LA Quick Hits: Calderon Wins, Calderon Cuts, Hugo Boss, Fidel's Fiesta, Uribe Strikes and Ecuador Doesn't

• It was as messy as promised but Calderon made it to the Chamber of Deputies. Calderon was only there about four minutes but he put one on AMLO who, as always, gambled everything and lost. LAT notes that 42% don't believe that Calderon won fair and square not mentioned his 60% approval rate or that AMLO's is less than half that. The US delegation which managed to witness the brouhaha included Bush 41, the Governator and Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Gov. Perry was not flustered by the turmoil on the floor.
• Calderon set forth three priorities: restore security, reduce illegal immigration to the US with jobs and fight poverty.
  
• Calderon's first action was to call for an austerity program (en esp.) to slash government and bureaucratic costs and salaries. This had been an AMLO idea. Calderon deftly kept the armed forces out of the plan (en esp.) and even seeks to improve conditions for them. He also promised to establish universal health care.
  
• On the opinion page NYT hopes that Calderon can accomplish what he has set out to do but chides him for buckling already to business interests. Dallas Morning News is hopeful that Calderon is going to get his way and beat back the populist/authoritarian threat. Both papers seemed relieved the ineffectual Fox is no more.
  
• According to Hugo it is perfectly possible that some TV stations could go dark for failing to heed his call. Chavez figures that victory will give him carte blanche - he says so himself.
• Fidel's party went on with Raul leading the parade. In his jeep was Ramiro Valdes, Juan Almeida and Guillermo Garcia - no name, no nothing commanders from Sierra Maestra. Fidel's fellow tank riding commanders, Huber Matos and Camilo, were unavailable.
• Miami Cubiches aren't the only ones waiting for biology and time to ultimately take down Fidel.
• Colombia clamps down on paramilitaries currently incarcerated. A rumor of escape set Prez Uribe off.
  
• A general strike in Bolivia by the opposition did not cripple the country.