OK, Is the Iraq election a COMPLETE joke?

[kuozzman]

So we've got a country full of people who, in order to vote, must risk their life by doing so. And even if they do hop fences, run through alleys and use the backdoor of the precinct(if they know where it is)(and if it's still in one piece), they don't even know who the hell they're voting for in most cases!

This was the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard until a recent news report I saw:

A(ustralian)BC:Iraq election results to take 10 days :wtf:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200501/s1289269.htm

[blueknight]

1. we cant have

a "free and transparant" election, how could they?

[htuttle]

2. The whole thing is a PR job for domestic consumption

That's US domestic consumption, not Iraqi consumption.

[dave123williams]

3. It would have to be funny to be considered a COMPLETE joke.

[bobweaver]

4. Yes, except there's no punchline.

[bobweaver]

5. Are you talking about....

"So we've got a country full of people who, in order to vote, must risk their life by doing so. And even if they do hop fences, run through alleys and use the backdoor of the precinct(if they know where it is)(and if it's still in one piece), they don't even know who the hell they're voting for in most cases!"

Are you referring to Ohio or Iraq?

[Not_Giving_Up]

6. Didn't you hear the press conference today?

* said that it was wonderful just that they are voting.

I heard the deal later about how the candidates are afraid to tell anyone that they are running because they are afraid of getting killed. The people going to vote will not know anything about the people that they are voting for. Well, at least there won't be any broken campaign promises.

[rqstnnlitnmnt]

9. there's more...list of candidates hasn't been released

let that sink in

iraqis have no idea who is running until they actually see the ballot.

[imenja]

7. it's too deadly to be a joke, but it is certainly a sham

[Vinca]

8. On a positive note, it appears they aren't using machines.

But, somehow, the Bushies will be sure "their guy" is installed. You have to wonder though, what would happen if a regime took over as bad as Sadam and the first thing they did was kick the "coalition" (what's it now - the U.S., England and Tonga?) out.

[DrWeird]

10. It's a joke that anybody believes this is real democracy.

nt

[kuozzman]

12. Iraq or the United States?

Both?

[jbm]

11. Riverbend says it is...

http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/

(from her January 2nd entry)

<snip>

Another problem is the selling of ballots. We're getting our ballots through the people who give out the food rations in the varying areas. The whole family is registered with this person(s) and the ages of the varying family members are known. Many, many, many people are not going to vote. Some of those people are selling their voting cards for up to $400. The word on the street is that these ballots are being bought by people coming in from Iran. They will purchase the ballots, make false IDs (which is ridiculously easy these days) and vote for SCIRI or Daawa candidates. Sunnis are receiving their ballots although they don't intend to vote, just so that they won't be sold.

Yet another issue is the fact that on all the voting cards, the gender of the voter, regardless of sex, is labeled "male". Now, call me insane, but I found this slightly disturbing. Why was that done? Was it some sort of a mistake? Why is the sex on the card anyway? What difference does it make? There are some theories about this. Some are saying that many of the more religiously inclined families won't want their womenfolk voting so it might be permissible for the head of the family to take the women's ID and her ballot and do the voting for her. Another theory is that this 'mistake' will make things easier for people making fake IDs to vote in place of females.
<snip>