Home » General Discussions » Heated Discussions and Debates » "The polls stayed open one hour later... because of such high turnout."
| "The polls stayed open one hour later... because of such high turnout." [message #182333] |
Thu, 15 December 2005 12:06  |
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Hydra
Messages: 827
Registered: September 2003
Location: Atlanta, GA
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Isn't it just great to read a report like this?
"Up to 15 million Iraqis — including large numbers of Sunnis, who boycotted the January elections — voted in historic parliamentary elections Thursday to establish a permanent democratic government amid only scattered violence."
"Policemen guarding a polling place in eastern Baghdad's Zayouna neighborhood fired shots in the air to celebrate the end of voting there"
"[V]iolence in Iraq was much lighter than expected; the smattering of attacks didn't appear to discourage Iraqis, some of whom turned out wrapped in their country's flag on a sunny day and afterward displayed a purple ink-stained index finger — a mark to guard against multiple voting."
I'd be reposting the entire article if I pulled out any more.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,178770,00.html
A few years ago, people were forced, many at gunpoint, to turn out to the polls to cast their vote for Saddam. That's how he got 100% support from his electorate--people were forced to vote for him, or they and their families would be imprisoned and/or executed.
Now, a percentage of the electorate almost as high has turned out to vote on its own accord. No one was forced out of his home and told to vote for a particular candidate. For the first time in their history, the Iraqi people were allowed to vote for a permanent, free government.
None of it would have been possible without the sacrifices of thousands of American and Iraqi soldiers alike. None of their sacrifices have been in vain, and they have the undying gratitude of millions of now free Iraqi citizens.
God, I love freedom.
*Raises glass* Here's to a prosperous future for the world's newest free nation. Congratulations, Iraq!
Walter Keith Koester: September 22, 1962 - March 15, 2005
God be with you, Uncle Wally.
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| Re: "The polls stayed open one hour later... because of such high turnout." [message #182337 is a reply to message #182333] |
Thu, 15 December 2005 12:27  |
runewood
Messages: 138
Registered: October 2005
Location: SE Michigan
Karma: 0
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"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain..." Abraham Lincoln
"Don't try to be a great man, just be a man. Let history make it's own judgments."
"Maybe its not the destination that matters, but the journey."
"How many people does it take before its wrong? A thousand? Fifty thousand? A million?"
"Im not here to tell you how it is going to end, Im here to tell you how it is going to begin."
"Its not the end or even the beggining of the end, mearly the end of the beggining."
"Logic is the beginning of wisdom; not the end."
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| Re: "The polls stayed open one hour later... because of such high turnout." [message #182400 is a reply to message #182333] |
Fri, 16 December 2005 13:52 |
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Sniper_De7
Messages: 866
Registered: April 2004
Location: Wisconsin
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I think he was pointing out that a liberal's most argumentive point would be that the war isn't going well.
Oderint, dum metuant.
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. - Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt
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| Re: "The polls stayed open one hour later... because of such high turnout." [message #182657 is a reply to message #182333] |
Sun, 18 December 2005 21:32 |
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Hydra
Messages: 827
Registered: September 2003
Location: Atlanta, GA
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| Ryan3k |
What does that (being a Liberal) have to do with anything?
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Not only is this disproving the common notion that the war isn't going well, the election would never have happened in the first place if the anti-war crowd had its way. This is also clear evidence that Bush does, indeed, have an exit strategy despite what the cut-and-run and anti-Bush/war crowd in Washington may claim.
No one can say the President has not articulated an exit strategy for the Iraq war.
I'll highlight the main portion of the speech that outlines his strategy:
| President Bush |
We have put in place a strategy to achieve this goal — a strategy I have been discussing in detail over the last few weeks. This plan has three critical elements.
First, our coalition will remain on the offense, finding and clearing out the enemy, transferring control of more territory to Iraqi units and building up the Iraqi Security Forces so they can increasingly lead the fight. At this time last year, there were only a handful of Iraqi army and police battalions ready for combat. Now, there are more than 125 Iraqi combat battalions fighting the enemy, more than 50 are taking the lead and we have transferred more than a dozen military bases to Iraqi control.
Second, we are helping the Iraqi government establish the institutions of a unified and lasting democracy, in which all of Iraq's peoples are included and represented. Here also, the news is encouraging. Three days ago, more than 10 million Iraqis went to the polls, including many Sunni Iraqis who had boycotted national elections last January. Iraqis of every background are recognizing that democracy is the future of the country they love, and they want their voices heard. One Iraqi, after dipping his finger in the purple ink as he cast his ballot, stuck his finger in the air and said: "This is a thorn in the eyes of the terrorists." Another voter was asked, "Are you Sunni or Shia?" He responded, "I am Iraqi."
Third, after a number of setbacks, our coalition is moving forward with a reconstruction plan to revive Iraq's economy and infrastructure and to give Iraqis confidence that a free life will be a better life. Today in Iraq, seven in 10 Iraqis say their lives are going well and nearly two-thirds expect things to improve even more in the year ahead. Despite the violence, Iraqis are optimistic and that optimism is justified.
In all three aspects of our strategy — security, democracy, and reconstruction — we have learned from our experiences, and fixed what has not worked. We will continue to listen to honest criticism and make every change that will help us complete the mission....
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I don't know how much more clear it can get than that.
Walter Keith Koester: September 22, 1962 - March 15, 2005
God be with you, Uncle Wally.
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| Re: "The polls stayed open one hour later... because of such high turnout." [message #182678 is a reply to message #182657] |
Mon, 19 December 2005 06:40 |
runewood
Messages: 138
Registered: October 2005
Location: SE Michigan
Karma: 0
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Dang I missed his speach on the 18th.
"Don't try to be a great man, just be a man. Let history make it's own judgments."
"Maybe its not the destination that matters, but the journey."
"How many people does it take before its wrong? A thousand? Fifty thousand? A million?"
"Im not here to tell you how it is going to end, Im here to tell you how it is going to begin."
"Its not the end or even the beggining of the end, mearly the end of the beggining."
"Logic is the beginning of wisdom; not the end."
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