Mexico leftist adrift on streets after vote loss

[Herman Munster]

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=winterOlympics&storyID=2006-09-08T184218Z_01_N08452254_RTRUKOC_0_US-MEXICO-ELECTION-OBRADOR.xml

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - He was an inch away from becoming Mexico's president but now Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador sleeps every night in a rainy square with the future of his anti-poverty movement in serious doubt.

Leftist candidate Lopez Obrador lost all hope of winning power when a court this week named rival Felipe Calderon president-elect, after throwing out the left's claims of fraud at a July vote. Supporters are deserting huge sit-ins that have paralyzed the center of Mexico City for almost six weeks in support of Lopez Obrador's claims of vote rigging.

"There's been a lot of disillusionment, a lot of disappointment after the court's decision," said Ramon Rojas, 34, serving breakfast at an almost empty field kitchen among tents pitched by protesters on the main Reforma avenue. Demonstrators say many have become ill from camping in the street in the last 40 days and nights of deluges during Mexico's tropical rainy season.

As part of the sit-in, former Indian welfare officer Lopez Obrador sleeps in a tent in the huge Zocalo square where he rallies supporters' spirits with speeches almost nightly promising to end corruption and work for the poor.

[larrysh]

1. Time for us to dig deep in our pockets and come up with

enough cash to keep this Movement going. How can we get money to these
people so they can have hot food, adequate shelter (other than tents), blankets and space heaters for the winter, paid teachers who will stay with the movement for the months ahead? They need doctors and medicine for the children. Shopkeepers and small business owners should be reimbursed for the lost tourist season. That is coming to an end so they will need money to tide them over winter,too.

[cigsandcoffee]

2. Well, that sucks.

Another president installed by a Supreme Court instead of popular demand.

[CollegeDUer]

3. What do you mean "lost all hope," Reuters? Is Reuters going for Calderon?

Halliburton and Wal-Mart have invested in Calderon. Who is Reuters owned by?

They're actively taking part in killing this movement. But it cannot be killed do easily. He has the hearts and minds of the people, and if he wants to he can cause a very nonvioelnt revolt.