Dead by popular demand, here'sssssss Huuuugo !

Petro-dollars.

Chavez, he say no thanks, gringo.

It's always the same pattern. The US supports anyone no matter their political stripe provided they play the petro-dollar game and maintain US currency in reserve.

If not then all agencies from the military to the press are deployed with the inevitable result that US citizens become somehow personally invested, hence the inane and entirely irrational hatred of a man who's made no material difference to said US citizens.

The opprobrium piled at Chavez' door from ill-informed US citizens is akin to the feelings one might have towards a murderous rapist who'd targeted one's one kids.

Ditto Saddam and Ahmadinejad.

It's a con and millions of ignorant, manipulated Americans and sundry other westerners fall for it time and time again.

BTW, these petro-dollars do not end up in your pockets. Ever.

You get just enough sloppy seconds to stop you caring or acting or even thinking.