Edith Ruiz Mendicutti: A truly embarrassing person

This is beyond embarrassing: Edith Ruiz Mendicutti, a local deputy for the Partido del Trabajo in the Mexico City legislature, and probably one of the least qualified presidents of the culture commission in that legislature's history, as part of the "Children's Parliament" celebrated last week, led a group of children to "take" the dais or legislative tribune of the Mexico City legislature. The children screamed, pushed, and fought to maintain control of the tribune.

How is that for teaching children about democracy! If you're outvoted, simply use physical force instead! Teach 'em while they're young!

Alejandra Barrales, head of the legislature has also strongly criticized Ruiz Mendicutti, and she may be kicked out of the commission of culture. I truly hope this will happen:  She is an embarrassment to her party, the Mexico City legislature, and, lest we forget, hardly a great role model for school children on how democracy works.

Mexican army praises and awards a governor - is this its role?

I find recent spectacle in Veracruz downright bizarre, and quite disturbing:

"René Carlos Aguilar Páez, commander of the Sixth Military Region, gave governor Ochoa Javier Duarte two swords with embossed lettering, one with the word Veracruz and the other Forward, in recognition of the social commitment and the fight undertaken for the welfare of the people of Veracruz" (La Jornada)

Where I am from, it is the civilian political authorities that rewards the military for its deeds - not the other way around. This seems to me a very unfortunate mixing of roles, and politicization of the military - or, militarization of politics. Why on earth should the military "decorate" a governor, who has moreover been in office for less than nine months, for his "social commitments"?

From La Jornada

The caption from the above picture includes the line, "The veracruzano governor reaffirmed that his government's alliance with the armed forces is inseparable, not only to ensure the safety of the population, but to consolidate the prosperity we yearn for."

To declare a military-political alliance as "inseparable" rings very poorly in my ear, especially for a PRI-elected governor.

The Luis Miguel of Politics: The best take-down of Enrique Peña Nieto

This clip is not new, but I have so far seen none other that so effectively exposes hims for what he is: An obedient servant who is extremely cautious about his image, and who is terrified from straying from whatever clip is handed to him.

See Denise Dresser's take-down of Enrique Peña Nieto here.