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Reporter's Notebook: Christopher Whalen

Ratero cartoon

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Commentary on Ratero Cartoon

Submitted May 18, 2004 - 5:24 pm by Al Giordano
Mexico is sometimes so proud that it seems to think sometimes that it invented corruption, too!

While I found the Cabrón Ratero piece to be about as deep as a children's wading pool, the artist, Makloon, is clearly a genius (do you know this guy?). As can be seen from clicking on many of the other animated online cartoons he's created...

http://www.elcerebro.com/archivo/

I especially recommend "El Wey"...

http://www.elcerebro.com/archivo/bush_rey.htm

And also "Emenem" (about Argentina's disgraced ex-president Carlos Menem)...

And for the non politically correct, "VampiSec" is worth a peek.

Among others.

But here's what I found shallow about the Ratonero cartoon: it places "AMLO" (Mexico City Governor Andrés Manuel López Obrador) on the same level as the other politicos and functionaries who did get caught with their fingers in the till. That's not a fair characterization. The reason why the (Salinista, Foxista, Gringuista) Commercial Media is engaged in a bombastic campaign to smear AMLO at all costs by the corruption of others is because he's figured out the secret to avoiding that trap: Never enrich yourself through public office.

AMLO's ambitions are greater than his own personal enrichment, which he seems willing to sacrifice toward the bigger goal: becoming president in 2006. And that is giving him a teflon that becomes harder and more impermeable with every attack.

But, then again, to paraphrase my pal Paul Krassner who was with us last weekend at the Uppie Awards: "It takes a village to crucify a savior."

not fair with AMLO (my guess)

Submitted May 20, 2004 - 10:32 pm by Ricardo Sala
I can't get to see the animation, but judging by the picture and Al's comment it places AMLO as corrupt.

City govnr AMLO as well as Pres Fox are known among most serious communicators to be honest non-corrupt high mexican government officers.

That doesn't mean they are efficient.

But AMLO is ---contrary to Fox--- a genius of media handling, speech delivering and political negotiation. For example he delivers a shop-bills worth $600 (USD$50) to people over 70 --which makes family-oriented mexicans happy, and makes the owners of the stores happy.

On the other hand, like most public officers, AMLO has not been very good at long-term policy and investment. Among other things he got the head environmental officer to waste most of her much-needed time and attention directing the construction of a second floor system exclusive for private auto transit.

So that's our Andrés Manuel López Obrador. He is still regarded as the most probable president of Mexico starting December 2006.

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