re: #125 kirkspencer

He was very anti-American and so I will not praise him. But he did right by his people and so I am hesitant to condemn.

Destroying press freedom isn’t doing right by your people. Nor are many of his other political abuses.

hrw.org

President Hugo Chvez, who has governed Venezuela for 14 years, was elected to another six-year term in October 2012. During his presidency, the accumulation of power in the executive branch and the erosion of human rights guarantees have enabled his government to intimidate, censor, and prosecute Venezuelans who criticize the president or thwart his political agenda. President Chvez and his supporters have used their powers in a wide range of cases involving the judiciary, the media, and human rights defenders. Prison violence and police abuse remain serious problems.

You’re using the ‘he made the trains run on time’ argument.