So just maybe Tom your finger on the pulse of the left has slipped a bit.

Not really. Unfortunately, the movers and shakers, particularly the cultural ones, aren't people like you, but people like this. The other stars of the anti-war movement have also made pilgrimages to Venezuela to kiss the ring.

I do know there have been endless news stories on the radio about the plight of democracy in Pakistan. Still haven't heard much on protesting students being shot in Venezuela.

Any nutcase who shows up on Kos is declared to be a Republican "plant." It's conveniently unprovable. In this case, though, after reading it, I'd say they're probably right. It's pretty obvious to anyone who has seen actual sincere approving writings on Chavez.