Hugo Chavez has made sure Americans understand his preferences for the upcoming presidential election. He says he could work with the US — but only if we do not elect John McCain as President:

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a socialist and fierce U.S. critic, warned on Tuesday that relations with Washington could worsen if Republican candidate John McCain wins this year’s presidential election.

Chavez said he hopes the United States and Venezuela can work better together when his ideological foe, U.S. President George W. Bush, leaves the White House next year, but he said McCain seemed “warlike.”

“Sometimes one says, ‘worse than Bush is impossible,’ but we don’t know,” Chavez told foreign correspondents. “McCain also seems to be a man of war.”

Thank goodness Chavez shared his thoughts with us on McCain. At least now we know how Sean Penn will vote in November.  That open question had bothered me of late.

Normally, I’m not one to use endorsements or anti-endorsements from lunatics or the brain-dead as an argument for policies or candidates.  I don’t care which candidate Osama bin Laden or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad might like better; Americans can make their own decisions based on our own goals and needs.  However, given Chavez’ unique personality (disorders) and anti-American rants, the prospect of seeing him fume all over again is pretty compelling.