Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/09/iran.election.debate/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/...dex.html</a> There's a chance, albeit slight, that Iranian voters toss out Ahmadinejad this Friday. Practically anyone they elect besides him would seem to be better. There's been an unprecedented show of public dissatisfaction with him in recent days, and it could be they're tired of him making them a possible nuclear target for any number of nations he seems to insult and threaten on a regular basis. It's practically unheard of for someone like Rafsanjani to come against him like he has here. You have to think that a defeat of Ahmadinejad would be like an early Christmas present to several different nations, ours included. Friday should be interesting.
Originally Posted By Mr X Great. Now we have to learn a whole new name!? Geez, I finally learned how to pronounce Ahmadinejad thanks to Sarah Palin! Ra-f-sa-nja-ni?????????
Originally Posted By DAR Or this going to be one of those elections where Amadouchebagajan gets "98%" of the vote?
Originally Posted By Mr X YEAH! Because they are the BAD guys, and America is the GOOD guys! Say YEAH!, dar!! Say it! (you KNOW you want to!)
Originally Posted By DAR No guys like that are bad guys. Just like Hugo Chavez who was "elected" with a high percentage of the votes too. That reminds me of a few years back SNL did a skit on elections in Iraq when Saddam was still in power. They showed the ballot. It said Saddam Yes or Saddam No. One person checked Saddam No. The reporters then said let's check with the No voter. And it cut to a guy with a deer in the headlights look. Very funny.
Originally Posted By Mr X <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aBaX9GPSaQ" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...aX9GPSaQ</a>
Originally Posted By Mr X ***It's practically unheard of for someone like Rafsanjani to come against him like he has here.*** Interesting that you mention that, Passholder. <a href="http://www.geo.tv/6-13-2009/44120.htm" target="_blank">http://www.geo.tv/6-13-2009/44120.htm</a> "Updated at: 2051 PST, Saturday, June 13, 2009 TEHRAN: Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former president and head of the Expediency Council - Iran's top political arbitration body, has given resignation from his office." On a Saturday morning. In the middle of riots.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Or this going to be one of those elections where Amadouchebagajan gets "98%" of the vote?*** Pretty close there, DAR. I believe it's 62% at last count (and an amazingly fast count it was, too!). The people don't like it though... <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2009/06/13/amanpour.election.protests.cnn" target="_blank">http://edition.cnn.com/video/#...ests.cnn</a>
Originally Posted By Mr X <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdO9o5xpmog" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...9o5xpmog</a> Wow...those people are ANGRY. I like those guys!
Originally Posted By ecdc Mousavi is saying he's been put under house arrest and he's calling what's happened a coup. How could he lose in such a landslide? It is looking extremely suspicious, and now there's reports of violence and riots.
Originally Posted By DAR I'm glad the people of Iran are protesting against Ahmadabaloobabloobabloo. Though I have no idea what this other guy and his supporters are like. It's like they're White Sox fans to Cubs fans, sure one's better than the other, but in the end they're all Bears fans and 99% of the douchebags.
Originally Posted By Mr X <a href="http://www.flickr.com/search/show/?q=iran&s=rec&z=t&ss=2&ct=6" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/search/s...s=2&ct=6</a> Some incredible pics from Tehran, including a bus and a building on FIRE (reports also indicate that the communications building was set ablaze (by the government?), and that satellites are being confiscated and that no tweets have emerged from Iran in the last hour...yikes).
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Warning: incredibly graphic video. <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2009/06/21/iran-neda-warning-gr.html" target="_blank">http://www.boingboing.net/2009...-gr.html</a> It shows the last minutes of the girl who was shot to death this weekend in Iran. Many people are calling this possibly one of the iconic turning points in Iran's history, depending how events unfold. The country is a mess, and despite the government's best efforts at suppression, word is getting out. Israel might not need to worry about an attack from Ahmanijackass after all.
Originally Posted By ecdc I've been reading about Neda today. How sad; here's hoping she didn't die in vain. I really hope the world rallies around the protesters. I know Obama has had to be circumspect because, hey, he may still end up having to deal with this loser. But I hope he comes out more strongly tomorrow.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Obama has played it just right so far, I think (and even Pat Buchanan thinks so). The worst thing Obama could probably do for the protesters themselves is to say, essentially, that the US is on your side. That allows the regime to paint them as US puppets, and pretend that the protest is fomented by outsiders, rather than being indigenous. But something like this gives him the perfect opportunity to denounce the violence and implicitly criticize the regime, without overtly siding with the protesters (or Mousavi) per se.
Originally Posted By DAR Here's something interesting, Iran is accusing Germany of "meddling" in its affairs. <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/gc08/idUSTRE55L47E20090622" target="_blank">http://www.reuters.com/article...20090622</a> Let's keep an eye on that we know what happens once Germany gets rolling.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt The former Shah of Iran's son had spoke today about the conflict and praised Obama has handled the situation so far. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/22/iran.crown.prince/index.html?iref=mpstoryview" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/...toryview</a>
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Juat about everyone except right wing, far to the tipping point right wing radio has said how well Obama has handled this, basically staying cool through it. Except Mark Levin, a certifiable nut job on the local ABC radio affiliate here. In his nasally twang he called Obama a disgrace. He calls Obama's choice of lunch a disgrace too. Seriously.
Originally Posted By FaMulan Obama's playing it right. This is a very tricky situation and the regime in Iran is looking to deflect blame away from them not listening to the cries of their people.
