Unrealistic expectations for Egypts new President

[High_Gravity]

New Leader: Egyptians Search for Superman

(CAIRO) — Egyptians say they want their next leader to be honorable, smart, a knight, a man with a heart, a military man, a religious man, one who goes down and meets with the people. What they are really looking for is a superman.

Egypt's next president is facing an incredibly tall order of problems, from a tumbling economy and a beat-up security force to decrepit schools and hospitals that can't even provide enough incubators for premature babies.

Turning out in large numbers to vote for the first time in free and competitive presidential elections, a deeply engaged population have a lot of expectations from the leader that will replace the longtime leader Hosni Mubarak, whom they ousted in a popular uprising last year.

"We want a flawless president. We want him strong, just, respectable, clean, someone who feels for the poor. We basically want a superman," said Heba el-Sayed, a 42-year old teacher who was asking her colleagues outside a polling station in the popular neighborhood of Sayeda Zeinab who they voted for.

Egyptians have never had the chance to pick a leader. Mubarak, who was often derisively labeled as "pharaoh" by Egyptians, came to power in 1981 after the assassination of President Anwar Sadat at the hands of Islamic militants, mostly because he signed a peace treaty with Israel. He was re-elected multiple time after that, mainly in yes-or-no referendums in which he was the only candidate.

The pent-up anger that exploded against Mubarak's reign on January 25, 2011 built up over years because of festering corruption, which created a tight ruling clique around his family and cronies. It left a twisted economic development, that soared in terms of economic development indicators, but was unevenly distributed — leaving vast sections of the population — up to 40 percent_ hovering near or fallen far below the poverty line.

Denying services and attention to the poor seemed to be a way the Mubarak's regime kept such classes in constant need of handouts and dependent on a patronage system, which doled out small benefits to those who cooperated and stayed under his control. This left a debilitated public health and education system, where only those who can pay can receive better services.

His authoritarian regime, which has maintained good relations with the world, relied heavily on security agencies whose widespread torture and abuse were the immediate reason behind the uprising.

The 18 days of protests that brought his fall were not limited to the poor or the abused, they brought in a broad spectrum of classes, angered over every aspect of the stagnation and worried that it would only deepen if Mubarak's son, Gamal, succeeded him as was widely expected.

So in the voting that began Wednesday and continues Thursday, the hundreds of thousands who lined up at the polls had a litany of dreams. Freedom to walk freely with girlfriends or boyfriends without police harassment. Improved sewage systems. Better education.

Read more: Picking New Leader, Egyptians Search for Superman - TIME

 

[PoliticalChic]

New Leader: Egyptians Search for Superman

(CAIRO) — Egyptians say they want their next leader to be honorable, smart, a knight, a man with a heart, a military man, a religious man, one who goes down and meets with the people. What they are really looking for is a superman.

Egypt's next president is facing an incredibly tall order of problems, from a tumbling economy and a beat-up security force to decrepit schools and hospitals that can't even provide enough incubators for premature babies.

Turning out in large numbers to vote for the first time in free and competitive presidential elections, a deeply engaged population have a lot of expectations from the leader that will replace the longtime leader Hosni Mubarak, whom they ousted in a popular uprising last year.

"We want a flawless president. We want him strong, just, respectable, clean, someone who feels for the poor. We basically want a superman," said Heba el-Sayed, a 42-year old teacher who was asking her colleagues outside a polling station in the popular neighborhood of Sayeda Zeinab who they voted for.

Egyptians have never had the chance to pick a leader. Mubarak, who was often derisively labeled as "pharaoh" by Egyptians, came to power in 1981 after the assassination of President Anwar Sadat at the hands of Islamic militants, mostly because he signed a peace treaty with Israel. He was re-elected multiple time after that, mainly in yes-or-no referendums in which he was the only candidate.

The pent-up anger that exploded against Mubarak's reign on January 25, 2011 built up over years because of festering corruption, which created a tight ruling clique around his family and cronies. It left a twisted economic development, that soared in terms of economic development indicators, but was unevenly distributed — leaving vast sections of the population — up to 40 percent_ hovering near or fallen far below the poverty line.

Denying services and attention to the poor seemed to be a way the Mubarak's regime kept such classes in constant need of handouts and dependent on a patronage system, which doled out small benefits to those who cooperated and stayed under his control. This left a debilitated public health and education system, where only those who can pay can receive better services.

His authoritarian regime, which has maintained good relations with the world, relied heavily on security agencies whose widespread torture and abuse were the immediate reason behind the uprising.

The 18 days of protests that brought his fall were not limited to the poor or the abused, they brought in a broad spectrum of classes, angered over every aspect of the stagnation and worried that it would only deepen if Mubarak's son, Gamal, succeeded him as was widely expected.

So in the voting that began Wednesday and continues Thursday, the hundreds of thousands who lined up at the polls had a litany of dreams. Freedom to walk freely with girlfriends or boyfriends without police harassment. Improved sewage systems. Better education.

Read more: Picking New Leader, Egyptians Search for Superman - TIME

1. 84 percent of Egyptians favor the death penalty for people who leave the Muslim religion.

2. When asked which side they would take in a struggle between "groups who want to modernize the country [and] Islamic fundamentalists," 59 percent of Egyptians picked the fundamentalists, while 27 percent picked the modernizers.

3. just 32 percent believe in civilian control of the military.

4. 54 percent, support making segregation of men and women in the workplace the law throughout Egypt.

5. When asked whether suicide bombing can ever be justified, 54 percent said yes

6. Eighty-two percent supported stoning for those who commit adultery.

7. 82 percent of Egyptians hold an unfavorable view of the United States. That's higher than in Pakistan, higher than in Jordan, higher than 18 other nations Pew surveyed.
Egypt's conflicting views of democracy and religion | Washington Examiner


8. Hamas receives relatively positive ratings in Jordan (56% favorable) and Egypt (52%).

9. favorable view of Hezbollah, [in] Egypt (43%)
Mixed Views of Hamas and Hezbollah in Largely Muslim Nations - Pew Research Center

10. Eighty two percent of Egyptians support executing adulterers by stoning, 77% support whipping and cutting the hands off thieves. 84% support executing any Muslim who changes his religion.
...the U.S. has failed to identify strategic interests in Egypt— and questions what the next move will be if the Muslim Brotherhood becomes "the power behind the throne of the next regime."
Caroline Glick: U.S. Adopting Harmful Egypt Policy | Neon Tommy

 

[High_Gravity]

New Leader: Egyptians Search for Superman

(CAIRO) — Egyptians say they want their next leader to be honorable, smart, a knight, a man with a heart, a military man, a religious man, one who goes down and meets with the people. What they are really looking for is a superman.

Egypt's next president is facing an incredibly tall order of problems, from a tumbling economy and a beat-up security force to decrepit schools and hospitals that can't even provide enough incubators for premature babies.

Turning out in large numbers to vote for the first time in free and competitive presidential elections, a deeply engaged population have a lot of expectations from the leader that will replace the longtime leader Hosni Mubarak, whom they ousted in a popular uprising last year.

"We want a flawless president. We want him strong, just, respectable, clean, someone who feels for the poor. We basically want a superman," said Heba el-Sayed, a 42-year old teacher who was asking her colleagues outside a polling station in the popular neighborhood of Sayeda Zeinab who they voted for.

Egyptians have never had the chance to pick a leader. Mubarak, who was often derisively labeled as "pharaoh" by Egyptians, came to power in 1981 after the assassination of President Anwar Sadat at the hands of Islamic militants, mostly because he signed a peace treaty with Israel. He was re-elected multiple time after that, mainly in yes-or-no referendums in which he was the only candidate.

The pent-up anger that exploded against Mubarak's reign on January 25, 2011 built up over years because of festering corruption, which created a tight ruling clique around his family and cronies. It left a twisted economic development, that soared in terms of economic development indicators, but was unevenly distributed — leaving vast sections of the population — up to 40 percent_ hovering near or fallen far below the poverty line.

Denying services and attention to the poor seemed to be a way the Mubarak's regime kept such classes in constant need of handouts and dependent on a patronage system, which doled out small benefits to those who cooperated and stayed under his control. This left a debilitated public health and education system, where only those who can pay can receive better services.

His authoritarian regime, which has maintained good relations with the world, relied heavily on security agencies whose widespread torture and abuse were the immediate reason behind the uprising.

The 18 days of protests that brought his fall were not limited to the poor or the abused, they brought in a broad spectrum of classes, angered over every aspect of the stagnation and worried that it would only deepen if Mubarak's son, Gamal, succeeded him as was widely expected.

So in the voting that began Wednesday and continues Thursday, the hundreds of thousands who lined up at the polls had a litany of dreams. Freedom to walk freely with girlfriends or boyfriends without police harassment. Improved sewage systems. Better education.

Read more: Picking New Leader, Egyptians Search for Superman - TIME

1. 84 percent of Egyptians favor the death penalty for people who leave the Muslim religion.

2. When asked which side they would take in a struggle between "groups who want to modernize the country [and] Islamic fundamentalists," 59 percent of Egyptians picked the fundamentalists, while 27 percent picked the modernizers.

3. just 32 percent believe in civilian control of the military.

4. 54 percent, support making segregation of men and women in the workplace the law throughout Egypt.

5. When asked whether suicide bombing can ever be justified, 54 percent said yes

6. Eighty-two percent supported stoning for those who commit adultery.

7. 82 percent of Egyptians hold an unfavorable view of the United States. That's higher than in Pakistan, higher than in Jordan, higher than 18 other nations Pew surveyed.
Egypt's conflicting views of democracy and religion | Washington Examiner


8. Hamas receives relatively positive ratings in Jordan (56% favorable) and Egypt (52%).

9. favorable view of Hezbollah, [in] Egypt (43%)
Mixed Views of Hamas and Hezbollah in Largely Muslim Nations - Pew Research Center

10. Eighty two percent of Egyptians support executing adulterers by stoning, 77% support whipping and cutting the hands off thieves. 84% support executing any Muslim who changes his religion.
...the U.S. has failed to identify strategic interests in Egypt— and questions what the next move will be if the Muslim Brotherhood becomes "the power behind the throne of the next regime."
Caroline Glick: U.S. Adopting Harmful Egypt Policy | Neon Tommy

Well I already knew most Egyptians dislike the United States, thats not a secret to anyone whos been around Egyptians to see what they are like. The Islamic faith is a big part in their lives its not only a religion Islam is a political system in itself, if this is the kind of shit the Egyptians really want they can have it but I don't want anymore of our cash and Military training going to those assholes.

 

[High_Gravity]

Egypt Elections 2012: Run-Off Set Between Muslim Brotherhood, Mubarak's Last Prime Minister

CAIRO -- The candidate of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood won a spot in a run-off election, according to partial results Friday from Egypt's first genuinely competitive presidential election. A former prime minister an a leftist were vying for second place and a chance to run against him to become the country's next leader.

The run-off will be held on June 16-17, pitting the two top contenders from the first round of voting held Wednesday and Thursday. The victor is to be announced June 21.

The landmark vote – the fruit of last year's uprising that toppled longtime leader Hosni Mubarak – turned into a heated battle between Islamist candidates and secular figures rooted in Mubarak's old regime. The most polarizing figures in the race were the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohammed Morsi and former air force commander and former prime minister Ahmed Shafiq, a veteran of Mubarak's rule.

By midday Friday, the vote counting had been completed in 20 of the country's 27 provinces – though workers were still plowing through the paper ballots from Egypt's biggest cities, Cairo and its sister city Giza and the Mediterranean coastal city of Alexandria.

Morsi was in the lead with 30.8 percent of the ballots so far, according to the independent newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm, which was compiling reports from counters. That is likely enough to put him into the run-off.

But the race for second place remained narrow. Shafiq took 21 percent of the votes so far, while Hamdeen Sabahi had 20 percent, according to Al-Masry Al-Youm. The Brotherhood said in a statement that Shafiq would be in the run-off along with Morsi.

Sabahi, a leftist who models himself after the nationalist, socialist ideology of former President Gamal Abdel-Nasser, has emerged as a surprise contender during the two days of voting. He had been considered a dark horse behind four other candidates, but he surged among Egyptians looking for an alternative to both Islamists and the former regime figures known as "feloul," or "remnants."

In various independent tallies, Abdel-Moneim Abolfotoh, a moderate Islamist some had seen as another alternative candidate, was in fourth and former foreign minister Amr Moussa was a distant fifth. Newspapers reported 50 percent turnout among the 50 million eligible voters, though the election commission has not yet released an official figure.

Egypt Elections 2012: Run-Off Set Between Muslim Brotherhood, Mubarak's Last Prime Minister

 

[Saigon]

Let's start by saying how wonderful it is that for the first time in their history, Egyptians have a free and democratic election.

For all the voices here (rightly) complaining about the lack of democracy in the Middle East, it is a shame no one wants to acknowledge democracy when it arrives.

The new administration might be good or they might be no better than the last guy - but an election is a good start.

 

[High_Gravity]

Let's start by saying how wonderful it is that for the first time in their history, Egyptians have a free and democratic election.

For all the voices here (rightly) complaining about the lack of democracy in the Middle East, it is a shame no one wants to acknowledge democracy when it arrives.

The new administration might be good or they might be no better than the last guy - but an election is a good start.

Look at the guys winning the elections though, Muslim Brotherhood people and ex Mubarak guys.

 

[High_Gravity]

Egypt's Presidential Choices: The Trouble with Democracy

Not only did Egypt pull off its first democratic presidential election in the country's history last week, but it managed to make it a relatively clean vote. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter told journalists in Cairo over the weekend that international monitors working for the Carter Center had noted minor violations during the election, but nothing so serious as to impact the result. Enthusiasm seemed high: Egypt's electoral commission reported a relatively strong turnout.

And yet the results are not what anyone expected. Neither of the two initial front runners for the June 16 and 17 runoff vote qualified for that round of voting. Instead, the two men who came out on top, according to the Election Commission's final results, are the two most polarizing candidates on the ballot: the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsy and ousted President Hosni Mubarak's former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik. "It's a charade," says Adel al-Sobki, who owns a Cairo supermarket and says he voted for the Arab nationalist candidate Hamdeen Sabbahi. "We're now stuck with either the old regime or the Muslim Brotherhood." Some residents showed their displeasure right away — angry mobs of young men set fire to Shafik's campaign headquarters just hours after the official results were announced. In Tahrir Square, several thousand protesters also chanted slogans against Shafik, Morsy and the military rulers who took over after Mubarak's ouster.

To Egypt's liberals and leftists, it's a nightmare scenario. In a race that involved 13 candidates and five front runners — including three relative moderates like Sabbahi — the country has wound up with two extremes to choose their next leader from. It's a reality that has left some Egyptians promising to boycott the June electoral finale and others simply wondering: Where did we go wrong?

Hassan Nafaa, a political scientist at Cairo University, has a couple of theories. He says the biggest factor in Egypt's electoral outcome may be the failed strategies of the country's losing moderates and their supporters. Hamdeen Sabbahi and Abdel Moneim Aboul Futouh, an independent Islamist, may have been too similar to each other for either one to win, he argues. The two came in third and fourth, respectively, but only Shafik and Morsy will proceed to the runoff. Both Aboul Futouh and Sabbahi hold moderate political views and were active participants in last year's uprising — factors that appeal to voters across the spectrum, from liberals to Islamists and socialists, thus probably dissipating their support across the same range.

Read more: Egypt: Two Polarizing Candidates Top Presidential Vote - TIME

 

[Sunni Man]

The majority of the Egyptian people want their laws based on some form of Sharia.

And the only viable political party able to provide that type of leadership would be the Muslim Brotherhood.

The U.S. and Israeli governments hate that reality.

But hey, welcome to Democracy.

 

[High_Gravity]

The majority of the Egyptian people want their laws based on some form of Sharia.

And the only viable political party able to provide that type of leadership would be the Muslim Brotherhood.

The U.S. and Israeli governments hate that reality.

But hey, welcome to Democracy.

I don't know about that Sunni, one of the top leading candidates was a former Mubarak guy, apparently there is a segment of the Egyptian population that never wanted this revolution.

 

[Sunni Man]

I don't know about that Sunni, one of the top leading candidates was a former Mubarak guy, apparently there is a segment of the Egyptian population that never wanted this revolution.

They are in the minority.

If they were the majority; the revolution would not have succeeded.

 

[High_Gravity]

I don't know about that Sunni, one of the top leading candidates was a former Mubarak guy, apparently there is a segment of the Egyptian population that never wanted this revolution.

They are in the minority.

If they were the majority; the revolution would not have succeeded.

Thats true but, how is this mans name coming up with the highest votes along with the Muslim Brotherhood candidate? it shouldn't even be close no?

 

[Sunni Man]

Thats true but, how is this mans name coming up with the highest votes along with the Muslim Brotherhood candidate? it shouldn't even be close no?

The average Egyptian see's this guy for what he is; an ex Mubarak stooge that will if elected, make Egypt subservient to the West once again.

Rest assured that both the CIA and Mossad on behalf of Israel and the U.S.

Are doing everything in their power; vote fraud, money, bribes, propaganda, false flag operations; to sway the election and install this guy as president.

And to thwart the political aspirations of the Muslim Brotherhood.

 

[High_Gravity]

Thats true but, how is this mans name coming up with the highest votes along with the Muslim Brotherhood candidate? it shouldn't even be close no?

The average Egyptian see's this guy for what he is; an ex Mubarak stooge that will if elected, make Egypt subservient to the West once again.

Rest assured that both the CIA and Mossad on behalf of Israel and the U.S.

Are doing everything in their power; vote fraud, money, bribes, propaganda, false flag operations; to sway the election and install this guy as president.

And to thwart the political aspirations of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Actually, I read an article about the US having talks with the Muslim Brotherhood, because they would prefer them winning the elections instead of the radical Salafists, who want to burn up all peace agreements with Israel and go into a state of war. The brotherhood is the less of the 2 evils, however I am still surprised to see the Mubarak guys name there.

 

[Saigon]

One story I read the other day was quoting a local guy as saying it was a choice between an Islamic Fascist and a Military Fascist - a worst-possible-case scenario with the pro-revolution vote having been split.

I'm delighted Egyptians got to vote - but the outcome looks worrying.

 

[Sunni Man]

Actually, I read an article about the US having talks with the Muslim Brotherhood, because they would prefer them winning the elections instead of the radical Salafists, who want to burn up all peace agreements with Israel and go into a state of war. The brotherhood is the less of the 2 evils, however I am still surprised to see the Mubarak guys name there.

One thing I have learned about politics in the ME.

"You will NEVER know the Truth about anything." Period.


Think about Iran Contra affair:

#1) Reagen said he would Never deal with terrorists; especially Iran

#2) While at the same time secretly selling weapons to Iran.

#3) Yet we supplied weapons to Saddam in his war against Iran

#4) Amazingly, Israel was the middle man in the U.S. weapons deal to Iran.

#5) While the Ayatolla shouted "Death to America and Israel".

#6) And gave some of these Israeli supplied weapons to Hezbollah in order to attack Israel

 

[Saigon]

"You will never know the Truth about anything." Period.

My version of that (in relation to the ME) would be:

"There is never one truth."

 

[Sunni Man]

My version of that (in relation to the ME) would be:

"There is never one truth."

When it comes to the ME there is a thousand truth's.

And none of them are the truth.

Yet, they all are the truth.

True story

 

[California Girl]

Thats true but, how is this mans name coming up with the highest votes along with the Muslim Brotherhood candidate? it shouldn't even be close no?

The average Egyptian see's this guy for what he is; an ex Mubarak stooge that will if elected, make Egypt subservient to the West once again.

Rest assured that both the CIA and Mossad on behalf of Israel and the U.S.

Are doing everything in their power; vote fraud, money, bribes, propaganda, false flag operations; to sway the election and install this guy as president.

And to thwart the political aspirations of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Congratulations on your election as Spokesperson for Egyptians. When did that happen?