"The Anchoress" had an excellent item yesterday about how some news wires are downplaying the authoritarian, anti-free speech nature of Hugo Chavez's move to shut down a private television network that often criticized the Venezuelan thugocrat. She notes that the bland headlines give little reason for the casual reader to sit up and take notice:
The initial headlines are either unclear or they’re working at happy spin:
Chavez launches new Venezuela TV station.
That sounds merry, doesn’t it - as though Hugo Chavez is happily launching a new enterprise and celebrating! The story is a bit different, though:Story Continues Below Ad ↓CARACAS, Venezuela –Venezuela’s oldest private television station was pushed off the air as President Hugo Chavez’s government replaced the popular opposition-aligned network with a new state-funded channel on Monday. Radio Caracas Television shut down just before midnight Sunday as its broadcast license expired. Chavez refused to renew its license, accusing the channel of “subversive” activities. The new channel, TVES, launched its transmissions with artists singing pro-Chavez music…
This headline could be about anything:
Troops fire upon protesters in Venezuela
As with the first headline, it says nothing of Chavez shutting down a popular opposition television station and implanting his own propaganda machine - if you’re only reading the headline, you have no idea what’s really happening:National Guard troops fired tear gas and rubber bullets Monday into a crowd of protesters angry over a decision by President Hugo Chavez that forced a critical television station off the air.
Madonne! Talk about yer chill winds! Here is Hugo Chavez doing precisely what the his admirers on the left daily accuse President Bush (“The Devil” per Chavez) of doing: suppressing dissent, suppressing human liberty.
Another rather innocuous-sounding headline: Venezuela to Launch TV Channel, Replacing Private Station.
Good Lord, that sounds downright dry and humdrum. Reads that way, too. Another: Venezuela TV station to shut at midnight
Honestly, if you were scanning headlines, would you - unless you have a specific interest in that country - even bother reading the story? And the story is pre-tty interesting.
Related NB posts:
"NB-TV Alert: Clay Waters on NY Times' Hugo Chavez Reporting"
"Blogs and Others Are Running Circles Around Old Media in Venezuela Coverage, Accuracy"—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
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Comments Policy
Fox News actually had a rat
May 29, 2007 - 16:31 ET by sarcasmoFox News actually had a rather lively debate. The Pro-Chavez side said that the TV station in question had actually supported -- rather than reporting on -- the recent attempted coup against Chavez, and that any such TV station in the USA doing something similar would be shut down too. I suppose it boils down to which side you believe -- a tough call, especially from afar.
JMR
Sarc, If that that's the case
May 29, 2007 - 16:35 ET by Chris NormanSarc,
If that that's the case, Bush could shut down the entire MSM...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
The funny thing to me is th
May 29, 2007 - 16:43 ET by sarcasmoThe funny thing to me is that this station is responsible for those Spanish soap operas, and if you think US soaps are popular, well, these are at least the same and possibly more. Disrupting this big business, unless socialist-TV becomes very unexpectedly popular by some miracle, will probably hurt the country financially as much as losing another news-viewpoint will hurt politically. IMO. It's quite possible that more people care more-passionately about the soaps going away than the TV station itself going away, since the soaps are popular all-over, including here. (And a few of their female stars are always hot, but so-far it's always too few to make any of 'em worth watching for me!)
JMR
I'd like to proscribe more no
May 29, 2007 - 16:51 ET by Chris NormanI'd like to think that there are more noble and high minded reasons than soap operas (?!) for the Venezuelan people's anger. Still, a free media is a free media, no?
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Oh, I was talking worldwide
May 29, 2007 - 16:57 ET by sarcasmoOh, I was talking worldwide! I'm thinking my old neighbor will be going out of her mind with rage over her soaps possibly going away or (horrors!) into reruns, in the most low-minded and antipolitical way possible. :)
JMR
I watch the clips of Spanish
May 29, 2007 - 17:14 ET by Chris NormanI watch the clips of Spanish language soap operas occasionally on Talk Soup. I hurt myself laughing. They're so over the top melodramatic, it's hysterical.
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Chris,When I make the occasio
May 29, 2007 - 17:44 ET by BlondeChris,
When I make the occasional stab at learning Spanish I watch the spanish language soaps....even if I don't understand very much of what's being said, the emoting is something else!
No, you're thinking of Vene
May 30, 2007 - 08:11 ET by StogieGuyNo, you're thinking of Venevision. They provide most of the Venezuelan-based entertainment programming that ends up on Univision. However, more telenovelas come out of Mexico (Televisa) and Columbia (RCN) than from Venevision. As a side note, Venevision was also an opposition network but it, and TeleVen, have been bullied into supplication by the Chavistas. RCTV kept the hard liine, just as Globovision is attempting to do (without a national signal). Now Chavez is using lame excuses as a front to shut Globovision down too.
Honestly, there is no defense for this sort of thing. Yes, RCTV (like other networks) was encouraged by the coup attempt because they saw Chavez for what he is - a totalitarian dictator who is destroying their (formerly capitalist) country. There is no other valid side to this argument - those who try to justify Chavez' actions have either never visited Venezuela, don't know what they're talking about, or both.
This is just the latest in a string of expropriations. I find it ironic (and scary) that so many liberals are cheering this on. Just goes to show how stupid they really are.
Yesterday, demonstrating tha
May 29, 2007 - 16:32 ET by Chris NormanYesterday, demonstrating that they're fair and balanced, CNN Headline News reported that there were "pro-Chavez" demonstrations. Unfortunately, they didn't show any pictures of those alleged demonstrations or offer an estimate as to their size. So, I guess we'll just have to take their word for it...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Chris...You may be wrong on t
May 29, 2007 - 16:35 ET by Clear thinkerChris...
You may be wrong on this one. I think I counted six pro-Chavez supporters in the crowd.
Help a wounded soldier here...
http://newsbusters.org/node/12877
BT,Six? Wow. I sit corrected.
May 29, 2007 - 16:48 ET by Chris NormanBT,
Six? Wow. I sit corrected. So if CNN were to call that a "massive counter demonstration", that'd be a par for the course characterization, no? :)
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
The leftists here should be o
May 29, 2007 - 16:36 ET by bigtimerThe leftists here should be outraged about this....but noooooo, they are with Chavez on some of the leftist blogs.
Fairness Doctrine is going to be brought up on the House floor by Pelosi and Hoyer last I read sometime soon.
We had better beware right here.
Yes, BT we should be
May 29, 2007 - 17:15 ET by terrigI've often wondered if that "Fairness Doctrine" was set into motion, would this site, LGF, Hot Air (these are the sites I spend most time on) be available? We know the puff po and dkoskids would be just up and running with no problems.
Hi terri...My answer to your
May 29, 2007 - 17:20 ET by bigtimerHi terri...
My answer to your question would be not if they can help it.
Media Matters and Soros, Clinton are hard at work making sure this is the outcome if they can...they have been for years IMO.
Do not know if you read this link, but I will stick it here in case you are interested, it is short and snappy with the agenda from Pelosi ect.....
Hi BT, thank you for the li
May 29, 2007 - 17:25 ET by terrigHi BT, thank you for the link. I just read through it and thought it was really scary and it got scarier with the Hagel/Bloomberg disaster at the bottom of the story. Can someone say,Ross Perot? Thanks again!
Hi back again terri...I agree
May 29, 2007 - 17:31 ET by bigtimerHi back again terri...
I agree about the Hagel/Bloomberg scenario, I had a link here quite awhile ago when that was first mentioned....spooky indeed....(I forgot that was at the bottom, good though anyway for some that may not know and read it....)
Yes, they should be outraged,
May 29, 2007 - 19:40 ET by GregEYes, they should be outraged, but along the lines of what you've said, they can't be outraged because they so dearly want Fox News off the air, so it's hard for them to be genuinely outraged since they would really love to do the same thing themselves, and call it fairness.
I was just thinking about a
May 29, 2007 - 19:14 ET by BigBI was just thinking about all the squawking and blathering the bastards did when they got called out for printing the wiretap and finance leaks....you know, the national security, terrorist thingys..They screamed bloody muder for just being criticized on that..
And 'Continues to close down TV stations...'?? From what I've read, that's the last one not owned by the 'government'.....
Good Lord...
Now, this might sting just a little bit.....
But...but...but... who will i
May 29, 2007 - 19:20 ET by Roger the ShrubberBut...but...but... who will inform our Venezuelan brothers and sisters when Lindsay Lohan gets out of rehab?
LOL -- guess that's gonna h
May 29, 2007 - 19:23 ET by Jack BauerLOL -- guess that's gonna have to be a special Latino edition of the Shrubb Report.
Should please Tumbler, at least.
Carter
May 29, 2007 - 19:30 ET by iveseenitallNot to worry. The Nobel Prize winner Jimmy Carter certified Chavez's election, so anything he does must be in the interest of "peace".
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
Ahh yes, a new "state-
May 29, 2007 - 19:42 ET by GregEAhh yes, a new "state-funded" TV station. Hot dang!......Chavez PBS!
DUmmies Hail Hugo
May 29, 2007 - 20:21 ET by P.J. GladnickThe DUmmies at the Democrat Underground are hailing Hugo for shutting down the TV station:
DUmmies Hail Hugo Chavez Closure Of TV Station
PJ...Thanks for that link...I
May 29, 2007 - 20:33 ET by bigtimerPJ...
Thanks for that link...
I cannot take looking there again tonight, yesterday was enough.
May later though....after dinner, don't want to spoil my appetite.
Chaves is blaming Direct TV
May 29, 2007 - 20:59 ET by bigtimerI just heard that Hugo baby is blaming Direct TV and the USA for the real reason he is shutting down all of these television stations...he says we are going into their homes via satellite and spying on them....probably got that talking point from Jimmy Carter himself.
Good one Chavez....good one...that will really convince the people you f'n Dictator...that will settle them down and stifle their voices won't it? I have wondered how long you are going to let reporters report your Dictatorship...errr...I mean... Democracy... as only the leftists can call it world-wide.
I hope to see a link later somewhere....I just heard this on H&C.
BT,Do you suppose Chavez was
May 29, 2007 - 21:02 ET by BlondeBT,
Do you suppose Chavez was wearing his tinfoil hat when he said we were spying via DirectTV?
This would be hillarious if this man weren't so dangerous to the Western Hemisphere.
Hi B...I truly feel sorrow fo
May 29, 2007 - 21:09 ET by bigtimerHi B...
I truly feel sorrow for the people living under his Dictatorship.
Sad that the left here like Soros and his ilk are standing by this slime-ball.
Agreed, BT.When I was a kid,
May 29, 2007 - 21:18 ET by BlondeAgreed, BT.
When I was a kid, my mom had a friend who lived in Caracas. She and her kids would come up once a year to do a big shopping trip in Miami. I remember her stories of how beautiful Venezuela was.
And of course, it (used to) is a top big-game fishing hot spot. Although I don't know anyone who's travelled there recently. Chavez is such a whack job....he might decide to privatize American yachts. I wouldn't go there now, not a chance.
I heard an interesting report that the core of the anti-Chavez demonstrators were the local police.
Trouble in Cindy's Socialist paradise, methinks.
Adam Howsley is now reporting
May 29, 2007 - 21:27 ET by bigtimerAdam Howsley is now reporting that Chavez has now said if these demostrations do not stop he will have people put down.
This could be really bad for Chaves in the end of things.
I hope.
Amazing how they revert to fo
May 29, 2007 - 21:39 ET by BlondeAmazing how they revert to form, isn't it?
Sounds like he feels "his people" are like rabid dogs.
Hmmm.....
CNN getting sued...threats from Russia...with love
May 29, 2007 - 22:01 ET by bigtimerBesides Chavez deciding he is going to sue CNN which is funny within itself for me.....
We now have to worry about the latest threats from Putin and Russia....(which I have been for years anyway, along with other countries working arm in arm for the time being all for their own goals to defeat The Great Satan.) this is spooky reading, although not surprising.
The leftists in this country will keep their blinders on...until it is too late.
BT,Where do you find these li
May 29, 2007 - 22:11 ET by BlondeBT,
Where do you find these links?
Putin & Russia....my gut is that it's bombast on their part....after all, Soviet (now Russian) engineering is not always optimal.
I had a friend who was in the Army when the Wall fell. All of the East German Army tanks (Soviet T-34's?) that were obtained by the U.S. Army were declared unsafe by O.S.H.A. Two minutes in a Soviet tank was enough to asphixiate the personnel. Our Army poured cement in the barrels to disable them.
Having said that, who knows what their goals are? I suspect they don't have the capacity to sustain any kind of advanced weapons research and development...but one never knows.
Thanks for an interesting link, BT.
I find them all over B.Those
May 29, 2007 - 22:17 ET by bigtimerI find them all over B.
Those directly above were Drudge linked.
Great Stuff....keep them comi
May 29, 2007 - 22:22 ET by BlondeGreat Stuff....keep them coming.
I'll always spend the time to chase your links.
Thanks again, amiga.
No problemo...Miss the Open T
May 29, 2007 - 22:28 ET by bigtimerNo problemo...
Miss the Open Thread though there is a lot of other news sometimes that doesn't make it here without one posted by others, I always learn a lot that way too.
Does anyone know what happened and why we haven't had one for awhile?
Good point, BT.I suspect Matt
May 29, 2007 - 22:34 ET by BlondeGood point, BT.
I suspect Matthew got tired of posting it, or perhaps he's taking a well-deserved vacation.
My POV is that the Open Thread is an important item here...allows us to go off topic without starting up an (idiot....you get my drift) forum thread.
I particularly miss (crave?) the Shrub Report. Oops...attack soon to follow.
We shall have to see what develops....that's what is so fun about this site....it just kind of morphs into cool new stuff all of the time.
Open Thread
May 29, 2007 - 22:30 ET by Cool ArrowTumbler's diatribes maybe?
Gore lied. Nobody fried
Evening RO...You have a point
May 29, 2007 - 22:36 ET by bigtimerEvening RO...
You have a point, that crossed my mind too.
Gore Lied...Nobody Fried...
I just noticed that....too danged funny!
True too....lol.
Slow news day
May 29, 2007 - 22:43 ET by Cool ArrowDidn't see to much in the news today unless you think demonstrations against Danny Glover's love interest in Venezuela are important. MSM didn't think so, so I guess they've got it under control.
Gore lied. Nobody fried
slow news-----
May 29, 2007 - 22:50 ET by misterbillSlow news------an excerpt from National Review --article by Stanley Kurtz
"Let’s take a moment to focus on what’s positive in the latest immigration proposal...from Norway, that is. (Sorry, nothing much worthwhile in the American bill.) It turns out that Conservative-party politicians in Oslo are calling for a moratorium on immigrant-family reunification. (Norway’s Conservative party is fiscally conservative but socially liberal, so this is a novel development.) Oslo city council leader Erling Lae argues that out-of-control family reunification is the most important cause of unemployment, income disparities, and lack of assimilation in Norway’s capital. Pakistani Muslims are a key non-Western group in Norway, and apparently the seclusion of immigrant brides and other female relatives is at the root of Norway’s immigration-driven troubles."
and more from Kurtz at National review
May 29, 2007 - 22:53 ET by misterbillI guess we can call them racists or xenophobes----
"That doesn’t mean we should despair...about England, anyway, where, like Norway, the news is encouraging. England’s Tory opposition and Labor government are vying with each other to reform an over-generous family-reunification policy — increasingly recognized as a key cause of failed Muslim assimilation. In Britain, as in Norway, chain migration, powered by arranged (and sometimes forced) cousin marriage, has created a kind of “reverse colony.” Marriage-based family reunification has effectively moved whole sections of clan-centered villages from Pakistan to Britain, inhibiting assimilation, encouraging poverty, and nurturing a cultural dissonance in the young that sometimes leads to Islamist radicalism and terror."
We're just unenlightened
May 29, 2007 - 23:01 ET by Cool ArrowWhy can't we include these child molesters and female mutilators into our culture? They're just following the path of their god, aren't they?
Gore lied. Nobody fried
to heck with it----
May 29, 2007 - 23:21 ET by misterbillto heck with it----shut down the Border Patrol, remove any immigration numbers restrictions, open our gates wide to any and all who can find a way to get here. It's all over anyway--Our Senate is selling us out--our President thinks a single North American Union is going to be his legacy.
Future headline--
Today the 38 states of the New United States declared war on the country of Aztlan. At the UN, it was decided that UN troops will be sent to the NAU to maintain peace. Mexico responded by saying they would assist Aztlan in any struggle they may have with the NUS (New United States). The president of Aztlan, John McCain, vowed that they would fight to the death if necessary, but preferred UN intervention. Protest marches were mounted in the major cities of the NUS, which happen to be predominantly Hispanic. The general of the Aztlan army, Geraldo Rivera, promises that "I will never back down."
NUS intelligence reports that missiles have been seen being unloaded in the Mexican Free Port in Kansas City. More as we learn it!
B,& BT,,Putin is now ru
May 29, 2007 - 22:40 ET by upcountrywaterB,& BT,,
Putin is now running the CCCP! So much for capialism ! ICBM 's have been around for 40 years. The further they go the faster they fly, if they are comming from 12,000 miles away they are re entering the atmosphere at Mach 25, (20,000 + mph) really not much can be done about that, that's been a problem for 40 years, not much tech needed. Whacking ICBM'S traveling from iran to Israel is a bit easier kuz they are traveling much slower, same with north korea to Japan.
The leftys love chevez, bigger goverment they LOVE THAT
upcountry,Your point is well
May 29, 2007 - 22:46 ET by Blondeupcountry,
Your point is well taken.
However, with as horribly broken as Russia is, I'm not sure they'll get them out of the silos. At least that is my hope.
Trust me when I tell you, I lived in the middle of the missile fields during the height of the Cold War. I used to have nightmares....not in a long long time, but some things never change.
The frightening thing is a dictator like Imadinnerjacket or Chavez with a short range tactical nuke. What would our response be? What could it possibly be?
Talk about nightmare scenarios.
Thanks upcountry...any info i
May 29, 2007 - 22:49 ET by bigtimerThanks upcountry...any info is always important to me.
The article I linked to was not surprising to me at all coming from Putin, I have been worried before President Bush was the President about Russia/China/Iran and other factions including the terrorists groups...while Pres. Clintoon did zilch with any mess we needed to start deterring long ago...
It seems to be coming full circle and possible fruition for me after all this time.
We had better have great plans...that is all I know, with all the roadblocks the leftists have put up at every possible opportunity to weaken our country if they are able...it makes me sick.
JMO.