Critics dismiss Honduran election -- even before first vote has been cast

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Tuesday, 11.24.09
Critics dismiss Honduran election -- even before first vote has been cast
Many view Honduras' presidential election as the only way out of a political crisis; others say the vote will legitimize the coup that caused the crisis.

BY FRANCES ROBLES
[e-mail]

TEGUCIGALPA -- While unemployment and crime are high and schools are at a standstill, Hondurans' focus when they go to the polls Sunday will be on settling a crippling political crisis that has consumed the Central American country since June.

Whoever wins the presidency inherits a political mess not of his making and will be forced to cut deals and heal wounds -- or risk four years of instability and international condemnation.

But even as the campaigns officially close Tuesday, critics both in Honduras and abroad are condemning the election and promising legal challenges. The question remains: If Honduras has an election few countries recognize, does it count?

``If we don't go to elections, what alternative do we have?'' said leading candidate Porfirio ``Pepe'' Lobo.

``This has been a very, very difficult process,'' he told reporters. ``Now they want to deny us this right? There's no way. Nobody is going to stop the people's right to vote.''

Lobo is a 61-year-old former rancher and president of Congress who is widely expected to win the election. A longtime politician of the traditional National Party, he ran for president in 2005 and lost.

But this time around, CID Gallup polls show Lobo 15 points ahead of his closest contender, construction company executive Elvin Santos.

Lobo shot up in the polls thanks to a June 28 coup that ripped a schism into Honduran society and forced President Manuel Zelaya into exile.

More:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/story/1348776.html

http://www.latribuna.hn.nyud.net:8090/web2.0/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/tuka1.jpg http://gerardoparedes.files.wordpress.com.nyud.net:8090/2009/10/el-candidato-presidencial-nacionalista-porfirio-lobo-sosa-porfirio-pepe-lobo-participa-en-asamblea-de-udi_noticia_full.jpg

http://redeshn.com.nyud.net:8090/files/2009/06/pepe-lobo.jpg

Pepe Lobo

[Peace Patriot]

1. Poor Pepe! One false move and he's on a plane to Costa Rica!

Honduran democracy has been DESTROYED, with the crucial help of President Barack Obama (who may have about as much presidential power as Pepe Lobo--in a charitable interpretation of his Latin American foreign policy) and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Their minion, Thomas Shannon--the one to most visibly bend over for Jim DeMint (Puke-SC) (who apparently is the real Secretary of State)--is supposed to now go to Brazil as the ambassador of "peace, respect and cooperation."

Could Obama's Latin American policy be more fucked up?

Watch your back, Pepe!

[Downwinder]

2. Lobo seems to ba an appropriate name.

[rabs]

3. Looks like Pepe was about to be Diebolded

Globo is reporting that a group of 14 Mexicans has been detained at a luxury hotel in Teguz. The entire 9th floor of the hotel is now blocked by Honduran police as write this.

A Honduran who knew some in the group saw them at the airport and asked them what they were doing in Honduras. They replied, "We are on vacation."

The Mexicans are reported to be "experts in fraud" and were in possession of sophisticated computers and other electronic equipment.

Globo saying they are from the PRI and worked against Lopez Obrador in the last Mexican election.

The question is who hired them, who is paying for their stay at the luxury hotel.

Globo said that it was one of the presidential candidates, but did not name him. But the implication is that it is Elwin Santos of the Liberal Party, who is about 18 points behind Pepe Lobo, if polls can be believed.
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U.N. just announced it will not send observers. In Washington, the Heritage Foundation said it would send around 15 observers. (Repug neo-cons it looks like.)

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CholusatSur is still off the air voluntarily, which deprives the Honduran people (and us) of a valuable news source. But at least Globo is still broadcasting.

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Golpista media reporting that two grenades exploded this dawn in Teguz. One outside the Supreme Court and the other at the "Liberty Tower," a building that houses pro-golpista media outlets. No one was hurt and some windows were blown out.

The grenades are said to be RPGs. (So who has RPGs outside of the military?)

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Look for more incidents between now and Sunday to foment more the climate of fear the golpistas have mounted.

[Downwinder]

4. Sounds like the Golpistas are being consumed by their own fear. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

5. It gets more perverse each damned day. Wow. "experts in fraud", yet. Well named!

So many people were totally suspicious of the ultra-strange election vote counting of the Mexican election, when most people went to sleep with the understanding AMLO was ahead, and woke to learn he lost by a thread. Many of us sat up through the night following the votes and saw the wierdness developing, like watching a crime take place.

So these same clowns were in Honduras to help the oligarchs' favorite, again. It really figures.

How many people would view Honduras as a alluring vacation spot NOW? Probably just these guys!

The Heritage Foundation observers probably had planned to party with these "experts in fraud" during election night. No doubt they had ordered a huge supply of dill pickle juice for their specicial celebration.

http://blog.heritage.org.nyud.net:8090/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/buckley-ejf_080227.jpg http://blog.heritage.org.nyud.net:8090/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/jesse_helms.jpg

Jesse Helms and wife presented with award by Heritage President Ed Feulner: partying like it's 1802.

http://www.heritage.org.nyud.net:8090/Press/NewsReleases/images/NewtGingrich071509a.jpg http://www.myheritage.org.nyud.net:8090/assets/images/content/2006/050206_bolton.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_64itAtqJIlY/RyqF08Owq5I/AAAAAAAACFc/ybVUOq_abPU/s400/Bush%2Bat%2BHeritage%2BFoundation,%2B11.1.07%2B%2B%2B1.jpg
Thanks for an illustration of the alleged citizen engineered RBG attack on that building. So unlikely Honduran civlians would have those RPG's and any launcher. If they did, why would they waste it by shooting it where it would have very little impact but provide a lame yarn for the golpistas to use against them?

[Peace Patriot]

6. What a bunch of losers and scumbags and war criminals! nt