Ukraine's European Revolution?

[sbr]

http://www.theonion.com/articles/crimean-voters-excited-to-exercise-democracy-for-l,355484

Crimean Voters Excited To Exercise Democracy For Last Time

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE—Following yesterday's referendum in which 97 percent of voters cast ballots in favor of seceding from Ukraine and joining the Russian Federation, Crimean citizens expressed their excitement Monday at participating in the democratic process one final time. "It brought me such great personal joy to head to the polls and, for the last time ever, have my vote tallied and actually mean something," said local businessman Sergei Petrov of his vote in support of annexation by Russia, echoing the enthusiasm of hundreds of thousands of his fellow Crimeans who proudly took part in their final opportunity to assert their collective will at the ballot box. "Yesterday was a historic day for Crimea. Our people had a say in their future, and our voices were heard loud and clear, which is extremely special given that it won't happen again for who knows how long." At press time, Crimeans were commemorating the vote to become Russian citizens by eagerly watching and reading coverage of the momentous event in the limited handful of sanctioned media sources they now have available to them.

[DontSayBanana]

Actually, that's a pet peeve of mine.  The rhetoric about this has been absolutely asinine about it being "undemocratic."  A coherent body of people voting overwhelmingly to select their government?  Sounds about as democratic as it gets- it strikes me that we've fallen into this rhetorical trap that "democratic" equals "good," and "undemocratic" automatically equates to "bad."

That and going on about the illegal referendum, while it's questionably legal, at best, the way Yakunovych was ousted.

Doesn't mean I'm pro-referendum, BTW, just that they're hitting all the wrong talking points about this.  It opens our government up to accusations of double standards that should never have been plausible in the first case.

[sbr]

The new Attorney General of Crimea, Natalia Polonskaya.

[sbr]

Actually, that's a pet peeve of mine.  The rhetoric about this has been absolutely asinine about it being "undemocratic."  A coherent body of people voting overwhelmingly to select their government?  Sounds about as democratic as it gets- it strikes me that we've fallen into this rhetorical trap that "democratic" equals "good," and "undemocratic" automatically equates to "bad."

That and going on about the illegal referendum, while it's questionably legal, at best, the way Yakunovych was ousted.

Doesn't mean I'm pro-referendum, BTW, just that they're hitting all the wrong talking points about this.  It opens our government up to accusations of double standards that should never have been plausible in the first case.

Are you addressing the Onion or something before that?

[alfred russel]

The new Attorney General of Crimea, Natalia Polonskaya.

I wouldn't mind living in a police state if she is the one that would abuse my rights.

[Liep]

I've changed my mind. I'm now all for an independent Crimea that's free to appoint any they deem fit to hold official office.

[DontSayBanana]

Are you addressing the Onion or something before that?

The Onion article.  I'm getting kind of sick of hearing Obama and the Temp PM put their feet in their mouths about how Russia's undermining democracy in Ukraine.  A plebiscite is about as democratic as it gets, whether you like the results or not.

[Viking]

Actually, that's a pet peeve of mine.  The rhetoric about this has been absolutely asinine about it being "undemocratic."  A coherent body of people voting overwhelmingly to select their government?  Sounds about as democratic as it gets- it strikes me that we've fallen into this rhetorical trap that "democratic" equals "good," and "undemocratic" automatically equates to "bad."

That and going on about the illegal referendum, while it's questionably legal, at best, the way Yakunovych was ousted.

Doesn't mean I'm pro-referendum, BTW, just that they're hitting all the wrong talking points about this.  It opens our government up to accusations of double standards that should never have been plausible in the first case.

Democracy means that sovereignty rests with the people and the people make the laws which they themselves live by. Modern liberal democracies exercise this by following the will of the majority while respecting the rights of the minority. Holding a vote is by no means the same a consulting the people and having a plebiscite is by no means respecting the rights of the minority.

Voting does not equate to democracy. There are countless one vote one time regimes in the world.

[Queequeg]

Polonskaya 

But yeah, she's maybe a 9.

[Sheilbh]

The Onion article.  I'm getting kind of sick of hearing Obama and the Temp PM put their feet in their mouths about how Russia's undermining democracy in Ukraine.  A plebiscite is about as democratic as it gets, whether you like the results or not.

I think there are several issues with this plebiscite though.

[Liep]

A plebiscite is about as democratic as it gets, whether you like the results or not.

It has to be free before it can begin to be democratic.

[sbr]

Are you addressing the Onion or something before that?

The Onion article.  I'm getting kind of sick of hearing Obama and the Temp PM put their feet in their mouths about how Russia's undermining democracy in Ukraine.  A plebiscite is about as democratic as it gets, whether you like the results or not.

The article about John Kerry posing as a masseuse to get a few minutes alone with Putin is really going to piss you off.

[Viking]

Are you addressing the Onion or something before that?

The Onion article.  I'm getting kind of sick of hearing Obama and the Temp PM put their feet in their mouths about how Russia's undermining democracy in Ukraine.  A plebiscite is about as democratic as it gets, whether you like the results or not.

No.

After being occupied by an invading force, having it's autonomous government removed and replaced by one backed by 4% of the electorated a plebicite is held where the options are "yes" and "hell yes", where international election observers are denied access with virtually zero time available for campaigning with obvious harrassment of political opponents of the 4% regieme one can hardly call this plebicite "about as democratic as it gets".

[alfred russel]

Are you addressing the Onion or something before that?

The Onion article.  I'm getting kind of sick of hearing Obama and the Temp PM put their feet in their mouths about how Russia's undermining democracy in Ukraine.  A plebiscite is about as democratic as it gets, whether you like the results or not.

It wasn't exactly a fair referendum though. Russia might have majority support, but I really doubt it is over 90%.

Also, you don't get to carve out electorally favorable portions of foreign countries with your military to have them vote on stuff.

[Ed Anger]

She's wearing awful shoes in the 3rd pic.

I'd still impregnate it though.