Independent Election Team Arrives In US

Yahoo News ^ | Fri Sep 17,12:34 PM ET | Jim Lobe

[Byron_the_Aussie]

WASHINGTON, D.C., Sep 17 (OneWorld) - A team of 20 independent democracy experts from 15 countries and five continents has arrived in the United States in order to observe this year's presidential election campaign.

The election monitors, who have been brought here by the San Francisco activist group "Global Exchange," will be fanning out in the coming days initially to research how the election preparations are being conducted in five states. They will then return just before the actual polling November 2.

The five states include Florida, Ohio, Arizona, Missouri, and Georgia. According to Global Exchange, Florida was selected due to the controversy that erupted there in the 2000 elections; Georgia because it is one of only two states where voters will use only touch-screen voting machines.

Arizona was picked because elections there are publicly financed, while Missouri was the scene of widespread reports of Republican efforts to suppress the black vote in 2000. Ohio was also of interest because it is expected to be one of the most hotly contested battleground states in this year's election.

"Many of us in this room have worked for many, many years in different situations and in different countries," said Brigalia Bam, one of the observers who also chairs South Africa's Independent Electoral Commission at a press conference at the National Press Club Thursday. "It is that experience that has brought us to the United States." She said all elections should be assessed by the degree to which they are "responsive, transparent, and fair."

Other observers, with similar qualifications, hail from Argentina, Australia, England, Canada, Chile, Ghana, India, Ireland, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, Thailand, Wales and Zambia.

The Global Exchange group, which hopes to meet with local and state election authorities, as well as with civic groups that are also involved in getting out the vote and ensuring a fair election, is not the only international team that will be observing the November elections.

The State Department last month invited formally invited an observer delegation from the Vienna-based Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), a 55-nation body that encourages all member countries to observe each others' elections.

State Department officials stressed that the OSCE delegation will not have the authority to assess the fairness of the vote, but it will be expected to issue a report on any problems or shortcomings as part of a new program for all OSCE members.

That invitation drew praise from more than a dozen Democratic lawmakers who had asked UN Secretary General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) to dispatch observers to the November elections earlier this summer.

In a letter to Annan, which the UN subsequently referred back to Powell, the lawmakers said they were concerned about the possibility of irregularities in the 2004 balloting.

"Given the deeply troubling events of the 2000 election, the growing concerns about the lack of necessary reforms and potential abuse in the 2004 election," the lawmakers wrote, "we believe that the engagement of international election monitors can be the catalyst to expedite the necessary reform, as well as reduce the likelihood of questionable practices and voter disenfranchisement on Election Day."

The letters drew outrage from many Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives. They promptly attached an amendment to the 2005 foreign-aid bill banning the use of any of that money to finance UN monitoring of the election.

"For over 200 years, this nation has conducted elections fairly and impartially, ensuring that each person's vote will count," said Rep. Stephen Buyer during debate on the floor of the House of Representatives. "Imagine going to your polling place on the morning of November 2 and seeing blue-helmeted foreigners inside your local library, school or fire station."

The delegation invited by Global Exchange said they were less likely to be watching specific polling places on Election Day as they were to be examining the larger process, particularly with respect to the possible disenfranchisement of voters.

"The potential for minority and specific groups to be disenfranchised, that's certainly ...a concern that needs to be closely looked at," said David MacDonald, a former Minister of Communications and Secretary of State under Progressive Conservative governments in Canada.

Several of the Global Exchange observers stressed that U.S. officials should not be offended by their presence. "I think it's productive that America should also invite observers because, if we judge ourselves, we wouldn't be judged," said Damaso Magbual, deputy secretary general of the National Citizens Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) in the Philippines.

"We may think we are the best, (but) it's always best to have others see to have others see it from an outside perspective, to find out how things are," he noted.

"In all places, there is a need for sharing experiences, and there is always room to improve," said Horacio Boneo, an Argentine professor who has taken part in electoral assistance and observation in more than 60 countries and is one of the United Nations (news - web sites)' top advisers on elections.

Global Exchange said the delegation marks the first major effort by a non-governmental organization (NGO) to monitor U.S. election processes. A spokesman added that some counties with which the group had made contact had invited the observers to meet with election officials and even attend tabulation centers on Election Day, while in other cases - notably Miami's Dade County - no response has been forthcoming.

''I don't think they have anything they particularly want to hide from us," said Bam, who will be part of the team to be sent to Florida.

[G.Mason]

"A team of 20 independent democracy experts from 15 countries and five continents has arrived in the United States in order to observe this year's presidential election campaign."

What's the odds that all, or most never go home again?

Everythings free in Amerika.

[onyx]

ALL democrats.... led by Nadler I reckon.

Thanks for the ping.

[bd476]

"ALL democrats...."

Yes.

"...led by Nadler I reckon."

That would be "...led by Nadler without patriotism, and without the benefit of common sense.

[B4Ranch]

>>DOH! I don't consider Australia and England third world countries, mind you...<<

Noe that the PEOPLE aren't armed they may as well be.

[B4Ranch]

Led by Johnson, Eddie Bernice, Texas, 30th Democrat : Congresswoman wrote to General Kofi Annan asking the UN to monitor United States elections.

[Styria]

How about Philadelpha, which had precincts with 106% voter turn-out....

[cp124]

Is there a complete list of these turd world country intruders? Publishing pictures so we can be on the look out would be helpful.

[Sal]

We won't send Jimmy Carter out to "observe" your elections, and you'll keep your grubby hands off ours.

Especially since Jimmuh's main efforts are to cover for Communist dictators.

[Sal]

I think we should greet them warmly as in, "Welcome to America, the freest and finest country in the history of mankind. I hope you learn enough here to help your country." It should be said in a friendly and sincere manner.

If they give you crap, follow up with, "More friendly advice--don't EVER be stupid enough to send your soldiers here."

They're coming to my state, but will probably be more interested in exploiting the ignorance and Rat flamed anger of bigger cities than mine, so I most likely won't have a chance to "welcome" them.

[VRWCer]

What a disgrace. An 'independent observer' from South Africa, one of the most corrupt crime-ridden hellholes on earth.

And that is exactly why the Dimplecrats want him here - someone who is on the same page as they are, and can aid and abet their criminally fraudulent behavior, yet suffer no repercussions from it ("He is impartial, from another country, you Republicans are trying to discriminate against him, you're bad, elitist people!"). This has really got my Irish up. I seem to remember, just a short while ago, the desperate "global poll" showing how nearly every other country in the world wants the Fraud to win. Impartial?Right - about as impartial as I am! What a crock.

[MeekOneGOP]

Jeez. This whole thing stinks.

What will be interesting is that they find DemocRAT fraud in Florida or
elsewhere.

I bet that Beech Eddie Bernice Johnson won't be writing any more demands
for International oversight again, if so.

[leprechaun9]

In NJ, only voters, poll workers, and candidate designated challengers are permitted in the polling place. In what category will these foreign invaders be placed?

[Happy2BMe]

If I didn't know better, I wouldn't have believed it.

Thanks B4Ranch!

Do you believe our government will actually legitimize such an effort by the UN to "monitor" our Nov 2nd elections?

If the Democrats had/get their way, John Kerry would be president and Bill Clinton would be the new head of the UN. Then they would make the UN Charter and Constitution the law of the land and we all know the rest of the story.

This has Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton written all over it.

US lawmakers request UN observers for November 2 presidential election.

As B4Ranch has noted, each of these "patriots" are Democrat and all of them have more confidence in the United Nations to elect and place in power our president than the American People do.

Thanks to B4Ranch who obtained this list by phoning Congresswoman Eddie Johnson's office in Texas.


Please alert any interested Freepers who live in the following States: Texas, Florida, Indiana, New York, Illinois, Arizona and California. It's letter writing time.

_________________________________

~ ~ ~

Write Or Call These Elected Officials And Tell Them To Cease And Desist From Their (Treasonous) Request For UN Election Monitoring

Johnson, Eddie Bernice, Texas, 30th Democrat

Brown, Corrine, Florida, 3rd Democrat

Carson, Julia, Indiana, 7th Democrat

Crowley, Joseph, New York, 7th Democrat

Davis, Danny K., Illinois, 7th Democrat

Grijalva, Raul, Arizona, 7th Democrat

Honda, Mike, California, 15th Democrat

Maloney, Carolyn, New York, 14th Democrat

Nadler, Jerrold, New York, 8th Democrat

[Sal]

State Department officials stressed that the OSCE delegation will not have the authority to assess the fairness of the vote, but it will be expected to issue a report on any problems or shortcomings as part of a new program for all OSCE members.

Hillary Clinton and the DNC should be finished writing the OSCE "report" before the end of this week.

The Enemies Within our country have gotten very powerful and got within grasping distance of total control right up until the internet caused them to slip back. The slippage is accelerating.

I've always said that the MSM was the main enemy and the most dangerous to us. I should never have under-ranked our State Department. Many years ago my father casually remarked that he didn't think they were on our side. Major understatement.

This last week we inflicted a mortal blow on the worst, most anti-American entity in the MSM. It's a long fight to clean up the rest of them, but they are realizing that they don't control the flow of information anymore and without that they LOSE.

More and more people are becoming aware that most of the State Department is not on America's side. Information is the key to cleaning out that rat hole too.

I think TEW is realizing that after being within grasping distance, they are careening away from the brass ring and out of control. That's why they've gone so NUTS. Their psychotic rants and accusations are turning off the uninformed--but not necessarily stupid--independents and "moderates" which only snowballs the shrinking power of TEW.

I believe this BS stunt of bringing in these goof balls will only accelerate TEW's plunge. If it's close to 60%--40% as it just may be, it will be very difficult for them to "spin" (why don't we call it lieing anymore?) this election into anything but a mandate against the CRB (commie rat bastages).

[deport]

I bet that Beech Eddie Bernice Johnson won't be writing any more demands
for International oversight again, if so.

---

I think this group will fit with her agenda just fine.

There is also another groups scheduled to come in to which the US is a party to that organization....

[Sal]

Love your blue helmet picture! It's unfortunate that we would get into legal trouble if we brought partisan "papers" onto polling sites.

Otherwise we could give our "guests" a color copy when we greet them and wish them well in bringing their countries up to our speed, followed with a kindly reminder not to send their soldiers here. EVER.

[Bob J]

Not just a stunt, the libs have their "international progressive " judges in place to certify the election a fraud when they lose. This is bad.

[hershey]

This is one more backdoor attempt to bring the US under the UN's thumb.

[risk]

Honda, Mike, California, 15th Democrat

Immigrants, blah blah blah, 9/11 Abugraibh blah blah blah, Japanese internment reparations blah blah blah, personal leave blah blah blah, Enron blah blah blah, sue those nasty gun makers for their last dime, blah blah blah, American ANTI-PERSONELL MINES ARE EVIL, blah blah blah, no reporting of illegal aliens who need hospital treatment blah blah blah, no drilling in ANWAR and no blood for oil, blah blah blah, NO PRAYER IN SCHOOLS DURING WAR ON TERROR, CFR CFR CFR CFR CFR CFR CFR SOROS CFR SOROS, and no Internet monopolies (can't have that!), ....

[Smartass]

RA^thER MEMO TO THE DEMOCRATS:

THE END IS NEAR