No progressives should be demanding new elections in Venezuela due to Chavez' health...

[MADem]

32. Why is it your business to try and shut down conversation on this topic?

It's our business because we are citizens of the world and Venezuela is a trading partner of the US. We're talking billions, here (you really need to read the material in this link): http://www.ustr.gov/countries-regions/americas/venezuela

We also refine a shitload of their heavy oil.

They also provide oil to the poor here in the USA. They have a substantial gasoline distribution interest in this country too, that employs a number of Americans (CITGO).

If the government changes, those arrangements could change as well.

They are neighbors in our hemisphere. We have a large number of Venezuelans and Venezuelan-Americans living in our country.

In sum, we have a right to talk about it because we have an INTEREST in it.

Your insistence, against all logic, that we have no "right" to discuss this topic is bizarre. It also won't make people stop talking about it. As pronouncements are made by the VZ government about Hugo's health and the progress (or lack thereof) of his inauguration, every major paper in USA and around the world is reporting them. They aren't doing that for their amusement, you know.