[StJacques]

Pay attention everyone, this is NOT an incremental step in the escalation of post-election tensions in Mexico. This is a qualitative leap forward in the ratcheting of pressure Lopez Obrador and his supporters are placing upon the Mexican Federal Electoral Tribunal to order a complete hand recount of all 41 plus million ballots of the July 2 election.

I have also been at the Mexico City newspaper site El Universal this morning and it is filled with stories of the shutting down of Mexico City's central district.

Many observers recognize that if the full recount Lopez Obrador is demanding, which is not provided for under Mexican electoral law due to the fact that the vote is certified by party representatives in each precinct on election day, does go ahead and does not favor him that he and his followers will demand that the election be "annulled," an option that is provided for under Mexican law.

Today's occupation of the center of the nation's capital and its accomapanying closure of the city's central district -- which is where the government buildings are -- could be the first step towards a seizure of the government on the part of Mexico's left. It would be going too far to say that is what is going on, but Lopez Obrador and his followers have erected 47 encampments around the city they are describing as "permanent" unless their demands are met. This is for real.

[Graymatter]

"...they should recognize my triumph as president of the republic"

WHOA! When did this happen? Now he is officially UberGore. Even Al Gore never seriously claimed to be president; he just begged us to keep counting until we got it right. What is Obragore basing his conclusion on?

[GeronL]

This is what will happen here in 2008 if Hillary loses a close election. There will be an attempted revolution

[StJacques]

Okay, things are starting to happen according to the El Universal web site, so I'm going to post a quick, "unedited" translation (I actually "edit" my own translations carefully by checking reference sources) of an article on the El Universal web site at:

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/365716.html

It is entitled "Presidency Trusts the GDF Will Remove Blockades"

Here is the quick translated text of the main article itself:

The Presidency of the Republic entrusted to the Federal District Government (GDF) that they will unblock the avenues where they find the encampments of the symptathizers of the presidencial candidate of For the Good of All Coalition [Lopez Obrador], located in the Paseo de la Reforma Avenue, from the Petroleum Fountain out to Juarez Avenue and about the vicinity of the Zocalo capital square. The GDF will know to group together the rights of protest with the rights of third parties, [presidential] spokesman Ruben Aguilar said.

"We are confident that the authorities of Mexico City, who are responsible for public security in the city, will make a worthy effort and repect the law which implies two things, according to the same logic of the Presidency: That the unrestricted right to protest is itself respected, at the same time that the rights of third parties are guaranteed, one of which, is the fundamental freedom of transit," Aguilar said in a morning press conference, as reproduced on [the radio news program] Formato 21

Aguilar said that only in the case that the GDF asks for it, can the Federal Preventive Police (PFP) be empowered to intervene to disactivate the blockage of the vicinity.

Before I mention more, let me say that the Federal District Government (GDF) is run by the PRD, so Vicente Fox is telling the PRD to police itself here. If the GDF refuses, it will be a major escalation. No word on a response from the GDF, but you can imagine the political calculations that are running through everyone's heads right now in Mexico City. The response is what we're looking for here.

The PRD is being accused by PAN and several major news media organizations in Mexico of "kidnapping" the Mexico City. They have responded that it is not a "kidnapping," but a "Mega Stand Up" (literal translation of "Megaplantón").

Okay, and as I just checked the site again (this is going very fast folks) I now see that the GDF will seek to open the Paseo de la Reforma avenue and -- forgive me I don't have time to translate it all -- that the protestor's rights will be secured. The article says that the communications media in Mexico City is calling on the GDF "to enforce the law" and to open the main thoroughfares (this might imply that they are accusing the GDF of collusion with the protest) and there's a big list of everyone who's anyone in the GDF present at a morning press conference on all this. The head of the GDF, Alejandro Encinas, makes the interesting statement that the Electoral Tribunal "must exercise its faculties fully 'and give to all Mexicans the result of the election'." That seems to imply that the result is not yet known, which I take to be a subtle endorsement of the reasons for the protest. I do see a little tension between the presidency and the GDF in all this.

That's all for now, I'll be back later everyone. Gotta get back to work.

[Bones75]

Communists hate democracy. They don't understand how the people could have not voted to have all their property confiscated and business destroyed....they can't fathom it.. 'that can't be possible.. they (the voters) must be insane or something.. "freedom", "property right?".. padded cell for you pal...-

[WOSG]

YIKES! The Uber-Gore strikes!

[shield]

Wonder if this doesn't come straight out of the 'Communist Manifesto'?

[Thunder90]

AMLO is a threat to the US. If he tries anything to take power, kill him.

We don't need a Chavez on our southern border.

[Diddle E. Squat]

I wonder if Calderon could call AMLO's bluff and end up starting with a much stronger mandate and the reputation as a wise leader?

Here's the idea: He c ould declare that they should wait for the final report from the election commission, but given the closeness, the potential for unrest, and the irresponsible actions of some, he would be willing to agree to an annullment and a revote. With the recent poll showing that 59% of Mexicans view AMLO as having acted irresponsibly, vs. 28% viewing Calderon that way, it seems that a revote would result in a clearer Calderon victory. Or is there a risk that PRI voters would shift to AMLO? Also would have to make sure that the PRD couldn't pull off some major vote fraud this time around.

Perhaps too risky, but also perhaps a chance to appear to be a Solomon if he pulls it off.