Iran Presidential election has heavy turnout

[sdeason1]

I find this with great interest along with you Kevin. It seems that the down trodden are getting restless in Iran and are rebeling. Good fo them. Now it seems that the head Musilum is going to have an investigation into the possible voter fraud. This may change things in the whole middle east.

[Thetagirl218]

I thought it was amazing to see people protesting their government even when they know they could face severe consequences. Apparently, after the protests were banned people were yelling to each other from the rooftops! I thought that was pretty cool!

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by sdeason1

I find this with great interest along with you Kevin. It seems that the down trodden are getting restless in Iran and are rebeling. Good fo them. Now it seems that the head Musilum is going to have an investigation into the possible voter fraud. This may change things in the whole middle east.

That's a long shot. Unless this movement is interested in deposing the Supreme Leader and the rest of the clerics, even if Mousavi is elected (or selected), not a lot will change. The President doesn't hold a lot of power and any power granted to him can be taken back at the whim of the religious establishment.

I don't think this movement is going to lead to the storming of the castle gates, and really, anything short of that is nothing at all.

[sdeason1]

Originally Posted by Kevin

That's a long shot. Unless this movement is interested in deposing the Supreme Leader and the rest of the clerics, even if Mousavi is elected (or selected), not a lot will change. The President doesn't hold a lot of power and any power granted to him can be taken back at the whim of the religious establishment.

I don't think this movement is going to lead to the storming of the castle gates, and really, anything short of that is nothing at all.

Granted that you are probably right, but we can only hope. But, they are not used to seeing something like this in years and I am sure they are worried by it. Sometimes the down trodden rebel and this is so new to them since the Shah was deposed and America was kicked out it may just change things there.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by Kevin

That's a long shot. Unless this movement is interested in deposing the Supreme Leader and the rest of the clerics, even if Mousavi is elected (or selected), not a lot will change. The President doesn't hold a lot of power and any power granted to him can be taken back at the whim of the religious establishment.

I don't think this movement is going to lead to the storming of the castle gates, and really, anything short of that is nothing at all.

If that is the case then is it safe to say, that the President is really picked by the clerics than the public at large?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

If that is the case then is it safe to say, that the President is really picked by the clerics than the public at large?

The analysis I have been hearing would not quite go with that, I don't think. Elections have been described as the one thing that approaches democracy in Iran. True, you can't run to begin with if the clerics don't approve of you. But as I understand it, historically the people, not the clerics, have made the choice between the approved candidates. Is this that much different from the parties choosing the handful of candidates that run for POTUS, and then the people choosing from the handful?

As I understand it, the current demonstrations are not aimed at overthrowing the system but rather at protesting any rigging of the election.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

The analysis I have been hearing would not quite go with that, I don't think. Elections have been described as the one thing that approaches democracy in Iran. True, you can't run to begin with if the clerics don't approve of you. But as I understand it, historically the people, not the clerics, have made the choice between the approved candidates. Is this that much different from the parties choosing the handful of candidates that run for POTUS, and then the people choosing from the handful?

As I understand it, the current demonstrations are not aimed at overthrowing the system but rather at protesting any rigging of the election.

Problem is tho...it's only one party picking the candidates...

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Problem is tho...it's only one party picking the candidates...

No. The candidates are from different parties. It's a "vetting council" above the parties, approving or disapproving the candidates.

Not that I would want that system at all mind you, but as I understand it, within the confines of that system, elections have in the past been more or less free.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

The analysis I have been hearing would not quite go with that, I don't think. Elections have been described as the one thing that approaches democracy in Iran. True, you can't run to begin with if the clerics don't approve of you. But as I understand it, historically the people, not the clerics, have made the choice between the approved candidates. Is this that much different from the parties choosing the handful of candidates that run for POTUS, and then the people choosing from the handful?

As I understand it, the current demonstrations are not aimed at overthrowing the system but rather at protesting any rigging of the election.

Yeah - and it's nearly as obvious as possible, from the evidence I've seen, that the election was rigged . . . and not only that, but almost no effort was made to hide it.

In that sense, the elections are far from "democratic" in this instance - the winner was literally predetermined.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Yeah - and it's nearly as obvious as possible, from the evidence I've seen, that the election was rigged . . . and not only that, but almost no effort was made to hide it.

In that sense, the elections are far from "democratic" in this instance - the winner was literally predetermined.

Right.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Right.

The more I think about it, the more I almost appreciate the sheer audacity of the thing . . . like, "We'll just weather a few weeks of student protests, send out our not-so-secret militia to beat some asses, and everything will be all good in the end."