Cao’s Blog also has the latest.

At some polling centers, voters were handed bumper stickers, magnets and buttons supporting the constitution. When Interior Minister Bayan Jabr, a Shiite, and Defense Minister Sadoun al-Dulaimi, a Sunni, appeared at a polling center, they brought a mini bus filled with ordinary-looking citizens who began saying repeatedly: “Yes to the constitution!”

When the dignitaries left, so did the chanting citizens.

Some people voted–not because they were voting “for” the constitution…but because they were in defiance of the terrorists.

Some simply voted “no”…

But under Saddam, there was only 1 candidate on the ballots, everyone was forced to participate, and he would ceremoniously and victoriously announce that he had 100% of the votes. Some of that stuff sounds incredibly ridiculous to me.

But…if you were under the iron fist of a tyrant for your whole life–it’s possible that you’re expecting another dictator to step in. Some people didn’t vote because they think “the americans will decide this”…which couldn’t be further from the truth.

It’s going to take them a long time to get this idea into the fabric of their lives. Lively discussion is necessary…and keeping the terrorists on the run is absolutely mandatory if they’re to feel safe and really taste their freedom.

Some people do understand–they went to the polls because they understand it’s going to take time for their lives to improve, for things to change, and they’re sacrificing for the idea of Iraq.

Iraqis are voting on a new constitution. Millions of people are going to the polls, playing a role in how their nation will be governed. They are doing so bravely, in the face of threats from terrorists who have demonstrated time and again their evil …