Topic: Hugo Chavez dead

[Chuckles, The Space Marine Clown]

Indeed he is.

The reactions to this news will be mixed, to say the least. And it's going to be interesting watching how Kerry's State Department handles this. Negative points for any painfully unsubtle attempts to secure a pro-US candidate while issuing platitudes of regret.

[Irisado]

I knew that he was very ill, but I didn't see this coming.

It certainly opens up a whole can of worms regarding US-Latin American relations in general, and will also have an impact on EU, and Spanish foreign policy, in terms of their dealing with Venezuela, and Latin America too.

I just hope that the US won't meddle.  It has a pretty negative history of trying to involve itself in the political affairs of Latin American countries, so a different approach would be refreshing.

[Rasmus]

I always liked Hugo. Sure he was a bit of a nut, very left-wing and a conspiracy-believer, but he did a great many good things for his people. And he was president twice, once before, and then again after the coup against him. Big brass jingles on that guy.
Sad to see him pass. Hope this does not start out any real violence or despotic aristocratic rule (which Venezuela is prone to).

[Chuckles, The Space Marine Clown]

As Irisado says, a lot comes down to whether the US can restrain itself from meddling. Their track record in this area is not great, but that doesn't by any means make it a foregone conclusion. We'll just have to wait and see. Prepare for Fox News blowhards calling this an "opportunity" to "help free" Venezuelans.

As for the man himself- a crazy, crazy awesome kind of dude. Freely giving the finger to powers considerably greater than his own, campaigning on a platform of supporting the poor and then actually doing it when elected, sticking up for the underdog (sometimes with unfortunate results). I wouldn't describe him as a hero or anything, but I had a lot of respect for the guy, and I'm sad to see him pass.