I read this headline a short while ago and thought, "hmmm," Iran Blocks Websites Promoting Reformist Khatami. Seemed like pretty standard fare for a nation known for suppression and oppression until I read this and it seemed an awful lot like deja vu:
At midday, we learned that our Web sites have been blocked. ... Closing down our Web sites means hard-liners are not going to tolerate Khatami challenging Ahmadinejad," Behrouz Shojaei, editor of one of the sites, told The Associated Press Saturday.
Shojaei said the government was also likely angered after the sites reported that provincial officials bused people in to attend a rally where Ahmadinejad was speaking in the city of Yazd on Wednesday.
On Friday, www.yaarinews.com reported that provincial authorities closed schools and transported students and soldiers from nearby towns to attend Ahmadinejad's visit to Yazd.
Ahmadinejad allies claimed that the relatively large crowd showed the hard-line president's popularity. It might also have been an attempt to strike a blow to Khatami, whose birthplace is Yazd.
Hmmmm, right? Weren't allegations made about the bussing in of students to the Iowa Caucus? Students who didn't even live in Iowa, nor were they from the state. A friend of Ahmadenijad's challenger, Mohammed Khatami, said this about the sites being blocked:
Prominent Khatami ally Majid Ansari said blocking the sites was simply an attempt to increase pressure on reformists before the election.
"Reformist opponents assume they can block the path of people's understanding but people are wise enough to judge these actions," Ansari said.
Oh Mr. Ansari, if only that were true, America wouldn't be in the mess it's in today. Word to the wise, pull out all the stops. Don't pussyfoot around with this thing or you will find out soon enough, the people aren't as wise as you think....Do you think Mr. Khatami would like to be Iran's Secretary of State, or whatever you guys call it? Let me go get an aspirin........ --SUGAR
Sugar, I'm beginning to think there's something comforting in cluelessness. Knowing as much as we're learning is starting to freak me out.
Posted by: Cinie | February 22, 2009 at 01:46 AM
Me too Cinie. :( This information overload really is bittersweet.
Posted by: SUGAR | February 22, 2009 at 02:08 AM
I do have a clue and still some of the things I hear scare me. I am a person not easily fooled..and try to tell myself that there is some good in obama. No sooner do I tell myself that I am knocked on my ass again. How so many people can not be aware of so many things in this man's life I will never know. Actually hearing Rev. Wright for the first time ..and obama not leaving that church immediately should be a huge clue. Thank you Sugar for bringing us information.
Posted by: Betty | February 22, 2009 at 09:37 AM
Those political tactics do sound familiar. If they work for one, maybe they'll work for all. Maybe some day we'll line up buses from each community and start our much needed revolt. Many voices will be needed to be heard. Also, Sugar, thanks for the music. I was introduced to Nina Simone during my college days. Have been a fan for a long time. A few months back my son said, "Mom, have you ever heard of a singer named Nina Simone?" He had been to a house party and heard her music for the first. I had to laugh. Guess each generation finds her in due time.
Posted by: chay | February 22, 2009 at 03:26 PM
Iranian youth & women want simple freedoms, civil rights, & jobs. American Obot supporters are pigs in comparison. they want the whole store without paying for it & the destruction of anybody who doesn't want to share their pie. Iranian & American leadership are the same. Obama just puts a little pollish on the turd.
Posted by: raGing | February 22, 2009 at 06:19 PM
Allen Keyes checks in on Obama:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWdCNodGrA8
does he remind anybody of Jack Benny?
Posted by: raGing | February 22, 2009 at 07:17 PM
Hi Sugar:
I haven't posted in a long while, but yesterday I was driving home in northern virginia and noticed a few black drivers with "Hillary for President" stickers still on their cars. This gave me hope in knowing that not all of our people drank THE ONE's kool-aid.
Also, the one thing that most stands out to me about this past election is Chris Matthews of MSNBC stating that he "get's a chill up his leg" when he hears Obama. Sugar, the next time you do a blog-entry regarding Chris Matthews, it is only fitting that you dedicate "In the Heat of Heat" by Patti Austin to Chris Matthews. In that song, Patti has a line that goes: "I see your face, and chills run up and down my legs...I hear your voice, and passion's pumping through my veins"
This is Art Imitating Life for sure!!!
Posted by: Bernard | February 23, 2009 at 08:27 AM
I'm getting so flipped out by all these acts of Obama that I hardly know which way is up vs. down. Bully tactics are nothing knew and really don't require too much thought. With the Dems introducing legislation to eliminate presidential term limits, the discussion of reintroducing the Fairness Doctrine to expand to the internet (see Rep Waxman) and the drive to reform the make-up and impose term limits on Sup Court justices ... my head is spinning. Remember Chavez was a legally elected president too, and then he began to decide what people are eligible to run for political office, then disbanded the constitution.
Nina Simone is awesome. I must admit I hadn't heard of her until I did search of Feist's "C-line woman" on youtube and came across this fabulous strong singer/musician. POWER
Posted by: FembotsForObama | February 23, 2009 at 04:17 PM