Actual Crimea voting results

[JohnR! 5,495]

Watch it. The Putinites will come after you... He is the true Messiah they've been talking about!

That's Soviet Russia for you. Here is how "voting" breaks down in those parts. Look at the percentages - well over 140% total.

But hey, it's just that somebody messed up when they finagled the results...

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Watch it. The Putinites will come after you... He is the true Messiah they've been talking about!

The Soviets have been after me in real life for some 20 years. I think I can handle the Putin trolls on the internet.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2014/05/05/putins-human-rights-council-accidentally-posts-real-crimean-election-results-only-15-voted-for-annexation/

According to this purported report about the March referendum to annex Crimea, the turnout of Crimean voters was only 30 percent. And of these, only half voted for the referendum–meaning only 15 percent of Crimean citizens voted for annexation.

Official Kremlin results: 97 percent of polled voters for annexation, turnout 83 percent, and 82 percent of total Crimean population voting in favor.

what a joke..

Pretty sure they don't have voter ID over there

[Dakine10 5,452]

Pretty sure they don't have voter ID over there

Actually they do. A Passport or Crimean resident card was necessary to vote.

It's interesting that for some reason, people think there was a choice to remain with Ukraine. The referendum did not have an option for voters to remain in Ukraine. The vote was either join Russia or become independent.

Given only those two options, the vote is not surprising. Everyone knows Crimea could not survive as an independent nation. In that sense, once parliament approved the referendum, there was never really any choice or any doubt that the referendum results would be joining Russia.

[SMR 368]

That's Soviet Russia for you. Here is how "voting" breaks down in those parts. Look at the percentages - well over 140% total.

But hey, it's just that somebody messed up when they finagled the results...

The irony of this image is that is shows exactly how and where the US and Western Europe really screwed this up. A year ago, the opposition in Russia had significant weight and Putin had nearly lost an election. A large portion of the public was aware of the fraudulent nature of the election and Putin was in damage control mode.

Today Putin is growing in popularity and the people are rallying behind him. Had the US simply done nothing Putin would actually be in a much weaker position.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

I thought we had "doing nothing" down pat recently.. Not a swipe at Obama, he's had quite a few lose-lose situations recently.. Beyond some fairly tame rhetoric what has the US and Europe done in the last year to change the minds of Russians in this manor?

Its an honest question... I don't know.

[Dakine10 5,452]

I thought we had "doing nothing" down pat recently.. Not a swipe at Obama, he's had quite a few lose-lose situations recently.. Beyond some fairly tame rhetoric what has the US and Europe done in the last year to change the minds of Russians in this manor?

Its an honest question... I don't know.

Openly supported, both diplomatically and financially, a movement that was heavily influenced by ultra nationalist groups such as right sector. These marginal political groups now have a disproportionate role in the interim government of Ukraine and we won't see the ethnic Russian regions of Ukraine backing down until the nationalist influence is reduced.

Russians and fascists will not co-exist willingly. I don't anticipate either side backing down here, so the question is really where does it escalate next and how far.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Pretty sure they don't have voter ID over there

Actually they do. A Passport or Crimean resident card was necessary to vote.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Actually they do. A Passport or Crimean resident card was necessary to vote.

It's interesting that for some reason, people think there was a choice to remain with Ukraine. The referendum did not have an option for voters to remain in Ukraine. The vote was either join Russia or become independent.

Given only those two options, the vote is not surprising. Everyone knows Crimea could not survive as an independent nation. In that sense, once parliament approved the referendum, there was never really any choice or any doubt that the referendum results would be joining Russia.

Link ??

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Link ??

It's true. The voters were not given the choice to retain the status quo.

From the link:

Crimea will vote on Sunday in a ballot referendum that leaders of the regional Parliament expect will ratify their decision to break away from Ukraine and become part of Russia. The referendum will offer two choices, neither one of them “no”:

1. Are you in favor of the reunification of Crimea with Russia as a part of the Russian Federation?

2. Are you in favor of restoring the 1992 Constitution and the status of Crimea as a part of Ukraine?

Voters will have to mark one option affirmatively, but they cannot vote for the status quo.

A return to the 1992 Constitution — adopted after the Soviet collapse but quickly thrown out by the post-Soviet Ukraine — would effectively provide for Crimea’s independence, while remaining part of Ukraine. The Crimean government would have broad powers to chart its own course, including its relations with other nations such as Russia.

Retaining Crimea’s current status, which provides for more limited autonomy from the central government in Kiev, is not an option, which may help explain why the Crimean Tatars have refused to take part in the voting. No matter what voters choose, the regional Parliament seems intent on changing its relationship with Kiev. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s new leadership and its Western allies insist that the referendum is illegal.

The city of Sevastopol, which has a special administrative status, will hold a simultaneous referendum offering the same choices.

[JohnR! 5,495]

It's true. The voters were not given the choice to retain the status quo.

From the link:

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

It's true. The voters were not given the choice to retain the status quo.

From the link:

I can't see your reply because I have you in self imposed ignore or whatever they called it

Edited May 7, 2014 by The Nature Boy

[GandD 5,966]

I can't see your reply because I have you in self imposed ignore or whatever they called it

Mr. Big Dog, on 07 May 2014 - 2:53 PM, said:

It's true. The voters were not given the choice to retain the status quo.

From the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/15/world/europe/crimea-vote-does-not-offer-choice-of-status-quo.html?_r=1

Edited May 7, 2014 by GandD

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Mr. Big Dog, on 07 May 2014 - 2:53 PM, said:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/15/world/europe/crimea-vote-does-not-offer-choice-of-status-quo.html?_r=1

Uhh Mr G and D

Never mind

[GandD 5,966]

Uhh Mr G and D

Never mind

Just providing you with your linky