Iran vote seen as referendum on Ahmadinejad

Boston Globe ^ | 15 December 2006 | Anne Barnard

[shrinkermd]

TEHRAN -- Nineteen months after an upset election victory catapulted him to a controversial role on the world stage, firebrand Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is facing criticism from both the left and right, much of it from Iranians who believe he hasn't delivered on his populist economic promises.

In national elections today, many Iranians view the vote as a referendum on Ahmadinejad's performance. City council races nationwide focus on who can do more to improve people's daily lives, with some candidates vowing to accomplish what they say the president has failed to do. And candidates for a key national assembly of Muslim clergy are clashing over how much power Iran's supreme leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, should wield.

But at both the local and national levels, the races pit supporters of Ahmadinejad against members of the reformist movement, which pushes for democratization within Iran's Islamic government. And in some cases, traditional conservatives have banded together with reformists to oppose Ahmadinejad allies.

Reformist candidates are taking a page from Ahmadinejad's play book, emphasizing bread-and-butter issues like the need for better public transportation and more accountable city officials instead of the human rights and freedom of speech themes they've sounded in the past.

"We need to show the world that we are more practical," said Piruz Hanochi, an architect running on the reformist ticket for Tehran's city council. "After the election, people's lives have to become better."

To the outside world, Ahmadinejad (pronounced ah-MAHDI-ne-JAD) is best known for spurring confrontation with the West -- restarting the uranium enrichment program that the United States believes is aimed at making a nuclear bomb; denying the Holocaust and calling for Israel to be "wiped off the map"; and declaring that Iranian influence should replace American sway in the Middle East

[shrinkermd]

Hope and pray for the ancient culture of Persia to assert itself in a passionate desire for unity and peace.

[saganite]

Not a chance. The Mullahs control who gets to run. No real opposition candidates can stand for office.

[Thrownatbirth]

Let's call people in Iran at 3am Tehran time and say we're hoping they vote for Ahmadinejad.

[twhitak]

...with some candidates vowing to accomplish what they say the president has failed to do.

Heads are gonna roll...literally.

[claptrap]

How could anyone improve on muslim life,you can beat your
wife for any infraction,even if youre wrong you are always
right, you can hate your jewish neighbor with impunity,
if you disagree with anyone just accuse them of breaking
some law or being an infidel and the neighbors will kill him for you what could be better?

[wmileo]

Will Jimmy Carter monitor these elections?

[beachn4fun]

Doesn't matter who they elect, as long as the Mullahs and religious leaders control everything, there will be no freedom. They need to do like we do and separate church and state.

[M1Tanker]

Good point. Like other totalitarian regimes feigning freedom, the power is not who gets to vote, the power is in who decides who gets to run.

The mullahs win no matter what as they totally control who can run. "I'manutjob" grew too big for his britches and the mullahs are trying to squash him before he drives Iran into a devastating and unwinnable war against the USA and Israel. They also are in fear of their power as Ahmad gains support in the radical sections of Islam. As he appears to be a 'Doer" rather than a "Talker", he gains power. As many (or maybe not enough) Westerners have seen on Iranian TV, the hatred and brainwashing in Iran against any and all "infidels" is epic. It is like watching the newsreels from 1930s Germany, but in color and with different players. The message is the same though... Our enemies have not changed in 3 generations. The slogans and hatred are all the same. Ahmad not only "talks the talk", but he is also acting out the talk. The radical Islamofascists see this and support him. The more passive mullahs (who prefer power and comfort) know that Iran's military does not stand a chance against even 1 US Army Division, let alone several divisions on its eastern and western borders. Add to this USN forces in the gulf and Indian Ocean and the presence of hostile Sunni Countries who would gladly assist the US in crushing Iran. Thus the mullahs know "I'manutjob" is on a kamikaze course.

The real test will be if/when Ahmad loses if he and his supporters will step down or coup. Even if he is forced out, do not expect this to be the last we hear from "I'm the 12th Imam" Ahmadinejad.

As a rhetorical aside, there is yet ANOTHER example of every time the MSM describes someone they do not like, they use the term "conservative". In essence, these are "conservative Islamics", but the word association is quite apparent. I would say the MSM should describe the enemy correctly (Islamofascists) but then I realize that the MSM do no consider these fascists as their enemy.

[Biscuit85]

There's no difference between so-called reformers and the hardliners of the regime. They're both corrupt and dangerous