Hugo Chavez - Dictator at last

It is done.

Venezuela's Chavez granted sweeping new powers
Updated Wed. Jan. 31 2007 12:43 PM ET
Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela -- A congress loyal to President Hugo Chavez approved a law Wednesday granting him authority to enact sweeping measures by decree.

Meeting at a downtown plaza in a session that resembled a political rally, legislators unanimously approved all four articles of the law by a show of hands.

"Viva President Hugo Chavez, long live socialism!'' National Assembly President Cilia Flores said as she proclaimed the law approved. "Fatherland, socialism or death. We will prevail!''

Chavez, who is beginning a new six-year term after winning recent elections, said the legislation will be the start of a new era of "maximum revolution" during which he will consolidate Venezuela's transformation into a socialist society.

His critics call it a radical lurch toward authoritarianism by a leader with unchecked power.

And Democrats and Liberals will be swooning, thinking to themselves, "If only we could get that kind of power... just 'Imagine'..."

Interesting... I checked both CNN and Fox News to see what was being reported about it... look at what I found...

CNN? "No Comment" (finally found it buried deep down on a sub-page)


Fox News? "It's Official: Chavez a dictator" (2nd headline story)
(for the record... I DON'T READ FOX NEWS! I just took a look today for a comparison on how the LEFT and the RIGHT are portraying this)

Now, for some Canadian views on this issue...
Nope, nothing in CBC's lead stories... it was buried in their "World" sub-section, not shown on their main page)

CTV is also eerily silent... (also buried in their "World" sub-section, not on the main page at all)
Oh, there it is... as it is a farily major world event, it's on the front page... a leading story.

So, there's my rant for today on media bias... guess the leftist media sources in both nations don't think it's something we ought to be concerned about. Maybe they even think it's good news... heaven forbid.

Well, as a bit of a WWII historical guy, I am obliged to point out that it sure sounds a lot like it did in 1933...

"Two weeks after the Reichstag fire, Hitler requested the Reichstag to temporarily delegate its powers to him so that he could adequately deal with the crisis. Denouncing opponents to his request, Hitler shouted, “Germany will be free, but not through you!” When the vote was taken, the result was 441 for and 84 against, giving Hitler the two-thirds majority he needed to suspend the German constitution. On March 23, 1933, what has gone down in German history as the “Enabling Act” made Hitler dictator of Germany, freed of all legislative and constitutional constraints."

"Those who forget the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it."

For the record, I'm not comparing Chavez to Hitler... I'm just pointing out that the methods being used to implement his agenda are very Hitleresque.

I think we can all agree that if you need sweeping dictatorial powers to implement your agenda, then maybe, just maybe, people should be at least a little worried? Especially since they are the worlds largest non-Arab exporter of oil.

Well, I guess there is a bit of a plus for Kyoto fans... you might just get your wish of $2 per litre for gas!

Congrats! Please excuse the rest of us average Canadians when we get a little ticked over the prospect... and then move to expand the projects in the Alberta oilsands... ;-)