# This just in - Hugo Chavez is still crazy \[says US machine caused Haiti quake\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 21, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860 "2010-01-21T17:04:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860/61 "2010-01-22T16:35:15Z")
**This just in - Hugo Chavez is still crazy.** And Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead. ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860/62 "2010-01-22T18:25:05Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I have to wonder how much of his own rantings he actually believes. I’m inclined to think ol’ Hugo just likes stirring up shit. He is a bit of an attention whore. > > He’s also insane, in my unqualified opinion. So, in other words, he’s an object lesson for us - he’s what would have happened if Sarah Palin had control of the White House? Glad you dodged that bullet … ---
**Author:** ![dobieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@dobieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dobieman)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860/63 "2010-01-22T18:33:07Z")
> [@dhkendall](#): > > So, in other words, he’s an object lesson for us - he’s what would have happened if Sarah Palin had control of the White House? > > Glad you dodged that bullet … Believe me, as one who suffered under her gubernatorial shortcomings up here in Alaska, I can only tell you if she were in the White House right now she would be telling the Haitians to “Pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, you betcha!”. And, most likely, she would add that since it is her belief humans and dinosaurs co-existed up to 6,000 years ago (I’m not making this up, sad to say) that likely it’s due to a couple Godzilla-sized leftovers stomping around in those Godless regions. Of course, if she were in the White House we would have an unnatural disaster of our own to deal with, then. ---
**Author:** ![ajdebosco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@ajdebosco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ajdebosco)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860/64 "2010-01-22T19:53:44Z")
> [@dobieman](#): > > … since it is her belief humans and dinosaurs co-existed up to 6,000 years ago (I’m not making this up, sad to say) Yeppir; we haven’t expired our quota of crazies, just yet. > **[BBCCaribbean.com | Caribbean's earthquake prone](https://www.bbc.co.uk/webarchive/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fcaribbean%2Fnews%2Fstory%2F2010%2F01%2F100114_quake.shtml)** > > ttt Evidently, _someone_ has been HAARPing the region for the last 500 years. > **[Haiti earthquake occurred in complex, active seismic region](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100114143321.htm)** > > The magnitude 7.0 earthquake that triggered disastrous destruction and mounting death tolls in Haiti this week occurred in a highly complex tangle of tectonic faults near the intersection of the Caribbean and North American crustal plates, according... Poor deluded Hugo; evidently the cheese slid out of his burrito long ago.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![dobieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@dobieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dobieman)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860/65 "2010-01-22T20:53:42Z")
While I can’t (and wouldn’t) discount the dangers of Sarah Palin even getting within shouting distance of the White House, the idea of the HAARP project being the culprit is interesting given a new twist. Jesse Ventura has a new program on cable called “Conspiracy Theory” and its first show was about the HAARP installation up here in Alaska being used to “possibly control the minds and thoughts of American citizens.” HORRORS! What’s laughable about that, though, is sticking such a project up here where we have proven, by electing Palin governor a few years ago, a majority of our electorate have no minds worth controlling! HA! (We demonstrate it amply in other ways, too, but it would be off-topic for me to list them here.) ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860/66 "2010-01-23T05:25:13Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Rather it is the fault of the government for not laying bare all the secrets of HAARP research. Which is surprising, since somebody sure let \*this \*cat out of the bag. hh ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860/67 "2010-01-23T16:06:56Z")
> [@dobieman](#): > > While I can’t (and wouldn’t) discount the dangers of Sarah Palin even getting within shouting distance of the White House, the idea of the HAARP project being the culprit is interesting given a new twist. Jesse Ventura has a new program on cable called “Conspiracy Theory” and its first show was about the HAARP installation up here in Alaska being used to “possibly control the minds and thoughts of American citizens.” HORRORS! > What’s laughable about that, though, is sticking such a project up here where we have proven, by electing Palin governor a few years ago, a majority of our electorate have no minds worth controlling! HA! (We demonstrate it amply in other ways, too, but it would be off-topic for me to list them here.) Laughable?? Hell, They’ve proven it works perfectly. It converts stalwart & rugged individualists (the archetypal True Blue American) into mindless sheeple who’ll buy (& vote for) any BS sent their way. It’s either HAARP, or having a useless & dysfunctional education system for the last 50 years. Hmmm. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860/68 "2010-01-23T22:38:24Z")
> [@lalenin](#): > > The latest claim by Hugo Chavez is that the [Haiti earthquake was caused by the US](http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=116688§ionid=351020704). According to Chavez this was only a test, in preparation for doing the same thing to Iran. If they had an earthquake weapon, I fail to see why they would test it on haiti of all places. If they were gonna test the weaponized version, it would have been Iran directly. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860/69 "2010-01-24T19:24:45Z")
Has anyone actually seen/heard Chavez say this? The popular link is to a Russian TV where they say he did but don’t show him saying it. I have found some links to the supposed speech in youtube but they are all 10-minute ramblings about nothing and he never say the US caused it. I am not doubting he said it but I would like to hear it myself. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860/70 "2010-01-25T03:51:28Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Obama made a secret pact with the Chinese-- they all jumped up and down at the same time. Actually I believe they jumped up and down in a careful pre-arranged timing pattern, focussing their collective jolts, lens-like, into a beam of purest earthquakiness at Port-au-Prince. ---
**Author:** ![Wall6ly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ed655f/32.png) [@Wall6ly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wall6ly)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860/71 "2010-01-25T14:00:25Z")
Wait wait, this weapon is supposed to be a new weapon for hardened underground targets and they tested it on Haiti? Not to sound disrespectful, but from what I’ve read, the most common building material there is sheet metal. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860/72 "2010-01-25T14:29:23Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > But what if it doesn’t work right, and it makes things _nicer_ than they were before? From what I hear of North Korea, that would actually be relatively easy. > [@dobieman](#): > > Jesse Ventura has a new program on cable called “Conspiracy Theory” and its first show was about the HAARP installation up here in Alaska being used to “possibly control the minds and thoughts of American citizens.” Wasn’t that supposed to be done from Hollywood? It’s called Ta-la-vi-shon or some such. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860/73 "2010-01-25T14:56:07Z")
They should test such a weapon on New Zealand. No one would notice if they submerged or not. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860/74 "2010-01-25T15:11:37Z")
I just saw a line among the comments related to that link which I liked. “Contempt without investigation is ignorance.”, although I’d have placed _wilful_ before the _ignorance_. Is it more likely that Chavez is crazy, or that he knows a bit more than we do? Or is this one of those “too ridiculous to be contemplated” things? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860/75 "2010-01-25T18:47:38Z")
It’s not _ **TOO** _ ridiculous to be contemplated; it’s that it doesn’t stand up to very much contemplation at all before dismissal is determined to be the appropriate response. ---
**Author:** ![ajdebosco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@ajdebosco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ajdebosco)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860/76 "2010-01-27T12:58:08Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > It’s not _ **TOO** _ ridiculous to be contemplated; … Quite the contrary; it is far too ridiculous and shows deep seated psychosis.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860/77 "2010-01-27T16:27:06Z")
> [@Sapo](#): > > Has anyone actually seen/heard Chavez say this? The popular link is to a Russian TV where they say he did but don’t show him saying it. I have found some links to the supposed speech in youtube but they are all 10-minute ramblings about nothing and he never say the US caused it. > > I am not doubting he said it but I would like to hear it myself. Why the lack of skepticism? It’s been [debunked](http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2010/media250110.html). He said no such thing about HAARP; the quotes appearing in the American media were taken from an editorial which had nothing to do with Chavez. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860/78 "2010-01-27T17:19:20Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > Why the lack of skepticism? It’s been [debunked](http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2010/media250110.html). He said no such thing about HAARP; the quotes appearing in the American media were taken from an editorial which had nothing to do with Chavez. Pardon my lack of skepticism at the news of Chavez saying something stupid. I hope you understand my reasons. That said, the Venezuelan opposition just loves a soundbite of Chavez saying stuff like that and I was very surprised at not having my inbox flooded with the actual clip. Best of that link, the word “conspiranoid”. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Urban\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@The\_Urban\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Urban_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860/79 "2010-01-28T12:28:57Z")
> [@YoureBeingABinkyBoo](#): > > Do you believe earthquakes can be initiated by a man-caused event? Do you believe the US has the technological capability (HAARP or otherwise) to initiate earthquakes, and do you believe, should the capability exist, that the US would test it on Haiti, and / or use it on Iran? Actually it is possible for humans to initiate shallow earthquakes by pumping fluids into the subsurface, and in so doing raise pore-fluid pressure. Many fault planes are held very close to the point of failure, so a slight alteration in this supporting pressure will precipitate an earthquake. It’s certainly within the technical capacity of the US. My engineering geology prof. was even consulted by the US army in just such a case. Obviously the hypothesis in this case is crazy, but the above method is useful information if you wish to become a Bond villain. ---
**Author:** ![Modern-caveman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@Modern-caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modern-caveman)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860/80 "2010-02-01T22:25:11Z")
All that oil he’s pumping out from under Venezuela may cause a gi-normous sink-hole to gobble it up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-hugo-chavez-is-still-crazy-says-us-machine-caused-haiti-quake/525860.md?page=5)