RateItAll: The Opinion Network

Chavez in the broader scheme of things is insignificant. He likes to banter and bluff about American imperialism, and he's even threatening to invade Colombia, whose leader Chavez denounces as an "imperialist lackey". But he'll likely take no action against both his neighbors and America. Yes, his country, Venezuela, sits on top of 4th largest oil reserves in the world, but his petroleum is of poor grade. In fact, he needs American refineries to get his product to market. He needs the Americans to subsidize his economy and he knows it. Chavez is biting the hand that feeds him and its costing him: foreign investment is fleeing because of his project to turn Venezuela into the next Cuba. Meanwhile the domestic political situation is going down the tubes for Chavez, as the people get restive over a weakening economy and the fact that Chavezs socialism has failed to deliver. Thats partially why hes beating the war drums against Colombia: it is to distract the public away from the bad economy. The oil industry there is suffering, even in the face of record high prices because there aren't enough refineries going online; many of those facilities would have been financed by international interests that are concerned that Chavez will nationalize their investments.

I think we Americans make a big deal out of Chavez, but he is small potatoes. We have to worry about our real competition, which is China and even to a lesser extent, a resurgent Russian state.

Dont speak for the Venezuelan population in that matter pleasee! i am Venezuelan, and considerably SMARTER than Hugo Chavez.
if you are not Venzuelan, and even if you are, you have no place to call my people "stupid" or "too damned stupid".

Check his I.Q. and feed me back.

Hugo Chavez might be a murderous, vile, vindictive thug who lusts for power- and will stifle any opposition to secure it all to himself. And yes, Chavez has the making to be a dictator for life, which is likely as his powers are now being expanded at the expense of the Venezuelan people. But to deny that this pig is extremely smart is just plain stupid. He is obviously bright. But then again, when the shockingly below-level I.Q.'s of the majority of Venezuelans is accounted for, it doesn't take much to see that his country was probably ripe for the taking in the first place. Chavez simply took advantage of the gross stupidity of the majority of Venezuelans and exploited it to his advantage. The result? Ask the university students in Caracas what happens when you attempt to organize a peaceful demonstration against Chavez's unending quest for increased presidential powers. The lesson here that Venezuelans were obviously too damned stupid to comprehend is that you don't give more power to a guy who disregards the rule of law in the first place, and who wants to abuse it for his very own purpose. The shockingly stupid populace of Venezuela are now literally mindless sheep who have surrendered themselves to a wolf with an unquenchable appetite (Chavez) for more. Update: He might be intelligent, but he lacks any kind of common sense (ah, so he does share something in common with the idiots who voted for him)- this fat pig doesn't know when to shut the hell up! What does he not understand about letting others talk and expressing their differing views and diagreements? Is it really that difficult for him not to know the simple concept of letting others speak when it is their turn? But NO! He decides to continually interrupt others in an effort to get his usually pointless views across. And even when this bloated egomaniac has something to say, it turns out to be an insult- or a demeaning, spiteful comment directed at anyone whose views are contrary to his. It ought to be enough of a clue when a fellow leader or ruler tells you to shut up (and walks out), but Chavez obviously doesn't get it (nor will he ever).

He's not dumb, though a good portion of the populace apparently is. This is what happens when you don't have an effective right to bear arms. Just think, Nancy Pelosi - President for life.