What Is With the Left and Hugo Chavez?

from JoeUser Forums
Sometimes I just don't understand what goes on in the mind of the left, and their "stars" like Sean Penn, Sheehan, Danny Glover and the other people who seem to embrace the worlds most "popular" dictators.  Just a few days ago Penn took a trip to visit Chavez after having some phone conversations.

Some of the more interesting comments during the visit:

"In America there is a huge gap between rich and poor. Corporate millionaires live the high life, while the vast majority live empty lives of grinding poverty. All the while, the Bush Administration stands by and does nothing to bridge this gap. But in Venezuela, Chavez is seizing the reins of government and transferring the nation’s wealth to the poor. He is truly a model for what an American president should be." Penn said he hopes a Democratic sweep in the 2008 election "will enable the U.S. government to make the kind of progress Chavez has made in his country."

So what is it with the left and their support for such dictators like Chavez?



politics
3,080 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
As I say, I am no fan of stupid, and while I agree with the essential facts of regarding poverty in America, I certainly do not advocate dictatorships, seizure of property and the like. I think each side is susceptable to smoke: the right seems to like people like Dick Half-Cocked Cheney as they think erosions and sacrifices of freedoms for the sake of protection is a good trade, whereas the left can be seduced by the sweet talk of a despot. In both cases I say dumb seems to rule.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
This hasn't been a recent development. During the advent of the Russian Revolution, the establishment of the Soviet Union, and the Cold War, there were many lefties who sent back glowing reports of the beauties of the Communist system. Clean streets, stocked shelves, and as always, excellent universal health care. Their Soviet handlers were happy to show these sympathetic pseudo-journalists and celebrities the bright, sunny side of the socialist state, knowing that they'd go home and spout platitudes about their wonderful tour. And tear down the capitalist state from which they received their celebrity.
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
In the case of Mr. Penn, it is probably that he is wealthy enough, and has enough of his money overseas that he doesn't worry if taxes triple.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top

Because as long as Chavez and Castro speak out against the U.S, they have a friend in Hollywood.

They think it's the government's job to "kiss it and make it all better", instead of using their own means to try to affect change in the world.

 

Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
while the vast majority live empty lives of grinding poverty


This is not accurate at all. Since we're not millionaires then we are obviously living empty lives of grinding poverty. I'm not saying that there aren't poor people in the U.S. but I don't think it's the vast majority. I also think we have the "richest" poor in the world. Our poor has many things that used to be considered luxuries, televisions, game systems, DVD players etc. That sure takes the edge off of the grinding poverty. Sean Penn needs to continue on his world tour and see what real grinding poverty is.

Oh yeah, and we should look to a dictator who has seized assets, has the national guard fire rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters, shut down a opposition TV station, continues to nationalize businesses to the point that now the wealthy Venezuelans are starting to move to the U.S. The next Fidel Castro should be our inspiration? Chavez is the biggest reason that I can see to start walking and riding a bike. I hate to see my money going to support someone like him when I fill up at the gas station.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
but I don't think it's the vast majority.


It is most certainly NOT the majority, and I thank you for pointing that out. Only 13% of people in the US live below the federally defined standard of poverty, which is SIGNIFICANTLY higher than the World Bank standard of poverty, which applies a standard of $1 a day or less. Incidentally, 20% of the world lives below that standard. So, even using our OWN standards, we still have a significantly smaller percentage living in poverty.

Sean Penn is this generation's Hanoi Jane, and he should be ashamed. He is showing himself to have an intellectual capacity approximately equal to that of Jeff Spiccolli, the stoned out loser he played in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" almost three decades ago.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
And when did Sean Penn give his millions to the poor, as he is demanding CEO's to do? I missed that headline!
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Penn said he hopes a Democratic sweep in the 2008 election "will enable the U.S. government to make the kind of progress Chavez has made in his country."


At least Penn gets credit for admitting that the true agenda of the Democratic Party is socialism!
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
At least Penn gets credit for admitting that the true agenda of the Democratic Party is socialism!


I'm sure we will see more of it as the election gets closer.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top

I doubt that Penn, et. al. actually talked to any of those "paradisian" Venezuelans that he thinks we should emulate.  If he had, he would realize they are not getting that money that Chavez is stealing, and indeed, those with any means (we are not talking rich, but the middle class of the country) are trying to get here.  To the land of grinding poverty etc.

What makes me wonder is how they can be so stupid and still memorize a line for a movie.  Idiot savants I guess.