Posted on 01/07/2013 4:33:55 PM PST by BenLurkin
The orchestra played and loyal lawmakers erupted in adulatory applause as Hugo Chavez invoked Fidel Castro and Jesus Christ as his revolutionary role models.
His right hand raised, the fiery Venezuelan leader echoed the famous call to arms of his Cuban mentor. "Fatherland, socialism or death," he proclaimed, then added with a typical flourish: "I swear by Christ, the greatest socialist in history." That was six years ago as "El Commandante" was sworn in for his third term as president and blew kisses to rose petal-tossing crowds when he returned in an open-topped car to his palace to watch a military parade.
On Thursday, the ideologue - who has used his country's oil riches to bankroll left-wing bed-fellows across Latin America, forged a cosy alliance with Iran and assailed the US from its back yard - is due to be celebrating his next inauguration.
But there will be no joyous scenes. For this weekend, he is lying close to death in a Cuban hospital bed, quite possibly being kept alive on a ventilator, suffering from respiratory problems and a severe lung infection after his fourth round of surgery in 18 months for an undisclosed type of pelvic cancer.
His illness has already sparked a constitutional crisis in Venezuela, where he won a hotly-contested election in October but has not yet started a new term. His death would send shock waves across the region and could endanger the survival of Cuba's communist regime which is dependent on his largesse for cheap oil.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Probably the biggest shockwave will be the final recognition that Chavez can actually die.
GOOD!
why would anyone possibly be “shocked” by it?
good riddance to bad rubbish
Sounds like Hugo may have contracted BOOP. Rare form of pneumonia. Prognosis? Dim, when coupled with all his other ailments...
I am all for a Venezuelan Shockwave! Maybe it will be large enough to reach the brain dead citizens here in the US. A lot of pain in Venezuela will be a good thing. It will teach their citizens what idiots they’ve been.
Chavanistas like Sean Penn. I hope he has a breakdown.
I wonder if he smells sulfur?
He can’t become soylent green, he’s toxic, he has to be turned into toilet bowl cleaner
Tyrants.
They never last.
They come and go so fast.
So strong, and then they’re past.
Unfortunately if there is any way that Obama can use American money to insure that a dictatorship remains in power and is supported, he will find it!
Death of Hugo Chavez could set off shock waves to OBAMA
The only good commie....
And this could even provide an unexpected little boost to our economy.
Fatherland, socialism, or death.
Guess it’s death, then.
the only good commie...is commiepost. makes your roses really red.
Will King Barry attend the funeral?
Or will he send Hillary?
I hope Colombia is on high military alert. They have a window where they could wipe out every single threat East of the Llanos in a quick cleanup operation. The power vacuum will be limited before the next strong man can truly take the helm.
I expect he'll put out an EO for flags at half mast for the next month or two...
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