We aren't doing much better here in the US.

doahart: We aren't doing much better here in the US.

While Putin's chosen candidate got in, the Bushes and Clintons are playing leapfrog. Next stop, George P and Chelsea!

God, I'm glad the Russians have renounced their old Soviet ways and are good guys now.

Right? The Russkies are good guys, right? They said they've changed!

At least Putin and his cronies have brought back a chance for Russian prosperity. Can Bush claim the same?

Texas and Ohio concur.

Wow, they have Diebold also?

/land of the free my ass

Een Russia, votes count YOU!

Riggedski as rasslinski.

REPORTER: Can we trust Russia? I'm not going to answer that. I could ask the very same question.

PRESIDENT BUSH: I will answer the question. I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy. We had a very good dialogue. I was able to get a sense of his soul; a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country. And I appreciated so very much the frank dialogue.

There was no kind of diplomatic chit-chat, trying to throw each other off balance. There was a straightforward dialogue. And that's the beginning of a very constructive relationship. I wouldn't have invited him to my ranch if I didn't trust him. (Laughter.)



/You know, being young and stupid myself, I couldn't understand why my parents were slightly reluctant to believe in the fall of the Soviet Union...

magic_patch: Een Russia, votes count YOU!

/thread

Osvcat: "There was no kind of diplomatic chit-chat, trying to throw each other off balance..."

I'll bet my balls ex-KGB officer "Pooty-Poot" had a radically different experience of the meeting. He probably felt like he was playing a trick on a toddler. Or scattering poisoned bird-crumbs for a pigeon.

I don't think ol' George even knew he was in a "wilderness of mirrors" let alone be able to figure out how to game Ivan back.

doahart: We aren't doing much better here in the US.

Link (new window) disagrees

Allow me to be the first to congratulate President Medvevdevwhatever.

Mentat: Allow me to be the first to congratulate President Medvevdevwhatever.

DAMN...beat me to it!


RUSSERT: Before the primary on Tuesday, on Sunday, March 2, there's an election in Russia for the successor to President Putin. What can you tell me about the man who's going to be Mr. Putin's successor?

CLINTON: Well, I can tell you that he's a hand-picked successor, that he is someone who is obviously being installed by Putin, who Putin can control, who has very little independence, the best we know. You know, there's a lot of information still to be acquired. That the so-called opposition was basically run out of the political opportunity to wage a campaign against Putin's hand-picked successor, and the so-called leading opposition figure spends most of his time praising Putin. So this is a clever but transparent way for Putin to hold on to power, and it raises serious issues about how we're going to deal with Russia going forward.

I have been very critical of the Bush administration for what I believe to have been an incoherent policy toward Russia. And with the reassertion of Russia's role in Europe, with some of the mischief that they seem to be causing in supporting Iran's nuclear ambitions, for example, it's imperative that we begin to have a more realistic and effective strategy toward Russia. But I have no doubt, as president, even though technically the meetings may be with the man who is labeled as president, the decisions will be made by Putin.

RUSSERT: Who will it be? Do you know his name?

CLINTON: mesva....medsuuu...WHATEVER.

At the time Putin came to power no one had any idea who he was and look how dramatically he shifted the path of Russia from his predecessor.

Who knows what Medvedev is capable of?

SubBass49: Mentat: Allow me to be the first to congratulate President Medvevdevwhatever.

DAMN...beat me to it!

If you can grasp the joke from my keyboard, then, Grasshopper, you will be ready.

Something_else: Who knows what Medvedev is capable of?

He's capable of everything Putin is capable of.

Literally.

Something_else: At the time Putin came to power no one had any idea who he was and look how dramatically he shifted the path of Russia from his predecessor.

Who knows what Medvedev is capable of?

Considering that it will still be Putin that largely holds power?

So what, Russia has always been oligarchy.

The Bestest: Considering that it will still be Putin that largely holds power?

As the Russian constitution currently stands, the President holds far more power than the PM. Now, of course the Russian constitution could be rewritten.

OK, so we assume that Medvedev was chosen as the successor b/c he represents someone who has not disagreed with Putin. However, once Medvedev has attained the powers of the presidency, what is to stop him from turning on Putin? The so-called "siloviki" are not as strong as they once were. Medvedev could easily promote people loyal to him instead of Putin and build a powerful base.

I'm not saying this is likely, only that it is possible. To write him off simply as Putin's puppet might be a mistake.

Putin has promised he wouldn't rewrite the constitution or transfer any powers to PM, but even assuming he keeps to his word, I can't shake the feeling that Medvedev was chosen for specific reasons to Putin's cause.

Whatever.

chard: Link (new window) disagrees

I was actually reading A Dirty War when she was killed. It's an excellent book by the way.

As to the topic at hand, isn't Putin extremely popular though? I mean, of course he is super-corrupt and authoritarian but don't the majority of Russian people just love him? So is it surprising his successor won in a landslide? I'm honestly asking because Russian politics are not exactly my strong suit.

attackingpencil

He's popular b/c, compared to the Yeltsin presidency, he has brought stability and prosperity. People are willing to let other things slide if they see their living standards improve.

However, I'm sure there will come a time, either due to a certain level of prosperity, or the rise of younger citizens who have never known Soviet control, where Russians will demand more freedom and self-control.

At least, I hope so. Maybe not. Maybe the people are content to watch "Ow my balls" if their wallet is fat enough and their tv is big enough.

Something_else: attackingpencil

He's popular b/c, compared to the Yeltsin presidency, he has brought stability and prosperity. People are willing to let other things slide if they see their living standards improve.

However, I'm sure there will come a time, either due to a certain level of prosperity, or the rise of younger citizens who have never known Soviet control, where Russians will demand more freedom and self-control.

At least, I hope so. Maybe not. Maybe the people are content to watch "Ow my balls" if their wallet is fat enough and their tv is big enough.

What about all those Fark headlines about history books being edited to make Stalin look like a hero? The younger generation isn't neccesarily going to learn that the previous generation did anything wrong, so they can't keep from making the same mistakes.

Michael Medved?!? Nooooo!

Something_else:However, once Medvedev has attained the powers of the presidency, what is to stop him from turning on Putin?

A stomach that can't withstand polonium or dioxin?

everything I believe has already been mentioned. putin has brought stability and prosperity to russia which is the exact opposite of what the same thing between the bush and clintons has brought us.

russia wanting more self control and independence is a problem? who are we to impliment development restrictions on foreign countries?

Falcc: What about all those Fark headlines about history books being edited to make Stalin look like a hero? The younger generation isn't neccesarily going to learn that the previous generation did anything wrong, so they can't keep from making the same mistakes.

First, get news outside of Fark.

Second, did you not learn anything from a source other than a classroom textbook?

doahart
We aren't doing much better here in the US.

And seven hundred forty three trillion nine hundred eighty six billion one hundred thirty two million five hundred fifty four thousand two hundred ninety one isn't much more than eleven.

/u is a ass