# The President can rule by decree. WTF??? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 31, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297 "2007-01-31T18:38:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297/101 "2007-02-01T03:36:39Z")
[QUOTE=ElvisL1ves] One other thing one must accept is that the American ideal, however often flouted, is to support democracy in other countries. Even if we don’t like the leaders those democratic processes select, ya know? [/QUOTE] Do you not believe that allowing Chavez these powers is a step _away_ from democracy? Had the Republican Congress voted Bush such power, what would be your reaction? Do you see any comparison between this and the voting to Hitler of such power by a democratically elected Reichstag? Shit, I’m a leftist, and in some ways a socialist, but I’m also, and even more so, a believer in democratic and/or republican government. The actions of the Venezuelan government should be appalling to those who prize the latter. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297/102 "2007-02-01T03:45:21Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] :dubious: Who’s “we,” Paleface? 'Cause it ain’t gonna be the U.S. [/QUOTE] And now I’ll take the side that portrays Chavez as a victim. **El Cid** is certainly correct that Chavez will only be allowed to run Venezuela as long as a steady and market priced flow of oil proceeds from the country. The oil companies certainly have enough money to finance a revolution, and depending on who is running the U.S. at the time, I have no problem visualizing U.S. assistance in far more emphatic form than the recent coup attempt. ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297/103 "2007-02-01T03:49:22Z")
[QUOTE=Ravenman] So you agree that the Chinese people started having their living conditions improve when the Chinese government began to abandon socialism, but you simply can’t bring yourself to say the words? Coward. [/QUOTE] No I didn’t say that. The last time I saw, China was still is a totalitarian state that has complete state control of the economy. Is that not true? Did living conditions not improve before less restrictions were enforced? Would you consider China less socialistic than Sweden? How about some answers from an expert. ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297/104 "2007-02-01T03:54:43Z")
[QUOTE=El Cid Viscoso] Lima, Ohio, you way-behind dickmonkey. Secondly, you think Peru’s got a Boys’ State program? 😃 [/QUOTE] He was a Venezuelan from Lima, Ohio? ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297/105 "2007-02-01T03:59:24Z")
[QUOTE=CBEscapee] He was a Venezuelan from Lima, Ohio? [/QUOTE] Yes. What are you, slow? ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297/106 "2007-02-01T04:03:27Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] And now I’ll take the side that portrays Chavez as a victim. **El Cid** is certainly correct that Chavez will only be allowed to run Venezuela as long as a steady and market priced flow of oil proceeds from the country. The oil companies certainly have enough money to finance a revolution, and depending on who is running the U.S. at the time, I have no problem visualizing U.S. assistance in far more emphatic form than the recent coup attempt. [/QUOTE] Standard Oil and British Petroleum screamed and threatened when México nationalized oil in 1938. And that was when Britian still had her empire. The oil will still flow. The markets, manipulated as they be, will determine the price. Big oil will still get crude for their refineries. A gringo invasion will alienate all of Latin America and a few other countries too. At least with Chávez, the average Venezuelan may reap some benefit from the revenues instead of the Venezuelan elite. And I know many of them. My daughter’s university here in Guadalajara is filled ith their kids. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297/107 "2007-02-01T04:04:07Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] :dubious: Who’s “we,” Paleface? 'Cause it ain’t gonna be the U.S. [/QUOTE] As for that paleface shit I get the Zorro reference and remain unconvinced. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297/108 "2007-02-01T04:07:05Z")
[QUOTE=El Cid Viscoso] As for that paleface shit I get the Zorro reference and remain unconvinced. [/QUOTE] :rolleyes: Zorro != the Lone Ranger. You dumbass pop-cultural illiterate. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297/109 "2007-02-01T04:08:20Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] The oil companies certainly have enough money to finance a revolution . . . [/QUOTE] At this point, it will take more than money. A lot more. ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297/110 "2007-02-01T04:09:03Z")
[QUOTE=El Cid Viscoso] You know, one of my fraternity brothers was from Venezuela [/QUOTE] So where the fuck is he from then, pendejo? ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297/111 "2007-02-01T04:16:40Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] :rolleyes: Zorro != the Lone Ranger. You dumbass pop-cultural illiterate. [/QUOTE] Wow, you’re even dumber than I imagined. Did you think the Lone Ranger is a unique concept? Even your pop culture is stolen. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297/112 "2007-02-01T04:17:38Z")
[QUOTE=El Cid Viscoso] Don’t be so angry. [/quote] One can not be angry in front of one talking nonsense. It is kinda fun actually because one does not need to search much for a reply, just some memory is needed, no need to research for an answer, why be angry at that? 🙂 > [@](#): > > Somewhere along the line he must’ve fucked you in the ear, I guess. As I said already that I’m not approving of his latest move, I think you have some reading comprehension problems too. > [@](#): > > He is not a businessman. He has no oil connections. > > One day soon Pres Chávez will be cornholed by Chevron. They’ll be gentle and lube him up with light sweet crude and he’ll become another oil company whore until he either caves or we hang him. Simple fact. I think that is what I said, you numbnuts. Being able to make the oil flow saved him, but only because Chevron is happy so far. > [@](#): > > Furthermore, Chávez’s _Teen-Beat_-style poster of Fidel won’t help him here. Chávez is holding treasure. Castro held an avocado stone and will die in a desert. I do think the embargo is the item that helped keep Castro up in power by giving him an excuse for his mismanagement. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297/113 "2007-02-01T04:20:21Z")
[QUOTE=CBEscapee] The oil will still flow. The markets, manipulated as they be, will determine the price. Big oil will still get crude for their refineries. [/QUOTE] That was my point, I believe. Chevron, or whatever companies are involved there couldn’t care less what Chavez does, as long as the oil flows. > [@](#): > > A gringo invasion will alienate all of Latin America and a few other countries too. Please demonstate any time since the founding of the U.S. when we have shown that we give a shit. Seriously. That sentence was a bit harsh, but (as said) depending on who is running the country, when choosing between alienating Latin America or securing our (possibly synonymous) national or business interests, our attitude has always been: “How many divisions has the Pope?” ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297/114 "2007-02-01T04:25:18Z")
[QUOTE=CBEscapee] So where the fuck is he from then, pendejo? [/QUOTE] He was from Venezuela, douchebag. He was an awesome tennis player and man, could he drop some nasty, toilet-clogging Chávez. (I should know, I was the House Manager.) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297/115 "2007-02-01T04:27:07Z")
[QUOTE=El Cid Viscoso] He was from Venezuela, douchebag. He was an awesome tennis player and man, could he drop some nasty, toilet-clogging Chávez. (I should know, I was the House Manager.) [/QUOTE] Was it ever mixed with Santorum? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297/116 "2007-02-01T04:29:35Z")
[QUOTE=El Cid Viscoso] Did you think the Lone Ranger is a unique concept? [/QUOTE] Yes. Zorro, BTW, was the invention of an [Anglo](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnston_McCulley) writer. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297/117 "2007-02-01T04:30:30Z")
[QUOTE=El Cid Viscoso] Wow, you’re even dumber than I imagined. Did you think the Lone Ranger is a unique concept? Even your pop culture is stolen. [/QUOTE] Listen **Tonto** , Zorro’s idea was stolen from Robin Hood and the The Scarlet Pimpernel, heroes who helped the people against tyranny. The Lone Ranger was a crime fighter, and IIRC the Shadow was the first. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297/118 "2007-02-01T04:34:55Z")
Well then if you guys are fans of Batman, I’ve got something sad to say. Jesus. Can we get serious? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297/119 "2007-02-01T04:36:26Z")
[QUOTE=El Cid Viscoso] Well then if you guys are fans of Batman, I’ve got something sad to say. Jesus. Can we get serious? [/QUOTE] You were?!?!? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297/120 "2007-02-01T04:38:59Z")
[QUOTE=El Cid Viscoso] Can we get serious? [/QUOTE] No. You must have missed this standard joke: [zillions of Indians surround the Lone Ranger and Tonto] Lone Ranger: We’re in trouble now, Tonto! Tonto: What do you mean we, white man? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-can-rule-by-decree-wtf/390297.md?page=7)