Latino Issues, A Conservative Blog

From the BBC : Opposition figures in Cuba say at least 20 Cuban dissidents have been detained as part of a crackdown against the country's political opposition. Netforcuba.org is reporting that Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello, one of the many dissidents arrested has been freed. Miami, Florida, July 23, 2005 – We received a call from Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello at 5:30 AM from her house in Havana, who informed us that a large political police deployment blocking traffic had stopped and detained her yesterday at approximately 8:45 A.M. while on her way to pick up Felix Bonne Carcasses to go together to the demonstration convened by the Assembly to Promote Civil Society in Cuba at the French Embassy. Martha Beatriz informed us that she was forced out of the car she was riding on and taken in a police car to the Technical Department of Investigations, better known as D.T.I., located at 100 and Aldabó, where she was confined for two hours. At the D.T.I. she exchanged strong words with s...

This is terrible news. It is terrible for the London police, and the consequences it will have to their investigation. But, let us now forget what happened. A police officer called out to stop, and the man ran from the authorities. Why was he wearing a heavy jacket? That still remains a question. Was he set up for this? There are still a lot of unanswered questions. LONDON, July 23 - Scotland Yard admitted Saturday that a man police officers chased and shot to death at point-blank range in front of horrified subway passengers on Friday had nothing to do with the investigation into the bombing attacks here. Senior investigators and officials of the Metropolitan Police said the man was believed to be South American; it was not known whether he was Muslim. No explosives or weapons were found on the man's body after the shooting, police officials said. The incident sent shock waves through the country's 1.6 million Muslims, already alarmed by a publicly acknowledged shoot-to-kill p...

Alarming article from Family News in Focus correspondent, Kim Trobee. Is the Philippines going to become the next China? The heavy hand of the U.N. is again trying to bolster abortion worldwide through coercion and threats. Next month the Philippine Congress will vote on legislation that could have serious consequences for the family. Under the Responsible Parenthood and Population Management Act, Filipinos would be limited to two children per family. The U.N. is behind the intimidation. In the Philippines, the fertility rate among women is 2.8 children over the course of their lifetimes. Why the need for population control? Eileen Macapanas Crosby, who is with the Filipino Family Fund, points to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). "The population control movement is now putting emphasis on the Philippines in a way—and at a time—where they're under a lot of pressure to accept foreign aid because of the financial burden of the debt," Crosby said. "The money t...

Interesting fact being discussed in different blogs. It speaks of Robert's compassion and character. Roberts and his lawyer-wife, Jane, are the parents of two young children adopted from Latin America. It seems someone tried to make a connection between the fact that he has adopted, and his views on abortion. I don't know that I see a connection, other than supporting adoption, regardless of your views on abortion, supports and provides for women wanting to make the choice to place their babies for adopotion. This, of course, has nothing to do with Roberts.

It's good to see Verizon taking good corporate responsability. This makes a difference in curbing illegal immigration by preparing individuals in third world countries to earn a better living and contribute to their own communities. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic--(HISPANIC PR WIRE)--July 22, 2005 --Verizon Dominicana President Jorge Ivan Ramirez will read to children enrolled in the EDUCA program as part of a celebration of the more than 10,000 families enrolled in or graduated from literacy programs that span the country Beginning at 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, July 21, 2005, the reading will precede a news conference to be held at 1 p.m. at the headquarters for Verizon Dominicana, Avenida John F. Kennedy, No. 54, during which officials and graduates will discuss the success that participants have enjoyed over the past two years. The nine educational programs in 377 communities across the Dominican Republic, which represent a collaboration between corporate and nonprofit sec...

Watch MS Streaming video of the announcement of Windows Vista as the name for the new operating system code named Longhorn. Be warned: this is Microsoft. You may experience constant interruptions as the video attempts to buffers, and your computer potentially will crash. Expect it.

Ken at secondbreakfast.net blogs on Castro's statements during Elian's sixth-grade graduation and the media's romance with the Communist dictator. Of course, as Ken points out, the MSM goes out of their way to leave out the important facts--federal agents took the boy by force at gun point! Well, I noticed in my search for this story that it appears that all of the hits at TV websites use the same story as KRON. They all seem to be missing the same element of the story. Let's check the Florida papers : His father wanted him returned to Cuba, however, and an April 2000 raid, federal agents seized the boy , then 6. OH YEAH, THAT'S IT! The damn courts never got to "intervene in a fierce legal battle" because Janet Reno ordered federal agents to take the kid at gunpoint without going through the hassle of court. And her boss couldn't wait to get in Castro's good graces by sending him back to the gulag worker's paradise . But you wouldn...

What is this about a Secure America Act? I read up on Kolbe site, but I can't find the text. I am concerned that the Title III: Essential Worker Visa Program won't fix the problem. I am told of 5 year waiting period and all sorts of abuses happening in embassies in Central and South America. If poor, but honest and hard working immigrant cannot promptly process their requests to find work in the US, they will continue to pursue illegal methods. Additionally, more has to be done to hold these countries accountable for their economic, and corruption problems. Christina DeConcini , a spokeswoman for the National Immigration Forum, a nonprofit group in Washington, said her group supports the Secure America Act. Ultimately, she said, helping workers in Mexico and other low-wage nations earn higher wages at home is the best way to reduce the number of illegal immigrants coming to the United States. “The vast majority of illegal immigrants come to this country to work — not for polit...

Interesting argument . It does make sense. It tells you something about what the left is doing. Words do have consequences. When will the Liberals learn this lesson? London's lessons Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney, an author and terrorism analyst, says al Qaeda could execute a London-type train bombing "within 24" hours in the United States. "But why attack here," Gen. McInerney said in an interview, "when you have leftists in America who have aided and abetted the enemy more than Tokyo Rose did in World War II? They don't need to set off bombs. If they set off bombs, they would silence the shrill of leftists in the United States." Gen. McInerney says the July 7 London bombing was an attempt by Muslim militants to bring down Prime Minister Tony Blair and see him replaced by a left-wing Laborite who would pull troops out of Iraq.

Patriot Act Passed 257-171. The Political Teen beat DrudgeReport to the story? H.R.3199 Title: To extend and modify authorities needed to combat terrorism, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [WI-5] (introduced 7/11/2005) Cosponsors (None) Related Bills: H.RES.369 , S.1266 Latest Major Action: 7/21/2005 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 257 - 171 (Roll no. 414). House Reports: 109-174 Part 1, 109-174 Part 2

This is ridiculous . It's this kind of thinking that endangers more people! If Latino's in an area are being "profiled" for possible gang activities, then it just might be because there are a lot of Latino gangs in the area. Is that racial profiling? What about truth and evidence? What about the authorities responsibility to protect the community? This is another reason why illegal immigration is a security liability to our cities. When social workers and community leaders start complaining and trying to protect illegal immigrants because the police is being proactive in doing their job, this becomes a barrier to security and the law. "El justo no tiene nada que temer" goes the saying. It translates to "The just has nothing to fear." If you are illegal, you are right in being afraid--you broke the law of this nation. We feel for your circumstances, and we apologize it is so difficult to enter this country legally. We respect your hard work and cont...

There is a great discussion going on at WorldMagBlog on the whole Harry Potter mania. Nothing to do with Latinos, I suppose, but I thought I would ad my two cents. A reader commented: I think its interesting how much people want to be in a group that is all connected by some common thread. It says a lot about our desire for homogeny, not always along racial, sexual or religious lines, but also simply based on what we do in our spare time. The interesting thing about Harry Potter fans vs. Star Trek fans is that a vast majority of them are kids who have grown up with the books, or the parents of said kids. I wonder if what sort of effects this will have on them as they get older (and whether or not they will remain HP fans). We live in an obsessive culture. Posted by David B. at July 22, 2005 07:54 AM This is an interesting phenomenon. I would think it is indicative of our society, more than anything else. I tend to agree with the idea that it shows a desire or need for communi...

I just learned about the controversy surrounding the new development around the Freedom Tower in Miami. I don't know the details, so I am not sure what to say. I do know that it is my desire, as of every other Cuban, that this landmark be perserved as a monument to freedom. The following two opinions apeared on the Miami Herald: Posted on Fri, Jul. 22, 2005 I attended Wednesday's hearing on the Freedom Tower project to learn more about it before I took sides on the issue. I believe now that the Miami Planning Advisory Board, although acting with good intentions, is suffering from shortsightedness. Hopefully, city commissioners will let the project proceed. The bottom line is that the Freedom Tower will be preserved. Maybe not as a skyline head turner, but as the beautiful and dominant centerpiece of a bustling plaza. The tower will remain a centerpiece, but also become the center of cultural events and a gathering place for tourists and locals. If not Pedro Martin, then another...

Babalu Blog has a story on the 5 Cuban dancers that defected in La Vegas some months ago. Surprisingly, the very liberal New York Times seems to have done justice to the story . This is the so-called-freedom experienced in Cuba. A year ago this week, Cuban officials raided the Havana building where the group rehearsed and seized thousands of dollars worth of equipment. They ordered the group to disband and told them they would no longer be permitted to perform. Their founder and artistic director, Nicole Durr, who is German, was arrested and expelled from the country.

Are we no longer a democracy guided by the principles of the Constitution? Where is our nation going to when "slightly more than half of all Americans what to know" a Supreme Court nominee's views on a controversial issue, and see this is a the crux of the matter, versus actually following the letter of the law as it is written? My question is, if so many American's care about abortion, and believe it is so important, why don't they push for a Constitutional amendment? That would solve the whole controversy. At the very least, while immoral killing of millions of children, we would be within the law. The truth is those that oppose true freedom of choice--the choice to be informed, and the choice to know the real consequences of an abortion--do not have a logical argument that resonates. It is just not convincing. If it was, we would see the country going in a different direction. Wake up America. Stop the murders! Washington -- Slightly more than half of all Amer...

This sounds like twisted statistics . I just completed my first graduate level statistics course, and I learned enough to know it is VERY easy to twist statistics in the direction you want. Are the underclass in Venezuela this blind to Chavez's intentions and the direction he is taking the country? CARACAS - Venezuelans' support for Fidel Castro's model of government and the installation of socialism here has been growing, two recent polls show, although a majority remains critical of the Cuban system. The polls suggest that President Hugo Chávez, Castro's closest ally, is succeeding in shifting public opinion toward the left as he pushes his ''revolution'' among a population that historically identified more with the values of Miami than Havana. Chávez, whose own approval rates are running at over 70 percent, makes frequent pro-Cuba speeches, and more than 20,000 Cuban medical personnel and sports instructors work in poor neighborhoods here. A poll rele...

In a reversal , an immigration judge ruled yesterday that the wilson four, the honors students who faced deportation after being detained by immigration agents while on a trip to a science competition, would be able to stay in the US after all. I apreciate Rick Oltman's statement. That is what this issue is about--the rule of law. This case just demonstrates (I know, I am repeating myself) the mess our immigration laws are in as a result of court mendling, and political correctness. For the safety of our nation, for the prosperity of hard working citizens and legal immigrants, and for the future of our children, it's time to fix the immigration problem. Rick Oltman of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which supports tighter restrictions on immigration, said that if the students' rights were violated, the ruling should stand. "We support the law," he said. But he said there would be additional cases like this one as children of illegal immigrants gre...

Oh, what it will take for America to wake up? They can do random searches and arrests in NY city, but the government won't start enforcing current law and secure our borders. Let's hope our immigration mess does not become the cause for our next terrorist attack on US soil. NEW YORK -- Alarmed by a new round of mass transit attacks in London, police in New York began random searches of bags and packages brought into the city's vast subway system. The inspections started on a small scale Thursday in Manhattan and were expanded during Friday morning's rush hour _ a development welcomed by some commuters. "I'm not against it," Ian Compton, 35, a computer consultant, said at Grand Central Terminal in midtown Manhattan. "I think any measures for safety that aren't terribly intrusive are worth doing." Officers, some with bomb-sniffing dogs, were stopping people carrying bags as they entered subways, commuter trains, buses and ferries at various po...

From thisinlondon.com : Eyewitnesses described mayhem at Stockwell Tube station today after a suspected suicide bomber was shot dead fleeing from armed police. One said the man was shot five times as he ran on to a Northern line train soon after 10am. Scotland Yard have confirmed they shot a man and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Sky News has further details on the suicide bomber that was shot trying to escape. Alarmed onlookers said they saw up to 10 plain-clothed officers chasing an Asian-looking man before opening fire. Witness Mark Whitby was on the train as he saw a big man wearing a large coat and "looking absolutely petrified" lurch through the doors.

The Canadian Press reports the discovery of a tunnel between the US and Canda being used to smuggle pot. It makes me wonder what else they smuggled or could have smuggled? What is not to say that there is something like this left undiscovered elsewhere on our northern or southern border? LANGLEY, B.C. (CP) - Three Surrey, B.C., men have been charged in Washington state with conspiracy to distribute and import marijuana after law enforcement officials discovered a tunnel crossing the U.S.-Canada border. The U.S. Justice Department says the 110-metre tunnel runs from a depth of one to three metres and is reinforced with iron rebar and 2x6 wood supports

A reader comments: I don't enjoy the candidate that Bush picked. I am EXTREMELY disappointed in his LACK of leadership and LACK of common sense. This might prove to be a huge blow to conservatism. Anonymous | 07.20.05 - 10:54 pm | # I have to say that doubt Bush's selection of Roberts will prove to be a huge blow to Conservatism. As someone respected in the community wrote today [whom I would rather not name]; Of course, no one can discern with perfect accuracy what lies in the heart – and specifically the philosophy and beliefs – of this nominee. It will not be until future decisions are handed down by the Supreme Court that the ideology of this man, if confirmed, will become evident. We’re all aware of the tragic consequences that have resulted from the David Souter appointment by President George H.W. Bush, who believed at the time that Souter was a social conservative. He has turned out to be a radical liberal who has done great damage to this country. I know Souter has be...

Many thanks to Babalu Blog for the introduction and link. To Babalu & hispanicpundit.com readers, welcome. Take a look around, and check out some of my previous posts. I like my readers to generally keep me on my toes, so your comments are always welcome. My only rule for commenting is to keep the language to a PG rating, and keep things respectful. I hope you will bookmark the site, and link to me on your site or blog. Best Regards, Josue Sierra

This is the first time I read or hear about this! Incredible! Read the whole piece at HumanEventsonline.com . Thanks to Babalu Blog for the link to this one! Kennedy's secret deal with Khruschev forbad any liberation of Cuba, not just by the U.S. but by any group or nation in the Hemisphere. Indeed it was up to the U.S. to prevent any such liberation attempts. The Best and Brightest not only pulled the rug out from Cuba's freedom-fighters, they also sanctioned the 40,000 Soviet troops and KGB goons already in Cuba coaching and aiding Castro's butchery of these freedom-fighters. Richard Nixon summed up the the Missile Crisis "resolution" best. "First we goofed an invasion--now we give the Soviets squatters rights in our backyard." Joint Chiefs member General Curtis Lemay slammed his fist on his desk and bellowed: "The biggest defeat in U.S. history! Admiral Anderson, in charge of the very naval "blockade' against Cuba got the news of the ...

I got this email from Mike DuHaime at the RNC. I think its a travesty that we have politized the Judicial court nomination process!! Don't get me wrong--the strategy is right on. If constituents don't call their senators, and put the pressure on, who knows what these spineless Republicans might do! And we know that the left will be going all out in their campaign to demonize Roberts in any way they can. Dear Josue, It's been over 36 hours since President Bush named Judge John G. Roberts to be the next U.S. Supreme Court Justice. Judge Roberts is a fair-minded and compassionate jurist who knows his job is to interpret the Constitution, not legislate from the bench. Response to Judge Roberts' nomination has been very positive from Republicans, legal scholars, the media and even some Democrats thanks to actions you took shortly after the President announced his choice. But our work is not done. Liberal interest groups such as NARAL and MoveOn.Org are committed to doing all...

Great piece by the Boston Herald on the French embassy's celebration of Bastille Day and their shameless invitation of Fidel Castro's communist cronies. It's good to see a strong US newspaper putting the spot light on the EU's appeasing of Castro. So much for enlightened, civilized society--they are prolonging the suffering, and human rights abuse of the worst tyrant in the hemisphere. Shamefully, they expressly didn't invite any of Cuba's dissidents: France had promised to turn a cold shoulder to democracy activists struggling to free themselves from their own (island) prison. So much for liberte , egalite and fraternite. But it's not just the French who have decided to play along with Cuba's horrendous human-rights practices; the European Union as a whole has caved to Cuba's caudillo, Fidel Castro. Back in 1996, the EU adopted a ``Common Position'' on Cuba, with the avowed goal of promoting democracy, respect for human rights and improveme...

This article will just make you mad. I am not sure what context the author is referring to, but I have to ask, "What about putting into context Fidel, the corruption, the murders, the prisoners, and the thousands who have died?" Is that to much to ask for? From People's weekly, of course it is. The People’s Weekly World / Nuestro Mundo is a national, grassroots weekly newspaper and the direct descendant of the Daily Worker . Published by Long View Publishing Co., the PWW reports on and analyzes the pressing issues and struggles of the day: for workers’ rights, peace, equality, social and economic justice, democracy, civil liberties, women’s rights, protection of the environment, and more. The PWW is known for its partisan coverage. We take sides — for truth and justice. We are partisan to the working class, racially and nationally oppressed peoples, women, youth, seniors, international solidarity, Marxism and socialism. We enjoy a special relationship with the Co...

The Guarding is reporting on the ongoing search for the would be suicide bomber inside University College Hospital in London. The hospital is now on "high alert" as London police search for suspects. Fox News' Simon Marks is reporting that intelligence sources are saying that the mastermind behind the 7/7 bombings is not yet in custody and still at large. Armed police are searching a hospital in central London amid reports that a suspected would-be suicide bomber was on the run inside after explosions on tube trains and a bus today. Officers went back into University College Hospital (UCH) an hour after calling off their original search, which came after an incident involving explosives at the nearby Warren Street tube station. Speaking at 4.50pm, a Metropolitan police spokesman said: "We have armed deployment at UCH, but we are not prepared to discuss this further at this stage." At 4.30, the Sky News television channel reported that a convoy of police vans a...

Bush spoke today to the Organization of American States in Washington, D.C. this morning, where he did not specifically mention the London bombing, but did say we would not be frightened by acts of terrorism. Make sure to read the entire speech at HispanicBusiness.com . "They have the desire to use their terrorist techniques to frighten us," Bush said during his speech. "They understand when they kill in cold blood it ends up on our TV screens. And they're trying to shake our will." "They don't understand our country though. They don't understand that when it comes to the defense of universal freedoms, this country won't be frightened," he added.

The Associated Press is reporting the US Stock market reaction to this morning's London bombing. Whoever thinks that what happens on the other side of the world is no business of ours has a wake up call coming. NEW YORK - Stocks dropped Thursday as uneasiness over the latest subway attacks in London overshadowed strong earnings reports and China's decision to revalue its currency. While the London attacks appeared to be minor — only one injury was reported — investors took the opportunity to secure their recent gains one day after a record-setting session.

The BBC is providing a running account of events related to the London blasts. The last five entries : 1758: Ken Livingstone, the mayor of London, says space limitations and the number of people using the Underground make airport-style security checks difficult. 1755: Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair says the arrest of a man outside 10 Downing Street appears "entirely unconnected" to the transport system incidents. 1750: Sir Ian says London is "back to business". He says it will take "a little bit longer" to determine whether there is a connection between the incidents on Thursday and those of 7 July - but adds that the intention on Thursday "must have been to kill". 1630: Armed police return to University College Hospital to search the premises. 1620: Two people are detained, police say. A police source says officers are looking for an unknown number of fugitives.

Latest news from London, and the failed bomb attack at Sky News . Instapundit writes : SKY NEWS is reporting that the bus bomb is identical to designs used in the 7/7 attacks. I could not find the link to the story.

The Associated Press is reporting on Chavez' and the Venezuelan Ambasador's reaction to the news of the amendment authorizing U.S. radio and television broadcasts to Venezuela. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called an amendment authorizing U.S. radio and television broadcasts to Venezuela to ensure its citizens receive "accurate news" another "desperate attack by the imperialists." Chavez said Wednesday that Venezuela's government would "jam the signal" of any broadcasts from the United States, but added he would "carefully evaluate" the decision made earlier in the day by members of the House of Representatives. "We'll see if the U.S. government takes any action because what they have done is give the green light to the government, so it takes the initiative," said Chavez, one of Latin America's most outspoken critics of U.S. foreign policy in the region. Venezuela's ambassador in Washington, Bernardo Alvarez...

This from the LauraIngraham.com web site: The MSM is complicit (along with the business community and numerous Hispanic organizations) in encouraging illegal entry into the United States by highlighting weepy deportation stories whenever they can. Get ready to get mad, click here . I do have to say that these are the stories that reveal the true victims of illegal immigrating--the children. I feel for these 4 young latinos, but there where choices made and consequences to those. We must live under the law! I do think the parent's should face up to the law as well--they are the ones who brought these 4 individuals as children. They should face repercussions as well. Considering the London Bombing this morning, it may be good time to stop playing games with people, and start talking about the reality of an unsecured border. Illegal immigration is a symptom of a broken border security system. I heard talk this morning on the Laura Ingraham show about a new piece of legislation that wo...

Washington Post : "We can't minimize incidents such as this," Blair said during a news conference with visiting Australian Prime Minister John Howard. "They're done to scare people, to frighten them and make them worried." One injury was reported in the Thursday attacks.

Sky News : Scotland Yard have confirmed there is an incident involving armed police officers at University College Hospital in Bloomsbury close to Warren Street station. A man was also arrested by armed police at the gates of Downing Street. An internal memo to staff at the hospital has warned them to be on the lookout for a black male, possibly of Asian origin, about 6ft 2ins tall, wearing a blue top with wires protruding from the rear of the top. Police officers in chemical protection suits have been seen appearing to enter Warren Street, where British Transport Police say one person has been injured. A initial chemical search at Oval station has proved negative. Sir Ian told reporters at Scotland Yard the incidents were "serious".

This from Captain's Quarter : I also followed this on Fox News while in transit this morning, who relayed the feed from Britain's SkyNews Network. Reports of hazmat investigators entering the stations where the incidents occurred raise suspicions of what materials were used in the apparently-coordinated attack. It seems odd that several incidents all would have resulted in duds -- unless the same incompetent built all the devices, which certainly could be possible.

From NewsMax.com : Telesur, short for "Television of the South," is billed as a commercial-free counterbalance to North American media and is set to begin broadcasting in several weeks, according to The Washington Times. "Soon we will have Telesur, a channel with information for South American countries, because it is not possible that Venezuela and other southern countries depend only on information from CNN," Chavez said during a March press conference. Chavez has enlisted support from left-leaning governments in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. Chavez has already developed a new anti-American axis with Fidel Castro's Cuba. Tens of thousands of Castro's agent are believed to be in Venezuela helping Chavez maintain dictatorial control over his oil-rich nation. This from Phil Gunson of Newsweek International on the MSNBC web site : July 4 issue - On paper, at least, Telesur sounds like an idea whose time has come. Until now, Spanish-speaking Latin Americans wh...

Eyewitness stories from FoxNews.com : The head of Scotland Yard said in a brief press conference Thursday that commuters and other Londoners should stay exactly where they are; he said it's possible more portions of the transit system will be shut down. Some witnesses said they heard gunshots at the Warren Street stop but according to Sky News, police believe those noises were actually detonators going off for bombs that didn't explode. "People were panicking. But very fortunately the train was only 15 seconds from the station," witness Ivan McCracken told Sky News. McCracken said he smelled smoke, and people were panicking and coming into his carriage. He said he spoke to an Italian man who was comforting a woman after the evacuation. "He said that a man was carrying a rucksack and the rucksack suddenly exploded. It was a minor explosion but enough to blow open the rucksack," McCracken said. "The man then made an exclamation as if something had gone wr...

Florida Republican Rep. Connie Mack is sponsoring an amendament that would provide for Radio and TV-Marti-like broadcasts into Venezuela, recognizing Chavez growing influence in the region and the danger he posses to political stablity in the South American continent. This from the Miami Herald . Mack said the broadcast idea stemmed from concern that Chávez appears focused on expanding his influence beyond Venezuela by pushing socialist ideals like those supported by Cuban leader Fidel Castro while criticizing U.S.-endorsed democratic principles often labeled as imperialist. Of course, for those who have stayed on top of this story, we know how Chavez has been attempting to blunt and control the media in Venezuela. Now, the Miami Herald article says Chavez has financed a new Latin America-wide television station based out of Caracas. Think the Latino version of AlJazira, with less violence, but just as much anti-American sentiments. ''Chávez has clearly gone astray and doesn...

Champion goal shouter to be crowned prior to final match; event to be hosted by La Kalle's Jimmy and Pacha. New York, NY--(HISPANIC PR WIRE)--July 21, 2005--This Sunday, July 24, Miller Lite,the official beer of the 2005 Gold Cup, is inviting soccer fans (21 years and older), attending the final Gold Cup match at Giants Stadium, to give their most passionate rendition of a goal shout, in the Miller Lite Goal Shouting Competition, where one winner will emerge as New York City's undisputed goal shouting champion. The competition, a part of Miller's pre-game festivities on Sunday, will be emceed by Jimmy Nieves and Pacha, hosts of the hottest new show on La Kalle 105.9 FM/92.7 FM, El Jangueo. Nieves and Pacha will entertain the hundreds of fans in attendance invited by Miller with games and music, and eventually assemble the boisterous crowd to determine who has the most electrifying goal shout. Ultimately, the winner of the contest will receive the first ever "Miller Lit...

Reports coming in today of what aprears to be another terrorist attack in London. This from Reuters . LONDON (Reuters) - Up to four explosions hit London's transport system on Thursday, exactly two weeks after more than 50 people were killed in blasts on underground railway trains and a bus. No one was reported injured in the blasts that caused major disruption and shook the nerves of an already jittery city. Witnesses said they had seen what could have been a would-be bomber running away after dropping a rucksack on one of the trains. "We all got off on the platform and the guy just ran and started running up the escalator," one witness who gave her name as Andrea told the BBC. "Everyone was screaming for someone to stop him. He ran past me ... and he ran out of the station. In fact he left a bag on the train," she said. A blast blew out the windows of a bus in Hackney in east London, but there were no reported injuries. Sky News is reporti...

On the DrudgeReport.com, criticism from Ann Coulter : "We donÂ’t know much about John Roberts. Stealth nominees have never turned out to be a pleasant surprise for conservatives. Never. Not ever... Oh, yeah...we know he's argued cases before the supreme court. big deal; so has Larry Flynt's attorney." So declares conservative columnist Ann Coulter in a new dispatch set for release. Read the whole story at DrudgeReport.com

Some more great comments from WorldMagBlog on John G. Roberts and one of the key statements that will become an issue for his comfirmation to the Supreme Court. I agree with Weaver --these would not be incompatible, but it certainly demonstrates astute diplomacy by Roberts in weaving his way around the subject. Let's hope he doesn't flip once he is on the bench. I don't believe those two statements are incompatible. [ John G. Roberts ] believes that Roe v. Wade was "wrongly decided" [ by the Supreme Court ] in that a right to abortion does not exist within the Constitution. However, Roe v. Wade remains "the settled law of the land", and must be recognized as such. The latter statement does not mean that when Roberts is faced with a case similar to Roe v. Wade that he will slavishly decide the case in a pro-abortion way. Instead, I believe, he will decide the case on the evidence available and on the basis of the Constitution of the United States. Abort...

From HispanicBusiness.com : Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean predicted Tuesday that the Republican Party will make immigrants an issue in the 2006 election. In a speech to an influential Hispanic civil rights organization, Dean said Republican-sponsored immigration legislation and escalating rhetoric about immigration are part of the latest GOP effort to use fear as a political tactic. Republicans tried to scare people in 2002 by talking about "race quotas" instead of affirmative action, he said. "In 2006, it's going to immigrants, you wait and see," he told the National Council of La Raza at its annual convention. Afterward, Dean told reporters he doesn't think President Bush is a bigot, but said the president "doesn't have the guts" to speak up against "the bigots in his own party." Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman said Dean's claims were "laughable" and belied by the administration...

This from Gateway Pundit : On Friday doctors in Venezuela rallied in Caracas yelling "Out!" to Chavez and the Cuban doctors he has brought into the country. Now, on Tuesday, students marched in Caracas demanding autonomy of the universities from government influence. Not a good sign for any dictator! Aleksander Boyd has a post on students calling Chavez "Fake! Murderer of students. " Things are also getting somewhat out of control in Cuba. Is it possible? Could we hope for winds of change in both Venezuela and Cuba? This also at Gateway Pundit : Fidel Castro is facing revolts after Cuba was hit by its worst hurricane in memory. The destruction will cost $3 billion. But Castro is doing everything he can to keep aid out. And that's an outrage. Following Hurricane Dennis, a different wind is blowing through Cuba — the wind of change. Three spontaneous and rare demonstrations sprang up in Havana this week. Fed-up Cubans attacked an electrical substation after lear...

Great round up by Captian's Quarter on the editorial reaction to last night's nomination by the president. If George Bush wanted to set the media elite back on their heels with his first Supreme Court nomination, he succeeded brilliantly. The selection of John Roberts appears to have stunned editorial writers in the four largest cities. Their entries today heralding this new judiciary battle show a healthy dose of caution and calls for a dignified process. Most of them tip their hat to Bush's political skills, noting the difficulty for Democrats to deal with the thin paper trail of Roberts, but still point out potential land mines for his confirmation.

From WorldMagBlog : John Robert So Supreme Court nominee John Roberts once wrote a brief arguing that Roe v. Wade "was wrongly decided and should be overruled." But during his 2003 confirmation hearings for the judgeship that he has now, he testified that the decision had become "the settled law of the land." Can we Christian conservatives rally behind him? Has the president found that rarest of species, a confirmable conservative? Christopher Taylor comments on this seemingly opposite statements. The statement he [Robert] made in 2003 was in response to a question about how he'd rule on law established by a superior court. As a law-abiding judge, he'd have to abide by it until it is overturned, because he was being confirmed to a lower court. In the Supreme Court, one does not abide by previous rulings, one abides by the constitution, and he's in a different set of circumstances. His statements seem to indicate that he understands this. I have to say, ...

Some great comments by a RedState.org reader on why to like John Roberts for the Supreme Court. I have to agree--it is a great selection by President Bush. Why I like Roberts... By: iamcool388 The comment above is hilarious... unless I am reading sarcasm where there is none. Here is why I like Roberts :- Brilliant - Anyone doubt? Young - He's only 48. Can easily serve for 30 years. Diplomatic - Always a big plus. Sure we would have loved to see an opinion written by Luttig and Janice Rogers Brown. But in the political environment today... diplomacy is huge. Looks - Had to add that in. He looks like a rock star. A liberal girl studying with me was absolutely swooning over his pic on Drudgereport. Liked - He is supposedly liked by everyone who knows him... excluding 'dumbasses' like Schumer (Orrin Hatch's implication, not mine) Recommended - Thomas loves him... Scalia recommends him. All present justices agree he has been 'far and away' the best ...

The abortion rights advocates will be foaming from this statement by John Roberts. The Washington post reports that Roberts helped write a brief that stated, "We continue to believe that Roe was wrongly decided and should be overruled."

Washinton Post has published the text of remarks by Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr. on Tuesday, as transcribed by CQ Transcriptions: Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you. Thank you very much. It is both an honor and very humbling to be nominated to serve on the Supreme Court. Before I became a judge, my law practice consisted largely of arguing cases before the court. That experience left me with a profound appreciation for the role of the court in our constitutional democracy and a deep regard for the court as an institution. I always got a lump in my throat whenever I walked up those marble steps to argue a case before the court, and I don't think it was just from the nerves. I am very grateful for the confidence the president has shown in nominating me, and I look forward to the next step in the process before the United States Senate. Read the rest .

Babalu Blog has the text of an EFE report on the embargo . This is good news, and answers questions I had posted earlier. The fact is that tourism is very much a life line to Fidel Castro, but not to the people. Eye witnesses report tourist "zones" where dollars are used, and where the regular population has limited access. Anyone who travels to Cuba and claims its a paradise, is insane, blind, or plain stupid. President Bush just cost you $95 million, barbudo. Not that people actually want to be around you. But this is what you get. Go see if Hugo Chavez will, yet again, be happy to make up the difference to you, mendicant. The embargo is working. EFE reports: Number of U.S.-Cuba travelers falls over 60 pct Miami, Jul 18 (EFE).- The number of travelers from the United States to Cuba has fallen more than 60 percent in the past year, the press reported Monday, citing official figures. The drop in travel from the United States to Cuba was a direct result of the tougher restrict...

From RedState.org : White House source calls back and says "Don't go beyond Roberts. He's it." Thanks for confusing me. John Roberts will be the President's nominee for the United States Supreme Court. I'm glad it's Roberts. While he has said some things about court precedence that concerns me, I congratulate the President on making a selection based on qualifications and commitment to the Constitution and it's original intent. This is what I was hoping for, and what many conservatives have been hoping for. With all the talk about replacing Connors with another woman, or the pressure for Bush to nominate a Hispanic, I was starting to get worried.

Keith Olbermann and Dana Milbank are not over the moon . Keith led off his interview of Milbank by suggesting this was "wag the dog" -- in other words, that President Bush pushed up the announcment to divert attention from Rove. Milbank agreed that, of course, that's what is going on.

A lot of the Blogs out there are going with the Edith Clements for Supreme Court rumor. I personally don't think that's the case. While Powerline starts talking about Clement, it later posts some updates about ABC story that Clement is not the nominee. Here is the initial post from PowerLine : Edith Brown Clement. Maybe not a done deal, but you wouldn't want to be betting on anyone else right now. UPDATE: Kathryn Lopez has been hearing the same thing. JOHN adds: The Clement rumor is everywhere, which doesn't mean, of course, that it's true. Some say the announcement could come at any moment. I don't know enough about Judge Clement to have an opinion on her nomination (compared, that is, to the considerable number of judges about whom we are very enthusiastic). I would say that the last 20 or 30 years of history suggest that Republican nominees who do not have a clear track record of commitment to conservative jurisprudential principles dr...

ABC and Fox news have reported that Bush has offered the positionto the Supreme Court to Roberts. The New York Times reports Bush offered the job via a telephone call at 12:35 p.m. "after a luncheon with the visiting prime minister of Australia, John Howard." New York Times seems to be worried : Advocacy groups on the right say that Roberts, a 50-year-old native of Buffalo, N.Y., who attended Harvard Law School, is a bright judge with strong conservative credentials he burnished in the administrations of former Presidents Bush and Reagan. While he has been a federal judge for just a little more than two years, legal experts say that whatever experience he lacks on the bench is offset by his many years arguing cases before the Supreme Court. Liberal groups, however, say Roberts has taken positions in cases involving free speech and religious liberty that endanger those rights. Abortion rights groups allege that Roberts is hostile to women's reproductive freedom an...

It would be expected that tensions would mount between Leftist Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez and the Catholic Church. The Associated Press is reporting Chavez denied a cardinal's statement that he is leading Venezuela toward a dictatorship. Considering his growing friendship and alliance with Fidel Castro, this is not very believable. We cannot be blind to the danger to our hemisphere of a left-wing, dictatorial alliance on our own continent. Venezuela has nuclear power plants, and it would not be to difficult for him to attain nuclear capabilities. Regardless, Chaves is leading Venezuela down the failed path of communism, and it will affect the economies of neighboring countries, increasing the influx of illegal immigration. Chavez said anyone who thinks his "revolutionary" government is gradually turning into a dictatorial regime "is crazy enough to be tied up or just ignorant (and) doesn't know what's happening in Venezuela." The statements made by ...

For those who have read my past posts on the relationship between Chavez and Castro, I found this great blog that is following the situation from Venezuela. Check out Daniel's blog. Being from Cuban decent, I am no fan of Chavez, and since my life as a US citizen is a result of Cuba's social experiment with the island nation, I also know where Venezuela is heading. There is nothing good coming from Chavez. If you think American's should not care, just watch what Chaves is doing in his attempt to consolidate petroleum control in the region. It is their consummate goal to make life difficult for the United States. If it means helping terrorists get into our country, they would be capable and willing to do so. Fidel is already a huge conduit for illegal drugs through Florida. I do hope the administration is keeping a close eye on this clear and growing danger in our own continent. Read the blog: http://daniel-venezuela.blogspot.com/ I'll be adding it to my side bar short...