election in iran

[cured]

I get most of my updates from Andrew Sullivan's blog. He's really taking this thing head on:

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/

Twitter updates from Iran:

http://twitter.com/IranElection
http://twitter.com/StopAhmadi
http://twitter.com/iran09

Some knowledge dropped by Reza Aslan here:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-a...military-coup/

This is one of those moments in time we'll remember years from now. The question is: how will it all be decided? Will the clerical rule be discarded in favor of something else? Now that everyone is watching (and Iran is frantically trying to shut down just about every form of communication), how does the ruling class react? How will the beating and killing of their own population serve their future?

One thing I read, and can see happening, is the ruling class will magically recalibrate the vote totals to where Ahmedinejad doesn't win by more than a few percentage points but keeps his 50% majority, then offer up a few scapegoats to the mob. What really needs to happen, though, is for the proof to be found that the ballots with Moussavi's hole punched in them have been or are being destroyed. That's all you'd really need to carry this thing through.

it's at the same time marvelous to see the people of Iran, a nation that is incredibly hostile towards most parts of the world, standing up for something in a way nobody would. Who would subject themselves to possible beatings and death over a stolen election? This is recent history for us, circa 2000.

It's good to see the revolting spirit lives on, and especially nice to see that it lives on in Iran.

Obama has been pretty quiet about this. I'm sure he understands that taking sides in this matter can really just serve to subvert the message of these protesters but at the same time he can't ignore it. In that sense, bravo for having the Twitter maintenance suspended (it was scheduled to happen last night):

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssT...01137420090616