Meanwhile - about Venezuela

Wall Street's Bear Stearns is predicting that Hugo Chavez will remain in office, regardless of the recall referendum, and that Venezuela's economic situation will stabilize, noting that the outlook for the country's fiscal sustainability remains "quite favorable" as long as oil prices remain high.

I think that's a pretty safe bet.

Chavez's popularity, has gone from around 31% in Feb. of 2003, to as high as 50% according to recent independent polls. With the economy expected to grow more than 6% this year, Chavez's popularity could be expected to grow. ...As hundreds of thousands of petition forms present irregularities and are currently under review, the Bear Stearns report argues that the fate of the referendum process depends heavily on what international observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Carter Center will tell the CNE [National Electoral Council] with regard to how to proceed with those signatures. ...The CNE is currently Venezuela's public institution with the highest credibility among the people. Its members were chosen by the Supreme Court last fall, pleasing both the opposition and the government of Venezuela. International observers have publicly expressed satisfaction at the level of access that they have to CNE installations to do their job as observers.

  Venezuelanalysis article


I keep trying to imagine our own government permitting outside international observers to dictate regarding our election process. Too bad they didn't in 2000.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.

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