Iraq Elections Marked by Voter Apathy

clipped from www.mcclatchydc.com Voter turnout in Iraq's provincial elections Saturday was the lowest in the nation's short history as a new democracy despite a relative calm across the nation. Only about 7.5 million of more than 14 million registered voters went to the polls. Interviews suggest that the low voter turnout also is an indication of Iraqi disenchantment with a democracy that, so far, has brought them very little. Beyond the disillusionment, thousands of potential voters were unable to cast ballots Saturday because official voter lists did not contain their names. Street protests resulted. "I didn't participate in this election because I don't trust any list," Yasir Baqir, 28, said on Saturday in Fallujah. "Like any election, we read and see many promises but nothing real (happens) and there is still a crisis, a security crisis, an economic and a services crisis."

The piece continues:

"There was a mood of apathy before the elections," said Ali al Adeeb a Shiite legislator from Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki's party. "Many asked themselves what is the good? Why should we vote and for what? The enthusiasm came as the elections got closer."

This represents a drop from 76% in 2005 to 51% Saturday. It's bad news that they're already reaching American levels of voter apathy, since it means that democracy isn't seen as all that effective. High voter turn out should continue in a young democracy, until the populace begins to take it for granted.

The piece cites the ongoing occupation as well, suggesting that people see the government as a puppet regime.

Congressman Threatens Rove with Jail

clipped from rawstory.com According to Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), should Karl Rove continue refusing to give testimony, the House of Representatives will "presumably" hold him in contempt, landing Rove in jail. When House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) issued a Monday subpoena against former Bush Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove regarding his alleged involved in the political prosecution of an Alabama governor, and the firings of nine US Attorneys, he likely expected a fight. Specifically, it enjoins Rove "to testify regarding his role in the Bush Administration’s politicization of the Department of Justice, including the US Attorney firings and the prosecution of former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman." Siegelman, who was convicted of corruption charges in 2006, was released on bail last April pending appeal after media reports -- including those of Raw Story -- revealed myriad irregularities surrounding his prosecution.

For a better background on the Seigelman case than I can give in the limited space here, check this -- it's pretty thorough. Long story short, it was a gross miscarriage of justice and about as clearly illegal as is possible. Seigelman was a political prisoner of the United States, whose only real crime was being a Democratic Governor that the GOP "could not beat fair and square," according to a former Republican Attorney General of Arizona.

In Rove's defense stands Bush's assertion that executive privilege lasts forever. It's looking more and more like that BS claim is going to be tested in court.