Yesterday, I recommended that Hugo Chavez kiss my ass…

…because he called President Obama “ignorant.” Like a third-world tin-hat strongman like him could ever compare with any of the top ten thousand potential U.S. Presidents.

(Side note: is it “tin-hat?” Or “tin-pot?” I’m not sure at this moment, and I’d rather have this mildly amusing side note than take the 5 seconds I’d need to google it.)

Anyway, today I see this:

U.S. Seeks Expanded Power to Seize Firms

The Obama administration is considering asking Congress to give the Treasury secretary unprecedented powers to initiate the seizure of non-bank financial companies, such as large insurers, investment firms and hedge funds, whose collapse would damage the broader economy, according to an administration document.

And I thought of this:

Venezuela government seizes ports

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuela’s federal government seized seaports and airstrips in at least four states on Saturday, a move critics say is meant to limit the powers of mayors and governors opposed to President Hugo Chavez.

The takeover, ordered by Venezuela’s socialist president last weekend and approved by lawmakers, aims to bring the country’s major transportation hubs under federal control this year.

There are some pretty obvious differences between what Chavez is doing and what Obama is proposing – or, rather, “considering” proposing. For one, our military won’t just move into New York and occupy a building.

But there are some pretty obvious similarities, too.