Reply #1: 'O plomo o plata'

[Wright Patman]

is what the Mexican drug lords say in their dealings. It means you agree to be bought off with silver or you will be bought off into eternity with lead.

http://www.newcriterion.com/archive/18/dec99/mexico.htm

I found the above article from 1999 while searching for the phrase I vaguely remembered. Remember that the predecessor to Zedillo (el presidente before Fox) named Colosio was assassinated while campaigning. And he wasn't even all that out of the Wall Street-approved mainstream.

I do not see how any "populist" presidential candidate can survive for long in Mexico, although it would probably be a CIA hit team taking him out rather than a drug dealer.

He had better hire the Pope's Swiss guards and then some if he wants to remain alive over the next few months.