The Zócalo Awaits

As is the case every September 15, the Mexican President will cry out Viva México to throngs of festive citizens from the balcony overlooking Mexico City's Zócalo this evening. As has been the case for the past three years, Andrés Manuel López Obrador believes he should be the one doing the honors. AMLO and his adversaries have reached a rather silly agreement to accommodate his hurt feelings, with el Peje offering a what-might-have-been grito to his supporters in the earlier evening, before they all must clear out by 10 to make way for the official festivities. This arrangement, as well as the general refusal of AMLO's to adapt to the events of July 2nd, 2006, has brought criticism from many quarters, including his own party.