Notations On Our World: On The Historic #IranElections2017

Polls in Iran has closed and the counting has begun.    Based on initial estimates, some 71 Percent of Iran went to the Polls--almost 38 Million Iranians!!

One of the most important matters has been how the elections has been peaceful throughout the Country.    One very interesting point  has also been that populism has suffered a major setback in Iran as there has been a very concerted effort throughout social media for the moderate progressive supporters to vote.    Despite profound limitations, Former President Khatamy voted as also the imprisoned Green Movements leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi, his wife Zahra Rahnavard and Mehdi Karoubi also voted.     

Although there are reports of conflicts between the Ministry of the Interior (officially responsible) along the Guardian Council, the Ministry of the Interior has again underscored that any reporting done through Social Media is not correct.     The Polling done prior to the Elections, though, reflects a crushing defeat for the conservative challenger and a resounding victory for the President.   What is clear is that Rouhani seems to have understood the mood of Iranians--especially as Social Media was the driving force--as there was virtually no trust in Official Media.   President Rouhani himself criticized the Official Media as it is also of note that Iranians are learning and learning fast.      One of the interesting points was the fact that the so-called conservatives lost due to their candidate (Raissi) along with their slogans and the strategies they pursued.      

Earlier today, our team was at the Orange County Voting Location at Hotel Irvine, in Irvine California..    It was interesting how it was well organized by the Hotel Irvine Staff under the watchful eyes of the Irvine Police Department as Protesters were there protesting the vote and calling for a boycott of the Vote.    The Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khameini, has already spoken and noted how Iran and the Islamic Republic has been affirmed and how it is critical that the voice of the people is recognized.

   

 As we went to press, our team has   been monitoring live coverage from BBC Persian as we await the results of the elections.   The Ministry of the Interior is yet to provide official results.   However, as we went to press, Reuters is reporting that President Rouhani is ahead based on its' sources as also one of the leading newspapers inside the country, Sharq, has announced that Rouhani is ahead with 25 Million Votes.   From the reporting we have reviewed, the conservatives have apparently begun conceding as they have begun congratulating President Rouhani as the counting continues.   

We leave you with this very interesting image as the late President, Ayatollah Rafsjanani, led prayers with the President Rouhani, the Grandson of Ayatollah Khameini, Former President Khatamy along with Rouhani's 1st Vice President, Jahangari and the former Parliamentary Speaker, Nateq Nouri (who was a member of Khameini's staff))--as we await the official results:

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Witness to History as we wanted to also share one of the Campaign Commercials by President Rouhani as he awaits the major headwinds before him:

Poem of the Week: The Road Not Taken & JFK

We have received a milestone here in our Network as we have reached our 500th Post. In celebration of this milestone, we wanted to release this special one oof our periodic features, "Poem of the Week" as our team chose this from the great Robert Frost.     We also choose to feature a speech given by President Kennedy regarding Robert Frost which we hope all enjoy.    One very important passage of this speech is noted, "...We take great comfort in our nuclear stockpiles, our gross national product, our scientific and technological achievement, our industrial might — and, up to a point, we are right to do so. But physical power by itself solves no problems and secures no victories. What counts is the way power is used — whether with swagger and contempt, or with prudence, discipline and magnanimity. What counts is the purpose for which power is used — whether for aggrandizement or for liberation. “It is excellent,” Shakespeare said, “to have a giant’s strength; but it is tyrannous to use it like a giant.”..".   

The entire Speech is available by clicking here as we hope all enjoy "The Road Not Taken":

The Road Not Taken

    by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -

I took the one less travelled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Notations On Our World (Special Edition): On @POTUS watch & #IranElection2017

The latest "drama" (to paraphrase The US Senate Majority Leader) continues in Washington as the Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, came out in defense of the President as he noted that he wanted "...all the facts".   Two US Senate  Committees  has sent out letters asking for all Comey-related memos as there have been reports of countries balking at further intelligence sharing with the United States.    Wednesday also saw massive losses in the Markets--with the Dow losing over 300 Points.    

There have been some talk of Impeachment as some have begun talking about triggering the 25th Amendment as the World awaits what The Former Director of the FBI will have to say..    Vladimir Putin's dramatic intervention about an offer to give a transcript of the meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister to the US Congress.   Our view is that Putin's words must be taken with a grain of salt.   The Deputy Attorney General's appointment of former FBI Director, Robert Mueller, as Special Counsel is also of note as the investigation gathers steam.   

The President went to the Coast Guard Academy yesterday to complain about how he was treated.  One very interesting comment was from Ohio Goveror John Kasich as he noted basically to all who were supporting Donald Trump that , "...I told you so..."

There were also a few interesting developments as President Trump gears up to leave for his 10-Day Foreign Trip.   It was noted that there would be no annoucement on the US Embassy Move while President Trump is in Israel.    This is also as this came out that J-Street sent out in a Newsflash on the Iran Deal yesterday:  

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: Trump administration just re-issued sanctions waivers needed to uphold the Iran deal

Today the Trump administration took the necessary steps to continue sanctions relief to Iran in compliance with US obligations under the Iran nuclear agreement.

Although S-722 is still "working its' way through, we view this move as an implicit support of the Moderate Faction in the Iranian Elections especially as the lines have been clearly drawn.   Rouhani has garnered support from the leading internal opposition figure, Former President Khatamai, Khomeini's Grandson (referred to as the Imam's Reminder in Iran), The family of Former President Rafsajanii and a whole slate of progressives including the leading academic Professor Zibakalam of Tehran University.   His Instagram account has been especially active as he has called upon all Iranians to vote  on the progressive slate of candidates to "wipe the slate clean" .It was also quite amazing on how Rouhani called on his supporters to restrain themselves and avoid being provoked by opponents.    It has been one of the most vibrant election as we look forward to further guidance on it as we await the Election results.