The story of Gregorio "Greg" Sánchez is getting ever more bizarre. Now, the Mexican Procuraduría General de la República or Attorney general's office claims that the former Cancún mayor and PRD gubernatorial candidate of Quintana Roo actually met with drug kingpin El Chapo Guzmán, and even on two occasions to boot. PGR says it has evidence of this, and a "protected witness" claims that Greg received copious amounts of money.
Lest we forget, he has in the past as well been accused of consorting with 1) the Beltrán Leyva brothers, 2) the Zetas, and now 3) El Chapo, implying either utter stupidity or a suicidal death wish.
Until the PGR coughs up the evidence, I take this with a pail of salt, no less.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
More on Antorcha Campesina, a movement of terror
El Universal has an exceptionally interesting background article on Movimiento Antorchista in their Monday paper, tracking the roots and the extent of this organization, which appears a paramilitary organization of terror more than anything else. I did not know, for instance, that it was Raúl Salinas de Gortari, brother of the hugely discredited President Carlos Salinas, who in particular tied the Antorchistas to the PRI in the late 1980s. The organization remains exceptionally close to outgoing Mexico State Governor Enrique Peña Nieto, the face of the so-called "new PRI."
Monday, August 15, 2011
Gay wedding No. 1000 in Mexico City
Mexican national José Carlos Gómez and the Dutch Tjarda Olaf Helias became the 1000th gay couple to legally wed in Mexico City.
I don't know about yours, but neither one of those thousand has made my own marriage feel threatened in the slightest.
I don't know about yours, but neither one of those thousand has made my own marriage feel threatened in the slightest.
Mexico 2012 Poll Numbers
Be sure to check out El Universal's newest Buendía & Laredo poll on likely 2012 contenders here.
As expected, Enrique Peña Nieto way ahead, and wins every line-up, though at 48 percent he is down 4 percent from May.
As expected, Enrique Peña Nieto way ahead, and wins every line-up, though at 48 percent he is down 4 percent from May.
AMLO´s World: A highly recommended interview
Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) made an interview with La Jornada that I highly recommend to be read in it entirety. This is AMLO´s world, and AMLO at his worst: Absolute no self-criticism for anything he has done; blaming everyone else for his problems; playing the victim beyond the point of absurdity; and a frightening authoritarian and Manichean view of politics, where those who don't agree with him are either, on the left, "traitors" for not obeying his commands, or, for everyone else, belonging to the "Power mafia."
Among the most inane statements: He launched his absurd "Legitimate presidency" because he knew that the PRD would "turn their back on us." After having incurred millions in fines for its encampments and demonstrations on behalf of AMLO throughout the summer and fall of 2006, the PRD finally realized they could not continue like this for the entire six-year presidency of Calderón.
Yet in AMLO's world, the fact that the party dared to disagree with his strategy and not follow every command of his, makes them "traitors." Now, following the growth of his MORENA movement, which in October will officially become a "Political Association," AMLO feels vindicated, and lets it show.
Among the most inane statements: He launched his absurd "Legitimate presidency" because he knew that the PRD would "turn their back on us." After having incurred millions in fines for its encampments and demonstrations on behalf of AMLO throughout the summer and fall of 2006, the PRD finally realized they could not continue like this for the entire six-year presidency of Calderón.
Yet in AMLO's world, the fact that the party dared to disagree with his strategy and not follow every command of his, makes them "traitors." Now, following the growth of his MORENA movement, which in October will officially become a "Political Association," AMLO feels vindicated, and lets it show.
Why Silvano Aureoles and the PRD may win in Michoacán
Here are what seems to me to be two very important factors why Silvano Aureoles may still pull off a win in Michoacán in November: As opposed to in 2007, when only Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas campaigned for Leonel Godoy, Senator Aureoles is backed by AMLO and his Morena movement, as witnessed by their common appearance this Friday. Then, on Sunday Cárdenas as well appeared together with Aureoles.
Given the continued popularity of Cárdenas and AMLO with much of the party base, at the very least this will likely drive up turnout, and help Aureoles secure his victory in what will be in any event an extraordinary and quite likely tight race.
Given the continued popularity of Cárdenas and AMLO with much of the party base, at the very least this will likely drive up turnout, and help Aureoles secure his victory in what will be in any event an extraordinary and quite likely tight race.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
PRI's ugly face in Mexico City: Cuauhtémoc Gutiérrez de la Torre, King of Garbage
Milenio refers to him as "possibly the most feared priísta in the capital." He is Cuauhtémoc Gutiérrez de la Torre, also known as the King of Garbage in Mexico City, a title and position he inherited from his murdered father, Rafael Gutiérrez Moreno. Now he wants to be president of the Mexico City branch of the PRI, where his group is the main rival of PRI Senator María de los Ángeles Moreno. Gutiérrez has mala fama for being extremely violent, and is fittingly close to local PRI deputy Cristián Vargas, the infamous Dipuhooligan of the Mexico City local legislature, involved in numerous violent events and disturbances, not to speak of threats and hate speech against e.g. the gay community.
Back to Gutiérrez (picture below): He, and his mother, control a large group of pepenadores, or those of extreme poverty who eke out a living by sifting through and collecting garbage, and has vigorously fought against the implementation of a more modern garbage collection system in Mexico City. The pepenadores are held down and controlled by a brutal and exploitative mafia. Gutiérrez has personally faced a plethora of accusations, including that he hired 20 female assistants and demanded sexual favors in return for pay raises. Thanks to his own personal fortune, he has been able to buy quite a bit of support and moreover bankroll the PRI in Mexico City.
Gutiérrez´ plans to become head of the PRI in Mexico City faced a temporary setback when the Federal District Electoral Tribunal cancelled the PRI's convocation for the internal election (registration of candidates), arguing procedural errors. The motion was backed by Juan Carlos Vázquez, Gutiérrez main opponent, and the candidate of Senator Moreno.
It certainly will be in the PRD's interest that Gutiérrez eventually win the contest: It is hard to imagine a more discredited, repugnant public face of the PRI for the 2012 election for mayor, which would likely severely damage a Beatriz Paredes Rangel candidacy, should she run.
Back to Gutiérrez (picture below): He, and his mother, control a large group of pepenadores, or those of extreme poverty who eke out a living by sifting through and collecting garbage, and has vigorously fought against the implementation of a more modern garbage collection system in Mexico City. The pepenadores are held down and controlled by a brutal and exploitative mafia. Gutiérrez has personally faced a plethora of accusations, including that he hired 20 female assistants and demanded sexual favors in return for pay raises. Thanks to his own personal fortune, he has been able to buy quite a bit of support and moreover bankroll the PRI in Mexico City.
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| From Milenio |
It certainly will be in the PRD's interest that Gutiérrez eventually win the contest: It is hard to imagine a more discredited, repugnant public face of the PRI for the 2012 election for mayor, which would likely severely damage a Beatriz Paredes Rangel candidacy, should she run.
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