Voice of Venezuela's RCTV to fall silent

MIAMI - It's perhaps the most audacious move yet by Venezuela's increasingly autocratic president, Hugo Chavez.

At midnight tonight Venezuela's oldest, largest and most popular television station will vanish from screens across the nation - by government order. Audiences won't just be losing a bit of variety, including their cherished soaps, or telenovelas.

A dash of democracy will be gone, too.

The government's decision not to renew the broadcasting license of Radio Caracas Television, known as RCTV, has nothing to do with broadcasting standards or media diversification. Chavez is simply taking revenge against opposition to his rule.

In recent years Chavez has won almost total control of every major public institution in the country, including the Supreme Court, the federal elections authority, the state oil company, as well as every seat in Congress.
Worldandnation: Voice of Venezuela's RCTV to fall silent

Ya want to talk about "big brother" and "loss of freedoms"? Feel fortunate you live where you do.

Have a good one!:s4:

Well said. Unfortunately, you can't explain this to so many people who think it's "cool" to talk shit about the States just for shit-talking's sake.

You do know that many people would tell you with a straight face that the United States is no different, right? That Bush is just as bad as Chavez, if not worse.

If the Venezuelan people want to continue saying "Hugo, girl!" without any opposition, then they... Okay, I really haven't got anything else for this sentence, I just wanted to get that joke in.

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Originally Posted by Gigliozzi

Well said. Unfortunately, you can't explain this to so many people who think it's "cool" to talk shit about the States just for shit-talking's sake.

You do know that many people would tell you with a straight face that the United States is no different, right? That Bush is just as bad as Chavez, if not worse.

If the Venezuelan people want to continue saying "Hugo, girl!" without any opposition, then they... Okay, I really haven't got anything else for this sentence, I just wanted to get that joke in.

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You're so right, Bush is as bad, only we have had 220+ years of almost freedoms, years of communication freedom etc. The Bush regime and his rich cronies, Rupert Murdoch, Disney corp etc have been fast at work trying to take over the media. I guess thats why Chavez is shutting down that station. Those who control the media, control the country, and that is exactly what the Neo-cons are up to. The only really free speech venue left is the net and they are trying to go after that. So enjoy the internet while you can, the news stations are becoming soaps, with Britney, Anna Nicole, and all those idiots taking over the real news. Disinformation is rampant on news channels, talking points promoted by neo-cons, things like, "We're making progress in Iraq", "The economy is doing well" Etc.

I'm from Venezuela, and situation here is very sad, this RCTV issue got us all very unhappy, all polls tell 80% is against that decision, yet our president doesn't care what the people wants, he's there just to fulfill his own greed for power (just like most of the politicians out there)

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Originally Posted by zsouj

I'm from Venezuela, and situation here is very sad, this RCTV issue got us all very unhappy, all polls tell 80% is against that decision, yet our president doesn't care what the people wants, he's there just to fulfill his own greed for power (just like most of the politicians out there)

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I'll start off with a big welcome to the forums! Sorry to hear of your homeland....not cool whats going on down there.

Medicinal........Your a good man but there is alot of hate there. Now really, if you were to post something like that in another country you'd be swinging by your balls. Gotta respect your consistancy though.....lol

Have a good one!:s4:

Come on, Medicinal... Not a word as to whether "Hugo, girl!" made you laugh or not?:sadcrying

"Hugo, girl!" Get it? It's a play on the popular "You go, girl!" but directed at Chavez! It's funny! Hahaha!:dance:

You know you love it.

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Originally Posted by Gigliozzi

Not a word as to whether "Hugo, girl!" made you laugh or not?:sadcrying

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it would have been much better if he had a reputation for wearing women's clothes. let's start the rumor that he's a cross dresser here and give it a couple of months. you can give the joke another try in august.

It's funny now. Period.

When I talk of conspiracies and loss of rights in the USA it is not because I hate the USA. It is because I love the USA.

In my own life I have watched things change and I do not like where it is headed.

I feel for the people of Venezuela. They are living under a tyrants rule. It is my hope that they one day can live in a democracy.

I also hope their mad ruler will have a end worthy of all tyrants.

Even long after Chavez is deposed, "Hugo, girl!" will continue to be funny.

Okay dude- "Hugo girl" = Lame. Not funny.

Sorry, someone had to say it.

Radio Caracas Television shut down just before midnight Sunday as its broadcast license expired and soldiers took control of the station's transmitters. 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, then carried an exercise program and a talk show, interspersed with government ads proclaiming, "Now Venezuela belongs to everyone."

Earlier Sunday, police broke up an opposition protest using a water cannon and tear gas and later clashed with protesters who set afire trash heaps in affluent eastern Caracas. Police said some protesters fired shots, and others threw rocks and bottles. Police said 11 officers were injured.

Inside the studios of RCTV the sole opposition-aligned TV station with nationwide reach disheartened actors and comedians wept and embraced in the final minutes on the air.

They bowed their heads in prayer, and presenter Nelson Bustamante declared: "Long live Venezuela! We will return soon."
ABC News: Chavez Shutters 'Capitalist' TV Station

THIS is what happens when government takes over the media. It makes me laugh when assclowns like Alex Jones proclaims this to be happening in the states; He'd be the first S.O.B. to get shutdown...........

Have a good one!:s4:

It is truly sad this is happening to Venezuela.

However with respect, Alex Jones is so ridiculous no one really takes him seriously. He is no threat to the people that really control what is going.

If he becomes a threat he will be shut down. The mass media is controlled.

One nut job with an Internet radio show and a few websites is nothing.

Alex Jones is his own worst enemy.

It is funny! It is funny, and you know it's funny, so shut up!:sadcrying

Hugo, girl! It's funny! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!:S2:

Now laugh, everybody!:woohoo:

Eric, of course you know, this means war!:rambo:

I am not much into War. I will leave that to the Bush administration.

But I found your reaction to my comment incredibly funny.

Does that count for something?

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Originally Posted by delusionsofNORMALity

it would have been much better if he had a reputation for wearing women's clothes. let's start the rumor that he's a cross dresser here and give it a couple of months. you can give the joke another try in august.

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Oh, you mean like Judiani, LOL!

THIS is what happens when government takes over the media. It makes me laugh when assclowns like Alex Jones proclaims this to be happening in the states; He'd be the first S.O.B. to get shutdown...........

I guess they are very successful then as you haven't been noticing. Maybe it's because they are more attuned to your agenda.

Well, Eric, I suppose we could forge a truce after you gave me credit for something.

But I still retain that "Hugo, girl!" is a milestone of comedic achievement.

Even Medicinal loves it, but he doesn't want to give me the satisfaction.

"Hugo, girl? Why, I love it! Hahaha! Let's make it my new campaign slogan immediately!"
- Hugo Chavez, Address to the Nation, April 9, 2007

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Originally Posted by medicinal

I guess they are very successful then as you haven't been noticing. Maybe it's because they are more attuned to your agenda.

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odd, it seems to me that the fringe left is in charge of censorship 'round these parts. imus is a prime example of the political correctness gone wild that these loons seem to embrace. he may have been a bit of a fool and his sense of humor in poor taste at best, but when sharpton (a prince among bigots) was taken seriously when calling him a racist the sad irony of it was almost more than i could take. our biggest censorship problem comes from those ivory tower socialist dolts who firmly believe that this is a country full of children who need their wisdom and guidance in order to survive. these are not even people in office, but lawyers and glorified social workers whose sole purpose seems to be sticking their noses as far up the people's collective ass as possible.

even such troublesome imbeciles as these cannot totally stem the flow of real information. if you are foolish enough to believe that the evening news or the l.a. times are the supreme fonts of todays news, then you deserve your ignorance. all of the information you could possibly want is out there and this government is making no attempt to stifle even the blatant lies that are available to anyone with the desire to find them.