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Not really. It wouldn't be much of a fight. It would be lovely to put a bunch of them in Harris County's jail. Maybe I could walk over and moon them during lunch.
The Black helicopters are coming! The Black helicopters are coming!
International vote monitors warn Texas: Don't mess with us
By Michael Shields and Corrie MacLaggan | Reuters – 10 hrs agoVIENNA/AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - International election monitors took a dim view on Wednesday of Texas' threat to prosecute them if they observe voting in the state a bit too closely on November 6.
The exchange pitted the Vienna-based human rights watchdog Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe against Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, who warned the OSCE not to interfere with polling in state elections.
"The threat of criminal sanctions against OSCE/ODIHR observers is unacceptable," Janez Lenarcic, director of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) monitoring arm, said in a statement.
"The United States, like all countries in the OSCE, has an obligation to invite ODIHR observers to observe its elections."
Abbott told Reuters on Wednesday that he is considering legal action against the group if it doesn't concede that it will follow the state's laws.
"They act like they may not be subject to Texas law and our goal all along is to make clear to them that when they're in Texas, they're subject to Texas law, and we're not giving them an exemption," he said.
Abbott is skeptical about why the group wants to look at elections in Texas.
"Our concern is that this isn't some benign observation but something intended to be far more prying and maybe even an attempt to suppress voter integrity," he said.
In a letter on Tuesday to the Warsaw-based ODIHR, Abbott had noted that OSCE representatives were not authorized by Texas law to enter a polling place.
"It may be a criminal offense for OSCE's representatives to maintain a presence within 100 feet of a polling place's entrance. Failure to comply with these requirements could subject the OSCE's representatives to criminal prosecution for violating state law," he added.
He cited reports that OSCE monitors had met with organizations challenging voter identification laws. Texas' voter ID law was blocked earlier this year by a federal court, and Abbott has said he will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"The OSCE may be entitled to its opinions about Voter ID laws, but your opinion is legally irrelevant in the United States, where the Supreme Court has already determined that Voter ID laws are constitutional," Abbott wrote.
Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade also wrote to the United Nations-affiliated OSCE/ODIHR on Tuesday, saying that it's key for Texans to understand that the organization has no jurisdiction over the state.
Republican Texas Governor Rick Perry tweeted on Tuesday: "No UN monitors/inspectors will be part of any TX election process; I commend @TXsecofstate for swift action to clarify issue."
The 56-member OSCE routinely sends monitors to elections and noted November's elections would be the sixth U.S. vote that ODIHR has observed "without incident" since 2002.
For next month's elections it has a core team of 13 experts from 10 OSCE countries based in Washington and 44 long-term observers deployed across the country, it said.
Lenarcic had shared his "grave concern" about the threat of Texas prosecutions with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the OSCE said.
"Our observers are required to remain strictly impartial and not to intervene in the voting process in any way," Lenarcic said. "They are in the United States to observe these elections, not to interfere in them."
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/10/25 11:19:34
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
"your opinion is legally irrelevant in the United States".
Awesome. So, what is the purpose of voting again?
Oh, wait, it's another groundless "look how much of a hardcase I am defending FREEDOM! Against the tyranical OUTSIDERS!" Douche spouting off a load of gak to further stir the waters and distract from the actual issues.
SilverMK2 wrote: "your opinion is legally irrelevant in the United States".
Awesome. So, what is the purpose of voting again?
To be fair, the OSCE's opinion IS legally irrelevant in the United States. Doesn't seem to invalidate voting either... I wonder how that works, it's almost like... oh yeah the OSCE's completely irrelevant to the voting process so not having them around changes... nothing.
It also scores the lawmakers who are on it points with their constituents. The UN, and it's affiliated organizations like the OSCE aren't exactly popular in certain parts of the United States.
I beg of you sarge let me lead the charge when the battle lines are drawn
Lemme at least leave a good hoof beat they'll remember loud and long
SilverMK2 wrote: "your opinion is legally irrelevant in the United States".
Awesome. So, what is the purpose of voting again?
To be fair, the OSCE's opinion IS legally irrelevant in the United States. Doesn't seem to invalidate voting either... I wonder how that works, it's almost like... oh yeah the OSCE's completely irrelevant to the voting process so not having them around changes... nothing.
It also scores the lawmakers who are on it points with their constituents. The UN, and it's affiliated organizations like the OSCE aren't exactly popular in certain parts of the United States.
Exactlamundo. Maybe we could put em on a float and have a tiny little parade down Louisiana. That would be a hoot.
Alternatively, we could take them down PSC or American Shooting Centers and teach them how to shoot shotgun. We'll convert 'em to gun toting pickup driving rednecks in no time.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
SilverMK2 wrote: "your opinion is legally irrelevant in the United States".
Awesome. So, what is the purpose of voting again?
Oh, wait, it's another groundless "look how much of a hardcase I am defending FREEDOM! Against the tyranical OUTSIDERS!" Douche spouting off a load of gak to further stir the waters and distract from the actual issues.
Our purpose is to vote to elect representatives. Their purpose is be bureaucrats, but we don't have to kowtow to the UN here. Go back to NY. Maybe they care.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/10/25 12:20:25
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
Look, we can do, "Ha ha, my country's better than yours!" later. For now, one of you guys needs to get over to Vienna and let these boys know that picking and subsequently losing even a political fight with 1/50th of a country is probably not where they want to end up on the good ol' organizational relevancy flowchart.
A friend of mine that was in a U.N peace keeper force in Africa tells me that the U.N. can't find their own ass with both hands and a map.
I don't want those clowns here since it seems most of what they do is designed against the U.S.
Look, we can do, "Ha ha, my country's better than yours!" later. For now, one of you guys needs to get over to Vienna and let these boys know that picking and subsequently losing even a political fight with 1/50th of a country is probably not where they want to end up on the good ol' organizational relevancy flowchart.
The full might of the UN vs. one Harris County Sheriff, who will win? To make it fair we have to disarm the Sheriff and make it 15 minutes to quitting time.
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
I may be wishing I had a pancho like that this weekend at the IDPA meet. Its supposed to drop down to 44 Saturday morning. Thats practically arctic conditions here. I bet the wiener dogs drag all six blankets into one kennel and don't come out until March.
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
Lenarcic had shared his "grave concern" about the threat of Texas prosecutions with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the OSCE said.
"Our observers are required to remain strictly impartial and not to intervene in the voting process in any way," Lenarcic said. "They are in the United States to observe these elections, not to interfere in them."
At no point in that article did he explain what the purpose was. "To observe" is not a reason. What is his complaint? What is his concern? What is the purpose of monitoring our voting? Seriously. Answer that or stay the feth out.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/10/25 13:02:48
Relapse wrote: A friend of mine that was in a U.N peace keeper force in Africa tells me that the U.N. can't find their own ass with both hands and a map.
I don't want those clowns here since it seems most of what they do is designed against the U.S.
The UN stopped being relevent when it decided to turn into the world's biggest club of dictators & tyrants...
Seriously, they can't get their crap together to stop true warcrimes like what's going on in Syria, or put the boot to islamofasists who try to murder little girls who just want an education. But they try to claim that we can't run fair elections, or that we're bad people for not having a government body dedicated to watching over children?!
I honestly wish that the US, Canada, our British friends and every other country with half a brain would step-up, do the right thing, and pull out the UN. It has for some time now failed misserably at everything its supposed to stand for!
I realize that you're more concerned with your feelings than with reality, but the OCSE is not a part of the UN.
Shocking though it may be, there are international organizations that aren't constituent components of the United Nations.
Thats ok, can we still go to war with the UN? I have a slingshot, that I've been itching to try out.
This gives them even less of a claim. them and the horse they rode in on.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2012/10/25 13:45:22
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
Treaties cannot contradict the US Constitution even if properly ratified by the Senate. Or as the immortal bard once said:
You have a provision in your constitution against international observers?
The right to vote shall not be infringed. What constitutes infringement is BROADly interpreted, to pretty much anything messing with the process.
And what the hell does the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe OF EUROPE have to do with the USA anyway.
What does "With 56 States from Europe, Central Asia and North America, the OSCE is the world's largest regional security organization" have to do with voting? Thats bureaucratic nonsense. Again they can shove it.
And why am I always so hungry this early in the morning?
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/10/25 13:49:49
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
I suspect the answer is zero. My question, then, is why do you think that your opinion is valid?
1. I've read it 342 times of course, hasn't everyone?
2. I could give a gak about their charter. If it violates the Constitution they can feth themselves.
3. There is no test for opinion validity, else niehter you nor I would be here.
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
3. There is no test for opinion validity, else niehter you nor I would be here.
I'm aware that you run from criticism, and so is everyone else.
Oh Snap. I've been told off by Dogma. How will I survive? I guess I should feel bad now.
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
We are arming Syrian rebels who support ISIS, who is fighting Iran, who is fighting Iraq who we also support against ISIS, while fighting Kurds who we support while they are fighting Syrian rebels.
I'd argue in the electoral area that you're more free. Your system is not rigged for two parties only (er...right?)
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
them and the horse they rode in on.
