Fright Night on the left

By RUBEN NAVARRETTE JR.

San Diego Union-Tribune

With the midterm elections approaching, liberal Democrats have a simple strategy for reaching out to Latino voters: fear and loathing. The idea is to convince Latinos to fear Republican candidates by telling them how much the GOP loathes them.

It’s insulting. Here you have a constituency that has, in every presidential race dating back to the “Viva Kennedy” campaign of 1960, handed over the majority of their votes on Election Day to Democrats. And all they get in return is an outreach effort that says, “Hey, the other guys are so bad, you have to vote for us.”

Republicans, for their part, play right into the Democrats’ hands by giving them plenty of material to work with.

Consider Tom Tancredo, the former Republican congressman from Colorado. This modern-day know-nothing has long used nativist rhetoric to scare up votes and political donations. In a recent speech to tea party activists, Tancredo again waved the white sheet in discussing President Obama. According to Tancredo, Obama was elected thanks to “people who could not even spell the word ‘vote,’ or say it in English.”

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/02/19/1982204/fright-night-on-the-left.html

[Posted by Aaron Mendez]

GOP hopes to capitalize on Latino disappointment with Obama

WASHINGTON — As one of the first Latinos in the nation to endorse Barack Obama, Democratic state Sen. Gilbert Cedillo of Los Angeles campaigned hard for the president, but he's disappointed now.

The reason: Obama has yet to do anything on a comprehensive overhaul of immigration laws, as he promised to do when he ran for president.

"I think he's in danger of breaking the spirit of solidarity and hope," Cedillo said. "More than a broken promise, it's the danger of breaking people's sense of hope in the Latino community."

While the president carried the Latino vote by large margins 15 months ago, many Republicans are out to capitalize on Latino dissatisfaction with Obama and Washington's Democratic leaders. They think that could help them immensely in the 2010 elections.

Republican candidates will gain ground from Latinos once Latinos realize "that what the Democrats offer is just a bunch of empty promises," said Hector Barajas, a communications consultant for the California State Senate Republican Caucus.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/02/15/1969492/gop-hopes-to-capitalize-on-latino.html

[Posted by Aaron Mendez]

Mexican military finds tons of pot behind cookies

BY SANDRA DIBBLE, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2010 AT 12:03 A.M.

More than 15 tons of marijuana seized by the Mexican military was displayed to the media yesterday in Tijuana. Mario López Castro, the driver of the confiscated tractor-trailer, stood between two Mexican soldiers. David Maung

At a military checkpoint between Mexicali and San Felipe, soldiers peering into a truck discovered more than 15 tons of marijuana hidden behind a stack of cookie boxes, authorities announced yesterday.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/24/mexican-military-finds-tons-of-pot-behind-cookies/

Posted by Alex Sobieski

Chicana Scholars to Celebrate Womens history month at UTSA

The UTSA Women's Studies Institute will celebrate National Women's History Month -- for the 25th year in a row -- with what organizer Larissa M. Mercado-Lopez describes as a "dynamic calendar" that includes an opening reception, several discussions lead by Chicana and Latina scholars and participation in the annual International Women's Day March on Saturday, March 6.

Nationally, the month's theme is to "write women back into history." Locally, the theme is "Testimonios: Celebrating Our Stories." They are really one in the same: to remember the stories of mujeres not included in mainstream history.

http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/latinlife/

Posted by Victoria Bell

5 top Tijuana cops accused of working with gang

BY SANDRA DIBBLE, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2010 AT 12:03 A.M.

TIJUANA — Tijuana Mayor Jorge Ramos’ administration has been dealt a severe blow with the detention of five top police officers accused of collaborating with a violent drug gang believed responsible for the deaths of numerous municipal officers.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/10/5-top-officers-accused-of-working-with-gang/

Posted by Alex Sobieski

Gunmen storm town in southern Mexico, killing 13 people, including rancher and his sons

IXTLI X. MARTINEZ Associated Press Writer

OAXACA, Mexico (AP) — Gunmen stormed a rural town in southern Mexico and killed 13 people, while the U.S. government warned Americans against traveling to cities in a northern border state where shootouts have left slain 19 people over three days.Hooded assailants in several cars killed nine police officers at a checkpoint in San Vicente Camalote, a town in southern Oaxaca state, state deputy attorney general Netolin Chavez said Wednesday.The gunmen then burst into the ranch of Alfonso Maciel, killing him and his three sons, one of whom was a minor, Chavez said. He said investigators believe the attack Tuesday night was related to drugs, but he had no other details.

For more here

[Posted by Julia Martinez]