Nationalizing telecommunications and power.

Of course, maybe some people might see that as a plus, and a nice kick in the teeth to the oil companies. Kind of makes up for the horrible possibility of private oil companies in Iraq, doesn't it? Much better that some totalitarian goon get all the wealth instead of--God forbid--giving a piece to some Western stockholders.

Chavez, who will be sworn in Wednesday to a third term that runs through 2013, also said he wanted a constitutional amendment to eliminate the autonomy of the Central Bank and would soon ask the National Assembly, solidly controlled by his allies, to give him greater powers to legislate by presidential decree.

I do remember getting hooted down a year or so ago when I said that Chavez was going to walk the same well-worn road as all Marxist leaders. The oil money won't hold off the inevitable economic consequences for long.