If their core still depends on that layer of Jordan - as it had been labeled and categorized - the IAF would definitely have higher polls than whats estimated at 10% max according to recent surveys.

Even those 10% that are within almost full dominance of political life in Jordan will decrease once true opponents claim power such as Nationalists, Liberals, Democrats, and Communists.

Once a full interacting civil society matures by both public and government; all religious, tribal, ethnic trends will be narrowed down to the less educated, the less exposed, the less cultured, and the less fortunate as these categories –dividing system-thrive on fulfilling needs by non contribution basis of their individuals.

Regional role can not be ignored in any single country of the cursed middle east. IAF opposes the government on their regional agenda and that’s where they meet with the public, which nurtured a sense in the last decade that the Islamic economic vision might be a solution to their ambitions that governments failed.

The rise of Islamic movement happened directly after the fall of the last Islam Sultanate trying to grip on power again. All their rises and falls where across borders with limited time differences. A normal absorbed component of society till the 50s where they fell against Arab Nationalism throughout the 60s, then rose again during 70s and 80s against Nationalists, where in the 90s and till now fell against liberals and seculars. MY POINT is that they were always regional and local Jordanian issue was just affected by their global agenda, rather than them being purely with a Jordanian emphasis (given the Palestinian complexity when you address any Jordanian issue).

Due to the series of the unfortunate events that caused the coming parliament to be formed in this shapeless form that it will eventually reach, they would be of a great national benefit if they could just amend the law to enable real political elections in 2011 to elevate and develop Jordan.

Ahmad: the IAF has a broad base of supporters, but presently and historically, their core has depended on jordanians of palestinian origin.

Diala: interesting points. your two cents are definitely worth more than that…what with the dollar where it is

mohammad: fair point.

If I were advising the government, the Jordanian or the Egyptian one for that matter, I would suggest that they become inclusive to the IAF and other opposition groups. Absorbing them into the system is much safer and certain than keeping them silenced out of it!

Anyways, those are my two cents!

Nas, you confused me quite a bit, when you say Palestinians, do you mean Palestinians in refugee camps or do you mean Jordanians of Palestinian origin? I think it’s politically incorrect to refer to Jordanians of Palestinian origin as plain Palestinians, I know you didn’t mean any negative connotation (because there isn’t one actually), but I just thought briefly that you meant Palestinians in refugee camps. I agree, mostly those who vote for the IAF believe in the Islamic way of doing business, and not the government’s way, their supporters could come from any background really. But I really think that the majority of the IAF’s supporters are mainly people who oppose the government in general, thanks to the IAF’s stance. What I’m trying to say that for some voters, it’s only convenient to vote for the IAF because they are the strongest opposition.

Frankly, as a Jordanian, I think it’s more realistic, and more important to vote for a candidate that wants to cut down on unemployment (although we all know he won’t really have much of a say in that) than to vote for a candidate who wants to abuse my emotions because of my Palestinian background. The right of return just seems to be too far fetched to achieve right now, I mean we’ve been demanding it for 60 years now and this candidate certainly is not the answer to our prayers, nor is he a reincarnated Saladin. But you know what? I wouldn’t be surprised to hear about people who are stupid enough to believe him.

“Naseem, el tarawneh thabba7oo ba3ath”

yeah….i know…dont remind me

This is not the case, we have strong institutions that can protect the citizens!

Reading about people who actually talk like this makes me angry and disgusted at the same time!so what if the islamists win? Aint that democracy? So either drop the term democracy and stop lying or hold true democratic elections using a new electoral law(The national agenda one)!

And I really don’t know why they are hanging the picture of the royal family! It should be prohibited to do so!

Naseem, el tarawneh thabba7oo ba3ath