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Thursday, June 11, 2009

International Iran's Presidential Election Is Tomorrow

Posted by Christopher Frizzelle on Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 6:29 AM

And it's shaping up to be a real scene—demonstrations, an open letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, plans to claim vote-rigging if Ahmadinejad wins, ladies who love Ahmadinejad grabbing London Times reporters in the streets, "deafening chants" about nuclear power...

These developments expose deep splits within a ruling establishment that never normally airs its disagreements in public and come on the eve of a landmark election in which Mr Mousavi, a relative moderate, could become the first challenger to defeat an incumbent president in the Islamic Republic’s 30-year history.

Ahmadinejad "enjoys strong support among the rural poor and religiously devout." Mousavi "has galvanised the urban middle-classes." Sounds... so familiar.

Comments (10) RSS

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Damn the rural poor and religiously devout.
Damn them to Hell.
Bastards.

Posted by Liberal Seattle Hipster on June 11, 2009 at 7:08 AM

Can't wait for the Stranger's "Urban Archipelago" profile of Iran!

Posted by oneway on June 11, 2009 at 7:48 AM

I like the democratic element. Can the ruling mullahs afford to let democracy continue if it eats at their power? I think not.

Posted by Vince on June 11, 2009 at 7:57 AM

Iran has elections? What's next? Not killing women because they've been raped? Such progress!

Posted by justicekid_2013 on June 11, 2009 at 8:08 AM

Let's just all keep our fingers crossed that the challenger wins by a landslide and power is transferred peacefully.

Not likely but we can certainly hope.

Posted by Root on June 11, 2009 at 8:24 AM

ahmedinijad was blaming "zionist entities" the other day. watch him win in a landslide.

Posted by Max Solomon on June 11, 2009 at 9:38 AM

Perfect closing line.

Posted by The BTB

on June 11, 2009 at 10:52 AM

I feel sorry for the rural poor. They just can't stop voting for the people who most ruthlessly abuse them.

Posted by schmacky on June 11, 2009 at 10:59 AM

Unfortunately the elections are mostly window dressing. The power lies with the ruling Islamic Council and the Ayatollah. The president has as much power as the queen of Spain.

Posted by The Amazing Jim

on June 11, 2009 at 11:24 AM

Is it these social reform promises that has everyone going ga-ga over Mousavi? http://www.newsy.com/videos/challenging_…

Things aren't going to change a whole lot with regards to foreign policy:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/colum…

Still, maybe this will open the floodgates and Iran will become our best friend?

Posted by Indurate on June 11, 2009 at 2:57 PM