Mexican Air Force receives its first Eurocopters

The Fuerza Aérea Mexicana received the first two of an order of six Eurocopter EC 725 Super Cougars.
The French-made helicopters are intended first and foremost for use in case of natural disasters and for rescue and evacuation missions, though they can also be armed - and be used to fight the drug gangs.  

From La Jornada

It's all in the name: Enrique Peña Nieto presents his own PRI group

Outgoing Mexico State Governor Enrique Peña Nieto held a "working breakfast" with a large group of senators, federal deputies, former governors, and other PRI big shots, and handed them their accreditation as members of the new group entitled Expresión Política Nacional, the name of the PRI group that will bring him the presidential nomination, and, more likely than not, the Mexican presidency in 2012.

Its initials just happen to be his - EPN.

I find this more than a bit instructive: According to Baja Reserva,

Nothing escaped the team of the mexiquense: the audience had to leave their mobile phones outside the salon, so that they could not  receive or make any calls, but also to avoid any photograph, video or audio recording, so as to uploadto Twitter.  Attendees formed a bloc in support of the state governor for 2012. And in the end, a besamanos.

Wow. What the hell went on in there, an Eyes Wide Shut-like induction ceremony?
I am sure the 2012-2018 EPN government will just stand out for its openness and transparency and lack of paranoia. And for its lack of asskissing.

PRD and a 2012 alliance: Things have changed

The PRD leadership for the longest time have rejected the possibility of an alliance that includes PAN for 2012 - that is, fielding a common presidential candidate.

Now, former party president and leader of the Nueva Izquierda group, the largest in the PRD, Jesús Ortega, appears to open up for the possibility of an alliance with PAN. Earlier, PAN hinted ever so slightly at the same possibility - a scenario that immediately was dismissed by secretary general Dolores Padierna.

Now even party president Jesús Zambrano says "one cannot declare the issue to be dead."

One may well accuse Ortega et al of backtracking, given their earlier dismissal of a possible 2012 alliance. One may also say that after the steamroller PRI victory past weekend, where PRI pulled every trick to win, and which was far larger than expected - well, things have changed.

And speaking of things have changed:
Let's not forget that AMLO, when seeking to negotiate a common candidate with PAN ahead of the 2000 election, even said he would vote for Fox.