The OSCE is Observing U.S. Elections: Outrage is the Wrong Response

[Lars77]

http://cnponline.org/ht/display/ViewBloggerThread/i/40696/pid/35636

There is some minor controversy about the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) sending a team of almost 60 people to monitor next month's elections. The Conservative blogosphere is enraged at this "violation of American sovereignty." Much of their outrage is directed at liberal groups like the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the NAACP, and the ACLU, all of whom expressed concern to the OSCE over state laws they worry might disenfranchise votes - particularly minority votes - on Election Day. They see the OSCE monitoring team as a reaction to a liberal call for support, of some sort.

The OSCE has been observing U.S. elections since 2002. Just two years ago, they observed the 2010 mid-term elections. They do not do this because the ACLU asks them to (as this article implies). They do this because the United States chose to join the OSCE (which has 56 members) in 1973 and signed the Charter of Paris in 1990.

And they just observe and report. They don't have a mandate to do anything more.


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Yup, google US and osce and you'll see redstate.com and other right wing sites completely enraged with the notion that some european socialsts are coming over to tell the freest country in the history of freedom what to do. It's pretty funny actually.

One website i read referred to the UN as a "controversial organization". I wont link them here because i dont want to give them the opportunity to rise in the google rankings.

[ck4829]

1. They're all for transparency in elections until someone wants transparency in what they're doing

[Lasher]

2. What do they have to hide?

They shouldn't have a problem with this if they have nothing to hide. Isn't that what they said when we dared complain about warrantless wiretaps, etc?

[Lars77]

7. I think its more the GOP american exceptionalism thing.

Americans have absolutely nothing to learn from anyone else about anything and especially freedumz and democracy because the US is #1 in that dept.

They also use the opportunity to take a dig at any international organization because international organizations being precicely that, there will be countries in there which are less than free.

[liberal N proud]

3. Are the CONServatives worried that they will get caught?

If you have nothing to worry about, what are you so concerned about?

[Ilsa]

4. RedState blog says Texas will

Threaten secession! What a fucking crazy idea! Texas may have its own power grid, but I don't think they are capable of self-governance without an internal civil war.

[newfie11]

5. It didn't work last time

and it won't work this time. If I remember my Texas history correctly they entered the union originally with the clause they could leave at will. That was done in 1845 I believe and they seceded in 1861. When they reentered the union it was with the "right to secede" clause removed and they had no option for pulling out again.

Now my Texas history class was in 1965 and I know they have been rewriting history down there but I think when I was in school that hadn't started yet.

6th generation Texas now living in Nebraska

[Ilsa]

6. Correct, I believe, and they can still

Subdivide, but they won't do that over pride regarding size.
The whole idea of secession is incredibly idiotic. They won't realize the economic pain they'll be in.

[OldDem2012]

9. Once the US naval blockade goes into effect, their borders are sealed cutting off all outside...

...supplies including food, the EMP weapon knocks out all electrical power systems in Texas, and their communications are cut to the outside world, how long do they RedStaters believe Texas can hold out? Two weeks, maybe three?

No US President will allow a US state to secede unless the US itself is completely falling apart.

Dream on, Texicans, dream on.

[Hutzpa]

8. There is an outrage?

I don't see any outrage, I'm I missing something? There are placers in Texas that welcomes this observation with the exception of the South of course, what is it with Southern folks? Is it the food?

[OldDem2012]

10. OSCE will be observing voting in the US nationwide, not just in the Southern states. nt.

[Hutzpa]

11. Oh ok, It's a little too early for me

need my consumption of coffee. haha