George Santos and Mexico's President Obrador Have a Lot in Common 03-19-23
From America's Premier Editorial Cartoonist
By Michael P. Ramirez
On March 3rd, four Americans traveling in a white minivan from Texas to Matamoros, Mexico for cosmetic surgery were shot and abducted by Mexican drug cartel members. Shocking video showed Cartel members dragging the bodies of the Americans and throwing them into the back of a pickup truck and driving off.
Two Americans were killed in the attack, along with an innocent female Mexican bystander. The two kidnapped and wounded Americans were rescued two days later.
In response, the U.S. State Department issued a strong travel advisory to Americans traveling to Mexico. Six Mexican states were issued a “do not travel” advisory, seven additional states were listed one tier down to “reconsider travel” and seventeen others were listed as “exercise extreme caution.” Out of the 32 states in Mexico only two, Yucatan and Campeche are listed as “exercise normal precaution.” Crime and kidnapping are listed as the cause for the advisories.
More than 100,000 people are officially missing across Mexico. Recently, authorities discovered two more mass graves containing 31 bodies in western Mexico, the victims of more gang violence. (continued below)
Yet, the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador claimed on March 13th that, “Mexico is safer than the United States.” It is just one of many, many lies told by Obrador.
Mexico’s murder rate is four times the rate of the United States. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Mexico has the 9th highest intentional homicide rate per 100,000 in the world. They have a higher homicide rate than either Iraq or Afghanistan.
The U.S. is number 60.
President López Obrador claimed that Mexico does not produce Fentanyl.
“U.S. Authorities believe that most illegal fentanyl is produced in clandestine labs in Mexico using Chinese precursor chemicals,” according to an article by the Associated Press. And U.S. law enforcement officials complain that Mexican officials are refusing to cooperate in targeting fentanyl labs in Mexico.
On Friday, President López Obrador blamed the U.S. fentanyl crisis on American families for a “lack of hugs, of embraces.”
At the same time, Obrador is undermining Mexico’s democratic institutions.
The once shocking videos of gunmen assassinating people in the streets and on the beaches, the decapitations and hangings, and the missing people, have all become the norm in Mexico.
What is also shocking, is that George Santos actually thinks he can get reelected to congress.
On Tuesday, Santos officially filed paperwork declaring his candidacy for 2024.
The only politician responsible for more ridiculous pronouncements, and murdering the truth more often than López Obrador is New York’s own Republican congressman, George Santos.
Santos has about as much of a chance of winning his congressional seat as López Obrador has of ending corruption and crime in Mexico. But in the world of brazen, audacious, and bare-faced lying, they are both gold medal winners.
Santos has claimed that he graduated from NYU, was a star volleyball player at Baruch College, worked for Goldman Sachs, founded a charity called Friends of Pets United, and owned dozens of properties in New York State. He claimed he was Jewish, his grandparents had escaped from the Holocaust and his mother died in the 9/11 attacks in 2001… and again five years later on Dec 26th, 2016.
Uh…. No.
Santos has been accused of credit card skimming and puppy stealing. Questions about his campaign finances are starting to multiply.
Republicans would be wise to disassociate themselves completely from Santos. They have enough credibility problems with the geniuses that run their party, without tarnishing their chances further in 2024. Republicans could win the House, the Senate, and even the presidency, in 2024… but never underestimate their ability to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory.
President López Obrador will be termed out in 2024.
If Republicans were smart, maybe they could convince Santos to run for President of Mexico. Clearly, by the standards of López Obrador, he is eminently qualified for office there.
Perhaps he could run as Anthony Devolder López Obrador?
But asking Republicans to be smart is like telling Santos to be truthful.
Have a great week.
Best,
-m
Recent essays & cartoons by Michael Ramirez:
The Shocking Truth About Energy Production
My Lunch with Ray Bradbury and the Future of AI
Visit the T-Shirt Store, Michael P. Ramirez Store (for special requests write to: ramireztoons@gmail.com)
Original Website: michaelpramirez.com See cartoons in Spanish HERE
Click on mylvrj.com/ramirez to enjoy two months of the Review-Journal for just 99 cents.
FROM MELISSA:
Thanks for subscribing and sharing. Please let us know what you think of Michael’s cartoons and essays in the comments, or drop us a line at ramireztoons@gmail.com
As you can imagine, we receive many emails, and Michael reads everything you send with one exception; I regret that I cannot share your cartoon ideas. As an editorial artist, everything he publishes must spring from his own mind, though I will happily forward your good wishes, complaints, concerns about issues, or opinions about politicians who seem to make a mess of everything. Michael tries to keep his finger on the pulse of America, so what’s on your mind? What can we do better? Let us know in the comments or by email. We love hearing from you and will do our best to respond as soon as possible.
Best,
Melissa Praemonitus (editor and personal manager for Michael P. Ramirez)