Hugo Chavez has died

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

At the time, I thought he was pretty cool when he stood up to the right wing thugs who tried to oust him in a failed coup attempt in 2002, but he quickly turned into an authoritarian douche. 

[jejo68]

and... ?
another would be dictator is dead. long live the next one

[GDS_Starfury]

it would be interesting to know that somewhere a real WoW asshole is no longer logging on.

[Jarhead0331]

So far Windy and Jimmy Carter are the only two westerners with anything remotely positive to say about Chavez.  :P

A lot of his countrymen/women would have appeared to have liked and supported him. Just because he did not follow your political ideals does not make him a bad person.

Whatever you say, puss.

[LongBlade]

Chavez was a bad man. That he was more clown than leader of a rogue nation doesn't mean he deserves anything more than our derision.

The report is from Human Rights Watch.

In a series of detailed research reports published over the last decade, the respected rights organization has documented the crushing of judicial independence, the large-scale censorship and intimidation of the media, the quashing of opposition parties and banishment and silencing of opponents, and the imprisonment of human-rights activists. During an era when such excesses and abuses of power were disappearing in most other major South American countries, Venezuela stood nearly alone in its magnitude of demagoguery.

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/hugo-chavez-wasnt-a-dictator-but-he-crushed-democracy/article9336246/

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

Just imagine, had he lived a little longer he might have even OKed the use of drones to assassinate his own citizenry.

[Jarhead0331]

Just imagine, had he lived a little longer he might have even OKed the use of drones to assassinate his own citizenry.

Don't blame me.  I didn't vote for him...

[GDS_Starfury]

Just imagine, had he lived a little longer he might have even OKed the use of drones to assassinate his own citizenry.

well played sir, well played.

[The Puss]

Chavez was a bad man. That he was more clown than leader of a rogue nation doesn't mean he deserves anything more than our derision.

The report is from Human Rights Watch.

In a series of detailed research reports published over the last decade, the respected rights organization has documented the crushing of judicial independence, the large-scale censorship and intimidation of the media, the quashing of opposition parties and banishment and silencing of opponents, and the imprisonment of human-rights activists. During an era when such excesses and abuses of power were disappearing in most other major South American countries, Venezuela stood nearly alone in its magnitude of demagoguery.

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/hugo-chavez-wasnt-a-dictator-but-he-crushed-democracy/article9336246/

LB, I do not doubt any of that. The problem seems to be that he wasn't pro West in his actions, when we as Westerners look at him. You can pull all of that shit when in government and get away with it depending on who your international friends are.

[Windigo]

Just imagine, had he lived a little longer he might have even OKed the use of drones to assassinate his own citizenry.

Don't blame me.  I didn't vote for him...

+2 for the sarcastic humour and the nod to the domestic cathartic circumstance you find yourself in

[LongBlade]

LB, I do not doubt any of that. The problem seems to be that he wasn't pro West in his actions, when we as Westerners look at him. You can pull all of that shit when in government and get away with it depending on who your international friends are.

You are correct.

Still, I'm not going to be any less gleeful at his death despite the hypocrisy  8)

[Boggit]

On the one hand, he can be criticised for his latter day human rights infringements and economic (mis?) management. On the other hand he seems to be hugely popular and missed by many ordinary Venezuelans. I wonder how we will look at his "reign" 10 years from now?

[LongBlade]

On the one hand, he can be criticised for his latter day human rights infringements and economic (mis?) management. On the other hand he seems to be hugely popular and missed by many ordinary Venezuelans. I wonder how we will look at his "reign" 10 years from now?

His people seem to be deeply divided. Last year's election was widely regarded as largely honest. Chavez won 55% of the vote. Apparently the other 45% didn't like him much at all. (Hmmm. Sounds vaguely familiar.)

[Jarhead0331]

On the one hand, he can be criticised for his latter day human rights infringements and economic (mis?) management. On the other hand he seems to be hugely popular and missed by many ordinary Venezuelans. I wonder how we will look at his "reign" 10 years from now?

Adolf Hitler was pretty popular in his day too.  I think the significance of this is obvious.  Domestic popularity is not always an accurate indicator of good/benevolent leadership.

[LongBlade]

On the one hand, he can be criticised for his latter day human rights infringements and economic (mis?) management. On the other hand he seems to be hugely popular and missed by many ordinary Venezuelans. I wonder how we will look at his "reign" 10 years from now?

Adolf Hitler was pretty popular in his day too.  I think the significance of this is obvious.  Domestic popularity is not always an accurate indicator of good/benevolent leadership.

When a dictator counts as his closest friends Iran and North Korea he falls short of being praiseworthy IMHO.