I won't comment on the rest of Ms. Sheehan's statements, but the ones about Chavez are amazing.  First, Chavez has been elected only twice (one could say three times if the recall referendum win is counted).  There was an election in 1999 and another under the new constitution in 2001.  The next one is scheduled for later this year. 

Since 1996, the Venezuelan Bolivar has lost ground against the (also falling) US dollar.  In 1996, when I moved to Venezuela, the exchange rate was 170:1.  Upon Chavez's election in 1999, it was about 700:1.  Today it is fixed at about 2150:1, but the real (black market) value is about 3000:1.  There's no getting around the fact that Venezuela has lost tremendous wealth in the last ten years, and those losses have actually accelerated during Chavez's presidency despite high oil revenues (but much lower production!) and high social spending.  I've seen positive results from the spending in cleaner streets and an improved feeling of inclusion among the poorer classes.  However, the changes are by and large cosmetic, and few if any people have actually acquired the skills to help Venezuela generate any new income for its people outside the oil and chemicals sector.  Agriculture is flat or declining, and the schools, while better funded, are so infiltrated by Cuban propagandists as to make any critical learning impossible.  Chavez is squeezing the upper and (sizable) middle classes to improve the lot of the poor when he ought to be spending more heavily on infrastructure and investment.  Givaways are a an easy path to popularity, but the current situation is financially unsustainable.  Venezuela has only become more dependent on oil revenues, which will not remain high forever.  The government's continued reliance on gasoline subsidies, grocery subsidies, etc. have created an addicted populace who will not like what happens when the government runs out of funds.  This is, in fact, almost an exact replay of Venezuelan government mistakes from the 1980's only then there was a viable opposition to reign in the madness. 

Chavez was indeed democratically elected  . . . after leading two violent military coups against other democratically elected governments.  He ought to be in prison or at least barred from seeking public office for those offenses. 

Corruption in Venezuela is even worse now than it was in the 1990's, especially at the import/export ports where bribes are openly asked for and accepted.  I've been through it.  I was recently robbed (at gunpoint!) by a policeman during a routine traffic stop while visiting family there. 

While some areas of public life have improved under Chavez, I would have to say that on the balance things are worse than before.  Do not believe the hype where Chavez and his acolytes are concerned. 

RS