Hugo Chavez has died

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Just got a notification that Hugo Chavez has died.

Links:

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/venezuelan-vice-president-nicolas-maduro-says-president-hugo-chavez-has-died

http://www.tmz.com/2013/03/05/hugo-chavez-dead-venezuelan-president-dies-at-58/

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/05/world/americas/venezuela-chavez-main/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/03/05/venezuelan-president-hugo-chavez-dead-vp-says/

He was 58.

[Platypus]

Indeed. Let's see what the future holds.

[Hash]

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/venezuelan-vice-president-nicolas-maduro-says-president-hugo-chavez-has-died

Rest in peace to a man who ultimately did more good than bad to his country.

[Lumine]

Holy mother of... I seriously thought he would live a few more months.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Rest in peace to a man who ultimately did more good than bad to his country.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Burn in hell, thug.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Was this unexpected?  I just heard about this.  He was only 58.

[All Along The Watchtower]

What hash said.

[Platypus]

If you can't say anything nice in the minutes after someone's death, stfu. Seriously trashy. I'm not a Chavez fanboy by any strecth, but have some basic respect for human dignity.

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Back on topic.

[World politics is up Schmitt creek]

Rest in peace to a man who ultimately did more good than bad to his country.

I'd say he did a ton of both, but this is probably more or less true.

RIP.

[Hash]

Was this unexpected?  I just heard about this.  He was only 58.

Have you been living under a rock for the past two years and the past two months or something?

[Goodwin]

RIP Hugo Chavez. My thoughts are with the Venezuelan people.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

If you can't say anything nice in the minutes after someone's death, stfu. Seriously trashy. I'm not a Chavez fanboy by any strecth, but have some basic respect for human dignity.

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Back on topic.

The man was a dictator. For God's sake, he tried to overthrow the government to get a hold on the power he so desperately craved. He had people killed, he restricted human rights, and while yes, living conditions improved under him, one has to ask at what cost. I know comparing him to Hitler is hyperbole, but did Hitler not improve Germany's roads? It is the same basic argument.

[Velasco]

I stumbled with the speech of Maduro when I changed the channel in the TV. Rest in peace one of the most controversial leaders of the world. His death will trigger a new election. Likely Maduro vs. Capriles.

[MaxQue]

Rest in peace to a man who ultimately did more good than bad to his country.

[Velasco]

If you can't say anything nice in the minutes after someone's death, stfu. Seriously trashy. I'm not a Chavez fanboy by any strecth, but have some basic respect for human dignity.

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Back on topic.

The man was a dictator. He had people killed, he restricted human rights, and while yes, living conditions improved under him, one has to ask at what cost.

LOL. I've never heard of people killed by Chavez regime. It seems that the propaganda machine works well.

[Hash]

If you can't say anything nice in the minutes after someone's death, stfu. Seriously trashy. I'm not a Chavez fanboy by any strecth, but have some basic respect for human dignity.

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Back on topic.

The man was a dictator. He had people killed, he restricted human rights, and while yes, living conditions improved under him, one has to ask at what cost. I know comparing him to Hitler is hyberpole, but did Hitler not improve Germany's roads? It is the same basic argument.

Like most Americans, you would do well to read a (non-biased) account of Venezuelan history prior to Chavismo. It would help you develop a more critical appreciation of his presidency, and the good and bad aspects of it; as well as place it in much needed historical context. Until you do, please restrain from repeating the typical right-wing lies and blabber on the topic.

And don't even get me started on the irony and double standards in the American right's attitude towards Chavez and other leaders of his genre.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Was this unexpected?  I just heard about this.  He was only 58.

Have you been living under a rock for the past two years and the past two months or something?

When it comes to Venezuelan politics, apparently...

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

If you can't say anything nice in the minutes after someone's death, stfu. Seriously trashy. I'm not a Chavez fanboy by any strecth, but have some basic respect for human dignity.

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Back on topic.

The man was a dictator. He had people killed, he restricted human rights, and while yes, living conditions improved under him, one has to ask at what cost.

LOL. I've never heard of people killed by Chavez regime. It seems that the propaganda machine works well.

He is not sending in tanks to Tiananmen Square, but the man was no hero. He funded FARC, the terrorist group that has lead to thousands of deaths in its war against Columbia.

[LastVoter]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiCxmbG9b5U

[Oakvale]

Rest in peace to a man who ultimately did more good than bad to his country.

Yes, this more or less covers it. RIP.

[All Along The Watchtower]

If you can't say anything nice in the minutes after someone's death, stfu. Seriously trashy. I'm not a Chavez fanboy by any strecth, but have some basic respect for human dignity.

-----------

Back on topic.

The man was a dictator. For God's sake, he tried to overthrow the government to get a hold on the power he so desperately craved. He had people killed, he restricted human rights, and while yes, living conditions improved under him, one has to ask at what cost. I know comparing him to Hitler is hyperbole, but did Hitler not improve Germany's roads? It is the same basic argument.

The American government has defended countless murderous dictators, past and present, who are/were far, far worse than Chavez. But I suppose "freedom" done The American Way (TM) is clearly the only thing worth toppling democratically elected governments for.

[Lief 🗽]

ChairmanSanchez, you're seriously embarrassing yourself. Please read some unbiased sources on Chavez and the past decade of Venezuelan history before you come here and spout lies about him.

RIP to a great man, who truly cared about the people of Venezuela. He was far from perfect, but he was much better than what had come before him and I fear will be much better than what will follow.

[Goodwin]

People need to stop watching FOX News.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

If you can't say anything nice in the minutes after someone's death, stfu. Seriously trashy. I'm not a Chavez fanboy by any strecth, but have some basic respect for human dignity.

-----------

Back on topic.

The man was a dictator. He had people killed, he restricted human rights, and while yes, living conditions improved under him, one has to ask at what cost. I know comparing him to Hitler is hyberpole, but did Hitler not improve Germany's roads? It is the same basic argument.

Like most Americans, you would do well to read a (non-biased) account of Venezuelan history prior to Chavismo. It would help you develop a more critical appreciation of his presidency, and the good and bad aspects of it; as well as place it in much needed historical context. Until you do, please restrain from repeating the typical right-wing lies and blabber on the topic.

And don't even get me started on the irony and double standards in the American right's attitude towards Chavez and other leaders of his genre.

I have read a good amount of Venezuela. It was never a nice place before Chavez, as was Cuba before Castro. I am not ignoring the past dictators who ruled it. It could be argued that Chavez was one of the more tame tyrants/strongmen. Pinochet takes the cake among Latin American dictators, but according to those on the left, Libertarians apparently “admire” him. Thugs are thugs, and South America has suffered more than its fair share of right wing dictators (Pinochet, Somoza, Batista, Trujillo, and Stroessner come to mind), as well as the illegal overthrow of the Honduran government in 2009.