Comments on: Honduras And The Cult Of The Presidency

By: Gilligan

Gilligan — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:22:42 +0000

There is an interesting cognitive dissonance going among those who have averred that Zelaya was such a clear and present danger to Honduran civil liberties that his overthrow by the military (as opposed to the civilian government) was both necessary and justified, given the picture painted by same people of a man who had almost no political support among the military, the legislature, the business community, or the populace at large. Even strong men need a base of support. If Zelaya were universally despised, it’s hard to see how he could pose a threat, or garner himself an illegal second term, which was purportedly his object, referendum or no referendum.

By: Sean S.

Sean S. — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:35:18 +0000

a) his desire to massively expand all government spending while also demanding a cut in the DoD budget; You just sound ridiculous when you say this. If by "cutting the budget" you mean "not raising" the budget by a arbitrary number that indicates American strength. The Pentagon budget is the largest its ever been, and the guy is increasing the number of troops in the military. You are either an idiot or a liar. I'm not even going to bother with the rest of the post since you can't even seem to get facts correct.

By: Gordianus

Gordianus — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:32:19 +0000

I doubt very seriously that Obama thinks that Pinochet and the Contras were in the wrong. Also, while Chavez and others are populists in the Peron mold, Castro was and is a Leninist who just poses as populist.

By: Roach

Roach — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:09:20 +0000

I think the thread running through Obama’s policies is the repetition of popular, elite liberal causes from the 1980s, when “US Out of El Salvador” was the rallying cry. This seems to explain

a) his desire to massively expand all government spending while also demanding a cut in the DoD budget;

b) his nuclear freeze and disarmament overtures, where the issue of today is nuclear proliferation to psychopathic nations like North Korea;

c) his feelings of solidarity with the “anti-imperialist” forces in Iran and Venezuela; and

c) his deep confusion about how populist, leftists like Castro and Chavez and Zelaya are the bad guys in Latin American politics, and the US was on the right side in the Cold War in siding with guys like Pinochet and groups like the Contras.

By: Sean S.

Sean S. — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:27:15 +0000

However, what we have seen in Honduras does not fit these descriptions at all.

Do we actually know that? Short of being from the Honduran street, this seems to be the kind of long-distance viewing Sullivan propped up to describe Iranian protesters as some sort of potent revolutionary force.

While this is speculative, I do find it interesting that the newly sworn in President has indicated he may ask for elections to be held sooner. I wonder if he will run election in it, and if so, how could anyone defend this coup as anything but taking advantage of a situation to further his own political ambitions. I have no doubt, from what people have pointed out, that Zelaya was acting illegally; but that doesn’t make his opponents some saints for law and order. What will eventually transpire will bear us out one way or another.