Another Update from Ukraine

Here is another update from the Alert Reader in Ukraine. Again, not including his name. Yesterday, another Alert Reader had quite a different take on events and posted his thoughts in the comments section. We welcome debate here at The Adventures of Chester and appreciate the differing viewpoints. Personally, while it seems instinctual to support the candidate that is the pick of our own elected officials, if I was a Ukrainian it would certainly be a bit unnerving to hear of so many foreigners interfering in our electoral results, no matter whom I supported. So far though I think the US, while clearly preferring one candidate over the other, is questioning the process and not just transparently trying to change the outcome of a fair election to favor our guy. Two more thoughts: It would be interesting to find some Ukrainian bloggers . . . Also, thanks to the Alert Reader who emailed me the Samuel Huntington graphic I mentioned yesterday. I am having trouble displaying it (you may have noticed The Adventures of Chester has never displayed photos or graphics . . . we're working on that). ------------------------------------------------------ Here I am at the Marin train station. At least 10,000 more protestors here today than yesterday. Maybe the slightly warmer temperatures are helping with the amount of Yuchenko supporters. Today I actually saw the first supporter of Yanokovich. Not bad for my seventh day in Ukraine. However, the govt still has the power. Yuchenkos supporters whom I will call the yellows have surrounded all the main govt buildings in Kiev and big cities such as Simferopol, Lvov, and now in Dneipperprotrosk. The only big city where they appear not in the majority is the home of Yanokovich which is Donesk in the east the coal and industrial heart of Ukraine. The supreme court of Ukraine will look into this matter on Monday. Whether the yellows can hold out that long depends a lot on the weather. I will be back in Germany by then and in a warm bed, warm house and good job, not like my Ukrainian friends. Call and email your congressmen about these terrible riggings of an election by a common thief who is a puppet of Putin. Sen Lugar and a couple of U S Congressmen are here with the American Ambassador in Kiev. Colin Powell and the EU is putting up a lot of pressure. Yesterday I saw Lech Walessa of Poland in the square cheering on the Yuchenko supporters in Independence Sq. Lots of singers are giving free concerts to get the people dancing and warming themselves up. Riding the subway is a near disaster with so many people from outside Kiev in town. Remind me to never encourage Ukraine to have a Rose Parade. Not enough hotels. So far I have seen a few people beaten, but have never had an interpreter with me to find out how they were hurt. Check and verify is my motto. Hopefully the airport will remain open through Sunday. Semper Fi XXXXXXXXXX