Euphoric, Egyptians Vote on Future

[Faygo Kid]

Source: New York Times

MANSOURA, Egypt — Elated that for the first time in their lives every ballot mattered, Egyptians flocked to the polls in record numbers on Saturday to vote in a referendum on a package of constitutional amendments that will shape the country’s political future after Hosni Mubarak’s overthrow.

From this provincial capital in the Nile Delta, across the sprawling capital of Cairo and beyond, voters were already waiting when the polls opened at 8 a.m., and the lines grew throughout the day, sometimes stretching until the wait exceeded three hours.

Gone was the heavy security presence of the Mubarak years, with only a few police officers and soldiers lingering around the crowded entrances but mostly standing apart from the proceedings.

“Before, I was not even allowed into the polling station,” said Mohamed el-Sayid Auf, a stooped 52-year-old engineer and Muslim Brotherhood supporter voting in a poor neighborhood here. “The police would tell me, ‘Go home. We already voted on your behalf. We know what is best for Egypt better than you.’

“Now there is freedom; there is organization. The people of Egypt are happy today,” he continued. “I feel like I am flying. It is something coming from deep within my soul.”. . .

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/world/middleeast/20egypt.html?hp

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Sorry for the extra graf, but I wanted to allow the gentleman to finish his thought. This is a little good news in this extraordinary month, and to think it happened by the Egyptian people rather than an invasion.

[tabatha]

1. The US military had a silent hand in making this happen.

[gateley]

4. Didn't know that. In a good way? nt

[tabatha]

6. Yes, they were told not to intervene.

Which they did not.

They allowed the Egyptians to be able to demonstrate - that is, it was not put down like in Yemen and Bahrain.

The Egyptian and US military have had close relations for years. I thank Carter for that.

[gateley]

14. Thanks - and good to hear. We can thank Carter for a lot of things -

even those that never came to fruition or those that were reversed after his administration.:(

[Faygo Kid]

5. I expected that. First comment out of the box, too.

Nevertheless, all the best to the Egyptian people in determining their future.

The US military had a teeny role in supporting Mubarak's 30-year rule, methinks.

[tabatha]

8. See #6.

The revolt in Egypt was NOT put down by the military, because the US specifically asked that the protesters be allowed to demonstrate.

[Posteritatis]

18. {citation needed} (nt)

[hlthe2b]

2. I am so hopeful for them... and quite proud...

I have tremendous respect for what the Egyptians have accomplished. I know there will be some unfortunate bumps ahead, but I am very hopeful.

[gateley]

3. A BIG K&R!!!!! I wish them a wonder, prosperous, HAPPY future! nt

[dipsydoodle]

7. The vote

was whether or not to accept amendments to the old constitution.

The original protestors are encouraging people to vote NO. They want a completely new one drawn up for approval.

[AlphaCentauri]

10. now the 2 billion dollars in US aid will go to elect a friendly president. n/t

[dipsydoodle]

13. In your dreams

This has yet to unfold fully - anything is possible.

Muslim Brotherhood may be become the strongest party - if that's what they want.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dipsydoodle]

16. I'd said "if that's what they want"

Many were drawn to the polls in a massive, last-minute effort by the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group that is Egypt's largest and most coherent political organization after the widely despised National Democratic Party of former President Hosni Mubarak, who was ousted last month in a national popular uprising.

Among other changes, the constitutional amendments would open elections to independent candidates, allowing parliamentary and presidential elections to replace the caretaker military government by early 2012.

Critics say that would allow the Brotherhood and NDP to easily outpoll the dozens of political groups born out of the anti-Mubarak uprising, dividing power between former regime loyalists and supporters of a fundamentalist state — a nightmare scenario for both Western powers and many inside Egypt

>

The NDP is blamed for the rampant corruption and the fraud that marred every election during Mubarak's 29-year rule, and its members have been accused of attempting to disrupt Egypt's transition to democracy for fear of losing further power.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-ml-egypt,0,2598726.story

The Brotherhood are the largest opposition group. They were barred from fielding candidates other than as Independents. IF they field candidates it follows they would either be the largest opposition group or take power or could at some time take power. That's from democratic elections. I have no recollection of the Taliban ever being elected.

As far as the "US friendly President" - they already tried that one by conniving to get their pet torturer as VP. Don't think you'll find the US has much credibility there.

[bhikkhu]

9. Beautiful picture, and some good news for a change

I don't imagine anything could ever be perfect there (any more than our politics and elections are perfect) but it is beautiful to see people hopeful and participating, after a lifetime of dictatorships. They have so much to be proud of!

[tigereye]

11. this is wonderful to see!

:woohoo: Wish it could be true in other ME nations, without bloodshed.

[Electric Monk]

12. Egypt vote contrasts with thuggery and rigging of past

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/19/us-egypt-referendum-scene-idUSTRE72I3MU20110319?pageNumber=2

FAHMEEN, Egypt | Sat Mar 19, 2011 4:00pm EDT

To reassure voters, this time the clerks will count the votes in situ at the end of the day in the presence of the judicial official assigned to that station.

In the past the ballot boxes went to counting centers controlled by the police and the local authorities. In 2005 disgruntled judges reported that in some cases the officials invented the numbers.

"I'm voting for the first time ever because I know there will be a fair result. We feel that our voice will be heard," said Ahmed Essawi, 52, a manager at a cement factory. "This time there will be value added."

"In the past it was always fake. People would threaten you before you even went in. So voting was a risking business and it had no meaning anyway," he added.

more

[pampango]

17. AJ: High turnout marks 'orderly' Egypt vote

http://english.aljazeera.net//news/middleeast/2011/03/2011319203747704759.html

Long lines, orderly queues and a mostly calm and jubilant atmosphere marked Egypt's first nationwide vote since a popular uprising forced Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's long-time president, to step down in February, leaving the country without a constitution and under the control of an unelected military council.

Observers reported an unprecedented turnout across the country, as thousands came out on Saturday to vote "yes" or "no" on a package of controversial constitutional amendments that may set the stage for parliamentary elections within months. The results are scheduled to be released on Sunday.

But even those who feared the amendments would pass, paving the way for a fast election likely dominated by the NDP and the Brotherhood, seemed happy to cast a vote that, for the first time, they believed would actually be counted.

"Happy, ecstatic, delirious, laughing, crying," Karim Beshara, who had pledged to vote against the amendments, wrote on Twitter. "This is definitely the country I was fighting for and it is totally worth it."