Iraqi voting has started

[SacTown Chronic]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

While certainly not at the forefront of the invasion of Iraq, it was still a reason.

It's at the forefront now, baby. Imagine that.

[NirvanaMan]

A great day indeed. One, I believe, history will smile upon most favorably. In 50 years, I wonder how many will admit to the current protests? How many now admit to protesting America's involvement in the "European problem" that was WWII? How tragic it was that we delayed our involvement for so long in that case. But that is neither here nor there...

[Ghoulish Delight]

If the lofty goals that this day represents and that Bush continues to spout like a monkey were indeed the reasons for the original action, I'd agree. But they weren't. Instead, these lofty goals are being used as a smoke screen to hide incompetance. For crying out loud, when the President flat out says that people won't be held responsible for their mistakes, something is wrong.

[NirvanaMan]

Monkeys are funny.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by SacTown Chronic

I guess there's no need to scare the electorate at the moment.

Totally. At least, of course, until Bush does something stupid that does have sticking power in the media...

[MickeyLumbo]

Originally Posted by SacTown Chronic

I know a Republican who told me that Bush is a genius for drawing all the terrorists into Iraq and fighting them there. Life's precious, eh? Viva freedom!


I meant terror warnings here in America. They seemed to have stopped. I know they bumped up the color scheme for the inauguration, but that's the only post-election threat warning I can think of. I guess there's no need to scare the electorate at the moment.

from baghdad to mosul,75% turn-out, in spite of risking one's life to cast a ballot. consider the fact that to cast a ballot, voters dipped their finger in purple ink - a stain that insurgents could clearly see. a remarkable journey to Freedom and Liberty.

Americans should be ashamed at OUR pathetic low voter turn out we are accustomed to. the price of Freedom is very high and should not be taken for granted.

Viva la Bush!


oh, and to make you feel better Sactown, here's some humor to start your day: [love ya]


The President, the First Lady and Dick Cheney are flying on Air Force One.


George looks at Laura, chuckles and says, "You know, I could throw a $1,000 bill out the window right now and make somebody very happy."


Laura shrugs her shoulders and says, "Well, I could throw ten $100 bills out the window and make ten people very happy."


Cheney says, "Of course, then I could throw one hundred $10 bills out the window and make a hundred people very happy."



The pilot rolls his eyes, looks at all of them and says to his co-pilot, "Such big shots back there..... hell, I could throw all of them out the window and make 56 million people very happy!"

[MickeyLumbo]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

If the lofty goals that this day represents and that Bush continues to spout like a monkey were indeed the reasons for the original action, I'd agree. But they weren't. Instead, these lofty goals are being used as a smoke screen to hide incompetance. For crying out loud, when the President flat out says that people won't be held responsible for their mistakes, something is wrong.

note to self:
pick up new smoke screens and a pipe cleaner

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by MickeyLumbo

from baghdad to mosul,75% turn-out, in spite of risking one's life to cast a ballot. consider the fact that to cast a ballot, voters dipped their finger in purple ink - a stain that insurgents could clearly see. a remarkable journey to Freedom and Liberty.

Of course, the Suni turnout is low, underscoring that fact that no matter what we do, the ethnic division is going to remain in force. One unrepresentative election isn't going to fix that.

And let's not forget he 35 people killed while trying to vote.

[scaeagles]

I saw Zogby interviewed today and his reports are that Sunni turnout in at 50%. Not too bad.

Regardless, turnout is good. Violence has been present, but fairly minimal. This is far from the debacle it was predicted to be. To the contrary - it has been very successful.

And a predictable pattern - I have seen some leding dems out saying "well, we knew the election itself would be successful - we were never concerned about that - it's the constitution that will cause the divisions." Predictable. First, there was no way that the interim government could take over by July 1. Then, there was no way that there could be an election in late January. now, those things don't matter - hell they were successful - it's the next thing that will be the problem. Always is.

[wendybeth]

Actually, if Sunni participation was at that number, I think that's a very good sign. Much higher than I'd have thought. All in all, I'm impressed that the people turned out like they did, and it is a signal to the insurgents that they do not enjoy the support that they think they have. The number of casualties, while high, is quite a bit less than I would have imagined, given all the posturing and threats from the terrorists. I hope they are able to pull it and keep it together, for their sakes and ours.