Free Republic

This was Chávez’s reign and his legacy; extralegal, vindictive, and interested in the short-term gesture rather than the more difficult, long-term solution. From his revolutionary comrades in Cuba, he borrowed the slogan “patria, socialismo o muerte”—fatherland, socialism or death. The fatherland is a shambles, Bolivarian socialism has failed, and Comandante Chávez is dead. May the “revolution” die with him.

Now that Hugo Chávez is out of the picture, former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela Otto Reich warns President Obama to tread carefully in dealing with the “evil, evil men” that are now running the South American nation. “These guys are so tricky and so evil, quite frankly,” Reich, tells Newsmax in an exclusive interview following the announcement of Chávez’ death on Tuesday. “The people in power in Venezuela today are evil.” … Reich added that Fidel Castro and his brother may be calling the shots in Venezuela. …

Well folks, proud anti-American Hugo Chavez has finally bought it. The right has been resilient down there -considering- yet the VP who's recently taken charge of affairs is not just a Marxist but a Sopranos-style thug who's reportedly managed executions of Chavez opponents in the past, so any expecting a more just and uncorrupted democratic process are probably in for some disappointment... Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez dead at 58... VENEZUELA DEPLOYS ARMY AND POLICE... Fears of spiralling violence... Venezuela Expels American 'Spies'... Socialist Leader 'Amassed Private Fortune of $2 Billion'... Penn: 'I Mourn a Great Hero'.. h/t Drudge

CARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela died Tuesday afternoon after a long battle with cancer, the government announced, leaving behind a bitterly divided nation in the grip of a political crisis that grew more acute as he languished for weeks, silent and out of sight in hospitals in Havana and Caracas.

After reiterating that President Hugo Chávez's health is looking grave, Venezuela’s vice president lashed out at the country’s “enemies” and expelled two U.S. diplomats whom he accused of spying on the country’s military. At a press conference on Monday, Vice President Nicolás Maduro also pointed to the U.S. and other foreign countries of somehow poisoning Chávez with cancer. Following a lengthy introduction of numerous officials in attendance, Maduro said U.S. military attaché David Delmonaco will be expelled from the country for conspiring against the government and the armed forces. Foreign Minister Elias Jaua also announced the expulsion of a second...

President Hugo Chavez Has Died

Hugo Chavez is either dead, or on life support, but the world will remain in the dark for weeks to come. While the above photograph has probably been Photoshopped it has been making its rounds on the internet for the last few weeks. Until we hear from el Comandante himself the rumors will not be silenced, irregardless of what Venezuelan officials would lead us to believe. Government officials are attempting to prepare the country for Chavez to govern from life support, or beyond the grave. In this attempt they may succeed – for a while. Preventing civil war is a...