Mexico -- A Silver Lining Posted by Michael Signer

The coverage of the upcoming electoral stalemate in Mexico's Presidential election has an ominous tinge.  The New York Times tells us:

In the meantime, the way the candidates manage themselves and their supporters will determine whether or not this stalemate weakens or strengthens Mexico's young democracy.

After a tumultuous night in which both candidates claimed victory and held rowdy celebrations, conflicting feelings of concern rippled across a nation that is averse to political violence and that has lived through decades of electoral fraud.

Without being an expert on Mexico, I still think it's worth noting the silver lining here.  Mexico faces a test of the essential premise of the rule of law -- judicial review of political contests -- should prevail, no matter how much anxiety is provokes internally about possibilities.   And if the last two days of head-clutching are any indication, it's looking good that Mexico will take the democratic path this time around.

If Mexico -- a country that was run, dictatorially, by a single party for decades -- passes the test, it will demonstrate its ascension into the community of modern democracies.

Contested elections are perhaps the test par excellence of a democracy's strength.  They are messy and vexatious and inevitably partisan (the 1876 election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel Tilden came down to a party-line vote in Congressional committee, just as Bush v. Gore came down to Republican v. Democratic Justices on the Supreme Court). 

But it is the spirit in which these contested elections are conducted that tests the mettle (and proves the strength) of a democracy.  We should want Mexico's recount to be grinding, bureaucratic, vexatious, and nervewracking.  If it were conclusory or simple, it would be political, not judicial -- and that would mean backsliding toward Mexico's past.

Counting chads, waiting for judicial rulings, and hassling bureaucratic administrative officials -- not a good time, but good democracy.   

Comments

[Cal]

Counting chads, waiting for judicial rulings, and hassling bureaucratic administrative officials -- not a good time, but good democracy.

Are you honestly holding up our Brooks Brothers riot as a model for other countries?

I suppose I'm old fashioned, but having the Supreme Court play ward boss was not a victory for democracy and the rule of law, IMO.

[kamil]

There are certain things in life related to smoking that simply cannot :)
parça kontör
parça kontör bayiliği
parça kontör bayilik

[injection moulding]

Newspaper by China printing is very good quality and good prices.
Plastic products made by plastic injection molding services with low costs and supeior quality
Shoring scaffolding for construction is a very useful tool.

[cheap coach handbags]

Thank you for your sharing! I like i very much!

[monday]

This super video converter for mac is developed by Emicsoft Studio, it is currently the best video converter running under Mac os x, comparied by isqunite, Visualhub and other Free video converter for Mac, This video converter for Mac is more stable in converting video files and support more video formats.
thank you for sharing the post!it is good !
Convert VOB to AVI MAC
Convert FLV to AVI MAC
Convert MOV to AVI MAC
Convert WMV to AVI MAC
Convert MP4 to AVI MAC
Convert 3GP to AVI MAC
Convert MPEG to AVI MAC
Convert M4V to AVI MAC

[pandora jewelry]

Discount pandora charms is pandora usually formed by the Danish expensive jewelry artists Each Enevoldsen for 1979. In a little while this type of business enterprise has been mopping worldwide. He was quoted saying, pandora charms Ive never thought this Pandora has got delicious effect these days. One reason tends to be that we’ve been concerning about the new product pattern in addition to system superior quality, nevertheless the victory got here soundlessly. Via Early in the eightys, the happy pandora australia couple commonly imported out of Thailand pandora jewelry for full price as well as would a very long time inexpensive online business. After encountering several direction pandora.com.au means together with a solid develop sales, the happy couple decide to build their particular expensive jewelry plant around Thailand later. Inside 1989, they put in place a smaller manufacturing plant inside Bangkok and did start to prepare goods which designed by your pet designed for construct inside Thailand. During 2000, this wonderful pandora rings time Pandora bracelets that had been copyrighted plus created by the pup and sold in that Denmark market, which in turn shot to popularity speedily round the whole entire Pound.

[armani watch]

LOVE YOU Depeche Mode ?

[wow gold]

It could be Chile, it could be goodnight. I can't tell.

[fake watches]

viva chile mierda!

[cycling jerseys]

YES!!

[replica watches]

I'm not Chilean, but I spent 6 weeks there this summer and looooooved it. It was awesome.

[prom dresses on sale]

The first part of what the President said is sort of boilerplate: we won't impose democracy or our system of government on another country, yada-yada, even when we do.

[nutrition guide]

Today is a beautiful day, very warm greetings to all readers of this blog, regarding this article I would like to add that I found very creative, some time ago I tried to blog and the result was not very good, apart this I believe that the information is also cool. In general, congratulations to all who are related to the creation of this article.

[Asics Onitsuka Tiger]

Experience never misleads; what you are missed by is only your judgement, and this misleads you by anticipating results from experience of a kind that is not produced by your experements.

[Air Jordan]

Such a good writing, or by I saw for the first time. I'm quite happy, you are a good writer

[Lacoste Trainers]

Thank your for sharing your wonderful article. I very agree with your views from here.

[Onitsuka Tiger By ASICS]

Sorry for the huge review, but I'm really loving the new Zune,

[Yoga]

Thanks for your sharing,and you will enjoy the sunshine service

[sbobet]

I would like to say thanks for the time you took compiling this article. You’ve enlightening for me. I have forwarded this to a friend of mine.