Estimates are that turnout in today’s parliamentary elections in Iraq may be as high as 11 million out of 15.5 million eligible voters. And unlike October’s referendum, a large number of Sunni Arabs voted. Such participation bolsters hope that a stable democracy may yet emerge in Iraq. There are still major problems, of course, and the potential of civil war remains. But as we noted in today’s editorial, the most encouraging prospect for Iraqi democracy is how much ordinary Iraqis seem to want it.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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34 Comments
If only the USA could get such a high voter turnout!
This is insulting. Iraq will never be a democracy. Can not be. Bush just lets Karl feed his story after story after story.
You can not shove a democracy down someone’s throat, they have to want it themselves and both sides of the political spectrum must be within reach of each other in order for it to work.
I’m really suprized that the Eagle would go along with this insulting sham.
Are we supposed to have been born yesterday? Last night?
This feeble Israeli excuse to keep out troops in the Middle East is so transparent, so Karl, so Rove, so neocon, so Rod Dreher.
I really expect better of the Eagle than to allow itself to be used and then pass it along to us as though we are supposed to be cheer leaders.
Sorry but I forgot my pom-poms.
Two, Four, Six, Eight, who do we appreciate…. Zionism, Zionism, Zionism { have you killed your Palestinian today? Huh, Huh, Huh }.
Pass the bloodbread.
I agree, Tracy.
This is an incredible level of turn-out, and remember, the Iraqis do not just face inconvenience as a barrier to voting, but also, to a least a small degree, they risk life and limb to vote.
So, given this obvious metric that Iraqis want some form of participatory democracy, when does the U.S. get out of their way and let them get on with it?
Tracy,If only . . . a 50% voter turnout in this country is considered great. I consider it a complete failure. We shouldn’t be pleased until we have over 90% turnout.Good post!
The mainstream media, don’t ya just love ‘em.
The Iraqis are voting! They’re voting! Democracy! Hooray!
Why don’t they ever report on WHY the Iraqis are coming out to vote in such high numbers?
The Iraqis are voting to get rid of us. Surprise, surprise.
Galahad,Do you have a positive thing to say about anybody or anything? Prozac, dude, take your Prozac.
As soon as we’re out of the picture, the south will vote in an Iranian style Shia theocracy, the north will vote for its own homeland (much to horror of the Turks who have their own Kurd problem), and the Sunnis in the middle will be left with no oil and a lot of pissed off former Army guys.
So that should just work out great.
The politcal divide is so great right here in the United States that we do not have, for all pratical purposes, a democracy.
Is the will of the people being enacted by the government right now?
We have a dictatorship at this very moment.
The people are not being represented by their “their representatives.” Are They?
Now imagine Iraq. Will the Shiites allow the Sunnies to control anything?
You may be impressed by some of the turnout, because that’s what Karl Rove wants you to do, but that does not a democracy make!
Out of 27 million Iraqis, how many are voting? The Shiits don’t care, that’s why this is a sham.
This is Neocon humor. This is a joke. So, start laughing, not yet, wait for Karl to tell you what to do.
Sheep, all Sheep.
Walker, since you avoided my question before, I’ll ask it again.
How do you disagree with Bush?
Ed,No, you can’t shove democracy down somebody’s throat, but give them the opportunity for it, and they may just take it. Thing is, the people may just take it in directions Bush never planned on!
Blowhard Walker you are a jerk, a stupid jerk, if you can’t see this one.
Jed, I truly wish that was so. But not so when it comes to power.
Look at our country.
Jed, The numbers aren’t there to make it work.
“Blowhard Walker you are a jerk, a stupid jerk, if you can’t see this one.”
Ed, coming from you, I consider that a compliment.
Galahad,”Walker, since you avoided my question before, I’ll ask it again.
How do you disagree with Bush?”
Wrong blog. Try again.
Ed,Yeah, look at our country. Democracies are, by nature fairly chaotic, in that you can’t really predict their direction at any given time. That doen’t make them bad, unless you’re a control freak, like some of the members of our current administration.They may have unleashed their own undoing, if they haven’t figured out a reliable way of rigging these elections!
JM, okay fine, I retract the question . . . :)
It’s not that interesting of a question, is it? I mean it’s just another way of asking, “can you think?”
Yeah guys and gals it’s the old ‘catch 22′ in Iraq.Bush won’t leave until the insurgency is stopped, and the insurgency won’t stop till Bush leaves.Too bad innocent people suffer because of stubborn leaders.I say that as soon as the voting is done and counted we should move just outside the borders and see if they are going to do what they they say, that is stop the killing.If it’s just about us being there, then we can solve that.If they are lying bastards and continue to kill innocents then we need to triple troop strength and enforce whatever the new regime wants! Sound too simple? Maybe.
JM you are correct about voter turnout here at home. PITIFUL.What a bunch of idiots can we be to take this for granted? Come on people!! Read a newspaper or two, decide where you stand on issue and vote, damnit.
Just for the holidays TRY this:Sever any connections with groups which are seeking to attack and destroy others, no matter how sincere there motives.Range yourself on the side of the workers for constructive ends. Give as never before to make constructive works possible, those who have very little and give anyway do the most good.If you cannot give money then give of your time. I don’t care to whom you give, just give!
These Iraqi’s have more guts than American libs will ever dream of.
That’s the spirit J.Blow!!What a wonderful constructive informative well thought out post.
How doooo you do it?
Right on Tracy. Couldn’t agree more. I get a turkey from work every Christmas. It goes to the fire department. Big deal? To some family the department helps out, you bet it is.
That’s it Tracy, mock the incredibly brave Iraqi’s that are voting today, even though you libs said such a vote (this is the 3rd at least) would never happen because of the “violence.” Mock away while you’re stuffing your fat face (credit to Prof. Mirecki) this Kwanzaa.
Galahad,”JM, okay fine, I retract the question . . . :)
It’s not that interesting of a question, is it? I mean it’s just another way of asking, “can you think?”"
If you went to the correct blog, the one about millionaire whiners, you would find my answer to your question (where you posted the question in the first place). You been hitting the eggnog at work?
J. Blow you missed the point entirely, and you’re only making it worse. I’m not here to bicker with you. I’m not a ‘lib’ or a ‘neocon’. Try ‘no category’!!I didn’t mock anyone.Get something constructive and helpfull to do.I’ll be embarassed for you if you’re not for yourself.
“How doooo you do it?” So, Tracy, dooooo you always write non-mockingly like this? Nice try. Glad that you clearly feel badly about your ill-advised post now that I pointed it out to you. You’re welcome.
This worthless election is a Karl Rove stall tactic to keep our soldiers in Iraq.
The US constitution was worked-out and agreed to before any election was held, otherwise, what would be the point?
The Iraqi constitution is not the product of Irqais agreeing to any part of it with the exception that it can become void.
Therefore this election is a sham.
Now, would you all like to marvel about the turn-out which was counted by Rumsfeld?
Notice American soldiers are not leaving, although Americans want them home now.
We want them home. Israel wants them to stay. So they stay. We got out-voted.
And that is our democracy in action.
OK all you anti-liberals calling us chickens. At least I don’t want to send my son over to die so I can feel safe and cozy. That’s the argument Todd Tiahrt made, a week ago: “Better to fight the terrorist overseas.” Better for who? Certainly not our young. Whose the cowards. How many of his own children is Tiahrt sending to die for fake democracy?So we have another fake election for another puppet parliament. And the press acts as cheerleaders.
I think today’s election is a hopeful sign that the Iraqis are stepping up to the plate and are ready to govern themselves. I just wonder what the aftermath will be when they elect an Islamic fundamentalist to power.
Joe Blow you’re funny.
Da,That’s easy- we’ll just keep overthrowing them until they elect a government that will sell Bush oil at a discount.
Great, then I can keep my hummer.
If that’s the best you can do, Tracy, I consider my initial point vindicated. Thanks.
Otto–Tiahrt’s son is a sad story. He committed suicide. He was also probably gay.
Go figure . . .
Joe Blow whatever your point is you win!!Merry Christmas. Really.