I would like to apologize for one of my negative comments about Venzuelan president Hugo Chavez.

[LoZoccolo]

I think I had said before that he'd eventually become a dictator. Now I realize that I might be wrong.

[dkf]

1. Yeah due to circumstances beyond his control.

[a la izquierda]

2. I'm sure that you and dkf are just heartbroken.

[dkf]

6. Are you?

[a la izquierda]

7. Why the hell would I be heartbroken?

I study the region for a living. Do I think he should continually re-tool to keep himself in power? Not in the slightest. However, do you have any idea what will happen if that man dies? Do you know that there are elements in this country who are simply licking their lips to get someone pro-US in power?
The US has utterly destroyed Latin American countries over less. I would prefer that his people heft him out of office, than him die and Venezuela descend into chaos and violence.

[Spider Jerusalem]

3. True, he may become a corpse first.

Meanwhile you have one of his brothers talking about "armed struggle":

Chavez’s older brother said Venezuela’s ruling party wants to retain power by defeating foes in elections. But he told government supporters that they should be ready to take up arms if necessary.

“As authentic revolutionaries, we cannot forget other forms of fighting,” he said during a prayer meeting for Chavez’s health in the leader’s home state of Barinas.
more

Which sounds almost as though he's expecting Chavez to die and there to be an ensuing power vacuum which gives the opposition the upper hand while the Chavistas are in disarray.

[MouseFitzgerald]

4. Venezuela has had more elections in the past 10 years

than almost any country on earth, which makes me laugh when I hear people try to call Chavez a dictator.

[hack89]

8. Zimbabwe has had just as many elections.

elections and dictators are not mutually exclusive.

[Electric Monk]

5. This isn't news. It'll be news when you're right about something.

[tekisui]

9. Auto unrec.

[dionysus]

10. i hear the gallhager brother have leprosy... dooga dooga dooga...

[Obamanaut]

11. You "...would like to..." or you 'are going to'? There was no apology

there, just a statement that you would like to do so.

I think it needs a poll.