Iraq Extends Voting After High Turnout

[tx_dem41]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqis voted in a historic parliamentary election Thursday, with strong turnout reported in Sunni Arab areas and even a shortage of ballots in some precincts. Several explosions rocked Baghdad throughout the day, but the level of violence was low. The heavy participation by the Sunnis, who had shunned balloting last January, bolstered U.S. hopes of calming the insurgency enough to begin withdrawing its troops next year. A large blast near the heavily fortified Green Zone slightly injured two civilians and a U.S. Marine, the U.S. military said.


http://news.yahoo.com/fc/world/iraq

It looks like the Sunnis have their act together this time. Let's hope that things continue to go rather smoothly. The success of this election, and the resulting transition is key to ANYONE'S plan of withdrawal.

[unblock]

1. sheesh! show's how much THEY know about democracy!

you're supposed to turn away the voters who didn't make the cutoff because you created long lines in the precincts you want to undercount.

they've got a looooong way to go before they REALLY understand democracy....

:sarcasm:

[Mugsy]

15. You beat me to it.

That was my first thought too.

[...of J.Temperance]

2. It's funny they'd never extend voting in America

It's funny everything they deny us...they fall over themselves to give to the Iraqi's.

[tx_dem41]

4. Discounting the irony, it is a good thing that the

Sunnis are getting to vote in (hopefully) representative numbers.

[...of J.Temperance]

6. Of course

I wish them well...I'm just worried that the result is going to cause more violence and more waste of life.

[tx_dem41]

11. I believe in the long run, "correct" Sunni representation in the new..

government will decrease the chance for long-term violence. Of course, I could be wrong!

[...of J.Temperance]

13. What ya talking about Willis?

Ah don't think you're ever wrong...your word is Gospel to me :)

But yes, I hope it works out for the Sunni's.

[redqueen]

7. I wouldn't say funny is the word I'd use,

but I agree with your point, certainly.

[...of J.Temperance]

9. I meant "funny" as in strange and perplexing

I didn't mean "funny" as in it's comical or amusing sense.

But yes, Bush Inc. are robbing America blind, and they're taking as much as possible away from our poor, like Robin Hood in reverse...and yet they turn around while doing this, and throw anything and everything Iraq's way to build Iraq up.

It's incredibly warped, it is.

On Edit: I distinctly remember last November election. The question was asked that if there were an overwhelming number of voters, and the lines were extensive then would they extend the hours of voting...and the mouthbreathers said "No".

Ah hate these swines.

[hughee99]

10. Didn't they extend voting in St. Louis

in 2002 or 2004? IIRC the repukes made a big stink about that.

[...of J.Temperance]

12. Oh yes...and remember the Repukes said that we were "stealing"

The election in St. Louis, this because there were huge numbers of voters still wanting to vote, so the voting hours were extending I think until 11pm in some areas.

The hypocrisy is amazing.

[Dr.Phool]

3. Had they put up the roadblocks to the polls

And purged all the felonious Sunni's from the rolls, they wouldn't have that headache.:sarcasm:

Why didn't we send Katherine Harris and Kenneth Blackwell to run the elections?

[shrike]

5. I won't get too terribly excited

It looks all so familiar, purple fingers and the like.

I mean no disrespect to the Iraqis. But it seems to me we heard a lot of crowing about a year ago, and look where we are now.

I notice the Bush administration is a bit quieter this time. It surprises me; usually they never learn from past mistakes.

[Wise Doubter]

8. WTF ?

I don`t understand why Iraqis are allowed to vote over a 3 day period (even here at home), but US elections are only 1 day.

"We ran out of ballots too,... TOO BAD"

[enigma000]

14. Lots of countries stagger their elections over days.

Many make elections national holidays as well.

[daleo]

16. Or maybe they extended the deadline because turnout was low

That seems more likely to me. Especially since we get mostly lies and propaganda out of Iraq through the corporate media.

[Judi Lynn]

17. Voting Hours Extended In Iraq

Voting Hours Extended In Iraq
by UPI Wire
Dec 15, 2005


BAGHDAD, Ballot counting began an hour late in Iraq's historic parliamentary election Thursday after heavy turnout forced officials to keep polls open an extra hour.

About two-thirds of the 15 million registered voters, 10 million people, were expected to vote and have their fingers dipped in purple dye as a security measure. Final results from the 33,000 polling stations around the country probably won't be available for "two weeks or more," said election official Farid Ayar.

The Washington Post said there had been a large turnout in Fallujah, where many of the polling places ran out of ballots and ballot boxes, and election workers were trying to replenish supplies.

More than 19 political coalitions and 307 parties or people were on the ballot for the 275-seat parliament, called the Council of Representatives.
(snip/...)

http://www.postchronicle.com/news/breakingnews/article_2121979.shtml

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yet right-wing idiot Republican Missouri Senator Kit Bond went berserk in 2000 and had the crowded polls closed in Missouri when they attempted to stay open in order to allow the crowds to vote there.

[MidwestTransplant]

18. Good. I am sure the fundies are applauding it. Wonder why they

don't want Americans to vote?

[PurityOfEssence]

21. Are DeLay and Hastert running this charade?

Keep it open 'til ya get what ya want.

[godai]

19. I predict voter turnout of about 150%...

With the truckloads of counterfeit ballots and, I heard today, the 'ink on finger' only when US soldiers were around to check.

[enigma000]

20. Have a link on that?

I don't think anyone is getting 103% of the vote in this election.

[godai]

22. about fake ballots...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1985324

Haven't found the info I read about not inking the fingers but seems very plausible.

[robcon]

23. This is a tremendous outcome for the election

Congratulations to the Iraqi people.

[conservdem]

25. I agree. Congratulations to the Iraqi people.

[Psephos]

28. Gonna toss my coin in that cup too nt

[stickdog]

24. The report brought to you by the Pentagon New Service!

You can't spell penis without PNS!

[saigon68]

27. Is the Pentagon appendage

[rawnitro34]

26. The election was a huge success

I am very happy for the Iraqi people, I hope that other upcoming elections in the middle east, such as the parliamentary elections in Palestine, can go this smoothly

[Clutch Cargo]

29. Yes!

They have shown that they can handle democracy. Time for our men and women to pack up and beat feet!

[DeadManInc]

30. They can vote all they want,

but I would bet the fix is already in. Their election will be about as accurate as ours here.