How often do dictators lose elections?

Atrios nails it on the recent election in Venezuela. The fact remains that there was an election, and Chavez didn't get his way. Good. This is the way democracy is supposed to work.

Something is weird going on in the U.S. media when in recent years, they were supporting military coups against him. The U.S. no longer believes in democracy.

It was not a referendum on socialism itself by any means. Chavez almost got what he wanted, as the proposal only won with 51% of the vote. What beat Chavez was some people knowing that democracy is not to be trusted to a single man, especially not Chavez. Unfortunately, this is not the true majority, as that 51% also contains people who have no love for the ideal of democracy, and only want to install their own brand of dictator, one more business friendly.

unwritten etiquette more important than constitutional law

Oh no! Specter dissed his White House homies whilst hitching a ride on Air Force One! Unspoken rules of decorum! It's unseemly to break those rules of etiquette!

Seriously.... what the fuck? Specter broke "points of decorum" with his mild criticism?

Gonzales gleefully and willfully perjured himself before a Senate committee earlier this week.

What a bunch of prissy, mealy-mouthed little shits these White House people are, both the Bush administration and the dipshit press corps that reported this story. Crimes are being committed, yet they are still getting in a snit about anyone upsetting their precious king of New Versailles.