The ironical thing is that in Iran, just as in the USA, the more conservative and hardline oppressive elements in the government find their strongest support in the rural areas and the small towns, and among more aggressive males, while the progressive elements are far more likely to find their support among large urban populations, young people, particularly young women, and students.

And so it has ever been...in any country, in any time.

If Ahmadinejad's most fervent supporters in Iran were somehow by magic transformed into Americans, they'd be voting for McCain and urging an ever more "get tough with Iran" policy... ;-)

Same problem on both sides of the fence, in fact. The fanatics and soreheads are in control of the process.