Mourning Venezuelans parade Chavez's coffin, prepare for vote

Chavez improved the lives of many of the poorest Venezuelans, but set the national economy back by decades.

Hell has a new resident tonight, and his reservation has no check-out date. Do you believe now, Hugo?

Say hello to Saddam and Osama. The world is a better place now.

Rest in peace el Presidente. Your legacy will live on in the world for ever. Thank you!

My sadness is underwhelming.

A leader and political figure that took a stand against global financial interests all in the name of his country and people.
The world will be a lesser place from this day on.

Rest in peace, noble knight… Your name will go down in the annals of socialism, justice and anti-imperialism. Americans will hate your name, but free people around the world will worship you as a a saint.

“Hundreds of emotional “chavista” loyalists gathered outside the military hospital where the president spent his last two weeks. A female TV reporter from neighboring Colombia was beaten up, and gunshots were fired in the air.”

That about sums up Chavez’s whole political scene in a nice concise paragraph. Thanks Reuters.

Perhaps now the U.S. will be able to purchase oil closer to home instead of the mid east? Maybe now someone with common sense will be willing to negotiate?

So, all I heard so far from this and other articles is that — he is bad president because the poor folks are getting the benefit of the oil boom instead of the rich ?? He remained in power because by appeasing the masses ?

@hmmmiwonder: shows how little you americans actually know about anything… About 10% of your oil comes from the middle east. The rest comes from where??? VENEZUELA, Mexico and primarily Canada.

To JapanViewer; get professional help, and speak for yourself.

It’s ironic to see people sympathetic to American capitalism lambasting Chavez’s “evil/corrupt” connections (Ahmedinejad and other OPEC leaders) when the US supported ruthless regimes in its past: Pinochet, Saudi Arabia, Osama Bin Laden, Videla, Saddam, et al. I would say that the US has involved itself with more evils than any dictator within the past thirty years.

For Joe_Casepack: You will give! Comandante forever in the hearts of the wise men! Russia mourns together with Venezuela!

A female reporter was beaten , That says it all. Why do these people and people like Penn and Stone place these left wing despots on a pedestal of gold. Chavez ammassed a fortune of billions from the oil companies nationalization. THAT is the point of socialist to take for them self and to fool the people into believing thta they are creating a better life for the populus. Only brain dead morons like the left in Hollywood support the leaders who do this. I say, STONE and Penn, Please go there and make the same fortunes that America has bestowed on you. Go There, Live among the people who he kept the resources from and enjoy that life. PUT UP or SHUT UP. We will keep America for us and you can live under the communist and socialist yoke of Freedom. I know, by Lunch you will beg to return, however; I hope by that time the borders will be closed and your passports revoked.

Good riddance to rubbish.

I think Chavez did some okay things to help his people but all in all the man was crazy. He did business with the FARC allowing for contriband to be transported between the two countries in a deal to back support for a plot to control Colombia (unlikely). Amongst many other beliefs to have that upper region become one country for him to control, made it so he could win every election and continue to lead for the rest of his life. I’m sorry but if you believe that things hpen for a reason, than one con not help but think that this was meant to be . He was unbelievable for some of the thing he did and they were borderline tyrant-like. I say if it walked like a duck, quacked like a duck it might just be a duck. At least he didn’t kill his own people
L.

@sabrina12 . . . I suppose the yoke of capitalism works wonders for the rest of the world, right?

I viva el comandante! Rest in peace, Russia grieves with the people of Venezuela

Comandante with us, Comandante alive!
Eternal glory

Chavez was elected, and Venezuela is now far more democratic than your 2-party dictorship ever will be, Amoronicans!

Vovan, Russia should grieve for its own people, as most of the smart ones are leaving Putinland….

Chavez pretty much ruined Venezuela’s economy for the next generation.

Ironic, that politicians in both Russia and Venezuela employ the same populist policies of literally dolling out money to those who support them and both leaders rigged the system so they can stay in power indefinitely.

I guess all peoples deserve their leaders to a certain extent, but even the US was stuck with Bush Jr. for two terms. There are stupid people everywhere.

Bush has more in common with Osama than Chavez. But don’t listen to those silly “brown ones” who are mourning the loss of their popular leader. Listen to Faux snooze and all the other oligarchy-friendly media outlets. Americans will never understand that THEY don’t have the right the dictate what other countries do. Chavez was the duly elected president, whether Americans like it or not. I sincerely hope his predecessor continues to improve the lives of ordinary, working Venezuelans: whether Americans like it or not.

@Life1

You are correct. Most Americans don’t know this either, we get over 1/3 of our Oil domestically. Canada is second highest with 15%. Well over half of our oil is from North America. Add 19% from Latin America, and close to 3/4 of our is from the western hemisphere. Americans aren’t well known for being the most informed people on the planet, just the most arrogant.

As far as Chavez goes, he destroyed his countries economy and effectively lowered the quality of life pushing everyone to be poorer. This is what socialism does, it exists for the state, not the people, and Chavez was the state. Ah yes, public housing and food stamps for all. What a wonderful life that would be…

@KDMX:

I don’t know why you are making this about (presumably North) “Americans?”

Most North Americans have a vague idea of Venezuela and probably most don’t even know what Chavez is, or was.

But the fact is that that he rigged elections, removed term limits, dolled out the country’s wealth to his supporters and took corruption to new highs in Venezuela. Venezuela is today a country in shambles and on much shakier ground than it was before Chavez took office. And the poor will pay at the end.

I actually know Venezuela, what it was and what it has become. BTW, Chavez did good business with some very rich “Americans” who couldn’t care less if he raped the country for another twenty years, had he lived that long. He was a cynical bastard and dimwits like you are a good example that nobody has ever lost money (or elections) by underestimating the stupidity of people.

@KDMX:

I don’t know why you are making this about (presumably North) “Americans?”

Most North Americans have a vague idea of Venezuela and probably most don’t even know what Chavez is, or was.

But the fact is that that he rigged elections, removed term limits, dolled out the country’s wealth to his supporters and took corruption to new highs in Venezuela. Venezuela is today a country in shambles and on much shakier ground than it was before Chavez took office. And the poor will pay at the end.

I actually know Venezuela, what it was and what it has become. BTW, Chavez did good business with some very rich “Americans” who couldn’t care less if he raped the country for another twenty years, had he lived that long. He was a cynical bastard and dimwits like you are a good example that nobody has ever lost money (or elections) by underestimating the stupidity of people.