Blog-IT-o ergo sum

	8/18/2004

Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe* (read why this really matters...)

text and logo quoted directly from the OSCE website:

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"One of the OSCE's closest partners is the United Nations. Co-operation (editor's note: it is not just for style that they said, 'Co-operation' instead of 'cooperation.') was initiated in 1992, when the participating States declared the OSCE (at that time CSCE) to be "a regional arrangement in the sense of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations". "

Why is this important? Because this is the OSCE that is coming to the US to monitor our Presidential Elections this November per the invitation of our US State Department.

When just before Independence Day weekend thirteen Democrats appealed to Kofi Annan to send UN observers to monitor our elections, conservatives and those who think handling our own elections is a fundamental element of a sovereign nation were outraged. On July 15, Republicans in the House even passed a token amendment to HR 4818 243-161 to assure that no foreign aid money from the Fiscal 2005 budget could be used to pay for any such UN observers.

Contrary to the sense of we the people as represented by the US Congress however, the Bush Administration agreed to this OSCE "compromise." Now, unless enough American's get fired up we will for the first time in our nation's history have a foreign organization technically sanctioning our elections. (Note: These monitors will be coming fresh off their work in Tajikistan and Abkhazia...This is the level we will have allowed our nation to fall to.)

Please help me do a gut check: The circles I run in are absolutely livid over this development on two counts:

1) We will have foreign agents monitoring our elections in our country.

2) Yet again, the Bush Administration thinks we are so stupid and gullible that we will buy anything and not figure out that the OSCE monitors are virtually identical to UN monitors...which the GOP lead house (backed by public outcry) soundly refused to accept.

Who else is worked up about this? What would be your reaction if you walked in to vote at your precinct in Guilford County on November 2nd and noticed an official of the European Union in the room observing the proceedings per UN established monitoring guidelines?

*OSCE is the largest regional security organization in the world with 55 participating States from Europe, Central Asia and North America. It is active in early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation.

10:37:11 AM

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Foxx Wins

I did manage to stop by late and congratulate Senator Virginia Foxx on her victory last night in the 5th District US house primary run-off. A gracious Vernon Robinson had already stopped by himself to congratulate her and her supporters. Seems that of all the candidates in the primary race Robinson showed the most class in defeat. Per Foxx supporters, Ed Broyhill scored the lowest in this regard.

The media enjoyed their coffee and wifi connection at the "don't let your friends drink Starbucks" Morning Dew Coffee bar victory location, but watch their reports. Even though Republican SENATOR Virginia Foxx has a PhD they kept referring to her as Mrs. Foxx who will now be running against Democrat Dr. Jim Harrell. (According to the Foxx fan I talked to, the AP reporter's bias was the most obvious as, "he was sporting a 'Clinton tie.' ")

sidebar: Mel Watt, of the serpentine shaped 12th district running from Charlotte to Winston-Salem, gave his blessings on having the victory party for Senator/Dr. Foxx at the Morning Dew as it is actually on the 12th district side of Westdale and Burke Streets.

Allen Loses

Carl Allen was beaten soundly by BJP candidate Eddie Souther 492-336. Sure doesn't take many votes to be a County Commissioner does it? Ed Souther must have had better courtesy limos to the polls.

Atkinson costs us $4 million taxdollars out of the chute..

but did win a chance to become Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Bottom Line:

John Hammer goes 3-0 in showing that endorsing candidates based on sound reasoning is the surest way to pick the losers.

8:35:00 AM

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