Lone Star state to int’l poll watchers: Be ready for some Texas justice
posted at 12:41 pm on October 26, 2012 by Erika Johnsen
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), an international organization that works with the United Nations and takes it upon itself to promote the causes of human rights, freedom, and fair elections, has often monitored the election processes in various countries — and in horribly corrupt and even violent places like Sudan or Uganda or Nicaragua, I think everyone can agree that those definitely sound like some admirably spent resources.
Why the organization should decide to divert any of their resources towards monitoring the United States’ elections, when there are so many egregious human-rights violations elsewhere in the world, is a little more mysterious — but it becomes less so when it’s at the behest of certain liberal interest groups. The OSCE started sending poll watchers in 2002, but this year, they plan to deploy a 57-ambassador strong “election observation mission” to various locations around the U.S.
Texas, anyway, doesn’t seem to find the motive behind the election-monitoring all that mysterious. They’re wondering if the OSCE’s interest mightn’t have something to do with various states’ efforts to crack down on voter fraud with voter ID laws (or, as certain circles deceptively refer to them, “disenfranchisement,” “intimidation,” and/or “suppression” of poor or minority voters). In a letter to the State Department, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott reminded the organization that the United States is a nation of laws and that their ostensibly noble goals do not mean that they are above letter of Texas law, via Fox News:
“The OSCE may be entitled to its opinions about Voter ID laws, but your opinion is legally irrelevant in the United States,” Abbott wrote in a letter this week to the OSCE.
He went on to remind representatives that they are not allowed to enter a polling place, and cautioned against going within 100 feet of the entrance. “Failure to comply with these requirements could subject the OSCE’s representatives to criminal prosecution for violating state law,” he wrote.
The letter touched off a flurry of testy tweets and correspondence that brought in Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to play ref. Janez Lenarcic, director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, fired off a letter to Clinton to complain — which was followed by a letter from Abbott to Clinton reiterating his concerns.
“The threat of criminal sanctions against OSCE/ODIHR observers is unacceptable,” Lenarcic said in a statement. “The United States, like all countries in the OSCE, has an obligation to invite ODIHR observers to observe its elections.”
Texas is not impressed.
No UN monitors/inspectors will be part of any TX election process; I commend @txsecofstate for swift action to clarify issue.
— Rick Perry (@GovernorPerry) October 23, 2012
UN-related vote monitors warn Texas: Don’t mess with us. My response: BRING IT. Official letter to follow reut.rs/WK2dj0
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) October 25, 2012
Related Posts:
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2
To keep the money flowing to his base, and Dem operatives employed until the next campaign.
PattyJ on May 9, 2013 at 4:32 PM
There is at least one nobrain on each thread. The rats are out in the last two days. Desperado.
Schadenfreude on May 9, 2013 at 4:32 PM
It’s called Quantitative Easing. The same reason gas, milk, eggs, and everything else is more expensive. But I don’t expect you to know anything about money or math because you’re a libturd. Which means you’re an idiot.
Dominion on May 9, 2013 at 4:36 PM
The NewsBusters blog over the years has compiled hundreds of actual examples of the Democrat Media “reporting” a story and how they “report” it depending on the party affiliation of the person the story is about. And their evidence, with actual linked results, prove conclusively that the Democrat Media will in fact ID the subject of a story as Republican. but will usually not do so if said story subject is a Democrat. Even if the story is about the same subject.
Del Dolemonte on May 9, 2013 at 4:39 PM
Forget the Billion dollars Jack. How bout releasing some government data for free:
Let’s start with the Fast and Furious documents you are hiding under executive priviledge, then move on to the Benghazi videos and correspondence.
can_con on May 9, 2013 at 4:41 PM
The only thing Obama might ever have learned in Texas is how to tell “tall stories”. But then, he already has long since way past Texas in that.
VorDaj on May 9, 2013 at 4:41 PM
Low information, perhaps. I completely missed this story:
http://www.mediaite.com/online/glenn-beck-was-saudi-national-deported-by-obama-admin-involved-in-boston-bombing/
Did the US capture the wrong suspects?
bayam on May 9, 2013 at 4:44 PM
Austin TX Largest Employers:
1. Austin Independent School District.
2. City of Austin.
3. Dell.
4. US Government.
5. IBM
6. Seton Family of Hospitals.
7. St. David’s Health Care Partnership.
8. State of Texas.
9. University of Texas.
10. AMD
Only 2 “high tech” outfits in that list, Toots.
Del Dolemonte on May 9, 2013 at 4:45 PM
FIFM
Del Dolemonte on May 9, 2013 at 4:46 PM
Yes, because you know, the energy sector is not a prime consumer of technology and high tech. Just burnin coal and drillin’ fer oil!
can_con on May 9, 2013 at 4:50 PM
He says, tongue in cheek. Barry sees all, Barry knows all. There is nothing to learn. He’s there to do show the folks “how to” in whatever it is he needs them to know.
hawkeye54 on May 9, 2013 at 4:54 PM
bayams idea of free market tech startups is Solyndra.
tom daschle concerned on May 9, 2013 at 4:54 PM
So Mr. Obama jets into a state, at taxpayer expense, to tout an alleged jobs program, backed by egregious regulatory oversight, financed with taxpayer money- in a state that has unparalleled economic and jobs growth because of its low taxes, unobtrusive regulation and strict adherence to free-market principles?
Oh and the have a budget surplus (read no deficit).
Does he realize that sound is the entire country laughing at him?
Marcus Traianus on May 9, 2013 at 4:55 PM
Ain’t that the sad cold hard truth.
can_con on May 9, 2013 at 5:02 PM
It’s a good thing we have Republicans to block Senior President’s agenda, wouldn’t you say bayam.
DDay on May 9, 2013 at 5:07 PM
The irony is lost on him…too busy checking himself in the mirror wearing that Texan hat :) …’ich bin ein Texan’ :)…he thinks :)…
jimver on May 9, 2013 at 5:12 PM
Good thing Obama is for the tech industry… oh, wait…
NY Times: Obama May Back FBI Plan To Wiretap Web Users
tetriskid on May 9, 2013 at 5:13 PM
Obama would have thought he was the caterer.
Aviator on May 9, 2013 at 5:26 PM
The only reason Barry is in Texas is to turn it RED. Socialists don’t care about job creation. They want a bigger welfare system aka “income redistribution”.
GarandFan on May 9, 2013 at 6:02 PM
They really need to ban presidents flying on planes…
Make them take public transportation…like the Bus.
:)
William Eaton on May 9, 2013 at 6:12 PM
I think you could consider Dell more of a retailer.
BigWyo on May 9, 2013 at 6:30 PM
RESPECT???? Obama?????
He’s destroying the freaking country and denying my kids and grandkids their ability to advance in their lives.
The office deserves respect, the current occupant is not worthy of it.
Cruz takes it to him like Reagan took it to Carter in 1980.
In our pansified male squishy culture we’re not used to seeing someone on the Conservative side have any cajones.
Go get um Cruz!!!
PappyD61 on May 9, 2013 at 6:35 PM
He could talk to the other very fast growing business owners here, CHL trainers and testers.
I see a story about CHLs in one form or another nearly every night on the news in Dallas. They say there’s a minimum of 3 month wait (twice as long as it used to be) from the date if application.
So that truly is a growing cottage industry in the state! Hehehe.
tru2tx on May 9, 2013 at 6:45 PM
date of application. Oy.
tru2tx on May 9, 2013 at 6:45 PM
tru2tx on May 9, 2013 at 6:49 PM
Pay attention to the population shifts – means a lot in delegate and representative math.
California is not only losing jobs, but going deeper into the red; as in financial red.
Odie1941 on May 9, 2013 at 8:12 PM
Why Texas?
So he can sucker the rest of proggy America in having the moronic belief he has something to do with the Texas economy..
He doesn’t never did..
Just as in Ohio, we elect Kasich, and start a slow recovery from the democrat dark age, and he shows up claiming credit for the results of GOP polices he hates.
and the media aids in that smoke screen..
they should begin every report on him there, he opposed every policy which enabled this recovery, still does, and wants you to think he’s the REAL mover and shaker there.. when it’s only the special needs democrat voter who isn’t rolling their eyes at the crown prince of stolen credit.
mark81150 on May 9, 2013 at 8:25 PM
Cruz as called everyone’s bluff on immigration. He has cut to the core, cut to the bottom line, and staked his ground on the bottom line.
Bravo, Ted Cruz!
petefrt on May 9, 2013 at 10:06 PM
You are really “non partisan” for even having the thoughts to pen down that first sentence.
HotAirLib on May 9, 2013 at 10:29 PM
So far, there’s not a thing about Ted Cruz I’m finding to criticize.
I hope he doesn’t disappoint. So far, so good.
Lourdes on May 10, 2013 at 12:38 AM
As an insightful person once said, liberals try to discredit conservatives by attempting to paint them as one (or a combination) of three things: old/out of touch, stupid, or evil/crazy.
Ted isn’t old. And he sure as hell isn’t stupid.
They will try to paint him as evil/crazy. Be ready! Obviously Ted is neither evil nor crazy, but that will be their tact. They will call him “extreme” or “ultra right wing” etc. Thankfully Ted won’t take the attacks sitting down, and he doesn’t come off as extreme at all when you listen to him. In fact, there is a calmness and a confidence about him. He chooses his words carefully, but doesn’t do so out of fear. Ted will win the argument by sticking to substance. I love Mitt, but Mitt let himself be defined by others for too long before countering the attacks in an ongoing, very visible way. I was never a Ron Paul supporter, but at least he usually stood on principle when advocating for his positions, gradually winning himself more and more support, and I think that is what Cruz will do.
Speaking of the next presidential primary season… Ted is an engaging speaker, and doesn’t need to resort to the childish, Christie-style theatrics. Ted is a courageous man of principle, while Christie is a big mouth traitor who loves the adoration of Democrats and the media.
Oh, and don’t even mention Rand to me. His willingness to support amnesty means he’s off my list. Though redemption is possible. Oh, and Marco who? And Palin? Please, let’s be serious.
bluegill on May 10, 2013 at 3:04 AM
And I loved how Cruz refused to bow down before the Senate dinosaur Dianne Feinstein. Haughty Dianne was shaking and outraged that she was being challenged so directly when Cruz questioned her on her efforts to ban guns. It was a beautiful thing to witness. The woman was stuttering and stammering and shaken, causing her old buddies to jump in to try to help her out and cut off Cruz before he could continue and finish making his points. They could tell Dianne was floundering, so they went straight to insulting Cruz and the state of TX in response! And then haughty Dianne, who thinks she should be treated like a queen and never challenged, went whining on various tv shows later in the day about it. Dianne declared that it wasn’t her job to consider constitutionality, and that it was the responsibility of others to do so, and Cruz pointed out that they all swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. This exposed the haughty dinosaur Dianne as a fool who disregards her oath, and she knew it.
Dems are nervous about publicly debating Cruz one-on-one when they aren’t able to shut him up or shout him down. I’d like to see a one-on-one debate between Cruz and either Biden or Feinstein. We all know Biden and Feinstein couldn’t do it. Feinstein wouldn’t have her wingmen defenders to jump in when she’s floundering, and Biden would only be able to respond with his sneering expressions and childish chortling. That won’t work with Cruz, who is the very picture of class and who will hit back on substance.
bluegill on May 10, 2013 at 3:26 AM
What Cruz is that Romney, whom I love, wasn’t, is aggressive and confident while being aggressive.
Cruz thrives on the debate and on promoting and defending the right ideas.
bluegill on May 10, 2013 at 3:32 AM
Low Regulation Texas = West Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion
Texas Tort Reform = One Million Dollars in Liability Insurance held by the owners of the Fertilizer plaint to be divided by the families of 14 dead and the 200 injured and millions of dollars in property damage as a result of the explosion.
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/west-explosion/headlines/20130503-west-fertilizer-was-insured-for-only-1-million-a-fraction-of-estimated-losses.ece
I did service time in San Antonio and Wichita Falls Texas 42 years ago, it was a dusty, dirty backwards state then, and things apparently have not changed.
smokin hot politics on May 10, 2013 at 7:52 AM
That’s not how biden wins. He simply says something he can’t back up. No moderator ever challenges him. No one who debates him can contradict him because the “facts” he uses are meant to be obscure, so his debate opponents don’t challenge him because they never heard anything about what biden is talking about, and are afraid to be provably wrong on the subject. By the time it comes out that biden was talking out his ass, or even making it up out of thin air, the damage has already been done.
If Cruz knows how to defeat that, against leftist moderators (and every single one of them is), more power to him.
runawayyyy on May 10, 2013 at 10:10 AM
Obama doesn’t want more jobs, at least of the kind that one can make an honest living at.
Self sufficient individuals don’t generally vote for Democrats.
18-1 on May 10, 2013 at 12:09 PM
I was gonna say that Obama went to Texas to see how other countries create jobs, but I actually agree with…
RalphyBoy on May 11, 2013 at 1:13 AM
When Obama comes to town, keep your children home!
The O only speaks to kids. He can’t fool most adults.
Delsa on May 11, 2013 at 11:05 AM
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2