At times I have mentioned where I grew up

[nadinbrzezinski]

but here is one thing of the system back where I grew.

In theory, we had separation of powers. You know the usual, Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.

IN practice the executive told the legislature, ok the head of his party, what the agenda was and damn it it was passed. It didn't matter, hell or high water, the President wanted it, well it WAS done, period. Now SOTUs were eight to twelve hour affairs... but...

Now how this was done, this bill... reminds me of that. This secret dealing behind closed doors.

Oh and it goes without saying, it ain't the change we voted for... but it fits the view that this is an empire in decline and next I expect a Dedazo... where this guy will select his successor. No, it would not shock me...

Oh and for anybody who took civics, US Government, or US History, well this is not the way the system is supposed to work, but a dying empire will become very much so an oligarchy, where the President says JUMP and everybody asks how high?

Yep, vote rigging, interference, and Presidents telling the executive what they want done... this is damn too familiar...

Oh and it took decades and a lot of organization to change that dynamic... just about 70 years to be exact. So get ready for a long fight. On the plus side, this is an empire in decline so it will come crashing down sooner than 70 years, and all suddenly.

[a la izquierda]

1. ahh, good ol' corrupt Mexico.

Which at least knows it's corrupt.

I'll be there in a few weeks. I can't wait.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Of course, and we all know at 18

that it really did not matter who we voted for either.

Now since you do mexican history... want a good laugh?

Guess what the WIki Leaks revealed.... there is little cooperation in the war on drugs between the Army, the Navy, Federal Agents, State and local...

Mexican reaction to this grand "revelation" was MEH!

[a la izquierda]

5. well, duh...

of course there's no cooperation. calderon really screwed the pooch by unleashing his war against narcos. i don't care what anyone on this board says. he made the situation 100 times worse.

still, i love visiting, and mexico isn't as dangerous as some make it out to be. you just can't be a dumb yanqui.

[nadinbrzezinski]

Well there are some places that it is

the city south of me was really bad for a while. Not that I will go for other reasons.

Ciudad Juarez and some regions in the hinterlands near it... bad

Monterrey is getting bad, for kidnappings...

Now that is hardly the whole country.

[a la izquierda]

9. exactly my point.

just like i wouldn't want to go walking around, say, parts of memphis or st. louis at night, i'm certainly not afraid to walk around the US in general.

monterrey is getting pretty bad. happily, guadalajara has stayed relatively safe. i was in queretaro in october. what a city!!

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Well there are some places that it is

the city south of me was really bad for a while. Not that I will go for other reasons.

Ciudad Juarez and some regions in the hinterlands near it... bad

Monterrey is getting bad, for kidnappings...

Now that is hardly the whole country.

[eleny]

3. "This secret dealing behind closed doors."

A member of Congress on Ed's tv show this afternoon pointed this out saying "It's just wrong" and "This is not how it's done".

His worried face and words showed not only concern but he was seemed baffled at the cloaked process.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. The more I think about it the more it reminds off...

President Echeverria calling the Head of the Senate and the House before the SOTU to go over the agenda for the year.

It was on open secret.

Trust me, that is NOT a nice comparison.... At least Aleman had talks wiht far more people, even some in the opposition. For that matter De La Madrid did as well during the crisis of the 1980s and the great bail out (and austerity plan)

[eleny]

7. P.S. You've been watching Lawrence O'D so you must have seen him interview Rep. Clyburn

He even talked about how overnight after a long conference call some things were slipped into the bill. He never had a clue but heard it was done by the Senate. He didn't mention who the Senators are.

This bill sounds more like a salad made by too many chefs.

And it sounds like the Mexican government's M.O. is a template. :scared:

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. There are MANY governments that could be the template

going all the way back to Imperial Rome.

I just happen to have a first hand experience of one that did business that way.

And for older people it is really disconcerting that El Presidente does not have that kind of a pull any more.