The election monitor, Bob Shaffer, was my congressman for six years, and served in our state senate before that. We know him well. He is as beloved as Ronald Reagan in our Congressional district, because he is the real deal; we worked so hard for him in the primary against Pete Coors; but Pete had more money and name recognition. Bob is a great friend of Pat Toomey's, who gave Arlen Spector a run for his money in PA this time. They served in Congress together.
If Bob says a thing is so, FReepers can take it to the bank, that is for sure. He is of Ukrainian ancestry, and worked with pro-democracy, pro-western forces in the Ukraine against the communist hard-liners for years while he was in Congress. I have heard many presentations from him about his work there.
We were in the Ukraine after the fall of the Iron curtain. The same communists who controlled Ukraine while the USSR was in power have been in control since; something the Ukrainians despaired about. Reporters who dared to publish articles against the government or exposing corruption or communist ties went missing. This was AFTER the fall of the Iron Curtain. This election is the Ukrainians chance to clean out the commies and corruption and begin again with good people, who are real pro-Western conservatives. Ukraine would be an ally like Poland if they can succeed in changing the government. This is why the people are marching; they know the communist hard-liners are trying to stay in power illegitimately.
When we were in Ukraine, no one spoke Ukrainian in the streets, it had been banned for years. Only Russian. The fact that the Church was speaking in Ukrainian on TV supporting the protesters means something very significant. The Ukrainians, like the Poles, didn't want the USSR ruling them, it was forced on them; they are their own unique people and not just more "Russians," with their own language, music, culture, literature, etc. distinct from Russia's. Ten years ago the Ukrainians were privately dreaming of this day when they would reclaim their country; I sincerely hope that justice prevails here. Please keep the Ukrainians, and Bob too, in your prayers.