A most pathetic defense from Humberto Moreira

Humberto Moreira Valdés, president of Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), is in stormy weather not only due to the explosion of debt during his term as governor of Coahuila, but also for his government seemingly falsifying documents to creditors and as well the federal government. Gustavo Madero, head of Partido Acción Nacional (PAN), has in particular been on the offensive here, demanding that Moreira explain these irregularities.

Yet what has been Moreira's response? He attacked the "perverse campaign" against him, and  launched a challenge to PAN: If you want to talk about the debt, then let's also talk about the debt to the dead in the fight against organized crime."

What on earth is the connection here? If this illogical,  non-nonsensical rubbish is all what Moreira can come up with, he might be in serious trouble.

Also: Enrique Peña Nieto jumped to Moreira's offense, of sorts, claiming that the debt issue had been "politicized." Well of course it has! If a governor leaves office with an incredible amount of debt accumulated, some possibly even illegally, and then heads the country's biggest party, how can it not be "politicized"?

A great read: Malcolm Beith's The Last Narco

For those who haven't yet - and I've meant to for a long time, but my must-read stack is skyrocketing and I am also writing my own book - I highly Malcolm Beith's The Last Narco, centered on "El Chapo" Guzmán, but touching upon the most relevant aspects and recent developments of the so-called "drug war" in Mexico. I will, in fact, assign it for my students, who I am sure will enjoy it as much as I did.

Calderón, lame duck by the figures: No law approved since last November

An interesting article in Milenio well worth a read, as it not only details how Calderón by the figures has become pretty much a lame duck, but also how much more successful Fox was in at least the number of proposals passed in congress:

* Last time the Mexican Congress voted over an initiative from Calderón was November 2010
* 30 proposals are stalled, including major initiatives such as the Unified Command of the police; the National Security Law; the Reform of the State initiative; the anti-money laundering bill; and many more.

Calderón is a lame duck and knows it: Only five proposals have been submitted in 2011.