From the UKDailyMailOnline:
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has died in hospital at the age of 58 after developing a severe respiratory infection during his battle with cancer.
The country’s vice president Nicolas Maduro, surrounded by other government officials, made the announcement during a national television broadcast tonight.
He said that the long-standing president died at 4:25pm local time, using the broadcast to call for ‘unity, tranquility and understanding’.
The death could trigger an election to determine who will replace the socialist leader, after his illness prevented him from taking the oath of office after being re-elected last year.
A government spokesman had earlier said that the far-left leader, who has held control in the country for 14 years, was in a ‘very delicate’ condition in hospital.
The news comes just hours after Mr Maduro announced that two U.S. Embassy officials were expelled for meeting with military officers and planning to destabilise the country.
But here comes the spin and attack on America:
Maduro also said there was ‘no doubt’ that Chavez’s cancer, which was first diagnosed in June 2011, was induced by foul play by ‘the historical enemies of our homeland’.
Cindy Sheehan, Harry Belafonte and Sean Penn are all bursting with tears today.
There’s the spin. So what is the future of Venezuela?
Frankly, I have only one care or concern about Venezuela and it has to do with oil.
1. Canada
2. Mexico
3. Saudi Arabia
4. Venezuela
5. Nigeria
6. Angola
7. Iraq
8. Algeria
9. United Kingdom
10. Brazil
These are the top ten sources of foreign oil for the United States, listed in terms of amount, from greatest to least.
Venezuela was already a destabilized country in the southern hemisphere. And our number four oil source. Citgo in America is 50% owned by Venezuela.
I couldn’t care less about Chavez. But my question: how will Venezuela go now? Further left? More anti-American? And how will that affect oil production and therefore gas availability in the United States with gas prices already at major highs even before the annual “Summer price gouging”?
BZ
What’s next? He rots in hell? Who cares? The son of a bitch is DEAD and Venezuela is not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things…
Obama may be in mourning but I’m not, I mourn Chavez in exactly the same wa I plan to mourn Jimmy Carter when he finally croaks: Beer and Nachos! 😈
Concur. All I give a shite about is: “the spice must flow.”
BZ
Ah, yes – the oil question. Venezuela held their oil production over our heads, to no avail – anytime they tightened the pipe, someone else loosened it.
The question is: How will The O use this “crisis” to his advantage? More pressure to get rid of fossil fuels? More push towards green and more expensive energy sources? Declare exhaustion and take another golfing vacation in Hawaii? One thing for sure – O cares not even one Shite for the country of which he is pResident.
Watch the other hand, folks …
Bingo, Obama will figure a way to make this a *crisis* and use it to his advantage..
Yes indeed. Sleight of hand.
A given thing.
BZ
Chavez “was” just another communist “turd” in the world’s punch bowl.
Will Venezuela continue to be a communist puppet?
I expect so, as most all of the population lives on the Government’s dole.
Just exactly like what Obama wants to do to the USA.
Yes, they have oil. Just like Mexico.
We helped them develop their fields, trained them to drill and refine, and they kicked us out of their country.
We should never forget this.
Barry Soetero, our fake Pres, still gives them things. Stupid.
And yet the Shitstick Obaka purposely WANTS Conflict Oil OVER the oil that rests underneath our OWN country.
BZ
I concur with with Texasfred. I guess socialist medicine didn’t work too well for him did it.
Shame.
Yep, NOW it gets interesting… Who’s going to replace him, and what will he do with the oil?
Whoever replaces him will be just as venal and money/power hungry. The oil will continue to flow until the infrastructure collapses.
Hugo Chavez was certainly sincere and passionate about social justice, but I don’t believe he choose the best road to reach that goal. Historically, socialism has always been detrimental to the nations it was supposed to serve. Also, I don’t understand why Chavez hated America so much. By the way, I noticed that countries whose leaders hate America are most of the times countries where atrocities are commited on a daily basis…
First, Shanna, thank you for visiting and thank you for taking the time to comment. Please come back frequently.
However, when I think of social justice Mr Chavez doesn’t first pop into my wheelhouse. I know of no regime or country in history where Socialism worked. Problem is, everyone thinks that THEIR version of Socialism will somehow be markedly better and more effective than that of anyone else. Your last sentence nails it.
BZ