Russian Election

by **saxitoxin** on Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:04 pm

Dako wrote:
saxitoxin wrote:
Dako wrote:When we went to oppose the government in 1991 it turned things to the better.

Did it?

I think this is a discussion for another thread. But the short answer is yes, I think the situation drastically improved overall.

How can you say this?

Russia went from being a strong nation, the guarantor of peace in Europe, to a basket case run by a drunk that can only guarantee the peace in Belarus (on a good day). Meanwhile, the U.S. has replace Russia as the European hegemon.

More than ten thousand Russians killed by Chechen terrorists as Russia is lectured by the west on human rights.

The economy brought to the brink of collapse. Increased poverty, rising crime rates.

Gannady Yanayev was the hero of 1991, albeit a tragic hero.

If Putin falls who benefits? You will see the chaos of 1992 all over again with no strong voice to stop U.S. expansion. Within six months Ukraine will be a member of NATO and U.S. ABM missiles will be in Poland, neuteuring Russia's last line of defense.

When you protest Putin remember who it is who is cheering your efforts - the Pentagon and CIA.

by **saxitoxin** on Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:28 pm

Where's qwert when I need him?

by **Phatscotty** on Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:00 am

That's just what happens when your currency crashes.

That can't happen here though

by **Pope Joan** on Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:16 am

AndyDufresne wrote:
Dako wrote:
Baron Von PWN wrote:Russian Billionaire announces he will run for president.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16138739

I wonder if he will get to run? Or if he will prove to be a clown. From what I saw in the BBC article he sounds ok. Seems to be a centre right, rule of law and good queasiness guy.

Don't believe in him. He decided to run for president when there was an opposition already. So he felt confident he can win it and get the power. If he'd done that before the gatherings, well, I'd think about voting for him. He is too sly.

You are probably right about this. He's one of those Mikhail-come-latelies.
--Andy

I disagree. I actually kind of like him. He does not have to do it and he tries to improve things, risking everything like Khodorkovsky. Most importantly, I really do not see why on Earth Kremlin needs him: he can pull votes only off Putin, hence, increasing the chance for the second round... Thus, he is not Kremlin's project as opposed to Mironov or Zhirinovsky...

by **Dako** on Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:44 am

saxitoxin wrote:How can you say this?

Russia went from being a strong nation, the guarantor of peace in Europe, to a basket case run by a drunk that can only guarantee the peace in Belarus (on a good day). Meanwhile, the U.S. has replace Russia as the European hegemon.

More than ten thousand Russians killed by Chechen terrorists as Russia is lectured by the west on human rights.

The economy brought to the brink of collapse. Increased poverty, rising crime rates.

Gannady Yanayev was the hero of 1991, albeit a tragic hero.

If Putin falls who benefits? You will see the chaos of 1992 all over again with no strong voice to stop U.S. expansion. Within six months Ukraine will be a member of NATO and U.S. ABM missiles will be in Poland, neuteuring Russia's last line of defense.

When you protest Putin remember who it is who is cheering your efforts - the Pentagon and CIA.

USSR was a strong nation, but not in late eighties. It's collapse in 1991 just proved that such organization can no longer function. That our leaders' ideals are not fit for the people. There were hard times back then, a lot of crime, force structures controlling the state and so on, but during the past 20 years we managed to create something. I know it is not perfect or even good, but it is better.

We are not against the Putin. We are not trying to overthrow him and find a new leader. This is not about that. We are trying to say that our voices matter. We want our government to be more human-like and democratic. This is not a revolution.

by **saxitoxin** on Thu Dec 15, 2011 9:05 am

Dako wrote:
We are not against the Putin. We are not trying to overthrow him and find a new leader. This is not about that.

OK, I'll buy what you're selling.

(But I'm keeping the receipt.)

by **saxitoxin** on Sun May 06, 2012 2:40 pm

Video of the leaders of all the major Russian opposition groups arriving at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow in January for their regular meeting with Ambassador McFaul.

How confident would you be in your country's political opposition if they regularly assembled at a foreign embassy for meetings / instructional sessions?