should we ask for UN election observers for the 2004 election?

[dfong63]

this is a serious, although perhaps naive, proposal. does anyone think it would help prevent the kind of shenanigans that happened last time? in matters such as selective voter disenfranchisement, intimidation, misleading ballots, i'd think that UN election observers would provide the kind of credible critique that we need to either prevent these things from happening, or at least to bring the perpetrators' misdeeds to light.

same for blackbox voting. i think the dangers of an unauditable system may be more apparent to international observers than to Americans.

the US govt touts us as the world's premier democracy, and example for the rest of the world to emulate. wouldn't it be great if we set an example of confident transparency by inviting independent observers to verify the integrity of our elections processes?

Dean said he had a plan to place observers at polling places. could Dean expand his plan, to make that UN election observers? note that election observers don't just watch the polling places, they report on the fairness of the whole process, including what happens before election day. what would happen if Dean suggested this?

has any other candidate seriously suggested it? could any candidate call for such a move, without being clobbered by negative publicity?

[mrgorth]

1. YES!

I'm thinking of sending Chirac and Schroeder letters asking for help.

[Ficus]

2. Bush won't let them in

anyways. He wouldn't before.

[Ficus]

3. Bush won't let them in

anyways. He wouldn't before.

[dfong63]

6. if he refuses, then let's make his refusal an election issue

WHAT's HE GOT TO HIDE?

[goddess40]

4. I'm all for it - does anyone know who to contact?

I would send a letter but I don't know who to address it to.

[catzies]

5. Ask President Carter!

:thumbsup:

[dfong63]

7. yeah!