Míster Danger (or "Míster Peligro," Rómulo Gallegos uses both but seems to prefer the former) is an epithet that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has used more recently to refer to United States President George W. Bush. The name comes from the novel Doña Bárbara, written by Venezuelan novelist and former president Rómulo Gallegos. In the novel, Mr. Danger (the name appears in English) is an Irish-American residing mostly in Venezuela. He takes to drinking fine whiskey which he brings back from Caracas to the Llanos, where the novel mostly takes place. Mr. Danger allies himself with the much-feared Doña Bárbara, a malevolent and powerful figure from whom the novel's title is derived. Doña Bárbara's infamy stems from her reputation for amassing property in the Llanos through litigation, as well as for her alleged practice of black magic. Together, she and Mr. Danger manage to swindle lands out of unknowing Llaneros' hands and they represent the principal source of opposition to the novel's protagonist's mission to bring law and order to the Llanos. The novel's protagonist, Santos Luzardo, is a Llanos-born lawyer from Caracas who returns to his native land on a short trip to assess his family's landholdings. He ultimately takes it upon himself to rid the region of the pervasive influence of Mr. Danger and Doña Bárbara.
In the context of present political relations between Venezuela and the United States, Chávez´s borrowing of this name may have several interesting implications. The first may be linked to Rómulo Gallegos's use of Mr. Danger as a foreign, American figure who seeks to amass Venezuelan lands through illegitimate means. In this way, the character may represent a statement on the author's behalf regarding the United States' then long-standing principal of "Manifest Destiny." Chávez has often made references to an impending invasion spearheaded by the United States military and recently pointed to a small but well-known island off the coast of Venezuela as a likely launching point (namely, the island of Curaçao). The current Venezuelan head of state has also used the term "imperialist" to refer to the North American leader, a popular term that points to the ever-reaching influence of the United States in world affairs.
Yet another possible explanation of Chávez's usage of the name "Mr. Danger" may point to a more complex and on-going stratagem alleged by the president and that would involve attempts by the Venezuelan opposition and the US government to overthrow his administration. These allegations have been present throughout Chávez's term, particularly following the April 2002 Coup that saw the temporary removal of the head of state from power. In particular, the alliance in Doña Bárbara between the character of the same name and Mr. Danger may represent, for Chávez, an analogous relationship with regards to the current alleged alliance between the Venezuelan opposition and the US government.
Ministry has a song titled "Senor Peligro" on their album "Rio Grande Blood". The song is about U.S. attacks on Hugo Chavez.