This one was simply way too easy to pass up on. Hugo Chavez staged a photo-op with Sean Penn. Ian James, Associated Press:
LA GRITA, Venezuela – Aboard the presidential jet, a grinning Hugo Chavez put a hand on Sean Penn‘s shoulder, praised his acting and added: “And he’s anti-Bush!”
The Venezuelan president reveled in his role as host to the Hollywood star as they flew across the country Friday and traveled through the countryside in a military jeep with Chavez at the wheel, stopping to greet cheering supporters.
This quote of Chavez struck me:
Enlivened by his conversations with Penn, the socialist president lambasted the U.S. government for “destroying the world” with war and warned of brewing economic troubles, saying Washington should do much more for its own poor.
I dust off my quote from earlier today A description of our poor:
[H]as a car, air conditioning, a refrigerator, a stove, a clothes washer and dryer, and a microwave. He has two color televisions, cable or satellite TV reception, a VCR or DVD player, and a stereo. He is able to obtain medical care. His home is in good repair and is not overcrowded. By his own report, his family is not hungry and he had sufficient funds in the past year to meet his family’s essential needs.
A description of Caracas, we posted earlier this year:
CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb. 16 — Faced with an accelerating inflation rate and shortages of basic foods like beef, chicken and milk, President Hugo Chávez has threatened to jail grocery store owners and nationalize their businesses if they violate the country’s expanding price controls.
In the country of George W. Bush, the poor have plenty to eat. In Mr. Chavez’s country, even the middle class do not have sufficient food. So which country does Sean Penn profess to perfer? But in whch one does Penn live? Answer, where he can eat.
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