Assassins
Earlier, I linked to an article that described (T)Hugo Chavez's escalation of a war of words with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. I mentioned that it was just another attempt to distract Venezuelans from the upcoming referendum. Well, he must really be feeling the pressure of bad polls, because he has whipped out his old standby: claiming someone is out to assassinate him. Who, you ask?
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Wednesday CNN may have been instigating his murder when the U.S. TV network showed a photograph of him with a label underneath that read "Who killed him?"
The caption appeared to be a production mistake — confusing a Chavez news item with one on the death of a football star. The anchor said "take the image down" when he realized.
But Chavez called for a probe in an interview on state television, where he repeatedly reviewed a tape of the broadcast, questioning why the unconnected photograph and wording were left on screen for several seconds.
Oh, and that distraction stuff?
Some political analysts and Wall Street economists say the fights appear to be a tactic that burnishes his nationalist credentials and also helps distract voters from debating some of the unpopular details in his proposed reform package.
Don't worry, Hugo. CNN isn't out to kill you. But your own comedy routines aren't doing wonders for your image.
World news | Gaius Wednesday, 28 November , 2007
By Maggie, Wednesday, 28 November , 2007 @ 7:47 pm
Actually, checking on the “civil unrest” of late down there in Jabbah the Hugo Hut Land, I’d say his own people are sharpening the pole where they will perch his hacked-off fat head.
By martian, Thursday, 29 November , 2007 @ 3:13 pm
I KNEW CNN was up to no good! Those nasty murder instigators! I wonder if that’s what happened with the football player to whom the caption was actually referring? Was it a CNN inspired assassin (they still haven’t got any suspects in that slaying)?
Seriously, the scary thing is that anyone, in Venezuela or out in the real world, might actually believe this comical caricature of a president. He has made himself look ridiculous so many times, why does anyone still take him seriously?