Experts: Bush Remarks Spurred Iran Voters (hard-liners turnout to vote)

[maddezmom]

By BRIAN MURPHY, Associated Press Writer
1 minute ago



TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's spy chief used just two words to respond to White House ridicule of last week's presidential election: "Thank you."

His sarcasm was barely hidden. The backfire on Washington was more evident.

The sharp barbs from President Bush were widely seen in Iran as damaging to pro-reform groups because the comments appeared to have boosted turnout among hard-liners in Friday's election — with the result being that an ultraconservative now is in a two-way showdown for the presidency.

~snip~

But the harder the United States pushes, even with the best of intentions, the more ground it has seems to lose among mainstream Iranians, who represent possible key allies against the Islamic establishment, say some analysts of Iranian politics.

"Unknowingly, (Bush) pushed Iranians to vote so that they can prove their loyalty to the regime — even if they are in disagreement with it," said Hamed al-Abdullah, a political science professor at Kuwait University.


~snip~
more: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050619/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_bush_backfire_1

[Straight Shooter]

1. What's that saying about the consequences of unintended results?

Stupid is as stupid does.

[Emendator]

58. the more we push

The more they pull. Basic human nature.

[VegasWolf]

2. This fucking president can't do ANYTHING RIGHT. nt

[Qanisqineq]

17. Hear hear. Everything he touches turns to shit

[Javaman]

34. He's the Anti-Midus. LOL

[Jack from Charlotte]

56. I disagree. He does one thing very, very well......

hire people who can get him elected to office.

With his track record of lost jobs, lower stock market, turning huge budget surpluses into huge deficits, ignoring the 8/6/01 memo essentially telling him of the pending 9/11 attacks.... in addition to his morronic inability to even speak English...... getting elected was quite a feat.

Hiring people that can get this AWOL/moron elected was something else.

[opihimoimoi]

3. The "Peters" have done it again..Somehow, they find ways to fuck up things

[Robeson]

4. The Madness of King George....

...strikes again.

[Cha]

5. bush and rice should butt their

monkey and cobra faces respectively outta other Countries' biz..they can't even run the USA except into the ground.

[Supersedeas]

53. I am an expert in Russian studies...I know what a gulag is like.

[Barrett808]

6. But this is the desired outcome - Brings the bombing campaign closer

Democracy in Iran would screw up the PNAC plan.

[xxqqqzme]

13. just what I thought as I read

this - there will now B even more justification 4 bombing Iran~

[havocmom]

14. Yep. the Iranian people voted for the ones we don't like so we gotta bomb

them and bring democracy until they vote for our guys.

[whalerider55]

15. on the mark

b-person, you've got it figgered out. exactly what I thought. now if we can just find those weapons of mass destruction Oliver North and John Poindexter sold Iran, we'll be ready to move into phase two of Project "Iraq-Iran-Ireland- any damn country that begins with an I...."

whalerider

[lockdown]

37. They had to know it would have that effect

The same kind of rhetoric and threats have been having precisely that effect for the last 3 years or so, strengthening religious conservatives and setting reformers back. You can't imagine they haven't been paying close attention to what goes on inside Iran during that time...

Who else remembers all the media stories from before September 2001 about Iran, about how the country was opening up, normalising relations, about how reformers were making good (and peaceful) progress and things were improving for the people? No wonder they made the axis of evil.

[Journeyman]

7. Well, whattaya know. . . Iranians are like people everywhere. . .

ya try to bully 'em and they push back. Here in the States such a response would be lauded by pundits left and right. Guess it goes to show, we're all more alike than different. The key is learning to live together, and you can't do that by trying to force people to bend to your will . . .

[SpiralHawk]

8. A really swift move, Mr. ChimPee. As usual.

pResident AWOL screws up everything he touches.

[Prodemsouth]

9. Bush may have wanted the same results too. From the

Hostage taking in 79 to Iran contra- Irans hard line mullahs have only helped the GOP.

[ck4829]

10. Motivating the 'christian' Right and the 'islamic' Right too

[maddezmom]

11. yup, that * sure is a uniter

[Fridays Child]

12. That B*sh. He's a uniter, alright.

:eyes:

[Ysolde]

16. Man, the more the Shrub messes up, the more

I'm turned into a conspiracy-theorist. It's just so easy to say that he's glad they voted this way so that the bombing runs can start. It's like I can't believe that the Shrub and his minions are sooo stupid that they mistakenly screwup as badly as they have. The more they/he does, the worse it gets, so it's got to be intentional.

[Qanisqineq]

18. Maybe that's what he wanted so he'd have more reason to attack

"Bring 'em on!"

[alcibiades_mystery]

19. Translation from the Farsi:

Rule by homegrown cleric extremists sucks. Rule by hegemonic foreign power run by imbecile douchebag sucks more. Finit.

[LynnTheDem]

20. bush; a MASTER fuck-up!

Finally, he's proven to be damned good at something; fucking up every and any thing he touches.

[Kagemusha]

21. I question this "unknowingly" line.

Who's to say he doesn't know exactly what he's doing: helping hardliners to justify invading Iran in the future.

[kineneb]

22. I could have told him this would happen

As a former inhabitant of Iran (for a year), the general attitude of Iranians is: Your country has only been around for 200+ years. We have been a sovereign country for more than 2500 years. Don't tell us what to do!

[Robeson]

23. Yes, very true....

...unfortunately, your average Repug has ZERO historical perspective, and probably couldn't point Iran out on a map.

[wakeme2008]

24. He sure knows out to bring out those Right Wing voters...

:banghead:

[stepnw1f]

25. Bush Is A Sick Manipulative, Evil Little Man

The chaos and death this man has created around the World is pure evil.

[pnorman]

26. Bush Remarks May Have Spurred Iran Voters

Bush Remarks May Have Spurred Iran Voters

By BRIAN MURPHY, Associated Press Writer 58 minutes ago

TEHRAN, Iran -
Iran's spy chief used just two words to respond to White House ridicule of last week's presidential election: "Thank you." His sarcasm was barely hidden. The backfire on Washington was more evident.

The sharp barbs from
President Bush were widely seen in Iran as damaging to pro-reform groups because the comments appeared to have boosted turnout among hard-liners in Friday's election — with the result being that an ultraconservative now is in a two-way showdown for the presidency.

"I say to Bush: `Thank you,'" quipped Intelligence Minister Ali Yunesi. "He motivated people to vote in retaliation."

Bush's comments — blasting the ruling clerics for blocking "basic requirements of democracy" — became a lively sideshow in Iran's closest election since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. And they highlighted again the United States' often crossed-wire efforts to isolate Iran.
>
>
>

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050619/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_bush_backfire

[slor]

27. bush talks...

damage happens. He is simply a troublesome soul.

[tanyev]

31. He's the anti-Midas.

The Fecal Touch.

[geek tragedy]

28. Maybe they didn't like his idea of private accounts for social security nt

[rollin74]

29. Yet another Bush blunder

hardly surprising though... what an embarassing president

[meganmonkey]

30. It would be funny if it weren't all so worrisome

Did he think the Iranians would be likely to heed his advice? What a f*cking moron.

[daleo]

32. Bush brings out the hard-line religious vote again.

Wrong country, though.

[Gman]

33. Some people are just too stupid to keep their mouth shut

Now look what happens. Of course, Bush doesn't see anything wrong with it. Again, he's too stupid to keep his mouth shut.

[bvar22]

35. Doesn't bush* realize that

Doesn't bush* realize that he is HATED around the WORLD, and is vigorously HATED in the Middle East?

Hasn't his handlers told him how much he is HATED?

george bush* is probably the MOST HATED MAN IN THE WORLD!!!

Does he go to sleep at night thinking that the Iranians (or anyone else)
believe ANYTHING he says?

Doesn't he realize that the endless list of LIES and his PROFOUND PERSONAL INCOMPETENCE has destroyed ANY and ALL chance of credibility?

Should I send him an E-Mail informing him of his total lack of credibility around the WORLD so that he can stop embarrassing himself?

[PATRICK]

36. Raises a BIG question

Assuming they don't really care whether anything works so long as they end up in Iran doing their thing, what exactly was their smug plan for Iran they just flushed so carelessly down the toilet?

It might just be our own contacts and agents are fed up and demoralized too in trying to pump up another phony democracy movement to begin overthrowing Iranian sovereignty. We certainly didn't think the Ukraine and other "successes" meant anything goes?

Does this mean the pretext for war being democratic change is completely out? Then there is ONLY WMD and Israeli jets.

The only answer is that they still expect us to get hit hard enough somewhere to simply bull through whatever Bush desires for Iran. It always seemed the only kick-start short of regal fiat(still possible). Now it appears so more than ever and that this risky pushing that just backfired was a lazy gamble that was never banked on completely.

In other words, hold on to your hats. The only way the PNAC onslaught will get a second wind will be over more exploited dead bodies, probably ours.

We have been quiet about this ever present and, thanks to Bush, ever ill defended against threat. There has been NO big effective election or coup strtategy in Iran. Everyhting else is old and discredited too.
Only terror against the American public fits into King George's gameplan and he appears TOO confident by half- just as he did last November when he should have been a pile of ghibbering jello.

[Bravo411]

38. Bush is Winning the War on Terrorism...

unfortunately, he's winning it for the terrorists.

Either he doesn't know what he's doing, or he does and he really wants to get the shit flying between the U.S. and Iran, creating a situation so he can justify a military attack. Had he kept his mouth shut and the Iranian elections went the other way, he wouldn't be able to go after them.

What exactly was he saying about Iran?

Below are two quotes from a recent article by the AP.

"The Iranian people deserve a genuinely democratic system in which elections are honest and in which their leaders answer to them instead of the other way around," Bush said in a statement released by the White House Thursday. "And to the Iranian people, I say: As you stand for your own liberty, the people of America stand with you."

"Iran is ruled by men who suppress liberty at home and spread terror across the world," Bush said. "Power is in the hands of an unelected few who have retained power through an electoral process that ignores the basic requirements of democracy. The June 17th presidential elections are sadly consistent with this oppressive record."
Click here to read the full article.

I say -The American people deserve a genuinely democratic system in which elections are honest and in which their leaders answer to them instead of the other way around.

Bush wasn't elected to his first term, he was appointed by the Supreme Court. This administration has been the most secretive in the history of this country. They refuse to be held accountable or to even answer questions that Americans have the right to hear. Bush was opposed to a 9-11 commission. Testimony by members of this administration is done behind closed doors and without an official record.

I say -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.

Bush has people thrown out of tax-payer funded events because they do not agree with him. Protesters are corralled,falsely arrested, and attacked because they disagree with him. He is responsible for the deaths of over 100,000 in Iraq alone. The people of that country now live in a state of terror that far exceeds anything under Saddam Hussein. Electronic voting with no way to verify the actual vote does not constitute an electoral process that meets the basic requirements of a democracy.

Bush is not talking about Iran, he is talking about America.

[MadisonProgressive]

40. I'm sure you're right!

Democracy in Iran? Can't let that happen!! There's oil in dem derr hills, for chrissakes!!

[MadisonProgressive]

39. When he states something, think the opposite

When he says do something, do the opposite!

Some statesman! :mad:

[Moderator]

41. Kick

[sabra]

42. Iranian boomerang: Bush criticism of vote flies back at Washington

<<SNIP>>
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/06/20/news/politics/61905200600.txt

Iranian boomerang: Bush criticism of vote flies back at Washington

By: BRIAN MURPHY - Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran ---- Iran's spy chief used just two words to respond to White House ridicule of last week's presidential election: "Thank you."

His sarcasm was barely hidden. The backfire on Washington was more evident.

The sharp barbs from President Bush were widely seen in Iran as damaging to pro-reform groups because the comments appeared to have boosted turnout among hard-liners in Friday's election ---- with the result being that an ultraconservative now is in a two-way showdown for the presidency.


"I say to Bush: 'Thank you,'" quipped Intelligence Minister Ali Yunesi. "He motivated people to vote in retaliation."

<</SNIP>>

[fob]

43. bush* is a reverse King midas. He*s king sadim!

[Teaser]

45. Got the shitfinger touch, eh?

My god, the man is a total asshole.

The only way he could look slightly less clueless, if a lot more evil, is if he and his morons had been trying to ensure the wackadoos got elected in Iran, in order to justify an attack later.

[fob]

54. "ensure the wackadoos got elected in Iran"? Have you seen this...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1562742

[Freedomfried]

44. Thats our Chimpman!

Putting the Mullahs in office.

[Jackpine Radical]

46. ....and you're maybe suggesting that's not what was intended?

Much easier to drive the fundies & miscellaneous wingnuts into a blood frenzy over mullahs than over secular modernists. Remember that Ritter says the war has already started. We need guys with beards and funny hats to play the Heavies.

[alfredo]

47. You got it wrong, bush wants a hard line Iranian government.

If they Iranians had a reformist government, it would be harder to justify military action against them.

[ConfuZed]

48. Take that Ali Yunesi!

We're coming for you,we're going to bring you to justice,we're going to make your ass red, white and blue...





To the freeper reading this, am I giving you a hard-on? :sarcasm: :puke:

[alfredo]

52. LoL

[ngGale]

49. OMG - this man is such a joke, if it wasn't so serious...

I'd be LMAO - in fact I'm hysterical! :rofl:

Every leader of every country is begging the man not to come anywhere near them or their elections! This is serious stuff!

[magellan]

50. Bush**: the man who can kill democracy with just a few words.

Although he's quite willing to use assassination, bombs, illegal weapons, kidnapping, and the funding of rightwing military extremists if needs be.

[truthisfreedom]

51. but they're choice words. and they're slurred, with a fake Texas accent.

the prezdunt done did it again!

[FreeCajun]

55. UNKNOWINGLY aided Hardliners? It was DELIBERATE!

He can't do anything right?
Not anything "WE" want!

THINK ABOUT IT! How could the neocons have justified war with Iran if there had been political reform. like a lot of people there want?

But put Bush up on a pedestal and have him threaten Iran, and the hardliners vote and put a nutjob in power and magically, NOW they can justify war as soon as another "attack" on American soil occurs!

This guy IS NOT STUPID!
DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THESE PEOPLE!

[Frederik]

60. Yeah, it wasn't just Bush

at least Condi and Michael Ledeen weighed in with similar comments. I was a coordinated campaign to get the hardliners elected.

[Canuckistanian]

57. Voting against better judgement during times of perceived trouble...

Hmmm, where have I heard THAT before?

[kodi]

59. In Bush's faith-based universe the 2nd law of thermodynamics is suspended

or, more likely he wants the hardest hard-liner running iran so he can claim moral high ground when he attacks iran.

the busheviks are not stupid. they want another enemy. thery need an enemy to distract the american people from their own current failures.