Marisol Valles Garcia, 20, Police Chief of Guadalupe: Violent Border Town Names 20 Yr Old Woman Top Cop

This took my breath away. Marisol Valles Garcia, a 20-year-old criminology student has been named the Mayor of Guadalupe, a violent Mexican border town where a former Mayor was murdered in June.

Marisol Valles Garcia

Valles is in school in Ciudad Juarez, about 35 miles from Guadalupe. Along with the death of the town's mayor, police and security officers have been killed and some beheaded. Just last week in Guadalupe, a high-traffic crossing point for drugs into the U.S., eight were killed. The city is the second most violent city after Juarez according to this account.

When a local newspaper asked the student if she feared for her life, she had this to say (as translated by The Upshot): Afraid? Everyone is afraid and it's very natural. What motivates me here is that the project [to make the community safer] is very good and can do a lot for my town. I know that we are going to change and remove this.

I think of my son when he was 20 and can't begin to understand what Marisol's family must be feeling.


Update: 10-23-10: I learned today that Marisol is mother to a son.

"The weapons we have are principles and values, which are the best weapons for prevention," she told CNN. "Our work will be pure prevention. We are not going to be doing anything else other than prevention." It's possible that she's just accepting the limitations of her post: She only has 13 officers, one police car, three rifles and one pistol at her disposal. But it does seem that she is intentionally bringing a new ethos to the department. "I'm not going after the 'malos' (bad ones); that's the federal police and soldiers' responsibility," she said. "We're going after the good ones, like children, parents, men and women who we have to organize so they don't fall prey to the temptation of crime, drugs and easy money."

"I took the risk because I want my son to live in a different community to the one we have today."

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Cancun Bar Fire-Bombed: Cancun Castillo del Mar Attack Eight Dead

The Castillo del Mar bar in Cancun was attacked by a gang of men dressed in black. Eight at the bar are believed dead. At this time there is no word on whether Americans were in the bar at the time. Six Mexican nationals died at the bar and two in-hospital. Update 4:22 CDT 8/31/10: The dead are reportedly six women and two men, all Mexican nationals and employees of the Castillo del Mar.

At 1:30 a.m., the bar was fire-bombed with 'petrol,' also known as 'Molotov cocktails.' The bar manger escaped injury. Two women working in the bar were killed. All died of burns or asphyxiation. MSNBC is reporting the bar owners refused to pay protection money.

Castillo del Mar is located just five miles from the busy tourist region of Cancun. It not considered a popular tourist destination.

Texas Ranch Cartel Takeover Story True? Los Zetas Takeover of Texas Ranches True?

Remember the story of the two Texas ranches that were taken over by Los Zetas cartel? The story broke on July 24th. We were told the ranchers got away, and the cartel got the ranch. After a few days, with no police confirmation, we began to believe it was a hoax. Today we learn perhaps the story is true. If it is true, it raises some important questions...do police have the right or authority to lie to citizens about violence inside the country? I think not.

On the original story, Police were mum, but a San Diego Minuteman, Jeff Schwilk was tipping The Cypress Times, and Kimberly Dvorack with The Examiner was reporting it. Today Dvorak says a "police blotter confirms story is not a hoax." In her report she says a "law enforcement officer on the scene also confirmed the incident in fact happened and officers on the ground said they"considered this an act of war."

After 16 days of denials by Laredo law enforcement and local officials regarding a Mexican drug cartel takeover of a Laredo area ranch, a Texas police blotter proves the alleged incident did in fact happen and that multiple agencies responded to the scene of a seized U.S. ranch....

The police blotter tells the story of the events that unfolded on July 23rd;

“On Friday 7-23-10 Laredo Webb informed that their county SWAT Team is conducting an operation in the Mines Rd. area. According to LT. Garcia with LSO (Laredo Sheriff Office) received a call from a ranch owner stating that the Zetas had taken over his ranch. As per the 17 (reporting person) he informed them that they stated La Compania (area business) was taking the ranch and no one was permitted on the ranch without permission. SO (Sheriff Office) will have an unmarked green Ford Taurus with two officers stationed at Los Compadres and a white Chevy Tahoe with two officers stationed at Mineral Rd. The LSO (Laredo Sheriff Office) will maintain surveillance in the area and advise if action is taken...Read more at The Examiner.

The Los Zetas Cartel is a violent drug organization, originally formed by Mexican Army deserters, turned assassins. They are considered among the most violent paramilitary enforcement organization in Mexico. They have captured U.S. tourists and held them for ransom. In 2009, Texas governor, Rick Perry organized a special squad to guard the border in the event Los Zetas carried through on their threats to the U.S.

According to the Foreign Policy Reasearch Institute:

Los Zetas are involved in myriad criminal activities. They have branched out into kidnappings, murder-for-hire, assassinations, extortion, money-laundering, and human smuggling. At the right price, these bloodthirsty mercenaries could move into terrorism focused on vulnerable targets in Texas and throughout the Southwest. With or without the Merida Initiative, authorities on both sides of the border should concentrate on curbing the growth of these lethal paramilitaries.

Where is the rest of the story? What happened to the cartel invaders who took over the property, assuming they did? What happened to the property owners? Why is media unwilling to report the story

Read background on this story here.

Linked by Reaganite Republican Resistance - Thanks RR!

Texas Ranches Taken Over by Los Zetas: Los Zetas Killers Hijack Texas Ranches

This report says there are not two confirmations that two Texas ranches have been hijacked by Los Zetas, "highly trained killers formerly with the Gulf Cartel. Texans heard gunfire and reported it. All citizens in Nuevo Laredo are advised to remain indoors. At this time, there are no major mainstream propaganda squads with this report, so we'll have to wait and how accurate this is. Breaking - more as information becomes available. Keep in mind, this could be a hoax, however, someone from Laredo was on Fox News yesterday talking about the violence on the other of the border, and saying Laredo police were doing a great job keeping the Texas city of Laredo safe.

Update 2:50 p.m. CDT:
ChadlersWatch says the story is "100% confirmed by a second source within the Laredo Police Department." Disclaimer: I do not know the proprietors of this blog and cannot vouch for it. Note that the story puts the confirmation as the first lines of the story, but I believe everything else is the Cypress Times report you'll see below. Also the ChandlersWatch report is posted by "Maggie," but I am not that Maggie.

Update 4:23 p.m. CDT:
I'm beginning to think this might be a hoax. I notice that Free Republic pulled their post on this story. I didn't see the FR article before I posted, but I would have checked it out as I was doing updates to see if their sources were different from mine, but a notice said the "thread had been pulled." There is still no mainstream White House Propaganda Squad reports on this story.

Update 6:55 p.m. CDT:
I continue to think this was probably a hoax. Almost 24 hours later, not a peep from the mainstream White House Propaganda Squad, such as AP, Reuters, ABC, NBC or CBS.  Kimberly Dvorak at the San Diego Examiner - San Diego County Political Buzz, reports the story at 11:18 a.m. PST this morning. The only source named is San Diego Minuteman Jeff Schwilk. Dvorak's story says the Laredo police have requested help from the federal government.

Update Sunday 7-25-10 11:05 CDT:
Still no verification. There are reports that police in the area say they know nothing about this. This new post from The Cypress Times is still standing by their original report, and believes there may be a news blackout in place.

From The Cypress Times:

...now word is coming in that Los Zetas, the highly trained killers formerly with the Gulf Cartel, have crossed into the United States and taken over at least two ranches in the Laredo, Texas area. I am receiving word that the owners of the ranches have evacuated without being harmed. As of this hour I cannot confirm 100% on the situation (I am at around 90%) - though the source is law enforcement in the area.

Founder of the San Diego Minutemen Jeff Schwilk tipped me off to this story and passes along the following information on the location. The ranches are said to be "near Mines Rd. and Minerales Annex Rd about 10 miles NW of I-35".

Update - Statement from Mr. Schwilk)

I can personally vouch that this info came in late last night from a reliable police source inside the Laredo PD. There is currently a standoff between the unknown size Zeta forces and U.S. Border Patrol and local law enforcement on two ranches on our side of the Rio Grande. The source tells us he considers this an "act of war" and that the military is needed on the border now!

Whether it is lone members or squads is not certain. 

 A Laredo police spokesman, Joe Baeza, is accused of  saying there was no spillover violence onto the US side "They're not Vikings, they're not going to invade us, it doesn't work that way."

The Los Zetas are highly trained killers initially trained by United States Special Operations forces to combat the drug cartes within Mexico. As the drug war heated up the Zetas saw more money in working for the cartels and joined up with the Gulf Cartel.

The Laredo Buzz website posts updates by Joe Baeza. At this time I'm seeing nothing about the this report and the ranches or ranchers.

Terrorists Cross Southern Border by Hundreds: Hezbollah Included

Although Obama ordered a revision of our National Security agenda to detach the word "Islam" or "Islamic" or "Muslam" from "terrorist" or "terrorism," Americans are not so gullible and we detest Kool-Aid.  This mission will be one more he fails at.

In April 2010, the "Words that Work and Words That Don't: A Guide for Counter-Terrorism Communication was born. Well, we see that Obama doesn't really communicate well with anyone around the globe (American Progressives, Socialists and Communists excluded). His communication skills are more than a little tarnished, as Islamic terrorism continues to heat-up despite his negotiation skills. The fact is, terrorism is Islamic and is born out of the Muslim holy book.

Take a look at this video and the clear proof of what is considered "hundreds" of Islamists crossing our southern border each year. Thanks to the P/oed Patriot who has more.

Middle Easterners Crossing Our Southern Borders by the Hundreds (video)

El Paso City Hall Hit by 7 Gunfire Blasts from Across Border

Last week a burst of gunfire from Mexico crossed the U.S. Texas border smashing into El Paso's City Hall.  According to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, the 7 shots fired from Juarez, Mexico that hit the building, killing and wounding no one, was not the result of effective border control, but mere luck.

El Paso City Hall

The photo above by Vanessa Monsisvais for El Paso Times, shows a large-caliber bullet which entered a west-facing wall at the 9th floor office of Assistant City Manager Pat Adauto....A rod was placed in the bullet hole to mark where the bullet entered.

Police said the bullet flew through the window, then through an interior wall before hitting a picture frame and stopping.

Abbot, in a letter to Barack Obama asked for more troops on the border and said the "time for talk is passed:"

The shocking reality of cross border gunfire proves the cold reality: American lives are at risk. As the attached news article notes: "More than 1,300 people have been murdered in Juárez this year as a war continues relentlessly between the Juárez and Sinaloa drug cartels." Americans must be protected as this deadly war bulges at our border. 

Law enforcement officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety and your own U.S. Customs and Border Protection will reveal the hard truth. Our state is under constant assault from illegal activity threatening a porous border. 

The time for talk has passed. The time for action is now. The need is urgent. Each day that passes increases the likelihood that an American life will be lost because of the federal government's failure to secure the border.

This threat demands immediate and effective action by your Administration to secure our border. As the Attorney General of Texas, I urge you to make border security your top priority so that no more innocent lives are lost to border violence. 

Drug, Migrant Trafficking Gangs 12 Miles From US Border Leaves 21 Dead

This area near Hermosillo, Mexico is a "prime corridor for immigrant and drug smuggling," and was the scene of a "massive gun battle between rival drug and migrant-trafficking gangs near the border," - in fact, only 12 miles from the US border just south of Tucson. Twenty-one are dead, six wounded and nine are in police custody.

Mexico Matricular Cards Catalina Island: Mexico Issues Matriculars to Illegals

I'm not sure of the full scope or meaning of this, but Mexico has opened an office on Catalina Island to issue "matricular cards" to Mexicans their whether legal or illegal. The L.A. office issued a fliwe announcing the new office located at the Catalina Island Country Club.

Mexican Matricular Card High Security

Mexican Matricular Card Low Security

A "matricular card" is issued officially through the Mexican government. I'll repeat, the Mexican government does not discriminate. The cards are issued to any Mexican, legal or illegal. I don't think they ask if the person receiving the card is a criminal. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) says Catalina Island is in his district and these cards "will exacerbate an already dangerous situation."

After 9/11, when the Mexican government realized amnesty was not going to happen, they began to lobby Congress to make the matricular card a viable avenue for illegals (let's face it - legals do not need a matricular card, or any assistance from the Mexican government.

In 2004, Congress voted down a motion to prevent financial institutions from accepting these matricular cards for securing a loan. So apparently there is a ruse that these cards, also known as a CID, actually mean something. But...but...banks love this, and have given it a name, the "Hispanic Banking Initiative."

In America's southwest, the use of this form of i.d. has become pandemic. It is accepted at major banks for opening a new account, recognized by many local police departments as a legitimate form of i.d., and is even deemed suitable for the purpose of obtaining a driver's license in several states.

Disappointingly, elected officials from both parties are seeking to expand the acceptance of the Matricular Consular. One obvious reason is that Mexican citizens working in the U.S. transfer an estimated $12 to 13 billion annually back to their home nation. They also open bank accounts here to facilitate these transfers.

Shocking to me, is that beautiful Catalina Island is now a drug smuggling and human trafficking haven - and we are letting the Mexican government give aid and comfort and methods of deception to illegal aliens.

Nancy Pelosi is a major supporter of matricular cards. Republicans in Congress must seek out a way to hold lawbreakers responsible. It is time to take Congressional lawbreakers to court for crimes against the people, and thwarting our Rule of Law. The fact that we allow the Mexican government to issue these cards on our own soil is ridiculous.

Baja 7.2 Earthquake Hits Southern California April 4, 2010: Multiple Quakes in California

A magnitude 7.2 earthquake centered about 108 miles east of Tijuana, near Mexicali in a relatively uninhabited area, was felt in San Diego and Los Angeles today; as far north as Santa Barbara and as far east as Yuma and Phoenix, Arizona. The quake struck at 3:40 p.m. PDT. About 9 minutes later, a separate quake measuring 4.1 magnitude was felt north of San Francisco in Santa Rose, California. Continuing updates as available. See update 4-3-10 below.

USGS Baja Earthquake Magnitude 7.2

The Baja quake was followed by at least 5 aftershocks, the largest of which was a 5.1 magnitude. Buildings swayed in San Diego and L.A., and Disneyland shutdown the the park - but "some people are trapped in elevators after the quake." The Disneyland report is timed 7:37 p.m. EDT.

Buildings rattled on the west side of L.A. and in the San Fernando Valley. Water sloshed from swimming pools. The Coronado Bridge over San Diego Bay was closed for a short time by the Highway Patrol. So far, no major damage or injuries have been reported, and no power outages in L.A.

The L.A. Fire Department is in 'earthquake mode,' and are checking elevators for stranded people, buildings and bridges for structural damage. Infrastructure, power lines, conventions centers, Dodger Stadium, universities - all must be checked for possible damage. Update


4-3-10 9:35 CDT:
One person is reported dead in the collapse of a house in Mexicali,
Mexico. Hotels in the area are empty as aftershocks continue. Mexicali's population is about 1 million people. See a photo slideshow here.

Palm Desert, CA felt the Baja quake. A WorldNewsVine journalist said the earth shook for about 2 minutes, and was the strongest quake felt in the 10 years the reporter has lived in the area.

Mexican Gunman Kill 2 Americans in Consulate Across Border from El Paso

We hear this week that Mexican drug cartels have infiltrated Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the Mexico-U.S. border. We heard that a Mexican Military helicopter "hovered" over Texas homes, apparently with no consequences from our government. Today we learn that two Americans, a  consultate staff member and her husband, were murdered by "drug gang hitmen." President Obama is "outraged" at the murders, as well he should be, but let's face it, if these people can "infiltrate" Homeland Security they can do anything they want.

The attack on the U.S. couple began with a car chase and ended in front of the main border crossing into El Paso, Texas, an area heavily patrolled by soldiers...." the couple's baby girl survived the attack.

Beheadings in Mexico?

A burst of drug gang clashes killed at least 27 people -- including four who were beheaded -- this weekend in or near the Pacific resort of Acapulco, one of many popular with spring breakers.

Beheadings are not new. An organization known as La Familia Michoacana:

...burst into the limelight on September 6, 2006, when 20 masked desperados stormed into scruffy Sol y Sombra night spot in Uruapan, Michoacan, fired shots into the air, ran up to the second floor from where they tossed five human heads on the black and white dance floor.

They left behind a message, written on cardboard: "The family doesn't kill for money. It doesn't kill women. It doesn't kill innocent people, only those who deserve to die. Know that this is divine justice."

LaFamilia Michoacana is described as a "pseudo-evangelical cult," who uses writings from former Focus on the Family's John Eldredge, who now  heads Ransomed Heart Ministries and authored Wild at Heart: Discovering the Passionate Soul - one of the best-selling Christian books in the "Christian Living" category, of all times. From Thump and Whip:

Eldredge claims that if Christian men are going to change from a pitiful bunch of "really nice guys" to men who are made in the image of God they must re-examine their false presumptions about god's character to recover their true, God-given, male identity as wild hearts.

I know you're not letting your high-schoolers go to Mexico for Spring Break. Right?

Related and Background:
Mexican Military Helicopter Hovers over Texas Homes: Homeland Security Infiltrated by Mexican Drug Cartels

Mexican Military Helicopter Hovers Above Texas Homes: Homeland Security Infiltrated by Drug Cartels

A Mexican helicopter, believed to be Mexican military, hovered above the homes of Texas residents. With drug murders and mayhem just across the border of the Rio Grande, Border agencies, including Customs and Border Protection,  are allegedly being infiltrated by drug cartels, and Homeland Security's corruption cases are on the rise. I don't know about you, but just one case of Homeland Security corruption or infiltration, of any kind, is unthinkable.

Zapata County, Texas

Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez said there have been other "incursions" into the U.S. by Mexican Military. The Sheriff indicated the Mexican Military could not have made a mistake...the Rio Grande River is a clear border.

Gonzalez says he cannot confirm reports, presumably from Mexico, that the helicopter "was scoping out the home of a drug criminal, in a "neighborhood populated by many U.S. Customs officers who work at border crossing...."

There is a Zapata County, Texas and a Zapata County, Mexico in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. What good is Homeland Security if they cannot ferret-out infiltrators, before they infiltrate?

Feds Ground Helicopter in Dallas Bound for Iran

Federal agents say they have grounded a helicopters in Arlington, Texas, just outside Dallas, bound for Iran.

According to this report, Italian aircraft brokers were shipping the craft from North Texas to Iran "in violation of U.S. trade sanctions."

The fate of the $8 million chopper, sitting in a Bell hangar in Arlington, is in limbo while federal agents untangle an international web of circumstances that has already resulted in two other U.S.-manufactured helicopters entering Iran.

Agents believe that the aircraft are being used for civilian purposes – to ferry offshore oil workers around – but at least one of them is equipped with sensitive night vision and autopilot capabilities, which are subject to strict U.S. controls.

Both helicopters were bought from a Mexican company and made pit stops in North Texas before heading to Italy, then Iran, documents show.

But investigators have found no evidence that any Americans had a hand in the final leg of the helicopters' trip, so no criminal charges have been filed. 

Tiber Aviation, an Italian company, purchased three Bell 412 helicopters from Helivan, a Mexican company for $22 million. Foreign countries operating inside the U.S. are not bound by U.S. law and use the loopholes available to them - even though Italy also honors the U.N. ban against arms sales to Iran. The U.S. has banned trade with Iran since 1995:

"We don't want technology to go to Iran regardless of whether it will be used militarily or by civilian businesses," said Kenneth Wainstein, the Justice Department's former assistant attorney general for national security in Washington. Wainstein initiated a crackdown on export violations in 2007.

"We don't want American businesses engaged in trade with a regime whose policies are antithetical to our national interests," he said.

Read the entire story here. Thanks to Planet Iran.

Missing Cabo, Wish We Were There, Glad We're Not - I Think!

This moment, I should be standing on a balcony overlooking the Cabo San Lucas bay, with a cup of coffee in my hand. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico has glorious mornings. Instead, I am safely at home with no sign of any kind of flu in my area, on a cold rainy morning, drinking coffee at my computer.

Cabo Parade of Boats

For the past thirteen years my husband and I have gone to Cabo for a week. Nine years ago we added another week at the Cabo San Lucas Golf Resort. Everything about the little town of Cabo is nice. It is clean and pretty and unless you are young and drunk and hanging out at the Giggling Marlin late at night, Cabo is safe. In fact, I've heard few bad rumors about Cabo nightlife, and they are only rumors. I'm sure the Giggling Marlin is safe, as well as fun, and I've had many a mid-afternoon coke there when I needed a break from shopping.

Margaritas at Cabo Marina

A few years ago, when the amnesty issues arose and stats on the high cost of illegal aliens on the American taxpayer became known, I regretted purchasing our timeshares. I regret spending money there. I would not buy a timeshare in Mexico again today, but I will continue to go each year because we already own our units. Our timeshares are American owned. Many businesses there are American owned. The residents are always smiling, and it is our understanding that the people there have jobs and are doing well. The children go to school. You see no children diving for change when a cruise ship arrives. Cabo is a much sought-after destination for mainland Mexicans. They want to live in Cabo and raise their children in Cabo. A few years ago, we were told that Cabo limits the number of Mexican nationals arriving from the mainland, seeking a permanent home. I think you must have a job to be there.

Cabo Arc at Land's End

My hubby, brother and a friend would be playing seven straight days of golf and then hitting the Golf Club's pool late afternoon. The golf course is challenging, and the pool is beautiful.

Los Cabos Golf Resort and Country Club

Los Cabos Golf Resort - One of two pools

Los Cabos Golf Resort Lobby and Foot Pool

In the early years, I shopped late each afternoon after some beach time. I decorated my laundry room in Cabo "suns and moons," a paper machai statue of a lady balancing a basket of peppers on her head, and the man with the straw hat carrying a basket of seeds. I stocked up on Mexican pewter which we could not buy in the U.S. at that time. It goes from the freezer to the oven. Amazing stuff. My friends were envious. Now we can buy it everywhere. I have a few favorite silver jewelry shops, but after many visits, I need no more earrings, bracelets, or slides. On the beach from the comfort of my palapa, vendors display beautiful bathing suit sarong pareos, which I buy; jewelry which I do not buy on the beach, and some really gorgeous pottery. In recent years, I've seldom shopped. I'm over it. I do add to my Mexican table linens each year. They are the best for casual dining. The napkins wash over and over, keep their color and never need ironing. Recent visits find us relaxing here:

Los Cabos Golf Resort 'Personal' Hammock

We vacillated about cancelling our trip. We talked to friends in Cabo and there was no flu. The banks and federal building personnel were wearing masks as a precaution. At 6 p.m. the night before leaving we cancelled. Raising the World Health Organization threat to Level 5 made the decision for us. Once down there, if the borders were closed we knew we might not be able to get back across. We knew there was only a slim chance of borders closing, but we also knew that if we made the trip, got sick or could not get back home, absolutely no one would feel sorry for us, and rightly so.

View from our hot tub to the ocean

Last year, one of our favorite restaurants on the Marina, Margaritavilla, was closed for renovations. We were looking forward to enjoying the spectacular view and especially the chips and salsa. We're still looking forward to it...maybe in November.

Margaritavilla Restaurant on Cabo Marina

My very favorite restaurant in Cabo is Pancho's Restaurant and Tequila Bar. Pancho's is a long-time American-owned eatery, and it is a joy to be there. The the fish is fresh, with many choices of preparation. The Mexican dishes are bright and deliciously prepared, and the salad is the best in Cabo or about anywhere in the world. Cabo is not known for salads, so Pancho's is the place to find a really good one.

Pancho's Restaurant and Tequila Bar in Cabo

When we need a hot dog or a quesadilla just a few steps away from our palapa, we sit on the deck of Tabasco's, the beach shack next door. The beer is ice cold, the cokes are good and the Guacamole and chips are not the best, but okay for a snack.

Tabasco's on Cabo Bay

Our home restaurant, however, is at Club Cascades de Baja, on the beach overlooking El Arco. The breakfasts are amazing - the best in Cabo. Hamburgers served on the beach are excellent some years - not so excellent some years. Their Puttanesca is a dish I look forward to. The fruit is fresh and the chips really good.

Club Cascades de Baja Dining

We fell in love with Club Cascades de Baja the minute we walked into the open-air lobby. There are no elevators, nothing is new and slick and shiny, but everything is beautiful and beautifully maintained. We have a third floor unit with 1200 square feet and two large terraces. We walk a private outdoor stairway to get there, with gorgeous views. How lucky are we to love the climb? You can see the stairway below to our unit.

Club Cascades de Baja

We have two pools at our disposal along with the beach at Club Cascades. The below is the one farther from the beach. It's a "quieter" pool. I don't know the people in this photo. It's difficult to find the pool empty for a photo op. We spend a part of each day here after some beach time. Our unit looks like the one in the pic with the blue railing, except that our overlooks the ocean.

Club Cascades Pool

We get to the beach right after breakfast every day. The air is soooooo fresh. Many books are read, many sudoku puzzles solved, many chats with people you see only once a year. I swear, that is not me in the green bathing suit. I swear I was behind the camera. I really need a good photo shop program. From here we can see a sunrise and a sunset.

A Cabo Morning

Back to reality. The day has turned from rain to sunshine. We are going to our favorite hometown Mexican eatery tonight. They have better margaritas than we can find in Mexico. We're playing bridge after dinner with my brother and sister-in-law, who would have been in Mexico with us, along with long-time friends from Texas. It's a good life. I'm blessed.

Mexico Retaliates - Higher Tariffs for U.S. = Higher Prices for U.S.

The Obama administration thumbed it's nose at the U.S.'s third largest trading partner, closed the southern border to Mexican trucking and violated the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)...and Mexico didn't take it lightly.

Higher Tariffs thanks to Unions

Continuing payback to the Unions (Teamsters in this case) who brought him and all Democrats to the dance, The Wall Street Journal reports that Congress "killed" the NAFTA pilot program.

Trade wars are never pretty. But given the downturn in demand that already exists in the U.S. economy, this one could be ugly, and dangerous. Mexico is the U.S.'s third largest trading partner and the new tariffs will affect some $2.4 billion in goods across 40 states.

California, an important supplier of fresh fruits, dried fruits and nuts to Mexico, will be hit hard. Table grapes will face a 45% duty at the Mexican border; wine, almonds and juices among other agricultural products will pay 20%. Some 90% of Christmas-tree exports from California and 65% from Oregon go to Mexico. It's doubtful volumes will hold up beneath a 20% tariff. Alongside Oregon, Washington state will pay dearly to protect the Teamsters. Four out of 10 pears that the U.S. exports go to Mexico and half of those come from Washington. Under the new rules, American pears now face a 20% tariff, as do a host of paper products from the Pacific Northwest and Wisconsin. Wisconsin's scrap battery industry, which exports $128 million annually to Mexico, won't be as competitive after it pays a 20% tariff. Nor will New York's $24 million annual exports in personal hygiene products or its exports of $250 million in precious-metals jewelry. President Obama's home state of Illinois can't be happy to learn it will lose competitiveness under a 20% tariff on its plastic tableware and kitchenware exports to Mexico ($57 million annually) and on its printed leaflets and brochures ($68.7 million). North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan sponsored the amendment that closed the border and his constituents will pay. North Dakota only exports $1 million in oil seeds annually but 80% of that goes to Mexico. They now face a 15% tariff. With the cost of imported U.S. products now higher, Mexicans will substitute these U.S. brands with products from Europe, Canada and Latin America. The retaliation appears to take care not to punish Mexican consumers or producers nor give new protection to any special interest in the domestic market. Its purpose is to focus Washington on its Nafta commitments. While Americans wait for that moment, U.S. exporters will lose market share. That will put more American jobs, household incomes, and, yes, even mortgage payments at risk. President Obama said earlier this week that he wants to work with Congress to see if he can reopen the border. When he sees how much banning trucks is going to cost the flat U.S. economy, he may want to step on it

What is this President thinking? Now he wants to reopen the border??? Is this what Biden meant when he said Obama would be tested in his first six months of office...bring change, stick your finger in the air - test the populace winds, test fails, bring change again by changing it all back.

Tariffs, tax hikes - check this out. Graphic credit

Palm Trees, Palapas and Pina Coladas - No Politics Until Tomorrow!

I have to confess, today, that I've spent the past two weeks relaxing on a beautiful beach at the tip of the Baja in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. This is an annual trip - my thirteenth visit. Located about 900 miles south of San Diego, Cabo is a haven for Heartlanders, West Coasters and Canadians in the main, but we meet many Europeans there as well. There are no politics among those of us enjoying the pina coladas under the palms and palapas...but jump in a taxi, chat with a beach vendor or shop owner, and you'll hear about the thriving, good life as a citizen of Cabo. So many Mexican citizens want to live and work there that the Mexican government limits entry to some unspecified number of Nationals, in an attempt to maintain the prosperous and orderly lifestyle of this enchanting little town. Our tour van driver's home is Puerto Vallarta, but he loves the small town feel of Cabo, the availability of good paying jobs, and the safe environment for his pretty wife and three children - who were in the van after our trimaran sunset cruise. As we were leaving the van, I turned to his little daughter, waved and said "adios." She grinned and beamed out "bye bye now." The proficiency of English-speakers in Cabo, young-to-old, is astonishing - making it even more astonishing that so many Hispanics, Stateside, speak little to none, even after years on our soil. And yes, I speak only "poquito" Spanish, because the locals make it very easy for me, but I am polite, friendly, law-abiding, admiring of their homeland, and I do tip well. If you are not familiar with Cabo San Lucas, its history is that of a small but important fishing village. Today, world-class sport fishing flourishes, with an abundance of charter fleets fulfilling every fisherman's dream of all that deep sea fishing can be. When the fleet comes in, late afternoon or early evening, there's an unfailing number of blue, red and yellow flags denoting the species of fish caught that day. Cabo is considered the Marlin capitol of the world. Blue Marlin is considered "good" to fish August through January (and some swear it's great all year), Shark - excellent year round, Yellowfin Tuna, Mahi-Mahi and Sailfish excellent to good - year round. The Bisbee Fishing Tournament, including the famed Black and Blue Marlin competition, is held in Cabo waters each October, and is the largest payout of any fishing tournament, any where in the world. Last year's purse was $3.3 million. This photo from beach-side is of a protest of charter owners attempting to attract the attention of tourists to support better regulation of the catch-and-release laws for Striped Marlin. I'm not a fisherman, but I'm sure I support them. These are beautiful and abundant waters for fishing. I mentioned that Cabo San Lucas is at the very tip of the Mexican Baja. The water of the Sea of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez) meets the Pacific Ocean at Land's End and Los Arcos, right here... happily just across the way...beyond parasailers, jetskiers and my palapa. This magnificent blend of the tropics, the desert and the seas is a short 2-1/2 hour plane ride from Dallas. No dripping humidity, Mexican gangs or, speaking from my personal experiences, no trotting tourista. Cabo golf courses are famous throughout the world. This photo, borrowed from the Cabo San Lucas Country Club, a Pete Dye course, shines alongside the better known, more expensive, but no more difficult Cabo Real, Cabo del Sol and The Palmilla courses. Back to my modest photography efforts, below is a shot of a practice green, poolside, at the CSL Country Club The drama of the desert combined with lush Bougainvillas, palms and blooming plants unknown to me, is always a wonder and delight. I don't want to live there but it is beautiful beyond measure. So, while I've been playing, my friends have been posting great content for me. What a politically-packed two weeks I missed. As I read the work of Jim Simpson at Truth and Consequences.com, Stanford Matthews at MoreWhat.com and Spree of Wake-up America, I was a bit overwhelmed...that intriguing information-overload that makes you stay up late at night and read it all over again, then read it once more, as you get a bit jittery to get back on the keyboard yourself. Well, you can see from this Cabo post that I'm still not feeling too-terribly political...not too ready to get back to the serious stuff. I think I'll worry about Israel and terrorists tomorrow because you can read Wake up America's straight talking post American Media SUCKS when Reporting about Israel, right here and now, but I want all to know how much I appreciate those astutely and diligently analyzing all that matters, each and every day. Permalink for this entry: http://maggiesnotebook.blogspot.com/2007/05/palm-trees-palapas-and-pina-coladas-no.html Trackback URL for this entry: http://haloscan.com/tb/maggiesnotebook/1243473524952756099 Technorati Tags: Vacation Beaches Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Deep Sea Fishing Golf In Cabo Los Arcos Land's End Politics Pina Coladas Palapas Baja Israel American Media

Illegal Immigrants Pander Thru UN

By Stanford Matthews originally posted at: Blog @ MoreWhat.com Another initiative by the United Nations cloaked in veils of morality and their human rights version of public relations. Nothing like allowing the special interest of not only the United States but foreign countries as well to hide behind the UN to stiff American citizens. Lobbyists don't only work Washington, they are alive and well at the UN. This misadventure by the UN should be of concern to all American citizens of the legal variety. For now, gone are the days when simply using the word American implied one was a legal citizen of the United States. Thanks to the United States representatives to the UN who have publicly pushed for human rights initiatives in other countries, the shoe will go on the other foot. Under normal circumstances that would be understandable. But when is the last time you remember any country successfully solving human rights violations after intervention by the UN? So while the others skate on their responsibilities, America will be subjected to who knows what by the political dance from others at the UN. It is claimed there is a center in Texas that houses illegal immigrant detainees that has been 'highly criticized'. If you had to guess the source of the complaints, do you suppose it may be someone opposed to immigration control? It is reported vaguely in the AP report that it was 'a federal district judge'. But it would appear by the same report that the ACLU or similar group and other immigration advocates initiated what is an unsubstantiated claim based on this same AP report. So what, the ACLU and some other no borders advocates whined to a federal judge? There is at least one other location in Texas that is the subject of this UN visit. The visitor from the UN is being described as an independent expert on migrant rights. Interesting that part of the complaint concerns a suggestion that the place of detention for illegal immigrants is 'like a prison'. Imagine that, a prison to house illegal immigrants prior to deportation from violating federal law in the United States. The expert on migrant rights is Jorge Bustamante. Based on the AP report and other research, Mr. Bustamante is a professor from Mexico and holds or held positions at Notre Dame as well as other institutions. He also is on some of the economic councils at the UN and advocates dual citizenship for immigrants as referenced below from 1998.

Report of the UN working group on the rights of migrants Mr. Jorge A. Bustamante (Mexico) continued to act as Chairman-Rapporteur. ... Denial of dual citizenship, creating social and legal problems for migrants ... www.smc.org.ph/rights/experts.htm

He has already visited LA and will go to more cities and report his findings to the 47 country UN Human Rights Council.

Human rights expert examines migrant issues in L.A. The U.N.'s Jorge Bustamante spends two days seeking information on the treatment of migrants. By Teresa Watanabe, Times Staff Writer May 4, 2007 In the first broad international scrutiny of U.S. treatment of migrants, a United Nations human rights expert took testimony about worker abuse, government raids, family separations and other issues as he wrapped up a two-day visit to Los Angeles on Thursday. Bustamante, a University of Notre Dame sociology professor who splits his time between his native Mexico and the United States, said that anti-immigrant sentiment is rising around the world as unprecedented levels of global migration have prompted a growing number of nations to adopt restrictive laws.

Here is some additional information about the man who will do his best for the plight of the illegal immigrant and all the business and political interests that desire his obviously objective analysis of the situation. But it seems the only item that is ignored in analyzing the situation is the very first one. Illegal immigrants are described as such for their choice to violate federal law of a sovereign nation by entering the country through any means necessary other than those prescribed by law. Mr Bustamante will discuss these matters with the US government, immigration advocates and illegal immigrants. Sound fair to me. No bias will ever develop through this contrived investigation. http://www.nd.edu/~latino/academics/facultybios-html/bustamante_print.html

The Institute for Latino Studies University of Notre Dame 230 McKenna Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556-0764 Tel: (574) 631-4440 Fax: (574) 631-3522 E-mail: latino@nd.edu URL: www.nd.edu/~latino Jorge Bustamante Titles: Eugene Conley Professor of Sociology Office: 214 Hesburgh Phone: (574) 631-4454 Fax: (574) 631-2401 E-mail: bustamante.1@nd.edu Education BA and PhD, University of Notre Dame Research Interests International Migration, Mexican American Studies, and the Sociology of Development Current Courses International Migration and Human Rights Publications With more than 200 publications in scholarly journals of the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Venezuela, Spain, and Mexico, mostly dealing with Mexican immigration to the United States and the US-Mexico border phenomenon, Jorge Bustamante has been hailed as a leading expert in the field of international migration. Bustamante has also been writing a weekly column in the editorial pages of Mílenio Diario of Mexico City since September of 2000 and Frontera of Tijuana since November of 1999. Teaching Experience Bustamante has been a faculty member at the University of Texas at Austin; at El Colegio de México in Mexico City; and, presently, at the University of Notre Dame, where he has held an endowed chair (the Eugene Conley Professor of Sociology) since 1986. As a visiting professor he has been in charge of seminars and graduate courses at the University of California, Riverside; the National University of Mexico; and the Institute of Political Sciences of Paris. Appointments In 1994 Bustamante accepted appointments to the Joint Public Advisory Committee (J-PAC) as well as the Border Environmental Cooperation Commission (BECC), which were created by the governments of Mexico, the United States, and Canada as a result of the "parallel agreements" of NAFTA. Following Mexico's admission to the OECD, Bustamante was appointed to be SOPEMI’s (Continuous Reporting System on Migration) correspondent for Mexico. He continues serving as coordinator of the Social Sciences Committee of the Council of Advisors on Science and Technology for the President of Mexico. In 1995 the government of Japan appointed him Honorary Consul in Baja California, Mexico. In 1995 Bustamante was a member of a binational group of researchers, appointed by the governments of Mexico and the United States, to conduct research on Mexican migration to the United States. Then, in 1997, the member countries of Latin America and the Caribbean voted in favor of Mexico’s proposal to appoint Bustamante as part of a new 5-member committee to study the worldwide relationship between international migrations and human rights. In November of 1997, during the committee’s first working session in Geneva, Switzerland, Bustamante was elected President, and he was reelected one year later. He founded El Colegio de la Frontera Norte (COLEF), the prominent Mexican institute for the study of border issues located in Tijuana, Mexico, from its creation in 1982 until January of 1998. In July of this same year, the Bank of Bilbao Vizcaya Foundation granted him its annual fellowship, one of the most prestigious in Spain. Awarded to several Nobel prizewinners in the past, this is the first time this fellowship has been granted to a social scientist. Bustamante's most recent appointment was on 12 May 2000 to UAM’s (Metropolitan Autonomus University of Mexico City) Junta Directiva, a collective body that serves as the highest authority of the three academically self-governing universities that comprise the UAM. Honors In 1988 his overwhelming body of research was cited by Mexican President Madrid when he gave Bustamante the Premio Nacional de Ciencias, the highest award granted to scientists by the Mexican government. Also, President Carlos Salinas de Gortari presented Bustamante with the National Award on Demography for his research on Mexican migration to the United States. On 18 January 2001 Dr. Bustamante was appointed a member of an advisory group on immigration and population policies by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico.