Las Politicas

Whew.  What a day o’Bush.  I am SO over GW already, and I haven’t even been to the gym yet…  Here is the play-by-play of today, in true Teri Hagen writing style.  (By “writing style” those of you who know me know it means that I just throw out what I am thinking and hope that its decipherable to others.)

So, here at Mage, we realize that there is some chaos happenin’ outside of our windows in that mess of 45 & I10 & Allen Parkway.  Mind you, we have HUGE windows so we get a fantastic view of HPD having a field day closing every road in sight.  What a mess!! I mean, that stuff was backed up for MILES.  After the entire office piled into the conference room for 15 minutes to enjoy the hype of the preparations for The Geeb, we get to finally see the 50 car (no Priuses, mind you.  All 6-ton armoured gas-guzzlers) motorcade scootin’ down AP.  I totally told the kids here that we know, K-N-O-W, that Bush is totally chillaxin’ in that limo, reading US Weekly or some garbage (Highlights, maybe?), gnawin’ on some beef jerky (peppered, of course.) and drinking a Big Red.  Make that a Diet Big Red.  Girl’s gotta watch her figure, you know. 

Same scenario right at noon.  Noon.  In downtown Houston.  Thanks, guy.  The citizens who are now faced with being 45 minutes late back to their offices after that well-deserved lunch at Christian’s Tailgate (best burgers in the city, yo) are PISSED.

So, then- Instant Karma.  Congress hands the Traffic Tyrant an overthrown veto for lunch.  Thank goodness someone finally agreed that we need to focus cash here and not on an unwinnable war.  (Did I totally just make that word up??  Profs??)

So, above we have a pic of the mess caused out there today, and below, a picture of another large horse’s ass from the Ren Fest.

Heading to get my cardio on at my new gym,

TH

Bush, Mexico and the Supreme Court seemed to be having a problem figuring out what to do with a Mexican national inmate on death row. Under the Vienna Convention nationals of any country when arrested in the United States or any other nation that they are not a citizen of have the right to diplomatic discussions with either the embassy or the consulate. In 1993 when Jose Medellin, a Mexican national  was arrested after the murdered remains of Jennifer Ertman age 14 and Elizabeth Pena 16 were discovered, the Houston Police Department did not notify the Mexican consulate. Medellin could have had a diplomatic representative along with his attorney present.  Medellin went on to give a verbal and written confession of the rapes and homicides which resulted in his conviction and death sentence.  Mexico went before the World Court and presented this case which resulted in the World Court ruling in Mexico’s favor. The ruling stated that Medellin could get another trial and the United States said they would comply with the ruling, but then later withdrew the agreement…until now.  The Texas judiciary is up in arms about this because…well…the State of Texas likes to execute people. The Solicitor General has said that Texas did not violate the convention codes.

The Bush administration is concerned whether or not they are violating international law…hmmm. That’s is really interesting because this is the first I have ever heard of a unilateralist administration caring whether or not they are in violation of international law. International law has ruled against the United States several times and the US has ignored it. It is odd that Bush is split in this decision specifically…One because Bush rarely ever granted clemency to death row inmates as Governor and..Two..Does Bush really want to anger Conservatives anymore than he has already? The question of Executive power and Federalism is being debated on a rather angry level. This should be really interesting to see where this goes.

On a side note…I would like to say that I am also unsure of what results I want to see from this. The rape and deaths of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena will be something I will never forget.  I was in the same age range as them when this crime occurred.  The girls simply happened upon a gang initiation in a wooded area off of TC Jester.  The unspeakable savage violence that was brought upon them stunned the citizens of Houston. Medellin showed no remorse for the acts he committed.

Caroline

I happened upon a protest at Greenway Plaza on Friday and I managed to get a few pictures from the event. I have searched through the local news to see who was in Greenway plaza. The banner read “Israel Out of Palestine” and when I rolled down my car window I heard a chant that would be considered anti-Semitic by some.  The Israeli Palestinian conflict is something that I chose never to discuss… as the topic is a hot button issue, but I did want to share my pictures from my blackberry. Caroline 

Conservation is something that does not occur in our fair city. On my way to work today I stopped by my favorite evil corporate coffee place (Starbucks) and noticed that the all of the buildings around the drive thru Starbucks have been demolished. This is the drive through Starbucks at the River Oaks shopping center. The Black Eyed Pea where I had so many mediocre meals is gone…in its place sat a bulldozer making way for high rise condos or a Barnes and Noble. I signed the damn petition that was going around.  The demolition has only begun on one side of the shopping center. The movie theater hasn’t been done away with…yet.

That area is rather strange there are two Starbucks directly across from each other. That to me demonstrates the break down of authenticity with American consumerism. They sell exactly the same product yet they are directly across from each other. During the Soviet era several social scientist predicted two extremes with the future of western civilization. Either the world would conquered by Marxist practices or corporations would take over the world. The only structure left standing in the middle of the River Oaks ground zero is Starbucks…Is this foreshadowing for a corporate take over?

Caroline