Defacto Presidential pardons for illegals come true and Facebook censors Arizona critique?

 

[Photo from Washington Times.]

Defacto   Presidential pardons for illegals — the president wants to get re-elected at any cost and changes the rules for deportation so as to get the Latino voters ?  You saw it coming, didn’t you? 

Hel-lo!…  Why aren’t the major news outlets complaining?

Mr. Humberto Leal, executed by the State of Texas: justice served?

Regarding the recent execution of Mr. Humberto Leal by the the State of Texas, contrary to all the smoke screens and possible political posturing for the sake of politics 2012, all ought to bear in mind that he received  his punishment after exhausting all his appeals and dragging his case through the courts since 1994 – after committing deadly heinous crimes in San Antonio, Texas against a young lady  named Adria Saucedo…  The State of Texas, various courts, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court reviewed this case, over and over again…  Justice served?… 

Just sayin’…

Person of the Week: Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez

Chavez, Person of the Week… With caution in mind but realism and practicality at hand, whether sooner or later, when Hugo Chavez recedes from the political scene, what comes next for Venezuela?  Anarchy, continuation of the same leftist policies of the international gadfly Hugo, or a turn to democratic principles and the reinstitution of  western style economic patterns? 

Stay tuned…

Related articles

• Video: Ailing Hugo Chavez concerns U.S. oil interests (cbsnews.com)
• Photos of Hugo Chavez released to ease rumours of poor health (theglobeandmail.com)

Latin American regional powers waffle in supporting a Latin American candidate for IMF head

For all the talk about the importance of promoting Latin American cohesiveness  in order  to advance the Latin perspective and influence in world affairs,  some major regional powers remain silent rather than supporting a regional candidate for the position of head of the International Monetary Fund…  Regional solidarity or nationalistic  jealousy?

Person of the Week: Ollante Humala, leftist elected president of Peru

[Photo from ChinaDaily]: 

Ollante Humala , Person of the Week —  elected  president of Peru — and ostensibly his election presents for the Obama Administration yet another failure of American foreign Policy in the Latin region… 

It has been suggested before on this page and elsewhere that  American foreign policy in many respects is in disarray, and that vis-a-vis Mexico, specifically, and Latin America, in general, the United States of America is losing ground not only to narco terrorists, but to  the influence of Brazil, Russia, India, China, Venezuela, Argentina, Bolivia and Nicaragua.

Now another Latin American country turns sharply left — in the mold of Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez and Bolivia’s Evo Morales?

Person of the Week: Harry Alford (calls President Obama a “Marxist” and “Brownshirt”)

For various reasons, as previously has been written on this page and others, President Obama will most likely win re-election in 2012 because he has the Black vote in his back pocket and this constituency will vote almost 100% for him, as it did in 2008…  But some  Black Americans such as Mr. Alford (president and CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce)  take a different view of Obama and he reportedly will not simply vote for Obama racially in-lockstep — could people such as he create a problem for the president?… 

Cutting-to-the-chase, though, regardless of how badly the economic wellbeing of  Black Americans has particularly deteriorated under Obama, how many Black Americans actually will vote in the presidential election based on something other than race?… 

Only a relative handful?…

Potpourri Pan America: muchachos, vote President Obama in 2012; and more…

PONDER THIS:

1.  It’s 2012 election campaign time, folks  — so the White House wants immigration reform, to get the Latino vote?…  He’s already bombed Libya to portray himself as a strong Commander-in-Chief, now, let’s get them votes, muchachos…

2.  “Three Cups of Tea” of fallacy? — who picked this guy to help set our Afghanistan policy? 

3.  S and  P says not so good and Obama Campaign 2012 says it’s all political? — by the way, why isn’t the press complaining about the high gas prices?  Oh, they still want to blame Bush?!!!  Give America a friggin’ break Brian Williams, Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric and company!!!

4.  What happened to “transparency” in government? — where is the change that was promised?  It’s worse than it ever was….

5.  Pres. Obama says: don’t ask me no stinking questions? — America is being treated as a Third World banana republic — come on, Mr. and Mrs. news anchors, speak up, you have the freedom to be independent…

Potpourri Pan America: “moderate” ElBaradei now more “immoderate”; and finally, concern about Iran-Venezuela – really!!! And more…

 PONDER THIS:

1.  Another little friend from South America gets irked     — after all the visits by the president and the Secretary of State, who are America’s friends in Latin America, really?

2.  Wasn’t “moderate” Arab ElBaradei supposed to be Pres. Obama’s boy in Egypt?   — either the  Muslim Brotherhood or El Qaeda or a combination could be problematic in Egypt…  Another “Shah booted out of  Iran” situation?  Hopefully not…

3.  KSM to be tried by military tribunal  — Whoa, Mr. Holder (KSM is not a Dutch airline) — are you simply playing politics?!  Think things through, why don’t you…  Or are you the fall guy for those above you?

4.  The federales of socialist Nicaragua say “nyet” to popular demonstrations — Daniel Ortega, friend of the people!?  Heck, when will people learn: boot out the supposed dictators only to install another one…  Who are the federales?!

5.  Is America on the verge of giving weapons to its enemies in Libya?   — that’s the rumor…  Another failure of foreign policy for the Obama Administration?… 

6.  Concern over Iran-Venezuela connection expressed — oh really!!!  Here and in many other places that concern has been continually expressed!!!  Give America a friggin’ break!!!

PREVIOUS:

  Iraq not yet settled but send   the weary military and stressed, expensive weaponry  into another war?  Are reasons given consistent or factual , or is Obama acting like a  Bush-Lite simply the start of campaign 2012?  His military leadership skills were reportedly viewed by the American public as almost wholly lacking recently — more macho image needed, so send in the military as a military tool, maybe!  Not comfortable here about the president’s decisions and the process of getting there…

  Will this policy encourage illegal immigration? —   the president simply does  not seem to want to seal the U.S. border…  “Come on up, we’d love to have you”?

  What would the news media say if Bush were still president?!  —  but  probably they will say it’s still Bush’s  fault…  Rolling Stone stories roll right along…

  Look out, Arab end time is near? — what’s with Iran and the clergy! 

  President Obama “just” returned from South America and Hugo Chavez nonetheless is being “awarded” there. —  will Venezuela be bombed next?  It “is” the beginning of election season…

Potpourri Pan America: “minorities” will inherit the country and then what? And more…

PONDER THIS:

[Rep. Issa.]

1.  In numbers, the future is bright for minorities in America   — but as a consequence, success will be a failure for them and for all?

2. Issa saw the light finally and fired his spokesperson  —  Rep. Issa and the Republicans could still shoot themselves on the collective foot by playing up to the people at the New York Times and by not maintaining the highest decorum.

3.  ” my people”, says AG Eric Holder, are only the Black people?   — well, not quite, but gives the  impression.

4.  President Obama is weak on the world stage? — more than one person has decried the shortcoming.

5.  Another past study and critique of the problems in Mexico — what has been done about it?  Not much…

Person of the Week: Sara Salazar

 

[AP photo]

Person of the Week:  Sara Salazar, from the state of Chihuahua in northern Mexico across from El Paso, Texas — though she and her family are under attack from criminal entities in their country, at great personal peril they persist in their struggle…

Her daughter, Mexican human rights activist Josefina Reyes Salazar was killed last year presumably by lawless elements who opposed her campaign against the violence currently pervasive in Mexican society —   and yesterday, the dead bodies of two of her siblings and of a sister-in-law were found in the area of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico.  They were reportedly killed to keep others from continuing to complain about the deterioration of law and order in Mexico in general  and to keep the family  from speaking up against the criminals and against those governmental agencies who wish that they would cease drawing attention to Mexico’s problems.

Violence in the Middle East deserves attention, but the upheavals so close to America’s border must not be overlooked…

Pay attention to Egypt, but what about Mexico next door?

[photo from kval.com]

Often and continually or continuously, the American government seems to be reacting to trouble spots around the world, not anticipating them and beforehand working to defuse them, even when the problems are right next door to its borders, such as in Mexico…

Now that the Egyptian problem has ignited and is possibly on the verge of exploding into an all-consuming  conflagration with potentially profound possibilities, of course it deserves attention, but the problems that are undermining Mexican society need to be addressed  aggressively right now, too, so that those problems don’t lead to a conflagration as well, within our southern border area — much closer to us than Egypt and the Middle East … As our citizens on the Borderlands have long noticed, it is bad enough already, while  it seems our politicians look the other way.

Full speed ahead right now on solving the immigration problems, the drug cartel problems and overall all the problems   that have arisen and/or have worsen because the Obama Administration has not paid full attention to Mexico, specifically, and Latin America overall…

Potpourri Pan American: From Hugo Chavez taking steps against the internet, to Evo Morales, to questions about America’s lack of forsight in Latin America, and more.

Ponder This:

(Morales: photo from The Guardian)

1.  Hugo also is managing  the Internet — not only is the U.S. A. regulating the net, but Hugo Chavez too is at work…  Chavez is managing to silence his critics, including the press, and now wants to control the internet.

2.  Kidnapping “cottage industry” in Mexico still paying dividends— Mexico at America’s door, in peril.  Where are the Federales?…

3.  Gun rights proponents rejoice — some ARE responsive.

4.  Hudson Institute:  no Obama-Clinton major initiative for Latin America — what has been said on this page and by many others: America is merely a bystander in current Latin American affairs?

5.  Council on Foreign Relations  — interesting data about Latin .

6.  Evo Morales at the past Cancun Climate Conference — if you missed it, Morales (Bolivia) still relishing being the center of controversy as well as being enigmatic and someone to be feared?

Border Patrol agent gets shot at the Arizona-Mexico border

Problems still there and violence unabated.  “‘Homeland Security’, what are your thoughts?”

Potpourri Pan America: from Russians missiles in Venezuela to Bolivia nationalizing businesses and “Dream Actors” replacing old white men, and more

PONDER THIS:

1.  “Dream Actors” will replace old white men   —  what is being wrought?

2.  Texas Democrats switch Parties?  —  more fallout from November Elections…

3.  Commendable for British immigrants to collect gov’t benefits  and then send part of their left over income to relatives abroad?!  Says who?

4.  Palestinians unilaterally to declare their own state ?  And Argentina Brazil, Uruguay have already recognized their state…  Who’s asleep at the wheel?

5.  Bolivia continues to  nationalize businesses —  anyone keeping tabs?…..

6.  Violence during religious festivals  — not in the Middle East, in Mexico…

7.  1,800 antiaircraft missiles from Russia to Venezuela — Who’s asleep at the wheel?  And it also has been said that Iran is planning to place missiles in Hugo Land that can reach the U.S.A.

8.  Iran tests missiles from subs to air — they can continue to create havoc in the Middle East.

Person of the Week: Rep.Luís Gutiérrez (D.-ILL.),Dream Act activist

Getting to know him:

For some time Rep. Gutierrez has adopted the Dream Act    as his cause celebre and to draw attention to it even has been arrested during  civil disobedience demonstrations, including at the White House    . 

The Bill’s aim originally was to make it possible for some immigrant young people to become legal residents of the U.S.A. — the idea proposed was that because although  they as children had no choice in getting here illegally, they had grown up here and knew no other home… But after various revisions who some say have run far afield of the original intent of the Bill, it does not appear  to have the votes to pass in the lame duck Congressional session — maybe under any circumstances it never had the votes, and possibly it never will…

But through the efforts of people such as Congressman Gutierrez, the spotlight at the end of year 2010 has been placed upon the Dream Act because he says Senator Reid has promised to have it voted for in the Senate… 

Furthermore, stay tuned because the congressman has indicated that if the Dream Act does not pass this year, next year he will lead a nation-wide civil disobedience campaign to have it passed —  and, that Latinos ought to consider leaving    the Democratic Party since overall Latinos have received short shrift from their traditional party-of-choice…

Potpourri Pan America: from Hillary Clinton living the “vida loca” as a super spy to super mouth Palin, from Evo Morales lecturing the U.S.A. to driving Mrs. Bush, Dynasty, and more

[Photo from Reuters]

PONDER THIS: 

1.  Lecturing the U.S.A. by Evo — as has been mentioned before herein,  is anyone in the U.S. government minding-the-store in South America,… while among others, Bolivian coca leaves farmer President Evo Morales is in perpetual  motion railing against the U.S.A…

2.  Clinton has been in over her head from the beginning?     —  surely seems like it from day one…  Maybe sometime soon she will recede from public life for the public good?

3.  Shall we cry for Argentina or someone else?  —   Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is she running  the Department of State diplomatic corp or living the “vida loca” of a super sleuth international spy?

4.  Now it is confirmed, momma Bush was fronting for Jeb? — and of course papa Bush knows what the  Tea Party group is all about,  and about pushing his other son forward… 

5.  School crossing guard positions, dangerous occupation?  — only in L.A or everywhere?!  Hey,  I thought being a coal miner was supposed to be more dangerous than being a crossing guard…  Am I wrong or am I wrong…

6.  Palin speaks up about the Wikileak mess  — whether people like her or not, and whether she always makes sense or not, she is not afraid to speak up and be held accountable for her views, contrary to many (men?) in the public eye who squirm and look down when the going seems to be getting tough…  [Because of her propensity for voicing her true opinions, she will  probably not run for President ( and in several ways can be a real asset to her Party?)…]

Person of the Week: Texas Governor Rick Perry

 

Governor    Rick Perry…

[Photo from AP — On the right, a casually dressed Perry (not Johnny Cash), reportedly the new Chairman of the Republican Governors’ Association.]

Some of his quotes from Business Week article, November 20, 2010, during the Republican Governor’s Conference in San Diego, California:

*“They’ve got to stop all these government-knows-best programs,” he said in the interview. “Quit telling us which light bulbs to have in our house, or which cars to drive, or how much salt we can put on our processed food. Why don’t you do all the things that are constitutionally directed, like defend our border?”…

*“I saw people who were really scared for the first time in their lives that their government was so out of touch with them,…” …

*Perry said that Representative John Boehner, a fellow Republican expected to be House majority leader in the new Congress, should push the idea of sending federal Medicaid grants to states without procedural requirements. That would halve health-care costs,…

*“You have to give those people who are paying the bulk of the taxes a reason to stay in the state,” he said. “There’s going to be some difficult days for California.” …

*Perry said New Mexico’s governor-elect, Suzanna Martinez, a fellow Republican, approached him in San Diego and said, “I’m going to steal your jobs.”…  Said Perry, “She gets it.”…

*“Texans elect folks like me,” he writes in his book. “The kind of guy who goes jogging in the morning, packing a Ruger .380 with laser sights and loaded with hollow-point bullets and shoots a coyote that is threatening his daughter’s dog.”

///  PanAm — a few things to continue thinking about.

.”

Potpourri Pan America: from Obama’s redistribution of wealth ideology, to Iran meddling in Latin America; and to laying the groundwork for Election 2012?, and more…

PONDER THIS:

1.  “The drug war at our doorstep”  — Video/news article about the problems in Mexico…  If not at the doorstep, at least at the next door neighbor’s.

2..  American Neighbor, Guatemala, another failed state: anybody watching? — any government department checking this out?

3.    Waivers upon waivers by the U.S. Department of health and Human Services   — anybody you know cheering the Healthcare Law?!  Was this just another attempt at Redistribution of Wealth?

4.  Janet Napolitano didn’t even want to demonstrate the scanner — on herself, because it violated her privacy?  Is the TSA really handling security in the best possible manner?

5.  Smuggling tunnels, not in the Middle East, in Southern California ! — keep your eye on the ground… and on the air and all around…

6.  Iran, Venezuela and Nicaragua building a new trans isthmus canal? — has anyone noticed and are Costa Rican rights being protected?

7.    Dream Act in New England?  — will this Bill pass in the lame duck Congress as Pelosi and Obama have  indicated they desire?…  Is this just another attempt to expand and solidify Democratic support among Latinos, heading to the 2012 elections?

8.  From the time Pres. Obama took office, have our troops been dying in vain? — who is speaking up for them?  Just askin’…

Potpourri Pan America: Bring the troops home? Vote suppression or sending a valid message? And More

PONDER THIS:

[photo from CBCNews]

1.  A Latino pays for a politica ad asking Latinos not to vote in the Nevada election — to send a message to the Demos that they ought not be “pimped”     — a kind of dirty trick vote suppression, or a legitimate way to send a political message to the Demos?

2. Courts continue to legislate  — regardless of the topic, does anyone care of actions of the Courts?

3.  Football refs and coaches work for the advertisers?     —   who really calls the shots?

4.  Is it a Demo scam?     — Pelosi will not run for Speaker even if Demos maintain control?

5.  Grayson — king of negativity — complains about the same?   — some politicians have no shame and treat voters as stupid lugs?

6.  Bring the troops home now — Obama is just posturing?  — not another American ought to die over there the way the Commander-in-Chief mismanages things.

Persons of the WeeK — the Chilean miners

The Chilean miners collectively who for days persevered deep underground without contact from the world up above and then remained united and had the physical and spiritual stamina to await being rescued from their tomb of  the living — a feel good story for the world that finds itself in turmoil of various kinds and of course an almost unbelievable outcome for the rescued men and their families…

Backdoor immigration amnesty – the rumors turn out to be facts

For months there have surfaced rumors that the Obama Administration is feverishly seeking to find ways to keep the Latino voting bloc in its corner for the November elections — from considering presidential pardons for illegal immigrants to suing the state of Arizona to investigating Sheriff Arpaio in Maricopa County, Arizona…

Now it comes out that the latest step is for I.C.E. to stop processing as many deportation cases as possible…

It’s all about keeping the voting blocs in place and working to assure the current Democratic majorities in Washington continue…  That’s the new politics, folks…

Potpourri Pan America: headline news – better to practice the golf swing than religion… And more…

PONDER THIS:

{From Wikipedia]

1.  Obama interested in “convincing” Americans he plays golf, not that he’s a practicing Christian — seems like it…

2.  Hugo Chavez’s Socialism not helpful to the poor — but facts don’t bother him…

3.  “Los Zetas” in Los Angeles! — but legalizing drugs will help?

4.  Does “this” have an effect on Democratic Party calculations? — seems like it…

5.  It’s worth reviewing — How are things in Venezuela, how are thing turning out??

6.  Even Paul has said unemployment might be higher in 2 years — but the president is not mentioned?

JUST SAYIN’

Potpourri Pan America: Headline news – Obama, Elvis is alive (in pics), Hamas, Governor Paterson, and more

PONDER THIS:

[Photo from the “Mail on-line”]

1.  Obama backtracks? /  Hamas and Obama say build baby build  ? — how about some sensibility, understanding and respect – lest we forget!..  And Governor Paterson is trying to be responsive, it seems?!

2.  No wonder no one is at the rudder — too many top priorities.

3.  O.K. folks, pay your higher taxes — in some weird thinking, the spin is that it’s Bush’s fault? !

4.  Cut Food Stamps for the First Lady’s pet project! — what’s going on?…

5.  The border is volatile and takes a toll — ask the families of the dead Border Patrol guys.

6.  Machines are winning! — and, the government! Ray would say that..

7.  A no gender world?! — it’s a mad world we live in…

8.  Government workers (teachers) vs the press — let’s see how it all turns out. Can the students read?

9.  America collapsing? — one man’s opinion, but stay alert.

10. A simpler life — Elvis, remember him?     — Come back, Elvis, where ever you are… Nice pictures…

Potpourri Pan America: Headline news — from President Obama’s missing coattails, to the First Lady’s traveling, and much more

PONDER THIS:

1.  Selling secrets to China pays — is anybody paying attention to South America and Asia?

2.  Hugo Chavez provides 30% inflation for Venezuela — another leftist messing up the economy.

3.  The First Lady’s junket to Spain did not get the desired positive reaction from the Latino news media — even the Spanish media powerhouse UNIVISION  runs critical stories about the costly trip… 

4.  Forces of Pres. Evo Morales of Bolivia will train civilian militias  — to keep himself in power through force, if needed.

5.  Mexico plans to sue BP and the U.S.A. — I thought we were on the same team.

6.  In Election year, Democrats trying to run and hide from what they have done in Congress — they are simply scared?…

7.  Weirder and weirder: Ex Pres. Fox want to surrender to the drug cartels — legalize street drugs and declare victory…  Sounds like some in the U.S.A.

8.  President Obama in Texas and state and local Democratic politicians run from him — nobody wants to hold on to his coattails…

9.  Even Maureen Dowd was down on the First Lady — now that says something because she seems to think Democrats walk on water.

10.  Kudlow: Panic in the White House? — what now, circular firing squad?

Republicans to shoot themselves on the collective foot?

[AP Photo]

Being involved with the idea of restricting citizenship even though someone is born in the U.S.A .  will likely hurt the Republicans…  Hel-lo-o-o-o!… Who is manning the rudder for that Party?.. .. They are surely in danger of snatching defeats from the jaws of possible victories….

Potpourri Pan America: Headline news — Reverse migrations?: will the Border Patrol give them a boost up and back over? And more.

 

PONDER THIS:

[Photo from Wikipedia] 

1.   From Laredo, Texas, the Zetas are not in control — but the drug cartels ARE quite active on both sides of the border.

2.  Power of the drug cartels vs. the free press? — the bullets are mightier  than the pen?

3.  Chavez is actually changing or just wanted the reward? 

We’ll see…. 4.  Is there some reciprocity here? — U. S. assures Chavez no attack coming…

5.  If Paraguayan poor can do it, it could be done here? — show some American ingenuity…

6.  Good that Peru is fighting the drug problem — but why not buy American?

7.  Look out, maybe there will be some reverse migration — but what will be done about climbing the fence back?  Will the Border Patrol give them a boost up?

8.  Russian are selling and selling — I wonder if America is even making cold calls?

9.  How about some hard facts!  

10.  Or so they say.

Please note: PanAm is changing the days he posts

Because new personal, family and business demands on his time have increased, beginning this week PanAm will be changing the days he posts to Tuesdays and Fridays…

On Saturdays, the Person of the Week segment will continue…  Will be checking the boards on other days as time permits…  Thank you.

Persons of the Week: citizens of Bell, California // tax dodging U.S. Senator John Kerry

[Photo from A.P. and Yahoo News.]

 

1. Citizens of  Bell, California:  who finally rebelled to force out 3 of their highly  overpaid public servants — yearly, the City manager was getting paid almost $800,000, the assistant City Manager almost $400,000 and the Police Chief almost $500, 000 (yes, that’s right)…  [The nucleus of the City Council  were being paid about $100,000 a year, individually!: their fate is still in limbo…]  Bell is a struggling blue–collar predominantly Latino community of about 40,000 in the vicinity of Los Angeles…

Maybe a little belatedly the Tea Party sentiment has arrived in Bell, but arrived nonetheless…   Power to the People… 

2. U.S. Sen. John Kerry (Mass.):  avoids paying taxes on luxury boat — he who as a senator seems to love making others pay taxes, reportedly bought a 76 foot sloop at a price of about $7,000,000, but to avoid his home state’s higher tax rates, he will dock it in Rhode Island where the taxes are much lower…  Pay up, senator!

Potpourri Pan America: Headline News — Give the Heisman belately to Vince/rich Mexicans there and here,… plus…

[Texas Longhorn Vince Young scoring against USC at the Rose Bowl to win the BCS National Championship: Mark J. Rebilas photo.]   

 

1.  Vince Young deserved it then, and deserves it now — yes, I’m an ol’ Longhorn fan, Hook ’em… 

2.  Anyone think it’s racism driving things? 

3.  Cyrano’s Viewpoint:  He took the time to write.

4.  Rich Mexicans in……in, America! — surprised?

4.  Car bombs in Afghanistan, and on the Texas-Mexico border!   —  Help, send the Special Ops boys…

5.  Other nations in Latin American join the U.S.A. in suing Arizona!:   you kiddin’?

Mexico avoids a revolution at one end, but at the other its institutions and America’s social order suffer

[Carlos Slim is one who recently has become more humanitarian, but as a whole the Mexican elite are not a humanitarian lot.]

*  Mexico exports  people north and keeps the powder keg from exploding into a full-blown revolution against its rich ruling class [similar conditions still exist in 2010]  and against its traditionally inept and corrupt government — altho’ Calderon is trying to make improvements more than its other recent presidents have.

**  The Mexican drug cartels  export their products north,  Americans keep buying them and local governments here make it easier for cartels to “grow  ” their business by encouraging their use when they pass lenient anti-drug laws,  or weaken them.    [Photo from ABC.]  

    

Just sayin’…

Potpourri Pan America: Headline news –car bombs getting closer? And more…

PONDER THIS:

[Photo from Yahoo News]  It’s not “purty”, but it’s a border fence: 

1.  Even Argentina seems to care:  the cavalry to the rescue in Arizona — not really but, all right.

2.  Car bombs in Afghanistan, and on the Texas-Mexico border!    — oops!

3.  Other nations in Latin American join the U.S.A. in suing Arizona!:   say what???

4.   Even in Bolivia the story about the super secret anti terrorism program in the U.S.A.  — is big news…  Maybe it’s because they have a vested interest?

5.  Argentina even approves same-sex marriages  — and it’s a Catholic country — well, overall, its people are…  You know what I mean…

6.  American policy in Afghanistan is in turmoil, but do any likely voters care?   — we shall see in November…

7.   Chavez in Venezuela has tried to stamp out Capitalism :  — but it’s still selling…

8.  Endangered animals   — some are trying to help.

9.  Racism or not?  Department of Agriculture employee resigns (Video).  

10.  A bit of Texas-Mexico border data — Presidio, Texas

Headline News — There’s disorder all around, Mr. President, where does the buck stop?

PONDER THIS:          

1.  “How do you ask a man to be the last man to die in Vietnam?” — John Kerry said way back when.        

2.  “How do you ask a man to be the last man to die in Afghanistan, Sen. Kerry?:    — Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. John Kerry  needs to answer that question given that he seems to have doubts about President Obama’s conduct of the war over there, a war his party seems to have mishandled —  while precious American blood and treasure  wastes…

Is he helping set up a trial-balloon exit strategy so that regardless of the circumstances on the ground victory can be declared in Afghanistan?   

3.  Illegal Immigration has fallen mainly because the economy has fallen, here — not because of extraordinary efforts by the administration to seal the border?

4.  The coalition that elected the president and the Congressional majority is falling apart? — so the push to stir up the voting blocs is intensified (such as within the NAACP and among other  groups), all geared to keeping political power in November?

5.  Courtland Milloy, Washington Post: “…If white people didn’t insist on being white, there would be no such thing as race.”…  

Huh?!  Interesting viewpoint, but “coo coo” thinking (see also “Coo Coo…” post, June 30, 2010, this page)…  Just another effort by some in the press to bring about divisions among people, for political expediency leading up to November?

6.  Europe is upset with the Obama Administration?  / Tax funded abortions on the way? / Poll numbers down? / stimulus money for double agent? /and more problems coming?

Potpourri Pan America: Headline news — the racial and ethnic voting blocs for November are stirred up, and more

PONDER THIS!:

1.  Quotas – gender and race in financial bill…  It’s all about racial/ethnic/gender politics for November?

2.  Michelle marches to the White House bloc voting political tune      —  get the Black vote in November, she says!  [First Lady in a past visit to Kenya.]

3.  .  Stossel, redone: on Breitbart — previously covered a similar topic on this page on June 30, 2010: “Coo coo” thinking, but many don’t notice?.

4.  Healthcare — July 12, 2010, Rasmussen Poll: 53% favor repeal of the Law…

5.  American people lack confidence on Obama — so stir up the Black and Latino communities for November is a goal of the White House…

Politicizing American institutions to suit idealogue Obama’s views?

 [Logo creation from: TheSnakeontheflag.blogspot via Michelle Malkin blog]

Yesterday it became widely disseminated that the head of the  National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Charles Bolden, was spreading the word to the Muslim World that under President Obama’s direction, his “… foremost’ mission as the head of America’s space exploration agency is to improve relations with the Muslim world.” – foremost-job-of-the-space-agency?

Even the nation’s space program does not seem to be immune to President Obama’s efforts at politicizing all segments of the government…  Previously on this page it has been suggested that Obama does not seem to understand(?) what America is and is not, and this NASA story is another example of why that suggestion has merit….. 

Shortly after the president took office, he made various overtures to the Muslim World, and in doing that he made it clear that he thought the U.S.A. had a history of continually wronging them, and additionally mentioned that this nation had undermined the government of Iran in the past –  in various way he has apologized and bowed to different leaders of different countries…

He also has tried to debase the concept of American Exceptionalism by claiming that America is not so because believing in exceptionalism makes America intolerant of others!  Even if President Obama does not see America as being exceptional, most people in this country and across the globe believe in its special place among nations — in times of need the U.S.A. continually is at the forefront of helping others around the world, and, there is no country in the World to whom continually more people of the world are drawn, than The United States of America: that in itself means something about Exceptionalism – but whether exceptional or not, it ought not be up to the elected leader of the nation to try to tear down the American concept of pride in one’s country…

President Obama seemingly has used Admiral Mullen as a political operative by approving/encouraging him to point out that the nation’s high deficit is a threat to national security, insinuating that taxes must be increased to protect our security…  But President Obama himself has been the cause of trillions of dollars being added to the debt by passing things such as the monstrous healthcare law…  Now he politicizes the military by having Mullen suggest raising taxes as a security measure!

 The list could be endless of examples of how agencies have been politicized, among them:

1. Directing the Justice Department to drop the suit against the New Black Panthers who intimidated voters, and suing the state of Arizona – quite obviously done for political considerations geared to the November elections ( Secretary of State Clinton had made the announcement in Ecuador awhile back).
2. Around the time Admiral Mullen spoke about the national debt being a security issue, special assistant Volcker made a similar claim, not coincidentally…
3. Labor Secretary Solis also promised to help illegal workers get fair pay for their work (work they ought not be doing here.) – attempting to keep the Latino vote in November?.
4. And more…

There are some who are too busy or too uncaring or too enamored of the president and his philosophy of government to see that President Obama seems to be going far beyond what most elected him to do…  Aside from that, some who still hate the former president intensely, will not question anything, believing that so long as Bush is not in office, anything goes and is all right… 

Short sightedness…

President Obama’s “illegal immigration” speech was a disappointment overall?

Yesterday, President Obama gave a speech generally having to do with immigration…  It was much to do about nothing new…  It seemed as though he simply wanted to convince the Hispanic Caucus and some Latino activists that he was thinking of them so that in general they would work more to keep the Latino community working for him and his Party during the November Elections. 

But a presidential speech such as this one probably was expected by the target audience  members not simply as one to make them feel good,… which overall that speech did not even do…  What the target community expected to hear was that the president was going to push hard to have an immigration bill passed before the end of the year.  He did not say that, and thus he did not achieve his goal, it seems, of stirring the Latinos to action on his behalf and his Party’s.

Additionally, the presentation the president made seemed as though it had been cobbled together for the purpose, mainly, of giving a pep talk to Latinos so that they would believe he was working on their behalf and thus they would stay in his corner…  They were probably looking for a lot more, and so the effort fell short…

It appears from this end that the Latinos who last voted for President Obama, those  whom he was trying to reach in the community, are not going to be energized by this speech, and the Latinos who have not been in his corner, probably will be energized against him — so the speech was counterproductive…

Redux: Liberals rejoice!… President will most likely get re-elected in 2012… But,…

[The Obama Administration is angling to keep the Latino vote in the President’s corner for the November Elections so as to counterbalance losing the Independents: no one ought to be surprised about what gamesmanship might be employed to that end…  A post appeared on this page in April assessing the president’s chances for re-election, and now because of rumors about the president wanting to take some steps soon (maybe today) to help keep the Latinos in his corner, the April 10 post is repeated here…  Potpourri Pan America is supplanted, today]

Conservatives will not like this assessment and liberals will love it, somewhat – but whether one side or the other favors it or not,… at this juncture, early as it is, it seems President Obama will get re-elected in 2012.  Why?…  Because of the solid voting blocs he has in his back pocket:

1. the Black community will vote for him almost 100 percent, as it did in 2008, and that solid swing vote segment will swing the election to him.  Black pride will continue to prevail.

2.  the latino community could likely vote for him in significant numbers, as it did in 2008…  After seeing that a Black American can be elected president utilizing particular swing voting segments of society, hispanic/latino strategists are surely working out details of how in the future a latino could be elected president with the solid voting support of the Black American community…  The election of a Black American president in 2008 undoubtedly gives hope to the Hispanic/Latino community that through changing demographics and voting coalitions, one of theirs also can be elected.

3.  the portion of white liberals who still feel the weight of “the white man’s burden” will continue to vote for him in overwhelming numbers.

4.  a sizable percentage of disenchanted and alienated white females who blame a  significant number of the problems of the world and nation on the white male, once again will vote a second term for President Obama, and…. 

5.  those who simply believe intellectually that the president would or would not be the best choice for president, could evenly split their votes between the Democrat and Republican candidates, but because of the previously listed reasons, the decision would still go to the president…

In this assessment, the economy has not been totally weighed because it is still in flux.  And because even if it improves to a large degree (which historically it ought to do), or if it remains sluggish, the voting segments highlighted above probably will not be swayed too far afield to have a bearing on the election — if it improves, President Obama gets the credit…  If it remains problematic, the previous administration will get the blame…

As for the national elections of 2010, the results might have an effect on President Obama’s re-election fortunes in 2012, but it is important to note that even if his party loses big time in November, he could still win his re-election bid in 2012.

“Coo coo” thinking, but many don’t notice?

John Stossel is a good guy, overall, it seems, generally thoughtful, apparently…  But yesterday evening he seemed to say that if the U.S. government stopped spending money on border security issues, and simply increased the yearly number of legally permissable immigrants who want to enter the United States, there would be no illegal immigration problems…  Huh?… 

Further, that if cocaine, methamphetamines and marijuana were legalized in this country, there would be no drug problems in America from imported drugs… And, that then, the government could concentrate on spending its money rehabilitating the addicted… Huh? Huh?… 

Homeland Secretary Napolitano has indicated that because the border between the U.S and Mexico extends for 1,600 miles, and in many places is in desolate places, it is impossible to secure every mile of it, so that it will remain porous, at best… 

On another side of the world, the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan is approximately 1,610 miles long over some quite inhospitable terrain, but, a major part of the Obama Administration’s policy in that portion of the world seems to be to press the Pakistanis to seal the border between them and Afghanistan, thereby preventing Al Qaeda and the Taliban from encroaching from that side into Afghanistan  and causing chaos…  Huh?…

There appears to  be a disconnect from reality by some public figures and decision makers…  To eliminate all illegal immigration, let them all legally in, creating an Open Border for the whole world to enter!… To win the war on drugs, legalize drugs and declare victory!…  Don’t secure the border with Mexico because supposedly it is  impossible to do so, but insist Pakistan secure its border with Afghanistan because doing that is not impossible!… Huh? Huh?  Huh?…

Unilaterally, pass a monstrous healthcare law that greatly increases the deficit, then lament and press that America must pull together to raise taxes to cut the horrendous deficit that just seems to have arisen!

Hopefully, what next will NOT follow is that regardless of the situation on the ground, the Obama Administration will simply declare victory in Afghanistan, pat itself on the back and come home victorious?…  That would be “coo coo” thinking personified…

Potpourri Pan America: Headline news – Russian spies arrested while America resets the button… Drug cartels kill and Governor Brewer calls out Pres. Obama… And more.

PONDER THIS:

1.  Say it ain’t so — didn’t Pres. Obama say during his administration that Russia – U.S.A. relations had “reset”? — “Shocking”: wasn’t Russian Pres. Medvedev just here making nice and saying the same thing?   

2.  “Friend and partner” Russian leader has pulled the wool over Pres. Obama’s eyes? — maybe the U.S.A. has “reset” the button, but the Bear hasn’t…. Stay awake, people…

3.  Leading candidate slain by drug cartels — the drugs cartels are coming, the drug cartels are coming…  Or they are here already?        

4.  Street drugs destroy minority families, and NAACP wants marijuana legalized — where’s the sound logic? 

5.  Arizona Governor Brewer call out Pres. Obama — parts of America “occupied” by drug cartels? (Video) — the lady has gumption?…       

6.  Not all voting Latinos want Open Borders: will the Democrats be surprised? — can you see them?

Presidential Pardons for illegal immigrants, or bluffs?

Amnesty for illegal immigrants through presidential Executive Order?   — or via other means?…  There has been much talk (since prior to and following Arizona’s passage of the illegal immigration law) about insisting strenuously that the federal government secure the international border with Mexico because of continuing problems caused by drug cartel operations-illegal immigration-human trafficking organizations…  And some, (such as Senator    Kyl of Arizona) seem to suggest the Obama Administration is holding the border issue hostage and will not secure it unless border security is done as one segment of a comprehensive immigration law – which would include, for example, amnesty and a guest worker program…

Additionally, Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano recently seemed to complain, in her remarks before the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) that those who want border security are unreasonable because “… the word secure really becomes, effectively, ‘seal’ the border,…”  In other words, she indicated that people want the border sealed, and that either she is against that or that it can’t be done…      (Photo from Boston.com)    

Thus, because in a continuously contentious pre November Election mode in which Congress finds itself it appears no action will be taken to consider an immigration bill, there have been rumors  that the president (to satisfy Latino elected officials and the Latino voting bloc he would like to maintain in his corner) has been advised to take extra ordinary measures…

• PARDONS — The right of the President of the Unites States of America to pardon people under rights given as part of Article II, Section 2 of the U. S. Constitution:  “…he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.”…
• Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation — from paragraph 2 of the proclamation: “That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.”…

A couple of rumors has it that the president has been advised by  some to explore using the PARDONS clause of the U.S. Constitution to pardon those who are here illegally, or to possibly use a Presidential Proclamation to achieve a similar result…  Are these actions possible or actually being considered, of course that is not known here, but as indicated in the first-sentence link of this post ( Amnesty for illegal immigrants through presidential Executive Order?  ), some senators seem to take the rumor(s) seriously…

Stay tuned.

Potpourri Pan America: Headline news — Obama to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants?/Afghan withdrawal deadline: are Americans dying in vain? And more

PONDER THIS:

1.  Musical chairs with generals in Afghanistan, but the troop withdrawal deadline is still in place — good speech by Pres. Obama,but civilian component of strategy needs attention, and are Americans dying  in vain?       [Map from WorldAtlas.com]    

2.   Amnesty for illlegal immigrants through presidential Executive Order?     — Pres.  Obama needs the Latino votes in November: will he stop at nothing to appease the Latino organizations to give them what they want?    

3.  Bolivia: Pres. Evo Morales continues  at work against the U.S.A.    — Pres. Morales still undermining American interests in South America: wants to kick the USAID out of Bolivia.          

 4.  CNN: Drug cartels threaten police officers in Nogales, Arizona  /  Video news report: drug cartels threaten police officers in Arizona  — Will Pres. Obama secure the border and keep Americans safe?                      

 6.   Hurricane season arrives in the Gulf of Mexico?  — and the Gulf leak still going…

7.    Obama Administration hostile to business    — Business Round Table thinks so…

8.  U.S.A.!  U.S.A.!  U.S.A.! — In South Africa, World Cup play, the United States team advances in dramatic fashion!

Potpourri Pan America: Headline news — re Has President Obama understood and “bonded” with America? And more…

PONDER THIS:

1.  Slippery slope to tyranny? — Thomas Sowell of Investor Business Daily says: … “In our times, American democracy is being dismantled, piece by piece, before our very eyes by the current administration in Washington, and few people seem to be concerned about it”…  Is anyone else noticing? [Photo from Investors.com]

  

2.  Ecuadorian illegal immigrants in U.S.A. get a  “headsup” ?– While in Ecuador, Secretary of State Clinton seemingly gave Ecuadorians advance notice that the Justice Department will sue Arizona over its law against illegal immigrants that is intended to complement U.S. law…  Is anyone else noticing?

3.   Jimmy Carter returns as Obama?     — Overseas some are noting…  Is anyone else noticing?

4.   Senator   — Senator Kyl relates that apparently the current administration will not secure the American borders until a comprehensive illegal immigration bill is passed into law with amnesty, guest worker provisions and on and on?  Is anyone else noticing?

5.  U. S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, on the job, fighting for the rights of illegal immigrants in public service announcements — doesn’t she work for the American tax payer? Is anyone else noticing?

6.  Obama Administration undermines the military? — is anyone else noticing?

If Arizona pushes to deny citizenship to American born children of “illegals”, the effort will likely fail

“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States;… ” So begins the 14th Amendment of The Constitution of the United States of America….

Now once more comes Arizona state senator Russell Pearce, who sponsored the SB 1070 Bill against illegal immigration that became law — which drew and continues to draw much national and international attention…   He wants to sponsor another bill, one that would deny citizenship to children born in the United States of illegal immigrants…  RUSSELL PEARCE: 

Although the frustration apparently felt by Senator Pearce and his constituents (as well as by others across the land)… can be understood because of having to confront the problems of illegal immigration first hand, much thought ought to be given before taking such a drastic step that in all likelihood has nil chance of succeeding, and that surely will enable opponents to ridicule and demonize the good people of Arizona…

By passing SB 1070 into law Arizona took a leading role in working to secure the nation’s borders, but moving forward on the proposed new bill would make the state senator and his supporters (in the humble view of this writer) appear to be  extremist rubes who disregard and have  no appreciation of the U.S. Constitution, thereby losing the high ground…  

The senator has led the people of Arizona to victory in battle, but he need not lead them into a constitutional war that will likely lead to inglorious defeat…

[Regarding the president’s speech last night, it seemed to be more of the same, demonizing others, trying to use public relations ploys to avoid accepting responsibility for failures in leadership, and politicizing the issue, further.]

Potpourri Pan America: headline news — Van der Sloot to Slim, and more

PONDER THIS:

1.  drug — if its use does not stop here, the killings will not stop there.

2.  Castro — even half dead, he still manages to get attention.

3.  Aruba  — I’ll bet people still vacation in his first place of crime!

4.  Obama still not leading — is he still pointing fingers?

5.  Pinochet — even from the grave he affects things.

6.  It’s about time Slim — you can also help create jobs for your fellow Mexicans.

About Arizona and Middle East: varying, but similar perceptions?

Recently Amr Moussa, head of the Arab League, visited the Hamas leadership in the GAZA strip to pledge solidarity with them against Israel…  Of course  Hamas and many other Palestinians, as well as some others across the planet believe the Hebrews ought to be driven into the sea and their land taken over by the Arabs…..

When Arizona passed SB 1070 into law, a sizable number in this country and many in Mexico and across the globe indicated, in essense, that the land in Arizona ought to be taken over by those who do not believe in the rule of law but do believe in Open Borders…  Some governmental officials even have sought to overturn the law…

Dr. Sergio Antonio Corona of the Universidad iberoamericana of Mexico wrote a newspaper column in Spanish about SB 1070 when it was passed into law… 

He indicated that:

The law was passed by a fascist state and was against the natural rights of humans according to international treaties and agreements under the Geneva Convention, as well as violated rulings of the World Court in The Hague, and that that was why people in general and specifically Human Rights organizations of the world have declared war against the law….

Further, he followed by explaining that the land making up what now is the state of Arizona, currently is illegally occupied and has been in that status for years as a result of what he calls the aggressive Mexican War against Mexico by The United States of America in the 1800s… Therefore, he concludes, those who are labeled as illegal immigrants by the law are actually the legal residents of Arizona, and the ones who wrote and passed the law are the illegal ones…

Additionally, he wrote that the passage of the law was obviously wrong, but that its passage was easy to understand because those approving it were of the same mentality as those who ran the Abu Graib Prison in Iraq and who still run Guantanamo….(!)

The sentiments expressed by Dr. Corona are similar to the views held by many others who reside in this country illegally, and even by a number of American citizens… 

Mr. Amr Moussa of the Arab League, in general, probably shares views similar to those expressed by the Mexican professor, but of course against obviously  a different target…

Although Dr. Sergio Antonio Corona has written several fine books and articles, in his column against the Arizona law, his views, just as Mr. Moussa’s perceptions, come through loudly and clearly and are other examples of why whether in the Middle East or in Mexico, people with unreasonable and/or unrealistic views — operating on different interpretations of what the facts are — make it nearly impossible to arrive at reasonable alternatives to solve major or minor problems…

The Stockholm Syndrome in America: en masse, 2010

For any who might not know to what the title refers, the “… Stockholm syndrome is a term used to describe a paradoxical psychological phenomenon wherein hostages express adulation and have positive feelings towards their captors that appear irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by the victims.  The FBI’s Hostage Barricade Database System shows that roughly 27% of victims show evidence of Stockholm syndrome.^{“[from Wikipedia]}

Metaphorically, that seems to be the case in which many in America and the world find themselves — captives, kidnapped, their minds hijacked by a peculiar political viewpoint foisted upon those who have difficulty being independent thinkers, those who, regrettably, unconditionally believe whatever the dominant mass news media tells them…

Another way of putting it is that some have allowed themselves to be led to believe that what is up is down, and down is up…  You get the picture…

Israel is trying to keep rockets and other items from entering the Gaza strip so that its people can be safe from attack, and under international law exercises its right of self-defense by establishing a blockade —  in order to ascertain that certain items do not enter Gaza…   And the typical national and world press, and a significant degree of the national and world population ( because they are hostages to a particular viewpoint), condemn or severely criticize American ally Israel — which is being threatened with annihilation… What is actually up, is seen as down…

Arizona attempts to have border security laws enforced by passing a state law that simply complements federal law, and its people are called “racist“, “white supremacists” — and the federal government, as well as some other states and municipalities, and news organizations and politicians, undertake actions and words to try to punish Arizona for trying to enforce laws!…  Again, hostages — what is up, is seen as down…

The School Board of Los Angeles , California, reportedly, even has passed a resolution directed to the superintendent and teachers of the district that strongly encourages teachers to include in their lesson plans that the Arizona law against illegal immigration is as vile as slavery, the holocaust, the Japanese Internment, and other such historical episodes…  Absurd…

The Stockholm Syndrome, en masse, is alive and well, sorry to say, in America…  How many people are suffering from the delusion, to the detriment of the country?…. How many in America have been taken hostage, how many have been brainwashed?

The Stockholm Syndrome is alive and well within how many?…  Remains to be seen in the months to come…

Potpourri Pan America: from oil to CNN, from immigration to secure borders, from politics to sports, and more…

Ponder these:

1.  For better or worse, the Gulf of Mexico oil spill might remake or break Obama  — the administration could turn it all around between now and November, coming out smelling like a rose, not an oil sopped shrimp?

2.  President finally agrees to meet Arizona governor  — “immigration and secure borders” won’t go away!

3.  Obama to use the oil spill fiasco to move legislation through  — will the climate-change bill be resurrected?!

4.  Oliver Stone and another South American leftist  — what’s with Oliver and those guys? [In Spanish: Oliver wants to make a film about Evo Morales of Bolivia, like he did of Hugo Chavez of  Venezuela.]

5.  Mexican drug cartels use cash only — No debit cards?  Their pants really must have “deep pockets”. 

6.  CNN journalist quits for honest reasons  — honesty and journalism, together?Really?!

7.  Celtics and Lakers, NBA Finals — the west coast bunch is favored but pulling for the Celts…

It’s fearful: President Obama is allowing himself to be exploited

The world is always a combination of beauty and goodness, as well as of ugliness and evil — whether a Democrat or a Republican lives in the people’s house, the White House. 

But there is a fear felt among a significant number of people that at this time in history there are leaders of some countries who are exploiting the apparent naiveté of President Obama for his moving along to make too many policy changes too swiftly and preaching a policy seeming to be that if we love our enemies and give them a bow and a hug, they will love The United States of America, unconditionally, thereby making the world a nicer place…  Wrong…

That exemplified attitude by the president is a disaster and has put the country in peril, encouraging other countries to challenge the nation in various ways, and making our allies wonder…

The diminutive leader of North Korea sinks a ship of our ally South Korea and the president sits.

Russia establishes in our backyard close military ties with Bolivia and Venezuela,.. the president sits.

Brazil unites with Turkey in undercutting America’s efforts to sanction Iran,…  the president still sits.

Turkey pushes to force the U.S.A. to condemn Israel,  America’s staunch ally, the president comes close to doing so.

China owns a good chunk of The United States through its  buying of American notes, and President Obama still forces the Congress to pass a horrendously expensive health law that will force the children and grandchildren (ad infinitum) of the country to pay China for his mistake…

Countries of the world are taking President Obama for a chump, and so far he has given them all the ammunition to label him such.

It’s getting to be scary because of his unsteadiness on the world scene…  He is not serving the country well and in general the press still puts him on a pedestal…  It’s getting to be scary…

Potpourri Pan America: Headlines news in brief

What a mess to ponder:

1.   Arguments among the brass on the  rig  prior to the explosion!  Let’s get to the bottom of the mess, no pun intended…

 2. Terrorist alert on  Texas / Mexico border?  Send the troops, hurry!

 3.  Amnesty  International (in Spanish) says Hugo Chavez’s Venezuela does not respect free speech by the citizenry… Sean Penn, talk to your friend!…

 4.   Democrat Carville blasts the Obama Administration for its reaction to the oil spill …  The “Cajun is ragin'”.

 5.  Obama ready to repeal the don’t ask, don’t tell policy for the military – what about the Study the military was supposed to conduct, first? 

 6.  Video(s) – drug problems for everyday lives in Mexican and American  society…  You thought you had seen it all?!… 

Potpourri Pan America:Headlines in brief – a political bribe(?), a rebellion(?), gasoline taxes(?), immigration, and more

Ponder These:

1.  If you criticize the president you are inciting a rebellion?  Why is Governor Patrick bringing up something like that? 

2.  “Wanna” stop illegal immigration? – then raid the employers every where and often; penalize them severely, too.

3.  A follow-up to the 1982 Falkland War between Argentina and England?  — or as the Argentines call them, the Malvinas…  President Kirchner of Argentina is making noise about that possibility to distract from the bad economy in Argentina?…

4.  Congress will raise tax on gasoline?  They said what?

5.  Oil spill off Mexico 1979   —  a comparison to this 2010 oil spill off the Louisiana coast: more oil spilled from the Mexican well altho’ that well was in much more shallow water… 

6.  Rasmussen Report —  the public turns against the president, little by little…  Will support for him rebound before November or continue the slide? 

7.   Sestak, U.S.Senate Democrat nominee, was he offered a bribe?  By the White House? — Is this situation similar to what is asserted in the criminal case against ex Illinois Governor Blagojevich?…  Wonder if anyone is “stonewalling” and will anything serious come of this matter.

President’s aunt Zeituni Onyango gets preferential treatment?; and Presidential guest Calderon critiques

President Obama’s aunt enters the country illegally around year 2000, sometime later gets caught and receives deportation orders in 2004, but meanwhile she disappears so as to avoid being shipped out…  Years later when finally located, Mz Zeituni Onyango is living in government subsidized housing…  Then, represented by well-heeled attorneys, she appeals the deportation order and recently receives the ruling that she wants: she can stay in the United States of America…     

Though there is a  strong pushback currently underway here against other illegal immigrants, there appears to be little adverse reaction against this lady who seemingly received preferential treatment…  Laws ought to be enforced evenly, not only against some, but against everyone to whom the law applies, including the president’s aunt…    

Another indication of why people have a low opinion of bureaucrats and politicians… 

On another news item of importance, Mexican President Felipe Calderon visits Washington D.C., speaks against American gun laws, drug use and the recently passed Arizona illegal immigration law [Obama says; reflects additional [weakness?]…  Specifically, Calderon does his critique at the White House and in Congress — and on The Hill receives a resounding reception from significant numbers of senators and representatives.

Considering the dire conditions in his country and the pressure his countrymen are undoubtedly placing on him, it is understandable that playing to his own electorate he would present his concerns in such a public way,… but being that he was speaking as a guest here, this country’s elected representatives ought have shown more decorum, been more reserved in receiving his comments…

Yet, again, another example of why people have a low opinion of politicians?…

Just sayin’…

Potpourri Pan America: Headline news — from Open Borders to increasing taxes, and more

The shell game continues?

1.  Obama says to Calderon,  in essence, The USA is for Open Borders — no wonder Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano and the President continue to name-call the Arizona immigration law…  This seems like November election campaign tactics, to try to keep the Latino vote…

2.  A guest can critique the Arizona immigration law from the People’s House?!  — seems as though the  presidents’ speech writers collaborated…

3.  No doubt about it — voters showed on Tuesday past that voters are upset and are letting people in Washington know it…  But is the message being received?…

4.  President symbolically honors the press — but regularly shuts reporters out from access to important White House functions about which the public has a right to know…  The White House press corp and major press outlets are either simply failing to do their jobs or are so in awe of President Obama that they allow themselves to be steamrolled…

5.  Are the president and his advisors “playing” the publc — on May 10 on this page a review/critique was written about indications being that there was a push for Congress to raise taxes…  Now Paul Volcker, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve, another of the president’s advisors, pushes the theme too…  Why didn’t he advise the president NOT to pass the massive, costly Healthcare bill knowing the new program would create another horrendous deficit problem?

Military Veterans: used as Political Props?

“On Tuesday, the toll of American dead in Afghanistan passed 1,000, after a suicide bomb in Kabul killed at least five…” Americans. [New York TIMES, May 18]…

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday, in Connecticut, state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal (Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate) — backed by some retired veterans — was defending himself because sometime in the past he claimed more than a couple of times that he had served in Vietnam — he-had-not…

   Richard Blumenthal

On the one hand, mostly young, relatively less educated men and women died in Vietnam and are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan: for the most part dying without much recognition of their sacrifice, forgotten men and women other than to their families and friends…  On the other hand, Mr. Blumenthal — educated, prosperous, well-known — simply says that he “…misspoke…” but declines to apologize for his misrepresentations, parsing words by saying he “regrets” misspeaking — as if playing with words will spare him… 

Some people actually were and are in combat zones and paid and are paying a real price…  Not him, though…

Not so fast, Mr. Blumenthal.  Isn’t it now time or time long past due for voters to reject or vote the rascals out, especially those who use veterans’ issues and veterans’ organizations as props to promote themselves into political office or to propel themselves to higher political positions?

Those in Connecticut and else where who care about fairness and are tired of politics-as-usual can vote a clear and resounding message to people such as Mr. Blumenthal and to all prevaricators that their jig is up — all who served, those who were wounded in faraway lands, the more than 1,000 who have died in Afghanistan, plus the 1,000s in Iraq, as well as the more than 50,000 who died in Vietnam deserve better…                                         (See what his opponent said) / and / New York TIMES Op Ed contributor // Again, Mr. Blumenthal, the “jig is up”

Evo Morales: reportedly has said he is America’s worst nightmare

On April 1, of this year a post was written on this page introducing Evo Morales of Bolivia, South America…..

As a follow-up: he is a man on-the-move…  If only a few are aware of who this indigenous president of Bolivia is, more ought to become familiar with him because he seems intent on becoming the major leader of the indigenous people all over the world — more specifically, a leader of the underdeveloped countries of the world who wants to counter balance the power of the developed countries, including the influence of The United States…

He is one of the first from the indigenous class of people to become the top elected leader of a country in Latin America, and also one of the first elected indigenous leader of any country world-wide…  His country of Bolivia is right in the backyard of The United States of America, and as previously noted, his country produces and exports street-drugs to the U.S.A. and to Europe…

In the recent past:

1.  he has apparently expelled from Bolivia several of his most vocal critics,  seemingly because he doesn’t seem to tolerate those who disagree with his policies,

2.  as explained in the post of April 1, he has had, and still has, a connection to the drug crop industry, and to those in the production and export of street-drugs — and in 2008 suspended an arrangement the previous government of Bolivia had with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency under which D.E.A. agents worked in Bolivia to curb the growth, production and export of street-drugs,

3. April 2, 2010, met with Prime Minister Putin of Russia and President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, apparently to help Russia expand its influence in South  America — supposedly has declared himself to be the worst nightmare of the United States; April 21-23: led his own Climate Summit in Bolivia for the purpose of highlighting the dangers the United states and other developed countries pose,

4.  May 1, 2010, took over control from private owners of the oil and gas industry of Bolivia; May 14, 2010, he accused the Human Watch organization of being a pawn of the U.S.A because Human Watch criticized his treatment of anyone who disagrees with him,

5.  week of May 14, he was scheduled to be in the Scandinavian countries to meet with indigenous peoples of that area, reportedly working to unite the indigenous peoples of the world in order to present a united front against The United States and other developed countries…

Evo Morales, Amerindian, indigenous President of Bolivia, a rising political figure from  Pan America — one to watch and gauge…  Worth getting to know who he is,  what he stands for and what he plans next…

Potpourri Pan America: News headline briefs

News Headline Briefs:

1.  President Obama’s Administration creates more national debt  — help!: how much more can he raise the nation’s debt before more than just a few people notice?…

2.  Russia says: Don’t mess with Iran, Mr. Obama — What now?

3.  “Pushing back” on street-drug use — L.A. City Attorney on the right track.

4.  Danny Glover: about Arizona Boycott – video: Even Danny knows boycotts hurt common folks.

5.  Seattle Police play kickball with Latino — ouch!  Not good for public relations … 

6. Dead dolphins — it’s a “who done it”.  The oil spill did it, or?

Plata o Plomo?

It is said that the henchmen of the Drug  Cartels from down south often approach law enforcement people in their country and say to them, “plata o plomo?” (silver or lead?), in street language meaning, “take a bribe or a bullet?”… 

Under the circumstances of being poorly paid public servants and/or often working in isolated areas where backup assistance is limited or non existent, many might cave-in, taking the bribe and avoiding their demise (Mexican police corruption)…

Without condoning the sellout, it is understandable that under the threat of loss of life or limb, or both,… for limited public pay, morality might take a backseat to self-preservation…  Additionally, often the taking of ill-gotten monies can also be rationalized by those receiving the loot that the root of the problem isn’t they who take the money, but rather those in the U.S.A. who pay to buy the street-drugs…

Nonetheless, the failure of the Mexican government for not stopping the production and shipping of street-drugs is certainly something that deserves condemnation…   But equally or more deserving of condemnation too are the ones in this country who consume the products, and those who condone its usage by passing laws that decriminalize or make it legal to use street-drugs…

Potpourri Pan America: news headline briefs

Get a Glance of these  and read fast:

1.  Fish are dying and coastal islands are contaminated — what will they try next?

2.  U.S. Stocks rally after Europeans bail out Greece  — bail outs on top of bail outs.

3.  Even in Argentina it’s news that the president made his Supreme Court announcement — we live indeed in a “small world”.  It continues to shrink…

4.  The Russians and the Cubans continue their relationship in the hemisphere

5.  Venezuela wants to be a tourist destination — wanna go visit Hugo Chavez?

6.  Bolivian Amerindian heads to Norway — the world’s first indigenous leader of a country is working to build alliances with indigenous people in Scandinavia. 

7.  Lena Horne dies: entertainer and civil rights activist — a multifaceted person…

8.  Corruption in the police ranks in Mexico — big money buys most anything?

9.  U.S. gangs and the drug cartels working together? — they’re here, they’re here…

10. Senator Menendez of New Jersey and Rep. Serrano of New York say: don’t throw that ball in Arizona…

Potpourri Pan America: News briefs, from the Statue of Liberty to Shakira’s World Cup song, and more

World Cup in South Africa, let the party begin — Shakira sings. Begin with some movement, then move on down to the mundane…

1.  Secretary Napolitano, Homeland Security (without wanting to belabor the point) — she has continually referred to those who commit what commonly are known as terrorist acts, as plain law breakers, not as terrorists…  After the botched car bomb in New York this weekend she declined to label it a terrorist act…  Later, the President’s spokesperson Gibbs said the botched bomb in New York was a terrorist act…  Sorry, Secretary Napolitano, but you were left out of the loop…

2.  Polanski still does not want to comply with his sentence, believing that since he has been on-the-lamb for so long the law ought to leave him alone. 

3.  Mexico finds itself criticizing immgration polices to its north but gets hit with the similar charges — in fact, hit with charges worse than what are leveled against the U.S.A.

4.  What was that about being on top of things on the oil disaster in the Gulf ?  In the Sunday political T.V. programs, several ranking Obama Administration officials went on the record saying that from “day one” they had equipment and supplies prepositioned in the Gulf Coast area, but this story offers a different reality. 

 5.  Statue of Liberty words can be misunderstood — the words inscribed, “give me your tired…” , etc., seemingly are misunderstood by new immigrants because inscribed there is nothing about laws having to be followed before entering… 

6.  Reform is needed!   The USA Today newspaper repeats the refrain that reform is needed in immigration — nothing new, but point well taken.

7.  Peruvian Amerindians/indigenous people for years have fought for their lands — and continue to fight…  There is definitely a  new world order arising…

8.  Ranchers and/or loggers continue to be prosecuted for killing the innocent — religious folks who work for the good of the underclass in Latin America periodically are killed by those who oppose their goals..

9.  Trying to stop Marco Rubio in Florida — governor of California supposedly advised Governor Crist to run against Marco Rubio as an independent..

10. Paraguay is being overrun by drug cartels — The drug cartels overrun another country, producing drugs for export north, while the USA (and some state governments) moves right along trying to make it easier for some people to consume street-drugs here…

11.  Protecting the marshlands from the Oil Spill. — Regulators under the microscope.

12.  Keep an eye out for your FACEBOOK profile .  You can opt out.

[No email address required to make a comment on any posts.]

In the November elections, will the Secretary of Homeland Security or the President (or others) be blamed for the border security issue of illegal immigration?

The Los Angeles “Immigration March”  (picture and story/L.A. Times on Saturday May 1), reportedly the largest of the immigration marches across the land, took place in the largest city west of New York and one of the oldest west of the Mississippi River…  The illegal immigrant community specifically and its supporters in general are upset at the passage of the Arizona immigration state law, but upset also because the belief from their end is that President Obama promised that once he became president (with the support and votes of citizens of Latino heritage), during his first year in office he would get a law passed that would resolve the illegal immigrant problem…  The year has passed …

When Janet Napolitano was governor of Arizona and George W. Bush was president, she continually harped that federal troops be placed on the Arizona-Mexico border because of the danger from intrusions there, but once she became head of national security as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and had the authority and responsibility to recommend that the troops be placed there, she became unresponsive on the issue…  Awhile back when she was asked if she considered the Arizona-Mexico border to be secure, she stated something to the effect that that was an unfair question, and declined to answer:

 ————————————————————————————-

From — “C-SPAN — April 27  

Napolitano: I know that border as well as anyone. Every marker, every milepost that has been laid down by the congress in terms of number of agents, deployment of technology, construction of fencing and the like, has already been completed or is within a hair’s breath of being completed. And one of the questions I think we need to talk about is whether security the border is every going to be reached before the congress – in the sense of the congress – or whether that goal post is just going to keep moving. And I also believe that we need to better communicate with the American people. […]
Sen. Lindsey Graham: Knowing what you know about Arizona, would you say, would you certify that the Arizona border is secure?
Napolitano: …First of all, it’s an unfair question….
Sen. Graham: If that is an unfair question, then it would be news to the people of the United States and Arizona. If it is unfair to ask a simple question — is the border secure — then we’re never going to have the consequence to get it secure ’cause it is a fair question — and I’ll give you my answer: I don’t think it is.”

————————————————————————————-

Furthermore, at other times when she has been asked about the border problem, the Secretary has indicated that the previous administration did not solve the problem either, or that she is doing the best she can and doing everything that is humanly possible to seal the border…  Not surprisingly, some say that her best is not good enough for the job… 

Through the years, national politicians have allowed the illegal immigration problem to get out of hand and are still vacillating, while the border states, primarily, suffer the consequences…

 (Additionally, some have posted to this page and else where that the federal response to the disastrous oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico has been quite slow…  By the way, just below the president, Secretary Napolitano is responsible for responding to that major problem as well.)…

An Arizona newspaper, the Arizona Republic, in an editorial has chastised the two Republican senators from the state for in effect not solving the border problem ( definitely there is enough blame to go around to all political parties), but ultimately it is not the individual states who are responsible for securing the international border or solving the illegal immigration problem, it is the Federal Government’s — right now the buck stops with Secretary Napolitano and President Obama because they are the ones who constitutionally are responsible for national security and who have the military and police powers to protect the borders…  The press sometimes confuses pertinent issues and responsibilities…

Even Bill Maher, (story and video clip – from Real Clear Politics site — strong language used) who never disguised his dislike for President Bush, recently indicated strongly on his HBO show that the press is giving President Obama a free pass on the slow response to the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, suggesting that if Bush had been president, the press would have been hammering and hammering nonstop at him…  The oil slick problem is more a Federal Government matter, than evidently the Hurricane Katrina problem initially was…

Will these states’ rights issues and federal responsibilities play a major role in the November elections?… Nobody knows for sure, of course…  People’s memories are often quiet short and in politics a month could seem like a year, depending on what the political climate is at that time and how it is portrayed in the press…  A lot could change between now and then…

Saying that it will be an especially interesting off year election, though, will probably be a gross understatement…

Open Borders for the U.S.A or something else?

From San Francisco and Los Angeles, to New York and Washington D.C., (and other places here and there), is heard that we must boycott Arizona…  Though not said directly, those who say boycott ( Los Angeles mayor ) are in effect speaking up for an Open Border policy —  which in essence means, if anyone wants to come into this country, no one ought to have the right to stop them because the illegal immigrant has a superior right to enter…  (Be mindful that most countries of the world do not have Open Borders)…

These politicians hold press conferences making wild assertions that because Arizona passed its law, the sun will stop shining and will mean that America will no longer be able to serve apple pie…  Or, they’ve made similarly silly remarks…

Citizens and illegal immigrants need a resolution to the dilemma…  Not simply drama….

Probably with minimal or no controversy, most can agree that national politicians allowed the problem to fester and have made it worse by not dealing with the issue in due time and with due diligence, and now call press conferences to denounce those who are trying to do something about the problem…   

Also, probably with the same low-level of controversy as stated in the previous paragraph, most will agree that the matter of illegal immigration needs to be resolved…

Having said that, what follows likely will be more, way more controversial…

And that is, that to begin to resolve the issue, a basic foundation of the resolution will have to be the recognition, and acceptance, that a certain category of illegal immigrants will not be deported…  In this group will be, for example, those who have been here as of a particular date, whatever the date set might be…  This is because a significant number of these people own their own homes and/or businesses, have responsible jobs and fixed roots in their communities, are law-abiding (other than entering the country illegally, for example), and have children who are American citizens…  Reality is reality.

Thus, commonsensically, it seems it would be impractical or impossible in one swoop to deport tens of millions of those in the category described above…  Additionally, court challenges in which the courts would have to decide if it is fair and just to deport millions with the aforementioned qualities, might likely result in decisions saying that it is not fair and just — not fair and just because it is not envisioned that in the 21st century any court would support a new “Trail of Tears” (or a variation of the Japanese-American evacuation policy of WW  II) involving MILLIONS and MILLIONS of human beings uprooted and shipped out… 

But the matter of whether the countless illegal immigrants  in the category already described would be deported or not, could  be secondary or tertiary or nonexistent if a law were passed stating: that employers who hired illegal immigrants as of a set date henceforth would be fined severely, and those illegal immigrants who after the set date tried to get a job would be deported swiftly and would never be allowed legally to emigrate to the USA…  End of the dream for them, plain and simple…

This punitive action against employers and illegal immigrant potential employees would put a serious dent on illegal immigration, immediately, and would be a compromise position for everyone involved in the illegal immigration controversy…

Again, though, before the law against employers would be passed, what likely would have to be accepted is that the illegal immigrants in the special category previously mentioned would not be deported…  A mighty supposition…

Will Congress and the president do their jobs by resolving the matter of illegal immigration anytime soon?  Highly unlikely(  President Obama and Congress ) because the issue is controversial, the November Elections are almost upon us, and most politicians do not have a backbone…  Meantime, the border states and some others will continue with the problem… 

Undoubtedly, citizens as well as illegal immigrants deserve a solution to the problem…  ( Workers of the World May Day on May 1 — demonstrations planned.)

The results of the next national elections will tell what views on Open Borders, illegal immigration and other major topics of public policy will prevail…  Stay tuned…

Arizona voters and others are “misguided” and “psychologically disoriented”?!

“In Arizona, because Governor Jan Brewer signed Senate Immigration Bill 1070 into law last week, the police now are required to stop anyone who has brown skin”, so say not only the most vociferous and strident of those who oppose the law, but also the unthinking ones who only repeat what they hear…

Of course, that is not what the law says, but facts do not seem to be important to ones who apparently do not want to discuss the issue in a sensible manner, preferring instead simply to confuse, agitate and demagogue.

Political Campaign 2010 is in full stride a full six months before November.

Al Sharpton has been making the rounds of talk shows aggressively expressing opposition to the recently enacted Arizona law, saying the law is
“misguided”, and more…  Why?…  Maybe because as a reported confidant of President Obama he is stoking Latino anger in order to gain their support in voting in November for candidates favored by the president…

 President Obama says the law is “misguided”.

 Secretary of Homeland Security Napolitano repeats what her boss says, that the law is “misguided”.

 Nancy Pelosi, from California, Speaker of the House, says the law is “misguided and irresponsible”.

 Gavin Newsom, mayor of San Francisco, California has asked that the city boycott Arizona because the law is “misguided”, and more.

Bill Clinton, former president, says the passage of the Arizona law indicates that people have a “psychological disorientation”!…

Raúl Grijalva, state representative from Phoenix, has stated that he is pressing a boycott of businesses in Arizona (apparently to show his disdain for the immigration law)…  As several in the news media have pointed out, what kind of representative for the voters is he if he is saying he wants businesses in his district to suffer economic ruin because the state passed a law to control illegal immigration?  Whom does he represent?…..

Rich posted yesterday something to the effect that Hispanic citizens ought to know they are simply pawns being used for the November elections…  Seems like a good point…

 Shouldn’t they know?…  Are Latino/Hispanic citizens of The United States of America (and other voters) going to be herded like sheep by President Obama, Al Sharpton, Nancy Pelosi, Secretary Napolitano, Raúl Grijalva, Gavin Newsom and Bill Clinton into voting for anyone simply because they are prodded in that direction?

If they can be herded so easily, maybe they do have a psychological condition as Mr. Clinton indicates.

 

 

Some states are reacting aggressively to illegal immigration problems because the Federal Government has failed to fulfill its responsibilities

Immigration discord: The passage recently in Arizona of a controversial immigration law seems to be a response to perceived and real concerns that the federal government is failing and has failed for years to protect the country’s borders against illegal human migrations…  That failure has created special problems for the people of Arizona…  Furthermore, it is a strong message from at least that one state (among more than several) that faraway Washington D.C., is still seemingly uncaring and oblivious to the problems border states (primarily) continue to experience – problems that are the result of the uncontrolled migrations that have brought countless thousands of illegal immigrants into their midst…

 The national government needs to fulfill its responsibility for protecting the nation’s borders and must provide relief – especially for the governments and people of the border states, if it does not want other states to follow the example of Arizona…

 A simplistic observation by some American citizens, as well as by numerous illegal immigrants (and by certain immigration activists), is that people who expect border laws to be enforced are either uncaring folks or are just plain racists…  Although realistically it can be assumed that there are some racists among those who demand America’s borders be well-regulated and controlled, it must also be assumed that the great majority  of the people making the demand are not.…

 Illegal immigration causes countless problems for the receiving states, including having local tax payers pay for the costs due to overcrowded schools and for all the special programs required by the continuing influx of immigrants into educational systems, along with the costs incurred by  local agencies that serve the illegal immigrant – for example, public assistance, medical care, and police, court and penal systems… 

 Not only has the Federal Government allowed uncontrolled, generally unregulated, illegal immigration to flourish in the country, thereby causing local tax payers to have to bear the brunt of the effect of uncontrolled immigration, but the central government in Washington also has indicated its desire for leniency in the enforcement of street-drug laws — meanwhile, reportedly, the drug cartels from the south in various ways are running over Arizona by using it as a staging ground and as a re-distribution center…

Thus, in addition to other costs, local Arizona tax payers have to deal with the additional expenses of fighting drug cartel crimes, plus, they will have to incur extra costs down the line because of the Health Bill that was passed not too long ago —  which reportedly places more financial responsibilities on individual states… 

Uncertainties and more financial burdens cause stress…  But the totality of the scenario seems to be that Washington is leaving the states to fend for themselves, and when a state such as Arizona reacts in support of its citizens, the first action President Obama seems to take in response is to indicate that Arizonans are “misguided”… 

 Frustrations and tensions are bound to rise…  Stay tuned…

Redux: Ben Bratt in “La Mission” – movie about homophobia and other stuff in a sliver of the diverse Latino culture – and a post about to what degree Latino movie goers might respond to it

On April 11, 2010, a post ran here about the movie “La Mission”, starring Benjamin Bratt and directed by his brother Peter…  There had been a write-up about the film in the Los Angeles TIMES the previous dayBratt...

In the post it was indicated that in the past, according to some actors (not Ben Bratt),  it appeared that movies with mainly Black Americans in the cast were supported to a larger extent by the Black community, than the Latino community supported movies about their own community that had predominantly Latino American casts…  The assumption obviously is debatable…

But if the assumption is valid, it might be because in the Latino community in the USA there might be more variances or nuances than there are in the American Black experience…  Maybe within the Black culture there is more commonality than there is in the Latino community — within the Latino segment, for example, among  Guatemalan Americans, Cuban Americans, Mexican Americans, Chilean Americans (and many other American Latinos), there might be more differences than there are within the Black community…  So, just because a movie might be a Latino film, does not mean it would be one with whom all Latino American groups would identify…    

Returning to the film, according to the Los Angeles TIMES article, “La Mission” deals with such taboo topics as… ” …the emotional thickets of homophobia, ethnic identity, domestic violence, and generational conflict.“ … 

Ben Bratt as macho Che Rivera, a middle-aged ex gang member single father — of an 18 year old son who is involved in a homosexual relationship — reacts with a volcanic temper when his son’s true self comes out.  The brothers Bratt apparently made the movie in part because certain topics within the Latino community (such as a parent’s homophobic reaction to a homosexual child) have not been dealt with much in movies…   

At the particular film viewing yesterday, the matinee audience was almost all Hispanic/Latino and the theater was 1/5 full…  Remains to be seen how well the movie does in ticket sales among Hispanics/Latinos and overall, what coverage it will receive from Television and what impact it might have on Latino families in which  a child comes out.]

Are Gloria and Emilio Estefan just trying to help all Cuban Americans, or mainly helping themselves?

In one of the latest editions of the Miami Herald (click the newspaper in the blogroll) is vividly shown that the Estefans were hosting a political fundraiser for President Obama and the Democratic Party… 

Jackie Bueno Sousa, in a column in a later page of the newspaper, indicates that although the motives of the couple are not known, the fundraiser that is raising $30,400 per attending couple for the Democratic Party has been met generally with suspicion and discontent from the Cuban-American community.

Whatever the couple’s intentions might be, what can be said for certainty is that the Cuban Americans of Florida, for various reasons, for decades have supported the Republican Party, and in turn the Republican Party has supported the aspirations of those who decry the communist regime in Cuba…  And — it just so happens that in November, Cuban-American Marco Rubio could likely be the Republican Party candidate for U.S. Senator from Florida…  

Why now the shift to the Democrats by Gloria and hubby?… 

Are they undermining the Cuban-American organizations who have opposed the Castro government for years, and are they being selfish and ungrateful to the political party that has had their back for decades?   Is there a desire by the couple to receive one day an ambassadorship to the island, once Fidel and Raúl Castro and the communists are no longer in power?  Wonder what a little fly on the wall at the Estefans would say?… 

No one truly knows, of course, about anyone’s true motivations, but it could be that Gloria and Emilio have made a calculation that within the next 3-7 years,  years when President Obama logically might still be in the White House, the Castro brothers might die and the communists be out of power in Cuba.  And the ambassadorship and other perks in the new Cuba might be within their grasp.

Gloria Estefan’s family had connections to the Cuban government prior to Fidel Castro taking power — so a triumphant return to the island nation with an appointed position from President Obama would be a historical blessing for the Estefans… 

 Just saying…

In certain cases, is having a Spanish surname detrimental to a candidate’s electability?

In several elections in at least one state bordering Mexico, reportedly Spanish surname candidates seem to have had difficulty getting elected to certain political offices.

At times, Spanish surnamed Democratic candidates for office have lost easily to non Spanish surnamed Republican candidates, while running in predominantly Democratic governmental units, although apparently the Democratic candidate was the most experienced. 

And conversely, at times Spanish surnamed Republican candidates for office have lost easily to non Spanish surnamed Democratic candidates, while running in predominantly Republican governmental units, although apparently the Republican candidate was the most experienced…

What to make of it?

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, Austin “ORAL PROJECT” ABOUT LATINO/HISPANIC WW ll VETERANS

The following link provides information about the purpose of the project and of the participants. A person’s family members or family friends might have been included, as well as others who might have helped in gathering the data

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/ww2latinos/

HISPANIC OR LATINO?

 One explanation of the terms:   http://www.elboricua.com/latino_hispanic.html

“AMERICAN HISPANICS in AMERICA’S WARS”

By Col. Gilberto Villahermosa.

An overview as of the beginning of the century.

http://www.valerosos.com/HispanicsMilitary.html