"Here in Veracruz, we regard the president of the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (SNTE), la maestra Elba Esther Gordillo, as a friend and an ally of the veracruzanos."
Saturday, July 9, 2011
PRI governor Javier Duarte grovels for Elba Esther Gordillo
Governor Javier Duarte de Ochoa of Veracruz made his feelings toward Elba Esther Gordillo - and his disregard for the education of his state's youth - very clear:
Why does Rosario Robles have her own column?
I find it inexplicable that Rosario Robles has her own column in Milenio, to be frank.
Robles, the second female president of the PRD who resigned abruptly among a massive corruption scandal, resurfaced as a columnist after keeping a very low profile for years, and for a good reason: She has repeatedly shown an amazing lack of judgment, politically, professionally, and personally.
As caretaker of Mexico City whenCuauhtémoc Cárdenas stepped down after barely two years to make yet another (his third) run for the presidency, she went on a wild spending spree on publicity and privileges for government functionaries, and was notorious for her personalistic and confrontational style. AMLO, to his credit, immediately cancelled the many dubious city contracts she had signed, when he took over in 2000.
As president of PRD, for 16 controversial months, she moved the party in a confrontational and radical direction - her university militancy was with a Maoist grouping - and stepped down after a poor electoral showing in 2003, despite the PRD's debt doubling to at least half a billion pesos under her watch.
But the real scandal came later, when it was revealed that her lover Carlos Ahumada, a wealthy businessman, had taken over parts of the PRD’s debt, and later sought to blackmail the party by making this public. Robles first denied this, but was forced to admit it when evidence surfaced. A PRD commitee found Robles criminally responsible.
(This became part of the 2004 video scandals, which proved disastrous to the PRD and destroyed much of its credibility, when AMLO's secretary René Bejarano was caught on camera (set up by Ahumada) stuffing wads of money in a bag, ostensibly for "party promotion.")
Now, Robles argues in her column that a PAN-PRD alliance in Mexico State would have been useless, as the parties together were still beat by more than 30 points. This ignores completely two important points: An early demonstration of unity by PRD-PAN and a credible candidate might have created a very different dynamic and polarized the election. In turn, this might very well have elevated the turnout, which was the lowest in decades. It was exactly the much higher turnout, undoubtedly generated by voters actually believing the opposition candidate stood a chance and thus bothered to show up, which nailed the PRD-PAN triumphs in Oaxaca, Puebla, and Sinaloa last year.
And now, Robles calls for "congruence" and for the "responsible" for the 2011 defeats to be punished.
I repeat: Why does Rosario Robles have her own column, and why on earth should anybody listen to her?
Robles, the second female president of the PRD who resigned abruptly among a massive corruption scandal, resurfaced as a columnist after keeping a very low profile for years, and for a good reason: She has repeatedly shown an amazing lack of judgment, politically, professionally, and personally.
As caretaker of Mexico City whenCuauhtémoc Cárdenas stepped down after barely two years to make yet another (his third) run for the presidency, she went on a wild spending spree on publicity and privileges for government functionaries, and was notorious for her personalistic and confrontational style. AMLO, to his credit, immediately cancelled the many dubious city contracts she had signed, when he took over in 2000.
As president of PRD, for 16 controversial months, she moved the party in a confrontational and radical direction - her university militancy was with a Maoist grouping - and stepped down after a poor electoral showing in 2003, despite the PRD's debt doubling to at least half a billion pesos under her watch.
But the real scandal came later, when it was revealed that her lover Carlos Ahumada, a wealthy businessman, had taken over parts of the PRD’s debt, and later sought to blackmail the party by making this public. Robles first denied this, but was forced to admit it when evidence surfaced. A PRD commitee found Robles criminally responsible.
(This became part of the 2004 video scandals, which proved disastrous to the PRD and destroyed much of its credibility, when AMLO's secretary René Bejarano was caught on camera (set up by Ahumada) stuffing wads of money in a bag, ostensibly for "party promotion.")
Now, Robles argues in her column that a PAN-PRD alliance in Mexico State would have been useless, as the parties together were still beat by more than 30 points. This ignores completely two important points: An early demonstration of unity by PRD-PAN and a credible candidate might have created a very different dynamic and polarized the election. In turn, this might very well have elevated the turnout, which was the lowest in decades. It was exactly the much higher turnout, undoubtedly generated by voters actually believing the opposition candidate stood a chance and thus bothered to show up, which nailed the PRD-PAN triumphs in Oaxaca, Puebla, and Sinaloa last year.
And now, Robles calls for "congruence" and for the "responsible" for the 2011 defeats to be punished.
I repeat: Why does Rosario Robles have her own column, and why on earth should anybody listen to her?
... and now PAN rejects any alliance with PRD for 2012
Gustavo Madero, PAN president, now says there will be no alliance with the PRD for 2012, and definitely the PAN will not back AMLO or Ebrard.
Two thoughts:
1) Words matter very little one year ahead of 2102, and Madero's even less, despite being head of PAN.
2) If not AMLO and Ebrard - would the PAN back a common "citizen candidate"?
Two thoughts:
1) Words matter very little one year ahead of 2102, and Madero's even less, despite being head of PAN.
2) If not AMLO and Ebrard - would the PAN back a common "citizen candidate"?
PRI deputies clamors for alliance with Gordillo's PANAL for 2012
The PRI's legislative bench in the Chamber of Deputies defended going in an alliance with PANAL, the personal party of Elba Esther Gordillo of the SNTE teachers union, and claimed it was "belittling" the party to merely regard it as an appendage of Gordillo - which everyone knows, of course, that it is.
And even better: PRI federal deputy David Penchyna argued that PANAL has "an ideology that is congruent with the PRI."
Indeed, as both have none, beyond their desire for power and the spoils thereof.
And even better: PRI federal deputy David Penchyna argued that PANAL has "an ideology that is congruent with the PRI."
Indeed, as both have none, beyond their desire for power and the spoils thereof.
Friday, July 8, 2011
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.
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.
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| 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,
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.
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.
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.
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