Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the darling of Hollywood and the political left, is methodically squeezing his country's last remaining freedom out of it.
After expropriating oil fields and other businesses, and while threatening to take over two of the South American country's largest coffee processors, Chavez has now kicked 34 "disloyal" radio stations off the air.
Chavez's good friend, Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, also is in the process of appropriating "many" of his country's radio and television stations.
Socialism and tyranny are flowing freely, while freedom is on the ebb, in the Americas.
Where is actor Danny Glover now? Where are Sean Penn and Kevin Spacey and Cindy Sheehan and the other American leftists who've sidled up to the dictator in Caracas? Do they agree with silencing the media?
And could it happen here?
Maybe not on that scale -- but it's an open secret that Democrats would love to bring back the Orwellian "Fairness Doctrine" that would have the U.S. government deciding when you've had enough of one or another ideology on a particular broadcast station.
It's mind-boggling that people in Hollywood who make their lives with their free speech could be so swept up in admiration for a dictator who is stamping it out bit by bit.
British supermodel Naomi Campbell can't help but fawn over Chavez either, once famously cooing like an infatuated teen about the "love and encouragement" Chavez shows by taking other people's taxes and taking credit for them in his heavy-handed, stupor-inducing government programs.
What was that he just showed to the broadcast industry, Naomi and friends?
'Cause we're pretty sure it isn't love and encouragement.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Back ![A man holds a sign that reads "freedom of expression" during a protest against the closure of the Venezuelan radio station CNB in Caracas. Venezuelan regulators revoked broadcast rights of 34 radio stations Friday. Associated Press](/sites/default/files/editorial/images/spotted/76/762475.jpg "A man holds a sign that reads "freedom of expression" during a protest against the closure of the Venezuelan radio station CNB in Caracas. Venezuelan regulators revoked broadcast rights of 34 radio stations Friday. Associated Press")
![A man holds a sign that reads "freedom of expression" during a protest against the closure of the Venezuelan radio station CNB in Caracas. Venezuelan regulators revoked broadcast rights of 34 radio stations Friday. Associated Press](/sites/default/files/editorial/images/spotted/76/762384.jpg "A man holds a sign that reads "freedom of expression" during a protest against the closure of the Venezuelan radio station CNB in Caracas. Venezuelan regulators revoked broadcast rights of 34 radio stations Friday. Associated Press")
Quiet, class is in session, Obama and fellow democrat leaders are taking notes.
Notice Obama backed Zelaya too?
Obama's backers LOVE Chavez. He is like a crystal ball that shows the future of the Democratic party.
We have to make sure the evil corporate run radio stations are fair to protect the people. That will be the phrase we will be hearing on MSNBC soon enough. I can just see the proposed citizens' radio advisory board made up of all walks of people in the CSRA deciding Austin's future. That would be funny.
No worries! I have a Mr. Microphone Austin can play with if he's kicked off the air.
It is just a preview of what will soon happen in America since the ignorant, lazy, and gullible now make up the majority. It is a majority who takes rather gives and will soon cripple America when the givers' money runs out.
ODE, great post! Let me buy you a beer!
In a small country where Chavez owns and controls the military, it has taken him 11 years to get to this part of his agenda. Obama won't be in power long enough to emulate this dictator, but the National Socialists who control the Dem party will still be around. Voters who aren't involved and informed are allowing the Chavez model to take over America.
If the democrats wanted to bring back the fairness doctrine they would they have the votes. It is always people on the fringe. The difference is the dems leave them on the fringe the repubs bring them into the tent. Birthers, Tea Partiers, and the like get legislation and stump speeches from prominent politicians.
So many of you guys are living in FEAR LOL...
Dictatorship at its finest... You people need to quit buying that Citgo gasoline, even if they attempt to change the name on you !!! Great post ODE, by the way...
Yes Obama's thought police at flag@whitehouse.gov are taking very copious notes so they get it right on stomping our rights.
Hey JACKFRUIT, will you be shining those pearly whites you're always bragging about when the Dems lose control of congress after next year's elections. The polls say it will probably happen, but you can only believe those when they favor Dems. By the way, I'm living in pure joy right now, since people have finally awakened to the reality of all this "change."
southernguy, It is almost mathematically impossible for the dems to loose power in the next election cycle. The repubs can take some seats back but the odds of them losing 11 senate seats and over 75 seats in the House. You show me more than 5 senate races that they may lose and more that 25 house seats in jepordy.
southernguy08 I don't support either or, I've voted for Reagan, and Bush. If the Dems are voted out what can I do about it like now? You should be living in Christ southernguy08, the world will let you down.
TAke a trip to Chevez country and see how they live. Horrible. There is the very rich and then the poor. You have to be on guard for pick pockets everywhere. I went several years ago and would not want to live in Caracus. Although the Hotel InterContinental is very nice and was owned by an American chain then.
the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling the sky is falling
I cannot sleep! Chavez is the boogie-man and I know he is in my closet plotting to take over my iPod and change my music. We need Rush, Dick, Sarah, and Karl to chase him away and save us all. Help, Help!
JACKFRUIT, don't be so quick to judge someone you don't know. I live in Christ everyday. The world doesn't let you down...people do. And the way you whine about anybody who criticizes O, you sure sound like you support him, doubled national debt and all. And CONCERNED, I guess you don't read history books. It is full of powerful people being deposed quickly, either by revolution or being voted out. The polls show the Dems are losing more steam than a broken pipe. "Oh, happy days are here again..."
Two movements are happening all over the world that will forever change our lifes in America. Socialism and Islam. Unfortunately, our president believes in both.
I think you know it will take more than one election cycle to get repubs back in power.
With the prezbho clan and the Chicago thug mentality showing who they really are (more and more), might not take as long as you think to change the power. The arrogant, inept, incompetent prezbho paranoia is setting in and more will see just how clueless this admin really is.
Mind your own business...
Sorry to interrupt your circle jerk, but...
More will certainly see. Now you have 50 and tomorrow you might get 51. Your numbers are not growing appreciably at all. Your days are numbered too. I hear more "Change Baby Change" than I hear "Drill baby drill".
Hotfoot your 9:50 post needs to be on R&R with the X-mart rant...Then it would have been funny
Our resident neoMaoists say we don't need no stinkin talk radio.
Letter from a friend this morning:
O scares me because after months of exposure, I know nothing about him.
O scares me because I do not know how he paid for his expensive Ivy League education and his upscale lifestyle and housing with no visible signs of support.
O scares me because he did not spend the formative years of youth growing up in America and culturally he is not an American.
O scares me because he has never run a company or met a payroll.
O scares me because he has never had military experience, thus doesn't understand it at its core.
O scares me because he lacks humility and 'class', always blames others.
O scares me because for over half his life he has aligned himself with radical extremists who hate America
and he refuses to publicly denounce these radicals who wish to see America fail.
O scares me because he is a cheerleader for the 'blame America ' crowd and delivers this message abroad.
etc., etc.....
Sorry madmax but Islam and other religions are just as welcome in the United States as Christianity.
Why are the crazy ones always the most vocal? How are these "brown shirt" and "birther" conspiracy theorists any different from the witch hunters of Salem? Come out of your apocalypse-bunkers, there is a wonderful world going on out here with fair-minded people and fresh air to breathe. I respect your right to postulate all the doomsday scenarios you want, of course, but in my opinion you only live once and you're wasting your lives away regurgitating these theories you hear about on the radio and on the internet all over these messageboards day in and day out. OK, rant over. Back to the real world...