I'm not sure he would be the best thing for Nicaragua. He would have to show more responsiveness to the Sandinista grass roots, and it doesn't sound like that is going to happen. This article clearly shows the corrosive and destructive results of Reagan's brutal interference in Nicaragua's revolution. It appears that at least some of the charges of corruption in the FLSN (the Sandinista political party) are true, and that Ortega is not clean. (Note on this article: Herty Lewites, who is mentioned in this article, died of a heart attack this year, in July. He was Ortega's most significant opposition.)
Another Look at Daniel Ortega and the Sandinista Struggle
By JOE DeRAYMOND
http://www.counterpunch.org/deraymond05072005.html------------------------
I cheered when I learned that Daniel Ortega was making a comeback. He was heroic and brave in the initial revolution, and especially in the '80s, when Reagan's death squads were unleashed against him and the Nicaraguan people. I read the Wikipedia article on him, and figured it was written by the Bush CIA. But this Counterpunch writer makes pretty much the same case against Ortega. I don't believe everything I read--even in CounterPunch, which has a pretty good record on providing real information--but often presents a dark and negative view as to reaching and activating the American people, whom I believe are much more progressive than our war profiteering corporate news monopolies would lead us to believe--and I hate that leftist attitude that Americans are lazy "sheeple." I don't think it's true at all. I think the American people are the most propagandized, exploited and slyly manipulated of any people on earth--including, recently, direct control of election results by private electronic voting corporations with close ties to the Bush junta, using TRADE SECRET, PROPRIETARY programming code. Americans have stuck to their progressive views despite 24/7 propaganda and feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness. The way to help them is NOT to dis them further, but to work on RE-ENFRANCHISING and re-empowering them.
Anyway, that's my rant on CounterPunch. This author does not promote that CP view. But he's pretty down on Daniel Ortega. That's kind of disheartening. I was so hoping that Nicaragua could now join the rest of Latin America in the awesome, peaceful, democratic, leftist revolution that is sweeping the hemisphere--with leftist (majorityist) governments elected in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Venezuela and Bolivia, with strong movements also in Peru, Nicaragua and Mexico. But U.S./Bushite influence seems too strong in Nicaragua--and such influence can have unpredictable side impacts, such as the loss of morale of a revolutionary leader like Ortega and his succumbing to venal temptation. I am still not certain if it's true--or just slander. More research is necessary. It is just a little too convenient to the Bushites that "swiftboating" material is so handy, to smear one of the icons of the modern Latin American revolution.