Powell expresses concern about conduct of Russian presidential election

[Judi Lynn]

Powell expresses concern about conduct of Russian presidential election

Sunday, March 14, 2004
(03-14) 09:40 PST WASHINGTON (AP) --

Secretary of State Colin Powell said Sunday he was concerned with a lack of openness in Russia's presidential election and "a level of authoritarianism creeping back" into Russian society.

But he said he did not think Russia was reverting to the hard-line ways of the former Soviet Union.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was expected to win a second four-year term in voting Sunday. Blanket coverage of Putin on state-controlled television -- and previous steps that have forced major independent TV channels off the airwaves -- had left his five challengers with little opportunity to appeal to voters.

"Russians have to understand that to have full democracy of the kind that the international community will recognize, you've got to let candidates have all access to the media that the president has," Powell said on "Fox News Sunday." "You've got to make sure people are not in any way kept from participating in the open, full democratic process."
(snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/03/14/national1031EST0451.DTL

[still_one]

1. we will bomb any country

that does not have a Democratic process...

[Paradise]

11. yes, a democratic process,

like we have :evilgrin:

[The Zanti Regent]

17. Colin should know that people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones...

Gee, what OTHER Superpower has a RIGHT WING MEDIA that silences those who OPPOSE someone who STOLE AN ELECTION?

[MrBenchley]

2. Take a look at Florida, Colin...

[Paradise]

12. we'll never get over it...

yes, colin, we're out here, and we'll never forget :evilgrin:

[leesa]

3. Oh please. Anything that comes out of a GOP shill's mouth is projection

What a piece of shit this creature is.

[Paradise]

7. couldn't have said it better myself...

powell = :puke::hurts: did i miss any smilies i could've usedO8)?

[renegade000]

16. powell =

:+

[Paradise]

26. yeah, i did miss that one

but i knew you'd get it:hi:

[Capt_Nemo]

4. Russians to Powell:

Who cares what you think?

[Paradise]

5. Precisely...

Powell = :puke:

[SOS]

6. Questions for Colin

1. If Putin loses by 500,000 votes does he still get to be President?

2. Does Putin sue his opponents if they run issue ads against him?

3. Does Putin "demand an apology" from opponents who call him a liar?

4. Does Putin have six times more campaign money than his opponent?

5. Has Putin redistricted Russia to his advantage?

6. Any Diebold machines being used to "deliver" St. Petersburg?

7. Does the top judical authority in Russia have a 5-4 majority appointed by Putins dad and friends?

Just asking.

[Paradise]

9. Following your lead SOS...

Has Putin orchestrated any strategic "recalls"?

[Joanne98]

15. Good one LOL

What a sad state we're in when Russia has legit elections and we don't. Colon Bowel should shut up.

[rock]

8. Clearly a case of a black calling a pot a kettle of fish

[Paradise]

10. lol n/t

[tlcandie]

13. Hogwash and bologna!!!!

Colin needs a colenoscepy(?)!! Get your own house in order before throwing stones you old fart!

[Joanne98]

14. too bad he doesn't worry about our stolen elections

I hope Putin gives them Hell.:)

[Malva Zebrina]

18. Excuse me? Expresses concern over the elections in Russia

but fully accepts that an idiot son of a former failed president, got himself appointed president by his daddy's supreme court, lackey appointees?

That the idiot he serves was never elected by the counting of the votes of all the people does not enter his pea brain?

Guess not

This Powell is in the early stages of Alzheimers. Who the hell does he think he is criticizing the election processes of other countries when our own is under severe scrutiny and loaded with doubts. It only show to go ya--people will accept anything, in this case Powell accepting Bush's "election" to the presudency, when they (Powell)have their own lucrative appointments in the administration to look forward to.
As well as appointments granted to their sons and daughters.

[Nanski]

22. Maybe Powell used Rush's doctors

for his prostrate surgery.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

25. It is not Colin's fault entirely.... they have to have some shit on

him. He has always looked like a man who was a hostage since he started in Bushco.
I think they have MAJOR dirt on him from his days as JCS chair.

[goclark]

32. I agree.They must have much stuff on Colon

Does he need to go into rehab? He is getting more senile by the day. Where is all this anger coming from?
Why is he so quick to declare Georgie his Lord and Savior?
Why is he acting like it is his total responsibility to act like Superman and safe this sorry unelected idiot?
Why is he so edgy lately?

Interesting. He needs to look in the mirror and see that The Man In The Mirror is a Kiss Up to Georgie and Georgie has no respect for him. The other neocons have no use for him. He has been used big time for the last 4 years.

Mr. Secretary: Martin and Malcolm would be ashamed of you.

Look in the Mirror

[hang a left]

28. Let us not forget the disdain they have for some foreign

democratically-elected governments.

[Gloria]

19. Oh, PLEAAASE, Colin......I've followed this for months.....the media

control was total....the BBC World Service even reported this when I was listening an hour ago... So how does that make Russia any different that the US???? And, ironically,with your damned son heading the FCC, you jerk, allowing more consolidation!!!

Reverting to a more hard line stance? Probably, but haven't you and your buddies in this horrible administartion been aiming for the same thing here?

I hate these people, I really do!!!!

[daleo]

20. That's rich, Powell commenting on anyone else's democratic process

If he was so worried about democratic process, he should have waited to take a job with an elected president - you know, set a good example.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

21. Gee, Colin, how is their process any different from...

...our selection of 2004?

[Disturbed]

23. Colon

More sheeit outa Colon. Can we say Azzhole?

[freeforall]

24. He's got a nerve, eh?

"Secretary of State Colin Powell said Sunday he was concerned with a lack of openness in Russia's presidential election and 'a level of authoritarianism creeping back' into Russian society."

This guy seems to have an opinion on every other country's affairs. Maybe he should pay more attention to his own.

If everybody cleans up their own backyards, soon we'll have a beautiful neighbourhood.

[hang a left]

27. He was kidding.......right?

n/t

[mmonk]

29. What is the Russian equivalent

to the Supreme Court?

[AP]

30. Oops. Wrong team is winning? If Putin wasn't arresting corrupt oil barrons

would Powell care about this election?

[Zhade]

31. That fucking traitor's one to talk! God, the insanity of it all!

When are people in this country going to wake the hell up and drag these traitors from power?