Anatomy of a coup: Honduran's ouster months in the making

McClatchy ^ | 7/1/09 | Frances Robles

[Nachum]

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Deposed Honduran president Manuel Zelaya says all he wanted was to conduct a public opinion poll — even though the supreme court had ruled it illegal, the attorney general threatened to arrest him, and he faced mutiny in the armed forces.

[xcamel]

As the marxists try to cement power, O’Bummer backs them.

[Lazamataz]

McClatchy is slightly to the left of Engels.

[Cboldt]

There was plenty of "notice" and action. The position of the United States government on this is a disgrace.

Re-Writing the Constitution of Honduras: Power Grab or Change Long Overdue? (March 2009)

On the evening of March 23rd, President Zelaya issued Executive Order PCM-05-2009 declaring that citizens of Honduras should be allowed to vote on whether or not to establish a National Constituent Assembly to review the Constitution of the country and consider re-writing it. ...

The decision by Zelaya has quickly sparked a wave of criticism in Honduras decrying the move as little more than a strategy to allow him to remain in office past his term ...

[LegendHasIt]

Why do they keep calling it a coup? It was the opposite of a coup. It was the enforcement of their Constitution.

Oh I understand why 0bama, Chavez, Castro and all the other marxists want to call it a coup, but why does everyone else insist on demeaning the event by calling it the opposite of what it was?

[Joe Boucher]

Does sort of make ya wonder about our boy wonder punk president now doesn’t it?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The ‘opinion poll’ featured ballots printed in Venezuela.

[TigersEye]

Skip the State Run Media. Find your own news.

Honduras Defends Its Democracy

Honduras Crisis: Zelaya Is A Threat To Our Democracy

Coup Rocks Honduras

Coup in Honduras - Correction: This is NOT a coup

Honduras Natives Say Democracy Preserved

Supporters of Zelaya.

Supporters of Honduras' President Manuel Zelaya shout slogans outside the presidential residence in Tegucigalpa, Thursday, June 25, 2009. President Zelaya's attempt to hold a referendum Sunday on changing the constitution has pitted him against the country's top courts, the attorney general, military leaders and even his own party, all of whom argue the vote is illegal.(Photo/Fernando Antonio)

Supporters of Honduran rule of law.

Demonstrators opposed to Honduras President Manuel Zelaya, protest in Tegucigalpa, Friday, June 26, 2009. President Manuel Zelaya is promoting a Sunday referendum on constitutional changes that has plunged the country into crisis by setting the president at odds with the military, the courts and the legislature that have branded the vote illegal.

A man holds a constitution of Honduras as demonstrators opposed to Honduras President Manuel Zelaya, protest in Tegucigalpa, Friday, June 26, 2009. President Manuel Zelaya is promoting a Sunday referendum on constitutional changes that has plunged the country into crisis by setting the president at odds with the military, the courts and the legislature that have branded the vote illegal. (Photo/Esteban Felix)

Students wearing gags on their mouths protest against Honduras President Manuel Zelaya outside the Venezuelan embassy in Tegucigalpa, Thursday, June 25, 2009. President Zelaya's attempt to hold a referendum on reforming the constitution has pitted him against the country's top courts, the attorney general, military leaders and even his own party, all of whom argue the vote is illegal. (Photo/Fernando Antonio)

My thanks to Rome2000 and cripplecreek for finding and posting these photos on this thread.

[Technogeeb]

Why do they keep calling it a coup?

Because propaganda works. They are desperately trying to establish the "fact" that the "rule of law" insists that the "legitimate government" can never be removed, regardless of any level of tyranny imposed by that government.

For example, say you obtained power via an election that on its surface looked legitimate, but after the election some critical fact came to light that made the election illegal (such as you not being legally able to hold the office). Any attempt to remove you would be a "coup".

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

I wish we could count on the SCOTUS to stop BO when he goes beyond the law, for example the Chrysler deal.

[ctdonath2]

SCOTUS can’t do anything unless someone brings a suitable case to them.

[TigersEye]

Experts say the breakdown in the rule of law here underscores Honduras' weak hold on democratic institutions and highlights a deep political divide that has only worsened.

The whole article is just a tissue of lies. The rule of law did not break down it was upheld.

That referendum was not binding and made no mention of term limits, but the country's political leaders were suspicious.

The constitution of Honduras specifically forbids any such referendum. Only the congress can change the constitution with a 2/3s vote in two consecutive sessions. The constitution forbids changing presidential term limits by anybody even the congress. This article pegs the BS meter.

[SpaceBar]

Why do they keep calling it a coup?

I did a search and it appears that the first major media outlet to break the story was Reuters. They didn't use the word "coup" in the title, but described the situation as "Central America's first military coup since the Cold War". Once a phrase is turned in the media, the rest follow like lemmings.

[TigersEye]

...but why does everyone else insist on demeaning the event by calling it the opposite of what it was?

Apparently 90% of the world's press is bought off. Considering that the World Bank is supporting Zelaya that isn't so surprising.

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

Creditors don’t have “standing” in a bankruptcy case?

[TigersEye]

The ‘opinion poll’ featured ballots printed in Venezuela.

With 'yes' already marked on them and lots of Nicaraguans crossing the border to come vote with them.

[oldenuff2no]

I don't wonder at all. I can see the writing on the wall. Obamass asked the criminal if he did anything wrong and the criminal told him no. The fact that this moron is just another socialist wannabe seems to be lost in the smoke and mirrors of this administrations socialist/islamic foreign policy. It looks like this is an avenue that obamass wants to open up for himself!!!!! This is a clear case of a foreign nation enforcing it's own laws and it's own constitution to prevent a socialist takeover.
Stopping socialism is not on obamass’s agenda.

[OneWingedShark]

Hm, and thus precedents set for when the truth about Obama’s ineligibility comes out. I was skeptical, at first, but I thought that it was STUPID not to simply ask (on the parts of the Congress or the USSC or the state’s secretaries who are in charge of ballots) for the requisite documentation.

I mean the worst that happens is everything is in order and the civil unrest/rumors are quelled. The best is that he is proven faulty and disqualified, thus proving by action that EVERYONE falls under the [same] law.

[ctdonath2]

SCOTUS won't take the case unless it's near perfect. Too many cases presented are screwed up enough you don't want SCOTUS deciding on them (and neither does SCOTUS; they don't want to issue a bad ruling, which may be unavoidable given a bad enough case). Pro-RKBA types found that out the hard way; took 7 decades to get the message and assemble the Heller case.

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

Stopping socialism is not on obamass’s agenda.

It's worse than that IMO.

Link: World Bank 'pauses' lending to Honduras - Zoellick