Venezuela will hold week of mourning for Chavez

7 days of mourning for the death of Hugo Chavez, Venezuela officials say, after the 58-year-old President died today. Chavez was an intensely polarizing political figure, lauded by some on the left for his anti-capitalist ethos, condemned by some on the right for the same thing, and condemned by some on both sides for oppression of political opponents and muzzling of dissenting media. This divide is particularly stark in today, with pundits like Kristen Power tweeting “good riddance” to the dead leader (CNN contributor and GOP consultant Alex Castellanos rather sensationally termed him a “Hitler”), while liberal flagship The Nation’s Greg Grandin authored an article far more sympathetic to Chavez’s legacy, admission of his “strongman” status aside. source