NationStates Jolt Archive

Elections in Iran are not going quite in Ahmadinejad's favor;

==========================
Ahmadinejad Opponents Leading Elections

Dec 18 12:46 PM US/Eastern
By ALI AKBAR DAREINI
Associated Press Writer

TEHRAN, Iran

Opponents of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took an early lead in key races in Iran's local elections, according to partial results announced Monday, with moderate conservatives winning control of councils across the country.

If the final results hold -- especially in the bellwether capital, Tehran -- it will be an embarrassment to Ahmadinejad, whose anti-Israeli rhetoric and unyielding position on Iran's nuclear program have provoked condemnation in the West and moves toward sanctions at the U.N. Security Council.
==========================
-- http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/12/18/D8M3D82G0.html

This might be a problem for him at his next election...

Dang, and right after that wonderfully successful Holocaust conference, too. Public opinion, such a fickle beast!

Luckily for him, if the council of mullahs doesn't like the outcome of the election, it won't matter who voted for what...

Damn. The Iranians aren't voting for hardliners. This is only going to delay our invasion and postpone the battle of armageddon and the rapture. Why can't the Iranian people just be the bloodthirsty psychos that I want them to be?

Damn. The Iranians aren't voting for hardliners. This is only going to delay our invasion and postpone the battle of armageddon and the rapture. Why can't the Iranian people just be the bloodthirsty psychos that I want them to be?

Because, Mr. President, you just can't depend on some people.

I thought the Council of Elders... or which ever part of government is resposible for okaying candidates had, well, not a okayed a lot of opposition moderate candidates. And hence I was under the impression that it would be hard for the conservatives to lose out in such an election...

I thought the Council of Elders... or which ever part of government is resposible for okaying candidates had, well, not a okayed a lot of opposition moderate candidates. And hence I was under the impression that it would be hard for the conservatives to lose out in such an election...

They okayed the candidates. They can also revoke the election results if they don't like them.

It's not a democracy, or even a republic. It's a theocratic oligarchy.

bloody Iranians don't know whats best for them :mad:

bloody Iranians don't know whats best for them :mad:
Yeah. And it isn't Ahmadinejad.

Yeah. And it isn't Ahmadinejad.

I think his policy on alternative energy is very important

Also plastic surgery in Iran is now the biggest in the world very good sign IMHO

I think his policy on alternative energy is very important

Also plastic surgery in Iran is now the biggest in the world very good sign IMHO
We are now in one of two situations. Either you are a Ahmadinejad supporter or sympathiser, and therefore need to pass that shit to the left, or a right winger pretending to be a foaming-mouth liberal. I've seen it before on North Korea related topics.

Which is it?:rolleyes:

I think his policy on alternative energy is very important

Also plastic surgery in Iran is now the biggest in the world very good sign IMHOAre you trying to imply something about the looks of the average Iranian?

Luckily for him, if the council of mullahs doesn't like the outcome of the election, it won't matter who voted for what...

Unlikely. Iran is nowhere near as bad as the American media would lead you to believe, democracy in Iran actually works (within the parametres set out by the Constitution), as evidenced by the fact that Ahmadinejad himself was elected (he is perhaps the least convenient president Iran could have possibly had).

These elections go to show that the paranoia surrounding the emergence of a new Islamic world order springing from Iran are overblown. The Iranians are still the most liberal people in the Middle East, they voted for Ahmadinejad to stick a middle finger at America, who they rightly accuse of meddlesomeness. Once they've made their point, they'll be fine to get back to business as usual.

Which is it?:rolleyes:

or you know you could just be an asshat who thinks:

America hates so I hate

seriously go play "that crazy dictator" somewhere else the big people are talking

Are you trying to imply something about the looks of the average Iranian?

Oh no I’m saying that tourists don’t just go for the nuclear site visits now (watch out Turkey Iran is after ye tourists!!!)

This must be some kind of lie from the liberal media, because we all know that iran is one big evil muslim dark people boogeyman :rolleyes:

or you know you could just be an asshat who thinks:

America hates so I hate
No, sir. I'm just an "asshat" with the brain cell it requires to realise that Ahmadinejad is a dangerous dictator, and who does not in any way deserve my, or anybody else's, support. You can take your assumptions and stereotypes elsewhere.

seriously go play "that crazy dictator" somewhere else the big people are talking
So, you deny that Ahmadinejad is a dictator? And point out where I claimed he was crazy please.

So, you deny that Ahmadinejad is a dictator? And point out where I claimed he was crazy please.

the fact that he was democratically elected and is now losing democratic support without anyone being killed might tell you something…hmmm could it be that he is just a president who represents the now changing views and interests of the Iranian people!

And the fact that you called him a dictator is clear enough of your knowledge on this

wait a minute....weren't we told Iran wasn't a democracy!!!.....

wait a minute....weren't we told Iran wasn't a democracy!!!.....

Eve Online said it wasn't a democracy to be correct

wait a minute....weren't we told Iran wasn't a democracy!!!.....

In many ways it isn't, a lot of the power lies with autocratic Ayatollahs and Mullahs. Its a lot more complex then either direct democracy or absolute dictatorship.

wait a minute....weren't we told Iran wasn't a democracy!!!.....

You poor, naive, soul. Lots of totalitarian governments hold elections. The party in power wins by a landslide and that makes them legitimate in the eyes of the U.N. and Jimmy Carter.

You poor, naive, soul. Lots of totalitarian governments hold elections. The party in power wins by a landslide and that makes them legitimate in the eyes of the U.N. and Jimmy Carter.

too bad Iran isn't totalitarian then....

too bad Iran isn't totalitarian then....

If there truly is a council that can decide to override the results of a popular vote, then it's either a completely legitimate one, like the electoral college, or it's not a truly representative government. I would doubt that the Iranians have emulated the electoral college and, while they may not be totalitarian, they're a lot closer than not.

In many ways it isn't, a lot of the power lies with autocratic Ayatollahs and Mullahs. Its a lot more complex then either direct democracy or absolute dictatorship.

It's quite complex. One of the biggest obstacles towards calling it a proper democracy is the fact that the Guardian Council approves candidates in elections. Without that there would theoretically be checks against every other branch of the government, even the Supreme Leader.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Schema_gvt_iran_en.png

It's quite complex. One of the biggest obstacles towards calling it a proper democracy is the fact that the Guardian Council approves candidates in elections. Without that there would theoretically be checks against every other branch of the government, even the Supreme Leader.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Schema_gvt_iran_en.png

here the political parties approves candidates...so maybe we're not a democracy either

here the political parties approves candidates...so maybe we're not a democracy either

Maybe not.

Or at least our decidedly 2 party system doesn't look much like a proper democracy.

Ummm, doesn;t the US have an unelected body with the power to disallow laws and (to some extent) affect elections?

The Supreme Court is not as powerful as the Mullahs but it serves in a similar role - limiting the damage the electorate can do.

OK so it depends what exactly you consider damage but the two bodies have similarities.

Isn;t Iran meant to be a constitutional republic rather than a democracy anyway?

here the political parties approves candidates...so maybe we're not a democracy either

Except that those political parties do not have absolute rule over the country. Rest assured that if there were no republicans, the G.O.P. would not be nominating a candidate.

You poor, naive, soul. Lots of totalitarian governments hold elections. The party in power wins by a landslide and that makes them legitimate in the eyes of the U.N. and Jimmy Carter.

so who determines who is legitimate, you? GWB?

Is the Government of Saudi Arabia legit? when did they last have an election for Supreme Ruler?.... but GWB senior is personal friends with them so they are legit?

It appears that who is legit and who is not, is based on who is willing to do business with US corporations....

Except that those political parties do not have absolute rule over the country. Rest assured that if there were no republicans, the G.O.P. would not be nominating a candidate.

I live in Canada.......we have an unelected senate and unelected head of state the GG that technically have a lot power not unlike the Mullahs

I live in Canada.......we have an unelected senate and unelected head of state the GG that technically have a lot power not unlike the Mullahs

Oh.

An earlier poster claimed that Iran was some sort of bastion of resistance against Western propaganda and hypocracy.

That is sooo wrong!

I'm as left wing as they come and I am disgusted by Iran- they hang homosexuals in the street there for godsake!

They've executed teenagers in recent years for eating during ramadan and for sex before marriage!

PS- the only reason Arhmedinnajad got in last time round was because the council of Mullahs threw hundreds of reform candidates of the ballot.

Even Khatami, the previous leader, who was in comparison a beacon of hope, was fine with gays being hung from the street lamps.

If you think Arhmedinnajad is an example of democratic choice you are just plain ignorant- you remind me of the head in the sand socialists who were trying to tell the world that Stalinist Russia was a paradise just because McCarthyist America was a nightmare.

Arhmedinnajad is the Iranian George Bush- A product of an elite and a religious fundamentalist who thinks the end of the world is nigh and that he is God's instrument on this Earth.

Thank (lower case) god that they dont both have nukes or else we'd all be blown to kingdom come.

AndyP- Newtown St Peters