns/chavez-interview-focused-on-negative/
“Venezuela: In Transition towards Socialism?” http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2010/toussaint260910.html
“Update on the Venezuelan Economy,” http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/reports/update-venezuela-economy
For a reality-based perspective of events in Venezuela see Gregory Wilpert’s superb website: http://www.venezuelanalysis.com. Also read Wipert’s book (endorsed by Noam Chomsky), “Changing Venezuela by Taking Power: The Policies of the Chavez Presidency” (2007 Verso Press). Eva Golinger (whose own site http://www.chavezcode.com, and blogs under Postards from the Revolution) on 9-15-10 wrote a good piece on U.S. editorials against Chavez. Golinger frequently appears in Wilper’s site as a contributor. The Los Angeles Times on 9/16/10, ran just such a Hugo-the-Boogeyman diatribe by neocon John Bolton. What a waste of newsprint. latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-bolton-chavez-20100916,0,3843771.story
Another excellent source is the book “Venezuela Speaks!: Voices From the Grassroots.” This the an excellent on the ground source that brings out the many struggles and contradictions for extending democracy in Venezuela — a fool like Diehl of course isn’t making any critique to help the little folks, he’s a shill for the wealthy who still hold the bulk of economic power but no longer have the reins to the government.
Or cut through all the crap and read
Nugget 35 “Universal Translator: From **** To Plain English”
on the Equal Party USA website, top-right column.
And the latest post on the Entertainment Page, “Ebert In Stone” has a paragraph about Sean Penn and Hugo Chavez that provides simple clarity.
If you can’t explain how a planeload of Polish leaders can be murdered yet Chavez and Ahmadinejad and other “thorns” live, then you’ve got to tune up your worldview.
James Laffrey: “If you can’t explain how a planeload of Polish leaders can be murdered yet Chavez and Ahmadinejad and other “thorns” live, then you’ve got to tune up your worldview.”
It may not be explainable, Probably because Chavez & Ahmadinejad don’t travel in the same plane together.
Dennis, I think J.L. is suggesting a mad conspiracy here. If you dare, search for “Equal Party USA” and dig in. Jim Naureckas already had to put down some Anti-Semitic ravings in another story in this edition of FAIR blog. The same author cited at the Equal Party USA site (“. . . the single most important book of knowledge necessary for us as the citizens of our USA” –what a mouthful, eh?), one Eustace Mullins, cropped up overtly in J.L.’s other post over at “AFP Runs With Wikipedia Founder’s ‘Crazy Information’ About WikiLeaks.” Apparently, all roads lead back to the old Rothschild/Rockefeller banking cabal, everything from Chavez’s Secrets For Stayin’ Alive to the the flouride in the water to the flat tire you had last week . . . .
Has anyone done research on how so much fluoride can harm us over long periods of chronic exposure? It was only put in the water supply because of a dentist, who was pushing at the time in the 1940’s, won out. Now we have it in tooth paste so it isn’t needed. No conspiracy, just the fluoride company gets loads of money for doing it. These days if you question it for any reason you are automatically listed as a nut case and use the Communists did it attack even if you have said no such thing.
The mind molding of Chavez as “strongman” still works today. My mother couldn’t be convinced otherwise. She had no concerns about the Saudi theocracy the US has had close ties since World War II.
I simply used the flouride example as an old perennial tale (that I often heard, mostly unexplained) of the paranoid right’s continuing dark night; it was a bit carelessly tossed off. I could have used a better example of paranoia and suspicion run wild. You’re right, Nightgaunt, about your observation that if one questions this (and many other things, like the 9-11 investigation), one is instantly branded as a nutcase. Certainly the whole business of Chavez as the “strongman” (if he was the U.S.A.’s strongman he could literally get away with mass murder and we’d still cheer him on) works like a charm on the ignorant and fearful, just as this sort of thing always has.
P.S.: I’m guessing that the effects of flouride on humans has been studied–maybe some kind soul will look it up, or perhaps someone is a local expert on this, and will enlighten us.
Ok guys my field…and you are somewhat right about chloride being not the safest chem.It is in that class that is dangerous in certain levels but considered helpful by many Doctors.My friends in the holistic field have strong feelings on it.But a grand conspiracy?No that does not fit the studies at all- so cool the jets.On the other side of the coin…..DDT was considered dangerous and now we find the science was bogus.It is back in use.Body count?????15 million from mosquito born disease.Liberal good intentions?Well Actually yes.But it was not a liberal conspiracy that killed 15 million.Like Bush- it was bad intel.Mistakes are made everyday in medicine.The study and practice go on.It is not liberal or right wing or corporate boogymen .
As far as Chavez…..study him before you throw your lot in with him.There is nothing for us to look at in his continence or his governance that is worthy of anything but disdain.If you can point to anything shout it out.Lots of dumb as nails celebs like him.That should prove to you who and what he is.Just like they like a certain cop killer in Philadelphia(mumia).So skip the Chavez parade.You will probably end up embarrassed.
You are good at disdain, m.e. But you will not be able to match Rush Limbaugh or that Erickson guy. It really just convinces everybody you are wrong because you are “disdainful” of everything — but the Tea Party? That’s proof that you still like independent goofball politics. Tea Party Wheee Party. (Lordy, I didn’t know goofball is still not a word let alone an adjective.)
I heard that fluoride is supposed to make people sort of inert and malleable and happy with their lives because they had fewer cavities. Best known from the Dr. Strangelove general who was worried about the “poisoning of our precious bodily fluids.”
Bilho I may disagree with you but disdain?Remember my motto:”every man is my superior in that i may learn from him”.I do not hold disdain in my heart.That is too deep a word.The disdain on these pages is wholly coming from the left to all who disagree with them.I am flumuxed by the rockheaded mentality on these blogs for sure.Bush Bush bush,corporate corporate corporate is the empty headed mantra.The answer to every problem.I do not consider the left stupid just wrong.Even Obama is not clearly stupid.Now how would your side refer to Sarah Palin or Glen Beck?Right….Now who is disdainful?
And What is this hate for the so called Tea party?Nothing more than folks who know for a fact that this government has crossed a line in the sand known as the constitution.I honestly think you would be hard pressed to find an America anywhere who disagrees with their charter.Now if you are talking the claptrap that is spin from the left(and sometimes the right)to paint them in some negative light well then sure believe as you will.Is it true ?Of course not but it is a free country.