Interesting point, and just backs my assertion that Chavez, whatever his faults, has been remarkably restrained in dealing with a mob of people who expressly desire to overthrow his government. Again: what would Bush, Ashcroft, etc do if half a million came to Washington with the explicit goal of overthrowing the elected governement?
Do you remember the Million Man March? Though the numbers were overstated do you doubt for a minute that was the underlying and unstated goal of those leftists and useful idiots?