[xm177e2]

Chavez, a former army paratrooper who is wildly popular with the poor

Not true, he's fallen under 50% even with the poorest quintile, I think. There was a thread on it a few days back.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The media consistently reports that 80% of Venezuleans live in poverty, yet Chavez is under 30% approval. He has armed his hardcore supporters, Chavistas, who grow ever increasingly more violent.

[chilepepper]

Yah, you have to think of the phrase

Chavez-who-is-wildly-popular-with-the-poor

as the NAME he has been given by the US socialist press, a game i can play too. how about

gennifer-of-the-Flowers

bubba-of-the-Stain

janet-defender-of-children

or

jimmuh-the-rabbit-slayer-and-nobel-peace-prize-winner