On That Smackdown to Hugo Chavez

Investors Business Daily has written a nice appreciation of "the repartee heard 'round the world" -- King Juan Carlos of Spain telling the Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez to "shut up."

This put-down had all the more impact as it came from a very well-mannered king -- a king who voluntarily gave up the dictatorship left to him by Franco in order to establish democracy in Spain.

The editorial suggests that perhaps in future other nations will be quicker to put Chavez in his place.

We can only hope.