If they had a war going on down there it might be justifiable to muzzle the press. In Iraq, for example. But Venezuela is nowhere near a war condition. They simply want to show their totalitarian hand.
Yep. When the riots start or the mass protests at Chavez's "win" begin to swell, no need to put the riot police on TV in America or in Venezuela. Nice quiet put down and then Chagvez can go like nothing happened.