I have no problem with her descriptions. Most dictators are charismatic, charming, and ‘fun’ on personal level but totally dangerous. I prefer her characterization of Chavez as ‘funny, charming but dangerous’ than ‘scary, stiff, but harmless...’ Unfortunately, many liberals seem to see our enemies the latter way...
My wife and I were in Venezuela when Chavez was elected and assumed office. I remember seeing a Chavez impersonator's night club act advertised on TV. The guy did a great job, down to the beret and the nervous tic. My initial reaction was that if Chavez didn't have him shot maybe he wasn't such a bad chap.
Having watched Venezuela from elsewhere, mainly Panama, since then, Chavez is disgusting and not the least funny; he can seem that way as can many narcissistic dictators. The Venezuelan economy is in the toilet headed for the septic tank. The
recent elections, where the opposition got more votes but fewer national assembly seats than the Chavistas offers some hope but not much. With a four month "lame duck" national assembly, Chavez can do pretty much whatever he wishes, and it will not favor any species of democracy of which I am aware.
Chavez is funny in a demented sense, but that's about it.
Exactly. She says, “He is a seductor, as I suspect most dictators are – that’s how they get to where they are.”