Admittedly, I may have pushed it a little with my comments above but it was not my intention. What I was trying to convey – and again, I did a terrible job at it and for that I do apologize – was that it was disrespectful** to wonder “out loud” in a public forum whom Chavez was cheering for. Imagine how people would feel if someone wrote an article about Bin Laden’s favorite baseball team…Who Cares!?!?

And before someone can say “how can you compare the two?” Chavez is an ally with Iran, supported Gaddafi, and harbors the Colombian Guerrillas in Venezuela’s West coast.

And going back to your comments from above; I couldn’t agree more. Very well spoken and I’m sorry I could only give you just one “thumbs up.”

** This is obviously a very personal topic for me and if for some reason that has caused me to be a little less than objective, I apologize.

Why, what did he do ?

I don’t know, just can’t stand him !!

OK, well he is our president

So ! I can’t stand him !!!!!!

He can hit the four-seamer..

He can ?

While you’re trying to parse my metaphors, why not kill some time – not that your normal use of it sounds particularly useful anyway – by searching back through these blogs ? There’s something like three or four years of them archived. Find someplace where I’ve said anything complimentary about Obama or the Democrats and bring it on back here so everyone can check whether there’s a gram of accuracy or reflection in your barking and yelping. Best of luck to you.

You’re also right to fear the possible succession wars should Chavez kick the bucket soon. It’s very possible that unless the pro government civilians can convince the military clique that they can keep things going Business as Usual, things may get ugly. Part of the problem is that many of the government true believers would definitely want to bring some accountability to these guys (and then of course as you said, there are extremist government match-heads). They are only restrained by Chavez himself, who knows what they’ll do if he’s no longer there.

As for Corruption, this government has all previous governments beat. The biggest scandal has to be the amount of food bought for Mercal, more than half of which rotted in Puerto Cabelo docks, and then we found out that money accounted for only 10% of the budget allotted to the food buy! Makes you wonder where the rest of it ended up. Gator the arguments of Punto Fijismo and state oil ending up in offshore accounts is old and discredited when compared to the largess accumulated by the new Boliburguois. in other words Venezuela has ALREADY returned to the days of Plutocracy, just different masters is all. So if that’s your primary concern you are sadly looking in the wrong direction. even my grandfather, who for the longest time was more inclined towards Chavez rather than risk the return of “Pintofijistas” has said enough is enough and voted for Capriles this time around.