It's the 16th. Any News From Mexico City Yet?

[Wiley50]

Today is the day that AMLO has called for a convention
that, with any luck, should begin the revolution.

Anyone got links to (english) news sources for
following what is going on down there as it happens?

Today is their Independence Day.
Amlo has directed his people to vacate the Zocalo
and let the traditional military parade happen
After that, the convention should begin
and all bets are off

I want links to play by play coverage

[Warpy]

1. Meanwhile, I've been surfing sites for property down there

and the prices are starting to drop after a few years of a real estate boom in coastal towns.

I'd like to find out what's happening there, too. It's likely to be my next home for at least part of the year and I hate the news blackout. I live in a border state, and even the Spanish weeklies aren't reporting it.

[Annces]

2. here is a link to a mexican paper - with troops on the cover

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/noticias.html

Also can translate the page by cut and paste into google translate

http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=en

[Wiley50]

3. Great! Can You Translate just a little bit

like the caption to the photo of the soldiers
I noticed it mentioned the Zocalo
My two years of HS spanish is quite rusty

[Annces]

10. updated link to front page of Mexican newspaper - translated

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eluniversal.com.mx%2Fnoticias.html&langpair=es%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools

[cal04]

4. Most of the articles are about the tents but found this

Plot stirs concerns, denials
(snip)
Fox spokesperson Rubén Aguilar dropped a bombshell at his daily morning news conference, announcing that the president´s last-minute decision to forego his Zócalo grito came as a result of a security scare tied to López Obrador´s electoral Coalición por el Bien de Todos, or Coalition for the Good of All, which consists of his Democratic Revolution Party (PRD), the Labor Party (PT) and the Convergence Party.

(snip)
Like an emotional farewell at the end of summer camp, López Obrador used his Friday speech to bring to a close his movement´s occupation of the capital´s central plaza Friday after four dozen days of tent-living, political rallies, informational seminars, traffic detours, marathon chess sessions and daily controversy.

"I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart," the former Mexico City mayor and Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) presidential candidate told his supporters in the Zócalo, cleared of the makeshift tents in anticipation of Friday night´s Independence Eve celebrations. "Even when one is strong and ready to confront adversity for his ideals and convictions, there are difficult moments, and some sadness. Being with all of you is a renovation of hope, and of joy."

López Obrador will be on the same Zócalo stage Saturday evening, closing the afternoon´s grassroots National Democratic Convention, which will kick off a permanent civil resistance organization and/or shadow government comprised of López Obrador supporters and others opposed to Felipe Calderón.

Encinas is also scheduled to deliver the annual "state of the Federal District" address to the capital´s legislative assembly (ALDF) Sunday. Afterwards, Encinas said, he will give an informal address to a crowd that is expected to gather outside the assembly chambers at the corner of Donceles and Bolívar.

http://www.mexiconews.com.mx/20417.html


Supporters of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador hold a banner that reads, 'Fox : traitor to democracy' as they celebrate in the 'Zocalo' main square during the commemoration of Mexico's Independence Day in Mexico City September 15, 2006.

[cal04]

5. Mexican left must decide on tactics

Mexican leftists decrying election fraud will decide on Saturday whether to make their fight with President-elect Felipe Calderon a radical struggle on the streets or to adopt a less confrontational stance.

Supporters of leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will hold an open-air convention in the capital's sprawling Zocalo square to hammer out strategy after losing the July 2 vote by a marginal 234,000 votes.

Organizers predict 1 million people will turn out at the event, which could name Lopez Obrador the leader of a civil resistance campaign or the head of an alternative government.

Delegates will likely take the second path and symbolically declare Lopez Obrador president, a softer option which means fewer street protests against Calderon, who is set to take office on December 1.

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=1370672006

[Wiley50]

6. Thanks Cal04! n/t

[Annces]

7. Translation from Mexican paper

All ready one for the Military parade
An ample contingent of soldiers of Infantry and the Military police forms rows in the plate of the Socle, protected by a security fence

Alberto River basin
The Universal one
City of Mexico
Saturday 16 of September of 2006

09:08
The Army and Navy have ready the operative one already to develop to the traditional in center Historical military parade and Stroll of the Reformation, for which he remains closed to the circulation all the first picture of the city. An ample contingent of soldiers of Infantry and the Military police at the moment forms rows in the plate of the Socle protected by a fence of security in the four points of the Seat of the Constitution.

Roads like Log, 16 of September, Venustiano Carranza, 20 of November and Pine Suárez also are closed with metallic fences and in some of these integral points of the Presidential staff they installed detectors of metals, in addition to that review purses and knapsacks of the s people who enter with the intention to observe the parade. Bands military of Navy and the Army make tests already and the main balcony of National Palace is totally ready for the military parade.


Rigoberto Avila Ordo'ñez, undersecretary of Government of the DF, said that during the dawn the local Government gave to the Presidential staff in absolute cleaning the Seat of the Constitution. Due to this military parade the station Socle is closed the users and will remain in this situation during the course of afternoon, in which it is expected is carried out the Democratic National Convention to which Andrés has summoned Manuel Lopez Obrador.

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eluniversal.com.mx%2Fnoticias.html&langpair=es%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools

[UTUSN]

8. "with any luck" you bloodlusters would enlist here instead of

advocating OTHER people's blood being shed.

[Annces]

9. Enlist where?

To do what. Gore and Kerry did not call for any revolution.

[Annces]

11. update

The military parade is over and now the protestors are marching in the square.

""To the time that thousands of people move away of the plate of the Socle after concluding the military parade, supporting of Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador begins to concentrate itself in the Seat of the Constitution to participate in the Democratic National Convention.

The assistants enter the place by the streets Pine Suárez and 5 May, mainly, because other bordering arteries are surrounded by police elements.


Whereas elements of Public Security of the Federal District and the Mexican Army begin to retire fences and theater boxes that they placed for the parade of the 16 of September.


The supporters of Lopez Obrador arrive adorned with caps and yellow playeras and carry gafetes with the legend Democratic National Convention.""

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eluniversal.com.mx%2Fnoticias.html&langpair=es%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools

[Adelante]

12. Mexico's about as close to revolution as Denmark

Truly.

[UTUSN]

13. Careful, some topics one canNOT be reasonable/knowledgeable about!!1 n/t

[Adelante]

14. Some kind of mass hallucination

took over DU the past two and a half months. Critical thinking went out the window. I've been called every kind of right wing bitch for trying to inject a little reality into the discussion, so I know what you're saying.