Pribek

Q: What is better than a talk show?

A: A talk show marathon!

Q: What is better than a talk show marathon?

Hugo doing a marathon of his talk show “Alo Presidente”!!! From Rueters…

Venezuela’s garrulous President Hugo Chavez on Thursday began a marathon four-day edition of his trademark television show to mark 10 years since the influential and widely watched program first hit the airwaves.

Chavez is a tireless talker who uses frequent television appearances to make policy announcements, berate opponents and even sing during rambling speeches often delivered in the florid vernacular of working class Venezuelans.

Well, it’s like they say…if you don’t like what’s on, change the channel to another pro-Chavez, propaganda program on another network controlled by the Venezuelan Government.

It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything crazy out of Hugo Chavez.

Oh. he’s still been doing stuff but, his recent activity hasn’t been drawing press here; more localized. No visits from Hollywood star types or new CDs of folk songs, nothing like that.

He was laying low until earlier this week when he invited Russia to park a couple of strategic bombers in Venezuela. From Breitbart/AP.

“The presence of those Russian planes in Venezuela is a warning,” Chavez said. “There’s nothing better to keep yourself from being attacked than to dissuade.”

Two bombers aren’t going to save you if you are being attacked my friend.

Now, Chavez has ordered U.S. Ambassador Patrick Duddy to leave Venezuela in 72 hours and is removing Venezuela’s ambassador to Washington, Bernardo Alvarez.

“That’s enough … from you, Yankees,” he said during a televised rally, using an expletive.

Chavez says this latest nonsense is a reaction to a US Government backed coup attempt that he discovered. Mr. Duddy says it’s because he has been critical that diplomatic relations between Caracas and Washington were giving drug smugglers the upper hand.

Who are you going to believe?

The move by Chavez brings relations with Washington to a new low and raises questions about whether the diplomatic clash could hurt trade. Venezuela is the fourth-largest oil supplier to the United States, and Chavez threatened on Thursday to cut off crude shipments “if there’s any aggression against Venezuela.”

It’s an idle threat. If he pulls the oil shipments, he’s a goner. It would force starvation on a populace that already categorically rejected his “reform” plan of “new socialism”.

Chavez, long at odds with Washington, appeared to leave open the door for restoring full relations once President George W. Bush’s successor is in the White House.

“Hopefully, sooner than later, (the U.S.) will have a government that respects the peoples and the governments of Latin America,” Chavez said.

See, idle threat.

Since the defeat of his comprehensive referendum, less than a year ago, Hugo is coming off as a lame duck dictator. A couple of Russian planes doesn’t even amount to saber rattling.

You know, I’ve said all along that Hugo reminds me of this guy…

…and he’s certainly not doing anything to “dissuade” that.

We haven’t had a Hugo for a while. Chavez’ “New Socialism” referendum was rejected by voters last December but that hasn’t slowed his reform efforts. No, Chavez has simply been making his proposed measures law by decree.

Since December, by decree, Chavez has…

Established civilian militia groups modeled on the Cuban system.

Given himself the power to designate regional authorities who will have jurisdiction over elected officials.

Established laws that allow his regime to expropriate goods from privately owned businesses, increasing government control over the food supply. Those who do not comply will be subject to fines, closure, and/or up to 10 years in prison.

Taken steps to conglomerate all branches of the military into a “single armed force”.

Established a blacklist of opposition members who will not be allowed to run for any public office.

Yesterday, after police used tear gas to break up a citizen protest of these and other decrees, Hugo offered this gem…

“This is a democracy. They call me a tyrant — tyrants govern without laws. We’re making laws, and all those laws are for the benefit of the country,”