HAMAS win is the trend not a surprise-ME Faithbased voting

[underpants]

It's like everything you have heard over and over and over about the 2004 vote here in God's own US of A except for two key differences:
1.it is a different faith
2.it is actually happening in the Middle East not just righteous self gratification.



Rising Islamist tide in Middle East politics

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/18f74788-8e9c-11da-b752-0000779e2340,dwp_uuid=99eafd16-a001-11d8-81c6-000e2511c801.html

In Egypt, the Arab world’s most populous country, the Muslim Brotherhood extended its representation more than five times in parliamentary polls last December, forming the largest opposition block. Lebanon’s Shia Hizbollah, the militant group, performed well in last summer’s parliamentary vote, consolidating its position as the most powerful Shia party.

In Saudi Arabia, where political parties are banned, Islamist candidates running as independents won the largest share of the vote in elections to half the seats in municipal elections last year, the first democratic experiment in the kingdom. Even in Iraq, where Saddam Hussein had already been ousted from power, an Islamist Shia coalition has emerged with a near majority in parliament.

[blm]

1. Couldn't agree more with the way you framed it, undies.

.

[underpants]

2. This doesn't even mention Iran

You may remember all the RW talkers where already congratulating the Bush administration (read Cheney and Rummy) for how Iran was getting ready to turn in the next election. Reformers were in prime position to make huge gains (cut to footage of protests in Iran) that was about two years ago.

I heard either CNN or ABC connect all these last night but apparently it was fleeting as there is no mention of it on either websites. Interesting how no one seems to be mentioning that. Only Syria and Jordan (yikes) are left.

[enigma000]

8. Reformers aren't allowed to run in Iran

you only have three options: fanatic, insane fanatic, or criminally insane fanatic.

[mark11727]

3. Alright, so let me get this straight...

...a bunch of religious types win elections HERE, and that's GOOD... :)

...a bunch of religious types win elections THERE, and that's BAD... :(

...I'm so confused. :crazy:

[underpants]

5. Yes

that is exactly correct only here no one makes the connection.

AT least no one wants to talk about how they are having extremist religous leanings like us (oops did I say that out loud?), how the whole righteous faithbased moral voting thing here is BS, how the whole region is lining up for a fight against...a ... uh.... crusade.

[mark11727]

9. Lllllllllet's get ready to rumblllllllllle.....!

[Ron Green]

4. There has to be an Other.

Without the Cold War, a void was left to be filled by a new menace. It's the Muslims, boys, and they'll buy into it just as quick as our Bible-thumpers will.

I think we're just fucked.

[underpants]

6. I think that is a liitle bit harsh

I would say "Screwed"

[Ron Green]

7. Certainly Hosed, to say the very least.