[R-G] Fwd: Hopey Heals a Hemisphere

[Anthony Fenton]

http://www.borev.net/2008/11/hopey_heals_a_hemisphere.html
>
> Hey did you hear about those elections? Whathisname won, you know,  
> "that one." You may have read something about it. Anyway the city of  
> Washington turned into one big crazy street party and your editor  
> became instantly and ridiculously drunk and then hung over, which is  
> to say we didn't post anything yesterday, because of democracy. As  
> it turns out, our whole entire "back yard" seems to have an opinion  
> on this Obama character, too. It's funny to watch all the DC "think  
> tank" ding dongs say they want the next president to "pay more  
> attention" to the region while the region is like, "no, really just  
> stay the fuck out of our way, thanks." We've got a roundup of Latin  
> American Obama reactions, after the jump. But first, let's all share  
> a laugh at the way the New York Times introduced a comment from  
> Venezuela:
> "Even in lands whose leaders are no friends of Washington, the  
> election outcome cut through official propaganda to touch some  
> people."
> Because, you know, "official propaganda" is the only information  
> available in Venezuela? Because there's no...internet? Or CNN? Or  
> hundreds of daily newspapers? And the Venezuelan government would  
> want to keep the people from hearing about U.S. elections?  
> Seriously, what does this mean? Moving on...
> Hey waddaya know? Rich Venezuelans and poor Venezuelans reacted  
> exactly opposite to the election, as always, except for the part  
> where everybody hates Bush and likes Obama
> Chavez weighs in: ``The historic election of an Afro-descendant to  
> the head of the most powerful country in the world is a sign that  
> the change that's been carried out in South America may be reaching  
> the doorstep of the U.S.'' Ha ha, nice touch.
> Evo's like great, yeah, fuck off: "My greatest wish is that Mr.  
> Obama can end the Cuba embargo, take troops out of some countries,  
> and also surely relations between Bolivia and the United States will  
> improve."
> Lula, too: ``I hope the blockade of Cuba ends, because it no longer  
> has any justification in the history of humanity.''
> Crisitina channels her inner Princess Leia: `I know we can count on  
> you, and I want you to know that you can count on my sincere  
> friendship.''
> This being the Castro administration's 23rd odd US president, they  
> are, hilariously, resigned: "If Obama takes some action to ease the  
> embargo, it would be welcomed and of course it would be of help, but  
> we're prepared for conditions to remain the same." In other words,  
> whatevs.
> No comment from President Death Squad, although the former US  
> ambassador to Colombia says ``Obama will criticize Uribe harshly,  
> something Bush never did, and will be tougher on him over human  
> rights abuses.'' Sweet.
> Read more…
>