cpchester has left 19 comments

cpchester comments on

Even with some basic/intermediate spanish, It would be easier to meet people in Medellin than NYC. For such an enormous city, NYC can be very impersonal. People are always busy and in a rush, and meeting strangers here outside of work is uncommon. Though most won't admit it, this city has changed since 9/11 and people generally have their guard up all the time. I have found the average Paisa to be exponentially more warm and welcoming than New Yorkers. That being said, NYC has endless options, though it comes with a price. It really is ungodly expensive here. Everyday tasks like grocery shopping can seem like hardships - logistically and economically. Going out regularly will bankrupt you fast. You sometimes need a team of navigators to help you escape the city sometimes. Medellin of course has it's own pro's and con's. I'm just sayin.

cpchester comments on Rahm Emanuel: Colombia Free Trade Agreement Doesn't Belong In New Stimulus Package

If it stays cheap for 28 years like it did after the oil embargo? Plenty. But no one is counting on that.

cpchester comments on Rahm Emanuel: Colombia Free Trade Agreement Doesn't Belong In New Stimulus Package

GM was greedy when gas was cheap and knew their model was unsustainable. It's an exact copy of the domestic airline industry- Greedy when times are good, looking for a bailout when times are tough. And they get it because Congress caves. It's a waste, and worse, a repeating cycle. Who is held accountable if they receive a bailout?

cpchester comments on Rahm Emanuel: Colombia Free Trade Agreement Doesn't Belong In New Stimulus Package

I know this forum is about Colombia, but the only way GM should be bailed out is if it files bankruptcy. That way, the senior management can be fired and the UAW-forced health insurance beneifts and wage structures can be scaled back by the Court. Right now, GM employees and retirees pay NO co-pays or deductables which is ludicrous. Also, GM should scrap its Pontiac & Buick divisions immediately, sell Saab to the Swedish govt, shutter Hummer, and concentrate on Chevy and Caddy. They make too make cars nobody wants. Nissan, Honda and Toyota all make cars in the U.S. in lower cost, non-union plants in the South at a profit. That's what America wants - not a Buick Lucerne. GM and Ford are failed business models and throwing money at them without insisting on fundamental changes through the bankruptcy court is a total waste.

cpchester comments on Rahm Emanuel: Colombia Free Trade Agreement Doesn't Belong In New Stimulus Package

Colombia could certainly use all of those US Made Catepillar heavy machines for construction like other countries can import without tariffs....and the US companies would sure like to be able to export them....and it would be beneficial for both economies, creating jobs, generating revenue...but wait, Colombia has to buy them from China. To no one's benefit. Thanks to the Democrats in Congress. And for Democrats, who claim that their new leader will 'listen to the world', they seem to be strikingly close-minded in their attitutes towards Colombia. Obama has never been there, and none of his Democrat Congressional cohorts have visited Uribe either since the FTA was proposed. Maybe they should see for themselves?

cpchester comments on What the US Election Means for Colombia

Badboy - I hope your are right. That would be an ideal scenario for US-Colombia relations. Mononoke28 - On the other hand, Joe Biden was nearly invisible to the press for the last 2-3 months of the campaign. His off-the-cuff ramblings are so gaffe-prone, I don't see how he could be trusted with the presidency either. Though you are 'not sure what will happen with Colombia' and 'dont care', I am sure other foreign policy issues mean something to you. The future of the US and what can be done to fix it, as you say, depends in part on our ability to develop meaningful alliances abroad. Colombia is a very close ally. I see it wise to strenghthen our ties, for the benefit of both nations. South America matters. Colombia matters. Foreign policy means more than Iraq.

cpchester comments on

Roadkill.... So true. As an American, today is a sad day for me. It is sad because we have a strong, transformative dedicated ally in Uribe and Colombia. Undeniably the strongest US ally in an increasingly hostile South American political landscape. Today the USA electorate turned their back on Colombia, our closest and most natural trading partner on the entire continent. The FTA will not pass under Obama and Pelosi. The new leaders of America share an ideological bond with the likes of Evo Morales, Rafael Correia and Hugo Chavez. We have one true ally left in South America and this new administration will make a misguided decision to ignore and isolate them. It will be an insult to Uribe and a devastating mistake to the interests of the US economy. Worst of all is that Obama has not clearly or logically explained his position in his opposition of the FTA. Meaningful alliances are built on meaningful policies, like trade. Rhetoric is useless. American policy towards South America has gone nowhere, and Obama's administration will further ignore it - or worse, appeal to those most misaligned with American principles.

cpchester comments on Colombia's US-Backed Military Executing Civilians: Killings "Systematic And Widespread"

'ByronKostner by any chance?' LOL Simon, I thought the same thing!

cpchester comments on

Fuck the New York Times....their readership and advertising revenue is rapidly declining and their journalistic credibility has been weakened over the past few years. Inflamatory, biased coverage like this article are partly to blame. Can't you see an obvious tie to the Pelosi/Obama/Democrat anti-Colombia agenda by the NYT lately???

cpchester comments on Latin American Media Paints Pelosi As a Chavez Lackey

Miami - you don't need an obscure blog to know that Pelosi is treating Colombia as a grudge against Bush and is doing no favors in the process.

cpchester comments on Honduras joins the Chavez Club

The closer they align with Chavez and his socialist axis, the more strained their relations with Washington. The more strained their relations with Washington, the less aid they will receive. Good Luck Honduras, you need the USA more than the USA needs you.

cpchester comments on Medellin for a week...

b lounge on wednesday nights in poblado is a good party....Friday night is great at club Kukuramakara

cpchester comments on What does the upcoming US presidential election mean for Colombia?

Hongo, Let him demonize all he wants. His popularity is waning in Venezuela and the only true threat he potentially poses is the US dependence on Venezuelan oil. However, Chavez knows it would be economic and political suicide to restrict oil exportation to the US. He will continue to demonize US while seeking to strengthen his ties with other radical leaders and antagonize the US by hosting foreign militaries, etc. The biggest pressure that the USA could exude on these leftist regimes is to support our greatest ally and customer in the region in Colombia with the passage of a Free Trade Agreement so Chavez would truly regret seeing foreign investment pour into his neighbor while his own country plunges deeper into chaos. Mongo - Colombia is certainly not at the toP of the list when it comes to debated issues. Colombia or even South American foreign policy may not matter to joe-six pack, but major media outlets have covered the Colombia issue in regards to the election and I believe it will surface in the first Presidential debate which will concern foreign policy - let's hope!

cpchester comments on What does the upcoming US presidential election mean for Colombia?

Sanandressi, Exactly right about Chavez. His behavior and actions are typical of a desperate and ego-manical leader that demonizes the United States as an excuse and distraction to the abject poverty and suffering of his own citizens.

cpchester comments on What does the upcoming US presidential election mean for Colombia?

Mongo, Colombia is very much a part of this presidential election. McCain and Lieberman recently visited Colombia to show their support for Uribe and the stalled FTA that is being blocked by house Democrats. VP nominee Sarah Palin is scheduled to meet with Uribe soon as well. Colombia is the strongest US ally in an increasingly hostile and unstable region in regards to US interests. The axis of socialism that is Chavez, Ortega, Correa, and Morales means Colombia is as important and ally as ever. The fact that Obama is against free trade, not just with Colombia but even NAFTA as well is an ominous sign given our economy. Isolationist trade policies will alienate us in the world will weaken the US economy and deal a serious blow to our allies and treading partners who will see their own economies suffer. The real reason is that democrats are blocking the FTA is the misguided notion that Free Trade will export jobs to other countries. Economists generally recognize the benefits of FTA's for both countries involved. (US exports to Colombia are subject to nearly $3 billion in tarriffs a year). House Democrats want a paralell bill that would provide training programs to laid-off workers in their district and are therefore blocking the FTA.

cpchester comments on MDE Airport at Night

Bigtexas, I've never heard of taxis referred to as 'public' transportation. Public usually implies busses, trains or other means in which you are sharing a ride with others.

cpchester comments on MDE Airport at Night

Thanks for the advice. Not sure what was so unclear about my original post, however, as I asked for a private car service. I don't intend on taking public transportation - of the first 3 replies, one was about taking busses, and the other one telling me not to take public transportation. Hey fellas, if this was in the plans I would have asked about it. It's not. Also, I live in New York City. Here, it is common for business travelers to take private car services to and from area airports. I figured it would be the same in MDE. I have no problem taking taxis so long as they are sanctioned.

cpchester comments on Colombia Attracts Record Number Of Foreign Visitors In '07

The weakness of the US dollar is pricing many would-be European tourists to seek out travel to Central and South America. Though the largest number of tourists travel to countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and Argentina, many more will travel to Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil than ever before.

cpchester comments on Colombianas in Connecticut/Part III of the series “Colombianas in USA‿

Hey, I thought this thread about Connecticut! I am not Colombian, nor have I ever visited there, however I read this forum almost daily to learn more about a country that has intrigued me for years. I am in New Haven, CT. Hartford has a sizeable Colombian population. Shortly before New Years, I ate at La Casona on Wethersfield Avenue in Hartford. Playing on the TV screens were live feeds of Feria de Cali. I bet the new years eve party at La Casona was fantastic! Anybody here go?