http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/21/politics/russia-us-election-monitors/index.html

Three states have said "nyet" to a Russian request to send its diplomats to monitor polling stations on Election Day, according to letters from state officials provided to CNN.

Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana turned down the request from the Russian consulate in Houston. Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler wrote that recent flooding had left his office extremely short-staffed trying to deal with the damage and prepare adequately for the vote on November 8. "Had this flood event not occurred, we certainly would have been open to such a visit," he told Consul General Alexander Zakharov.
Both Oklahoma and Texas denied the Russian proposal citing state laws that prohibit it.

You'd think they'd ask the blue states and not deep red ones. Russia is really playing a strange game and they really need to fuck off. Them of ALL nations can't lecture people on fair elections, regardless of how they want to disguise their motives. Makes sense though they'd ask people they know will say no, and then turn around and go "Look their elections are rigged!"

Quote from: Luciana on October 24, 2016, 02:24:22 PM

Makes sense though they'd ask people they know will say no, and then turn around and go "Look their elections are rigged!"

Maybe they know these people will say "no" because there's something fucky about the elections.

If you believe in the democratic process and free and open elections, you have no business getting upset when someone asks to observe.

It's Russia. You know damn well they were going to get denied and only push their rhetoric more. They're doing the EXACT same thing with Finland, along with questioning their independence in the first place. Stop taking Russia's word at face value.

Quote from: Luciana on October 24, 2016, 03:30:53 PM

Quote from: Robert E. Lee on October 24, 2016, 03:16:15 PM

Quote from: Luciana on October 24, 2016, 02:49:20 PM

US doesn't like other nations meddling in their elections (and rightly so. No country should dictate another's elections).

Then what right have you to get so fucking butthurt about Russia's elections?

You can be upset they're rigged (evidence of literal box stuffing), but don't actually try to meddle in it on a governmental level. I'm but a citizen.

That's not what they're doing, though, is it? This reads like they just want to observe.

Although I guess they'd expect to be denied. This is probably more of a symbolic gesture than anything else.

I dunno, mang. Russia is shady as hell with what they do. Either way, they're allowed to observe. Just not the way they'd have wanted.

Quote from: Icy on October 24, 2016, 04:41:09 PM

Is there a point to Russia sending election monitors?

US media and politicians have a history of criticizing the legitimacy of Russian elections and accusing their state of voter fraud.

Russia is capitalizing on the rising distrust in America's democratic institutions. They're doing this as a way of saying, "Look! You Americans accuse us of corruption, but it seems that your political class is crooked itself."
Pretty decent bantz IMO.

Only there is insane evidence of Russian election corruption. It means something when even the government has to say "okay next election we'll make super sure things aren't bad".

It's also a silly notion to compare considering the same man has been in power since 1999.

Quote from: Luciana on October 24, 2016, 03:31:32 PM

Quote from: Robert E. Lee on October 24, 2016, 03:18:35 PM

Quote from: Luciana on October 24, 2016, 02:24:22 PM

Makes sense though they'd ask people they know will say no, and then turn around and go "Look their elections are rigged!"

Maybe they know these people will say "no" because there's something fucky about the elections.

If you believe in the democratic process and free and open elections, you have no business getting upset when someone asks to observe.

It's Russia. You know damn well they were going to get denied and only push their rhetoric more. They're doing the EXACT same thing with Finland, along with questioning their independence in the first place. Stop taking Russia's word at face value.

What independence? Finland was more independent under Russia than in the EU.

They weren't their own sovereign nation. Something Russia is currently raising suspicion about.

Quote from: Icy on October 24, 2016, 04:41:09 PM

Is there a point to Russia sending election monitors?

US media and politicians have a history of criticizing the legitimacy of Russian elections and accusing their state of voter fraud.

There's a difference between questioning another country's elections (Especially one where the same man has circulated power since 1999), and sending monitors in.

A huge difference.