[pissant]

There is no sub-species of human as vile as a leftist.

The US Media treats this idiot Chavez like the treat all anti-american dictators, like a glorious hero.

[massgopguy]

El Jefe will institute some Purges that will be overlooked.

[popdonnelly]

"Leftists are flocking to see a country being transformed"

Good, they can stay there and screw up that country, instead of trying to screw up this one.

[AliVeritas]

ping

[BenLurkin]

"We saw healthy, happy, well-dressed children taught by well-qualified teachers who get paid a decent salary. These are opportunities that did not exist for poor people before Chavez," said Kate Young,

That's what they are telling you dear -- and you are falling for it.

[Falcon4.0]

Yes Ladies and Gentlemen. UTOPIA! At the point of a gun.

[avacado]

""We saw healthy, happy, well-dressed children taught by well-qualified teachers who get paid a decent salary. These are opportunities that did not exist for poor people before Chavez," said Kate Young, who travelled with the Rotary Foundation."

Kate sweetie... that "decent" salary couldn't purchase your little yuppie backpack that you are sporting as you oogle over the poor "happy" people. And Kate sweetie, if they had fully embraced capitalism then it would be them coming to visit you to oogle at.

[Brilliant]

Socialism is more than just a failed economic system. It is a means of legalized theft.

[Tokra]

"We need checks and balances to US unilateralism, and any good North American would laud Chavez for doing that," said Clif Roberts

Not THIS good North American!

[concerned about politics]

To the Venezuelan Government, however, they are valued friends who are witnessing first-hand the positive changes

I wonder if the leftists will still praise Stalin....er.....Chevez when he starts slaughtering his own people because there's not enough wealth to go around once the motivation to achieve is gone.

[Ouderkirk]

If left unchecked, in time the liberal/fascist marriage of ignorance and arrogance will beget the bastard children of ruin and slaughter

[tcrlaf]

"We saw healthy, happy, well-dressed children taught by well-qualified teachers who get paid a decent salary. These are opportunities that did not exist for poor people before Chavez,"

Replace "Chavez" with "Joseph Stalin", and change the dateline to 1936.

Sound FAMILIAR????

[camle]

there would be no 'socialist utopia' without massive inputs of capitalist cash flowing in - oil money. without this vast inflow of money, venezuela would be no different from any other banana republic.

[AppyPappy]

Cuba with oil.

[Antoninus]

May every one of them get a one-way ticket...

[concerned about politics]

"We saw healthy, happy, well-dressed children taught by well-qualified teachers who get paid a decent salary. These are opportunities that did not exist for poor people before Chavez,"

Yeah, but what does the country look like off the stage? That's the real question.
I'm sure the mass graves will be placed well out of sight.

Stop the Socialism. Boycott Chevron gasoline.

[MediaMole]

I've heard that a lot of these people are actually CIA agents down there to steal Chavez's precious bodily fluids.

His secret police had better make sure they aren't just gringo spies...

[snowman_returns]

Meet the revolutionary tourists, a wave of backpackers, artists, academics and politicians on a mission to discover if Venezuela's President, Hugo Chavez, really is forging a radical alternative to neo-liberalism and capitalism.

This just proves the old saying "there's a sucker born every minute".

All this authoritarianism by Chavez has been so predictable, this man is a monster!

I have to wonder what the reaction of this meglomaniac Chavez would be if the USA dropped all oil imports (20%)from Venezuela with immediate effect? Considering the US reserves in Alaska I wonder if that option would ever be put on the table..

This would hurt Chavez in his pocket real bad!!.........I say do it!

[Ramius]

British union official who was thrilled by the nationalisations and cultural events. "Bach in the slums. Stuff you could only dream about."

There's slums? How come?

And what they need is... Bach? What to they get next year, Vivaldi?

[A_perfect_lady]

Meet the revolutionary tourists, a wave of backpackers, artists, academics and politicians ...

Ah yes, society's most useful and productive members. Who needs bridges, hospitals, and roads if you have poetry and promises? By all means, go do for Venezuela what you've done for us.

[headsonpikes]

"Instead of investigating complexities, such as the corruption and mismanagement undermining some social programs, visitors sleepwalk through government spin and never hear allegations that Venezuela's oil bonanza is being wasted or that democracy is being smothered.

Mr Finlayson said his delegation ignored such voices because the goal was to express solidarity, not investigate."

Ah, yes,..."solidarity", with "progressive forces", no doubt.

I would advise the incurious Mr. Finlayson to keep his eye peeled for "vanguard elements", they being the ones who will initiate the necessary liquidations of "reactionary classes".

"Socialism and Death - I believe it!"