Does this make it OK for Kyoto to have China increase its emissions? Show me a fair Kyoto based on science rather than politics, one that does not make the silly assertion that an American CO2 molecule is "evil" and a Chinese CO2 molecule is "good". Only then might it be worthy of consideration.
"They won the case against the version of the PATRIOT act which has already expired. The judge didn't rule on the current version. It really wasn't a waste."
How is it not a waste to win a case against something that did not exist anymore? It makes as much sense as trying a dead man in court.
If you don't like Fox News, why not just change the channel? It's not like it has any huge influence: only a minority pay attention to it. Thanks, also for the obligatory use of the term "propaganda" as a meaning-free pejorative to mean "information I happen to not like.".
Looks like you have been outfoxed by a movement that wants to censor Fox News for not sharing its political ideology. So much for tolerance, and "if you don't like what someone says, ignore it". The far-left's fictional case "against" Fox News reminds me so much of when the far-right makes a big case "against" CBS, also as part of building a case to have licenses pulled (or other forms of censorship).
I know I don't get all bent out of shape because some part of the press says stuff I happen to not like.
" I just watched it on Google video, and while I knew that US gov't/media propaganda against Chavez was bad, I didn't know enough about it to realize it was that bad."
"Propaganda" being information you do not like? This documentary had a very bad ending; as the Venezuelans lost their rights as the dictator prevailed in the end. The title is idiotic anyway: it was televised.
Retaliation against countries that attack you in an attempt to prevent further attacks is not imperialism. If this looks like imperialism to you, there's a problem with either your knowledge of the events or your knowledge of the words.
US imperialism does not exist, nor does a US empire. The US got the hell out of the empire game decades ago. This, his reference to a "US empire" is just his name for the US. If there is one thing Chavez likes, it is actual imperialism. His "mentor", Fidel Castro, was the regional general for the Soviets, and his wars against Central America cost many tens of thousands of lives.
How did I find out about this speech? I watched it at the time, live on C-Span.
"It is heartbreaking when the majority gets their way over the interests of powerful kingmakers"
No, it was just heartbreaking that a slick and brutal fascist dictator prevailed in the end, and closed the door to any hope of democracy in Venezuela. You don't think he's any worse than any other leader (we can discard the idea that he is democratic)? Chavez demonizes others, nobody demonizes him. Remember his big speech on how Jews are the big evil that must be stopped. This sort of fits with his speeches in approval of Iran building nuclear bombs. For another, Chavez is a self-proclaimed socialist. This means that he makes no bones about the idea that his goal is to get as much power for himself. This makes him much worse than other leaders who do not subscribe to the brand of fascism known as socialism.
"how many democratically-elected US governments have been overthrown by Latin American countries?"
Single-party dictatorships are not democratic governments, even if they got into power originally by an election. Answering the question honestly, the US overthrow 0 democracies in Latin America. The "anti-American sentiment coming out of Latin America" is based in ignorance and jealousy; there is no good reason for it.
"Hugo Chavez has offered free heating oil to needy US Citizens due to high prices"
Imagine if Saddam Hussein or some other dictator had done this. It's a stroke of genius; a great PR move. It's cheap and easy to do, and can fool so many people into thinking you are "the good guy". Make no confusion: Chavez has a general loathing of the USA and its people.
"If you live in the Third World and are the object of US foreign policy, you can see that there is in fact an empire exerting its will on you"
That is clearly not the case. This "distinction" is plain only to those who have bought into lunatic Marxist conspiracy theories that have absolutely nothing to do with the real world. By the way, nice Godwin invocation there when you equated the US (or US empire, whatever you want to call it) with the Nazis.
Nor is there anything in the US that makes it an empire (not since prior to WW2, anyway). That's just his name for the country; it's a descriptive adjective he finds useful.
"He can't and doesn't need to cite a source. If the CIA did do something, then one of the results would be that nobody would have evidence that they did it."
The Perfect Argument! Anything anyone can claim that the CIA did, it means they actually did it. It's the natural logical result of the fact that if the CIA did do something, there would be no evidence of it. Lack of any evidence, naturally, is proof of the assertion.
I'm sure glad Carmona was stopped, so now there are no checks and balances on Chavez' dictatorial powers. Because Chavez says he is doing it "to help the poor", the dictator can do no wrong.
"I'd like to see the media in the US start calling for the violent overthrow of the government, which is what happened."
Nice attempt to change the subject. Did you check the link and look at the actual text of the Venezuelan censorship law? It criminalizes mere criticism that is well short of calling for "violent overthrow".
That's no distinction. Regardless of the name he used for the US, he said he would bury it. Mr. Chavez says we will bury you. I don't subscribe to that point of view. It would be such an ignorant thing to do If Venezuelans love their children too..."
"These folk are losing out as Chavez attempts to make his country fairer."
Yes, Stalin said the same thing in the 1930s as he did what he did. Hard to imagine someone believing either of these similar guys (who are both rich, corrupt types).
"Chavez gets to call Bush anything he wants when addressing the UN general assembly. Its a small price you have to pay for sponsoring a coup against a democratic government."
Chavez, as a dictator, has nothing to do with "democratic government". There's certainly nothing like democracy in Venezuela under Chavez, where it is now an explicit crime criticize the dictator.
"Before you start bashing Chavez, please take the time to watch"
I watched this video. It certainly did not make me favor the dictator. It was sort of heartbreaking that the coup almost set Venezuela on a road to decency, but the dictator won out in the end. Now with rigged elections and the laws Chavez passed (including one that requires a long jail term for criticizing the dictator), Latin America is sure to enjoy a few decades of bloodshed, war, and oppression from Venezuela's expansionist "President for Life."
"You've ignored the possibility that Chavez actually despises the actions of the Bush regime and genuinely would like to see a better US foreign policy."
Actually, he wants to "bury the US". I saw him say this in a live speech. What was really surprising was that he neglected to bang on the podium with his shoe while saying it.
"You know who's satisfied? Clear channel. I actually hope that XM and Sirius put them for the most part out of business."
I can go up and down the radio dial without hearing P(uff) D(i/a)ddy or any Clear Channel stations. However, I will find public radio to listen to. Clear Channel is nothing to get bent out of shape about; don't believe the lies that they own everything (or even a majority). Less than 8% does not a majority make.
"If you think that's really true, then you have some things to learn"
I long ago learned the lesson that just because I think Britney Spears is crap does not mean that there are many, many times many more people than me that think the other way. I'm not going to play the opera snob on this.
Slashdot Mirror
Makes sense now.
"because the government subsidizes college, and has sent all the low-skill jobs (that used to pay well) to Mexico and Asia,"
The government did not "send" any jobs. The fault lies with workers, such as the Mexicans/etc, for being better at certain jobs.
Does this make it OK for Kyoto to have China increase its emissions? Show me a fair Kyoto based on science rather than politics, one that does not make the silly assertion that an American CO2 molecule is "evil" and a Chinese CO2 molecule is "good". Only then might it be worthy of consideration.
"They won the case against the version of the PATRIOT act which has already expired. The judge didn't rule on the current version. It really wasn't a waste."
How is it not a waste to win a case against something that did not exist anymore? It makes as much sense as trying a dead man in court.
If you don't like Fox News, why not just change the channel? It's not like it has any huge influence: only a minority pay attention to it. Thanks, also for the obligatory use of the term "propaganda" as a meaning-free pejorative to mean "information I happen to not like.".
Looks like you have been outfoxed by a movement that wants to censor Fox News for not sharing its political ideology. So much for tolerance, and "if you don't like what someone says, ignore it". The far-left's fictional case "against" Fox News reminds me so much of when the far-right makes a big case "against" CBS, also as part of building a case to have licenses pulled (or other forms of censorship).
I know I don't get all bent out of shape because some part of the press says stuff I happen to not like.
" I just watched it on Google video, and while I knew that US gov't/media propaganda against Chavez was bad, I didn't know enough about it to realize it was that bad."
"Propaganda" being information you do not like? This documentary had a very bad ending; as the Venezuelans lost their rights as the dictator prevailed in the end. The title is idiotic anyway: it was televised.
"Bull, Stalin's goal was to consolidate power under the guise of reforms"
That's exactly what Chavez is doing.
"Chavez has created a constitution and made Venezuelans aware of their rights"
It has done that, alright, since they have fewer rights under it.
"He's practically an all-American hero, at least he would be if he wasn't counter to your current economic interests"
"Our economic interests" have nothing to do with this; he's a fascist dictator plain and simple.
"What he has done is very similar to the Boston Tea Party, and you guys are just coming off here as an pissed-off British Empire."
That would be valid exept the truth is opposite of your analogy.
Retaliation against countries that attack you in an attempt to prevent further attacks is not imperialism. If this looks like imperialism to you, there's a problem with either your knowledge of the events or your knowledge of the words.
US imperialism does not exist, nor does a US empire. The US got the hell out of the empire game decades ago. This, his reference to a "US empire" is just his name for the US. If there is one thing Chavez likes, it is actual imperialism. His "mentor", Fidel Castro, was the regional general for the Soviets, and his wars against Central America cost many tens of thousands of lives.
How did I find out about this speech? I watched it at the time, live on C-Span.
"It is heartbreaking when the majority gets their way over the interests of powerful kingmakers"
No, it was just heartbreaking that a slick and brutal fascist dictator prevailed in the end, and closed the door to any hope of democracy in Venezuela. You don't think he's any worse than any other leader (we can discard the idea that he is democratic)? Chavez demonizes others, nobody demonizes him. Remember his big speech on how Jews are the big evil that must be stopped. This sort of fits with his speeches in approval of Iran building nuclear bombs. For another, Chavez is a self-proclaimed socialist. This means that he makes no bones about the idea that his goal is to get as much power for himself. This makes him much worse than other leaders who do not subscribe to the brand of fascism known as socialism.
"how many democratically-elected US governments have been overthrown by Latin American countries?"
Single-party dictatorships are not democratic governments, even if they got into power originally by an election. Answering the question honestly, the US overthrow 0 democracies in Latin America. The "anti-American sentiment coming out of Latin America" is based in ignorance and jealousy; there is no good reason for it.
"Hugo Chavez has offered free heating oil to needy US Citizens due to high prices"
Imagine if Saddam Hussein or some other dictator had done this. It's a stroke of genius; a great PR move. It's cheap and easy to do, and can fool so many people into thinking you are "the good guy". Make no confusion: Chavez has a general loathing of the USA and its people.
"If you live in the Third World and are the object of US foreign policy, you can see that there is in fact an empire exerting its will on you"
That is clearly not the case. This "distinction" is plain only to those who have bought into lunatic Marxist conspiracy theories that have absolutely nothing to do with the real world. By the way, nice Godwin invocation there when you equated the US (or US empire, whatever you want to call it) with the Nazis.
"US Empire", US, Vespucciland, Usonia, Yanquiland, whatever you call it, we know what country is being referred to.
Nor is there anything in the US that makes it an empire (not since prior to WW2, anyway). That's just his name for the country; it's a descriptive adjective he finds useful.
"He can't and doesn't need to cite a source. If the CIA did do something, then one of the results would be that nobody would have evidence that they did it."
The Perfect Argument! Anything anyone can claim that the CIA did, it means they actually did it. It's the natural logical result of the fact that if the CIA did do something, there would be no evidence of it. Lack of any evidence, naturally, is proof of the assertion.
I'm sure glad Carmona was stopped, so now there are no checks and balances on Chavez' dictatorial powers. Because Chavez says he is doing it "to help the poor", the dictator can do no wrong.
"I'd like to see the media in the US start calling for the violent overthrow of the government, which is what happened."
Nice attempt to change the subject. Did you check the link and look at the actual text of the Venezuelan censorship law? It criminalizes mere criticism that is well short of calling for "violent overthrow".
That's no distinction. Regardless of the name he used for the US, he said he would bury it. Mr. Chavez says we will bury you. I don't subscribe to that point of view. It would be such an ignorant thing to do If Venezuelans love their children too..."
"These folk are losing out as Chavez attempts to make his country fairer."
Yes, Stalin said the same thing in the 1930s as he did what he did. Hard to imagine someone believing either of these similar guys (who are both rich, corrupt types).
"Chavez gets to call Bush anything he wants when addressing the UN general assembly. Its a small price you have to pay for sponsoring a coup against a democratic government."
Chavez, as a dictator, has nothing to do with "democratic government". There's certainly nothing like democracy in Venezuela under Chavez, where it is now an explicit crime criticize the dictator.
"Before you start bashing Chavez, please take the time to watch"
I watched this video. It certainly did not make me favor the dictator. It was sort of heartbreaking that the coup almost set Venezuela on a road to decency, but the dictator won out in the end. Now with rigged elections and the laws Chavez passed (including one that requires a long jail term for criticizing the dictator), Latin America is sure to enjoy a few decades of bloodshed, war, and oppression from Venezuela's expansionist "President for Life."
"You've ignored the possibility that Chavez actually despises the actions of the Bush regime and genuinely would like to see a better US foreign policy."
Actually, he wants to "bury the US". I saw him say this in a live speech. What was really surprising was that he neglected to bang on the podium with his shoe while saying it.
There you go. Just stay out in the sun.
Why, because MP3's don't play on commodore 64?
"You know who's satisfied? Clear channel. I actually hope that XM and Sirius put them for the most part out of business."
I can go up and down the radio dial without hearing P(uff) D(i/a)ddy or any Clear Channel stations. However, I will find public radio to listen to. Clear Channel is nothing to get bent out of shape about; don't believe the lies that they own everything (or even a majority). Less than 8% does not a majority make.
"If you think that's really true, then you have some things to learn"
I long ago learned the lesson that just because I think Britney Spears is crap does not mean that there are many, many times many more people than me that think the other way. I'm not going to play the opera snob on this.