Today’s Honduras (and SEC investigation) updates
See Fausta for more on Honduras, much more.
And this editorial by Monica Showalter at IBD is must-reading on the topic of US policy towards Honduras, the reaction of other nations, and the likely consequences.
In a completely unrelated affair, please read the 22-page report from the IG investigating the SEC’s “investigation” [sic] of Madoff. As bad as previous articles made the SEC out to be, the full 22-page version is worse.
Far worse. Words like “inept” and “stupid” don’t begin to describe the SEC’s behavior in the Madoff case, going back over sixteen years of missed opportunities and shockingly stupid moves on the part of supposedly intelligent public servants. Reading the report left me almost wishing that the SEC was purposely covering up for Madoff. Corruption might be preferable to negligence on this pervasive a scale.
But hey, let’s put them in charge of health care.
The IG has already released an even longer report on the same subject, 457 pages worth. It’s available here, for those of you who thirst for more. But I don’t think I’ll subject myself to that particular tome; I’ve had enough for a while.
Shouldn’t some Republican congressmen be going to Honduras to show their support? Someone needs to let them know they have allies.
Steve,
What an excellent idea.
Unfortunately the size to the testicles of our republican legislators would be dwarfed by mustard seeds.
OK. OK. I got another one.
Q. How many Obamas does it take to fix the U.S. health care establishment?
A. ___________
OK. OK. That one was too easy. How about this?
Q. How many Obamas does it take to butt-in to what should have been an entirely reasonable example of a country’s constitution being adhered to, and a lawbreaker being brought to justice, and turn it into a 3 card monte game run by Castro and Chavez?
A. He’s the one we’ve been waiting for.
And yea! for linking to Fausta. You’re how I was first tuned into her and she is way cool.
Neo, thank you for your continued support for Honduras. Those of us in Honduras feel that the world has turned upside down. Try as we might to get more of the truth of the situation out, we are no match for CNN (Espaé±ol), which we call Chavez News Network. Apparently English-language TV has barely given Honduras a passing thought given the timing with Michael Jackson’s death.
Hondurans feel shocked, confused, and betrayed by the US response. It is especially ironic as Hondurans in general admire(d) Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton very much. We do not understand why Honduras is not being applauded and supported as the first country who has stood up to Chavismo and said “No mas!”
By the way, several Republican US congressmen have been to Honduras and have been strong supporters of the constitutional government of Honduras. For that, we are very grateful.
Speaking of testicles, a favorite saying in Honduras is: We don’t have dollars. We don’t have oil. But we have balls!
For just a few of the reasons why Honduras does not trust the San Jose Accord (as if being unconstitutional isn’t enough), please see this article:
Zelaya and the lies you don’t hear in English
Returning Zelaya to office is just wrong, wrong, wrong!
La Gringa:
CLAP-CLAP-CLAPPITY-CLAP!
Repeat and repeat and repeat.
Huevos?
Yes. You do.
La Gringa, we’re rooting for your people. America is severely weakened now from the brazen left-wing betrayal of the American Democrats, but this “three-dimensional chess game” is far from over. Free Honduras, impeach the Joker…
La Gringa,
Thanks for pointing out that several republican congressmen have been to Honduras, your mention was the first I had heard that. No surprise given the state of our media these days.
Many more congressmen/women need to stand up and be heard, as do citizens. Obama and his administration are simply on the wrong side of history on this and while the democrats do not support freedom abroad, or I am afraid at home either, many Americans do support Honduras in its struggle to stand up to the bullying by the US. This will indeed be a most shameful chapter in the history of this administration and the democrats in general.
One more passing thought.
Contrast the media coverage about our shameful behavior towards Honduras against the fierce moral outrage that we saw in the media towards the US when it went to bat against communists in El Salvador and Nicaragua. No media bias…
Interesting suggestion, however Republicans went ballistic when Rep. Pelosi visited Syria during the Bush administration just last year. To be consistent, I don’t recommend sending a sitting opposition legislator.
However,
Imagine (dare I suggest) the outcry if Sarah Palin went to the Honduras. This would throw the Obama administration’s horrendous Honduran foreign policy into the public spotlight, and Obama would find himself defending the indefensible against the likes of someone like Palin.
Granted unforeseen consequences may outweigh the benefits, but it is an act that Conservative intellectuals could distance themselves from and at once the press could not ignore.
Nevertheless Steve, I like how you think.
The question remains: Why are Clinton/Obama supporting Zelaya? What’s in it for them? More particularly, what’s in it for Hillary? If she spoke up, Obama would be hard pressed to disagree.
OK, OK, I know they are malign, but there must be more. Any thoughts, la Gringa?
Tom and Co.,
It’s clear to anyone with their head on their shoulders (and a strong Conservative bias, of course) that something’s rotten in the state of the Union, and it’s a shame that we planted that rot in the White House and Senate through our own selfishness and shortsightedness. Our elected representatives support left-wing dictatorships and neglect our faithful allies, justifying their policies as being the reversal of Bush doctrine – that, by virtue of their author’s unpopularity, are declared as being at best misguided and at worst evil.
Tom, imagine that you’re a leftist politician. All your life, you’ve heard stories about the evils of fascist dictators brought into power by military coups. Next, you see the ally of one of the opponents of your political enemy deposed by the military, with a new (probably right-wing) “puppet ruler” installed by that military. Wouldn’t you feel outrage towards that military and supportive feelings towards the outcast leftist leader?
As someone who lacks significant property and who remains without investments in hedge funds or anything more complicated than a savings account, my views towards the Bernard Madoff affair are (unfortunately) skewed towards apathy. While I completely understand the severity of Mr. Madoff’s crimes and the magnitude of the mistakes that allowed him to profit off of them, I can’t really get too excited over the incompetence of the SEC. The best reaction I can manage is a heartfelt facepalm.
– G
What exactly is in it – for Hillary, for Obama, to back Zeleya? What’s in it for Honduras? What’s in it for the Americas? What’s in it for the U.S.? What’s in it for you? What’s in it for me?
What’s in if for socialism? How could backing Zelaya become the official stance of the United States of America?
If instead of the forced exile and forced resignation, the military had then shot Zelaya, I’m sure (other than applauding) you would argue that it was a completely separate process,, and that it did not make it a coup, just a common homicide. That conclusion would have been, of course, laughable.
Also, do you really believe the Obama administration is opposed to any process of the removal of Zelaya from office? That’s the stupid distortion you represent when you imply that the administration is against Zelaya being removed at all. That, in fact, they would have opposed any process.
If you have any facts that the administration is simply opposed to any process of the removal of Zelaya please post them, otherwise it’s just a liar’s smear you perpetrate.
Well, Logern, one proof that the administration is opposed to any method by which Honduras might have removed Zelaya is its recent announcement that it will not recognize the results of the November elections. No matter how Zelaya was removed, even if he had not been removed, and without regard to whether or not he was exiled, these elections would have taken place at that time and Zelaya would not have been a candidate — unless, of course, his effort to run for a second term had succeeded. That’s the only logical link between his removal and the November elections — there’s certainly no link between those elections and the means by which Honduras chose to remove him. So, now, I ask you: if you have any facts that the administration is not punishing Honduras because it did not allow Zelaya to sabotage its constitution please post them — otherwise it’s, in your decidedly awkward phrase, “just a liar’s smear you perpetrate.”
I’m not looking it up for you, logern, but the words came out of Hillary’s mouth and the words came out of Obama’s mouth. Watch something besides MSNBC, read something besides the NY Times.
And hose your shoes off.
Mrs Whatsit, they are trying to pressure Honduras, not find an excuse.
If they told the current government — it’s okay, once you get to the next elections, it’s all forgiven, any attempt to pressure them would be ludicrous.
What will actually happen in November is another story. Perhaps the threat is ultimately a big bluff and Honduras is going to call that play after they’ve had elections. They could certainly call in outside election monitors to essentially make any further claims mute.
~
“otherwise it’s, in your decidedly awkward phrase, “just a liar’s smear you perpetrate.”
Go look after Palin’s speech you pedantic twit.
Ah, the rude logern, persuasive as usual.
As I expected, no facts, no evidence, no reasoning — just insults, for some way to take up space. Par for the course.
Outside election monitors would be irrelevant because nobody — not even the Obama administration — has suggested that there is anything illegitimate about the November elections. The Zelaya issue will necessarily be over by that time, no matter what Honduras does or doesn’t do about it. Under the Constitution of Honduras, it must be. If the US enforces its threat to refuse to recognize the elections when it knows there is no question about their legitimacy, it will look like what it is, in this case: a big bully, and a dumb one at that. The contrast between the racket the Obama administration has made about little Honduras and its delayed, half-hearted response to the true illegitimacy and viciousness of the Iranian “elections” earlier this year is, to say the least, telling.
And since I’m a pedantic twit anyway, I’ll point out that your spelling needs as much work as your syntax does. The word is “moot,” not “mute.”
Whatsit,
he’s semi-literate. Please excuse his existence, he is only a slightly useful idiot of the Left, a veal in a ‘veal pen’.
As I expected, no facts, no evidence, no reasoning
Your original conclusion that the Obama administration wouldn’t accept any removal of Zelaya based on the current political maneuvering is stupid — since there are limited but probably fairly numerous possibilities where Zelaya might be removed constitutionally (other misc. crimes, murder, theft, etc., where Zelaya might be prosecuted and removed from office). If your statement is accurate, then under all these different conditions Obama would still support Zelaya’s Presidency. Of course, you can offer no proof of such an overarching statement, because there is none.
And in case you forgot
Logern, one proof that the administration is opposed to any method by which Honduras might have removed Zelaya
“any method”
Oh, it’s so nitpicky, I’m ashamed to have fallen so low. Low as you, Mrs. grammar Nazi. But when you get down with the pigs, or whatever it is they say …well you know the rest of the saying.
.Mrs Whatsit Says: The contrast between the racket the Obama administration has made about little Honduras and its delayed, half-hearted response to the true illegitimacy and viciousness of the Iranian “elections” earlier this year is, to say the least, telling.
Well, speaking of facts, who’s a good role model? Bush Sr. talking up the Kurds, and leaving them to hang, or how about the Georgian President’s rebuke to Bush jr?
Hey, I guess no one’s perfect.
Communist Party USA statement on the situation in Honduras.
Funny how when you read the communist party stuff what is going on makes sense… but if your reading from the play book of the ole american, everything is quizzical.
“Well, speaking of facts, who’s a good role model? Bush Sr. talking up the Kurds, and leaving them to hang, or how about the Georgian President’s rebuke to Bush jr? ”
Yup yup, when desperate, bring up Bush.
Hey, I guess no one’s perfect.
And never will be, no matter how many people you send to the concentration camps to fuel this “Utopia” of Grand Government Care you wish.
Well, speaking of facts, who’s a good role model?
Bush the W that took on the Kurd’s fight as his own.
Camps, Ymarsakar? You really don’t understand the green technology push. More likely you’ll be used as fertilizer, or perhaps as some clever energy source for our CFLs after you’re biologically converted to fuel by genetically modified bacteria.
I wish you would fill me in on Obama’s grand scheme. It always sounds so much more fantastical when you guys say it.