Remember Vicente Fox? The famous pal of GWB (who now calls Bush the cockiest guy he ever met) and devotee of open borders? The man who was full of anti-America trash talk near the end of his reign?

The former Presidente is now living the good life, in the fashion of a retired servant of the Mexican oligarchy. Yes, he is quite comfy in his deluxe rancho, thanks to his successful political career.

But he made the mistake of displaying the goodies a little too openly and critics are questioning the source of the wealth.

Photos in a Mexican celebrity magazine have opened a window on Vicente Fox’s post-presidential life and prompted a public debate about political enrichment in Mexico.

The magazine, Quién, published a cover story this month on Fox and former first lady Martha Sahagún at their newly renovated ranch, complete with a pool, artificial lake and expansive gardens.

Mexican newspaper columnists and radio hosts immediately questioned whether the former leader had earned enough as president to afford such luxuries, raising the specter of corruption that had clouded many earlier Mexican administrations.
[Pundits question former Mexican president's affluent lifestyle Seattle Times 9/21/07]

Pricey architecture, paintings, oriental carpets, wine cellar, swimming pool — the place is a millionaire’s palace with a few cattle retained so he can model his collection of cowboy hats. Here’s Vicente at work in his “office”.

Check out the photo spread for yourself: Quien - Los Fox. (Here’s the computer-translated version for some goofy English.)

As we saw with the Duke lacrosse case, there’s a powerful hunger in modern America for tales of white violence against innocent blacks. So, on Thursday, the national media descended on the small Louisiana town of Jena as the Revs. Jesse and Al protested a racially charged case in which six young men stomped a high school student into unconsciousness.

Of course, things being the way they are these days, the protesters in Jena were on the side of the stompers, not the stompee.

A local minister, Eddie Thompson (who was one of the earliest critics of white racism in Jena), has posted on the Internet a list of everything the national media has gotten wrong about the Jena story. I’ve taken the liberty of rearranging it and shortening it, so go here to see the original:

- Jena does have racial problems. Jena does have bigotry and prejudice, just like every other town in America, perhaps even worse than some. If there were no racial problems, there would have been no nooses hung from a tree. There would not be one white student beaten and six black students charged with attempted second-degree murder. The local ministers would not have hurriedly called a meeting to deal with the issue. The cameras of the world would not have focused their lenses on Jena.

- The actions of the three white students who hung the nooses (on a tree at the high school) demonstrate prejudice and bigotry. However, they were not just given “two days suspension” as reported by national news agencies. After first being expelled, then upon appeal, being allowed to re-enter the school system, they were sent to an alternative school, off-campus, for an extended period of time. They underwent investigations by Federal and Sate authorities. They were given psychological evaluations. Even when they were eventually allowed back on campus they were not allowed to be a part of the general population for weeks.

- There was no “fight” on December 4, 2006 at Jena High School, as the national media continues to characterize the event in question. Six students attacked a single student who was immediately knocked unconscious. According to sworn testimony, they stomped him, as he lay “lifeless” upon the ground.

- Justin Barker, the white student attacked, was not the first white student targeted by these black students. Others had been informed they were going to be beaten, but stayed away from school and out of sight until they felt safe.

(more…)

Here’s a comment from reader “Philly Guy” on my posting about whether there’s a g factor of athleticism:

I don’t think “athleticism” is just a byword for black. What is meant by athleticism (as opposed to athletic ability, which is a much broader and more nebulous concept) is the ability to move one’s body quickly (in the sense of acceleration, change of direction, and top speed) and powerfully. This is largely a function biomechanics and musculo-tendon physiology and chemistry. Differences in physique and physiology clearly give blacks an advantage over whites in this respect and the word “athleticism” is applied to them much more often because they are much more likely to possess a high degree of “athleticism.”

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Jim and Margie Rook were killed on June 24 of 2006. The Ohio couple had nearly reached their vacation destination of Destin, Florida, when their car was struck head-on by a truck driven by a drunk illegal alien, Jesus Bernard.

Just as his trial was about to begin a few days ago, he agreed to a plea deal that will give him a prison sentence of 38-55 years. The family was relieved because it meant the couple’s teenage daughter Kylie and adult son Chris wouldn’t have to testify.

Bernal pleaded no contest Monday to three counts of DUI manslaughter and two counts of DUI with serious bodily injury. He will be sentenced for the crimes Oct. 18.

Prosecutor Ryan Love said he was surprised by the plea, which came on the day a jury was to be selected to try Bernal.

“We were not making any (deal) offers to him,” Love said.

James Rook, 43, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and his wife, Margie, 41, died June 24, 2006, when Bernal’s truck collided head-on with their car on U.S. Highway 331 in Walton County.
(See news clip version of the story.)
[ Man pleads no contest to three counts of DUI manslaughter Northwest Florida Daily News 9/17/07]

Jim and Margie were well known in the town of Blue Ash, a suburb of Cincinnati. Jim co-founded the band the Fast Forward (his “other family”) and had played drums and sang with the group for 23 years. The band has a memorial page as part of its website which makes clear that the couple was fun-loving, warm-hearted and had many friends. Jim’s day job was as a surgical tech at Deaconess Hospital in Cincinnati.

Kylie, 14, was in her parents’ car at the time of the accident and received minor injuries. She moved in with her aunt and uncle after the crash and was at least able to continue attending the same school and live close to her old neighborhood. Chris has begun a lawncare business and plays in the band Langus. But they face the rest of their lives without the loving presence of their parents because Washington prefers open borders over national sovereignty.