Honduras: Let's set the record straight, shall we? UPDATED

As I’ve mentioned before –countless times – the former MSM, a.k.a. SRM, is not telling the whole story about the events that unfolded in Honduras last week.

One more time, they have been in the tank with the wannabe dictators of Latin America and their Kool-Aid drinkers lovers in the rest of the world; POTUS included – despite babbling Castro saying it was a “yanqui coup”, go figure!

Similarly to the protests in Iran, this time Twitter and the Internet have played the best role reflecting the events in Honduras. Fausta’s Blog has an excellent coverage and updates on the events. (H/T to Babaly Blog)

So, for the sake of accuracy, let’s say it: what happened in Honduras, was not, technically, a military coup. It was a presidential coup.

It was Manuel (Mel) Zalaya, Honduras' democratically elected president, who tried to overstep the Constitution, calling to a referendum to perpetuate his mandate. (In case you were wondering who are Zelaya’s lifestyle coaches: Hugo “Monkey” Chávez, the Castro brothers and the entire leftist claque that blooms in Latin America under Venezuela’s petrodollars and Cuba’s brainwashing machine.)

Assisted by Chávez, who did the same in Venezuela, Zelaya wanted to call a “survey” to change the terms for the presidential seat. According to Honduras’s Constitution, a referendum is legal, but it can not be unilaterally conducted by the president; it has to be called by a special constitutional group (constituyente) created by Congress.

When Congress and the Honduran Supreme Court told Zelaya this, and ruled his attempt as unconstitutional, the boy got mad and promptly, Chávez printed out the ballots in Venezuela and flew them to Honduras in a Venezuelan air force plane.

They did start the process in some points of the country and when the Supreme Court noticed Zelaya defied its ruling, issued an order to the Honduran Army to stop the process, to take custody of Zelaya and to deport him from the national territory.

Think about this:
What would have happen in the US if the current president decides to call a referendum to eliminate presidential terms, the Supreme Court issues an order telling him not to do so and he continues to pursue his objective? Impeachment and destitution, at least, right? - Well, I hope.

Putting the last nail to the coffin, Obama's administration, one more time, lost a golden opportunity to show what they truly should stand for. Well, actually, I guess he did a clear statement, on the opposite direction.

Mary Anastasia O’Grady weights in for WSJ, both in English and Spanish. Links to her column in English has been passing on Tweeter since late Saturday night.

Some might see unfortunate that the army got involved, but again, they did it following orders from the Supreme Court.

At the same time, the country must return to its constitutional order and democratic goverment ASAP; if not, they run the risk to have all these efforts to preserve the rule of law completely wasted.

On the other hand, Hondurans in the US are expressing support to the Supreme Court ruling and their homeland Constitution, and they want to drawn the negative stories about the incident.
A Honduran man that moved to US 15 years ago has the golden quote:

"We're all energized,'' said Mauricio Andino, who moved from the country's capital, Tegucigalpa, 15 years ago. "We're a little country showing the world that we will not stand for communism, and we will not be bullied by what any of those other communists have to say about us."

Unfortunately, Andino’s priority seems to be missing from OAS’s agenda – after all, Inzulza owes his post to Chavez and they’re all in bed with longest communist dictatorship in the region. Let's say it is more or less the same thing that is happening with the wicked priorities’ list of the current US administration.

UPDATE:
Charles Krauthammer, On The Corner at NRO, has an excellent crash-course on how and why Obama and his administration should re-examine their assumptions.

Also at NRO, Mona Charen asks "Did someone say coup?", and provides more background on Chávez dirty games to throw Venezuela in the abyss of socialism.

Denver's capitol needs repairs: and we're accepting donations

A couple of days ago, listening to my usual local radio station during my morning commute, they were talking about the recent reports that the golden dome of the state's Capitol is rusting from inside and needs to be repaired.

"Good idea", I thought, since the Golden dome is signature of the city and looks, indeed, very pretty. But this Cubanita over here immediately thought: "there has to be a catch".

(Photo taken from Google)

It was after the commercial break that I learn about Jim Riesberg - who happens to be the representative from my area - and his idea to collect citizens donations to fund the repairs project. See? I knew something else was coming toward us, the average Joe's - as usual.

Personally, I am for reasonable funded - transparent and accountable - conservation projects of the state's architecture. But couldn't hear in the show if Riesberg was only pinching in the idea or if he said something whether his committee would also manage or oversee those donations.

If this needs to be done in order to prevent further damage, it could be a good idea to explore private donations. But having our "financially responsible" politicians on top of those funds is a whole different story.

Sorry, nothing personal here Mr., Riesberg, but if we are talking about donations, there is absolutely no need to have politicians handling the project.

Put up the project in the table for non profit and philanthropic organizations to jump in, collect the donations and oversee the project.

Unfortunately for the American people, our representatives - whose salaries, and more - we pay with our taxes, have demonstrated that 99.9999% of them are seriously financially-challenged.

If that's the case, please, back off! First, take crash-courses on financial responsibility and learn how to balance and prioritize the public monies you already have in your hands before pretending to get even more.

Michael Jackson dies?!

Photo from El Nuevo Herald

CNN is breaking the news that pop singer Michael Jackson has died.

El Nuevo Herald just posted the news in Spanish - while I was reading about the crack down on Medicare fraud in Miami and Detroit, go figure!

Here is a timeline of the life of "The King of Pop".

I, personally, prefer to remember him from these times:

I have fallen...

for Twitter!

Follow me @cbntaRMNP

Thanks to The Iran (Tweeter) Revolution, I have got myself into it.

My main purpose is not an egocentric one - I don't even believe I will have the time to constantly post what I am doing. Nor that I really want to do so. ;-)

I dream of being able to work as a bridge for information to an island censored from within.

Your are formally invited to do the same. Happy Twittering!

Following the day in Iran

Iran: another day, another protest, more people injured, votes still disappeared.

Penúltimos Días is keeping up with the updates - some intros are in Spanish - of the events.

Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho's link with the doctor who assisted Neda during her last minutes of live stands on the list. On his blog, Coelho has revealed the identity of the doctor. It is, certainly, a story fit for a novel.

An eyewitnesses described a massacre near the Iranian Parliament - via Michelle Malkin.

And BBC put together an interactive map of today's protests.

Update on "The unavoidable parallel"

An English version of the essay "Why the Iran's Revolution Matters to Cuba", by Ernesto H.B (Penúltimos Días) is posted in RealClearWorld. Have at it.

Gateway Pundit is following the Iran's saga with photos of the brutality against protesters. Unfortunately, Val is right: in Cuba there has never been protests like this, where people are willingly taking risks for their freedom or their fellow countrymen.

Two months ago, I had higher hopes to the contrary. Unfortunately, I just learned I was dead wrong.

How can I explain it? Cubans have been broken down by a Machiavellian combination of repression, brainwashing, censorship and sense of hopelessness. Sadly, it is so bizarre and cruel that one can only realize it when you are able to escape that hellhole.

They are just walking the walk because nothing has happened so far that could erase their existence from the face of earth.

It might sound fatalistic and it might be a generalization where a lot of exceptions could exist; but it is what you read in their faces. Eyes don't lie; trust me.

That's the sad picture in the faces of the average Cubans, while standing in the P-3 bus stop, in the line to get the daily bread, while walking in the sidewalks... and I, honestly, still have a hard time understanding...

Broken down.
And it breaks your heart when you see it, up close and personal.

My wallet is closed. Sorry!

Locked down, to be more specific.

We’re in a thought economic situation. No doubts about it when I see the drop in the value of my house or when I see local business closing down.

And while government is pushing to take over every single thing in our lives they can think of during their every morning coffee, the local school district is salivating over increasing taxes on property owners.

“The 16-mill property tax increase, which would amount to $16 million a year in extra revenue for the district, comes after six months of work by the Citizens Blue Ribbon Panel”.

Really? Did they really spent money on a Blue Ribbon Panel to “study” the need to increase taxes. And that panel raised $40,000 for signs instead of donating that money to the “troubled” District‘s budget? Unreal.

Everybody with a sane mind in the country is scaling down on expenses, tightening and going back to the basics but they can’t? Why not?

We are talking of a district with one of poorest performances in the state. A district that pays exorbitant salaries and extras to their top executives – not the teachers necessarily.

Teachers who educate our children should be well compensated, specially the good ones, but we're not even talking about teacher's salaries here.

And, in any case, when many people are choosing between having a raise or keeping their job, teachers should also pick up their part in the tab.

We're are talking about the district where I first heard of home schooling. A district that have reduced recess and play time for elementary school kids, when it is a vox populi secret that at that age, kids need playtime as much as instruction time in order to successfully develop their potentials.

And, even though I am not very familiar with the board, most people in the community thinks that the board is not working for whom they are supposed to: the taxpayers that pay for their bills, and the children.

I have known, personally, wonderful teachers, administrators and employees of this district, and I don’t think we could throw them all in the same sack.

But it is undeniable that the big picture is not attractive, especially to the eyes of the taxpayers that are footing the bill from this chronic failure.

Don’t count on me for this in the next ballot.

Sorry, but District 6 have not demonstrated they are good stewards of public monies with their wicked set of priorities for me to put more of my hard-earn money in their hands to feed their wasting spree.

On top of that, they are scared as hell of transparency – nobody knows exactly where they spend the money they currently receive, and they are not very willing to talk about it. (Could I suggest the District to take note and follow the steps taken by the county commissioners?)

Show me the checkbook first. Post your expenses online. Have all big bosses resign and bring new, responsible people – without spending another absurd fortune in a “recruiting” galore. Get rid of the current board and bring new, committed people to represent the interests the community.

Put children’s interest first and then, only then, this local wallet will be willing to take the risk to give you more money.

Actually, I have a better suggestion: go to any given small community school in another country for a month, learn about frugality and efficiency while providing a decent education and then, when you come back, we can have this conversation.