Bingo Democracy

Bingo Democracy was conducted recently in Iraq while soldiers were treated to another day of Rumsfeld Roulette.
The United Nations special envoy to Iraq, Ashraf Qazi, who was at one time Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States acted as toastmaster and pulled numbered ping pong balls from the drum as dozens of candidates looked on. The clear plastice drum is same type of contraption used to call out bingo numbers and resembles the crank boxes used by State Governments to call out Lotto numbers. A brightly dressed, attractive young woman turned the drum, completing the illusion of late night television Lotto results.
They were reduced to this so that Iraq’s electoral commission could determine the order of parties in the Jan. 30 election would be listed on ballots.
Nearly 256 separate political parties and individuals have signed up for election night. Nearly 7,700 in all which is even more than signed up to run for the office of California Governor ultimately won by Arnold Schwarzenegger – one time body builder and movie star.
The order they appear on the many pages of the ballot sheet is decided by lottery. This circus side show is being touted as the most reasonable way introduce chance into the election and the height of democracy as achieved by humanity over the course of ages.
"Today is a great day in the history of your great nation," Qazi told the crowd gathered in a room at a conference center that used to be part of Saddam Hussein palace complex as he plucked another ball out of the rotating plexiglass cylinder.
"It is truly in the interests of every Iraqi citizen, whatever their political views, to participate in this electoral process. It is the only way forward.", and he pulled out another numbered ping pong ball.
Iraq is a single electoral district. Voters will choose individuals, parties or special interest groups as candidates. The 275 seat National Assembly will be determined by proportional representation.
The system is supposed to encourage the formation of alliances and coalitions that try to appeal across Iraq's spread of ethnic and religious groups.
Bush is claiming that the inexperienced voters could be influenced by the order in which names appear on the ballot.
The candidates repeatedly interrupted the draw of the election bingo balls to demand officials explain the process. Rules regarding spinning the barrel and pulling balls out were repeated in several different dialects and languages. Balls were picked for everyone even those that failed to submit candidate lists on time.
"In challenging times ... it is natural for people to have major differences of opinion," Qazi said. "What you share is a massive stake in the successful establishment of democracy.", and then he pulled out another ping pong ball.
In the end, the Bush Administration has decreed that no matter what outcome pointed to by the ping pong balls, every third candidate will be a woman, to ensure they make up at least 25 percent of the new assembly.
Once elected, the assembly will appoint a new government and draft a constitution, before another set of elections a year later.
With the lives of thousands of American soldiers riding on the outcome will the Bill of Rights be arrived at by applying Rumsfeld’s Rules for Roulette, Dice and Cards or will the ping pong balls continue to form the bedrock of Iraqi democratic government?