Romanian-style democracy

Here's Tyler Marshall, reporting in The Los Angeles Times with less than six weeks remaining before the Nov. 2 election:

Independent specialists … worry that an election so flawed that its legitimacy becomes a major issue could set back, rather than promote, democracy in the region.

The Bush administration has declined to say what the minimum acceptable conditions would be. "I don't think anybody's thinking in those terms right now," said a senior official who declined to be identified by name. "In December, we'll know where we are."

OK, yes, I'm having fun with ellipses here. The paragraphs above are actually about the elections planned for Iraq in January. But if you think the planning of that election isn't shaped by the president's strategy for the Nov. 2 election you're not paying attention.

The title of Marshall's piece is "Heady U.S. Goals for Iraq Fall by Wayside." He cites Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., who says the administration has "recalibrated" its goals for democracy in Iraq: "One of them told me, 'When we went in there, I thought we would build American-style democracy. Hell, I'd be happy with Romanian-style democracy now.'"

And if Romanian-style democracy isn't achievable, maybe they would settle for Florida-style democracy. Or perhaps Dr. Allawi is hoping for Putin-style democracy.

In December, we'll know where we are.