Nuñez Trip Hits Heavy Resistance
California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez is one of a new generation of Spanish-speaking politicians who represent an increasingly potent Latino constituency. But somewhere between Sacramento and Mexico City, his goodwill message got lost in translation.
Nuñez landed in Mexico this week with the best of intentions: strengthening ties with the country, California’s largest trading partner, and addressing the thorny issue of illegal immigration. He worked with a local public relations man to spread his message to as many people as possible: that immigrants were a precious California resource and that the two nations must work together to protect their future.
But two days into his whirlwind schedule of radio and TV appearances — as well as a private meeting with President Vicente Fox — Nuñez was spending most of his time trying to explain his demand that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declare a state of emergency along California’s 142-mile border.
Even worse, Mexicans here say, was the speaker’s insistence that Schwarzenegger — who this spring praised the “Minuteman” campaign along the U.S.-Mexico border — was a caring person.
“Where does this guy stand?” asked Ulises Canchola Gutierrez, a foreign ministry official. “He supports a state of emergency. He says Arnold is not so bad. I’m confused.”
Unlike many other Mexican American politicians — including Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa — Nuñez speaks Spanish that is almost eloquent. He spent much of his childhood in Tijuana. But his fluency in cross-border politics, at least from the Mexican prospective, is under question.
More: latimes.com
Assembly leader's trip to Mexico rife with political implications
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez leaves for a three-day trip to Mexico this week to meet with Mexican President Vicente Fox and other officials, a visit he says is needed to repair frayed relations between California and its largest trading partner.
Nunez said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's recent comments on border security, including his praise of the volunteer Minuteman patrols, offended some Mexican officials.
"I didn't realize the attitude in Mexico toward Gov. Schwarzenegger is bad, very bad," Nunez, D-Los Angeles, said . "When I talk to people from Mexico, high-ranking officials from Mexico, it is
Nunez: Bush 'Turned His Back' on Mexico
California's top state legislator says U.S. President George W. Bush "turned his back" on Mexico and failed to give the United States' southern neighbor the respect it deserves.
Fabian Nunez, head of the California legislature's lower house, commented in an interview with EFE on Sunday, right before wrapping up an official visit to Mexico that included a meeting with President Vicente Fox.
"I don't believe that they've shown this administration (of Fox) the respect it deserves and I don't think that as (Fox's) term draws to a close he's going to be given the
Tropical storm Jose hits Mexico, loses power
Tropical storm Jose, the 10th of the season, dumped heavy rain on eastern Mexico on Tuesday but was downgraded to a depression as it moved over the central highlands.
Mexico withdrew storm warnings along its Gulf Coast as Jose weakened after hitting the coast of Veracruz state, some distance from its main oil ports.
No deaths were reported, although emergency services feared Jose could trigger landslides in the mountains and cause lowland flooding.
"Heavy rain will increase the chance of mudslides in mountain areas, raise river levels and some floods in low-altitude zones of Veracruz and
Tropical storm Jose, the 10th of the season, dumped heavy rain on eastern Mexico on Tuesday but was downgraded to a depression as it moved over the central highlands.
Mexico withdrew storm warnings along its Gulf Coast as Jose weakened after hitting the coast of Veracruz state, some distance from its main oil ports.
Emergency services feared Jose could trigger landslides in the mountains and cause lowland flooding.
"Heavy rain will increase the chance of mudslides in mountain areas, raise river levels and some floods in low-altitude zones of Veracruz and Puebla," Mexico's civil protection agency said in a statement.
The
Mexico tops Canada, 7-2, in Olympic event
Former major league pitcher Rigo Beltran scattered six hits in six innings Friday and Mexico stayed alive for the final Olympic baseball qualifying spot with a 7-2 victory over Canada.
Beltran, a left-hander who pitched for St. Louis, the New York Mets, Colorado and Montreal from 1997-2004, gave up just one run. Pablo Ortega worked the final three innings to earn the save for Mexico (2-2).
Luis Garcia had four hits, and Leo Arauz went 3-for-5 with a triple and two RBIs for Mexico, which had 17 hits off five Canadian pitchers.
Joey Votto hit a
Hurricane Stan hits Mexico
Hurricane Stan slammed Mexico's Gulf coast Tuesday with high winds and heavy rain that closed Mexico's main oil ports before returning to a tropical storm.
Stan unleashed high waves, floods and mudslides, prompting Mexico to consider evacuating several thousand people from the state of Veracruz, The Australian newspaper reported.
State oil monopoly Pemex evacuated 270 workers at five oil exploration platforms in advance of Stan, which killed 35 people in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras during the weekend as a tropical storm.
It was unclear whether the Mexican oil port closures at Dos Bocas, Cayo Arcos and Coatzacoalcos
Mexico stock index hits all-time high
The heady growth of Mexico's stock market over the last three years continued unabated on Thursday as the benchmark IPC index broke through the key psychological 17,000 level for the first time ever.
After rising by 1.8 per cent in Thursday's trading, the IPC has now risen by 41 per cent in dollar terms in the first eleven months of this year, after growth of 46.9 per cent in 2004 and 43.5 per cent in 2003.
Soure: msnbc.msn.com
Blunt heading to Mexico on trade trip
Gov. Matt Blunt is heading to Mexico on Sunday for his first international trade trip, which includes a meeting with Mexican President Vicente Fox.
Blunt said his goal is to increase sales of Missouri products to Mexico, as well as to discuss the creation of a Mexican customs facility in Kansas City that will allow goods to be shipped straight into the heart of the United States without first having to clear customs at the borders.
Kansas City's SmartPort project will allow goods from Asia, for example, to travel through the Mexican port city of Lazaro
Stan Hits Central America and Mexico, 231 Deaths
The number of casualties because of hurricane Stan in Central America and Mexico has risen to 231.
Search and rescue teams in Guatemala have taken 40 bodies from the debris of a landslide caused by the hurricane and in a small coastal village 20 more people died in another landslide, reported the country’s civilian defense spokesman Benedicto Giron.
Along with the corpses found in Guatemala, the total number of hurricane victims is 231 including the death toll in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras and Mexico.
Source: zaman.com
Lady Bears' Mexico trip mostly business
Baylor's trip to Riviera Maya, Mexico, sounds like a nice get-away vacation for the national champion Lady Bears.
Take in a little sand, surf and hoops over an extended Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
But make no mistake about it, this is no vacation.
“You can't just roam free around Mexico and show up for game time,” said senior guard Chameka Scott. “I think we're a team that knows when to play and when not to play. And a lot of having fun is actually winning. So we're going to win first and then have some fun.”
