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Robert Plant Appointed Venezuelan Defense Secretary
At this point, Hugo Chavez is just wasting money for the sake of wasting money.
Venezuela launched a Zeppelin on Thursday to patrol Caracas, seeking to fight crime in one of Latin America's most dangerous cities but also raising fears that President Hugo Chavez could be turning into Big Brother.
Around the hot-dog stalls of the run-down suburb where the airship took its first flight, most people felt the unmanned eye-in-the-sky could help counter routine hold-ups, shootings and carjackings.
"It is a necessity," said street vendor Pedro Marin when asked about the 15-meter helium-filled blimp that had been looming silently over his stall beside a busy highway.
Someone else has probably suggested it already, but Chavez is less likely to evolve into a new Fidel Castro than he is a new Rufus T. Firefly.
Thomas Paine\'s Goiter|4.20.07 @ 4:36PM|#
[godwin]Even Hitler never used zeppelins on his own people.[/godwin]
crap-action-jackson|4.20.07 @ 4:41PM|#
It isn't a zeppelin unless it has a Rigid Superstructure.
Otherwise it's just a blimp...
And yes, "Rigid Superstructure" would make a great name for a
band.
|4.20.07 @ 4:51PM|#
I'll out-pedant crap-action-jackson by pointing out that a
zeppelin has a rigid structural framework, not a superstructure. A
superstructure is something that sits on top of something else,
like on top of a ship.
The article does seem to have flubbed it, though. Chavez's toy
looks to be properly called a blimp.
He\'s not listening.|4.20.07 @ 4:56PM|#
No amount of peans to leftist dictators disguised as lame
Republican-baiting will make real your visions of surveillance
blimps spotlighting boulevards lined with billboards of
your giant head.
We are bored.
|4.20.07 @ 5:00PM|#
yeah, that's just your basic floating billboard. I remember like twenty years ago or so, Paris got an eye in the sky blimp. As always (and I do mean in always) the Parisians went completely ape over the idea of polluting the sky with the thing, until it had been in service for a while. Then of course, it was a treasured fixture of their beloved city. Anyone know if it's still in service?
|4.20.07 @ 5:47PM|#
According to a friend of mine with connections in Ecuador, another way Chavez is tossing money away is by sending briefcases full of bills to agents of the new Ecuadorian president. Apparently people are starting to get really riled up about it.
|4.20.07 @ 5:51PM|#
Here in NYC we have the Met Life/NYPD spy blimp. But I haven't seen it in a while. Maybe we traded it to Chavez for some heating oil.
|4.20.07 @ 6:00PM|#
raising fears that President Hugo Chavez could be turning
into Big Brother.
This makes it sound like everything was just peachy until he
launched the blimp.
|4.20.07 @ 6:16PM|#
raising fears that President Hugo Chavez could be turning into Big Brother.
This makes it sound like everything was just peachy until he launched the blimp.
How's that? Of all the things Chavez is famous for, obsessive
monitoring of the citizenry isn't one of them. He's been a run of
the mill thuggish, corrupt socialist. Goon squads breaking up
opposition rallies is more his style than surveillance.
Pointing out a weird change in tactics (or a stunt, to be truthful)
isn't defending the guy.
Juan Arteaga|4.20.07 @ 6:19PM|#
According to a friend of mine with connections in Ecuador,
another way Chavez is tossing money away is by sending briefcases
full of bills to agents of the new Ecuadorian president.
Which is how Correa managed to kick out all the congressmen he
didn't like, buy off their replacements and get away with it, since
he also bought, fired or threatened all the offices that could help
the fired congressmen.
|4.20.07 @ 6:31PM|#
Like that will stop any crimes. Hell you can see it from five miles away! Besides, from the bird's eye view, all them people look alike.
Wild Pegasus|4.20.07 @ 6:33PM|#
There's a strongman who's sure
All that glitters is gold
And he's buying a surveillance zeppelin.
When he gets there he knows,
If the stores are all closed,
He can blame the oppresive US.
Oooooooh, ooooooh
And he's buying a surveillance zeppelin.
- Josh
|4.20.07 @ 8:18PM|#
Hey, I thought dirigibles were a libertarian thing! Or are these just blimps? Blimps suck and if the commies want them that's fine.
|4.20.07 @ 11:17PM|#
I must say I am shocked and dismayed to find they have crime in
Venezuela. Satan leading this country and all.And Chavez being
God's second cousin, once removed. Now that I think of it,it is
kinda queer having a city named "Caracas"
gesundheit
|4.20.07 @ 11:39PM|#
My husband suggests a naming contest. He nominates "The Graft Zeppelin," while I suggest "The Jefe's Hindenburg." Any other nominations?
|4.21.07 @ 3:10AM|#
Take a look at this character described by the BBC as "A supporter of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez". If anyone here has relatives in Caracas, I suggest the get their assets out before the country becomes the next Zimbabwe.
Trading Cards|4.21.07 @ 8:25AM|#
I for one welcome our new, etc...
'The Graft Zeppelin'? Good one, Karen's husband.
BTW, 'Rigid Superstructure' is my porn name.
|4.23.07 @ 11:21AM|#
There's a jefe who's sure,
All that glitters is gold,
And he's buying a zeppelin to heaven.
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