Monitors criticise Russian poll

[eppur_se_muova]

Source: BBC

The only Western observer group monitoring Russia's presidential election says the poll was flawed.

Observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) said Russia's "democratic potential" was unfulfilled.

Dmitry Medvedev, President Vladimir Putin's chosen successor, won a landslide victory in Sunday's poll.

His opponents say the poll was marred by violations, including coercion to vote - a charge denied by Moscow.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7274395.stm

[DFW]

1. That's the difference between Bush and Putin

Bush looked into Putin's soul.

Putin looked into Bush's skill at manipulating elections.

[TheLastMohican]

5. What are you talking about?

Putin is immensely popular in Russia, whether you like it or not.
He doesn't need to rig elections, all he has to do is to point at the man and say - "he will take over my duties".
Doesn't sound very democratic but where do you see a real democracy.

[DFW]

6. I don't care one way or the other whether Putin is popular in Russia

If he still has to resort to Rove tactics (or worse) to influence
the result of elections, then the result is fraudulent. This has
nothing whatsoever to do with whether or not he would have won without
manipulation.

Я часто говорю с друзьми в Росии--каждую неделью. (enough to get an
idea of what is going on anyway)

[Lasher]

2. Wonder how many Russian observers we had here in 2000 & 2004? n/t

[DFW]

3. According to the Bush administration and Republican officials:

No foreign observers were "needed" here.

Like Bush's friend, Rep. Peter King, R-NY said
on Election Day 2004: "It's all over but the
counting, and we'll take care of the counting."

A bunch of ex-Stalinists would have known perfectly
well what they were observing. Thus, there was "no need"
for them to observe it, was there?

[fascisthunter]

4. Here's another Real Dictator Not Getting Attention

from the "dictator" crowd.