American and Latin American Politics, Society, and Culture
You, dear reader, may be thinking at this point, “so what?
That’s Canada for you, eh.”
Think again.
Read my post, Canada’s war on freedom of speech.
UPDATE
Linked to by The Pirate’s Cove. Thank you!
I’m having to finish up a few things before the holiday weekend, and may not have time to post for the rest of the day, so here’s a nice fireworks music to get you in the holiday spirit,
Tennessee bitchslaps Marxifornia
A Haunting Video From The UK – “Stiff Upper Lip”
Last year the Rio Olympics were 51% over budget, to the tune of $1.6 billion, the month before they opened. The 2014 World Cup $3 billion stadiums were becoming white elephants a year later.
Now Brazilian authorities have suspended the issuing of new passports because of a budget crisis:
The government said emergency funds for passports would be debated this week.
In a statement late on Tuesday, the federal police said the decision to stop issuing new passports “stems from a dearth of funds earmarked to the activities of migratory control and the issuance of travel documents”.
There’s a lot of finger-pointing, of course, and a long history corruption, and trying to look like a country with strong infrastructure, and whatever, but it all comes down to one thing: overspending.
Cross-posted at WoW! Magazine.
Grenades at the Supreme Court, bullets at the Interior Ministry:
A Venezuelan police helicopter strafed the Supreme Court and a government ministry on Tuesday, escalating the OPEC nation’s political crisis in what President Nicolas Maduro called an attack by “terrorists” seeking a coup.
The aircraft fired 15 shots at the Interior Ministry, where scores of people were at a social event, and dropped four grenades on the court, where judges were meeting, officials said.
However, there were no reports of injuries.
Who did it?
Venezuela’s government said in a communique the helicopter was stolen by investigative police pilot Oscar Perez, who declared himself in rebellion against Maduro.
Images shared on social and local media appear to show Perez waving a banner from the helicopter reading “Liberty”, and the number “350” in large letters.
The number refers to the constitutional article allowing people the right to oppose an undemocratic government.
The hashtag’s #350Libertad
#Venezuela | Oscar Perez flying stolen helicopter that dropped grenades on Supreme Court. pics via twitter. #OOTT pic.twitter.com/ztue54VojZ
— Lee Saks (@Lee_Saks) June 28, 2017
#350Libertad #Venezuela, elicottero attacca la Corte suprema a #Caracas #OscarPerez #OSCARPEREZGV Video integrale https://t.co/vIpZMjujKi pic.twitter.com/fzhKqd6EZC
— BlitzTV (@BlitzTVit) June 28, 2017
Pérez described that he is part of a non-partisan coalition of members of the security forces whose mission is “to serve our people” against tyranny,
#Venezuela | Oscar Perez declares war after attacking supreme court. says theres union bet citizens police & soldiers to topple Maduro #OOTT pic.twitter.com/Ba2BOn3XGt
— Lee Saks (@Lee_Saks) June 28, 2017
[information minister Ernesto] Villegas said security forces were being deployed to apprehend Pérez, who the government accused – without giving evidence – of working under the instructions of the CIA and the US embassy in Caracas, as well as to recover the helicopter.
Francisco Toro wonders, false flag, or random lunatic?, while Daniel ponders the country chavismo wants.
UPDATE:
I’m not the only skeptic: From the WSJ comments, “This is what happens when you farm out your Reichstag fire to the lowest bidder.”
Another Win – Trump and India PM Modi Speak At The White House
Julian Assange: “Why The Democrat Party Is Doomed”
Collins, Rubio Help Muslims Pass Senate Resolution 118 to Criminalize Free Speech
Forum: What Is Your Reaction To The Special Elections
The Actual War On Women, Part 1
Whadd’ya Know…Illinois is Bankrupt!
Answers to my questions about America’s opioid crisis
The Secret behind Amazon’s New Bestseller On Palestinian History
The Democrat party is hamstrung because it can’t tell the truth about itself
ReasonTV: College Students ‘Think Freedom is Not a Big Deal’
Venezuela: Leopoldo Lopez cries out to wife he is being tortured
[VIDEOS] Paul Joseph Watson on Muslims and Leftists
Israeli Envoy: Anti-Israel Campus Campaigns ‘A Real War’
The Expanse: Forget Star Trek and Watch This Show
At a University of California campus, learning a life lesson about socialism
California travel ban: Blatant hypocrisy about LGBTQ (etc.) rights
In the midst of bad news from all over the hemisphere (the usual crime–corruption–drugs-and-deaths), one good news story:
US Nat-Gas Surge Proves a Boon to Expanded Panama Canal
The burgeoning US natural-gas industry is largely responsible for the high volume of shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) through the expanded Panama Canal, the waterway’s manager said Monday.
Nine percent of the more than 1,500 vessels – nearly six per day – that have transited the canal in the one year since the expansion was completed were carrying LNG, administrator Jorge Quijano said.
That number far exceeds the forecast made a decade ago at the start of the project to expand the inter-oceanic channel, when the United States “was not an exporter, but rather an importer of gas,” he said.
Prior to the expansion, the canal could not accommodate the tankers used to transport LNG.
Even with a decline in global trade, the Canal’s revenues have increased by 12% since last October.
Leopoldo López has been held in solitary confinement for 71 days, and has not been allowed to speak to his lawyers for 81 days.
Yesterday his wife tweeted this,
“Leopoldo himself cried out from his cell that he’s being tortured. I demand to see him and know he’s well!”
El mismo Leopoldo desde su celda me gritó que lo están torturando ¡Exijo verlo y saber que está bien! pic.twitter.com/ocL3sjYToT
— Lilian Tintori (@liliantintori) June 25, 2017
She was not allowed to see him.
In Venezuela, prisoners say abuse is so bad they are forced to eat pasta mixed with excrement
Earlier this month, the judge who upheld López’s jail sentence was shot dead during a robbery.
Daniel blogs From official terror to article 350 – 1) life in Caracas, the least of which being,
If you are living in opposition areas your Internet and light and water services have noticeably decreased in “quality”, as if they ever had any in the first place.
From official terror to article 350 – 2) state terrorism reflects chavismo division
Apparently Maduro Is Rapidly Running Out Of Friends; the question is, who comes after him?
Cross-posted at WoW! Magazine.
UPDATE
Trending at Bad Blue.
Anything to get immunity:
Former President Cristina Kirchner filed papers on Saturday to run for Argentina’s Senate, launching a campaign that could, if elected, give her congressional immunity from federal prosecution for alleged money laundering and racketeering during her presidency.
About those three separate federal cases that she’s already been indicted,
In one case, a judge ruled that Mrs. Kirchner ran a criminal “gang” aimed at profiting from the illegal disbursal of government funds for infrastructure projects. In another case, she was indicted over accusations she ordered Argentina’s central bank to illegally trade derivatives, costing the country about $5.5 billion.
But wait! There’s more:
If Mrs. Kirchner wins in October, she would be eligible to run for the presidency again in 2019, when Mr. Macri finishes his first four-year term.
One can only hope there are not enough stupid people to vote for her. She only needs 25% or so to get a Senate seat, according to the above article.
UPDATE
Trending at Bad Blue.
