Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, trying like crazy to get noticed, today called President Bush (avert your eyes, sensitive readers) an “asshole.” I don’t know if that’s the smartest thing to say, Hugo.

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called President Bush an “asshole” on Sunday for meddling, and vowed never to quit office like his Haitian counterpart as troops battled with opposition protesters demanding a recall referendum against him.

Chavez, who often says the U.S. is backing opposition efforts to topple his leftist government, accused Bush of heeding advice from “imperialist” aides to support a brief 2002 coup against him.

“He was an asshole to believe them,” Chavez roared at a huge rally of supporters in Caracas.