WTDY Host "Sly" Praises Hugo Chavez

Madison’s long time “shock jock” Sly Sylvester on WTDY 1670 AM knows you create audience with controversy. It was only a couple months ago he called Condoleezza Rice an Aunt Jemima, which even the NAACP conceded was inappropriate. Because Sly is an individual working hard to maintain himself as a local celebrity it is hard to tell if he really believes that Venezuela under Chavez is better than American under Bush.

“And while I am not suggesting that the United States is becoming a third world country, it is interesting to note that Venezuela's government and the United States' government are moving their respective countries in two different directions. Heading in the wrong direction, unfortunately, is the United States.”

Sly knows there is an audience in Madison that eats up everything anyone can say bad about the Bush administration, but all these twenty something activist liberals should take a long hard look at Hugo Chavez, and what his administration is doing to South America’s oldest democracy. For a detailed profile of a socialist it is hard to beat the talent analysts at The Nation.

Hugo Chavez and Petro Populism: “Lately Chávez has been talking about a "revolution within the revolution," about "transcending capitalism" and about "building a socialism for the twenty-first century." It is a discourse that frightens his enemies, electrifies his base and inspires the left throughout Latin America.” … Just as the urban poor and campesinos love Chávez because of his swarthy, indigenous looks, tight curly hair and his rough, down-to-earth talk, so too are the wealthier classes driven apoplectic with rage by the fact that their president looks likes a construction worker or cab driver.”

"They lost because Chávez has a deep emotional connection with the people, and they have no connection with the people. Also, he has spent a lot of money on the barrios. He pours money into the barrios." In 2004 government spending jumped 47 percent, much of which went to pay for healthcare and education--the missions. But despite the oil windfall, the government has had to borrow heavily. Instead of turning to international financiers, it has increased its internal debt to Venezuelan banks.”

“Garcia says that in the past four years this internal debt has gone from $2 billion to more than $27 billion. The Finance Ministry confirms these figures and says that 60 percent of this debt is held in government bonds. "But what makes this really crazy," says Garcia, "is that the government is depositing all its oil revenue in the same banks at about 5 percent, then borrowing it back at 14 percent. It's a very easy way for bankers to make money. That's why I say this is a government for the rich."

To sum up, Chavez is a dictator in the making who is using whatever means necessary to achieve power. He is using the money from Venezuela’s oil industry to buy the votes of the poor while demonstrating financial discipline similar to the restraint of an alcoholic locked in a liquor warehouse. The financial ineptitude is so obvious not even an admiring writer for The Nation can ignore the reality of a country heedlessly on its way to bankruptcy.

When a thief runs out of available money the next step is to grab weapons and start stealing directly, or start selling some of them for big profit to other criminals. Chavez has already handed over Venezuela’s judicial and security forces to Cuba’s Fidel Castro whom he openly admires and emulates. There is also extensive evidence that Chavez has close working relationships with Columbia’s socialist guerilla force “FARC” and other international groups with anti-American intentions.

Pentagon Chief Escalates Threats Against Venezuela: “Echoing US rhetoric from the Cold War, Rumsfeld described Venezuela’s agreement to buy military hardware from Russia as a threat to the hemisphere. “Certainly I’m concerned,” he said, referring to the arms deal, which involves the purchase of 100,000 AK-47 rifles as well as 10 military helicopters from Moscow.”

Overview PDF (11 Pages): An overview on the dynamics of Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro, terrorism and its international supporters.

Hugo Chavez is rapidly becoming the most dangerous threat to America in this hemisphere but this will not be picture the Madison media paints for their target audience. The kids think Chavez is out saving the rain forest.