What is it about despots, that they so often fancy themselves as great artists and thinkers?

Nero reputedly "craved attention" and wrote and sang songs, and preformed as an actor. Hitler was an aspiring painter and heavily into the Vienna art scene, and was oh-so-into Wagner. Mao thought of himself as a great scholar and philosopher. And Kim Jong Il imagines himself as a talented movie producer. (Undoubtedly, his films are some of the more popular in North Korea!)

So I guess it's not too surprising that Hugo "not a dictator" Chavez has produced a CD of him singing Venezuelan folk songs.

The CD, titled "Canciones de Siempre" which roughly translates to "Songs For All Time," includes tunes that Chavez has sung during his regular Sunday "Hello, President" television and radio program.

At the close of each broadcast, Chavez regularly sings folk songs along with guest musicians and dancers.

Ole!