Adventures of the Coconut Caucus

Nothing like a group of politicians pretending that they ever ride a bus to bring out the graffiti artist in all of us… And nothing like being tagged while promoting an anti-gang initiative.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Officials say a high school student scribbled graffiti on a bus that Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other dignitaries were riding in during a photo-op.

Witnesses say the boy tagged the rear exit of the bus with a marker as the officials rode around a South Los Angeles school to showcase efforts to improve student safety in the gang-plagued neighborhood.

At least one news organization captured the tagger on camera.

According to the LA Times:

As word of the incident rippled through the crowd, Villaraigosa asked that the bus be stopped to catch the tagger. Officials soon thought better of the idea, and rather than create a traffic hazard at a busy intersection, pledged to identify and deal with the student today.

Apparently, while everybody else is focused on Iraq, the members, and possible future ex-members of the Hispanic Caucus are engaging in “marathon” closed door non-binding negotiations to see if Baca in actuality called Loretta a whore or a puta, or if all the women should leave the caucus except Grace Napolitano, or if they should split up into 3 Hispanic Caucuses.

According to the Press Telegram

The leadership of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus could get a makeover…

The article informs us of another ultra minor squable we totally overlooked.

He [Baca] has admitted in published reports to having called Solis a “kiss-up” to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco. Baca publicly apologized for the remark.

We also learn that 3 “unnamed males” have also threatened to quit if Solís and the other Sánchez sister leave the Caucus… Let me guess, Silvestre Reyes is not one of them.

And just when we think it is all lost, we find out this:

An aide for Solis has said that discussions include possibly splitting the chairmanship into three posts, each focused on different policy areas. Baca did not return calls seeking comment on the possibility of a three-chair leadership format.

(The article then goes on to inform us that the majority of the Caucus Members are either Mexican American or Puerto Rican… hello? they ALL are either Mexican or Boricua, except Solis who is only half Mexican, and the 2 non Hispanics that joined somehow)

(Can someone get Baca to answer his phone? And while we are at it, We NEED someone to bring the official Hispanic Caucus website out of its “renovation”)

So we totally can’t wait to hear the results of these super secret meetings, and as soon as there are “published reports” we will feel free to comment fully.

Meanwhile Baca tries to redeem himself with this lame press release

Looks like the FCC finally hired someone that speaks Spanish…. if they do their job I predict more fines to come…

Univision agrees to record $24M fine, official says

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s largest Spanish-language broadcaster has agreed to a record $24 million fine for failing to meet government rules for educational children’s programming, a Federal Communications Commission official said Saturday.

The penalty is part of a consent decree that would pave the way for Univision Communications (UVN) to complete its $12.3 billion sale to private investors.

The penalty involves charges that 24 Univision stations between 2004 and early 2006 circumvented guidelines on airing educational children’s programs by running soap operas aimed mainly at adults.

Under a 1996 law, television broadcasters are required to air at least three hours a week of educational shows for children.

Univision had maintained that it met those requirements by broadcasting several telenovelas, or soap operas.

In case you haven´t watched the show, the telenovela in question revolves around a baby stolen at birth and several illicit love affairs, kidnapping and child labor, etc. The show which comes from México, is listed as a telenovela there on its own website.

I am sure the Caucus is up to many important things, but I am taking a Carnaval break.
(And so should you)

We were shocked to learn this week, that law upholder Tom Tancredo, was turned over to federal authorities for being illegal, (sort of.)

The incident started when the smoke from Tancredo’s illegal Cuban cigar crossed the border illegally into the office of Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), the Capitol Police were called, but the officer refused to arrest Tancredo based on the complicated and broken non-smoking laws that are ignored daily in the Capitol.

As illegal lawbreakers do, Tancredo said he did nothing wrong, because he was smoking way before Ellison came to the Capitol. (and he also has TPS).

Tancredo said he would not stop smoking in his office. “Heck, no!” (we won´t go) he said.