Mexico's Calderon is president-elect: court draft

Reuters ^

[Lunatic Fringe]

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Conservative ruling party candidate Felipe Calderon won Mexico's ferociously contested July 2 election and is president-elect, the top electoral court said in a draft ruling on Tuesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, the court said Calderon had won with a margin of about 234,000 votes. In this latest draft ruling, the court said he could now be declared president-elect, the first time the election body has made this announcement.

The final, official decision is still to be voted on later in the day by a panel of seven judges, who have already thrown out leftist candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's claims of massive fraud.

[TaxRelief]

Anarchy is the left's favorite first step towards communism.

[Froufrou]

Yeah, and even out of the shadows it won't be safe. He's in bed with the cartels.

[Froufrou]

How right you are. And under the guise of 'democracy' no less.

[Truth29]

Well, since Obrador's party controls the Federal District government, would the Federal police back him in an attempt to take over the government?

[Jeff Head]

Federal Police against the Mexican military...I bet you the Federales do not win that one. But with the corruption down there, and if this leftist is in bed with the cartels, all bets are off because it's rumored that the cartels have bought off portions of the military as well.

[StJacques]

Some notes for all of you on the Tribunal's decision.

--It was a 7 - 0 vote of all the sitting magistrates.

--The Tribunal stated that Vicente Fox put the election at risk by his pubic posture. (Under Mexican electoral law a sitting President may not take an active part in the campaign to choose his successor.) The Tribunal said "the statements of Vicente Fox themselves constituted a risk for the validity of the elction which would have been a more weighty element if more irregularities in the electoral process had surfaced."

--The Tribunal rejected Lopez Obrador's charge that the Enterprise Coordinating Board, a business promotion agency of the Mexican government, had run radio and televison spots with "subliminal messages" favoring Calderon's candidacy. They did however, indicate that the Enterprise Coordinating Board interfered in the campaign, and nothing is reported as to exactly what is meant by "interference," but the Tribunal decided that this was "within the norms of public order."

--There is a very large security operation underway to safeguard the Electoral Tribunal's offices and there are reports of attempted violence both in front of the Tribunal's offices and nearby. A 25 year old man was evidently attacked by Lopez Obrador sympathizers as he walked past them near the Tribunal's offices and another group seized someone they considered to be a "provocator." But it is also reported that the protest encampment Lopez Obrador's supporters have maintained near the Electoral Tribunal is now being dismantled. Nonetheless, security is being reinforced at the offices of the Tribunal, including some signs of rare cooperation between police agencies of both the federal government and the PRD-controlled government of the Federal District. Reports are that there are about 600 pro-AMLO demonstrators outside the Tribunal's offices and that more were coming.

--Vicente Fox's office released a statement that Fox will make a statement to the nation regarding the Tribunal's decision, but no particulars as to when this statement will be were released.

--Finally; it was reported that news of the Tribunal's decision was "received with tears and anger" by Lopez Obrador supporters out front of the Tribunal's offices. Awwwww... That's so sad.

[StJacques]

Felipe Calderon and his Wife Receive News of the Tribunal's Decision

[shield]

Thanks this is truly great news for America and especially Mexico.

[CedarDave]

What did Fox do that put the election at risk?

[CedarDave]

BTW, thanks again for keeping us on these threads informed. It's interesting to see other FReepers on other threads expressing opinions without the benefit of having read your analyses. Its obvious they don't have the background depth as do those following here.

[GaltMeister]

NO CONTROLLING LEGAL AUTHORITY!!!

[Kenny Bunk]

"shadow" government.

Exactly what an out-of-power political party is.

[tflabo]

" Calderon had won with a margin of about 234,000 votes. "

Vote fraud my arse.....Bush won Ohio by about 1/2 that amount of votes. AMLO ObraGore is a dangerous loser and typical of scum leftists. He has deomonstrated what sort of 'leader' he truly is with his sham tactics. Leftists suck.

[RightWingNilla]

Dear Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Boo Hoo Hoo. Now get back to work, and quit whining.

I dont think this loser has a job. Unless you consider pandering to the masses and rabble rousing "jobs".

[ClancyJ]

Well of coure it would be easier if Calderon just said "Ok, since you want the presidency so bad, here it is - I can handle the loss".

But, democracies do not work that way and whether the liberal tantrum thrower likes it or not - the winner does not forfiet the leadership because the other side is a poor loser.

Let them go to war, let them fight it out. You cannot turn over the country to the tyrants just because they will not honor an election.

You sound like one who considers elections worthwhile if both sides agree to the results only.

And what happens to the rights of the people when the newly elected leader will turn over a country just because the spoiled brats want it?

Give me a break. Liberty and elections are not so easily kept - they often have to be fought for - will not be the first or last time.

[headstamp]

This looks like a "Job for Jimma C". Provided he can extract his head from Khattami's butt in time to help down there.

[PsyOp]

Just to play Devil's advocate,

If Abragore were to take power, Bush and the rest of the Republicans who are now only paying lip-service to securing our borders would have no more excuses.

A hard leftie in charge of Mexico could actually be a blessing in disguise for our national security.

Dead would be any more talk of "guest worker" programs and amnesty.

Dead would be any talk of a "North American Union".

Building a real border fence would take on new meaning.

We should be careful what we wish for over there. I thought things would improve when Fox got elected. I was wrong.

[SlowBoat407]

You sound like one who considers elections worthwhile if both sides agree to the results only.

You have made some assumptions about my political philosphy that I consider invalid.

I was not expressing my belief in what should happen there. I was describing the fact that I believe Obrador is desparate enough to push his case until Calderon has no choice but to put it down with force, and they are so far down that road that there is little that can be done to stop it. They will have to fight it out in the streets unless one of them gives up on what he sincerely believes in.

My mention of a coalition (did you not see my play on that word, working the idea of coercion?) was not the ideal solution, nor even one that I wanted to see. It would be the result of the two of them considering peace for a bit longer prefereable to bloodshed in the streets. Unfortunately, Fox has set the precedent for that by relinquishing the podium, and at that moment he lost his country, and perhaps abandoned it to the likes of Obrador.

I'm glad you had an opportunity to express your opinion, though. We are in agreement, even if you didn't think so when you posted.

[Ptarmigan]

Obrador is like Al Gore in many ways.

[norton]

The real problem may well be that, conservative (sic) or liberal (socialist) don't convey the potential impact of a violent transition state immediately south of our - unguarded - border.