Why the CNE keeps losing credibility

This morning as I am having my breakfast I log in the Venezuelan Electoral Board, CNE, page to check on yesterday's results. Nothing yet.

Now, in 2003 the CNE embarked on a massive automatization program, ditching the previous system that served to elect Chavez in 1998 for a new system from Smartmatic and co. The new machines were supposed to be more reliable, faster, stop fraud, allow for timely publication of the results. But this morning AT 7:30 AM THERE IS NOT EVEN AN ESTIMATE OF THE ABSTENTION NUMBERS, even less of some local results.

In fact,as I see the void CNE page, I am brought back to last night when there was a controversy over a sudden extension of voting hours, on the stupid and nervous replies of Rodriguez, on its dare to a journalist to bring proof of irregularities when it is common knowledge that it is the CNE that blocked/blocks any comprehensive verification by, for example, simply opening the ballot boxes in August 2004, or the still somber maneuvers in October 2004 with Carabobo ballots brought to Caracas and never seen anymore, and so many more things. A Rodriguez still fighting old battles, battles he is unable to extricate himself of by simply doing the right thing, just as a new one is falling on his head.

No, no matter what Rodriguez and co. say, the CNE has lost even more credibility yesterday and it does not seem to realize it, or it is pretending that tall is fine in what is now an offensive aggression to our intelligence. When we see a Rodriguez claiming that the election abstention will be lower than the 2000 75% figure and yet not advancing any number we wonder if he thinks that the rest of the world is more stupid than he is. In many countries where ballots are counted one by one within a couple of hours of closing the voting centers we have the abstention number, the general result and a large number of local results, a number as large as 90% sometimes. Here, with Smartmatic, the finger printing machines, satellite reception dishes, and it is soon 8 AM and we only have a few results from the political parties.

And what about the Chavez cadena of sorts yesterday when he went to cast his ballot? About one hour of B.S. speech, a substitute on his comedy Sunday show, where he campaigned for electoral participation to support the revolution? Was that legal or not? Was that violating the CNE rules about campaign deadlines or not? But when Rodriguez is asked about it he does not know, he did not see it, the board will have to consult, lawyers will be asked, etc, etc... Showing once again all the partisanship of THE ONE institution that should be above all political partisanship.

Or what about the red hue in everything at the state TV, VTV, where Vanessa Davies late evening interviews showed her sporting a red scarf that looked Chirtmas kind of out of place? Was VTV anchor people campaigning until the last minute?

Gimme a break!

Well, maybe the CNE is an honest institution, but it behaves as if it had a lot of things to hide. And this is becoming the gravest of the problems.