Is Moussavi Better Than Ahmadinejad?

All the candidates who run are chosen by the Supreme Council. The Council hand picked Moussavi to be the opposing candidate. Is he really that much better than Ahmadinejad? Where do they differ on issues?

If and when the Council decides they have seen enough of the protests, can't they just find some cover and install Moussavi, who they chose?

Are the protests against Ahmadinejad, against the Supreme Council or for Moussavi?

No candidate for any election in Iran should be supported by anyone. Ever.

about the "morality police" who go after women on things like clothing.

I'm sure they are as aware as I am that the similar Belgrade protests against the outcome of an election went on daily, for about 40 days , with up to 1/4 million each day before they fizzled out.

In the event of a fresh election I have doubts that Mousavi would win anyway. His base which is the middle class and some of the students may not be sufficient in number to outvote the freshly mobilised majority of Iran' population who are below the poverty line and are Ahmadinejad's base.

Calderon waited him out also.

George Bush was better than David Dukes.

I don't quite understand why people are risking their lives for someone marginally better, to continue to be ruled by the same powerful theocracy.

one of the few options chosen by the Supreme Council? I guess it is a baby step, but a step nonetheless.

his wife was a big reason he did well , especially with women.

CNN showed a small piece on his wife and they showed her holding his hand which is seen as unusual in Iran. to show even affection as small as that. she gave speeches . these things are common here but in Iran it's viewed differently. but the people who want change found this appealing.

i don't know if Mousavi would be a good leader. but for the people of any nation it's a good thing if know they have a right to demand change if they don't like what is going on. they could have done nothing and just accepted the fake results. but by this point they had become too hopeful .

i was paying attention to this campaign before polls showed there was a turn in Mousavi's side and you can tell something was happening.

also campaigns in Iran are just about a month long. campaigning is not allowed before then. this is why polls from even a month before the election can change so much.

I saw a very well done report on BBC America about the crossroads facing the Iranian Revolution. The gist was that many revolutions go through several stages...using the fall of the Berlin Wall or the rise of Napoleon or even the rise of Nazi Germany as being parts of long term changes that lead to long term changes, but short term turbulence. The reporter went on to say we have entered the next phase of the Iranian revolution...a new generation is coming of age without the same fervor as their parents and wanting to reach out to the world rather than shut it away.

So the question here isn't "better"...since the real power still remain in religious, conservative hands, but its a mandate as to how the country looks at itself and reaches out to the world. And it could end up changing the whole power structure in time as the older generations...and their direct memories of the Shah and his secret police fade and new leaders who have memories of the revolutionary guards...the pendulum swings.

If anything, we may be seeing a shift in Iran like we saw in China in the late 70's...the system remains the same, but the focus and its own self-view changes.

You give such a logical and reasonable analysis, consistently.:thumbsup:

I enjoy your posts as well. This is what makes a Discussion Board truly both fun and informative. I do more lurking than posting...get it out of my system in the morning and then try to catch up with what others around here are thinking and saying the rest of the day.

:toast:

Basically Ahmadinejad has no authority over the supreme leader. He's basically a puppet. Moussavi's previous relationship with the current supreme leader supports that he has previously held power positions over him in the government and there is a general feeling that he would be in more of a position to use the presidency to further power the elected government.

Moussavi is a proxy.
He is proxy for the pent up frustration.
A growing younger generation that doesn't see a purpose in Iran being the pariah of the world any longer.
A generation that doesn't embrace a strict theocracy.

of the younger generation to deny being part of 'the axis of evil'? That makes sense. I see it as a small step. I wonder where it is heading, though.

I think Amedenijad is on his way out, even with his 'large electoral victory'.

Even if the person elected isn't a direct threat to them it undermines their authority that he got elected despite their wishes.

For the revolution to have any legs two important things need to happen
1) the middle class needs to join
2) their needs to be a backlash against the security system.

All the protests I see lots of young people and eager police.
When the crowds have old & young, middle class everyday workers who have homes & savings & something to lose that will be more powerful.
When the police back down either because of international pressure or they start to have doubts about the Clerics ability to rule (who wanted to be an SS at Germany was collapsing) it will mean even more.

Hopefully this isn't another tienaman square.

The revolution in china failed because everyday people stayed out of it and the security system used by the ruling elites stayed intact.

Bush makes Lamar look reasonable.

he didn't try to steal the election. Yes, if he didn't send his henchmen out to kill anyone who disagreed. Yes, if he isn't rounding up and threatening any who opposed him.

Iran is far from a perfect democracy, but the people spoke. All that matters is that the people have a voice. What the powers that be don't understand (no matter what country you're talking about) is that regardless of the form their government takes, they only govern by the consent of the people. The people will only put up with so much crap for so long.

as the voters taking the dirty looking election to the street,
and making their government come to accounts with the people.

That, more than the change in policy and global stance, marks an important
basic change in Iran's internal politics.

If anyone thinks people are putting their ass one the line to see the theocracy headed up by this dude, you may be seriously misunderstanding the situation. On the otherhand, if I am the one in the dark, then this fake "revolution" can suck itself off.