chavez probably is whacko. He is unable to deal with any authority figure (has been in confrontation mode his entire adult life), and probably got where he was because by all accounts he is very charismatic in person despite having no idea how to govern. He is still in power now thanks to the amazing incompetence of the junta that succeeded him in early 2002.
Of course, the VZ people elected him in 98 knowing darn well he preferred coup to election, a statement about their previous governments as much as anything.
Hey now, Jimmy Carter said that it was a straight-up election down there in Carackazz! (vomitting now)
The solution to this problem is in new technology.
We need to come up with a cheap energy source that is not crude based and then give the technology to the rest of the world.
We can then sit back and watch the Middle East and South America EAT THEIR OIL!!!!!
About that time we need to take a look at all of our food goods that we ship overseas and move the decimal point two places to the right.
Last but not lease we need to give these idiots the single finger salute while having the best laugh we can come up with.