Chavez to join the blogosphere

Posted By Joshua Keating Tuesday, March 23, 2010 - 1:59 PM Share

While his media-savvy is undeniable, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez has never been the most tech-savvy of leaders. He has equated Twitter users with terrorists and threatened to impose controls on Internet content. But apparently not satisfied with his weekly TV broadcast or his radio-show that can air at any time of day, Chavez has apparently decided he needs a beachhead in the blogosphere: 

He said a computer is being set up in a room of the presidential palace of Miraflores--and from it he would directly inform the public on who he is meeting with, what legislation he's signing, and other presidential matters.

"I'll be communicating with millions, and not just in Venezuela, but the whole world," Chavez said, who didn't provide any possible start-up dates for the blog.

Chavez said he also would use the blog to respond to comments and questions from readers, both supporters as well as those opposed to him. "It's going to be a battle, indeed," Chavez said.

The Web has been a favorite outlet for the Venezuelan opposition and student activists who are already sharpening their knives for Chavez's blog debut.

In more serious news, the Inter-American Human Rights Commission is holding hearings on Venezuela today, possibly including the case of hunger-striker Fraklin Brito.

JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images

 

STRATEGIC DISCOURSE

8:13 AM ET

March 24, 2010

What will Hugo Chavez blog about?

My guess: Firstly, the evil, imperialist, capitalist, aggressive home of the gringos to the north, who plot both the world's and his own demise through devious control of the UN, IMF, World Bank, the OAS, Chuck E Cheese, and every other global governing body.
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Secondly, the evil, pro-imperialist, pro-capitalist, anti-revolutionary Venezuelans who would dare question his erudite and bountiful leadership, the rapid levels of inflation, poor electrical production and distribution, certain foreign policy choices, the wisdom of giving away natural resources for little in return, ad infinitum.
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Thirdly, the evil, pro-imperialist, pro-capitalist, anti-revolutionary Colombians who serve as lackeys to their gringo neighbors to the north, and who also conduct a hateful campaign against the nicest and more benevolent organization on earth - FARC.
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Finally, throw in a little bit of proletariat here, a little down-trodden worker there, mention George W Bush a few times, Obama too, the smell of sulfur, discuss the state of Jewish conspiracies, a tip-of-the-hat to Ahmadinejad, and a smattering of Photoshopped Kate Gosselin pictures to get some Google AdWords revenue and you're set!

 

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