CommonPrejudice

That Liberal Media Again ...

One thing that drives me nuts about the MSM is how they attempt to reach some imagined balance by simply reducing controversial issues to a he said/she said and not even attempt to verify the veracity of the claims of either side. You know, the old 'one side says 2+2=4 while Bush says 2+2=6' so the New York Times comes out for 2+2=5.

Of course this only is applied when presenting a progressive argument. Conservative arguments are thrown in all the time - of course without fact checking or evidence - and without even mentioning the other side of the issue. Take this Mercury News report on the Mexican election (the word report - ie from a reporter - being key here). Towards the bottom of the story the following appears:

But Fox, who brought the National Action Party onto the national stage after decades on the sidelines, soon found his key reforms blocked in a divided Congress, leaving his promises to improve the plight of average Mexicans largely unfulfilled.

So if Fox hadn't had his "reforms" blocked, the "plight of the average Mexican" would have improved? Isn't that an opinion that requires justification or at least the other side of the argument, neither of which appear in the story? Which reforms were these? How do they know that Congress didn't prevent the plight of the millions of poor Mexicans from getting worse? Neo-liberalism doesn't exactly have a glittering record of poverty reduction in Latin America. This is shameful biased lazy reporting.

I am currently putting together a lengthy piece on the Mexican election for a Latin American news service. I will post the story here in English in a week or so. I can assure you that when I make a claim I will supply the evidence (even though this is just an 'irresponsible far-left' blog)

The Walk For Democracy

Not taking election fraud lying down.

“We began a march of 60 kilometers to the city of Guanajuato which we called the ‘walk for democracy’ to demand that the state electoral tribunal annul the results of at least 700 precincts. As part of these civil resistance actions, we blockaded highways, took over the international airport, surrounded the city of Guanajuato, took over city squares in Celaya, Irapuato and Dolores, filling them with citizens, housewives, students and elders, who denounced the electoral fraud. Our spirit was too overwhelming …”

To me this just sounds like some crazy leftist who won't accept electoral defeat and in the process has acted very irresponsibly by blocking highways and disrupting the life of average Mexicans. Shameful.

Right?

Oh, wait. My bad. These are the words of Vincente Fox in his autobiography talking about the 1991 election fraud in state of Guanajuato when he was the PAN candidate for governor.

You see it's only irresponsible when you are leftist. Otherwise it's the 'walk for democracy.'

Why they are still protesting in Mexico

BBC

...Intrigued, I wanted to know why he had stuck it out. "For democracy," came the simple but expansive reply...

See here (pdf), or here or here or here or here or here for some evidence that all in not right in the state of Mexico. (and ignore everyone who crys that AMLO is a sore loser, or that Calderon has won the election fair and square. Why? Because they never address the innumerable "irregularities" from the election, but as usual fall back on meaningless cliches and ad hominem attacks. That is all the right knows.)

On September 9 15 the Mexican president tradionally gives his "el grito" speech in the central square of Mexico City, the Zocalo. As those camped there and on Reforma don't seem to have any plans to leave and Fox still plans on giving the speech, I'm guessing it won't go well.

La unica lucha que se pierde es la que se abandona. 

The American Way of Life

"Showing off the American way of life is the best way to influence the choices that the Cuban people ... must eventually make.."
U.S. House Representative Charles Rangel

"I guess I'm in the catbird seat ... When I got here in '91 [Miami], I said I wanted to be the first one to serve Jell-O shots in Cuba. Here it is 2006, and it might just be reality now..."  -Tommy Puccio, South Beach promoter.

Quote of the Day

Anyone who has even a smidgeon of knowledge about, or experience in, the Middle East, and who says he is absolutely, 100% certain he has the right answers, is either a liar, a fanatic, or Tom Friedman -- which is to say, a world-class educated fool.

Blair, unfortunately, is all three.

-Billmon

The End?

Is Fidel still alive?

Reports from Venezuela indicate that his recovery after surgery was "progressing positively." However, it is anybody's guess whether that is the truth and for the first time he has temporarily handed over power to his brother Raul. Also, for the first time Cubans living in Cuba have been made aware of his health problems.The Cubans I've talked to here in Miami very much believe he could be dead.

I hope to have some reports soon from Little Havana, perhaps with some video. I don't think this issue will be going away for some time. I will have lots more to say, and some personal stories from Cuba to tell. Stay tuned.