S.C. Senator Jim DeMint forces U.S. change on Honduras stance on elections

[Judi Lynn]

Wires - Wire - News - Wire - Politics - Wire
Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009
S.C. Senator Jim DeMint forces U.S. change on Honduras stance on elections
By JAMES ROSEN - McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Jim DeMint, a South Carolina Republican known for his efforts to block influence domestic immigration and health-care issues, has scored a foreign-policy coup by helping to compel the Obama administration to shift its stance on strife-ridden Honduras.

After demanding for months that deposed Honduran President Mel Zelaya be restored to power, senior State Department officials now say they'll accept the outcome of Nov. 29 elections in the Central American country even if Zelaya doesn't reclaim his post.

"We support the elections process there," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said Thursday. "We have provided technical assistance. ... These elections will be important to restoring Democratic and constitutional order in Honduras."

That position is a marked change from the tough stance President Barack Obama took in the days following the June 28 removal of Zelaya, when Honduran soldiers launched a dawn raid and whisked him away in his pajamas.

More:
http://www.thestate.com/nationalpolitics/story/1029134.html

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

1. Had a feeling this was how this was going to play out...

It seemed pretty clear that those involved with the coup were doing their best to drag things out until the next election was held, thus ensuring Zelaya doesn't return to power. Time was on their side, unfortunately.

[Downwinder]

2. It is questionable whether Time was on their side.

What happens if the population does not recognize the election? Back to square one. If they had several months left to settle thing down the golpistas might be in a better position. I don't think the people are going to forget about it all in two weeks.

As we discussed before, stupidity. If they had not attempted to repress the demonstrations, the demonstrations would have just gone away. Demonstrators are looking for a response.

Now they have shown their true position and it is set in everyone's mind. There are a lot of twists and turns to come before it reaches a resolution.

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

3. I don't see a lot of hope for Zelaya's efforts, personally.

If the elections are boycotted by a substantial number of people, I'll be apt to agree with you. If they're not though the momentum behind efforts to reinstate Zelaya will dry up pretty quickly. Frankly, it appears that the latter will be the case, though I wouldn't mind being proven wrong on this one.

[Downwinder]

4. It was never about Zelaya. He was just a rallying point. He was/is

a lame duck and everybody accepted that. if anything he kept the lid on it all.

[rabs]

5. Zelaya's restitution is now a moot issue

Z sent a letter to Obama on Friday saying he would NOT accept restitution to the presidency at this stage. Restitution two weeks before the elections would have meant holding them while he was in the presidency and Z is having none of that.

Have not seen any reply from Obama or Hillary so far.

--------------------------------

"As the elected president of the Honduran people, I reaffirm my position that starting today, no matter what, I will not accept any agreement on returning to the presidency of the republic to cover up this coup d'etat," Zelaya said, reading from the letter on Globo radio.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091115/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_honduras_coup

[Downwinder]

6. I take that to mean:

If you want me to settle things down, bring them all up on charges. Otherwise it is your bed, Sleep in it.

[rabs]

7. Yep, clear message

to the gorilettis, Hillary/Obama/Shannon/Craig/Solis/Arias et all that it is now their caca to clean up.

Meantime, the OAS is sitting back grinning like a chessie and won't be sending anyone to monitor anything.

Incidently, there was a report on Friday that powerful business people who back the golpista regime are threatening workers with firing if the employees do not show up the day after the election with indelible ink on their thumbs.

So, the resistance is contemplating providing similar ink for those who will not vote. :rofl:

[rabs]

8. Zelaya's letter to Obama

Pdf version. The text contains most of what we already know, Obama's "let's quit blaming the United States for what happened in the past in Latin America and look to the future" BS, and Hillary/Shannon recognizing the upcoming elections, violence against the people etc etc.

But there is something interesting apart from the text and that is the letterhead and the seal on the letter. Have to assume that someone smuggled in official presidential stationary to him and it is sort of a goad to Obama/Hillary, letting them know who is president !

http://www.elheraldo.hn/var/elheraldo_site/storage/original/application/fc48afad1c1aed753fb8005b3c91f2b7.pdf