A Friday with a vigil like feeling
The clock runs on the Venezuelan Recall Election on Chavez

I have been very busy today and tonight I am too tired to try to write something meaningful. Writing when tired can be very dangerous. So I will be totally subjective and report only of the sensations that I experimented through the day.

Since yesterday march there is definitely a "fin de regne" feeling in Caracas. The opposition thought by some dormant demonstrated to be as motivated as it was. The first possible consequences have been a sudden series of last minute moves that although surely prepared in advance by chavismo, seemed to have been postponed in those days when REAL polls were friendlier. Thus we saw the SENIAT (our clownish IRS) suddenly get inside three TV networks for some "ordinary" business. Amazing that they are doing that when all sorts of observers are in town. Who was the signal for? The observers (we will kick you out if needed, we do not care about what you think)? The Venezuelans (we are not going to leave office and if we must we will wreck havoc before we leave)?

We also saw more and more strange moves at the electoral board which seems to confirm more and more that there will be governmental fraud. Not big perhaps but enough to change a close result in Chavez's favor. For example we go back once again on the crossing off of the polling station attendants that signed last November while they are be replaced, illegally it might seem, by pro Chavez supporters. Will they be fair? Will they be fairer than the ones crossed off? Who is the judge of jury fairness? And more people are finding that their voting station has moved, sometimes hundred of miles away. See, a little bit here, a little bit there and soon the opposition loses a couple of hundred thousand votes.

But what is more noteworthy is the new tone of chavismo. On one side it seems that some are resigned to lose on Sunday and are already gearing up for the upcoming presidential election. On the other side some are not afraid to break the law. Jesse Chacon, in addition of justifying the TV station "inspection" on some shaky technical ground, has repeatedly broken the law by mentioning surveys, expressly forbidden by the law. Sanctions? None! But beware if an opposition figure were to publicly announce a new poll.....

In the streets these past couple of days I have overheard some very nasty, derogatory and even threatening comments from chavistas hanging out. Young and male really. But I was not listening to such vocal expressions on daily occurrences. Yet another sign of the times?

I am not too sure and it might be too early, but me thinks that yesterday did punch a hole in chavismo sails.... The chavista rally last night was closer to a farewell party than to any pre victory celebration.

I would love to let my hopes grow for Sunday, but I know my history and desperate regimes resort to desperate measures until they fall in a cloud of ignominy. So, what will it be?

Only 2 days until the Recall Election on Hugo Chavez. Do I want him out? SI!