Two Sides of the Sunni Vote: Deserted Polls and Long Lines (NYT):
A heavy boom shook what was left of the windows in polling station No. 1, a provincial council building in the center of this embattled Sunni Arab city. Bursts of automatic gunfire immediately followed. The polls had been open for exactly three minutes, and insurgents here had already staked their claim on the vote.
Iraqis vote in force (Mail & Guardian Online, South Africa):
Iraqis voted in force on Saturday on a draft Constitution that turns another page on the ousted regime of Saddam Hussein as insurgents evaded a massive security clampdown to kill four people.
Polls Close for Vote on Iraq Constitution (AP):
Iraq’s deeply divided Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds voted on a new constitution at heavily guarded polling stations Saturday in a referendum largely free of insurgent violence and aimed at establishing democracy after decades of Saddam Hussein’s repressive rule.
Iraq votes in historic referendum (Telegraph UK):
More than 15 million people are thought to have voted, despite threats from insurgents to disrupt voting. Last night Baghdad and towns to the north of the city spent an evening without power after lines were sabotaged.
Iraq referendum sparks democracy debate (Seattle Post Intelligencer):
Some voters praised it as a godsend of freedom after decades of dictatorship in Iraq. Others called it the work of foreign occupiers.
For or against, Iraqis vote on country’s future (Reuters):
Across their chaotic country, Iraqis said Saturday’s vote on a new constitution represented their hopes for a future. But their “Yes” or “No” votes exposed deep divisions over what that future will be.
Iraqis Turn Out for Vote (WaPo):
Millions of voters in Iraq ignored the threat of attack and cast ballots Saturday in a constitutional referendum that was remarkably calm, with isolated insurgent attacks on polling stations and sporadic clashes with U.S. Marines west of Baghdad, but no major bombings or mass killings.
Iraq hunkers down for referendum (Globe And Mail, Canada):
The Iraqi government tightened security in Baghdad yesterday with military and police manning checkpoints and blocking roads throughout the capital, where the city braced itself for today’s landmark constitutional referendum.
Constitution Is Put Before a Divided Iraq (LA Times)
Iraqis walked by the millions to vote today as Shiite Muslim leaders mobilized followers for a massive show of support for a draft constitution, despite continued opposition among angry but increasingly divided Sunnis.
Iraqis open ‘door to freedom’ (The Age, Australia):
IRAQIS walked through silent streets yesterday morning to begin voting on a new constitution which, if passed, would mark a major step towards the formation of the country’s first full-term government since the toppling of Saddam Hussein.
Polls close in historic Iraq referendum (CNN):
After decades of repression and more than two years of war and insurgency, Iraqis streamed to the polls Saturday to vote on a draft constitution that would set up a democratic framework to govern the religiously and ethnically disparate nation.
“Million March Revolt” (Oliver Willis):
I think it’s past time for there to be a changing of the guard in black leadership in America. People like Farrakhan, Sharpton and Jackson are no better than hustlers, bigots, and crooks. There are hundreds of black leaders who believe in improving the lives of black Americans, and America in general, but the media keeps giving time to the Axis of Irrelevancy.
“Bird Flu Stories” / “Open Thread” (Daily Kos):
As noted by many, the Romanian agriculture ministry confirms that the H5 noted previously in birds is the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) known as H5N1.
“Open Thread” (Atrios):
Thread more than thou showest, thread less than thou knowest, thread less than thou owest.
No post yet for Saturday (Pandagon)
No post yet for Saturday (Josh Marshall)
****
Publius has a roundup; see also, Roger Simon, Chester; Norm Geras; Bill Roggio (h/t IP)
And of course, keep checking Iraq the Model.
No one outside the expresso moonbats of Seattle, gives one whit about the news and opinion of the Seattle Post UNIntelligencer.
My LA Slimes is a close second.
Is that really Ollie? Can’t be. Someone must have hijacked his site while he was at Wendy’s chowing down on the 1-8 combo meals. Biggie sized, of course.
To Freedom!!!! (for Iraqis and from our media)
A good start might be for everyone who calls Dr. Sowell “Uncle Tom” actually read the book and find out who the real Uncle Tom was.
No wonder the kooks aren’t covering this: any way you slice it, it’s a success. The terrorists have had little to no effect on events and are rapidly shrinking into insignificance.
If the constitution passes, it’s a win and if it fails, it’s a win. At least the average voter will realize that their vote actually does have an effect on events. And the repetition of a successful, relatively peaceful election is helping to give the Iraqis a taste for democracy. Boy, is it fun. The genie may be out of the bottle for good.
For those who devoutly wish for the election to fail because their hearts aren’t large enough to love the Iraqis more than they hate George Bush, they can go fuck themselves. They couldn’t do more to demonstrate how small and insignificant they are, themselves.
O-Dub proceeds to get trashed in his own comments sectoin by jadegold (of yore) who is evidently also an expert in black leadership. All I know is the news in Detroit last night claimed “15-18” buses of marchers leaving Detroit, but showed only 3. There are about 650,000 blacks in Detroit. If 18 buses had 60 per bus, that would only be 1180 out of 650,000. If it’s the 3-5 I’m guessing, it’s more like 200. Where are the leaders?
I think it’s a little unfair for us to expect the lefties to cover this story, especially since today’s really big story is that Jesse’s leaving Pandagon!!!
Compared to that, well, everything else is small potatoes.
Nice to see that a guy who routinely calls his political enemies “fucking _____________” [add your own nouns] is able to achieve a position of political legitimacy.
Personally, I hope he crashes and burns, because he is truly one of the most unpleasant pissants I’ve ever come across.
Oliver Willis at least let us know that no matter what the ouctome of the election, Iraq will still be a “steaming mess”.
Which is um, helpful….I gather….
Olivers internal voice:“I mean, who cares if an Arab Muslim nation embraces democracy for the first time in a truly meaningful way? They are just making more terrorists. What’s the diff? It’s still gonna be a McChimpyliburton bullshit fascist puppett regime anyways…….say, who wants a deep-fried twinkie? Got a bucket filled of ‘em right here….
Thanks Oliver. Now go pack in the corner and be like kryptonite to stupid or whatever. The grown ups are trying to pay attention.
Pandagon and its writers are trash. Worthless trash.
I like the way the NYT prefaced the news with an attack and hyperbole.
*Salutes Iraqis* We’re one step closer…
You forgot Reuter’s lying about the election
Well either Reuters is lying or the UN observer coordinator I just heard interviewed on the BBC is lying.
In case that link goes bad, Reuters is claiming that Sunnie majority areas were denied the vote.
The UN observers say that there were no closed polls that affected the vote, and that the few closed polls were close to open polls that people could vote at instead – there being a system where voters weren’t limited to a specific polling station.
Iraq and Afghanistan hold democratic elections – new constitutions for both countries (so it appears in Iraq, as it already is so in Afghanistan). And we STILL have to hear the same shopworn BS from the usual suspects. Or, not hear anything, as the case may be…
If I weren’t so happy for the Iraqis and Afghans, I’d be one bitter dude.
Wow. I haven’t been to O-Dub’s site in ages. Nice picture. Looking like Sydney Greenstreet with a tan.
I having trouble with pinging a trackback, any suggestions?
chef mojo, i just some movie with that guy in it, you are so right. bwah ha ha haaaaaa.
Pandagon is quitting his blog to be “director of online communications” for some guy who’s running for governor of Ohio. So now we know that guy won’t win. It’s all part of Rove’s evil plan.
Well, are Reuters’ lips moving? From their report:
From USA Today:
Don’t blame Reuters though—they are clearly just the mouthpiece for the Sunni “human rights activists.”
From Kos:
Mooooooooommmmmmmmmyyyyyy, what time is Santy Clause getting heeeerrrreeeeeee?
Criminy.
Birds are all George Bush’s fault.
are we there yet? are we there yet? are we there yet? are we there yet? are we there yet?
Darn it, maggie, you beat me to it!
Mac Buckets, I think we passed the point where terrorists are called “Human rights activists” when Hamas terrorist were found hiding in the ISM’s offices in Israel.
Of course the ISM is probably directly funded by terrorist groups and/or the PLO.
We’ll have reached a milestone in Orwellian destruction of language when private citizens start calling terrorists “activists” on their own. Ward Churchhill probably passed that mark long ago, but he’s more of a parody than a man anyway.
Hey Harriet M., is that you blogging here under the “Jeffrey Goldsteen†pseudo??
If so, you forgot to add:
like that hapless Iraqi trooper told our video-confcalling El Presidente supremo yesterday!!
By saying “Yes†to the Iranian-made Islamic fundamentalist charter that passes for a “constitution†in collaborationist circles, “Abdulâ€Â, “Aliâ€Â, “Omar†(no doubt an acronym for Operation Massive American Resonance in the Pentagon’s technocratic PR jargon) and their ilk have surely stroke a mighty blow for freedom and thus contributed significantly to the
Words like worn out Neocon clichés or Pharisaic platitudes come to mind.
I can hear the echo of the cavernous voice of Ali Ibn Burton Sheikh Dick Al-Cheney:
Or shall I say
like US officers and their Israeli advisers/handlers do in Baghdad when escorting handcuffed Iraqis to nearby polling stations?
Eternally Yours in Liberty,
Dr Victorino de la Vega
Chair of the Thomas More Center for Middle East Studies
http://www.mideastmemo.blogspot.com/
“qui bonehead”…
I think 90% of the comments have it right. What else was anyone expecting from the slugs that feed the news (sic) to the former MSM. I haven’t believed a word i’ve read/heard in the news for years. I’ve became one of those that don’t believe it if I don’t see it, and with photoshop, I have to see it live. Fortunetly most of us are in direct contact with one or more of the soldiers doing the fantastic job in Iraq and know the real story.
I haven’t slept all night, there’s a piece of shit Jamie Foxx movie on the telly, and I may be having some kind of cardiac event (a month before my 34th birthday).
But I’ve got a bunch of beer in the fridge and it’s telling me to drink it, even through it’s just after 9AM.
Someday, in’shallah, all Iraqis will be as lucky as I am.
Mr. Willis, on the other hand, will always be smooth-skinned, pudgy, bitter, and wrong.
With the this morning’s substantial coverage of the Iraq election by the Washington Post (versus the almost total absence of coverage by the New York Times), I believe we can officially mark the passing over of the ‘paper of record’ baton. It’s been coming for a long time. The NYT is dead.
That picture was from Oct 3 douchebag, the prisoners were not going to vote. The d’Emocrats aren’t running the elections, remember? That picture just shows the AP is as full of shit as you are. Go away.
He’s gone already. Another Justin Raimondo Anti-War “conservative” who sees Kikes hiding in his sauerkraut, threatening to turn it in to potato pancakes if not for his eternal vigilance.
Glad he is gone then, I like potato pancakes.
Mmm. Potato pancakes.
Ted Strickland… doesn’t that guy sell propane and propane accessories?
And Strickland has hired Pandagon’s leading hater as his man? Doesn’t he know what happens to candidates endorsed and supported by the leftern side of the blogosphere?!?
And as for Jesse himself… doesn’t he know that the boy just ain’t right?
He’ll never lead the Midland Metro in propane sales with this kind of staffing.