Posted on 06/11/2009 11:57:59 AM PDT by Schnucki
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad faces a fierce fight to hang on to the Iranian presidency as the country prepares to go to the polls tomorrow.
In a bid to secure a second term, the hardline leader has even appropriated Barack Obama's slogan 'Yes we can' to see off competition from main rival Mirhossein Mousavi, who has been gaining ground.
The use of the phrase, the most potent political statement of recent years, should perhaps not come as a shock even if it originates from the land Iran's one-time leader dubbed The Great Satan.
What is surprising is the very real feeling on the febrile streets of Tehran that the president, long viewed as a dangerous extremist by the West, is finally in danger of being toppled by the ballot box.
There was little initial enthusiasm for the election among the 70million Iranians who vote tomorrow.
But as the race to be president wore on - and interest grew - the contest developed more bizarre parallels with the American political landscape than many would like to admit.
Its mass rallies, rabble-rousing speeches and, not least, the emergence of a woman dubbed Iran's Michelle Obama have something of the same grandeur and spectacle.
Zahra Rahnavard, the wife of Ahmadinejad's main opponent Mirhossein Mousavi, has already become an unlikely figurehead for his supporters.
Mousavi and cleric Mehdi Karoubi are both reformists who favour change in a country renown for its religious conservatism.
Their message - that it is time for change - has been particularly welcomed by millions of young people, who make up a heavy section of the population.
As campaigning drew to a close before tomorrow's vote, hundreds of thousands once more gathered at epic political rallies in Tehran.
Ahmadinejad, who is seeking a second four-year term as president, used his final address
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I guess what I’m saying is why glorify their faux free election. The mooolah picks the players. Of course the way things are going in the US, we don’t have much to crow about ourselves.
It's a La Raza thing
Si se puede.
Yes we can sneak into the USA and take it over from the inside.
Seems you’re having a hard time with the difference between reality and fantasy.
Ask the doctor to up your meds ...
Yeah well at least I’m not posting stuff to try and soften opinions against a culture that publicly demands America’s collective death.
The President does have a bit of power domestically and economically, but in terms of foreign policy and natl secuirty, little, if any.
The real issue though is that the President is a reflection of Khameini and the other mullahs.
They may see dumping Ahmadinejad as a smart move. They could think it would buy them a new lease on life from the US and the EU, that everyone would feel good about Iran, and that any chance at sanctions or whatever would be over.
Mousavi winning would a be a huge boost for Obama, make it look like he toppled Ahmadinejad.
But you’re right that the real power lies with Khameini. Perhaps, though, Khameini has also lost favor and there will be a genuine popular turning to Mousavi, too large to contain.
Not that this Mousavi guy is all taht much different. He seems to just have nicer manners and a better presentation. But on all they key issues, he’s no different.
Doesn’t matter which one wins. Iranians are just fooling themselves if they think they will have better government if the other guy wins. Their candidates have to be approved by the Mullahs, so a candidate that doesn’t toe the Jihadi line doesn’t get picked. Both of these candidates are nutjobs.
In another article:
“Earlier this week, Ahmadinejad insisted that inflation stood at 15 percent - lower than the 25 percent widely reported by financial officials. On Tuesday, Ahmadinejad admitted that inflation was 25 percent.”
Ahmadinejad needs to work on his double speak, Obama is much better. Obama could claim 15% inflation, admit 25% inflation, but claim he saved Iran from 35% inflation -all in the same speech.
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