Iran's Election

[FrazeeDK]

Iranian "democracy" of course is not. All key govenment positions (military/police/ministerial) are made by the unelected "Supreme Leader" Al Khamenei. All registered political candidates must be vetted by the "guardian council" of imams. During the elections where the current president was elected the majority of the liberal candiates were not allowed to run. This led to the "approved" candidates being elected..

see the Wikipedia review of Iranian political system: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_political_system

[WBU ALUM]

Iranian "democracy" of course is not. All key govenment positions (military/police/ministerial) are made by the unelected "Supreme Leader" Al Khamenei. All registered political candidates must be vetted by the "guardian council" of imams. During the elections where the current president was elected the majority of the liberal candiates were not allowed to run. This led to the "approved" candidates being elected..

Yes, that's quite a system, FrazeeDK, and I'm happy that everyone's isn't that way.

[Aardvark]

I don't understand the screams for American support. Every time America jumps in the World starts on about meddling in others affairs. What's wrong with Europe putting it's hand up, don't they want democracy also. How about the whole free World putting their support behind the people of Iran as one voice and be prepared to back it up. If the people want change they have to fight for it, end of story !

[WBU ALUM]

What's wrong with Europe putting it's hand up, don't they want democracy also. How about the whole free World putting their support behind the people of Iran as one voice and be prepared to back it up.

Sounds good to me.

[WBU ALUM]

Mousavi Accuses Obama of 'Misleading the World'

Author and foreign policy expert Michael Ledeen has published a letter reportedly from the office of Mir Hossein Mousavi, in which the Iranian opposition leader criticizes President Barack Obama for saying Mousavi and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadenijad are "two of a kind."

The letter, addressed to Obama, takes the president to task for the remark, calling it "a grave and deep insult, not just to Mr. Mousavi but especially against the judgment of the Iranian people, against our moral conviction and intelligence, especially those of the young generation that comprises a population of 31 million.

"It is a specially grave insult for those who are now fighting for democracy and freedom, and an unwarranted gift and even praise for [Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei, whose security forces are now killing peaceful Iranians in the streets of every major city in the country.

"Your statement misled the people of the world."

If the letter is legit, it certainly adds another level to consider in this crisis.

[BKKSTAN]

I have been watching the accounts of the turmoil happening in Iran,hoping that a revolution would happen to change the leadership and direction of the country.My main interest is that their nuclear ambitions will be thwarted to prevent a military solution to that situation!

[cookie]

Mousavi Accuses Obama of 'Misleading the World'

Author and foreign policy expert Michael Ledeen has published a letter reportedly from the office of Mir Hossein Mousavi, in which the Iranian opposition leader criticizes President Barack Obama for saying Mousavi and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadenijad are "two of a kind."

The letter, addressed to Obama, takes the president to task for the remark, calling it "a grave and deep insult, not just to Mr. Mousavi but especially against the judgment of the Iranian people, against our moral conviction and intelligence, especially those of the young generation that comprises a population of 31 million.

"It is a specially grave insult for those who are now fighting for democracy and freedom, and an unwarranted gift and even praise for [Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei, whose security forces are now killing peaceful Iranians in the streets of every major city in the country.

"Your statement misled the people of the world."

now now WBU...
NEWSMAX ????? you know better...

Newsmax Media is a conservative political organization founded by journalist Christopher W. Ruddy and based in West Palm Beach, Florida, United ...

Christopher W. Ruddy started Newsmax.com on September 16, 1998, supported by a group of conservative investors, including the family of the late Central Intelligence Agency Director William J. Casey. Later Richard Mellon Scaife, his former employer at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and a supporter of conservative causes, invested in the fledging company.[2] One of the initial board members was author James Dale Davidson who edited a financial newsletter that had shared Ruddy's interest in the Vincent Foster case. Davidson's co-editor, Lord Rees-Mogg, former editor of the The Times and Vice Chair of the BBC, later became chairman of Newsmax Media.[3]

Other news figures who later joined the Newsmax board included Arnaud de Borchgrave, the longtime Newsweek chief correspondent who also serves as editor at large of UPI and Jeff Cunningham, former publisher of Forbes. The late Admiral Thomas Moorer, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who helped bring the Vietnam War to a close, also served as one of the company's founding board members. Former Nixon Chief of Staff and Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig Jr. has served as special advisor to NewsMax.[9]


Ruddy aimed at creating an Internet news company by building a team of reporters instead of working alone. In August 2001, talk radio host Michael Reagan merged his monthly newsletter The Reagan Monitor with Newsmax Magazine and began writing a regular column for the publication.[4]

In 2008, a profile in The Palm Beach Post on Newsmax and founder Ruddy indicated the company generated revenues of approximately $25 million per year, and, according to the company, has been profitable for the past five years.[5] In a 2009 Forbes.com interview with Internet guru Nathan Richardson, he was asked to identify the "smartest thing on the web" today. Richardson identified Newsmax, among several web sites, citing its success "monetizing the web."[6]

In March, 2009 Forbes featured Newsmax and described Ruddy's company as a "media empire" and the "great right hope" of a troubled Republican Party. Forbes noted that after just a decade of operations it had become a "media powerhouse" - and had surpassed such well known web sites as the Drudgereport in web visitors. According to the magazine, Newsmax draws 3.8 million unique visitors monthly. Political analyst Dick Morris was quoted as saying that Newsmax had become the "most influential Republican-leaning media outlet" in the nation.[7

Ruddy also served as a representative on the U.S. delegation headed by Senators Joseph Lieberman and Lindsey Graham to the NATO 44th Munich Security Conference.[10]

In 2009, Ruddy was elected to the board of directors of the American Swiss Foundation, a non-profit organization that fosters relations between the two countries. The group represents Switzerland's leading banks, insurance and multinational corporations

[quote]A March 2009 profile of Ruddy and Newsmax on Forbes.com described his media company as the "great right hope" of the Republican Party and said after just a decade of operations it had become a "media powerhouse." Political analyst Dick Morris told Forbes that Newsmax had become the "most influential Republican-leaning media outlet" in the nation.[26]

This is enough...
no more proof needed I think :-" :-"

Dow Jones Marketwatch.com's media critic Jon Friedman noted that Ruddy had become a "bigger internet star than Rush Limbaugh" and that his web site ratings had surpassed that of the Drudgereport. Friedman suggested that Ruddy's success was due to a more balanced approach to news coverage and the GOP's worldview.[

If the letter is legit, it certainly adds another level to consider in this crisis.[/quote]