Blogging the democratic revolution
Winds of Change (via Instapundit), like many others, has noticed the ideological division in many countries that has resulted in complete impasse — the latest being Mexico. It’s “deja vu all over again”. Apparently the ideological tie that afflicted the US Presidential Election six years ago, and the deadlock that Thomas Mann has been writing about for a number of years, isn’t just an American thing. . . . At precisely the time in history when we need to be decisive, we’re afflicted with paralysis. We’ve got two approximately equal sides, equally convinced that they’re right, and in diametric opposition…
Two weeks of all out assault on the Hamas government has led to the group on its knees pleading for peace. Interior Ministry offices were blown to bits, members of parliament were arrested, entire parts of Gaza were temporarily reoccupied, and and Prime Minister Haniya was hiding for his life. A declaration of ceasefire should be no surprise. Hamas has been rendered completely incapable of governing, brought to the realization that it cannot exist unless Israel recognizes it, and not the other way around. It should also not come as a surprise that Israel has declined such a generous offer.…
Go see what Jim Hoft’s dragged in at GatewayPundit this time here!
Boli-Nica at Boli-Nica blog has a humdinger of an item about how the Mexican Internet and all its youthful users have roared into life, slamming Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and all his absurd efforts to derail Mexico’s hard-won democracy. Among other things, the Mexican Internet-os are deriding AMLO for failing to learn English! They’re sending e-mails out, setting up Web sites at lightening speed to make fun of the guy and in a less classy move, some are hacking into AMLO’s site, re-directing it to a less flattering one. They are photoshopping AMLO like crazy and making mean little YouTubes…
I will be traveling soon. Do we have any readers in Switzerland, The Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Belarus who would like to meet up? -Robert Mayer
Supporters of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador gather to protest in Mexico City Source: El Universal Leftist presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who lost Mexico’s July 2 presidential election by a narrow margin, has brought his supporters to the streets in a bid to overturn the election, on claims of fraud. The AMLO party, PRD, has yet to substantiate its claim that the election has been conducted in any way other than exemplarily. Observers from the European Union and other places have said it was clean. I was in Tijuana for the election and the AMLO party (PRD) observer also…
We can now say the the Orange Revolution is officially over. The once-orange Socialist Party has changed sides and teamed up with pro-Russia Viktor Yanukovich’s Party of Regions, along with the Communists, and forged out a new coalition agreement nominating him for the position of prime minister. And they have the votes to get it through. A year and a half later, politically Ukraine is in the same place it was before. Ukraine’s Western-leaning Orange coalition fell apart in acrimony Friday less than a month after its formation, boosting the fortunes of the pro-Russian opposition in this former Soviet republic.…
Honduras has a GDP per capita of $2800; yet, it is a country of riches. The land is endowed with a natural beauty unsurpassed anywhere else in the western hemisphere. Flying in a 14-seater to Roatan, less than an hour out from San Pedro Sula, I saw dozens of small islands wrapped in thriving forests. Crystal clear water became colored as the coral crept up toward the shore, and even from so many feet in the air, the sand on the beach looked whiter than snow. The sight isn????????t unique to the islands though. The mainland is lush with tropical…
Alicia Hernandez, mother of Guillermo, dismissed voices according which the independent journalist of Cubanac????n Press had suspended the 4-month-long hunger and thirst strike. Guillermo continues his fight. Read here, in Spanish.
Afghanistan is considered by many a glowing paradigm of America????????s success in the war on terror. It has its elected parliament and government, and the ministries are functioning smoothly. However, this calm is only apparent from a view from the surface, below which ethnic tensions and favoritism are plaguing the structure. Irrespective of how this trend started, we must know it is everywhere????????all ministries, directorates and sub-directorates are plagued. A look, for example, at the Afghan National Army will reveal that it is comprised of 85% ethnic Pashtoons. Likewise, a look at the Ministry of Justice will reveal that there…
Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez, in the style of Stalin before him, continuously makes ridiculous claims about ending poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, and exclusion. Under his great “socialism,” all is sweetness and light, wonder and justice, just like the Happy Commie pictures you find in Iron Curtain propaganda posters. Yeah, sure. Have you ever tried to learn another language? Do you remember how hard it was to learn to read when you were five or six, even if you had the best teachers? Under Chavistadom, you are now asked to believe that it no longer is hard anymore to become literate and…
Mexico’s next president, Felipe Calderon Source: Agencia EFE, via Yahoo! Mexico Free-Market Felipe Calderon wins the race Source: El Universal Continued from this earlier Publius Pundit post here. El Universal has the final count here, along with AMLO’s statement that he won’t accept the result. Here we go again! It’s just like Monday! Mexican markets are going hog wild with happiness! Boli-Nica has an interesting essay on the election here and the need to pay attention to Mexico, here. Miami Herald is reporting that Mexico’s election agency is taking a lot of heat from AMLO people who don’t like the…
AMLO’s supporters out demonstrating in Mexico City Source: El Universal (Mexico) There’s no news link, just a wire report that’s not out on the Internet yet. AMLO is leading in the Mexican presidential election official count with 35% of the polling stations officially counted already. The first “quick count” results said that Felipe Calderon had won. Now, the PREP, or summary, results, which are being tallied now, say that AMLO is in the lead – and that lead is pretty big, three percentage points with 50% of the ballots officially counted. (Update: It’s diminishing to 2.42% with 64% of the…
French fans celebrate their World Cup victory in Paris Source: Reuters, via Yahoo! The French team accomplished a beautiful victory against the Portuguese team today, putting it in the World Cup final match versus Italy on July 9. The French took it very well and were out celebrating the penalty-kick victory match in the streets of Paris. It sure beats burning Citroens and kicking in shop windows, no? Maybe the game did not entirely have a satisfactory endimg but it was a fine thing for France, because their team had been so underestimated, so dismissed as ‘all washed up’ and…
ÄNote: The Algerian independence day is July 5Å Algeria????????s independence came on July 5, 1962, after a long and bloody war against France. The Revolution that took place from 1954 to 1962 would soon be abducted by the egos of many powerful men, with names like Ben Bella, Boumediene, and Khider. But, the ideals of the Revolution they stole would not die. The Algerian Revolution was a revolt against exclusion, under-representation, racialism, displacement, colonialism, ignorance and all the other pretty words that come with battles in the name of rights. Algerians today, hold all of these notions close to their…
Guillermo Fari????as Hernandez has suspended his 4-month-long hunger and thirst strike, according to Niurvis Diaz Ram????n of Hernandez’s Cubanacan Press. Suspended means that he might resume it. One thing is sure: he suspended the strike, but his determination to go ahead with the fight for freedom of information and free access to the Internet for all Cubans is stronger than ever. Castro should be aware of that.
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the Mexico’s leftist presidential candidate, wants a vote-by-vote recount and has vowed to call street protests to back up his claim to victory if the numbers don’t turn out in his favor. A colored revoluci????n. MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico’s left-wing presidential candidate wants every single vote recounted and is threatening to call street protests as he fights an election result giving a razor-thin victory to his conservative rival. Senior aides to Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a combative former mayor of Mexico City, said on Tuesday they want a recount of Sunday’s tight election to include…
The last World Cup Italy won was on 1982 and I was only 3 months ! I am deeply believing that Italy can win the 2004 World Cup, regardless of whether it will be against France or Portugal! German newspapers such as Der Spiegel insulted the Italians these days, including headlined , before the match: “Goodbye Pizza”. And Pizza is still there! Just to clarify something: I am convinced that the majority of the German people are not supporting the insults written by a few misguided German media outlets. However, below are a few nice photos! Del Piero’s wife. Del…
Today is a holiday here at Publius. Like everyone else, we’re taking the day off, drinking some beer, and launching some fireworks. If we’re unlucky, that beer will cross our vision and those fireworks might hit something. If anyone is reading this right now, I advise you to do the same. Come back tomorrow. There are a ton of posts that will be ready to read. until then, happy 4th!
On Wednesday, Hamas and Fatah signed on to what is called the prisoner’s document, which included an “implicit” recognition of Israel’s right to exist. Yet no more than two days earlier did militants linked to the former kidnap a soldier serving in the Israeli Defense Forces, Corporal Gilad Shalit. The result? All out war on the Hamas government. In the past few days alone, Israel has launched a major incursion into the Gaza Strip, performing airstrikes and raids on militant targets. Several dozens Hamas MPs have been arrested and will stand trial. Missiles were fired at the Interior Ministry. Furthermore,…
Felipe Calderon and Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Source: Reuters, via Yahoo! I drove to Tijuana today, the city in the greater metropolis of 4 million on the farthest northwest corner of Mexico, to witness one tiny piece of the most momentous presidential election of the year – Mexico’s. Seventy-one million Mexicans were qualified to vote, and based on the scene here in Tijuana, they took it seriously. Everyone voted. Many of those who forgot to register to vote from the consulates in the U.S. drove to Tijuana to vote – and there were polling stations right over on the other…
The pro-democracy crowds were huge. Thousands of Hong Kongers carried signs reading ‘I want to vote.’ The democracy goddess was there, too. Former chief secretary, Anson Chan. (The kindly grandmother, not the kid.) Source, all photos: AFP, via Yahoo! Thousands of Hong Kongers marched in the streets to explicitly demand full democracy from Red China on the ninth anniversay of the British handover to the communist giant. Two leaders, Roman Catholic Cardinal Zen and Anson Chan participated for the first time – both are historically cautious, and deeply respected, their views are seen as a bellwether. The turnout – somewhere…
In the past few years, presidential cavorting around has been taken to new heights by Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez, his master below in Havana, and his little mini-me, Evo Morales of Bolivia. Big photo ops, goofy costumes, wild radio shows and lots of spectacle seem to be the norm of the day. That said, for good or evil, these events attract attention because the participants all look like they are having fun. President Bush has no doubt noticed this … and has decided to top them. He invited Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi over to the White House and onto…
SAN PEDRO SULA, HONDURAS — The shuttle arrived at 5 o????????clock in the morning. Waiting for half an hour outside in Boston????????s extended winter only made me ready to get on the plane faster. Destination: Honduras. The heavy jacket would have to be lost somewhere between Atlanta and the rain forest. There were nine of us in the group, almost all of us from different regions of the world. I was one of three Americans. A Chilean, a Thai, an Englishman, a Lebanese, a Bolivian, and a guy from Dubai were the others. A veritable bonanza of cosmopolitanism. Only a…
Lots of cars here in Cagliari. Lots of people in the streets and at the beach. The situation is the same in many Italian cities, where people is going out to celebrate a well-deserved victory against Ukraine. Everyone can admit now that Italy today deserved to win. A vindication for the insults against the Italian players, from Der Spiegel. Insults that, I am sure, are not shared by the majority of the German people. Next time will be very hard. Italy will play against Germany. A very difficoult game, for both the teams. Toni I’ve just seen a photo showing…