Someone to Admire?

It's been well-documented how much our current pres admires Hugo Chavez, the socialist Venezuelan dictator. If none of his other policies and actions give people pause, that alone should do it. Chavez is not only a despicable megalomaniac (kinda like Bammy), he continues to strengthen his iron grip on his country, makes every effort to interfere with the politics of neighboring nations to spread his communist vision throughout South and Central America, and never misses a chance to rail against the United States (and, ironically, makes fun of Hussein along the way). Chavez is a danger to personal freedoms everywhere.

Ol' Hugo is well on his way to turning Venezuela into an All-Star totalitarian regime. He controls all but one of the media outlets in the country, not to mention most of its economic infrastructure. The lengths he goes to in an effort to silence opposition voices is downright Orwellian. He arrests his critics on a whim, holds them without trial, confiscates their property, and when necessary (which is usually quite often) attacks family members. Complain about Chavez's policies? Under arrest. Complain that the government has confiscated land without cause or compensation? Under arrest. Low enough on the totem pole to be a convenient scapegoat for another presidential gaffe? Under arrest. Farmer, merchant, teacher, policeman...doesn't matter. Speak out against Chavez and you're taking your life in your own hands. Intentionally vague and all-encompassing charges of "conspiracy" are rampant. Chavez even has his own TV show, which he uses not only to harangue the oppressed masses, but to publicly denounce his enemies and "suggest" prison terms for them. Assuming, of course, the process has actually gotten that far. By law, the authorities can keep a case open for 6 months, and return one of three verdicts: the person is innocent, there is enough evidence to go to trial, or the case needs further review and is held open for another 6 months, in which case a person can be held without trial indefinitely. Sounds like an impressive nightmare to me, and I've barely scratched the surface of Chavez's regime.

So what is there in Chavez for Hussein to admire? Someone needs to ask the prez that question.

Intolerant Me

That's pretty much the story these days. People finding me intolerant because I have opinions and convictions that I'm willing to stand up for, willing to defend. I am unwilling to see things through an ultra-broad, gray-shaded, multicultural lens, hence, I am a hate-filled, paranoid psychotic with all sorts of sick ideas in my head.

You betcha. I actually had a now-former friend tell me my postings were "sick". Not that it's a big deal: said ex-friend is a vegetarian, tree-hugging, non-violent, agnostic neo-hippie, so it's not like we had much discourse anyway. He's a real "tool": i.e., a hyper-liberal douchebag that just can't understand why everyone doesn't think like him. He finds my abhorrence of islam "intolerant", and my personal opinion of the Dear Reader "sick". Never mind that he has only the most basic understanding of islam; he knows he is right because he had a few muslim kids in a music class on 9/11. Never mind the fact that Hussein is actively trying to dismantle America; he met Hussein and his Klingon wife in another music class, when he was just a do-nothing senator/community organizer/ socialist rabble-rouser/ Chicago Machine flunky, and really digs him, I guess.

So, following this natural progression, I'm a complete maniac that's a danger to himself and society. Personally, I'm surprised he had the stones to make such a bold move; he's always been the soft and wishy-washy type. No matter: now I can add him to the "friends I don't need" list with a clear conscience. Bit of a shame, really: we had been friends since junior high, and had some really good times together. But foolish sentiment isn't going to keep my kids safe in an increasingly dangerous world, so he can cram it with organic walnuts while he admires the galloping herds of free-range chickens he doesn't eat.

But maybe I should practice being more tolerant, like these guys.

And maybe Bammy does know what he's doing...but more likely he doesn't.

At any rate...screw you, hippie! And the community organizer you rode in on!