𝗪𝗢𝗪!!! $𝟲𝟳,𝟰𝟱𝟰 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗜𝗚𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗕𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗕𝗜𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗦𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘 𝗡𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘!

Ernesto Gutierrez

Yes, $67,454! 

That's the amount raised by newbie Brownsville Navigation District candidate Ernesto Gutierrez as shown in his 4/04/2024 Campaign Finance Report.

Some folks really want this kid at the port.(There were indeed some movers and shakers at a recent pachanga in Rancho Viejo for Gutierez as we reported https://brownsvilleobserver.blogspot.com/2024/04/blog-post_20.html)

Well, Carlos Marin, for one, who coughed up $2500 for signs.  

Interestingly, Mario Saenz, the notorious brother of Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz, was paid $1945 to "install signs for candidate."

(Nothing improper there, but Gutierrez need not expect close scrutiny from the DA's office.)

The single largest contribution, $10,000, came from Julio Grana, himself a candidate for BND commissioner in 2020.

Payouts included $5612.96 to the Riverbend Golf Club for a "fundraising tournament."

Juan Montoya

Curious is a payout buried deep among blockwalkers on the expense part of the report, that is, $500 to Juan Montoya of El Rrun Rrun for "advertising/marketing," yet no stories or advertisements for Ernesto Gutierrez have surfaced on El Rrun Rrun.

Did Gutierrez pay Juan NOT to write about him?

𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗦𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘 𝗔𝗜𝗥𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗪𝗔𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗦𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚~𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗘𝗪 𝗔𝗜𝗥𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗨.𝗦. 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗗 "𝗔-𝟭-𝗔" 𝗜𝗡 𝟭𝟵𝟯𝟭~𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗗?

 submitted by Rene Torres

𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗢𝗦 𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗖𝗢𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗚𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗛𝗘'𝗦 𝗔 "𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥"

Carlos Cascos

The SOS position is not a long term position. As I have stated, the Governor has had 6 to date & soon to be 7, Gov Perry I believe had at least 8. 

So it wasn't a matter of quitting, it was a matter of the Gov wanting to appoint someone else after my 2 plus years & the General election & I knew that going in. 

As far as not being R enough, maybe...I am not a MAGA Republican. 

Leaving the CJ position was a difficult decision that I did not take lightly. 

However, I believed then as I believe now, it provided an opportunity to represent the State at a different level. 

As SOS, I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish. The water debt with Mexico was brought current, the relationship with Mexico was improved, albeit, no longer today. 

Also, I was able to share the importance of the the RGV, the border & Mexico to areas of the state that were unaware of that importance. 

As I said, the SOS position is challenging..in my 2 years, I visited over 150 different cities in Texas, Mexico 5 times & Canada once & gave over 200 speeches promoting our great state. 

One can criticize all day long, it comes with being in a political position, but I did what I believed was the right thing to do. 

Lastly, the Gov & I still have a good relationship & we visit from time to time...he has always endorse me when running for CJ & I continue, when asked to, introduce him at local political events. 

So...if nothing else...have a great day & I trust you will stay involved in our community.

Carlos Cascos

𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗦𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘'𝗦 𝗘𝗟 𝗝𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗜𝗡 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗡'𝗦 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝟴𝟰-𝟯 𝗜𝗡 𝟭𝟵𝟯𝟵, 𝗕𝗨𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗦 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝗜𝗧 𝗔 "𝗪𝗜𝗡!"

 by Rene Torres

They lost the game, but won the hearts of their fans

Fight! Fight! Fight! For the green and white

El Jardin High School Comets Football Team~1939

The year was 1929, only three years after the new El Jardin school building was erected, that its football 11, the Comets, were fighting for their lives on the gridiron. 

The team, which later was known as the Cougars, was coached by J. Harrison Diltz.

The rural school football title was on the line with Stuart Place and El Jardin having two games remaining against each other for the crown.

El Jardin had a formable starting line-up that included: H. Vicars, left end; Frazier, left tackle; Carl Vicars, left guard; Underwood, center; Kemper, right guard; Gendenning, right tackle; Adams, right end; Coy Vicars, quarterback; Lawrence, left halfback; Mathias, right halfback; and Triplett, fullback.

In their first encounter, Stuart Place gained an advantage on the Cameron County Rural title by defeating the Comets in Brownsville 13-12. 

The Brownsville Herald described it as a nip and tuck affair, with neither team holding a decided advantage. 

El Jardin’s inability to score points after touchdowns and a called back score for being off sides was the downfall for the Comets.

The second game was played at Stuart Place— where El Jardin was embarrassed and Coach Ryle’s team ended the season with undefeated record and the Rural Championship Crown.

But wait a minute, according to Bruce Underwood, those three points that the Comets scored, "were the greatest three points in Rio Grande Valley Football."

The following is a reprint of Underwood’s story of that November afternoon game of 1929:

Eleven spirited but rather scrawny El Jardin High School football players were taking the most awful drubbing of their lives on that mild afternoon at Stuart Place High School in November of 1929.

The host team, it was proved later, had brought in five huge, over-aged, ineligible players to help insure a victory in this second of the three game series against El Jardin. Such a victory would enable Stuart Place to win the Cameron County Class “B” Championship.

Stuart Place’s power was evident in the first play from scrimmage when El Jardin guard-center Bruce Underwood was knocked out for this only time in sports competition which would eventually cover 16 years of his life.

Coach Diltz’s El Jardin Comets tried everything they knew to hold the score down, since it seemed impossible for them to score, but the Comets pulled a foxy play when Stuart was four touchdowns ahead.

Tackle Homer Vicars received the ball after a kickoff, but instead of returning it he amazed the home team by holding the ball a second, while the Stuart players thundered toward him. Just in time he punted the ball 35 yards back into Stuart territory.

Even this unexpected reverse didn’t keep the home team from piling up a higher and higher score.

By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the dog-tired Comets didn’t even bother to keep the score with the home team juggernaut smothering the Brownsville boys with the small handful of spectators losing interest.

After El Jardin received the ball on the next kickoff, quarterback Coy Vicars tried three plays that got nowhere while he routinely called for a punt. (In those days the quarterback ran the game; his team executed the plays he called.) 

Just before the center snapped the ball, however, Coy shouted “Signals check.” 

Quickly, he called the number for scrappy Bill Lawrence to do what he used to a lot on the practice field.

Bill was to try a drop-kick a goal, no matter if the ball was almost 40 yards from the Stuart goal line.

As the viciously charging Stuart line poured toward him, unflappable Bill got off the most stunning drop-kick of his life, a 52-yard beaut. As the ball headed straight toward the uprights and spun end over end high above the crossbar, an amazed referee thrust both of his arms toward the sky. 

The Comets had always liked Bill, but now they revered him. 

The final score of 84-3 was incredibly better than 84-0 would have been.

The moral of the story is that regardless of the score, the game is not over ‘til it’s over. 

When it comes to victories or defeats, we must remember the words of Michel de Montaigne when he wrote, “there are some defeats more triumphant than victories”

Allow me to close with the El Jardin High School Alma Mater, as written in 1939 for those that proudly walked the halls of that once rural school, a school that was then so removed from city life, but so much closer to life and the pursuit of happiness:

1. In this tip of Tex--as where bal-my breezes blow,

2. Our ban-ner is the peer—its col-ors may they shine,

1. Palm trees and poin-set-tas and golden grape-fruit grow,

2. Green for youth-ful vig-or and white for hon-or or fine,

1. The dear-est spot of all, the school we love so well,

2. Now come, let us re-call, those memories so dear,

1. El Jar-din--- High School, your glories swell.

2. Give us now, your class-mates, and a lus-ty cheer!

We’ll fight, fight, and fight, dear green and white,

We’ll give our best to you;

So true to thee, we’ll ever be,

We’ll fight for you

𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥-𝗙𝗢𝗥-𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗘 𝗝𝗨𝗔𝗡 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗢𝗬𝗔 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗗𝗢 𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗔 𝗚𝗔𝗥𝗭𝗔'𝗦 𝗕𝗜𝗗𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚, 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗘𝗥 𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗗 𝗔𝗖𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗠𝗬 𝗔𝗗𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗘𝗗𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗢

 Let me ask you one question

Is your money that good?

"Will it buy you forgiveness

Do you think that it could?

I think you will find

When your death takes its toll

All the money you made

Will never buy back your soul"

Bob Dylan

It's been a rough couple of months for blogger-for-hire, Juan Montoya of El Rrun Rrun, repeatedly pandering to the whims and wishes of the power-hungry TSC Board Chair Adela Garza, who is hell-bent on gaining control of the TSC Board of Trustees by replacing accomplished trustees Eva Alejandro and J.J. De Leon with newbies.

It has to tear at Montoya's journalistic soul, when he has to write what paying customers pay him to write, whether true or false, factual or embellished.

In recent days, Montoya, likely with crossed fingers behind his back, has been promoting Garza puppet Edward Camarillo as the champion who will guide TSC "back to its former greatness."

Is that the same Edward Camarillo, who, along with two siblings, presided over the demise of Incarnate Word Academy, an institution serving the community for 175 years?

"Former greatness?"  WTH?

Are no good things being currently accomplished at TSC?

What about the recent 6% raise for TSC employees, coupled with a reduction in tuition rates or the record-breaking surge in enrollment or the infusion of $20M to ITEC for Texas Workforce Labs?

Does TSC's receipt of the Star Award mean nothing, Juan, or finally getting accreditation in 2023?

Now, dual enrollment has played a role in these successes with BISD students making up roughly 50% on enrollment currently.

But, if Adela Garza gets her wish and Eva Alejandro, with 53 years experience in education and J.J. De Leon, with 30 years at BISD and 6 years as TSC Trustee, are both replaced by far-less experienced puppet candidates, how does that contribute to "greatness?"

Adela Garza~Julieta V. Garcia

Many in our community still remember the despotic leadership of former UT-Brownsville President Julieta V. Garcia.

Well, over the years, Adela Garza has morphed into Julieta V. Garcia, craving power at the expense of real leadership.  That transformation has not been pretty.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗖 𝟭𝟵𝟰𝟮 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗠𝗘𝗫𝗜𝗖𝗢'𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗡/𝗕𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗙𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗦𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘/𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗢𝗦~𝗔𝗟𝗦𝗢, 𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗠𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗦

 

Cantinflas: El Torero performs in Matamoros.

This story about Cantiflas will draw you into the arena and will make you feel like you were there shouting "Ole!"

By Rene Torres

“Ni Sangre, Ni Arena,” (“Neither Blood nor Sand”) was the second major film of Cantinflas that made it to the movie screen by 1941. Cantinflas, who once was called by Charlie Chaplin, “the world’s greatest comedian,” played dual roles in this movie.

In one of the characters, he was a meek devoted fan, while in the other—he demonstrated to be an egotistical matador. The humor begins when, there’s an identity mix-up, as the humble fan, Cantinflas, is mistaken for a matador.

In the bull ring, just like in film, he brought the same kind of delight —his work in the ring became one of his most famous routines. Away from the screen, Cantinflas takes his bullfight drama on the road, performing in arenas in Mexico, Europe and the United States.

It was in September of 1942, that Mario Moreno, better known as Cantinflas, arrived in Brownsville on a Saturday night on the evening Pan American Airways plane from Mexico City.

Moviegoers, who had seen Cantinflas in the above mentioned film, heard the comedic matador, ”Cantinfeando,” talking endlessly without saying anything, and also dispose of a charging bull using unorthodox antics, which kept them in an uproar.

His performance in Matamoros would be a rare opportunity to witness the Charlie Chaplin of Mexico in person. Ticket sales for the five bull corrida indicated a sellout.

As thousands of bullfight fans from this side of border were anticipated to attend and due to the fact we were engaged in war— the following reminder was issued to local fans:

“Visitors crossing the border from the United States are reminded that no letters, magazines, or other papers are permitted to cross the border either to or from Mexico. In addition, only two dollar bills would be accepted to cross into Matamoros. If Valley visitors will remember these rules—traffic will move much faster over the bridges,” said government officials.

The two dollar bill limit was to prevent European nationals from bringing U.S. currency into the country from Mexico during WW II; the government forbade American money to cross the border, except for $2 bills.

El torero “Bufo” enters the ring…

With trumpets blaring and the crowd on its feet—the mighty matador, Cantinflas, enters the ring to the thunderous applause of six thousand people.

Just minutes into his routine, he had the spectators roaring with laughter. When the bull paws the ground, Cantinflas mimics the animal, as he fought and danced to death two young bulls.

Along with the humorous antics, he was at his best when he danced, at a safe distance from his meek adversary, the rumba, a danzon and other pieces to the accompaniment of the music.

Once when the bull fell on a short turn, Cantinflas very arrogantly went and positioned himself close to the animal to read a newspaper –while the bull got pleasure from the break in the action.

On another occasion, as the animal lost his fighting spirit and took a break, “El Terero Bufo” (comic matador) first sat, then reclined in the arena and motioned for the animal to charge, but the bull with his tongue hanging, decided rather to pause to draw breath.

The antics continued as the matador was undaunted by the rushing bull — but what happened next brought screams of amusement, as the vain matador’s pants felt off , revealing his pink underwear as he dashed for cover .

Abdon Cepeda, who was five years old at the time was in attendance on that day, and recently said, “I remember Cantinflas taking his shoes off—and allowing the bull to take a sniff. Inhaling the foul smell brought the animal to its knees, bringing instant laughter. “

In the finale, the trumpets come to life, the brave matador’s routine ends when he uses a phony sword to attack the bull between the horns. The sword bursts as it makes contact into a beautiful bouquet of flowers—bringing a sigh of relief from the murmuring crowd.

A newspaper report declared, ”Amid his funny antics, which included dancing in front of the bull, and at the same time making the animal fight like an good matador, Cantinflas lived up to his name of being Mexico’s ace comedian. “

It is also written, that the “matador routine” was so popular that many of his devoted impoverish fans were putting their possessions in “hock” so they could see him perform— many pawnshops were closed to prevent the unimaginable.

Cantinflas comes to Brownsville…

By the mid-1940s, El Teatro Mexico in Brownsville and other Valley cities brought Cantinflas to the movie screen.

I consider myself fortunate that as a youth in the 1950s got to see Cantinflas and other popular Mexican comics, like Tin Tan y Piporro.

With a quarter in hand, I stood in line that snaked around the theater—hopeful to make it in for the first showing, if not, you continued in line for the next performance.

In a 1948 interview Mario Moreno said, “Cantinflas represents the humble Mexican who wants to overcome himself and accomplish something in life.” “This is the message of the films.”

Ole! Ole!

Cantinflas with County Judge Oscar Dancy, 1965

𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗜𝗚𝗡 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡 𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗧 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗦𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖 𝗟𝗜𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗥𝗬 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗪𝗢 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘'𝗦 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗦 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗟𝗬 𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗩𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗙𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘

 From the editor: A veritable sea of campaign signs greets voters at the Brownsville Public Library for the final days of early voting.

The campaign signs for Edward Camarillo and Norma Lopez-Harris, the two recruits handpicked by TSC Board Chair Adela Garza to run against Eva Alejandro and J.J. De Leon, had their signs improperly attached to the fence for Veterans Park.

That's an oddly arrogant move by Camarillo whose sign carries the slogan "Less arrogance, more education."

Signs for Lopez-Harris and Camarillo alternate over perhaps 80 feet or more of the Veterans Park fence.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗔 𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗖 𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗔𝗧 𝗘𝗟 𝗛𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗢 𝗗𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗘, 𝟴𝟯𝟳 𝗘 𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗭𝗔𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗛 𝗦𝗧

 

𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗢𝗦 𝗚𝗨𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗥𝗢 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗙𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗧 𝗟𝗔 𝗩𝗔𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗧𝗔 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗢𝗦

 

La Vaquita México

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We have for you this delicious promo of eggs to taste, valid from 9am to 11am Monday to Saturday.

CHOOSE BETWEEN :

Egg with ham

Scrambled eggs

Scrambled egg

Egg with crumbs

Egg Mexican style

Eggs in salsa verde

Egg in red sauce

Egg with potatoes

Egg with chorizo

Served with beans, chilaquiles and 3 tortillas, choose from handmade corn or flour, the plate includes regular coffee ( no refill)

Ave del niño #111 Col. Mariano Matamoros

(868) 494-5300

𝗡𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔 𝗟𝗘𝗘 𝗩𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝟯

 

𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗢𝗦 𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗖𝗢𝗦 𝗪𝗘𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗜𝗥 𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗜𝗚𝗡 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗦

From the editor: We wrote recently our objection to candidates using an elderly or even challenged person as a stand-in to hold up campaign signs, especially in the Brownsville sun.  

Former Secretary of State Carlos Cascos commented on that article, adding that, not only did he hold up his own campaign signs, but post-election in 2006 he returned to the street to hold a "thank you" sign to the voters.

 Carlos Cascos

Back in '06 when I 1st ran for County Judge as a Republican, I campaigned by standing alone on street corners with my sign. I would stand for hours...it was humbling & tiring, but it was my way to connect with voters. It worked. The one thing I did that I don't think has been done since was to go back after winning, standing once again alone, with a sign saying thank you/gracias. We must never fail to appreciate all those that take the time to vote, regardless of political party...we are one community & we should respect all without demonizing those that may have different viewpoints or opinions...my thoughts....

𝗠𝗘𝗫𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗟𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗭 𝗢𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗢𝗥 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗠𝗦 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗘 "𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗙𝗨𝗟" 𝗔𝗡𝗗 "𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗭𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗬"

 From the editor: Posted below is an article from Borderland Beat citing remarks from Mexico's president that minimize the brutal record of the drug cartels, calling them "respectful."

In this same speech, the president referred to the U.S. government as "liars, shameless, stagnant and in decline," his anger prompted by the U.S. releasing the National Report of Human Rights that was critical of Mexico.

According to President Lopez Obrador, that report "violated Mexico's sovereignty."

Now, I'm aware that the U.S. has historically interfered with foreign governments, propped up dictators, etc. but Lopez Obrador, Mexico's president since 2018, seems especially cozy with the cartels, likely on their payroll.

Jim

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat 4/26/2024

Mexican President Lopez Obrador

Lopez Obrador said Thursday, April 25, 2024, that the country’s violent criminal gangs and drug cartels are essentially “respectful people” who “respect the citizenry” and most just kill each other.

The claims by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador are clearly at odds with the reality of millions of Mexicans who live in areas dominated by drug cartels. The cartels routinely demand protection payments from local residents and kill or kidnap them if they refuse to pay.

A reporter asked López Obrador whether drug cartels behaved well when he visited the township of Badiraguato, Sinaloa — the hometown of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, which he has controversially visited as president about a half dozen times.

“Always!” López Obrador responded, adding that “Sometimes we come upon people who are strange, but respectful.”

Continuing on the subject of drug cartels at his morning news briefing, López Obrador said “There is something people should know.”

“Fortunately, the attacks that happen in this country generally occur between (criminal) groups,” the president said. “They respect the citizenry.”

López Obrador has long refused to directly confront the cartels, who he claims were forced into criminality by a lack of opportunities. His “Hugs, not bullets” strategy offers job training programs for youths so they won’t become cartel gunmen.

In the past, he has also appeared to normalize the gangs’ presence, encouraging Mexicans to negotiate peace pacts among the cartels.

But saying the cartels don’t attack common citizens takes the issue to a new level. Experts and rights activists say thousands of Mexicans have been forced from their homes by cartel violence and extortion, and thousands of business owners, taxi and bus drivers have been killed for refusing extortion demands.

Clandestine grave sites throughout Mexico are filled with the bodies of drug cartel victims

Thursday’s statements by López Obrador come one week after he said he won’t fight Mexican drug cartels on U.S. orders. In what the president called a “Mexico First” policy, he said “We are not going to act as policemen for any foreign government. Mexico First. Our home comes first.”

Over the years, López Obrador has laid out various justifications for his policy of avoiding clashes with the cartels. In the past he has said “you cannot fight violence with violence,” and on other occasions he has argued the government has to address “the causes” of drug cartel violence, ascribing them to poverty or a lack of opportunities.

Explaining why he has ordered the army not to attack cartel gunmen, he said in 2022 that “we also take care of the lives of the gang members, they are human beings.”

He has also sometimes appeared not to take the violence issue seriously. In June 2023, he said of one drug gang that had abducted 14 police officers: “I’m going to tell on you to your fathers and grandfathers,” suggesting they should get a good spanking.

Asked about those comments at the time, residents of one town in the western Mexico state of Michoacán who have lived under drug cartel control for years reacted with disgust and disbelief.

“He is making fun of us,” said one restaurant owner, who asked to remain anonymous because he — like almost everyone else in town — has long been forced to pay protection money to the local cartel.

López Obrador has also made a point of visiting the township of Badiraguato in Sinaloa state at least a half dozen times, and pledging to do so again before he leaves office in September.

It’s also a stance related to prickly nationalism and independence. Asked in November why he has visited the sparsely populated rural township so many times, López Obrador quoted a line from a defiant old drinking song, “because I want to.”

The president has also imposed strict limits on U.S. agents operating in Mexico, and limited how much contact Mexican law enforcement can have with them.