LA Quick Hits: Calderon's Challenge(s), Mexican Mess, Manny To Go Free (Kind of), Hugo is Nice, Paper War Continues, Evo & ETA & More

• CSM closes out its excellent series on the troubles facing Calderon. The last piece focuses on the income gap in Mex.
• Speaking of Mex income Calderon said no gov't official should make more than him. Is that before or after bribes?
• Mexican tourism officials are freaked out over the new passport requirements that took affect Tuesday. They should be.
• A PRD official from Oaxaca was gunned down.
• W mentioned Cuba in the State of the Union last night, Ros-Lehtinen was predictably ecstatic. Somehow Fidel's nephews did provide a quote to the Herald. Meanwhile some lawmakers want to make life easier for Fidel and his posse.
  
• Manuel Noriega will be set "free" Sept. 9 although it appears that he will be extradited to France or Panama where he is wanted for crimes. The Panamanians want him but France is more likely to get him.
• US wants good relations with Correa - I doubt he does.
• I have no idea what Marcela Sanchez means when she calls Chavez' s 21st century socialism polite but she comes across like a fellow travelling apologist.
  
• A once prominent Chavista turns critic - too little too late.
• A pretty decent profile of Chavez's Venezuela in today's NYT. It features the best definition of Chavismo that I've seen thus far "It is a series of arbitrary improvisations from a fellow obeyed by everyone in his circle."
• ChiTrib has its own Chavez profile but it hits familiar points.
• Only the geniuses at Vigilia Mambisa could make a puny group of Chavez apologists look rational.
• World Court says Argentines can block bridges into Uruguay - Uruguay is steamed and Kirchner says that Uruguay has no choice but to talk to them now.
• Evo denies ties to ETA - liar!