'Sandalistas' Flock For First-Hand View Of The Chavez Revolution

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 3-26-2006 | Sophie Arie

[blam]

I heard Rush say that when Harry Belefonte left Venezuela he went back home to his $13 million condo.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

""What hits me most coming here is how positive everyone is," said Mr Hansen. "There is still huge inequality - it's surprising as a human being to see that - but there is great optimism."

Interesting -- the glass is mostly empty; but, because this is a utopia, it must be filling up rapidly.

How would these same people judge the progress in Afghanistan or Iraq? (He asked rhetorically.)

[Celtjew Libertarian]

"We went to an evening class with all sorts of students, from 18 to 60. They were sitting there, voluntarily receiving education. And happy. You don't see that in Denmark or Britain, I think."

Really? I didn't know there were adults being forced to get educations in Denmark and Britain.

[dancusa]

Venezuela is overtaking Cuba as the inspirational holiday destination for Left-wing tourists.

Among the progressive pilgrims who have come to marvel...

Socialism has failed in over a hundred countries with hundreds of dictators. What makes these useful idiots think that Chavez can finally do socialism right?

I guess that's why they call them useful idiots.

[Dallas59]

Without Capitalistic money for oil...Chavez Socialism would sink.

[Cheburashka]

I guess that's why they call them useful idiots.
---
Lenin called them useful idiots.
To us they're useless idiots.

[ncountylee]

"requests from trade unions wanting longer, tailor-made packages."

Union thugs including the NEA?

[randog]

What makes these useful idiots think that Chavez can finally do socialism right?

Notice that they're just visiting, not immigrating.

[Prokopton]

"Among the progressive pilgrims who have come to marvel are the American civil rights leader, Jesse Jackson, the actor and United Nations "goodwill ambassador", Danny Glover, and Harry Belafonte, the Jamaican-American musician known as the king of calypso."

Quick! Lock the door!

[fat city]

Where are Jackson Browne and Little Stephen?

[blam]

"Socialism has failed in over a hundred countries with hundreds of dictators. What makes these useful idiots think that Chavez can finally do socialism right?"

Oil money. Looks to me like he is squandering it around the world. He's handing out billions of dollars left and right.

[Tzimisce]

...hahahahahahahahaha - just goes to show how truly stupid a lot of people are....

[Visalia]

This is the new DEMOCRAT "Progressive" hope for humanity. Free everything for everybody,,,, and the miracle is... nobody has to pay for it by working. Just get that oil out of the ground and export the revolution!!!.

[Zeroisanumber]

Large inequalities between rich and poor and a corrupt ruling class = Socialist bozo. You'd think that people would remember that from the 80's.

[secretagent]

The Chávez government has been denounced by Human Rights Watch for its passage of legislation that threatens to stifle anti-Chávez criticism and dissent from Venezuelan media. The statements are leveled specifically at restrictive amendments to the Venezuelan Criminal Code that criminalize insults, disrespect, and libelous remarks from the news media aimed at either the president or other government authorities. Severe punishments, including sentences of up to 40 months, are part of the so-called "Law on the Social Responsibility of Radio and Television" personally endorsed by Chávez.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_violations_under_Hugo_Ch%C3%A1vez

[StormEye]

"...the young Danes are wide-eyed with admiration for the country"

The stupidity never ends.

[MarkBsnr]

Our useful idiots worshipped (and many still do) at the shrines of Lenin, Stalin, Mao, et al.

You've got to say that these grotesque worshippers of those who would destroy them in turn flocked to the support of Danny Ortega and the Sandanistas in the 1980s. Jimmah himself went down and personally supervised the election that tossed the neocommies out into the street, leaving millions of fellow travellers feeling absolutely betrayed by the the common people. PJ O'Rourke wrote a brilliant piece on it.

Hugo isn't going to make the same mistake that Danny made - he's not going to put himself in a position where he can get booted out. But after a decade or so on top, he'll get fat and soft and corrupt to the point where the next Pol Pot wannabe leader of the local Shining Path guerilla group will off him and take over.

I say that we take the same tack as we did with Castro. Pay little attention and just keep him fenced off.

[Mike Darancette]

Chavez wants to be the leader of Communism, he will find out like Mao did there are many hungry Communist movements to fund.

[Arizona Carolyn]

Shades of Cuba after Castro took over, everyone celebrated and thought things were going to be wonderful....

[Rembrandt]

Perhaps Hugo could build a new Hollywood and all the loons could move to Venezuela - cheap gas for all their SUV's and private jets. What a deal.