Bush assails Iran vote as undemocratic

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>
http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=mideast&item=050616141701.pn9g89ij.php

Bush assails Iran vote as undemocratic

US President George W. Bush on Thursday charged that Iran's upcoming presidential election "ignores the basic requirements of democracy" and accused Tehran of backing international terrorism.

"Iran is ruled by men who suppress liberty at home and spread terror across the world. Power is in the hands of an unelected few who have retained power through an electoral process that ignores the basic requirements of democracy," Bush said in a statement released by the White House.

"The June 17th presidential elections are sadly consistent with this oppressive record," said the US president.

<</SNIP>>

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. Those preliminary polls must have a HUGE margin

for him to make a pre-emptive strike on their elections.

[bpilgrim]

39. ruled by men who suppress liberty at home & spread terror across the word

guess who that sounds like now thanks to the neoCONs, numb-nuts?

peace

(this post is directed at the chimp, btw ;->

[saigon68]

40. "BRING ON THE ELECTIONS' shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE

"I have mine "FIXED" here", he continued

[AllyCat]

2. Why? Cuz' he doesn't get to run it? n/t

[TahitiNut]

3. "men who suppress liberty at home and spread terror across the world"??

When did the Bushoilinis take over Iran???

The U.S. "... is ruled by men who suppress liberty at home and spread terror across the world. Power is in the hands of an unelected few who have retained power through an electoral process that ignores the basic requirements of democracy,"

Seems as accurate as anything he's ever said.

[Desertrose]

7. Its like he's always talking about himself, isn't it??

"Power in the hands of an unelected few"...sums up the bush-oil-inis pretty well.

oops, almost forgot the rest...."who have retained power through an electoral process that ignores the basic requirements of democracy."

[Up2Late]

35. Exactly, I think someone said it's called "Projecting"

I think that's been their strategy since James Baker started doing it during the post-2000 Election media circus.

[ninkasi]

42. That's exactly what it is

It sounds exactly like what we say about the last two presidential elections in this country. Is he so deluded that he doesn't understand that is is actually describing the US since he stole the first election?

I don't see how he keeps from laughing when he says things like this. This explains the constant smirk, I guess.

[Roland99]

16. Was he talking to a mirror at the time?

[malmapus]

23. For real

That was my impression too, he has to be talking about America :sigh:

[truth2power]

28. Exactly! Can be applied to the US, as well. n/t

[Oreo]

4. How bout this...

"Amurika is ruled by men who suppress liberty at home and spread terror across the world. Power is in the hands of an unelected few who have retained power through an electoral process that ignores the basic requirements of democracy," Bush said in a statement released by the White House.


Not too much of a stretch huh?

[Horse with no Name]

5. For a minute there I thought he was talking about the US

>>>>snip
....is ruled by men who suppress liberty at home and spread terror across the world. Power is in the hands of an unelected few who have retained power through an electoral process that ignores the basic requirements of democracy," Bush said in a statement released by the White House.

[ikri]

6. LOL

"Iran is ruled by men who suppress liberty at home and spread terror across the world. Power is in the hands of an unelected few who have retained power through an electoral process that ignores the basic requirements of democracy," Bush said in a statement released by the White House.

The US is different from Iran how?

[getmeouttahere]

8. You can't get more un-democratic...

than having elections in country occupied by a foreign force. And where is it that that has happened recently?

[cliss]

29. Hm.....where?

It's interesting because the rest of the world is watching. I fully believe that they read statements like this coming out of Einstein's mouth, and they know what he really means. I'm sure Chirac calls Schröeder on the phone and discusses this.

They know the story behind the scenes: that Bush wants to undermine the upcoming elections in Iran. Not for "democracy's" sake, but to install some kind of US-friendly regime. I believe the US currently has people there trying to do just that.

I don't think they will succeed.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

9. Well, we'd better invade them and give them a democratic vote

"It's purple...finger ti-i-iiiiime,

It's purple...finger ti-i-iiiiime,

I feel so good

And that's a real good sign"

(Sung to the tune of "Finger Poppin' Time" by Hank Ballard & The Midnighters)

[randr]

10. Pot calls the kettle black

[Betsy Ross]

13. Pot calling the kettle black was my first thought, but the

correct psychological term is, I think, projection.

[Triana]

11. "ignores the basic requirements of democracy"

Just like GEORGE BU$H DOES HERE, EVERY DAY...

HA!

Oh. The irony is just killing me!

:weneedachurchladydanceicon:

[formerrepuke]

12. Mohammad Mossadegh, 1953....'nuff said, Bush

[marmar]

14. He should know an undemocratic vote when he sees one.

:nopity:

[CanOfWhoopAss]

15. Send Diebold, ES&S and Sequoia to fix the election problems in Iran (nt)

[havocmom]

17. Any, I mean ANY remarks he makes criticizing anyone else is projection.

He and the rest of the junta constantly accuse others of the doing/being what they, themselves, do and what they are.

[Village Idiot]

18. More NEWS:

Rafsanjani assails US vote as undemocratic

Iraqi President Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani on Thursday charged that America's upcoming presidential election "ignores the basic requirements of democracy" and accused Washington of backing international terrorism.

"America is ruled by men who suppress liberty at home and spread terror across the world. Power is in the hands of an unelected few who have retained power through an electoral process that ignores the basic requirements of democracy," Rafsanjani said in a statement released by the Iraqi Parliament.

"The November 2, 2004 presidential elections are sadly consistent with this oppressive record," said the Iraqi president.

[Sgt. Baker]

19. This is about Iran, not Bush

Lets talk Iran.

A recent survey in Iran shows that 92% of eligible voters plan to boycott the election.

It's hardly a choice to make people motivated, said Mohamed Rezaie, a Paris-based political scientist. On the ballot, you have two mullahs, four Revolutionary Guards generals, and two leftovers from Khatami's cabinet who have no credibility. Add to this the rising discontent, and you see why the boycott appeal has never been as strong as it is today.

Of the eight percent who said that they would be taking part in the elections, 4.7 percent said that they would be voting for ex-President Ali-Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and 3.0 percent said they favoured hard-line candidate Ali Larijani. Only one person said that he planned to vote for ex-Majlis speaker Mehdi Karroubi.

http://regimechangeiran.blogspot.com/2005/06/iran-survey-92-percent-of-voters-to.html

The rest of the link is also a pretty interesting read.
As much as I hate to admit it, Bush makes a good point.

[ima_sinnic]

25. hmmm, quoting from a blog that supports "regime change"

--while the fact of voter apathy and undemocratic "elections" in Iran may be true, does that then give the U.S. license to invade?
If the Iranians are unhappy with the Iranian government and way of doing things, the Iranians can overthrow or replace their own damn government. When is Bush going to turn his attention to the glaring problems of inequality and charade that pass for real democracy here in the U.S.? not holding my breath.

on edit: and by the way, yes this is ENTIRELY about Bush. It is ALWAYS 100% TOTALLY about BUSH. he couldn't care less if a country is "undemocratic." in fact, he would prefer a world with no valid elections, only apparati for installing dictators and puppets sympathetic to the U.S. profit-mongers.

[Sgt. Baker]

26. invade?

The article doesn't mention invading Iran. I completely agree with you that the Iranian people need to start their own revolution. If the US invades Iran it will just piss off those who support the change and rally more people behind the mullahs and their oppressive government.

What is happening with the people of Iran has absolutely nothing to do with Bush. The people of Iran do not like their government because it has reduced their freedoms and reinstated sharia style law where it is convenient and doesn't conflict with other things the government wants to accomplish. The current government in Iran is truly corrupt and has the ability, influence and power to fix an election and the people know it. That's why 92% aren't even bothering to vote. This government would easily be voted out if there were truly free elections in Iran.

As for the link. It referenced a survey done by Iranians. The survey results don't change depending on who reports it. I'm for regime change in Iran so are 90% of the Iranian people. The fact that Bush is for it shows he's thinking at least partially clearly about this subject. Whether he takes the appropriate action is a different story. I'm betting he will screw it up.

[ima_sinnic]

30. Bush is for regime change only insofar as it benefits him and his pals

--the welfare and rights of the Iranian people are of no concern to him. He promotes "regime change" only when the changed regime can be manipulated to be on his side. He is "thinking at least partially clearly" only because he is an opportunist, not because he cares about the Iranians. If the present government of Iran, unpopular as it is, was playing ball with Bush you would not hear him calling for regime change--in fact, he would be playing kissy-face with the leaders the way he does with the Saudis.

Since the Iranian people are unhappy with their government, I wish them the best in their struggle to achieve one that would serve them better. Let us hope that Bush is "thnking at least partially clearly" about the consequences of meddling in the affairs of yet another sovereign nation.

[LivingInTheBubble]

31. dude...

"the PMOI as an opposition group has clear interests in promoting a boycott of the polls"

"A total of 1,730 people from a variety of backgrounds and in different sectors of society were surveyed, according to the PMOI statement."

thanks for your totally bogus and biased input :)

[Sgt. Baker]

37. no problem

I enjoy throwing out all sorts of false information just to confuse the topic.

How bout some real facts about Iran this time.

The people of Iran actually love their government and would do anything that is asked of them. The current mullahs in power are good people interested in the growth of their country and the welfare of their people by granting them all sorts of new freedoms they had never experienced before. Not to mention the completely free state run press. How bout the nice government printing a copy of the Quran in farsi which has been edited to include additional positive things about the people of Israel. The women have it great. They don't have to work, hell they don't even have to go outside and they get to wear those nice outfits that protect them from the sun so they don't get skin cancer. That's just how much their government cares about them. During celebrations, the police come out to be sure everything stays civil by passing out flowers to everyone who decides to come out and celebrate in public with their fellow citizens. Iran sounds like a great place to raise a family. I think we should all move there. I can just imagine how much better everything will be once I leave the US and settle down there.

[mandomom]

20. Fascism on the march?

I'm so glad that George Milhouse Bush is concerned about democracy. He should peek into his own back yard, where his good buddy Gov Ehrlich will brooke no dissent from his anti-citizen, pro-Wal Mart platform.


http://www.mddems.org/index.php?display=ReleaseDetails&id=534287



Protesters endured prior-restraint on speech. No Posters For You!

[TroglodyteScholar]

21. So, Mr. President...

...what exactly ARE those basic requirements of democracy, or are you only pretending to know/care what they are?

Don't answer me, Mr. Bush, the question is rhetorical.

:eyes:

[ooglymoogly]

22. * is practicing his stand up comedy routine

and i must say that one is hilarious

[Redstone]

24. Ha ha ha ha ha ha...ouch.

It's funny at first, but painful when you really consider the source.

What a fucking embarrasment that clown is. No wonder people in other countries think we're fucking crazy, having that buffoon as our "leader."

Redstone

[Occulus]

27. Geese complain about swans' long necks. n/t

[damntexdem]

32. It IS true but: talk about a pot calling a kettle black.

The very idea of Dubya trying to talk about democracy induces nausea.

[Frederik]

34. Well, it's not true

that they are "spreading terror around the world". That was just something Bush made up.

[BenDavid]

33. You hear all this talk,

from the radical right saying that G-d choose bush to lead America. I have another take on it. Maybe G-d is protecting America from bush.

[truthisfreedom]

36. bushco must know how ironic this looks, and how little moral authority he

has on this matter.


we certainly realize it. it makes my stomach turn.

[librechik]

38. You are next, Iran!

the inmates have taken over the asylum...

[dchill]

41. W just HATES it ...

when somebody steals his ideas.

[cire4]

43. But I'm sure "elections" in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan are...

The elections in Iran may not be perfect, but they are at least more democratic than other countries in the region:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_presidential_election%2C_2005

[Seeing Red]

44. NYT: Bush Says Iran's Elections Ignore 'Basic Requirements'

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/politics/17prexy.html?hp&ex=1118980800&en=a2e4c615b760e519&ei=5094&partner=homepage">http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/politics/17prexy.html?hp&ex=1118980800&en=a2e4c615b760e519&ei=5094&partner=homepage

"On the eve of the election in Iran, President Bush declared on Thursday that the electoral process there had failed to meet "the basic requirements of democracy" and that the "oppressive record" of the country's rulers would undercut the legitimacy of the vote."

-snip-

"For weeks, the administration has been debating how to deal with the election in Iran. But Mr. Bush's statement on Thursday, one official noted, made no reference to "regime change..."

Is any of this starting to sound a little familiar?

First, "all options are on the table," and now, this?

[rox63]

45. So do ours

I look forward to the day when we have free and fair elections in this country again.

[Seeing Red]

48. Yeah, tell me about it

Krugman over at the NYT is supposedly going to write on the Ohio election scandal sometime soon, it should be interesting

[Beaver Tail]

46. If Anyone shoudl know

GWB should

[billbuckhead]

47. Iran should buy the same voting machines as Jeb has That idbe OK?

Hugo Chavez did.

[jaxx]

49. This has got to be one of the most hypocritical speeches of dubya's

http://reuters.excite.com//article/20050616/2005-06-16T151232Z_01_N6G007590_RTRIDST_0_POLITICS-IRAN-BUSH-DC.html

[merwin]

50. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE DOWN A GOVT JUST BECAUSE THEY AREN'T

A DEMOCRACY.

Why can't they get that through their thick heads! They think the world revolves around the United States. News flash.. IT DOESN'T!

[Lisa]

56. yeah -- by that standard, Canada could have intervened in 2001 ...

... because the US was having an unelected leader sworn in whom most of the population didn't want -- plus clear evidence of election tampering (by a relative of the candidate, to boot).

[lovuian]

51. I guess his puppet isn't winning!!!

Poor Bush isn't getting HIS bull democracy!!!

[NNN0LHI]

52. Maybe Iran should just leave the election up to their Supreme Court?

We do.

Don

[brentspeak]

53. Requirement #1: Must use Diebold voting machines

Paid for by taxpayer dollars at highest cost possible.

[Behind the Aegis]

54. You got to be kidding!

"Iran is ruled by men who suppress liberty at home and spread terror across the world. Power is in the hands of an unelected few who have retained power through an electoral process that ignores the basic requirements of democracy," Bush said in a statement released by the White House. And, Shrub knows of what he speaks! Did the Iranian Supreme Court decide who the president was? This man is a sick freak and I cannot wait for the impeachment hearings!!!!

[Lisa]

55. from a Persian friend of mine ...

"First they get rid of the guy we elected (Mossadegh) and gave us a dictator. Now they say we're a bad country because we don't have elections. Can't they make up their minds?!"