I like the fact that a national and 'world' leader (Chavez) is compelled to use name-calling as a form of diplomacy. While our own President Bush says that we have no intentions of hostility toward the Venezuelans, or any wish to "take" their oil (they already sell most it to us anyway)...

...yet people feel sympathetic towards Chavez and hostile towards POTUS Bush.

So how is that we are supposed to show them respect. We already bankroll their military and society as a whole through legal oil sales. And our leader doesn't feel compelled to call Chavez a socialist pig...who’s the one that needs to show the respect here?

Did the world not learn anything from the effects of socialism in the 20th century? I think at last count socialism was responsible for well over 70,000,000 deaths from collectivization, 'purifications', political cleansing, etc.

Every country who has tried socialism/communism has lost 1/4 to 1/2 of their population due to the insanity that is the "equalization" of the society. Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, Ho Chi Minh, Castro, etc...ring any bells here?