And it doesn't seem as though they control huge portions of the media. From wikipedia (I know, it hurts to use this source, but I'm leaving for dinner soon and am in a rush)

"In 2009 the government reviewed the broadcast licences of hundreds of radio and television stations, and declared many to have been operating without a licence or without having paid the appropriate regulatory fees.[4] As a result over 60 radio stations were closed.[5] The government said the frequencies would be reallocated to community media,[4] and passed a law limiting ownership of radio and television licences to three per private owner. This was aimed at tackling what it called "media latifundios", with 27 families controlling a third of radio and television."

"State television's low share, of around 2%, increased to 5%, although the government also makes regular use of cadenas (mandatory interruptions on all channels to show government broadcasts)"

And no, you're not buying the elections if you're helping the poor. You're buying them if you dole out all the oil profits your country is making in order to keep peace instead of investing them in sustainable programs and practices (so yes, the Gulf States are buying their authority as well)

"Yeah the Venezuelan mob as represented by Carilles."

Well yes, him or even a socialist who has better economic sense than Chavez.

I was talking moreso about events before the Reichstag Fire (as I said, Chavez won't proclaim himself dictator) but you are correct in your facts, Putin. Chavez had thugs bullying the media (which was mostly blatantly anti-Chavez at the time) in the early 2000s though. Whether they were under his control or not, I don't know. Probably not.

Again, I don't want to overthrow Chavez. He's just the wrong choice for the country.