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State Dept: Texas can’t arrest international election observers
International election observers planning to visit Texas polling places have “full immunity” from being arrested in the United States, the State Department said when discussing a letter from the Texas Attorney General.
“I’m not going to get into any kind of hypothetical situations or predict where this is going to go other than to say we have every expectation that this will be worked out and to state the fact, which is that under U.S. law they are eligible for immunities,” said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. Reporters tried to get her to state explicitly that Texas could not arrest election observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), but Nuland would only reiterate that OSCE observers have full immunity.
Attorney General Greg Abbott, R-Texas, warned OSCE that it “may be a criminal offense for OSCE’s representatives to maintain a presence within 100 feet of a polling place’s entrance,” as The Hill noted.
dba_vagabond_trader
October 27th, 2012
Some good ole boys can make their stay awfully uncomfortable tho.
Mountain Dog
October 27th, 2012
Most Texans I know will fight at the drop of a hat. The UN will have to search far and wide to find a place where they can encroach upon our freedom, and Texas is not the most likely place.
truthsayer221
October 27th, 2012
Sounds like the State Department is more concerned with protecting “International election observers” than our personnel overseas! I hope Texas tells the State Department to F-off!! Enough of this crap!
Abby Normal Dude
October 27th, 2012
Correct me if i’m wrong but I believe the TEX AG said they would be arrested if they interfere with voting. If that is the case the Obama SS has granted the UN the right to do as they please
historicus
October 27th, 2012
Arrest ‘em anyway, Texas! What are they going to do about it besides send a “strongly worded letter”?
Time to sell Turtle Bay to Six Flags.
Left Coast Dan
October 27th, 2012
I don’t believe that any arbitrary alien, or citizen, can just go wherever he pleases during polling. At any rate, the State Dept. will have to sue after the fact if they think they honestly have a case.
I’m sure they’re busy right now checking on the Somalis voting in Ohio…
Menderman
October 27th, 2012
The State Department just issued an apology to all Mexicans for this video that caused the Alamo to be attacked:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2K-_2AHYh0
..
The State department also stressed that all Americans suck, and Mexicans are really cool.
Diann
October 27th, 2012
Can you fucking believe this is the United States of America?! What have we done to our sovereign nation that we are permitting these outsiders to pass judgement on our free elections?!
Time to kick the UN out of NY. Time to tell them to go fuck themselves.
Houston
October 27th, 2012
I am furious about this. I HOPE I get to see an “Observer” when I vote.
Anne
October 27th, 2012
Is 3rd party candidate Gary Johnson too irrespnsible or too obtuse or too stupid to realize the significance of this election and the catastrophic consequences of splitting the votes as that other little weasel Ross Perot did?
Mountain Dog
October 27th, 2012
I think I have a comment stuck in the duplicate comment box. You guys don’t have anybody from the UN working in there do you?
moarkdave
October 27th, 2012
State Department reiterated that “…they have full immunity.”
Well arrest them and let them go through the proper channels to get released. That should leave them in jail for at least the rest of the day, maybe till the next day.
NoMoBo
October 27th, 2012
@moarkdave – exactly. Arrest them. Let the State Department work it out later.
serfer62
October 27th, 2012
The un does NOT have diplomatic Imunity…its just the Kommiecrat sos cassisting voter fraud…
Blacksmith8✡
October 27th, 2012
Even with diplomatic immunity, LEOs have to stop the crime in progress, THEN ascertain whether your stay in county lock up is for a few minutes while they locate the phone number for our state department in austin.
After which there will be profuse apologies. BUT
first you will be arrested and processed.
DO NOT MESS WITH TEXAS!
I’ve been accused of having a man-crush on Greg Abbot. But, I say it’s a case of envy and hero worship.
What do y’all think.
Gryph
October 27th, 2012
The federales can not legally give anyone immunity from prosecution at the state level if a (small-r) republican form of government and state-level sovereignty mean anything.
Blacksmith8✡
October 27th, 2012
The following is a PSA. Do not try this in your state. However, TEXAS has what is commonly called CASTLE DOCTRINE.
Why would I bring this up? Well, if Bubba is trying to perform a citizens arrest near a polling place, btw: I am not legally required to know what 100 feet looks like in the real world.,
AND Bubba appears TO ME to be in danger, THEN, I may have to take measures to secure the life and property of my neighbor. That would include whether we are at home, at the store, or somewhere within shooting distance of a polling place.
Friendly advise to wannabe dictators in training:
Until you have verified that ALL TEXANS in your vicinty, by that I mean zip code, are proven to be unarmed, yeah fat chance at that, you and your UN observer weenie fellow travelers should assume every adult in your presence IS armed.
Your failure to recognize an armed threat may result in the TX Governor sending your family a very sad letter.
srdem65
October 27th, 2012
Well of course they can be arrested. They will be processed, printed, searched and sent to a tidy cell in Nowhere, Texas. After 8 hours they will be allowed to make a phone call to their masters.
When the “masters” come to retrieve them, they will find that a “clerical error” has sent the UN guys to Bumdiddly, Texas. When the “masters” get to Bumdiddly, Texas, they will find that the keys were misplaced.
After a frantic search, a sincere apologies, the UN guys will be freed. Unfortunatly, their personal belongings were sent to ElPaso, Texas.
A long and frantic search reveals that their personal belongings were donated to the local Goodwill. Another apology.
Jack Daniels
October 27th, 2012
funny how so many of these communist/socialist/islamic countries do not recognize diplomatic immunity from diplomats of the US or Canada, nor do they GRANT them immunity, BUT BY GOD they demand their diplomatic privileges when they come on our soil.
I agree 100% with moarkdave
MADJACK
October 27th, 2012
What Diann said!
Time to kick the UN out of NYC. 
Oh and FUCK THE UN! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
MADJACK
October 27th, 2012
Oh & one more thing!
stateless department-GO FUCK YOURSELF!
Frosteetoes
October 27th, 2012
Will they be escorted by NATO troops to the polling places? If so then it truly is a violation of the constitution. What about the Black Panthers this time around? They will be pissed that the UN is cutting in on their intimidation at the polls.
This is insanity and no good reason for this other than to desensitize the population to the eventual takeover by the UN.
I wish Romney would speak up about this as most people don’t even know that this is going on.
Mountain Dog
October 27th, 2012
test: NBPP
Mountain Dog
October 27th, 2012
Can’t figure out why my comment is being blocked. Four tries at editing and still not posting. No cuss words.
???????
Not unlike what Frosteetoes said in his first paragraph above.
anybody?
Buck Ofama
October 27th, 2012
Just another reason to get the UN out of the U.S.A., and get the U.S.A. out of the UN.
mizdoolally
October 27th, 2012
I’m putting my money on Texas.
Bayouwulf
October 27th, 2012
Go ahead and arrest the UN observers, as well as any State Dept. flunkies that are in the vicinity. Charge them with TREASON!
freedom first
October 27th, 2012
The feds cannot grant foreiners the right to commit crimes they can only prevent prosecution after the fact. Further, and that from federal crimes. States rights and sovereignty are another issue. If arrests are made for violating state voting laws look for fireworks between Texas and the DOJ.
Bob M.
October 27th, 2012
TX can arrest Hitlery while they’re at it!
LadyGun12
October 27th, 2012
Send ‘em to Lubbock. That’ll teach ‘em.
scr_north
October 27th, 2012
I do believe that if they are duly credentialed by the UN and that is recognized by the State department they will have immunity. Having said that, it’s not like TV where they flash some credentials and walk away from the cops laughing. As Moarkdave points out they get arrested and taken to the pokey where a process of notification is started. If the cops go by the book by the time they are released the election is over.
The stupid thing about this is the fact it is so blatantly political in that they boasted that they were looking for Republican election shenanigans whereas every time crap takes place it’s the left that is proved to be the culprit. The sooner the UN is asked to leave the better. Hey, I’m sure Zimbabwe could use the investment and that every one of the UN staffers would just love to move there.
Rick
October 27th, 2012
Anybody that’s had a roadside chat that we all know and love can tel you that telling ANY member of the Texas Law Enforcement Community what they can and cannot do is A Very Bad Idea.
OneLastTime
October 27th, 2012
I’m not too concerned. The only crimes UN people commit on a regular basis are fraud, theft, embezzlement, child rape, and mass murder. They can’t do a whole lot of that in a polling booth.
Can they? =(
MAJ Mike
October 27th, 2012
Are the U.N. “Peacekeepers” still raping children? Just another reminder, kids, blue helmets make good aim points and 7.62mm NATO/.308 Winchester will penetrate Kevlar.
I know not what others may do, but Texans will not go quietly into the night and fog.
jus sayin y'all
October 27th, 2012
barack mugabe
by. ANY. means. necessary
i have been made victorious through deceit
most transparent administration ever
FreeMan & Sarah Voting Early & Often
October 27th, 2012
The State Department is out of cred on any issue.
Time to clean house from the top down.
Arrest them. They have the right to hold them for 24 hours without charges. Release them on a plane to Russia or China.
Ten Megaton
October 27th, 2012
Remember the elected sheriff has more authority than the federal government and definitely more than some international jerks.
timt223
October 28th, 2012
But yet I sure we can detain them for questioning say 8-9 hours….Don’t screw with us here in Texas.
joey g
October 28th, 2012
@moarkdave – exactly. Arrest them. Let the State Department work it out later.
overwhelm, THEIR system
no whatta mean?
RANDO
October 28th, 2012
Can they arrest Nation of Islam, or SEIU thugs?
Death_By_Farts
October 28th, 2012
Where is Rick Perry on this???
If he’s looking for redemption, it’s just been dumped into his lap!