State officials in Texas and Iowa have succeeded in putting the United States in the company of countries like Iran and North Korea this week after pledging to block access of international observers with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to polling places — even going as far as threatening to arrest the monitors. The actions are in direct violation with our long-standing position vis-a-vis other nations. It is a shameful position that, again, makes our country look like a hypocrites in demanding such monitoring in other countries but not allowing it in our own.
Greg Abbott, the Texas attorney general, sent a letter to the 57-member observer mission, warning that “the OSCE’s representatives are not authorized by Texas law to enter a polling place. It may be a criminal offense for OSCE’s representatives to maintain a presence within 100 feet of a polling place’s entrance.”
Thomas Rymer, a spokesman for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, has said that the group always abides by local election laws. He correctly notes however that the denial of access to polling areas suggested by these officials, and the threats of arrest, contradict our own obligations under international law. Both Texas and Iowa officials have threatened to arrest monitors from the OSCE who come within a certain distance to the polling places. In Texas, it is 100 feet. In Iowa it is an extraordinary 300 feet.
Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz insisted that “Iowa law is very specific about who is permitted at polling places, and there is no exception for members of this group.” In the 2008 election, international OSCE election observers were turned away from polling stations in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Ohio and Texas as well has having problems in areas of Colorado, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Admittedly, these monitors act under generally defined provisions but these states are undermining our ability to take such a position in the future in other countries.
Yet, lawyer and Fox News Anchor Greta Van Susteren has defended the threats against international monitors: “The election is none of their business. We ought to be able to police our own election.” Of course, that is precisely the same argument used in Iran, China, and other countries. It is another example of what is often referred to as “American Exceptionalism” that we are simply unique and above the rules that we apply to other nations.
Even though state law may be clear, it is up to the State Department to make known to the states any clear obligations under international agreements. Notably, these monitors have been in the United States after being invited in by George W. Bush — a correct and admirable decision.
Source: Politico
What are these bozos AGs scared of?
They got sumthin’ to hide perhaps?
Intrade is predicting an Obama win. Odds are currently 67.1% despite a massive buy of Romney shares by one of his billionaire supporters a day or two ago. It was an apparent effort to skew the odds. If we took out that buy, the Obama odds would probably be slightly higher.
http://www.intrade.com/v4/markets/contract/?contractId=743474
Very interesting article ID.
The picture in the article on this thread was not accurate. They’ll round up these anti-Americans and ship them to Guantanamo.
Greta, Greta, Greta, you’re disappointing me again. You know how people comment on a fat woman by observing, “She has such a pretty face”? I comment on you by saying, “She had such a good intellect!” You just let yourself go, girl. This quote: “We ought to be able to police our own election.” is symptomatic of your symbolic “Foxy transformation.”
It’s TRUE that we “ought to be able to police our own election.” But remember, we’ve fallen down on the job a coupla times already. After all, it can also be said that “we ought to be able to police our own police.” Darn Darn DARN!!
From Nate Silver: Obama is now an 81.4 percent favorite to win on Tuesday, and is currently tallied at 303.7.
Ohio now has an 81 percent chance of staying blue. Wisconsin is at 93 percent. Colorado has a 65 percent chance. Virginia is at 65.3 percent.
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/
oops! gave him the tickets.
ID, that’s an interesting article. I wonder if any of his profit from that scheme showed up on his 2002/2003 taxes? That would go far in explaining why he did not release his taxes. (I still find it incredible that he just blew off the release of his tax returns and ‘what is he hiding’ isn’t the question of the day every day.)
idealist, He works for a non profit. They game him the tickets. Colorado is a swing state.
If anybody here needs a reason to vote FOR Obama, this should do it.
http://www.politicususa.com/public-records-reveal-romney-profited-corruption-fraud-racketeering-bain.html
Romney is a thief, and always has been, both by genes and by upbringing, or shall we say downbringing.
SwM,
Great for them and you. Are they electors? I mean 3rd row seats is not for just anybody. Smile.
I am deathly afraid what will happen to America under Romney.
Is Colorado a swing state? Or why is Obama there?
Swarthmore,
That is great news about Elizabeth Warren.
Idealist, My son and his girlfriend got third row seats at the Obama rally last night in Colorado. He sent pictures.
Blouise, Elaine, PPP is calling it for Elizabeth Warren. “Elizabeth Warren is likely to be the next Senator from Massachusetts. Our final poll finds her leading Scott Brown 52-46.”
Bruce, Scaring women into voting for your opponent is not a very winning strategy. Murdock is running behind now.
LK, I agree with all the republican shenanigans and the hurricane, the election could be rather bumpy for Obama.
South Florida Voters Waiting 4 Hours to Vote Early
Voters in some parts of Florida are waiting as long as four hours to cast their ballots before early voting ends Saturday night.
The Miami-Dade County Election Department was reporting early voting wait times in excess of one hour at all 20 of its polling locations. At two locations – the Election Department main office and the North Dade Regional Library – officials were reporting wait times of four hours.
The ballot in Miami-Dade County is five pages long, front and back, with an estimated completion time of as long as 30 minutes.
Farther north, in the Tampa Bay area, election officials were reporting shorter wait times at most polling sites, with only a handful exceeding 45 minutes.
When asked about how voters waiting in lines were reacting to the lines in Hillsborough County, Travis Abercrombie, the public information coordinator for the Hillsborough County Elections Office, said they have “the patience of Job.”
The early voting window was reduced by Republican Florida Gov. Rick Scott from 14 to 8 days, or from 120 to 96 hours.
The large turnout in some South Florida counties prompted some groups, including the League of Women Voters and the Florida Democratic Party, to call on Scott to extend voting hours, as then-Gov. Charlie Crist did in 2008. But Scott declined, telling reporters at a fundraiser in Newberry, Fla., that early voting would end Saturday night, as scheduled.
“Once again, Rick Scott has sided against the people of Florida,” said Scott Arceneaux, executive director of the Florida Democratic Party. ”In rejecting calls for an extension of early voting hours, Scott has failed in his constitutionally obligated duty, broken with the history of past Republican governors and reminded Florida voters why they continue to hold a negative opinion of this governor. The people of Florida will not forget his failure to stand up for their right to vote.”
ABC The Note
Lotta Katz,
I’ll double down on AY’s opinion. Always facts. And this time they are facts that really worry me. I can understand why some have trouble sleeping.
Myself I am really worried, and no anti-conspiracy medicine is gonna help me.
It started with Diebold voting machines, owned by Romney in Ohio. Now it is the blue northeastern states who will not be able to vote. And Florida continues to be a voting fraud state, if it is not chad it is early ballots disappearing, which are mostly the black Obama supporters, which the Repugs know well. Add the solidly corrupt South former slave states and we will soon have a civil war again.
Did you see Laser Haas notice that Romney is being exposed for fraud?
Here is the link again. Comments please. Maybe it is good to have a thief as Prez. He will keep order in the other ones.
http://www.politicususa.com/public-records-reveal-romney-profited-corruption-fraud-racketeering-bain.html
Is there no way to have the election postponed until power is restored? Can the Prez use his power to declare a national emergency threat against the nation as a result of Sandy and call a halt until certain conditions are fulfilled?
Bukko Canukko,
I thought you were verging on Hunter S Thompson at times there. Naw, it was a bad joke as no reality there, searching for a joke. I thought of chat, but you are not the type and assume that even the Dutch would be down on that, but assuredly the Canadians would be. Besides you did not mention a visit to Jemen or Somalia.
Personally engaged in wondering where to spend my winters. After being in Australiea as you have, wonder why you chose the wettest place in Canada—can’t stand hot dry places I guess. Do you two travel to dry out?