[I simply would have suggested that he be more aloof and not fall into the trap of believing that he is as loved by the real commies and fascists of the world as he is by the Kool-Aid drinkers at home. It was clever shtick for an enemy of the US but Americans who cheer such hate speech are despicable. -ED]
he's got more than his share of x chromosomes
elmrmdd
Des Moines, IA Register
[Which dictator are we talking about? -ED]
ed, you know I enjoy your posts.
Unfortunately, elmerfudd is much more typical of what passes for conservative "thought" nowadays. And that's not good for your side.
As to your post - couple quibbles - first, Hillary lost because of Bill? The President with the highest approval ratings of any president, prior to the current one? Seems a stretch to me.
And I still haven't had a conservative explain to me why it's bad to talk to our enemies. Every president in our history, Republican and Democrat, has done that. And now that Obama is doing it, our Republic is doomed? Don't think so.
Craig51
Des Moines, IA Register
[Craig, you're mixing apples and grapes because you're latching onto the things you THINK will trip Conservatives (me) up.
Firstly, elmr's comment may be over the top but it is quite tame compared to the things that were said and written about GWB -- even in the "legit" media. And what about the lewd comments made on TV just this week by alleged journalists regarding the tea parties and their participants? Hillary lost despite Bill's popularity for at least two big reasons:
1) As I said in my rant she was too close to a "business as usual" president to validate her own "change" claims
2) The Great Stainmaker was not himself. He was edgy and a bit militant and didn't portray his patented "I feel your pain" model. He was, for the first time ever (lol) perceived as un-genuine by the left and, IMO, they thought he was apathetic about having to play "Hail to the Chief" for his wife on the saxophone.
It is fine to "talk to our enemies" as long as we keep them in that context when we do so. It is smarter, at least at first, to let professional diplomats lay the groundwork for any higher-level negotiations that might ultimately remove the term "enemy" from future conversations. While America might have changed since Election Day you can take it to the bank that Chavez has not and never will. Thanks for the invitation to clarify my points. You know I enjoy your comments. -ED]
I disagree. Threats and confrontation regarding Latin America have not worked in the past. Why should they work now?
Jerbel
Lansing, MI State Journal
[I made no suggestions about US-Latin America affairs -- certainly not that we (Obama) should have a threatening policy toward Chavez or anyone else. My point is that Chavez is a bully and Obama needs to treat him as such or at least not treat him as if he doesn't hate us (him). -ED]
I keep trying to see why Chavez is so hated by the rightists in our government. It seems it all comes down to oil. (again) One thing Chavez is good at, is getting to people in poverty. He DOES donate large amounts of FREE heating oil to AMERICANS that are having problems heating their homes. It is a tactic that would certainly suit our own interests, not only at home, but where our troops are struggling in the Mideast. (Taliban and Islamic extremists often use the tactic of endearing themselves to the downtrodden. Aside from this though, I can't find anything Chavez has done to be so hated by so many conservatives.
luiesmom
Great Falls, MT Tribune
[Likening an American president to the devil and buddying up with bad actors like Ahmadenajad isn't enough to make rightists dislike Chavez?
Additionally, your comments help make my point about Chavez' success in the propaganda war. BTW, I know home heating oil has been donated to folks in Massachusetts where ultra-lefties and the Kennedys and Kerrys easily fall for this kind of stuff, but has anyone in your neck of the woods ever had a Citgo truck pull up his driveway with free oil? -ED]
Chavez is a nutcase...here is reason to dislike him: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/news/050531a.aspx
CARACAS, Venezuela - His name is Hugo Chavez. He is the president of oil-rich Venezuela. Mr. Chavez has decided that America is his enemy, so he is building up his army. He has forged an alliance with Fidel Castro, and many think he is going to make trouble for the United States.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld toured South America recently, trying to fight back against Chavez’ growing influence, but Washington’s concern comes very late in the game, and now a new Cuban-Venezuelan alliance, bankrolled by oil profits, threatens to create a block of anti-American states across Latin America
But Washington's concern has been too little too late, and now some fear that a new Cuban-Venezuelan alliance has a plan to create a new block of Leftist-run, anti-American states across Central and South America.
Internally, Chavez has already rewritten the constitution, stacked the courts and begun throwing political opponents into jail. And some say he is now looking beyond Venezuela's borders. With billions of dollars in oil profits, Chavez is buying advanced Russian fighter planes and helicopters, dramatically increasing the size of his armed forces and integrating it with Cuba's.
Meanwhile, Chavez laughs all the way to the bank. He sits atop one of the largest oil reserves in the world. Venezuela owns CITGO. And as America's fourth largest oil supplier, he believes he has the U.S. by the throat. And he just might.
Chavez calls this revolution "Bolivarian," named after the South American liberator, Simon Bolivar. But for his opponents, this revolution has been anything but liberating.
Maria-Corina Machado, opposition leader and mother of three, faces prison time for simply taking grant money from the National Endowment for Democracy, a program of the United States Congress.
dewwby
Great Falls, MT Tribune
Those that do not learn history are doomed to repeat it. When an American President appears weak then other competing countries, and enemies gang up. Just like Jimmy Carter. There are many common story lines that we are just beginning to see with the new Obama administration. In America we are an optimistic group, but just step outside our country and many will see there is little compassion. Our Freedoms need to be defended, and the brainwashed media, and spiteful bloggers just follow blindly without critical thinking. Analysis, questions, and fore thought beyond today's headlines seems to be a thing of the past, but if the Blind Obama followers just carry on an on with out questioning our leaders, we are all doomed to repeat history.
gb4ever
Green Bay, WI PressGazette
Actually confrontation in Chavez's case has worked. He has had to back off quite a bit of his original platform. Much of his nationalization of Venezuelan oil has backfired. His material support for FARC has been cut.
He has his eye on Obama, looking for an opening, that's for sure. It would a lot of the rest of Latin America's lunch money he would like to grab.
BilBala2
Lansing, MI State Journal
Very clever. Give us some more.
gonahporch
St. George, UT Spectrum
The name "un ignorante" is so descriptive. Would it be O.K. if I use it or has it been copyrighted. Great blog.
taldock
Tallahassee, FL
["Un ignorante" is a direct quote from a Hugo Chavez rant. -ED]
Phrase it anyway you choose but it's the same old tired stuff coming from Newt, Rush and the rest of the boys. If you want to push the racist hate mongering at least try see if you can be a little more original about it.
Hugo1
Wausau, WI
[When you make it all about race -- which neither Newt nor Rush nor I have EVER done -- you prove that you need to play the race card because you've run out of real ammunition. For all you know I might be half African-American and it's not very liberal, let alone PC, to attack people for what they inherited at birth. As for "tired old stuff", it can't be that tired and old because it's only been out there for 100 days ("for crying out loud -- give it a chance before you criticize it") and the spin from your side is exactly the same age. -ED]