So Mel and Hil had their meeting this afternoon, which resulted in OMG BREAKING NEWS: celebrity sexytime Costa Rican President Oscar Arias will mediate "talks" between the democratically elected president Honduras and its illegal coup parasite regime. Whatever.
The point is that "illegal coup parasite regime" is sort of an awkward phrase to use over and over again, but what other word strings convey the same feeling? Let's take a look at what others are calling these evil golpistas, and figure out What It All Means™...after the jump.
The Obama Administration has actually been pretty consistent on all this, referring Roberto Micheletti's coup government as a de facto regime, in contrast to a de jure, or legal government. In fact at a press conference on Sunday, one "Senior Administration Official" actually corrected a reporter for calling it something else.
The Washington Post knows nothing if not how to ingratiate themselves with the sitting administration, so they tend to play it right, referring to the usurpers as a de facto government, or sometimes even "coup leaders," bonus!
The New York Times slips, but only a little, referring often to a de facto government, but sometimes a "new government."
Reuters messes up, in this story referring not only to the "interim" government (three times!) but calling Micheletti's minions a caretaker government twice. WTF?
But the Associated Press wins a special prize, for awfulness. Here they just tie themselves in knots to not only legitimize, but justify the armed overthrow of a democratic system. Marvel at this phraseology:
"The interim government -- named by Congress to replace Zelaya's administration after a fight over his effort to stage a constitutional referendum that the Supreme Court ruled illegal -- remained steadfast in saying he would not be allowed to return."Gaah!!! Why do you hate democracy, AP?
Comments (6)
richmx2: A big difference is that whatever the reality of the vote counting dispute, at the end Felipe Calderon was in fact recognized as the elected President of Mexico by the region and by international institutions.
So, though Lopez Obrador's supporters may have used the 'de facto' or 'gobierno ilegitimo' phrase, it's not like it was 'de jure' as true too.
We'll have to see if some narco-connected Mexican general overthrows Calderon and claims a court asked him too or on an argument that Calderon had violated the Constitution.
Posted by El Cid
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July 8, 2009 7:54 AM
Posted on July 8, 2009 07:54
Whatever happened to "junta"? Junta seems entirely appropriate.
Posted by Bunk
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July 8, 2009 7:34 AM
Posted on July 8, 2009 07:34
Speaking of military coup crazies and mediation, what's up with Noriega?
No matter how hard he tries, he can't seem to get himself sent back to Panama to face murder charges.
What a weird bizzarro world we live in.
Posted by Bosque
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July 8, 2009 3:38 AM
Posted on July 8, 2009 03:38
Actually, the U.S. is showing some progress. Now, it's the "de facto regime".
Here in Mexico, the Lopez Obrador supporters are always careful to call Felipe Caleron the "de facto presidency"... it's a FACTO of life, and -- like the coup-mongers in Tegacigalpa, they're the dudes picking up the garbage, delivering the mail, not filling the potholes in the streets -- doing the stuff the government does, even if they are the illegitmate one.
Posted by richmx2
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July 7, 2009 11:38 PM
Posted on July 7, 2009 23:38
Turns out it isn't just us crazy biased leftist U.S. elitists concerned with Colombia's conservatives depending on narco-paramilitaries to support their governing and electoral strategies.
Unless someone secretly replaced the Colombian judiciary and civil servants with new instant decaf U.S. fringe lefties:
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However, please nobody tell the Honduran military, because then they'd have to overthrow the Colombian government and replace Uribe with some other dude from the legislature, because, hey, why not?
Posted by El Cid
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July 7, 2009 10:56 PM
Posted on July 7, 2009 22:56
AP also tried to tell us Bruce Ivins was in both his home town AND in Princeton mailing anthrax at the same time. Any day now, they'll be peddleing Amway and Black Water stock -- um, Xe stock to their dominionist audience. They are Authorized Propaganda, after all.
Posted by Elizabeth Ferrari
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July 7, 2009 6:26 PM
Posted on July 7, 2009 18:26