You get the idea
Posted on 07/05/2006 4:50:47 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
July 5, 2006
As James Taranto suggested Monday in his WSJ 'Best of the Web' column, at some point you *can* question a person's patriotism. Cindy Sheehan surely passed that point long ago. But just in case there was any doubt, Sheehan made things clear this evening, flatly stating that she'd rather live under Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez than George Bush.
Sheehan made her comments during a Hardball appearance, during which guest host Norah O'Donnell, sitting in for Chris Matthews, gave her a surprisingly rough ride. At one point, O'Donnell asked: "Why go stand by side by Hugo Chavez in Venezuela? Why do that? Would you rather live under him than George Bush?
Sheehan: "Yes. Hugo Chavez is not a dictator like you introduced him. He's been democratically elected eight times. He is not anti-American, he has helped the poor people of America. He has sent aid to New Orleans, he has sold heating oil to disadvantaged people in America at low cost, and the people of his country love him."
The exchange over Chavez capped a rugged line of questioning to which O'Donnell subjected Sheehan. Other excerpts:
O'Donnell: "Americans may hate the war but they don't necessarily hate the president. How do you expect to get change by going around the world and trashing the President of the United States?"
Sheehan: "I don't hate the president either, and I don't trash the president. I trash the president's foreign policy."
O'Donnell: "But you called him the biggest terrorist in the world, so you are trashing the president."
Sheehan: "Well he says a terrorist is somebody that kills innocent men, women and children."
O'Donnell: "You have just begun a two-month hunger strike. Isn't this really just more of a publicity stunt?"
Norah later observed: "You claim not to be in the fringes, not to be an extremist." She then challenged Sheehan to name members of Congress who support her call for immediate withdrawal from Iraq.
Sheehan claimed bi-partisan support, citing Republican congressmen Ron Paul and Walter Jones, and on the Dem side Charley Rangel and John Conyers.
When Sheehan mentioned John Kerry as an example of senatorial support, O'Donnell shot back: "the bill Sen. Kerry has proposed went down in flames in the Senate."
Continued O'Donnell: "What you're calling for is in fact an extreme position. There are very few members of congress who support immediate withdrawal. You would, if you could, fly a bunch of planes over there, pick up all our troops, and take them home tomorrow."
Sheehan claimed there is an "Out of Iraq Caucus" in congress with 70 members calling for an immediate withdrawal.
In any case, an interesting exchange. Sudden surge of hawkishness from Norah, or perhaps a subliminal suggestion to Dems, as a matter of electoral strategy, not to associate themselves with Sheehan?
I hope he is proud.
This just in:
Mark Finkelstein has the strongest stomach of anyone who regularly watches t.v.
How can he continually watch crappy shows such as Hardball and The Today Show and still have something left to write about it?
He's not anti-American but he's setting up an alliance with NK against the US.
What a nutcase.
I give all the credit to my daily Prilosec ;-)
Mrs Sheehan, you have our permission to leave at anytime.
“...and some, like me, will be fasting for a specified time. My fast will begin on 7/04 and end on the last day of Camp Casey: 09/02.” From Michael Moore site: http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/print.php?id=669
Building roads?
I guess so...when the main bridge connecting Caracas to the main airport fell over they "eventually" built an emergency road...having personally driven in Venezuela I am not sure what other roads you may be speaking of, roads are HORRIBLE in Venezuela even in Caracas.
Schools?
Yes. Schools, if you did not sign against him in the recall referendum. Oh and of course the recent statements by the education minister stating quite plainly that teachers much teach the values of the revolution or be removed...well haven't we heard that someplace before? I especially loved his recent comment that private schools must be removed completely for public schools to work...no mentions of merit or excellence, only mentions of the need to teach the revolution.
clinics?
Oh yeah, the Cuban "doctors", many of which have already fled through Columbia to seek asylum. Most are at the level of a RN if you are lucky. If the quality of "doctors" is any indication, old Hugo claims that he can churn out doctors every six years to meet needs...yes I said six years. And those Cuban doctors? Yeah Hugo is paying Cuba for them, but in ADDITION to the basically FREE oil that he is giving Castro.
Land reform?
So now the seizure of private land, apartment buildings, and factories is a popular activity? Yes I suppose, except the only people staying in those apartments are military and party loyalists. The ranchos are still an everpresent sight on the hillsides. All said seizures being done in direct conflict with the constitution which requires that compensation must be paid BEFORE seizure of any private assets.
I suggest everyone here learn the term "arepa muzzle", Chavez buys the votes of the truly poor with bribes for food. And even then he doesn't really need to worry what with nobody in the government to check and balance him and he being in full control of the CNE. Of course, actually controlling a large stake in the voting machine company (smartmatic) doesn't hurt either.
He will "win" every election from now until he is dead. The middle and upper class that haven't already left will flee and Venezuela will simply become an oil pumping version of Cuba.
Hugo is already bankrupting the treasury, destroying foreign investment, quintupled inflation, and poverty rates have only INCREASED during his tenure.
He will destroy Venezuela, and as long as he calls Bush names and plays the victim of "imperializmo" he will be championed by the far left due to their blind hatred of anything remotely Bush or capitalistic in nature.
FINALLY Cindy Shithead and I agree on something! I'd rather she live under Chavez too! Is she packing yet?
Oh my. I only listened for a very few minutes. Didn't hear that part!! LOL........sheehan and kerry ~ perfect together.
She let sheehan speak but challenged her quite a bit too. FAR more than matthews would have ever done.
That's the last time Norah will guest on Hardball...Chrissy probably sprained all of his fingers trying to call the studio...
Does that include alcohol?
I know...Norah does have the "wide-eyed, overly dramatic" interview style, doesn't she?? LOL
She gives the impression that she is acting the part of a "wide-eyed overly dramatic" interviewer, which is worse.
BUT, like you, it was nice to hear her at least ask some questions in response to some of Cindy's answers...instead of staying on script, and not acknowledging some of Cindy's more outrageous statements.
"The truth is that even Hugo wouldn't date her."
They do have something in common...they're both nuttier than outhouse rats.
LOL! I agree with you.
At least that is "one dimension of compatability"...now, they need twenty-odd more to gain a stamp of approval from that fella on TV who hawks his dating website.
Man! You are sharp tonight, LOL!!!
The benefit of a looooong week-end.
Was pleasantly surprised, not that I am about to be a fan. However, compared to the odious Andrea Mitchell, Nora was slightly better.
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