David's Daily Diversions

Whingers

When you hear all the Democrats complaining about whether everyone they bussed to the polls got to vote in either 2000 or 2004, just take a look at the elections in Ukraine.

All international observers have condemned the rigging of the vote in favour of the pro-Moscow Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich succeeding the current pro-Moscow President Leonid Kuchma. I don't think any Democrat has accused Republicans of pouring acid into the ballot boxes in heavily Democratic areas.

Already more than 100,000 protesters have taken over the centre of Kiev camping out in sub-zero temperatures. Viktor Yushchenko has symbolically taken the oath of office. The administrations in three other major cities, Lviv, Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk said that they recognised pro-western Yushchenko as the new President.

And unlike any situation in the US since the election of Abe Lincoln in 1860, this presidential election may very well result in bloodshed. Kuchma has promised there would be no revolutions in Ukraine and warned the Opposition that lawlessness would be put down "quickly and firmly". In other words, "I have chosen my successor and will kill anyone and everyone who stands in the way."

Soviet ways die hard.