Today in LA...

• Colombia and the US have signed a new trade pact but its prospects are dim now that the Dems are coming over. WaPost touches on increasing nervousness in LA over the new Dem Congress. Personally I think it is a nefarious Dem plot to secure electoral victories in perpetuity. Here's how it goes - nix free trade down south sinking economies and boosting unemployment. This then encourages people to jump the border to the US, stand up for the illegals and promise them the world, ensure the right to driver's licenses and allow lax enforcement of motor voter and viola - a Dem Majority!
• LAT has a good and depressing piece on the collapse of civil society in northern Mexico specifically Nuevo Laredo. The pusillanimous Fox Admin took years to address the violence and its only significant measure - sending in federal cops - has since been rescinded. At the HoustonChron a death of a local cacique in Acayucan demonstrates that violence in Mexico is not exclusive to the border towns.
• NYT is a bit late on the news that the completely worthless Fox Admin waited until the 11th hour to put out an 800 page report detailing what everyone already knew - that three former presidents had used violence, torture and murder to subdue dissidents and enemies. Only one is still alive and genocide charges against him were thrown out when a judge ruled that the statute of limitations had expired.
• Both the OAS and the EUnuchs will have observers present for the Venezuelan elections. Even worse news - the Carter Center will be there too.
  
• 17 cents a gallon! Holy crap! That is what Venezuelans pay for gas and apparently that is not going to change anytime soon since left, right and center all agree that this is a good thing. Of course this creates inefficiencies and costs the government billions in lost revenue but that's LA for ya.
• The Herald reports on an effort to boost Nicaragua's economy; the Millennium Challenge Corporation is funding it.
• Let's get this party started right/ Let's get this party started quickly - lame ass hit but proper sentiment to the rumors that Castro is not in good shape. Trust me if he croaks you'll want to be in Miami for the party.
• The opposition to Evo in the Bolivian Senate is promising to boycott in the hopes of stalling some of his "reforms." Evo is ticked.