Blogging the democratic revolution
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…
Boz at Bloggings by Boz did something a little different this week and focused on the biggest election in the hemisphere, Mexico’s, which will be held this Sunday. He’s got the final polls and lots of bullet-point analysis on the how that race is going. Want to know who is most likely to win in Mexico this weekend – a commie caudillo, or a free marketer? Go see what Boz has here. Meanwhile, Jonathan at the excellent Business & Politics in Bolivia has the final polls and analysis of the autonomy referendum which will be a turning point for Bolivia,…
Joining its close ally, El Salvador, as well as Nicaragua and Honduras, Guatemala has today fully entered the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Two more countries are yet to ratify their entry, but Guatemala has gotten it together and today is a happy day. Trade, in and of itself, is why the U.S.’ economy has grown so strongly, despite high oil prices and big layoffs and other economic plagues. Trade is simply a much stronger factor. It’s also something that scares the hell out of Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. There is nothing he fights the U.S. harder on or bullies…
Shamil Basayev, the radical field commander who ordered the hostage-taking of Beslan schoolchildren, has been appointed vice president of the Chechen seperatist government by the new president. Which means, should President Dolu Umarov be killed, he will become the new leader of the separatist movement. In so few words, that is not good. PRAGUE, June 28, 2006 (RFE/RL) — The man who claimed responsibility for the 2004 Beslan school siege, rebel field commander Shamil Basayev, has been appointed vice president of the breakaway republic’s separatist government, putting Russia’s most-wanted man next in line to become separatist president. Basayev’s appointment, first…
Bolivia’s industrious, anti-communist Santa Cruz citizens rally for autonomy Source: Reuters, via Yahoo! News Not every Bolivian likes to be under the thumb of Hugo Chavez’s Marxist mini-me, Evo Morales. Residents of the eastern province, Santa Cruz, which is full of industrious immigrants and enterprising native-indigenous Bolivians who’ve moved there, want instead to have autonomy. They hate communism and want freedom. This weekend’s coming vote is seen by some as a first step toward secession, but that is probably going too far at this stage. The vote, for now, is just on autonomy, to decentralize an all too powerful and…
Terrific news! Peru’s Congress passed the Free Trade pact with the U.S., after months of contentious debate. They took one look (well, probably several) at the $11 trillion economy they have the opportunity to freely trade with and decided it was worth it. They passed the measure, despite fears that they wouldn’t. They ignored the protests. They considered their nation’s interests. They’re right! Now we can buy Made In Peru products as easily as Made In China ones. Better yet, they probably will not cost as much. Better still, we can sell our own fancy capital equipment or whatever to…
Have you seen the Venezuelan movie, Secuestro Express? It’s my favorite current movie. It’s also the most popular Venezuelan movie in history. The only other Venezuelan movie I have seen is Manuela Saenz, and that was weakly done. Secuestro Express is in a league with the best Mexican and Colombian movies, a real chair-gripping suspense and drama. I was screaming by the end of it. It documents a quick and dirty kidnapping of two rich young people – one callow, one not – by a gang of at least four thugs from the slums, one of whom has a glint…
Malaysia’s Former Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim Source: The Sydney Morning Herald Democratic revolutionary Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia is being approached by … well, someone … to apply for the top United Nations post, to succeed UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. I think it’s a great idea! Anwar is a terrific leader whose appeal extends borders and who can talk to all kinds of people. Young men in Indonesia, who might otherwise move over to follow the Islamofascists, drop those stupid ideas when asked about Anwar, whom they really admire. He’s an authentic globalist and a very reasonable Muslim. I remember…
Earlier this week, Mexico’s election board nixed some campaign ads from the conservative PAN party as too fear-mongering, for their warnings about the danger of electing leftist PRD candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador president of Mexico. Election day is July 2 in Mexico. The ads compared Lopez Obrador to Hugo Chavez, with big pictures of Chavez, Fidel Castro and Evo Morales, warning of the danger of populism. The ads were nixed from government-regulated television, but they’ve since gotten out onto the Internet, via YouTubes, and now everyone can look at them, and see for themselves. Miguel has found the links…
Babes of Beirut cheer Brazil Source: AP, Reuters, AFP, via Yahoo! News What’s up with the Babes of Beirut? They’re busy cheering Brazil, which beat Ghana today, moving on to the semifinals in the World Cup! One day it’s a democracy struggle, and as democracy wins, next up, it’s soccer. It’s the same babes, and either way, you know what that means – they’re on the cutting edge of revolution. Today, they’re out in full force cheering Brazil, and according to this excellent post by Ya Libnan, they’re the team of choice. As Nouri has noted in this excellent post…
French fans cheering their team’s victory Source: AP, Reuters and AFP, via Yahoo! News Here’s why soccer is fun – France unexpectedly beat powerhouse Spain in the quarter finals of the match, 3-1, in a very good game. Nobody expected France to do it, not even me, but sure enough, they did. Spain’s a very strong, very impressive team, and they looked hard to beat. But the French team beat Korea earlier, which is not an easy soccer team, and perhaps the effort that went into that was underestimated. Anyway, most everyone wrote off France after their dismal performance in…
Isn’t it funny that while Algerians are debating whether or not to abolish term limits for their presidents, Mauritanians have just approved a constitution that provides for term limits on presidents (and compels the president to pledge before God that he will not attempt to modify these limits), and other checks on the executive? 77% Mauritanians turned out for the referendum, with 97% of them voting “yes” to the Constitution. According to Al Jazeera, Colonel Vall, the main ring leader of last summer’s coup that deposed former president Ouled Taya, has also proposed the prohibition of coup members from running…