Considering Iran’s elections are hardly democratic by nature, the best possible outcome of all the presidential candidates was to have the most moderate one be elected. Thankfully, that’s exactly happened. Considering the massive fallout from 2009’s election and seemingly alleged (more like, “pretty sure it happened”) vote-rigging, we should be pleased that this time around it was far less chaotic. Welcome to the gauntlet, Hassan Rouhani.

I was no fan of Ahmadinejad; side note: I learned to say his name by saying “I’m a dinner jacket.” Thanks, Jersey Guys. His bully pulpit for demonizing the West, denying the Holocaust, and having a serious bromance with the late Hugo Chavez did not endear him to anyone but the most clinically insane. And Russia. You’d think he would own at least one tie. He always sports the business casual look with the top 2 buttons undone with a sport jacket. I’d have rather he gone full Persian garb than be a half-assed looking business exec. Dress the part, dammit!

This Rouhani at least has experience on the international level with a degree of respect. He is a former top nuclear negotiator which means he has dealt with other countries’ and NGOs’ inspectors many times before. While he certainly had a very difficult job thanks to the Ayatollah who has final say on all matters nuclear (another topic for another day; let me just grab a bottle of scotch first). He has a lot working against him, first and foremost being the economic sanctions that have a Camel Clutch-like grip on the country, causing inflation and food shortages everywhere. I believe the sanctions are justified, but come at a brutal cost to a majority of the citizens there. Rouhani will have work with the crap hand he has. I have high hopes for him, though that bar is low it will bruise my shins.

In the end, the president still answers to the Grand Poobah, Ayatollah Khamenei, so we’ll see how far his plans and vision go.

I still say we’d be better off if we sent in Lt. Frank Drebin to Tehran to clean up this mess. The world of the 80s seemed so much more… efficient.