...or should we be paying more attention to the Mexican election?

Let's have a pop quiz!

The last president of Mexico was:

A) Vincente Fox

B) Jose Wolfe

C) Chico Esqualla

OK, that was easy.

The present population of Mexico is:

A) 210 million

B) 100 million

C) 106 million

The answer is "C" and no, it doesn't count the 12 million or so folks that are currently in temporary residence north of the Rio Grande.

Last question: How long is the president's term of office in Mexico?

A) 4 years

B) 2 years

C) 6 years

If you answered "C", give yourself a gold star.

I don't know about you but, we are rapidly approaching the limits of my knowledge of the political system of our neighbors to the South. I don't know much more about Canada (pop. 32.5 million) but somehow that doesn't seem as troublesome. (Quick...Who is the Prime Minister of Canada... Stephen Harper.)

I do know that in WWI, the Germans offered Mexico help in recovering Texas, (I suggest returning Crawford), and other state lands in return for joining the German war effort. (Are those Germans sneaky or what?)

Mexico declined the honor, but if Mexico were not an ally of the US, our world would be a very different place.

This bit of rambling arises because Mexico is in the middle of an election crisis that makes Bush/Gore 2000 look like...well, Canada. In case you haven't made it to page six or eight of your local paper (eleven in the Wash Post today), Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (that's one guy) lost a split decision to Felipe Calderon. Mr. Lopez Obredor is contesting the result and has demanded a complete recount.

Anyone familiar with the terrain and political conditions in central and southern Mexico is amazed that any government was able to count the ballots the first time, let alone twice. The election tribunal has agreed to recount 9% of the 42 million ballots cast. Nine percent? Where's Katherine Harris and the Rehnquist Court when you need them?

Anyway, those that understand such things have ruled that the original election results look pretty accurate with a minimum amount of fraud. Clearly, there's no place in Mexico called Chicago.

The issue in Mexico now is that Mr. Lopez Calderon is not bowing out gracefully. He has organized (maybe not the best word) thousands of his supporters in Mexico City to camp out in the streets and bring the city's already heinous traffic to a complete standstill. Mr. Lopez Obrador himself is living in a tent in the main square.

Regardless of how this resolves itself, America should be wary of anything that looks like instability so close to our southern flank. What if the new Mexican government finds common cause with Hugo Chevez or Brother Raul? Considering the Bush administration's success at coalition-building you can understand why Texans feels the need to carry guns.

But fear not. Thus far the administration has spoken wisely which is to say, not at all. Even if those wonderful people who brought you the coalition of the willing manage to botch our relationship with our southern neighbors by interferring in their election, there's always Canada.