President Obama Goes South of the Border
EmailGUADALAJARA, Mexico — As the leaders of the United States, Mexico and Canada gathered this evening, they were to talk about normal summit issues such as climate change and economic recovery — including resolving a tariff dispute centered on the issue of Mexican trucking in the United States.
As President Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon flew to Guadelajara, Mexico, first and foremost on their agenda were preparations for flu season and the H1N1 "swine" flu — the outbreak of which started in Mexico.
White House homeland security czar John Brennan said it is crucial to collaborate with Mexico and Canada on vaccine development and distribution, and ways to communicate with populations on how to best prevent the spread of the illness.
"I think everybody recognizes that H1N1 is going to be a challenge for all of us," Brennan said Friday, "and there are people who are going to be getting sick in the fall and die."
Another life-and-death issue on the table is President Calderon's war against Mexican drug cartels, which only appear to be getting stronger.
Drug-related deaths in Mexico since Calderon became president in December 2006 passed 12,000 this month. Despite some human rights groups' criticisms of Mexican army behavior, President Obama stands firmly with Calderon as the cartels have increasingly branched out into the United States.
"We have responsibilities to reduce the trafficking of guns into the South that help strengthen these cartels, and the flows of money and money laundering," Obama said June 29.
More on the president's trip South of the border HERE.
-jpt
Obama: 'Now Is the Time For Common Sense Action' 
Romney Takes Aim at Conservatives
This “South of the Border” is a country
and has a name.
Please, more respect about these issues.
Posted by: Arthur Sorensen | August 9, 2009, 8:56 pm 8:56 pm
Under NAFTA the U.S. was supposed to open up the U.S. market to Mexican truckers. We did not open up the market and they were acted within the agreement to impose tariffs. The idea of essentially signing a tariff to allow foreign nationals to work in the U.S. was a bad idea when the NAFTA was signed. In times of unemployment it is a worse idea. We plainly have too much cheap imported labor of all types. We grant VISAS in areas where there are not shortages (there are almost no areas of true shortage). We do not enforce out immigration law to the extent that there are 10-20 illegal immigrants in the country. We cater to the narrow interest of business, farmers and minority communities over the interest of American citizen workers and taxpayers. The war for out boarders should be a higher priority than the middle east wars.
Posted by: merchantilist | August 9, 2009, 11:22 pm 11:22 pm
“…..down Mex-ee-co way!” He deserves
to get out of DC for a while, before
he gets out of DC for a while, on
vacation….a crisp Chablis at sun-
rise, a horde of adoring press covering
each sip, as he “sits alone, pondering
his own greatness”. Martha’s Vineyard.
NOW, he has it made. He has arrived.
Posted by: Trajan | August 9, 2009, 11:54 pm 11:54 pm
Does anyone know, what is the difference between Janet Napolitano’s job as Secretary of Homeland Security and the job of White House Homeland Security Czar John Brennan?
Posted by: Tsar Nicky | August 10, 2009, 12:07 am 12:07 am
Does any one know the difference between Obama and Bush Jr.(?)…. Obama can properly say and spell “status quo”!!
Posted by: Phil | August 10, 2009, 4:25 am 4:25 am
No Drama Obama?
Thousands of Americans, many of them elderly, in the streets fighting against government takeover.
Not exactly the image Obama wants the world to see.
He’s trying hard to shut us up.
How is that any different than Ahmadinejad?
Posted by: max | August 10, 2009, 7:56 am 7:56 am
Get’s him away from the health care mobs. That’s a big plus…
Posted by: matt | August 10, 2009, 8:07 am 8:07 am
“Obama Goes South of the Border” Is that a euphemism for his poll numbers are dropping below 50%?
Why is there a Csar of Homeland Security if there is a cabinet position of the same name?
Posted by: Blue Skies | August 10, 2009, 9:05 am 9:05 am
“President Obama stands firmly with Calderon as the cartels have increasingly branched out into the United States.”
Close the borders! Now!
Posted by: Fed Up | August 10, 2009, 10:26 am 10:26 am
Close the borders! Now!
Posted by: Fed Up
Are you kidding? nancy pelosi would have a heart attack she wouldn’t have any illegal aliens to voting for her
Posted by: stardate: 2729.9 | August 10, 2009, 11:54 am 11:54 am
This country is really foolish, why? Mexico is California No. 1 Costumer and the U.S. Second in the world. In 1993 Mexico created almost 3 million Jobs in the U.S., because of Nafta. You can only imaging the millions of Jobs that have been created since NAFTA. (2009). Now because of Misinformation and ignorants, this country is losing millions of jobs. Mexico has now imposed tariffs on U.S. Imports. You have labor shortages, (Illegal Aliens) companies or downsizing, going out of business (Ice raids) and leaving the country. (Microsoft) Look at construction, Aliens who work were stimulated construction Jobs. Hear some more information that most Americans don’t know
Another lie is Illegal aliens don’t pay taxes. Ask the IRS. About their sit assed fund. Names that don’t match S.S. numbers. 100 billion a year and its being stolen. No name match. you can’t collect
Mexican trucking is as safe as their U.S. counterparts in fact long haul Mexican truckers have a safer record (California Highway Patrol and the U.S. Transportation department) will verify that. So who’s behind this misinformation and propaganda? Can you say the Teamsters union? “Bingo”
Most of the drug, guns and people smugglers are Americans or from the U.S. (legal statutes) and are involved in crimes in Mexico. Who do you think are kidnapping people in the U.S. along the border? their also involved in murders and assassinations in Mexico. Something the U.S will keep quiet for Embarrassment
The U.S. is more dangerous than Mexico for every 100.000 People 49 are murdered In the U.S. In Mexico 13 (F.B.I. United Nations statistics) I’m sure the rate in the Mexico was much lower before the drug war
Most of your Gang bangers are Americans. The Mexican mafia is not from Mexico, it’s from the U.S. The same with the MS-13
Swine flu does not come from Mexico. As always, there has to be blame on something foreign. The flu was in the U.S. month before Mexico. 36,000 People die from the flu in the U.S. no were near Mexico’s rate. The U.S. wish they had the flu cases that Mexico has. Its not uncommon for Mexican to live 90 and 100 in in Mexico. Overall their healthier then Americans. I’m not talking about Mexican American
Posted by: Gerald Arnoult | August 12, 2009, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
The Spanish flu, the Germen Measles, the Mexican fruit fly, the Hong Kong flu, the Russians flu. Ever heard to the All American flu, the Texas fruit fly?
The Spanish flu did not start in Spain it started in the U.S. investigate on the web. They said it came from a china men and mutated in the U.S. Aids was in the U.S. Before it was in Africa. U.S. Homosexual spread the Aids virus to Hattie (offering money to boys for sex) did you know that before the out brake of Aids it was giving to chimpanzees which were used for Medical experimentations. Don’t you find it perplexing that after the Vaccine B shot for hepatitis was giving to American Homosexuals they starting contraction Aids and other rear cancers? Don’t you find it perplexing that after 50 million Africans were giving the small pox Vaccine, Aids started on the African continent? “I do”
Posted by: Gerald Arnoult | August 12, 2009, 3:28 pm 3:28 pm